YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

GAZETTEER

OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK:
COMPREHENDING ITS
COLONIAL HISTORY;
GENERAL GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY1, AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS •;
fits political State;
A MINUTE DESCRIPTION OF ITS SEVERAL COUNTIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES;

STATISTICAL. TABLES,
EXHIBITING THE AREA, IMPROVED LANDS, POPULATION, STOCK, TAXES, MANUFACTURES,
SCHOOLS, AND COST OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, IN EACH TOWN. ¦»
WITH
i
A MAP OF THE STATE, AND A MAP OF EACH COUNTY,
AND PLANS OF THE CITIES AND PRINCIPAL VILLAGES.

By THOMAS F. GORDON.

fthflgttelpiif*:
PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR.
T. K. AND P. G. COLLINS, PRINTERS.
1836.

Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and
thirty-six, by Thomas F. Gordon, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the
Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia:
T. K. & P. G. Conin6,P*int«s,
No. 1 Lodge Alley.

PREFACE, ft

A, \
It is the object of the following pages to present a comprehensive view of
the physical and political condition of the great state of New York — of
that member of the Union, in which the peculiar features of American inter-
nal policy, and their results, in the increase of population, of the means of
inter-communication, of intellectual improvement, of wealth, and of happi
ness, are, perhaps, most conspicuous.
To this end, a concise history of the state, during its colonial or embryo
condition, seemed requisite. The Historical Essay, is an effort to condense
the important facts of this period, with their causes and consequences, in
such a manner as might satisfy the large class of readers who have neither
leisure for minute details, nor taste for extended speculation; and serve as a
clue to those disposed to study the history of the state in all its relations. In
this labour, the state records, particularly, the minutes of council during the
Dutch and British governments have been consulted, with much less satis
faction than had been anticipated; the latter proving incredibly meagre, and
the most interesting matters having been culled from the former by preceding
writers. As the object of the essay is an outline of the history of New
York, only, it comprises no more of the history of American discovery of
the other American colonies, or of the revolutionary contest, than was deem
ed indispensable to that object.
That portion of the work allotted to the general physical description of
the state, comprehends a full geographical view, a sketch of its geology that
may prove useful to the general inquirer, to the agriculturalist and the arti-
zan — a history of internal improvements with an expose of their actual con
dition and prospective progress.
The Book. on. its political condition gives — the distribution of the
political powers into legislative, executive and judicial, with the duties of
the officers pertaining to each class, from the governor in chief, to the town
officers—the law of elections— the administration of the public domain — the
system of taxation with tables of the valuation of taxable property — the mi
litia system — provisions for the public health — the system for public instruc
tion— 'the means and cost of religious instruction — regulations of trade com
prehending the inspection laws — restrictions on taverns and groceries — regu
lations of weights, measures and money — certain provisions of internal po
lice relative to navigation, fisheries, wrecks, roads, woods, timber, dogs,
noxious animals, i&c. &c. — the law relating to incorporations for religious,
literacy, manufacturing and commercial, purposes, with statistics of banking
and insurance companies.
This Book contains, also, the judiciary system — the penal code — the sys
tem of prison discipline — that for the relief of pauperism — and a general
statistical account of the population, manufactures and commerce of the state,
with a comparative view of the returns of the census for the years 1825 and
1835.

IV PREFACE.

ll

Large abstracts have been made from the Statute Book; but it must not be
supposed, that, it was designed to give all the law relating to each subject; '
yet so much has been given as may suffice for a clear conception of the po-
icy of the state, and a guide where reference to the statutes shall be neces
sary. In this Book will be found a mass of valuable information, in com
paratively small compass, not otherwise accessible, than by laborious study
of the revised code and subsequent, statutes.
Book third contains the topography of the state, illustrated by a map of
each county; and plans of the cities and principal villages. A general map
of the state shows the connection of the counties with each other. The
counties are arranged alphabetically. Under each county, the towns and
cities belonging to it are classed in like order; and by the general index ac
cess is had directly to each subject.
It may be proper to state, the means which have been employed to render
this part of the work full anil accurate. A description of each county, town
and village was blocked out by the compiler, from such sources as were in
his possession; with these in his hand, he visited the several counties, sub
mitting them to gentlemen of intelligence, amending what was erroneous and
enlarging the sum of his information. These descriptions were again sub
mitted to members of the legislature, intimately acquainted with the districts
they represented; and many articles were supplied by the kindness and zeal
of individuals resident in the precincts they described. Such means, al
though errors and omissions be inevitable, with the official statistical returns
give assurance of much authenticity.
The work contains more than two hundred and fifty statistical tables. Of
these, three are appended to each county; one, exhibiting, for each town, a
view of its population at four periods of five years, each, from 1820; and the
number of militia, voters and aliens, of married females under 45 years of
age, of unmarried females under that age, of the marriages, births and deaths
during the year ending August, 1835: Another, showing the area, in acres,
the number of acres improved, the assessed value of real and personal estate,
the number of domesticated animals, the quantity of domestic manufactures,
and the amount of taxes levied for town and county purposes: The third,
displaying the number, species and value of the manufactories and the num
ber of schools, pupils and cost of education.
These tables, with the topographical descriptions afford information in
teresting to the settler, the statesman, the man of business, the traveller, and
to him who seeks to gratify a liberal curiosity. They show the distance of
each town and village, in each county, from the capital of the state, from the
seat of justice in the county, and other points relatively important; the na
ture of the soil and products; the streams of each town; the state of its
population and improvement, and the character and extent of business pur
sued. It is probable, that in some precincts an inhabitant may discover errors,
with omissions of matter, which, in his judgment, should have a place in
the work; but he will also find much' of which he was uninformed; and he
will excuse such defects, from the obvious difficulty of obtaining a full
knowledge of every locality.
In passing the work through the press, some errors have occurred, which
the intelligent reader will, in most cases, be able to correct. The most im
portant have been noted in the Errata.

CONTENTS.

HISTORICAL ESSAY.
CHAPTER I.
I. Principles of Religious and Political Liberty — Their Influence in the Colonisation of
America. II. Spanish, Portuguese and French Navigators in North America. III.
English efforts at discovery, previous to the Voyages of Hudson. IV. Voyages of Hud
son — Discovery of Delaware and New York Bays, &c. — Exploration of the North
River — Death of Hudson. V. Discoveries of the French on the Northern Boundaries
of New York. VI. Dutch Traffic with the Indians on the Hudson — Puritan Emi
grants of New Plymouth. VII. Formation of the Dutch West India Company — Their
efforts at Colonisation — Voyage of Mey, and colony on the Delaware — Forts at New
York and Albany. VIII. Colony under Minuit, at Manahattan — Successes of the West
India Company. IX. Charter of Liberties, &c. for Patroons or Founder of Colonies
in America. X. Large Tracts of Land taken up by Patroons. XI. Voyages of De
Vries to the Delaware. XII. Wouter Van Twiller, Governor. XIII. Swedish Settle
ments on the Delaware. XIV. "English Settlements in New Netherland — Disputes be
tween the Colonies of New England and New Netherland — The first apply to Crom
well for Aid — Efforts of Stuyvesant to maintain the Dutch Title. XV Measures of
Charles I. against the Possessions of the States General in North America— Grant to
the Duke of York — He conveys part of the Province to Berkeley and Carteret. XVI.
New Netherland reduced by the English, under Col. Nicholls. Remarks on Governor
Stuyvesant's Administration. XVII. Condition of the Province, at the time of its Cap-
ture. XVIII. War with Holland — The Possession of New York confirmed to 'the
English at the Peace. - XIX. Nature of Proprietary Rights granted by the Crown. XX.
Prudence of Col. Nicholls. XXI. Administration of Col. Lovelace. XXII. Recapture
of New York, by the Hollanders. XXIII. Restored to the English. . . 1
CHAPTER II.
I. Important consequences of the late war. II. Doubts of the first title of the Duke of
York — Removed by a new Charter. III. Nature of that Charter. IV. Major Andross
appointed Governor — Illegal imposts. V. He refuses topermit Legislative Assemblies.
VI. Quarrels with the Magistrates of Albany. VII. He demands pecuniary benevo
lences from the people. VIII. Vexatious interference with New Jersey. IX. He is re
called from his Government. X. Popular efforts to obtain an Assembly. XL The
Duke is constrained to grant it. XII. Col. Dongan appointed Governor — His instruc
tions. XIII. Condition of the Province. XIV. Notices of the Five Nations. XV. A
French party preserved at Schenectady, by Corlear. . XVI. Early Indian relations with
the Dutch. XVII. Policy of the French, in their Indian intercourse. XVIII. Con
quests made by the Five Nations — Treaty of Peace between them and all the English
Colonies. XIX. Rival efforts of the English and French, for the Fur Trade. . 18
CHAPTER III.
I. Despotic and faithless conduct of James II. towards the province. II. Moderate and
prudent conduct of Governor Dongan. III. New rupture between the Five Nations
and the French — Master policy of the French. IV. Sir Edmund Andross, Governor
of New York and New England. V. Success of the Indians against the French. VI.
Discontents of New York — Revolutionary agitations. VII. Revolt of Leisler. VIII.
Opposition to Leisler. IX. He admits others to participate in his power. X. He as
sumes the state of Lt. Governor. XL Convokes an assembly. XII. War with France
and destruction of Schenectady. XIII. Invasion of Canada projected — it fails^-Indis-
cretion and intemperance of Leisler. XIV. Acceptation of Leister's proceedings in
England — Appointment of Governor Slaughter. XV. Leisler refuses submission to the
Governor. He is tried, convicted of treason, and executed — his partizans fly the pro-

VI CONTENTS.
vince. XVI. Slaughter convokes ''an assembly, which makes a declaration of rights.
XVII. Death of Col. Slaughter. XVIII. Major Schuyler attempts Montreal— Barba
rity of the French. Presidency of Richard Ingoldsby. XX. Col. Fletcher, Governor— -
his character and initiatory measures. XXI. Inroad of Count Frontignac — Activity of
Col. Fletcher. XXII. His" attempts to establish the Church of England in the pro
vince — Rudely reproves the assembly. XXIII. Further disputes with the assembly.
XXIV. The Governor adopts a more conciliatory policy. XXV. Progress of the war
between the French and Five Nations— Peace. XXVI. Members of assembly refuse
to sit without pay. XXVII. Earl of Bellamont, Governor— His efforts to repress piracy
—Unfortunate result. XXVIII. He protects the Leislerian party. XXIX. His address
to the assembly. XXX. Violent disputes in that body. XXXI. Invalidates certain
large grants of lands obtained by individuals from the Indians. XXXII. The penalty
jof death denounced against popish priests. XXXIII. Death of Lord Bellamont— Presi
dency of Col. Smith. XXXIV. Violent party measures of Lt. Governor Nanfan — Per
secution of Mr. R. Livingston.  24
CHAPTER IV.
I. Nature of the Provincial History of the first half of the eighteenth century. II. Con
stitution of the Colony. III. Disputed Boundary with France — Indian relations. IV.
Administration of Lord Cornbury. V. Arrival and death of Lord Lovelace. VI. Ad
ministration of Lt. Governor Ingoldsby. — Unsuccessful expedition against Canada — Its
consequences to the province arrested by the treaty of Utreeht — Death of Queen Anne —
Accession of George I. VII. Presidency of Col. Schuyler. VIII. Administration of
Governor Burnet. IX. Of Colonel Montgomery. X. Presidency of Rip Van Dam, and
administration of Governor Cosby. XI. Administration of Governor Clarke. . 36
CHAPTER V.
I. Ad ministration of Governor Clinton — Reduction of Louisburg — Project against Canada.
Differences with the assembly — Appropriation for a College. II. Unsuccessful effort
of the northern colonies to oppose the enemy — Peace of Aix la Chapelle — Provincial
agents appointed—Continued disputes between the Governor and Assembly — Accom
modation. III. Termination of Mr. Clinton's administration — His character. IV. Ad
ministration of Sir Danvers Osborne — His unhappy death. V. Mr. De Lancey Lieu
tenant Governor — His administration — War of 1756. VI. Sir Charles Hardy — Go
vernor, influenced by Mr. De Lancey — War prosecuted. VII. Government again de
volves on Mr, De Lancey. VIII. Energetic efforts of Mr. Pitt — Reduction of Canada
—death and character of Mr. De Lancey. IX. Administration of Mr. Colden. X.
Indian War  48
CHAPTER VI.
I. Impressions on the ministry by the wealth and power displayed by the colonies. II.
Proposition of Mr. Grenville to tax the provinces- III. Views of the provinces on this
subject. IV. Effect produced in America — Proceedings of the legislature of New York.
V. Reception of the Stamp Act in the colonies. VI. Temporary suspension of legal
proceedings — Of newspapers — Anti-importation associations. VII. Organisation of the
'¦' Sons of Liberty." VIII. First colonial congress — Its proceedings. IX. Efforts in
England for repeal of the Stamp Act. X. Arrival of Governor Moore — His moderation
relative to the public commotions. XI. Remaining discontents of the provinces. XII.
American taxation again proposed — Proceedings thereon. XIII. Modified repeal of
the imposts. XIV. Death of Governor Moore — His administration. XV. Third ad
ministration of Lieut. Governor Colden — Lord Dunmore appointed Governor — Is suc
ceeded by Governor Tryon  63
CHAPTER VII.
I. General quiet disturbed by the shipment of Teas. II. Proceedings thereon in America
generally — in New York. III. Measures of the Administration against the Colonies
IV. Effect in the Provinces — Second Congress convoked — Delegates chosen in New
York, and Committees of correspondence appointed. V. Proceedings of the Congress.
VI. Separate action of the Assembly of New York — Influence of Governor Tryon —
Committee of Observation in New York — VII. Reception of the American proceedings
in England — Lord North's conciliatory proposition. VIII. Second meeting of the se
cond Congress — Defensive measures of the people— Proceedings of Congress — Warlike
measures adopted — Commander in chief and other General officers appointed — Siege of
Boston1 — Invasion of Canada. IX. Committee of Superintendence — Provincial Congress

CONTENTS. Vll
in Now York elected — Plan of reconciliation proposed — Troops from Connecticut in
vited to protect the city — Committee of Safety — Supplies furnished to the enemy. X.
Second Provincial Convention — Queens and Richmond Counties refuse to send Dele
gates — Measures to repress the Tory influence in New York — Governor Tryon goes
on Shipboard — Destruction of Rivington's Press — General Lee with a military force
takes possession of New York. XI. Measures for the defence of New York under
General Washington. XII. Congress recommends to the Colonies to form indepen
dent governments — Progress towards independence — Declaration of Independence.
XIII. Third Provincial Congress — Recommends to the people, to give specially, the
power to form a new Government XIV. Fourth Provincial Congress — Approves the
Declaration Of Independence — Defines and denounces Treason. XV. Extensive mili
tary preparations of Great Britain. XVI. British army arrives at Staten Island —
American state of defence — Attempt of British Commissioners at pacification.
Battle of Long Island and its consequences— Second attempt of the Commissioners for
pacification. XVII. The American Army abandons York Island — Battle of White
Plains — Loss of Forts Washington and Lee — Retreat of the American Army into
Pennsylvania. XVIII. State constitution adopted, and State Government organised.
XIX. Territorial division of the State, XX. Unsuccessful efforts to propitiate the In
dians — Exposed state of the Frontiefs — Influence of the Johnson family upon the In
dians — Cruel proceedings of the Tories and Indians in the interior of the State — Of the
Tories on the Seaboard. XXI, Measures adopted by the State against the Tories.
XXII. Settlement of the Boundaries of the State— Controversy with Vermont. XXIII.
Boundary between New York and New Jersey. XXIV. Devotion of New York to the
confederation— Boundary between New York and Pennsylvania on the West and
South. XXV." Adoption of the Federal Constitution.  71

GAZETTEER— BOOK I.
CHAPTER I.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION.
1. Geographical Position. 2. General Boundaries. 3. Great interest of the Topography
of the,State. 4. Concise notice of the Appalachian System of Mountains. 5. Exten
sion of that System over the State of New York, Subdivisions, Western, Eastern, Ta
bles of Heights and Distances from the Hudson River to Lake Erie. 6. The Kaats-
bergs. 7. The South Mountains or Highlands. 8. The Tagheanic, Matteawan, and
Peterborough Mountains. 9. The Northern Subdivision of the Mountain System —
Palmertown, Kayaderosseras, Clinton, Peru, Chateaugua, Mountains — Highlands of
Black River — Hassencleaver Mountain. 10. Vales and Plains — Seneca and Oneida
Vale — Montezuma Marshes — Great Plain of the West — Plain of Long Island. 1
CHAPTER II.
ST. LAWRENCE BASIN,
1. General Notice of the St. Lawrence Basin — Subdivisions-7-Area— Depth— Elevations —
Quantity of Fresh Water. 2. Upper Division and Lake Superior. 3. Central Division
— Lake Huron — Lake Michigan— Chicago — Green Bay — Lake St. Clair — Lake Erie
— Grand River — Welland Canal — Niagara River and Falls. 4. Lower Division — Pass
betwen the St. Lawrence Basin and the Basin of the Hudson— Former Limits of Lake
Ontario — Mountain Ridge and Ridge Road — Levels and Distances through the St.
Lawrence Basin — upon the line of the Erie Canal — Elevations of the smaller lakes
within the Basin — Valley of the Hudson River and Lake Champlain — Description of
the Hudson River and its Chief Tributaries. 5. Tributaries of Lake Ontario — the
Genesee River — Proposed Canal to Olean from Rochester — Oswego River, and its Con
stituents — Proposed Ship Canal from Oswego — Other Tributaries from this State to
Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River and its Chief Confluents — Rideau Canal.
7. Tables of Distances through the St. Lawrence Basin. .... 11
CHAPTER III.
RIVERS FLOWING SOUTHWARD.
1. Delaware. — 2. Susquehanna. — 3. AUegaay. . , . . 37

Vlfl CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
, GEOLOGY. »
1. Proposed Geological Survey. 2. Primitive formation— Northern District— Mineral
Constituents and Localities — Southern District — Highlands — Beds of Marble of Dutch
ess and West Chester— Notice of Long and Staten Islands. 3. Transition, and Lower
Secondary Formations — Characteristics — Exfent — Vast Limestone Districts — Subordi
nate Series, comprehending Saliferous, Ferriferous and the lower Lias, or Water
Lime, Rocks — Salt Spring's — Gypsum— Southern Sandstone District — Basaltic Rocks
— Palisades. 4. Secondary Formation — Characteristics — Extent — Coal — Peat. 5. Ter
tiary Formation — Constituents — Locality. 6. Latest Deposits. 7. Soils — Their De- '
pendence on Geological Constituents — Primitive — Transition and Secondary Soils —
Their respective Properties. 8. Condition of Agriculture in the several parts of the
State. .............. 40
CHAPTER V.
CLIMATE.
1. Great Variability. 2. Principles which govern Climate — Latitude — Elevation of Sur
face — Currents of Air — Forests. 3. Consideration of the effect upon Climate, byClear-
ing Euid Cultivating the Soil. 4. Winter Season — Duration in several parts of the
State— Comforts of the Winter. 5. Summer Heats — Variations of the Thermometer
at different Seasons. 6. Autumn— Changes in the Season — Indian Summer. 7. Alter
nations of Frost and Thaw. 8. Winds — General — Peculiar — Northwest Wind — North
east — East — Southeast — South — Southwest, and West 9. Thunder jforms — System
of Meteorological Observations, established by the regents of the University. 61
CHAPTER VI.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
1. Great effects flowing from the New York Canal System. 2. Character of the Hudson
"~and Mohawk Valleys — Views of Improvement, during Colonial Administration. 3.
Early view of connecting the Hudson river, with lake Erie — Merit of such conception.
4. Claims to the honour of first proposing the Erie Canal — For Gouverneur Morris —
For Jesse Hawley — For Joshua Forman. 5. Resolution proposed by Mr. Forman,
adopted by the Assembly — Survey by Mi\ Geddes. 6. Public attention drawn to In
ternal Improvements. 7. Western and Northern Inland Navigation Companies. 8.
Efforts of Thomas Eddy, and proposition for Survey, by Judge Piatt — Appointment of
the first Canal Commissioners. 9. Their Report—Commissioners continued — Appli
cation to the General Government for aid — Authority given by .the State to Borrow
Money — Proceedings suspended by the war of 1812. 10. Renewed efforts of the
Friends of the Canal, in 1815 — Memorial prepared by De Witt Clinton. 11. Act of
17th April, 1816, and proceedings thereon. 12. Act of 15th April, 1817, authorising
the commencement of Canals— Obstacles. 13. Canal Fund. 14. Progress of the
Work — Celebration of its completion, 4th Nov. 1825. 15. Extension of the System of
Internal Improvement. 16. Donations in aid of the Canals. 17. Commissioners and
Engineers. 18. Beneficial effect on the public sentiment — Consequences. 19. Extinc
tionof the Canal Debt — Tolls — Repairs. 20. Description of the Canals, first, Of the
Erie Canal. Table of Distances. Period of Navigation. Enlargement of the Canal.
Estimate of Cost. Second, Champlain Canal. Table of Distances. Third, Oswego
Canal. Distances. Fourth, Cayuga and Seneca Canal. Distances. Fifth, Chemung
Canal, Distances. Sixth, Crooked Lake Canal. 21. Statement of Receipts and Ex
penditures of the Canal Fund to 1835, inclusive. 22. Statement of Cost, Tolls, &c. of
Canals. 23. Rates of Toll. 24. Tables showing the business of the Canals. 25. De.
scription of the Delaware and Hudson Canal. Distances. 26. Description of the
Morris Canal. Distances. 27. Description of the Delaware and Raritan Canal. 28.
Rail Roads — List of such as have been authorised by the State. 29. Turnpike Roads
and BridgeB. . •  68

BOOK II.

CHAPTER I.
POLITICAL VIEW.
L Political Power derived from the People — Laws divided into Supreme and Subordinate-
3. Territorial Divisions for Political objects. 3. Measures for Distributing Power ac-

CONTENTS. IX
cording to population — Census. 4. Restrictions imposed by the People, on their Repre
sentatives. 5. Division of the Political Power into three branches. 6. Legislative Power —
Senate — Assembly — Provisions relating to both houses — Provisions relating to Appli
cations to the Legislature — Forms of Legislation — Action of the Governor in Legis
lation — Preservation of the Laws — Officers of the Legislature — Compensation of
Members and Officers — Restriction as to Holding Office, on members of the Legis
lature  ......... 118
CHAPTER II.
OF THE EXECUTIVE POWER. — AND ELECTIONS.
1. Qualifications for Governor, &c. 2. Election of. .3 Powers and Duties — Devolve on
Lieutenant Governor, when — upon President of the Senate, when. 4: Compensation.
5. Subordinate Executive Officers — how appointed. 6. Secretary of State — Deputy —
Duties. 7. Comptroller, his Duties — Deputies — Compensation. 8. Treasurer — his
Duties — Deputy—Compensation. 9. Attorney General — Duties — Compensation. 10.
Surveyor General — Duties — Compensation. 11. State Printer — Duties — Compensation.
12. Duties, common to two or more of the Executive Officers. 13. List of Administrative
Officers. 14. General Provisions respecting the qualifications and Appointment of Of
ficers and Terra of Office. 15. Of Elections, other than for Militia and Town Officers
— Qualifications of Voters — General and Special Elections — Election Districts — Elec
tion Officers — Notices. 16. Manner of Conducting Elections — Reception of Votes —
Canvass by the Inspectors — Final Canvass — Duties of the Secretary of State, after Final
Canvass — Representatives in Congress — Electors of President and Vice President —
Senators in Congress — Penalties for Breach of Election Laws. . . . 124
CHAPTER III.
OF THE FUNDS, REVENUE, PROPERTY AND EXPENDITURE, OF THE STATE.
1. The General Fund. 2. Canal Fund. 3. Literature Fund. 4. Common School Fund.
5. Public Lands. 6. Public Buildings. 7. State Library. 8. Canals — Canal Com
missioners — Canal Board. 9. Salt Springs — Management of. 10. Interestof the State
in Mines  143
CHAPTER IV.
POWERS, DUTIES, AND PRIVILEGES OF TOWNS — REGULATIONS RELATIVE TO ESTRAYS AND
FENCES.
1. Rights of Towns as Bodies Corporate. 2. Effects of the Division of a Town. 3. Of
Annual and Special Town Meetings. 4. Mode of conducting them. 5. Election of
Town Officers. 6. Qualifications of Town Officers — Tenure of Office, 7. Vacancies —
— How filled. 8. Duties of Supervisors. 9. Duties of Town Clerk. 10. Estrays. 11.
Of Fences, and. Fence Viewers. 1 2. Auditors of Accounts. 13. Compensation of
Officers. 14. Legal Proceedings by or against Towns. 15. Miscellaneous Pro
visions.  156
CHAPTER V.
OF COUNTIES AND COUNTY OFFICERS.
1. Corporate Powers of Counties. 2. Board of Supervisors — Time and Place of Meeting
— Powers and Duties. 3. County Treasurer. 4. County Clerk. 5. Sheriffs and Coro
ners. 6. Surgeons. 7. District Attorney. 8. Legal proceedings for, or against Coun
ties. 9. Miscellaneous, arid Special Provisions  163
CHAPTER VI.
TAXATION.
1. Property Liable to Taxation. 2. Where Assessed. 3. Manner of Assessment. 4.
Equalisation of Assessments. 5. Mode of Collection. 6. Duties of County Treasurer,
Comptroller and other officers. 7. Sales for Taxes, Conveyance, and Redemption of
Lands Sold. 8. Tax of Incorporated Companies. 9. Miscellaneous provisions of a
General Nature. . 10. Tax on Debts due to Nonresidents. 11. Table of Taxable Pro
perty in the State. 12. Table of Incorporated Companies Liable to Taxation. 1 3.
Brief History of Taxation in the State.  168
CHAPTER VII.
OF THE MILITIA.
1. How constituted — Exempts. 2. Appointment to, and tenure of office — Adjutant Gene
ral — Compensation — Commissary General — Compensation — Commissioned and Staff
Officers — Non-commissioned Officers — Elections, by whom ordered — Resignations, how
made. 3. Organisation, Uniform, and Discipline. 4. Organisation of the Staff De-
B

X CONTENTS.
partment. 5. Of Bands of Music. 6. Parades and Rendezvous. 7. Military Esta
blishment, extent of. 8. Ordnance, Arms, &c. amount of. x°*
CHAPTER VIII. ,
PROVISIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.
1. Quarantine and Local Provisions. 2. Historical notice of Legislative Provisions re
lating to the Practice of Medicine. 3. County Medical Societies— How formed— State
Medical Society— Powers of the County and State Societies, in Granting Diplomas. 4.
Qualification of Practitioner of Medicine. 5. Supervision of County Medical Societies
over their Members. 6. Medical Colleges. 7. Number of Physicians. . 188
CHAPTER IX.
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
1. Efforts of the Dutch Administration. 2. Of the British Administration. 3. Early
Efforts of the State Government — Columbia College — University. 4. Foundation of
the State Common Schools — Common School Fund — Progress of the System. 5. The
University — how Constituted — its Powers and Duties. 6. University of the City of
New York. 7. Colleges — Constitution — Powers and Duties — Theological Seminaries.
8. Academies — Laneasterian Schools — Academies for -Instruction to Teachers. 9. Ta-
' ble of the Academies under the Supervision of the Regents. 10. Superintendent of
Common Schools. 11. Distribution of School Moneys. 12. Commissioners — their Du
ties. 13. Duty of Inspectors. 14. School Districts — Officers. 15. School Tax — how
Apportioned — how Collected. 16. System of Common Schools in the City of New
York. 17. Public School Society — its Labours. 18. Education of the Deaf and Dumb
— and Blind. 19. Condition of the Common Schools in the State, in 1836. 20. Tabu
lar view of their Progress from 1816. 21. Expenditure of the State, for Education.
22. General Remarks on the State System of Education. 23. Religious Instruction an
Essential Part of Public Education. 24. Principal religious Denominations in the
State. 25. Presbyterian. 26. Methodist. 21. Baptist. 28. Episcopalian. 29. Dutch
Reformed. 30. Universalists. 31. Roman Catholics. 32. Lutherans. 33. Quakers.
34. Summary of Churches — Ministers and Members of the Principal Religious Sects.
35. View of the Cost of Religious instruction. 36. Newspapers in the State. 37. Re
vised Laws  . . 191
CHAPTER X.
REGULATIONS OF TRADE.
1. Auctions. 2. Inspection of Flour. 3. Beef and Pork. 4. Pot and Pearl Ashes. 5.
Fish. 6. Fish or Liver Oil. 7. Lumber and Shingles, 8. Staves and Heading. 9.
Flaxseed. 10. Leather. 11. Green Hides. 12. Hops. 13* Distilled Spirits. 14.
Leaf Tobacco. 15. General provisions relative to Inspections. 16. Regulations rela
tive to the package of Butter, Lard, and Hay. 17. Hawkers and Pedlars. 18. Taverns
and Groceries. 19. Brokers, Stockjobbing, and Pawn-brokers. . . . 226
CHAPTER XI.
REGULATION OF TIME, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, AND MONEY OF ACCOUNT.
1. Computation of Time. 2. Measures of Length and Surface. 3. Standard of Weight.
4. Measures of Capacity for Liquid and Dry Commodities. 5. The Bushel. 6. Con
tracts according to Standards. 7. Standards how kept — Duties of Sealers. 8. Mea
surer General, his Duties. 9. His Returns. 10. Weigher General — Duties and Fees.
11. Public Accounts, in what Money kept  247
CHAPTER XII.
CERTAIN REGULATIONS OF INTERNAL POLICE.
1. Navigation of Rivers and Lakes — Steamboats — Passengers to and from — Provisions
for their Safety — Obstruction of Navigation by Nets, &c. 2. Regulation of Fisheries
— Use of Poisonous Berries forbidden — Mode of Fishing at Certain Places — Rights of
the State in Hudson River — Powers of Courts to regulate Fisheries — Fishery in Lake
Ontario. 3. Regulations in case of Wrecks. 4. Law of the Road and Stages. 5. Firing
of Woods. 6. Embezzlement of Timber. 7. Preservation of Game. 8. Protection
against Dogs. 9. Destruction of Noxious Animals. . 253
CHAPTER XIII.
INCORPORATIONS.
1. Advantages of Incorporations. 2. Library and Religious Societies — how incorporated.
3. Manufacturing Companies — how incorporated. 4. Quasi Incorporations or Limited
Partnerships, how formed— Nature of. 5. Turnpike Companies. 6. Monied corpo
rations — what Restrictions on— Surplus Profits, hpw Ascertained — Assignments to, or

CONTENTS. XI
by, how Made — Annual Statements to be Rendered by— Circulation of Small Nqfes by,
r Prohibited — Notes of Banking Corporations, where Payable; — Whole Capital Stock of
Banks to be Paid in. 7. Safety Fund — How Constituted arid Applied. 8. Proceedings
in Chancery relative to Insolvent Banks and Charges on the Fund. 9. Bank Commis
sioners — how Appointed — their Duties. 10. Circulation of Banks Limited. 11. Lia
bilities of Stockholders. 12. Statements to be Furnished by Banks. 13. Interest Re
ceivable by Banks. 14. Capital to be paid in — may be reduced when. 15. Bills Pay
able on Demand. 16. Loans of Bank Fund, how made. 17. Penalty for Defacing
Bank Notes. 18. Unclaimed Balances in Banks to be Published. 19. Premiums on
Exchange Prohibited to Banks in Certain Cases — Other Prohibitions. 20. Banking
not authorised by Law prohibited. 21. Bank Notes Payable in Lawful Money — are
Promissory Notes. 22. Insurances Foreign Prohibited — Duty on Insurances by Com
panies not authorised by the State. 23. Savings Banks, Objects of, Number of. 24.
New York Life Insurance and Trust Company. 25. Number of Insurance Companies
in the State. 26. General Powers &c. of Corporations — Liabilities of Stockholders
when Company'Insolvent and Capita] not paid in — Corporations to organise, when —
Managers are Trustees upon Dissolution — Books open for Inspection previous to Elec
tion — Penalty on Directors for Diminishing Capital, Stock, &c- — Amount of Debts
which a Corporation may Owe — Corporation refusing Payment of its Debts may not
Assign Property. 27. Banking System of New York, Remarks on— Object and e£
fects of the Safety Fund — Condition of the Safety Fund — Banks Subject to the Safety
Fund Law — Banks not so Subject — State of the Banks in 1835 — in 1836. . 261
CHAPTER XIV.
JUDICIARY.
1. Judiciary Power, in what Courts Vested. 2. Laws in Force. 3. Certain Judicial Of
ficers — Appointment to, and Tenure of, office. 4. Judicial Officers Elected by the Peo
ple. 5. CoUrt for the Trial of Impeachments, and Correction of. Errors. 6. Court of
Chancery. 7. Supreme and Circuit Courts. 8. Courts of Common Pleas and General
Sessions. 9. Superior Court of the City of New York. 10. Mayor's Courts of Cities.
11." Surrogate's Courts. 12. Courts of Special Sessions of the Peace. 13. Special Jus
tices' Courts. 14. Courts of Justices of the Peace. 15. General Provisions relating to
Courts of Law. 14. Courts of Justice of the Peace. 15. General Provisions relating
to Courts of Law. 16. Commissioners of Deeds. 17. Counsellors, Solicitors, and At
torneys — Number of. 18. Trial by Jury — Mode of Forming Jury — Special Jury. 19.
Arbitrations and References.  277
CHAPTER XV.
CRIMINAL CODE.
1. Criminal Code, its Character — Jiow distributed. 2. Crimes punishable by Death —
, Treason— Murder — Arson in the First Degree. 3. Offences , against the Person pup-
' ishable by Imprisonment in a State Prison — Manslaughter — first, second, third, fourth
degree. 4. Homicide, justifiable or excusable — when. 5. Rape. 6. Mayhem. 7.
Kidnapping. 8. Abandonment of Children. Attempt to kill or commit other Felony.
10. Offences against Property, punishable by Imprisonment in a State Prison— what.
11. Arson of Inferior Degrees — second, third, fourth. 12. Burglary, three degrees.
13. Forgery, four degrees. 14. Falsely personating another, and Cheats. 15. Rob
bery, Embezzlement and Larceny. 16. Offences against the Administration of Jus--
tice — what. 17. Perjury, and Subornation of Perjury. 18. Bribery, and corrupting
Jurors, &c. 19. Escape from Prison. 20. Offences against Public Peace and Public ,
mprals, &c. 21. Duelling. 22. Unlawful Marriage or Incest. 23. Offences agajnst .
Public Decency — Malicious Mischief — Concealing or Compounding Offences. 24. Of
fences punishable by Imprisonment in a County Jail, &c. — Petty Larceny — Misde
meanours. 25. General Provisions concerning crimes and their punishment. 26. Pro- .
cedure in Criminal Cases. 27. Surety of the Peace. 28. Arrest and Examination of
offenders — Bail. 29. Trials before Court of Special Sessions. 30. Grand Jury — In
dictment. 31. Indictments — when and how removable. 32. Issues in Fact — where
and by whom tried. 33. Writs of Error, when, and how allowed — effect of. 34. Coro
ner's Inquest.  291
CHAPTER XVI.
OF JAILS, PENITENTIARIES, HOUSE OF REFUGE.
1. Of County Prisons,, their Tenants and Police. 2. Of State Prisons — Inspectors, their
Duties. 3. Offieefs of State Prisons — Duties — Compensation. 4. Treatment of the.
Prisoners. 5. State of the Prisons in 1835. 6. History of the Auburn System— De
scription of the Auburn Prison — Employment of the Prisoners — Description of Mount
Pleasant Prison. 7. Results of the Auburn System. 8. Statistical Memoranda Rela-

XII

CONTENTS.

tive to Crimes in New York— Health of State Prisons— Use of the Pardoning Power-
Number of Annual Convictions — Character of offences — Proportion of the Sexes .in
Crime — Native and Foreign Criminals — Proportion of Criminals to Ages. 9. House
of Refiige— History of.  dUB
CHAPTER XVII.
PAUPERISM.
1 . Derivation of the Poor System. 2. Paupers supported by Relatives, when. 3 Main
tained by County or Town, when. 4. Superintendents of Poor, how Appointed. Powers
and Duties. 5. Poor House may be Erected, when, how. 6. Excise Moneys, to whom
Payable — Balance of Town Moneys, how disposed of when Poor House is erected.
Maintenance of Poor, County Charge, when — Town Charge, when. 8. Settlemeut,
how Gained. 9. Pauper not to be Removed — by whom Supported, when having a Set
tlement — when not. 10. Pauper sent to the Poor House, when.« 11. Manner of Re
lief where there is no Poor House — where each Town Supports its own Poor, and there
is a Poor Housa. 12. Penalty on Removing Pauper from one place to another, with
intent to charge the latter with his Maintenance. 13. Penalties on Superintendents for
Neglect of Duty. 14. Penalties Payable to County Treasurer, when — how Collected.
15. Poor House and Appurtenances exempt from Taxation. 16. Idiot and Lunatic
Paupers may be Supported out of Poor House. 17. Disposition of Town Poor Funds
Invested. 18. Reports to Secretary of State. 19. Poor Moneys received and expend
ed by Overseers, when. 20. Provisions in Relation to Vagrants. 21. In Relation to
Bastards. 22. Habitual 'Drunkards. 23. Remarks on the Pauper System of the State.
24. Statistics Relative to the Poor  324
CHAPTER XVIII.
GENERAL STATISTICS.
I. Statistical Returns of the Marshals on taking the Census in 1825 and 1835. 2. Com
parison between the Returns of the two Periods. 3. Tables of the Cotton, Woollen,
and Iron Manufactures in 1832. 4. Commerce — Tables showing Progress and Pre
sent Condition of Imports, Exports and Tonnage. 5. Population Tables from 1720. 334

BOOK III.
TOPOGRAPHY.

1. Albany County
2. Allegany
3. Broome .
4. Cattaraugus
5. Cayuga
6. Chautauque
7. Chenango
8. Clinton
9. Columbia
10. Courtland
11. Delaware
13. Dutchess
13. Erie
14. Essex
15. Franklin
16. Genesee
17. Green .
18. Hamilton
19. Herkimer
20. Jefferson
SI. Kings .
22. Lewis .
23. Livingston
24. Long Island
25. Madison
26. Monroe
27. Montgomery
28. New York
29, Niagara

340 352360 365372380389395 402
414 418 424
436448456 460
468475 477
485494 500
505512 517524
533542556

Oneida .

564

Onondaga

577
Ontario
"587
Orange
596
Orleans
608
Oswego
613
Otsego . .
621
Putnam
630
Queens
634
Rensselaer
641
Richmond
642
Rockland
657
St. Lawrence
660
Saratoga
671
Schenectady
687
Schoharie
693
Seneca .
699
Steuben
703
Suffolk .
711
Sullivan
717
Tioga .
721
Tompkins
729
Ulster .
736
Warren .
744
Washington
751
Wayne
759
Westchester
765
Yates .
772
ERRATA.

HISTORICAL ESSAY.
Page
2, line 12, for " Ireland" read ' Iceland."
16, line 47, for "purchase" read "purpose."
31, 32, for " Belmont" read " Bellamont."
42, line 3, from foot, for " enterprising" read " unenterprising."
68, line 68, for " 1666" read " 1766."
GAZETTEER.
11, line 39, for "281" read " 231."
29, line 12, for " Chautauque" read " Allegany."
38, line 11, for "Oswego" read "Owego."
44, line 35, for " locks" read " rocks."
63, line 3, from bottom, for " September" read " December."
103, for " Pobatcong" read " Pohatcong"
105, line 30, for " Batavia" read " Attica."
31, for " Utica" read " Attica."
136, lines 34, 35, dele "Register and Clerk of New York."
137, line 33, for " Commissioners" read " Canvassers."
139, line 41, for "A. M." read "P. M."
157, line 49, for "providential" read "prudential."
'*' line 51, for "partition of" read "partition or."
168, line 3], for "overseer" read " superintendent."
238, line 9, for "of afoot" read "Jit for."
42, after the words, " Every culler" read " except."
240, line 43, for " 40" read " 4." (
247, line 13, from foot, for " treasury" read " of state.."
254, line 23, for "pike" read "Jike."
293, line 38, for " lawful" read " unlawful."
296, line 21, for "altered" read " uttered."
345, line 55, for " Castleton" read 'iGreenbush."
386, line 16, for "1822" read " 1832."
510, Amend the article " Sparta," striking out the following words, " with the Genesee
valley, 2 miles broad, drained by the Genesee river, which receives the Canascraga creek
and tributaries," and insert, " drained by the Canascraga creek and tributaries."

ESSAY

HISTORY OF NEW YORK

CHAPTER I.
I. Principles of Religious and Political Liberty — Their Influence in the Colonisation of
America. II. Spanish, Portuguese and French Navigators in North America. III. Eng
lish efforts at discovery, previous to the Voyages of Hudson. IV. Voyages of Hudson —
Discovery of Delaware and New York Bays, &c. — Exploration of the North River —
Death of Hudson. V. Discoveries of the French on the Northern Boundaries of New
York. VI. Dutch Traffic with the Indians on the Hudson — Puritan Emigrants of New
Plymouth. VII. Formation of the Dutch West India Company — Their efforts at Coloni
sation — Voyage of Mey, and Colony on the Delaware — Forts at New York and Albany.
VUI. Colony under Minuit, at Manahaltan — Successes of Ihe Westlndia Company. IX.
Charter of Liberties, &c. for Patroons or Founders of Colonies in America. X. Large
Tracts of Land taken up by Patroons. XI. Voyages of De Vries to the Delaware. XII.
Wouter Van Twiller, Governor. XIII. Swedish Settlements on the Delaware. XIV.
English Settlements in New Netherland— Disputes between the Colonies of New Eng
land and New Netherland — They firstapply to Cromwell for Aid — Efforts of Stuyvesant
to maintain the Dutch Title. XV. Measures of Charles I. against the Possessions of
the States General in North America — Grant to the Duke of York — He conveys part of
the Province to Berkeley and Carteret. XVI. New Netherland reduced by the English,
under Col. Nicholls. Remarks on Governor Stuyvesant's Administration. XVII. Con
dition of the Province, at the time of its Capture. XVIII. War with Holland — The Pos
session of New York confirmed to the English at Peace. XIX. Natnre of Proprietary
Rights granted by the Crown. XX. Prudence of Col. Nicholls. XXI. Administration
of Col. Lovelace. XXII. Recapture of New York, by 'the Hollanders. XXIII. Restored
to the English.
I. The last quarter of the eighteenth, and the first of the nineteenth, centuries form
one of the most eventful periods of history ; strikingly characterised by the fearful strug
gle between the antagonist principles of Liberty and Despotism. The seeds of this con
test, however, with all its thrilling events, were sown in the seventeenth century ; and
no invaluable portion fell upon the virgin and fruitful soil of North America. The thick
darkness, with which clerical power had covered Europe, was rent by the Reformation;
and the divinity of Kings expired with the unhappy Charles I. of England. The transi
tion of power from one sect to another, taught Catholic and Protestant the benefits, if
not the necessity, of religious tolerance. Letters, the cause and power of religious free
dom, were alike serviceable to civil liberty ; and the great truth, which had been buried,
for ages, beneath sacerdotal palaces and prisons, and the gothic gorgeousness and massive
oppression of the feudal system — the great truth, that political power was of, and for, the
people, had been rediscovered ; was generally understood among men, and particularly
among Englishmen. That truth wrenched the sceptre from an obstinate and bigoted
despot, bore him to the block, and upon the ruins of his power reared a republic ; and,
because of the abuse of republican forms, re-established the throne. Religious and po
litical freedom became, in England, terms, as familiar as household words, and enforced
respect from her most arbitrary princes.
In the formation of new political associations, by English agency, therefore, these great
essentials could not be omitted. Kings and Proprietaries, who would successfully found
colonics, were compelled to grant religious toleration and legislative power to the people.
Hence, the first Charles, who abominated a parliament, required Calvert to obtain all sub.
sidies by the assent of the commons : hence, the second Charles, introduced the same
principle in the charter of Pennsylvania : and hence, also, the Penns, the Carterets, the
Berkeleys were compelled to grant their liberal constitutions. All obeyed a law, which
the moral improvement of our species had imposed ; the influence of which, each might
extend, but none could resist
Under such auspices, the North American States were founded ; and their citizens may
gratefully, exult in their origin, since no nobler model of character can be proposed to
1

<& HISTORY OF
them, than that, which the early history of their country supplies. New York claims a
full proportion of this just praise— for she has borne her full share in the labours and perils
of subduing the wilderness, of resisting tyrannical governors, of throwing off the yoke ot
despotism, and of creating the wealth and renown of the nation. To develope, in some
degree, these meritorious efforts, is the object of the following essay, in which we propose
to trace the history of the state, from its foundation to the establishment of its indepen.
dence. From that period the history of the state, is that of the United States. — A history
wo do not propose to write.
II. Before the discovery by Hudson, the eastern shores of North America had been
visited by several European nations. If credit be due to Islandic and Norwegian tradi
tions, the Bay and coasts of New York may have been known to the hardy and enter
prising navigators of Ireland and Greenland, even in the tenth century. It is certain,
that, soon after the discovery of the continent by Columbus, the Spaniards and Portu
guese explored the northern Atlantic coast as high as Labrador ; but they made no per
manent settlements north of Florida, which the former occupied in 1512. To the Italian
seamen we owe, as well the early exploration, as the discovery of America. Verrazano
and the Cabots were worthy auxiliaries of Columbus and Vespucius. The former, in the
service of France, in 1523, coasted the continent from the 30th to 50th degree of N.
Lat., and probably spent some time in New York harbour, as he describes some of
its features with tolerable accuracy. By virtue of his discoveries and those made by some
French captains, Henry IV, of France, gave to Des-Monts, in 1603, the country between
the 40th and 46th degrees N. Lat. The death of Verrazano, in 1524, procrastinated,
for ten years, the efforts of the French to establish colonies in America ; and the
voyages of Quartier, in 1535, directed their attention to the shores of the St. Lawrence.
III. Under the auspices of Henry VII, of England, John and Sebastian Cabot dis
covered, in 1497, the islands of Newfoundland and St. Johns, and explored the coast of the
continent, from the 38th to the 67th degree of N. Lat; thereby obtaining for the English
nation, the honour of being the second that visited the western world ; and the
first that touched the American mainland. Sebastian, again visited the coast in 1498
and 1499.* Upon Cabot's voyages is based the title of England, to her subsequent
possessions in North America : but no immediate fruit was produced from his labours ;
and it was not, until the reign of Elizabeth, that a fuller knowledge of the new world
taught the advantages which might be derived from them. Yet this interesting subject was
not wholly neglected. During the reign of Henry VIII, several voyages appear to have
been made to the western lands. Sebastian Cabot, in 1517, attempted the discovery of a
northwest passage to India. An account of another voyage in 1527, for the same object,
has been transmitted to us, by Rut, the commander of one of the ships, forwarded from the
haven of St. John, in Newfoundland.* This implies an established intercourse between
England and the American coast. Hackluyt has preserved the relation of a voyage to
Newfoundland in 1536, told by one Hore.t And it would seem that the fisheries of New
foundland bad grown into consideration, in 1541, and 1548; since, they became subjects
of regulation by parliament. In 1553, a fleet, under Willoughby and Chancellor, sought
India by the northern promontory of Lapland. Willoughby and his crew perished ; but
Chancellor made Russia known to the rest of Europe. And in 1555, a company of Mer
chant adventurers was incorporated for the discovery of unknown lands.
Encouraged by the Earl of Warwick, Martin Frobisher, in three successive voyages,
in 1576, 7, 8, visited Labrador and Greenland. In 1580, Sir Humphrey Gilbert made
two unsuccessful attempts to establish a colony in North America, in the last of which he
perished. His fate did not deter his half brother, Sir Walter Raleigh, from pursuing his
design, which had deeply interested some of the principal men of the kingdom. He ob
tained from the Queen, a charter for all the lands he should discover between the 33d and
40th degrees of N. Latt Two vessels despatched by him, under Armidas and Barlow,§
visited Pamplico Sound and Roanokg Bay. Upon their favourable report Elizabeth gave to
the country, the name of Virginia, as well because of its uncultivated soil, as of its dis
covery in the reign of a maiden Queen. Further efforts of Raleigh, however, were un
successful. A colony was indeed planted at Roanoke, in 1585, by Sir Richard Grenville,
but being unsupported, the adventurers returned to Europe in the following year, with
Sir Francis Drake, who touched at the island, on his way home from a successful cruize
against the Spaniards. Soon after their departure, the promised succours arrived under Sir
Richard Grenville ; who, leaving fifteen men at Roanoke, repaired to Europe for further in
structions. Undiscouraged by ill success, Raleigh despatched another colony to the same
place, under Capt. John White, who arrived in July, 1587, with instructions, after uniting
*Purchas, v. iii. p. 809. Hackluyt, v. iii. p. 129 and 130. Mem: of Sebastian Cabot.
+ Hackluyt, ib.
\ 26 March, 1584.
§They sailed 27 April, and returned 15 September, 1584.

NEW YORK. d
with the party left by Grenville, to proceed to the Chpsapeak Bay; the superior advantages
of which had been discovered the preceding year. Unhappily, Grenville's remnant had
been destroyed by the natives ; nor was the party under White more fortunate. After
establishing them at Roanoke, he sailed for London, in order to obtain necessary supplies;
but was there delayed by the attempt of the Spaniards to invade England. An effort by
Raleigh to despatch a small squadron under Sir Richard Grenville, to relieve the colony,
failed from the same cause. In April 1588, however, White got to sea; but cruizing
against the enemy, he was beaten and compelled to abandon the voyage. In 1589, Ra
leigh assigned his patent to Sir Thomas Smith and a company of London merchants ; by
whom, after the lapse of a year, an expedition was fitted out for Roanoke, with which Mr.
White sailed. The commanders wasted much time in plundering the Spaniards in the
West Indies, and did not arrive at Cape Hatteras until the month of August, though they
had left Plymouth in March, (1590.) They came too late. Circumstances indicated, that
the colonists had removed, but no efforts could discover whither ; nor were they afterwards
heard of. The expedition returned without further attempt at settlement.
Between the years 1590 and 1603, the English made no efforts at colonisation. In the
latter year, Bartholomew Gosnold, by steering due west, opened a more direct route to
the northern continent. He visited and gave name to Cape Cod, and the islands of Eliza
beth and Martha's Vineyard, and taught his countrymen, that there were attractions far
north of the lands they had hitherto sought to people. Upon bis favourable report con
firmed by the voyage of Pring, (1603) an association was formed, through the zeal of
Richard Hackluyt, composed of men of rank and of business, who engaged earnestly in
projects of settlement. It was divided into two companies, to which James I, on the
10th April, 1606, granted letters patent, dividing that portion of the continent which
stretches from the 34th to the 46th degree of N. Lat. into two nearly equal portions. The
one, called the first, or south colony, of Virginia, was allotted to Sir Thomas Gates,
Richard Hackluyt, and their associates mostly residents of London ; the other, termed the
second colony, to sundry knights, gentlemen and merchants of Bristol, Plymouth and
other parts of the west of England. From the places at which the colonial councils were,
respectively, established, were derived the titles of the London and Plymouth colonies.
Under these grants, and a charter to the Plymouth company, in 1620, the permanent set
tlements of Virginia and New England were commenced and prosecuted.
IV. The hope of discovering a northwest passage to India, which is now scarce aban
doned, was the motive of several voyages undertaken by Henry Hudson, a celebrated
English mariner. The first two, in 1607 and 1608, were in the service of an English
association, which, discouraged by ill success, suspended its enterprize. In the third, in
the service of the Dutch East India company, with a crew of twenty men, partly English
and partly Dutch, he ran down the coast from Newfoundland, to 35° 41', N. Lat. to ascer
tain whether a passage to the Pacific, might not be found through the continent. Re
tracing his route, he entered the Delaware bay, on the 28th August, 1609, but declined
to explore it on account of the intricacy of the channel. Following the eastern shore of
New Jersey, he anchored his ship, the Half-moon, on the 3d September, within Sandy
Hook. He devoted a week to the survey of the neighbouring shores and channels.
Whilst engaged in this service, one of his boats, carrying five men, returning through
New York bay, was attacked by twenty-six natives, in two canoes. In the conflict, three
of the boats crew were wounded ; of whom John Coleman, a valuable seaman, died; hav
ing received an arrow through the neck. He was buried at Sandy Hook, which subse
quently bore the name of Coleman's Point.
On the 12th September, Hudson, with his ship, entered New York bay, by the narrows.
He employed the following nine days in exploring the river ; ascending with the yacht
to the site of Albany, and with his boats to the spots on which Lansingburg and Water-
ford stand. The decreasing volume of the stream and the shoals which obstructed his
way, depriving him of all hope, thus to reach the Pacific ocean, he commenced his return,
on the 22d of the month. Gliding gently with the current, he held frequent intercourse
with the natives, chiefly of the Lenape tribes, with whom, however, portions of the Mengwe
or Iroquois were mingled. Distant from the sea, the natives were, generally, peaceable
and friendly ; some hordes, near the coast, displayed a fierce and warlike character. But
friends and foes were made to feel the superior power of the white man. Of the former,
one was shot to death, for petty theft ; and of the latter, nine were, more deservedly, slain
in an attempt to seize the vessel. Thus, if blood on this first visit of Europeans was first
shed by the aborigines, the crime was abundantly avenged ; and the proportionate loss
was the prototype of the results of future hostilities.
Hudson put to sea on the 4th October, and reached England on the 7th November,
1609. His ship with part of the crew returned to Holland. But the King, James I, for
bade him and his English sailors to revisit that country. In the following year, he
reentered the service of the London company, designing to seek a passage to India, by

4 HISTORY OF
Davis' straits. He left port in April, and wintered on the shores of the great bay, which
bears his name; whence, he commenced his return in June. But, ere he reached the mam
ocean, his crew mutinied — and abandoned him in an open boat, with his only son and
some half dozen seamen who proved faithful, to perish amid fields of floating ice. Ven
geance soon overtook this foul crime. Some of the principal mutineers were slain by the
natives at Cape Diggs, and others perished by famine before the vessel made Ireland,
which she reached on the 6th September, 161 Lt
V. About the time when the southern shores of New York became known to the
English and Dutch, the French were engaged in exploring the present confines of the
state, upon the north. In 1598, De la Roche obtained, from Henry IV, a commission to
conquer Canada and other countries, not possessed by any Christian Prince. He sailed
with a colony of convicts, forty of whom he landed on the Isle au Sable, where the
greater part perished. The survivors, twelve only, were taken off, seven years after.
In 1603, Henry gave to the family of Des Monts, a patent for planting Acadia, and
Canada, extending from Lat. 40° to 46°, including the Delaware river and all the state
of New York. In the same year, Champlain ascended the St. Lawrence. In the next,
Des Monts arrived from France, having with him Champlain and Champadore as
pilots, and Pourtrincourt, who proposed to establish himself with a colony. Plantations
were commenced at Port Royal, St. Johns, and St. Croix, in the bay of Fundy. In 1609,
Champlain, by order of Des Monts, reascended the St. Lawrence, and fortified Quebec.
In the same year, in a war excursion with the Algonquins and Hurons, against the
Iroquois, he discovered and traversed the lake, which bears his name, entered lake George,
and engaged in a severe pombat with the Five Nations; which was decided in favor of his
allies, by the fire arms, carried by himself and two other Frenchmen. Thus, almost, at
the same instant, the Europeans acquired a knowledge of the northern and southern bor
ders of New York.t
VI. Although disappointed in the main design of Hudson's voyages, the Dutch India
Company, found, in the fur trade he had opened, sufficient inducement to cherish inter
course with the Americans. Repeated voyages were made under their authority ; the
profits of which exciting the competition of private adventurers, the company obtained a
monopoly of the trade, by virtue of a decree of the States General, 27 March, 1614, grant
ing " to all persons who had discovered or who might discover, any rivers, bays, harbours,
or countries before unknown, the enjoyment, beside other advantages, of the exclusive trade,
there, for four successive voyages." Under this edict, the Amsterdam Licensed Trading
West India Company was formed, with the design to maintain the acquisitions on the
Hudson, and to explore the circumjacent country.
In the service of this company, Adrian Block and Hendrick Christianse sailed in the
year 1614. Block arrived, first, at Manahattan, where, his ship having been acciden
tally burned, he built a small vessel, with which he passed into Long Island Sound. He
fell in with Christianse near Cape Cod. Together, they discovered Rhode Island, and
Connecticut river; and proceeding to Manahattan bay, erected a Fort on Castle Island,
and four dwellings on the greater island. In the preceding year, a small trading house
had been built upon an island below Albany ; and in the following one, a redoubt was
thrown up, on the right bank of the river, probably, at the present Jersey City Point. The
most important event of this period, however, was the alliance, by formal treaty, between
the Dutch and the Indian confederacy of the Five Nations; at which, it is supposed, the
Lenape tribes were present, and, by the united instances of the Dutch and Iroquois, con
sented to assume the character of the woman; by which they were put at the mercy of
the Iroquois, their greatest enemies.^
The Hollanders, directing their efforts at colonisation, to their Asiatic, African and
South American, possessions, and restrained, perhaps, by the claim of the English, to the
greater part of North America, had, hitherto, made little effort to people the shores of the
Hudson. It is asserted, however, that, between the years 1617 and 1620, settlements
were made at Bergen, New Jersey; in the vicinage of the Esopus Indians; and at Sche
nectady. It would seem also, that Sir Thomas Dale and Sir Samuel Argal, in the year
1614, returning from an expedition against the French, at Acadic, visited Manahattan,
and compelled the Dutch to acknowledge the English title, and to contribute to the ex
penses of their voyage : And it is said, that, in 1620, the Dutch Company applied to
James I, of England, for leave to build some cottages on the Hudson river, for the con
venience of their Brazil ships, touching there for water and provisions :— that, under
colour of a license for this purpose, the Company established a colony; and— that, upon
* 21st June 1611.
-r Purchas, Moulton, Foster's Northern Voyages.
t Purchas, Foster's Northern Voyages, Moulton, 176.
$ De Laet, Moulton, Heckewelder.

NEW YORK. O
complaint to Charles I, of their proceedings, he remonstrated with the States General,
who disowned the acts of the Company.*
If the Dutch did not, themselves, immediately colonise the New Netherlands, the name
given to the country from Delaware bay to Cape Cod, they were not indisposed to aid
others in such design. They encouraged the Puritans, who, under the care of the Rev.
John Robinson, had fled to the Low Countries from England, to seek a safe and commo
dious asylum in the new world ; notwithstanding these sectarians avowed their intention
to preserve their national character, and to hold the lands they should inhabit, in depen
dence on the English government. This germ of the Plymouth colony, planted in 1620,
was designed for the country, between New York bay, and the western line of Connecti
cut. But the season at which the adventurers reachedjhe coast, adverse winds and cur
rents, and the discovery of a district, whence the aborigines had been lately swept,
providentially, as the Pilgrims supposed, by pestilence, induced them to land, at a place
they termed New Plymouth.f It would seem, therefore, that the allegation, that Captain
Jones, of the Mayflower, with whom they sailed, had faithlessly, in consequence of a
bribe from the Dutch, landed them at a distance from the Hudson, is not entitled to cre
dence. VII. In 1621, the great West India Company, was formed in Holland, and sustained
by the wealth and power of the States General. The Licensed Trading Company, was
merged in this, to which we may, properly, ascribe the first successful efforts of the
Dutch, to plant colonies' in North America. t The associates immediately despatched a
number of settlers, under the command of Cornelius Jacobse Mey, who examined the coast
from Cape Cod to the Delaware, where he proposed to establish his own residence. He
called the bay of New York, Port Mey ; that of the Delaware, New Port Mey ; its northern
cape, Cape Mey, and the southern, Cape Cornelius. In 1623 hea built Fort Nassau, at
Tekaacho upon Sassachan, now Timber Creek, which empties into the Delaware, a few
miles below the city of Camden. During the same year, the forts, New Amsterdam and
Orange, were also erected, upon the sites of the now great cities of New York and Al
bany. The affairs of the settlers upon the North river, would seem to have been directed
by Christianse, who commanded the redoubt, formerly erected, near Fort Orange, and by
his successor, Jaques Elchens.
VIII. In 1623-4, the West India Company fitted out two ships, in one of which came
Peter Minuit, the first Governor or director of New Netherlands. Subordinate to him,
the gradation of authority and rank seems to have been. 1. Opper Koopman ; 2. Onder
Koopman; 3. Koopman; 4. Assistant. The office of Opper Koopman, chief merchant
or commissary, was vested in Isaac de Raiser. With the Governor came a colony of
Walloons, who settled at the Waal-bocht, a bend of the Long Island shore, opposite New
Amsterdam. In four years, the trade with the natives was greatly extended, attracting
dealers even from the lakes and the banks of the St. Lawrence, near Quebec : And in
1627, a thriving commerce had been opened with the English at New Plymouth, through
the agency of De Raiser : Commodious buildings had been erected for public defence, for
the accommodation of the officers, soldiers, servants and slaves of the Company. From
the Dutch records, it seems, that slaves were here in 1626. Probably, they were brought
in earlier; since, it is said, that, a Dutch ship carried them to Virginia, in 1620; and they
were perhaps, in New Netherland, coeval with the first settlement.^
At this period, the enterprizo of the. Dutch West India Company, was attended with
signal success. In September, 1628, Admiral and General Peter Peiterzen Heyn cap
tured, in the bay of Mantanzas, the famous Spanish plate fleet, of twenty vessels, laden
with silver, gold, and other precious articles, valued at more than five millions of dollars.
The Company, during this and the preceding year, also made one hundred and four prizes
from the Spaniards and Portuguese. Profits had augmented to fifty per cent, and the
success of the Association had become so infatuating, that the States General found it
necessary to interpose some restriction upon its efforts at foreign conquest. But they
also induced the Company, ultimately for its ruin, to direct their operations with an im
mediate view to the advantage of the Republic and to prosecute a prince-like, instead of a
merchant-like war.
IX The interposition of their High Mightinesses, in the Company's colonial affairs, with
a decree authorising the several departments of the Association, to appoint a council of
nine persons, who should be intrusted with the management of the whole, was the source
of the appointment of Commissioners over the concerns of New Netherland, and of the
* See on this subject, Beancbamp Plantagenet's description of New Albion — Moulton —
British Empire in America — Ogilby's America — Elizabethtown Bill in Chancery, N. J.
+ Robertson, Dudley's Letters, Boston, 1696. Moulton, 552.
$See charter of this Company, in Hazard's CoL of State Paper6.
5 See Moulton.

O HISTORY OF
Charter of Liberties and Exemptions for Patroons, Masters and Private Individuals, who
should, plant colonies in New Netherland, or import thither any neat cattle, adopted in
1629* This instrument merits special consideration, as it may be deemed the first demonstra
tion of « fixed design on the part of the Dutch to establish a political state in North
America, discloses the peculiar views of the Company, in regard to colonisation, and con
tains germs of policy, whose fruits are yet visible over the land.
The charter provided; 1. That members of the Company, inclined to settle a colony in
New Netherland, might send out agents of exploration, and stipulated the terms of the
passage; 2. That such persons should be acknowledged Patroons of New Netherland,
who, within four years, after notiec to the Company, should undertake to plant a colony
of fifty souls, above fifteen years of age; one-fourth part within one year; and the re
mainder within three years; — the Company reserving to themselves the island of Man-
hatten; 3. That, on making known the places selected by them, they should have the
preference of grant, in absolute property, of the lands chosen, with liberty of substitution,
if dissatisfied with their first choice; 4. That, the Patroons might, at such places as they
should settle their colonies, extend their limits sixteen English miles, on one side, or eight
English miles on either side of a navigable river, and so far into the country, as the situa
tions of the occupants would permit ; the Company reserving to themselves, the lands
between the colonies, for future sale ; to be made, however, with certain regard to the
rights and convenience of the first settlers; 5. That the Patroon might hold his colony,
from the Company, as an eternal heritage, devisable by testament, with the chief com
mand and lower jurisdictions, not to devolve upon the company ; or in case it should so
devolve, to be redeemable on the payment of twenty guilders, within a year and six weeks,
upon its falling in; and that none but the Patroon and his licentiates should have liberty
to fish and hunt; And in case any one should found one or more cities, authority was
given to him to establish officers and magistrates therein, and lo use the title of his
colony, according to his pleasure and the quality of the persons ; 6. The Patroons were
permitted to use the lands, rivers, and woods contiguous to their fiefs, so long as the
Company might grant such use to others ; to transport their people and effects from
Europe, at a stipulated price, beasts and instruments of husbandry, free of freight; and
in case the company should send no ships, or have no room, the Patioons were empowered
to despatch vessels of their own ; taking an agent of the Company on board, under pen
alty of forfeiture of their rights in the colony:
7. That, the Company intending to people Manhattes first, all fruits and wares before
exportation should be brought thither, and that the Patroons should have liberty to trade
along the coast, from Florida to Newfoundland, returning to Manhattes with such goods
as they might obtain in exchange, paying five per cent thereon, and reshipping them to
Holland ; or, in case of inability to return to Manhattes, then, to repair to Holland and
pay the like duty, on pain of forfeiture of such goods ; 8. That, merchandize transported
in the Company's ships should be carried at certain fixed rates; 9. That the colonists of
the Patroons, should be free from all taxes, im posts and other contributions for the space
often years; 10. That the service of the colonists, or servants of the Patroons, should be
assured them; due care being taken to compel their service according to their contracts.
11. That an appeal should lie, to the Company's commander and council in New Neth
erland, from all judgments given by the courts of the Patroon, for more than fifty guil
ders ($20 83.) J
12. That such persons, not having Patroon privileges, as should be disposed to make
settlements, might, with the approbation of the director and council, take up as much land
as they could improve, and, under their direction, have liberty of hunting and fowling, in
public and private lands. 13. That persons discovering fit places for fisheries or salt-ponds
might appropriate them, exclusively to themselves; and that the Patroons might employ
vessels on the coast in the cod fishery ; and with the proceeds, trade to Itidy or other neu
tral countries, paying a duty to the Company, and in certain cases receiving a Company's
supercargo on board; 14. That minerals, precious stones, crystals, marbles or pearl
fishery discovered within a colony, should be the property of the Patroon ; he rewarding
the discoverer, and, during eight years, paying the Company two per cent for freight, and
after eight years, a duty and freight of one eighth part of their value in Holland ; 15.
That the Company should protect the colonists against foreign and internal enemies; 16.
That the settlers of a colony, out of .the limits of the Manhattes island should satisfy the
Indians for the land they settled, and might extend their limits in proportion to the num
ber of colonists ; 17. That the Patroons and colonists should, in the speediest manner pro
vide and support a minister and schoolmaster; 18. That the colonies, on the respective
rivers or islands, each river and island for itself, should appoint a deputy to be changed
* Moultou'a N. Y. 387, 389.

NEW YORK. I
biennially, to report, once a year, its condition to the director and council, and to further
matters relating thereto ; 19. That the colonists should not make any woollen, linen, or
cotton cloth, nor weave any other stuffs, on pain of banishment ; and as perjurors, to be
arbitrarily punished; 20. And, lastly, that the Company would use their endeavours to
supply the colonists with as many blacks as they could conveniently.*
X. Under this charter, several directors of the Company, among whom Samuel Goodyn,
Samuel Bloemart, Killian Van Rensselaer the Heer Pauw, and Jan De Laet, were most
distinguished, resolved to make large territorial acquisitions; and for this purpose sent
out, Wouter Van Twiller, of Niewer Kerck, a clerk of the Amsterdam department.
One of three ships, which came over in 1629, visited an Indian village on the south
west corner of Delaware bay, and the agents on board purchased of the resident tribe, in
behalf of the Heer Goodyn, a tract of land, extending from Cape Henloop, in length,
thirty-two, and in breadth, two English miles. In the succeeding year, several other ex
tensive tracts were bought ; one for Goodyn and Bloemart, of sixteen miles square, on the
peninsula of Cape Mey ; for the director Pauw, Staten Island, with a large plat on the
west side of the Hudson, south of Hoboken, which received the name of Pavonia; and
for Van Rensselaer, the valuable territory now enjoyed by his descendants, extending on
either side of Fort Orange, upon the North river. The policy of these great and ex
clusive appropriations was subsequently condemned, and their ratification seems to have
been obtained, only, by admitting ether directors to participate in them.t
XL In prosecution of their plan, these directors formed an association,]: to which they
admitted, on equal terms, David Pieterson de Vries, an experienced mariner. Their im-
mediate objects were, to plant a colony on the Delaware, to cultivate grain and tobacco,
and to establish a whale and seal fishery. De Vries left the Texel, with a single vessel,
on the 12th December, 1630, and arrived in the Delaware bay, in the course of the winter.
The country had been deserted by the Europeans, Fort Nassau was possessed by the In
dians; Captain Mey having left it, bearing with him their affectionate regrets. De Vries
selected for his colony, a spot on Lewes Creek, called by the Dutch, Hoeren Kill, or Har
lots Creek, on account of the prostitution of the Indian women here. Unimpeded by the
weather, which was uncommonly mild, he erected a trading house and fort, called Opt-
land, within Goodyn's purchase, named Swaenendale, or Swan Valley, which extended
up the bay to Boompjees-Hoek.
Returning to Holland, he committed his infant colony to the care of one Osset; who in
volving himself in a quarrel with the natives, on account of their purloining a plate, which he
had affixed to a column, bearing the arms of the States General, drew upon himself their
fatal enmity, under which he and the colonists perished. De Vries revisited the Dela
ware in December 1632, to mourn over the unburied bodies of his friends and the ashes
of their dwellings. Compelled to pardon what he could not safely punish, he formed a
new treaty with the Indians, To obtain provisions, he ascended the river to Fort Nassau,
where, by the aid of a native woman, he narrowly escaped from the perfidy of the resident
tribes. Failing to obtain supplies, he left part of his crew in the bay, and proceeded to
Virginia ; where, as the first visiter from New Netherland, his wants were kindly relieved.
Upon his return, finding the whale fishery unprofitable, he hastened, with his fellow ad
venturers, by the way of Fort Amsterdam, to Holland. Thus, at the expiration of twenty-
five years from the discovery of the Delaware bay, by Hudson, not a single European re
mained upon its shores.
XII. De Vries was welcomed, at Fort Amsterdam, on his momentary visit, by Wouter
Van Twiller; who, having returned to Holland, had received the commission of Gover
nor of New Netherland ;§ superseding Minuit
XIII. It has been erroneously stated, that, the Swedes founded a colony, on the Del
aware, in 1627 or 1631.|| This is an inference, that, a colony was established imme
diately after the proposition for forming it had been published in Sweden. The design
had, indeed, been earnestly encouraged by Gustavus Adolphus, but was not effected dur
ing his life. He fell at Lutzen, in 1632 : and several years elapsed before the ministers
of his daughter, Christina, encouraged the enterprize. From 1633 to 1637, no effort
appeal's to have been made, by any European power, to people the shores of the Delaware.
The Dutch, probably, visited the river, with a view to trade, and occasionally spent Some
time at Fort Nassau. That they, jealously, watched the approaches of other nations, may
be inferred from the promptitude of their remonstrances against the subsequent attempts
of the English and Swedes.
The Swedish project of colonisation was revived by the Dutch ex-governor Minuit,
* See the Charter in Moulton's N. Y.
+ Moulton.
j 16th October, 1630.
§ 16th April, 1633.
JFroud's Pennsylvania, Smith's New Jersey, Holmes' Annalsj &tc

8 HISTORY OF
under the immediate authority of the Swedish government. In 1637 or 1638, an expe-
dition, consisting of a ship of war, and a transport, carrying a clergyman, an engineer,
and many adventurers, sailed under his command.* The emigrants landed at Cape Hen-
lopen ;— to which they gave the name of Paradise Point— more, we must conjecture,
from the pleasant emotions caused by the sight of any land, after a long voyage, than
from the beauty or fertility of the spot. They purchased from the natives, the soil on the
western shore of the river Delaware, from the capes to the falls at Sankikans, near the
present city of Trenton : And shortly after, laid the foundation of the fort and town of
Christina. The Dutch soon discovered the intrusion ; and, Kieft, who had about this time succeeded
Van Twiller, as governor of New Netherland, remonstrated with Minuit, by letter, dated
May 6, 1638 ; and asserted, the exclusive right and prior possession of the West India
Gompany.t This remonstrance was unwarrantable, if, as Campanius asserts, the Swedes
had, in 1631, purchased from them the right of settlement. The allegation of purchase
may have induced'the forbearance of the Dutch authorities; but did not deter them from
erecting a fort, soon after, at the Hoeren Kill.
During the year 1640, several companies of emigrants came from Sweden, and in one
instance, at least, a liberal charter was granted to the adventurers, with provisions in
many respects analagous to those prescribed by the Dutch Company for their Patroons.
The country, which had been already settled, was purchased by an association, called the
Navigation Company ; who, enjoying the soil, submitted to the political direction of the
crown. John Printz, a Colonel of cavalry, was appointed Governor, by a commission
dated, August 16, 1640. But he did not arrive in the Delaware, until 1 6th February,
1642-3 ; and in the interim the colonial affairs seem to have been administered by one
Jost de Bogardt. Two vessels accompanied Printz, having on board, John Campanius,
a clergyman, and subsequent historian of New Sweden, with many adventurers. The
governor established himself on the island of Tennekong, (Tinicum) near the mouth of
the Schuylkill, which, in November, 1643, was granted him by Queen Christina, in fee.
Here he built the fort New Gottenburg, a convenient dwelling for himself, denominated
Printz-Hoff or hall, and a church, which was consecrated, in 1646. Pursuant to his in
structions, he recognized the right of the aborigines to the country, confirmed the contract
of purchase made by Minuit, cultivating their favor by a just and reciprocal commerce ;
and employed all peaceable means to win them to the Christian faith. He received a full
reward for his justice and charity, in the perpetual peace which prevailed, between the
Swedes and Indians.
The Swedish-government anticipated resistance to their plans of colonisation, from the
Dutch West India Company. Yet, Printz was authorised to protest against their inter
ference, and, in case of hostilities to maintain his position to the last extremity. But
resort to arms was not had, during his administration, which was in all respects a happy
one, and received the commendations of the Queen. In 1647, he solicited permission to
return to Europe, but delayed his departure at her instances, until 1654; when he sur
rendered his government to John Papegoa. Papagoa came to the Delaware, with the ear
liest Swedish settlers; probably, in 1638; but returned to Sweden, about the time of
Printz's arrival. In 1643, he revisited New Sweden, bearing letters recommendatory
from the Queen to the governor, whose daughter he subsequently married. He held the
government two years, when embarking for Europe, he devolved the administration on
John Risingh, who came out a short time previously, clothed with the authority of com
missary and counsellor, and who continued to preside over the Swedes, until they were
subjected by the Dutch.
This event occurred soon after the departure of Printz, for Europe. In 1651, the
Dutch erected fort Casimer at Sandhoken, (New Castle.) This near approach to the primi
tive seat of their American domain, was intolerable to the Swedes. Printz remonstrated ;
and Risingh, formally, demanded, that the fort should be surrendered to him. On refusal,
he obtained possession by stratagem, and compelled some of the garrison to swear alle
giance to Christina. Stuyvesant, then Governor of New Netherland, though engaged in
restraining the encroachments of his Connecticut neighbours, prepared, instantly to
* Acrelius, De Laet, Moulton.
tThe Dutch Records translated by Vanderkamp, in more than 20 vols, folio, in the Se
cretary's office, Albany, commence 19th April, 1638. It is recorded therein, that on the
arrival of Kie.lt, Fort Amsterdam was in a decayed state, open at all sides — five farms were
without tenants, thrown into common — all the vessels except one, in bad condition — all the
houses wanting repair — that one smith shop, one grist, and one saw mill, were in opera
tion — a second saw mill was out of repair, and a third had been burned. The site of the
magazine was scarce discoverable.
At this period the judicial power was exercised by the Governor and Council, or by
special eourtB. Confessions were extorted from the accused by torture.

NEW YORK. 9
avenge this insult. He appeared in the Delaware, on the 9th September, 1654, with
seven vessels^and between six and seven hundred men, and in the course of the month,
reduced, without bloodshed, all the Swedish posts, and prostrated for ever the Swedish
power on the Delaware. Risingh, and one Elfyth, a noted trader, were ordered to Got-
tenburg; but the great mass of the colonists remained under their new governors. In
March, 1 656, the Swedish resident at the Hague, remonstrated against the proceedings
of the Dutch Company j but the States General gave no redress.*
During the government of the Swedes, other vessels than we have mentioned, arrived
from Sweden with adventurers, who devoted themselves to agriculture. Beside the settle
ments we have described, this industrious and temperate people founded Upland, the pres
ent Chester, at Mocoponaca; Korsholm, at Passaiung ; fort Manaiung, at the mouth of the
Schuylkill ; Nya Wasa and Gripsholm, near the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill
rivers; StrawsuHjk and Niew Causeland (New Castle); and forts at Kinsessing, Wicacoa,
(Southwark,) Findlandt, Meulandael and Lapananel. On the eastern shore of the river
1 "they had settlements at Swedesborough, at Elsinburg, at the site of the present city of
Burlington, and other places. Most of these positions are marked on the maps of Cam
panius and Lindstrom, and were, probably, little else, than dwellings of farmers, with
such slight defences as might protect them from sudden incursions of the natives.
XIV. During fifty years, the extensive possessions of the Dutch, had been undisputed,
by the English government; but the claim of the English nation upon the continent was
neither abandoned nor unimproved.
The Puritans made continued pretensions and encroachments upon the east; and in
1640, some adventurers from New Haven, purchased, for thirty pounds sterling, of the
Indians, a large tract of land on both sides of the Delaware, where they built trading
houses, and settled many families. But in 1642, they were driven thence, by the Dutch
and Swedes, under Kieft ; their trading houses destroyed, and their goods confiscated.
The claim to this territory was pertinaciously, but unsuccessfully, maintained, by the
New Haven colonists until 1664, when the superior power, if not the better title, of the
Duke of York, for ever repressed their pretensions.
About the same time (1642,) a colony, seated under the patent of Lord Baltimore, was
discovered on the Schuylkill, whence they were driven, also, by Kieft. But, in 1659,
Col. Nathaniel Utie, commissioner of Fendal, governor of Maryland, demanded posses
sion of the shores of the Delaware, by virtue of the patent from the English crown to
Lord Baltimore. He visited New Castle, to protest against the occupation of the Dutch,
to threaten the assertion of Baltimore's right by force, and to offer his protection to the
inhabitants. These instances were strenuously resisted by Augustine Heermans and
Resolvert Waldron, commissioners despatched to Maryland, by Stuyvesant In the follow
ing year, lord Baltimore applied to the Dutch West India Company, for orders to their
colonists, to submit to his authority. A peremptory refusal was instantly given; and
a petty warfare was probably prevented, only by the weakness of Maryland, and the hope
of redress from measures contemplated by the English government, against all the Dutch
possessions in North America.t
We learn from a pamphlet, published in 1648, that a grant was made, by James I, to
Sir Edward Ploeyden, of the greater part of the country between Maryland and New
England, which was erected into a province and county palatine, with very comprehen
sive, if not precise boundaries, by the name of New Albion. The rights derived from
this patent were long unexercised. Previously to 1648, however, a company was formed,
under Sir Edward Ploeyden to whom they had descended, for planting his province.
The company, probably, sent out agents to survey the country; some of whom may have
established themselves here. And the Palatine and some of his friends may have sought,
amid the American wilds, a temporary cover from the storms of civil war in England. It
would seem, that a fort, called Erowemec, was raised by his authority at the mouth of
Pensauken creek, on the Jersey shore, and that a considerable settlement had been made
at or near the site of Salem ; which may have been reduced by the Dutch or Swedes.
No vestige of these remains ; and their fate is conjectural, j:
The valley of the Connecticut, within the bounds claimed by the Dutch, had early be-
* Campanius. Acrelius. Smith's N. Y. Smith's N. J. Dutch Records.
We follow our authorities in this account, but apprehend that the Dutch force is, therein,
overrated. Yet, it is certain, that the expedition had drained fort Amsterdam so thoroughly,
of all means of defence, that it was exposed to the inroads of the neighbouring Indians, Ma-
quas and Mohiccanders, who, to the number of 900, invaded Manhattan Island, and the
adjacent country, committing many excesses and compelling the Dutch inhabitants to seek
protection behind the walls or palisades of the city. Dutch Records.
t N. York Records. N. Y. Hist. Col. v. 3, p. 388. Smith's N. Y. Maryland Records.
{Description of New Albion. Loganian Library, Philadelphia, No. 1019, 8vo. Smith's
N.J. 2

10 HISTORY OF
come an object of desire and competition with the English. The Earl of Warwick was
the first proprietary of the soil, under a grant from the council for Plymouth ; (lbjfu)
and it passed to Lord Say and Seal, Lord Brooks and others— his assignees, (16dl.) Be
fore a colony could be established with their sanction, the people of New Plymouth had
built a trading house at Windsor, and conducted with the natives a profitable commerce
in furs, (1633.) At the same time, the Dutch, ascending the river, raised at Hartford, the
fort of " Good Hope," fl635,) and struggled to secure the territory to themselves* Van
Twiller, at the close of his administration, and his successor, Kieft, on the commencement
of his officiate, (1636-7) remonstrated, in vain, against the English encroachments. So
far from retreating, the intruders, sustained by the New England colonies, not only main-
tained their settlements, but in 1640, expelled the Dutch Garrison from " Good Hope," and
appropriated this plantation to themselves.t The forbearance of the Dutch, upon this oc
casion, is strikingly contrasted with the spirit they displayed, upon others of like charac
ter, about the same period. Johannes La Montaigne, however, was sent in 1641, with
fifty soldiers, to remove the intruders, but effected nothing. In April, 1642, an order of
the Dutch council, prohibited the purchase of produce growing near Fort Hope.
We have seen their vigour upon the Delaware, and it was not less upon Long Island.
Lord Sterling, who had obtained a grant of that island, from the Plymouth Company,
transferred a considerable portion of it to inhabitants of New England, who removed
thither, in 1639, and peaceably possessed themselves of the eastern end. Their numbers
increasing, they extended themselves westward, to Oyster bay ; but were promptly driven
back by Kieft, (1640.)t They founded the town of Southampton and subsisted indepen
dently, or as a dependency of Connecticut, until united with the province of New York,
upon its capture from the Dutch.§
New causes of dispute continued to arise between New Netherland and the Connecti
cut colonies. The latter charged the Dutch with disturbing, kidnapping, and plundering
their traders ; enticing their servants to rob and desert their masters ; and with selling
arms and ammunition to the natives. Kieft retorted by haughty reproaches and angry
recriminations. These quarrels formed a principal motive of the federal union, which,
after several years consideration, was established in 1643, between the governments of
Massachussetts, Plymouth, Connecticut and New Haven, under the title of " the United
Colonies of New England."
Notwithstanding these bickerings, neither party forgot entirely the forms of courtesy nor
the rights of humanity. Kieft congratulated the United Colonies upon their compact; and,
when in the course of the same year, he applied to New Haven for assistance against the
Indians, with whom he was engaged in a bloody and dangerous war, the authorities of the
colony, though precluded by the articles of federal union from entering, separately, into hos
tilities, tendered assistance in provisions; and Capt. Underhill, who had been banished from
Boston, as an associate of Mrs. Hutchinson, entered the Dutch service; and at the head
of a troop of English and Netherlanders, opposed the Indians with a skill and bravery
which proved fatal to great numbers on Long island and the Maine. This war continued
for several years; and in 1646, towards the close of Kieft's administration, a great and
general battle was fought on Strickland's plain, where, after an obstinate conflict and great
slaughter on both sides, the Dutch with great difficulty kept the field, and the Indians
withdrew unpursued.||
Still the war of words between the Dutch and the New Haven and Connecticut colonies
continued, during the remnant of Kieft's administration. He was succeeded, in 1647,
by Peter Stuy vesant, a brave old officer — one of those magnanimous spirits of which the
republican service of Holland was, at this period, unusually productive. He was com
missioned governor general of Cuiacoa and the Dutch West Indies. He speedily restored
* Trumbull's Hist. Conn., v. i. app. No. 1 Bancroft's U. S. v. i. 426.
t Hazard's Col. v. ii. p. 264.
\ An ordinance of May 14, 1640, directed the Secretary Van Jenikoon, with the under
Sheriff and 28 men, to repair to the end of Long Island, Sellout's Bay, to discover by what
authority certain Englishmen had settled there, and had substituted a fool's head for the
arms of New Netherland. The Secretary found one house complete, and another com
menced by settlers from Lynn, under Lt. Howe, with a commission from Ferret, the agent
of Lord Sterling. Six men were taken prisoners, and 2 men and 1 woman were left in
charge of the goods. The prisoners, however, were released on a written promise to leave
the island ; which does not appear to have been religiously kept.
In June, 1G4L, permission was given to the English, to settle among the Dutch; to exer
cise their religion; to appoint magistrates for civil cases not exceeding in value 40 guil
ders, in all criminal cases not capital; and to possess the soil free from taxes, for ten years:
upon condition of taking the oath of allegiance, building no fort without permission and
using the Dutch weights and measures. Dutch Records.
§ Trumbull's Conn. v. i. 113.
|| Trumbull, v. i. 114. Belknap, v. i. 50. Grahame'sU. States.

NEW YORK. — 11
peace with the hostile tribes.* The commissioners of flKs United Colonies of New Eng
land, congratulated him upon his arrival, and earnestly solicited redress of the grievances
they endured from his predecessor. The most serious of those were the frequent seizures
and confiscations of the English trading vessels, under pretence of infraction of custom
house regulations, which it was alleged, the Dutch refused to explain yet rigidly enforced.
Stuyvesant declining to justify all the acts of Kieft, set up a counter claim for redress ;
and, especially, demanded restoration of the territories of Connecticut and New Haven.
He did not long persist in this hopeless pretension ; but, after much negotiation, con
cluded a treaty with the commissioners of the Confederation in 1650, by which the settle
ments of the respective nations on Long Island, were mutually assured, and a boundary
provisionally established on the mainland ; subject to the final review of the states of Eng
land and Holland. t
There remained, however, many sources of disquiet, in commercial jealousy, in the ef
forts of the respective parties to obtain exclusive possession of the Indian trade, which
were increased by the reports of some Indians, most probably unfounded, that the Dutch
governor had excited them to massacre the English. The colonies of Plymouth, Connecti
cut and New Haven, gave implicit credit to the statement, notwithstanding the indignant
denial of Stuyvesant ; but Massachussetts, not deeming the evidence satisfactory, resisted
all instances to engage her in a war against New Netherland. The other colonies judg
ing their own force inadequate to such an enterprize, applied to Oliver Cromwell for as
sistance. He, being then at war with Holland, promptly granted their request, and des
patched a squadron to their aid, which arrived at Boston in»June, 1654. The design was,
however, arrested by the peace soon after concluded between the Protector and the States
General. It is remarkable, that the treaty for this purpose has no direct reference to the
possessions of either party, in North America. Stipulating, generally, for the restoration
of peace, and the expedition being thereon countermanded, it is supposed, that the va
lidity of the Dutch claim was thereby manifestly implied, and practically acknowledged.
Yet, the New England men succeeded in impressing their views upon Richard Cromwell;
who, during his short protectorate, (1659,) directed the invasion of New Netherland and
the concurrence of the English colonics in the enterprize. The subversion of his
ephemeral power prevented the execution of these orders.]:
Although the States General and the West India Company had openly denied the pre
tensions of Lord Baltimore, on the Delaware, Stuyvesant was privately instructed to avoid
hostilities, if like to ensue, by retiring beyond Baltimore's alleged boundary. Obedience
to this order, was partially rendered, when Charles Calvert, a few years afterwards, as
sumed the government of Maryland. Stuyvesant deplored the feeble policy of his
superiors ; and apprehensive of the discredit which their title must sustain by thus prac
tically admitting its dependence on English forbearance, earnestly -solicited that a formal
copy of the grant by the States General to the West India Company, might be trans
mitted to him, that he might efficiently assert the interests he was required to defend.
But the States General, now greatly anxious to avoid a rupture with England, induced or
compelled the West India Company, not to exhibit an instrument which they feared
Stuyvesant would so use, as to provoke that extremity. Willing by all honourable means
to propitiate the English, and hoping to obtain a recognition of the title which he could
not produce, Stuyvesant sent an embassy to Sir William Berkely, governor of Virginia, to
propose a treaty of mutual trade, and an alliance against the enemies of both. Berkely
received the ambassadors with much courtsey; and despatched Sir Henry Moody, to New
Netherland, with the terms of a Commercial treaty-; but carefully avoided to recognize
the territorial pretensions of the Dutch.§
XV. The colonists of New Netherland, bad much reason to dread the authorities
whose dominion in England was terminated by the restoration. But of the government
of Charles II, they entertained more favourable hopes, probably, strengthened by (he
knowledge, that the New England colonists were as odious to the King, as they had been
acceptable to the protector. When the pursuers of Goffe and Whalley, baffled in their '
search for these regicides in New England, besought Stuyvesant to deny them his pro
tection, he readily seized the opportunity of propitiating the English court, by engaging
to give instant notice of the arrival of any of the regicides within his jurisdiction, and to
prohibit all vessels to transport them beyond reach of their pursuers.||
But he reaped no fruit from this dishonourable policy. Charles, though, in his exile, he
* During a visit made to Curacoa, in 1647, by Stuyvesant, the chief command in New
York, was held by Jesmear Tomas, by election of the council. Dutch Records.
+ Commissioners at this treaty, Simon Bradstreet, Thomas Prince, Thomas WilU, Geo.
Baxter, Hartford, September 19.
% Oldmixon. Chalmer's, Trumbull's, Hazard's Collec: vol. ii. Grahame's U. S., 2 vol.
§ Chalmer's, 572, 633. Smith's N. Y., 9, 12.
U Trumbull,!. £45.

12 HISTORY OF
had received more favour from the Dutch, than from any other power, ever regarded them
with aversion ; and was, now, especially disposed to humble the ruling party in Holland,
by the interest he felt in a weaker faction desirous to raise his nephew, the young Prince
of Orange, to the- office of stadtholder, which his ancestors had enjoyed. This disposition
was further excited by the Duke of York, who having placed himself at the head of a
new African company, with a view of extending and appropriating the slave trade, found
his gains limited by the more successful traffic of the Dutch. Like other countries, too,
he had cast his eyes on the American territories, which his brother was about to dis
tribute with a liberal hand ; and, whilst soliciting a grant of the Dutch possessions in
North America, he urged, as an additional plea for rupture with the States General, their
usurpation of a territory, properly belonging to Britain. The influence of these considera
tions, on the mind of the King, was probably aided by his desire to strike a blow, which
might enforce the arbitrary commission designed for New England, and to teach the
Puritan colonists, that he had power to subdue his enemies, even in the new world.*
The King's intentions appear to have been anticipated in America, before they were
generally known in Europe. But disgust with the royal commission more than balanced
the pleasure, which the New England colonists received from the design against New
Netherland. Stuyvesant, who anxiously beheld the approaching storm, discerned the
dissatisfaction of the Puritan settlements, and conceived the hope, either to obtain the
alliance or to secure the neutrality of his ancient enemies. With this view, apparently, he
visited Massachusetts, where he was received with great consideration ; and some traces
of his conference with Gov. Endicot, may, possibly, be discerned in the reluctance with
which Massachusetts obeyed the requisition of the royal commanders for troops to aid in
the invasion of New Netherland. But it was impossible, that his proposals should be
directly sanctioned. Still, he proceeded, afterwards, to Connecticut, where he was vainly
attempting to bring a similar negotiation to a more successful issue, when intelligence of
the approach of the British fleet, recalled him to the defence of his province.t
Charles having failed, in repeated attempts, to provoke the resentment of the States
General, embraced the suggestion of his right to the province of New Netherland ; and,
in pursuit of his purpose, granted by charter, dated, 20th March, 1664, to the Duke of
York, the whole region, extending from the western bank of the Connecticut river, to the
eastern shore of the -Delaware ; together, with the adjacency of Long Island ; conferring
on his royal highness full political powers within these ample boundaries ; disregarding,
alike, the possession of the Dutch and the recent charter of Connecticut, which- the grant,
wholly, but tacitly, superseded.
Adopting the principle, which may not now be disputed, that, discovery gave title to
the government, by whose subjects or by whose authority it was made, we may yet well
question the right set up by Charles to New Netherland. The title by discovery should
be consummated by possession. The visit to several points of a continent, at great dis
tance from each other, by the subjects of one nation, cannot rightfully exclude' all other
nations from its shores. Otherwise, the mere touching upon the coast by the Cabots
would have invalidated the claims of the Spaniards to Florida, and the French to Acadia,
founded, on discovery and continued possession. But these claims were, at all times, re
cognised by the English. Upon the joint basis of discovery and possession, the title of
the Dutch should have been good against the world. And if the momentary interruption
given to that possession, by Argal, in 1613 or 14, impaired the right, it was fully restored
by the subsequent enjoyment of half a century, and by the acquiescence of the English
nation at the period of the treaty between Cromwell and the States General. Conse
quently, the grant by the English monarch, to the Duke of York, was wholly unwar
ranted. Upon obtaining the grant, and before investiture, the Duke proceeded to exercise his
proprietary powers, in their fullest extent : conveying to Lord Berkely and Sir George
Carteret, the territory forming the present state of New Jersey. A military force, how
ever, had been prepared to sustain the grant, and with some secrecy too, though this was
unnecessary since the Dutch, far from apprehending an attack, had, but a few months
before sent to their colony, a vessel laden with planters and implements of husbandry.
Stuyvesant, promptly, communicated to the West India Company, the alarming intelli
gence he had received, but their only defensive step was to send him the original grant
to them from the States General.
XVI. The command of the expedition and the government of the province, against
which it was directed, were given to Col. Nichols, an able and experienced officer, who
was also associated with George Cartwright, Sir Robert Cajr and Samuel Maverick, in a
commission to investigate and . determine, at their discretion, all controversies between
the several colonial jurisdictions of New England. Touching at Boston, where an armed
force had been ordered to join it, the fleet proceeded to the capital of New Netherlafld.
* Graham«'s U. S., vol. ii. 213. t Josselyn, 193. Trumbull, i. 297.

NEW YORK. 13
The Massachusetts forces were so tardily levied, that the enterprise was completed before
they were ready to march ; but Governor Winthrop, of Connecticut, with several of the
principal inhabitants of that colony, immediately joined the King's standard.*
The invading force, consisting of three ships, one hundred and thirty guns, and six
hundred men, was too formidable to be resisted by a petty town poorly fortified, and
garrisoned by peaceful burghers. The spirited governor was exceeding loth to surrender
without an attempt at defence ; but the favourable terms offered to the inhabitants, dis
posed them to immediate capitulation. After a few dayB of fruitless negotiation, during
which, Stuyvesant pleaded, in vain, the justice of the title of the States General, and the
existing peace between them and the English nation, the province was surrendered, upon
the most honourable terms to the vanquished.! The inhabitants preserved their arms and
property, public and private, and had leave to transport them, within twelve months to
Holland, to sell their estates and return to Europe, or to retain them and reside in the
province ; enjoying their ancient laws relative to descents, liberty of conscience in wor
ship and church order; perpetual exemption from military service; and free trade with
Holland. The last privilege being repugnant to the English Navigation Act, was soon
after revoked. Notwithstanding these advantageous terms, the mortified commandant
could not be brought to ratify the capitulation, for two days after it had been signed by
the Commissioners. (August 27, 1664.) Fort Orange also submitted, in the month of
September, to Col. Cartwright, by whom the title of Jeremiah Van Rensselaer was fully
confirmed to the manor of Rensselaerwycke. He also held the first convention by the
English, with the Five Nations — at Albany, on the 24th of that month.t In honour of
the Duke, the city of New Amsterdam received the name of New York, which was sub
sequently extended to the whole province ; and fort Orange, that of Albany. The greater
part of the inhabitants submitted cheerfully to the new government ; and Stuyvesant,
closed his life in his beloved city; leaving to his descendants an enviable reputation and
ample possessions, which they still enjoy.§
The dependencies upon the Delaware submitted to Sir Robert Carr, who entered the
river with two frigates, on the 1st of October, 1664, upon terms as favourable as those of
the original capitulation. From this separate convention, it would seem, that, that of
New York was not conclusive upon the Delaware settlements; whose affairs were,
thenceforth, conducted, until 1768, by their ancient magistrates, under the supervision of
Capt. John Carr, aided by a council of the principal Swedes. ||
The last years of Governor Stuy vesant's administration were greatly perplexed, by war
with the Indian tribes, by the inroads and pretensions of his mercurial neighbours of New
England, and resistance to his authority by the English settlers upon Long Island.
The savages at Esopus, had been, for some years previous to 1663, in a state of dis
content, and occasional hostility with the Dutch. In June, of that year, pending a nego-
tion for peace, and whilst the male inhabitants were at work in the fields, they surprised
the old village of Esopus, entering it under pretence of barter, and entirely destroyed the
new village, killing or capturing sixty-five persons. Their force was estimated at two
hundred warriors, and the Dutch garrison amounted to one hundred and thirty men.
The savages continued for some days, at a fort they had reared neat the scene of conflict
unmolested, though parties were occasionally sent from the garrison to scour the adjacent
country. But at length upon the approach of Martin Creiger, with a reinforcement from
New Amsterdam, they retired to the mountains. During the months of June and July,
the Dutch troops penetrated the forest, overrun the hills, burned an Indian fort ten miles
south-west from the village, which had been abandoned, and destroyed a quantity of maize
garnered and in the field. In September, they surprised a fortification twelve miles north
west from Esopus, slew several of the defenders, made eleven prisoners, and recaptured
twenty-two Christians. These warlike operations were, for a short period, directed by the
Governor in person. On December 29th, a truce was concluded for two months, followed
on the 15th May, by a treaty of peace, which was formally confirmed on the 15th July, 1 664.
Such was the divided state of the colony at this period, that at a convention of delegates,
holden 3d July, 1663, to devise measures in aid of the people at Esopus, the Representa
tives from Long Island, refused to embody for the general defence or send troops across
the river to the city J
* Trumbull, i. 126. Grahame's U. S., ii. 217.
f Commissioners on part of the Dutch, John De Deckar, Counsellor of State, Nich. Ver-
Ieet, Commissary, Sam. Megapolensis, Cornelius Steenwyck, Oloffe Stevens Van Kortlandt,
Burgomasters, James Causseau, Sheriff; on part of the English, Robt. Carr, Geo. Carteret,
Jonn Winthrop, Saml. Willys, Thomas .Clark, John Pynchon.
± Colonial Records.
§ Smith's N. Y. Chalmers, Grahame's U. S. ii. 218., &e.
|| New York Records.
«|t Dutch Records.

14 HISTORY OF
The provisional settlement of boundary between the Connecticut colony and New
Amsterdam, in 1650, appears to have been little regarded by the former, who pushed for
ward their pioneers into the present county of Westchester, and claimed jurisdiction
over the village of Westchester or Eastdorpe. The English towns on the east end of
Long Island, rejected the Dutch authority, and formed a political association with the
people of Hartford and New Haven. In October, 1663, Stuyvesant despatched commis
sioners to Hartford', to attempt some definite arrangement of limits, but without success.
The general court then in session, claiming by their patent, the whole of Long Island, and
all the country to the Hudson river, with the exception of Manhattan Island, refused to
acknowledge any province of New Netherland, and to make any convention which did
not recognise their authority on Long Island and at Westchester.
Massachussetts, too, maintained her pretensions, to a large portion of the province under
her charter. In 1659, she made a formal demand of the free navigation of the North
river, and of the whole of the country north of Lat. 42° 20'.
All the powers of the Dutch colonial government, were vested in the governor and
Council. The Governor was nominated by the West India Company, but commissioned
by the States General. He directly or indirectly appointed all public officers, framed all
the laws, decided important controversies, arrogating primary jurisdiction when he
thought proper, and entertaining appeals from the subordinate magistrates : He com
manded the erection of churches at his pleasure, installed the pastors, directed when and
where they should serve, and excluded those whose tenets he did not approve: He had
solely the disposition of the public lands ; the Indian title to which was extinguished either
by himself or by others with his approbation: He granted such lands for settlement, com
monly reserving a quit rent of one-tenth of the produce, to commence two years after the
date of the grant: and he levied taxes in such form and amount as he deemed expedient.
In the exercise of these absolute powers, the responsibility was scarce more than nomi
nal; and supposing always an honesty of purpose, passion, prejudice, and defect of judg
ment were inevitable.
The English settlers brooked illy this arbitrary power, and to the Dutch it was not
much less intolerable. In 1653, the public discontent became manifest. The magistrates
of New Amsterdam, remonstrated against the payment of contributions not made with
their consent Soon after at their instance, (Nov. 26) delegates were convened at New Am
sterdam, from the city, and from the towns under the Dutch jurisdiction on Long Island,
to consider the state of the province, with whom representatives from the council proposed
to associate, but were rejected. At an adjourned meeting on the 11th December, this con
vention, admitting the authority of the West India Company, and the States General
claimed — as of absolute right, the participation of the people by their Representatives in
Legislation — protection against Indian aggressions — the choice of civil officers by the
people — and complained of the revival of obsolete laws, of the vexatious delay in confirm
ing titles to land, and of extravagant grants of territory to favoured individuals. And they
embodied these grievances in a well written memorial, addressed to the Director General
and Council in New Netherland, and to the Council of the States General.
These proceedings gave deep offence to the Governor. He denounced the convention as
illegal, denied the facts on which the remonstrance was founded, charged the Delegates
with presumption in proposing a new form of government, commanded them to take no
further steps as a national convention, but to separate immediately under pain of his highest
displeasure. He also despatched letters to several of the towns on Long Island, apprising
them that the convention had not been summoned by his authority, and prohibiting the
delegates to reassemble. But whilst he denied the right of the delegates lo the character
of colonial representatives, he recognised the right of the towns separately to petition and
remonstrate. He charged the English settlers with producing the public discontent; and
imputing the remonstrance to George Baxter, a delegate from Gravesend, he, in the ensuing
year, refused to confirm the election of Baxter and one Hubbard to the magistracy,
though they were among the original patentees of the town, and had for years been in
office; — thereby greatly increasing the public dissatisfaction.*
In 1663, the Burgomasters and Seheppens of the city, petitioned the Governor to con
voke delegates from all parts of the colony, to consider of the public safety endangered by
the war at Esopus, and the revolt of the English towns. He approved of the measure,
but deeming the season inconvenient for a general convocation— proposed an assemblage
of the magistrates of the neighbouring towns, which met on the 1st November. The con
vention expressed great dissatisfaction with the state of public affairs, and petitioned the
West India Company, for protection against Indian and other enemies — and for the pro
duction of their patent from the States General, for want of which the English had
denounced them as intruders, without national rights, and threatened, in case of delay to
* Dutch Records. Wood's Long Island.

NEW YORK. 15
produce this essential document, to appeal to the States General. At a second meeting,
held 10th April, 1664, the convention again demanded the means of protection, and in
case of inability of the Governor to provide them, required to be informed, to whom they
should address themselves. To his application for pecuniary aid they gave no answer; but
adjourned in very ill temper.
The colonists upon the Delaware were governed by a deputy appointed by the com
mander-in-chief. Johannes Paul Jaquet was the first vice director. His successors were
Peter Alricks, Hinojossa, and William Beekman. The last held the office from 1658 to
1662. During this period, it would seem, that New Amstel (New Castle) had been trans
ferred by the West India Company, to the city of Amsterdam, and that Hinojossa, the
deputy of the city, embarrassed the administration of Beekman, by vexatious interference.*
Thus, about the year 1663, the power of the Dutch East India Company, seems to have
been shaken -in every part of New Netherland. <
Absolute in form and character, but without physical force to maintain itself, the
government was distrusted by the orderly and well disposed and contemned by the lawless.
It was incompetent, to defend its subjects from external foes or from domestic depreda
tions. Robbery and piracy were so rife, that the respective towns were required to or
ganise a military force, for self protection. The English towns under the Dutch juris
diction, became finally so discontented, that they resolved at a formal convention at
Hempstead, to place themselves under the authority of Connecticut In November, 1663,
they embodied at Jamaica, in such force, that the Governor did not venture to attempt
their dispersion. The country continued in this perplexed and unsettled state, until the
conquest in the succeeding year.
Nor was the administration of civil affairs the sole cause of discontent. The Governor
seems to have been a zealous and intolerant member of the Dutch Calvinistic Church,
and to have been disposed to execute the instructions, which accompanied his commission,
with rigour. The official oath required, we presume by those instructions, " the main
tenance of the Reformed Religion in conformity to the word and the decrees of the Synod
of Dordrecht, and not to tolerate in public any other sect." By an ordinance of 1656, any
one preaching doctrine other than that authorised by the Synod, was finable 100, and
every one attending thereon, 25, guilders. In the spirit of this provision, the Governor, in
1656, had imprisoned some Lutherans, and in 1658, banished a clergyman of that Church.
He was reproved for the former by the Dutch West India Company, who directed him,
to permit the free exercise of their religion to all persons within their own houses, and
though commended for the latter, was instructed to use moderate measures in future.
Against the Quakers, who had made many converts upon Long Island, particularly at
Flushing, and the neighbouring towns, the ire of the Governor was most vengeful. Or
ders were issued to the town authorities, not to entertain members of this sect; and an
ordinance of September, 1662, provided that, "beside the Reformed Religion, no con
venticles shall be holdcn in houses, barns, ships, woods or fields, under penalty of 50 guil
ders for each person, man, woman or child, attending, for the first offence; double, for tho
second; quadruple for the third, and arbitrary correction for every other;" the importation
of seditious and seducing books, and the lodging of persons arriving in the province without
reporting themselves and taking the oath of allegiance, were subjected to severe penalties.
Under these enactments many persons suffered fines, imprisonment and banishment.
But the blood of the Martyrs was still the seed of the Church. At Flushing, the magis
trates, sheriff, town clerk, and a large portion of the inhabitants, (December, 1657,) openly
in town meeting, justified the Quakers, refused obedience and suffered the penalty of the
law. In Rustdorpe, (Jamaica,) the larger part of the inhabitants were Quakers, and their
meetings were disturbed and dispersed by the sheriff. Among the sufferers for con
science sake, we may mention Edward Farrington and Wm. Noble, Edwart Hart, Henry
and John Townsend, John Bowne, John Tilton and Michael Spicer. The persecution of
Bowne, who was expatriated and sent to Holland, drew upon the governor a severe repre
hension from his superiors.
These, with the other causes of discontent we have named, rendered the government
highly obnoxious, and it is probable, that, had not the province been conquered, by an
European force, -a revolution would have been effected by the inhabitants with or without
the aid of the adjacent colonies. Such indeed was the weakness of the government, that
the council appears to have resolved to submit, without a struggle to any measures which
those colonies should propose, and to solicit of the government at Hartford, its forbear
ance, until the subjects of controversy could be definitively settled by the parent state.t
In this condition of the province, we find the true cause of the facility with which the
conquest by Nicholls was effected. At that period, the revenue from the customs and
* Dutch Records. t Dutch Records.

16

HISTORY OF

land tax did not exceed 34,000 guilders ; and the regular military force was not more
than two hundred men.*
XVII. The actual condition of the newly acquired province, was depreciated by Col.
Nicholls, in his letters to the Duke, from the humane motive, it is supposed, of deterring
his master from burdening the people by fiscal impositions. Early travellers and writers
unite in describing the Dutch colonial metropolis, as a handsome, well built town ; and
one declares that the meanest house in it, was worth one hundred pounds.t The various
provisions introduced into the capitulation to preserve the comforts of the inhabitants,
attest the orderly condition and plentiful estates they had acquired. If their manners cor
responded with those of their countrymen in the parent state, they were, probably, superior
to those of their conquerors. Of the colonists who had lately resorted to the province,
some had enjoyed affluence and respectability in Holland, and had imported with them, ~
and displayed in their dwellings, costly services of plate, and well selected productions of
the Dutch school of painting.t No account has been preserved of the total population of
the province and its dependencies; but a memorial of the Dutch council to the East
India Company, states the Dutch inhabitants at 6000 — the metropolis is said to have con
tained about three thousand persons; of whom about one half returned to Holland. Their
habitations, however, were soon occupied by emigrants partly from Britain, but chiefly
from New England. Upon the North river, Dutch settlers were numerous, and both
shores of the Delaware were studded by plantations of Dutch and Swedes.
XVIII. The capture of the province produced an European war, between Great Britain
.and Holland, ending in the treaty of Breda, of July, 1667. Happily for the prosperity of
the colony, which Nicholls would have defended to the last extremity, the latter made no
attempt to regain New York, during this war. At the peace, the colony was ceded to Eng
land in exchange for Surinam, which had been conquered by the Dutch; it being stipu
lated, in the treaty, that each nation should retain what it had acquired since the com
mencement of hostilities.
XIX. We have seen, that James, Duke of York, even before possession of his newly
granted fief, had conveyed part of it to Lord Berkeley and Sir James Carteret. The
charter to the Duke, though less ample in its endowments, than those previously granted
to the proprietaries of Maryland and Carolina, resembled them, by conferring the powers
of government on the grantee and his Assigns. Thus, even with the light which had
been stricken forth, by the extraordinary political discussions of the passing century, the
allegiance and obedience of freemen were transferable, as if they were serfs appurtenant
to the soil. Nor was this right merely potential. It was reduced to practice in the
Carolinas, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where political functions were regarded as abso
lute property, subject to every act of ownership, and particularly, to mortgage and alie
nation. It was not until after the British revolution of 1688, that this power was dis
puted; when the ministers of William III, maintained its repugnance to the constitution
of England, which supported, an absurdity not less, a hereditary, but not commercial
transmission of political office and power. The point was never determined by formal
adjudication; but the evil, in time, produced its own remedy. The succession and mul
tiplication of the Proprietaries became so inconvenient to themselves, that they sought
relief by surrender of their functions to the crown.
Col. Nicholls, governed the province for nea/ly three years. On the 1st March, 1665, he
convened at Hempstead, deputations from the towns on Long Island, and Westchester
for the purchase of organising the government, adjusting interfering purchases and settling
town limits. At this meeting the code, commonly called the " Duke's laws," was promul
gated. It provided for the administration of town and county affairs, and established a
town court, composed of the constable and two overseers, who might be assisted by a
justice, having jurisdiction of civil causes under £5.— a court of sessions, to be held' twice
a year, composed of justices of the peace, having cognisance of all criminal cases and of
all civil causes over £5.; in which, the members of council, the colonial secretary and the
high sheriff, were authorised to sit, and preside; its judgments for sums under £20, were
final; but an appeal lay, in cases of greater amount, to a court of assize, consisting of the
governor, council and magistrates of the several towns, convening annually in the city of
New York, having appellate jurisdiction in all cases, and original jurisdiction where the
demand was over JE20.; exercising also equity powers.^
Governor Nicholls settled the boundaries with Connecticut; that colony yielding all
claim to Long Island, obtaining great advantages on the main; He prescribed the mode
of purchasing lands from the natives; making the consent of the governor and public •
* Dutch Records.
t Josselyn's Second Voyage, p. 154.
^Grant's Mem. of an American Lady, &c. vol. i. p. 11. Grahame's U S ii 225
§ Smith has erroneously stated, that Nicholls established no courts. ' But see the nnfcp'o
laws, in the 1st vol. N. Y. Hist. Trans., and see Wood's Long Island, p. 9.

NEW YORK. 17
registry requisite : And he incorporated the city of New York, under a mayor, five alder-
men and a sheriff. But he disappointed the hopes of the inhabitants by the non estab
lishment of a legislative assembly. His administration, however, was wise and impartial,
and procured for him the affection of the people; for although uniting in himself all the
powers of the government he does not appear to have abused them.*
The security which the British power in the province derived from the treaty of Breda,
justified him in resigning a post which imposed on him intolerable pecuniary burdens.
In approbation of his eminent services, the king sent him a present of £200, and this
brave and modest loyalist was more gratified with the expression of royal favour, than
disgusted by the meanness and inadequacy of the consideration. From his monument,
in Ampthill church, Bedfordshire, England, it appears, that, he was killed on board the
Duke df York's ship, in a sea fight with the Dutch, in 1672.
XXI. Col. Francis Lovelace, the successor of Nicholls, assumed the government in
May, 1667. He exercised, without reserve, the unlimited authority delegated by the
Duke ; levying a land tax for town and county purposes, and imposing duties upon imports
without tho consent of the people. But this policy was not submitted to without re
monstrance. The English colonists holding taxation and representation to be justly
inseparable; and that taxes could be imposed only by their representatives in general
assembly, met in their several towns, October 9, 166:), and petitioned for redress. They
enumerated the defects in the laws, proposed amendments, remonstrated against certain
restrictions on trade ; and reprobated as the greatest of evils, their exclusion from a share
in legislation; appealing to the proclamation of the commissioners issued before the con
quest, in which this privilege had been promised them. Some of their minor requests
were granted; but the most important were disregarded. Upon the requisition of the
Governor for a contribution on Long Island, to repair the fort at New York, the inhabi
tants refused compliance, " unless they might have the privileges which others of his
majesty's subjects in these parts enjoyed." Their proceedings were laid before the court
of sessions at Gravesend, 21st December, 1670, which, under the influence of the secretary
of the province who presided, and a member of the council, pronounced them scandalous,
illegal and seditious ; and, being presented to the Governor and council, they were ad
judged to the flames and ordered to be burned before the town house.t
The political doctrines of Governor Lovelace, seem to have been strikingly assimilated
to those of his master. In a letter to Sir Robert Carr, in 1668, he observes, that the best
method to keep the people in order " was to lay such taxes upon them as may not give
them liberty to entertain any other thoughts but how to discharge them.t" Still, as he is
represented to have been a man of quiet temper and moderate disposition, his adminis
tration was, perhaps, not mnre oppressive, than the nature of his commission rendered
inevitable. A subsequent effort, (in 1670,) to raise money for coloni.il purposes, by his
mere authority, was ineffectual, and the colonial charges were borne by the duties on
imports and exports.
A feeble attempt to overthrow the English power on the Delaware, was made by a
Swedish adventurer, called the Long Finne, whose proper name was Marcus Jacobson,
but, who assumed to be the son of Koningsmarke, a distinguished Swedish general. He
was joined by several persons of consideration and property, but, he and they were ap
prehended by the government, and tried by a special commission. His sentence of death
was changed by the council in New York. He was condemned to be severely whipped,
branded with the letter R, imprisoned for one year, and transported to Barbadoes, there
to serve as a slave for four years. His associates were fined, and required to give secu
rity for their future good conduct.
XXII. A second war with Holland, most wantonly and unjustly provoked by the dis
solute Charles, in subserviency to the ambition of Louis XIV., was declared, March 17th,
1672. A small Dutch squadron, commanded by Binkes and Evertzen, having destroyed
the English commerce upon the Virginia coast, was induced to attempt the more impor
tant enterprise of the reduction of New York. They had tho good fortune to arrive bei
fore the town, in the absence of Lovelace, when it was in charge of Captain Manning,
who proved himself , both traitor and coward. Now was reversed the scene which had
been presented by the invasion of Nicholls. The English inhabitants proposed to defend
themselves; but Manning obstructed their preparations, rejected their aid, and, on the
first intelligence of the approach of the enemy, struck his flag even before their vessels
were in sight. As the fleet advanced, the garrison demonstrated their readiness to fight ;
but, in a transport of fear, he forbade a gun to be fired, under pain of -death, and surren
dered the place, unconditionally, to the invaders. He was subsequently tried by a court'
* Duke's Laws. Wood's Long Island. Smith's New York,
+ Wood's Long Island.
$ lb. Smith's New Jersey.
3

18 HISTORY OF
martial, and pleaded guilty to all the charges preferred. His sentence, as .extraordinary
as his conduct, was, that "thdugh he deserved death, yet because he had, since the sur.
render, been in England, and had seen the king and the duke, his sword should be broken
over his head, in public, before the city hall, and himself rendered incapable of wearing
a sword and of serving his majesty, in future., in any public trust." The old maxim, that
grace was dispensed by the look of a king, was respected on this occasion.
The Dutch commanders imitated the moderation of Nicholls, and whilst gratifying
their countrymen, left the English cause of complaint, only against their pusillanimous
commander. By this moderation, other districts of the province were induced to submit
and swear allegiance lo the States General.
XXIII. Great consternation prevailed in the adjoining English colonies. The govern
ment of Connecticut, with a simplicity which contrasts ludicrously with the ordinary
astutia of her people, remonstrated, by a deputation, against this usurpation, demanded
explanation of the conduct and further intentions of the invaders, and threatened them
with the indignation of the United Colonies of New England, which, entrusted with the
defence of their sovereign's dominions, in America, would be faithful to their trust. The
Dutch captains, expressing some surprise at the terms of the message, replied, that, com
missioned by their country to assail her enemies, whilst they applauded the fidelity of the
English, to their sovereign, they would endeavour to imitate the good example, and to
prove equally faithful to the States General. The federated colonics prepared fpr war;
but as the parties stood on the defensive, a few insignificant skirmishes only took place,
before winter suspended military operations. The controversy was terminated, early in
the following spring, without further bloodshed, by the treaty of peace, concluded at
London, and the restoration of New York, to the English.

CHAPTER II.
I. Important consequences of the late war. H. Doubts of the first title of the Duke of
York— Removed by a new Charter. III. Nature of that Charter. IV. Major Andross
appointed Governor — Illegal imposts. V. He refuses to permit Legislative Assemblies.
VI. Quarrels with the Magistrates of Albany. VII. He demands pecuniary benevolences
from the people. V1H. Vexatious interference with New Jersey. IX. He is recalled
from his Government. X. Popular efforts to obtain an Assembly. XI. The Duke is
constrained to grant it. XII. Col. Dongan appointed Governor — His instructions. XIII.
Condition of the Province. XIV. Notices of the Five Nations. XV. A French parly
preserved at Schenectady, by Corlear. XVI. Early Indian relations with the Dutch.
XVII. Policy of the French, in their Indian intercourse. XVIII. Conquests made by
the Five Nations— Treaty of Peace between them and all the English Colonies. XIX.
Rival efforts of the English and French, for the Fur Trade.
I. The European results of the late war deeply affected the newly conquered province.
The elevation of the Prince of Orange, to the dignity of Stadtholder, prepared his way
to the English throne and to a reign, which the Dutch colonists ceased to regard as a
foreign dominion. The re-conquest of the province by the Dutch arms, and its final
cession to England, by convention, cured the wound which had been inflicted by her
original acquisition. Many of the Dutch colonists, apprehensive of molestation, or des-
pairing of favour from a government, whose suspension had caused undisguised triumph,
were induced to follow some of their former associates, who had, duiing the preceding
year, emigrated to Carolina. This dispersion tended to promote their amalgamation with
the English, and to divest New York of a distinctive character.
II. Doubts had been raised of the validity of the first charter to the Duke of York
because granted whilst the Dutch were in full and peaceful possession of the country :
and which, if originally good, was supposed to have been impaired by the subsequent
conquest. The Duke deemed it prudent, therefore, to support his resumption of proprie-
tary functions by a new charter. Another cause of this measure, may have been a
desire to dispense with his grant to Berkely and Carteret. But, if such purpose were
entertained, it was not executed. The right of post-limine was, however, disregarded;
and Andross, made many new grants, of lands which had been patented under Nicholls
and Lovelace, by which the quit rents were artfully enlarged
III. The neW charter recited and confirmed the first, and empowered the Duke to
govern by such ordinances, as he, or his assigns, should establish; and to administer
justice according to the laws of England, with appeal to the king and council:" It pro-
hunted all persons from trading thither without his permission ; and, though it allowed
the colonists to import merchandises, it subjected them to the payment of customs accord-
jng to the laws of the realm.

NEW YORK. 19
IV. The misfortune and incapacity of Lovelace, precluded his re-appointment to the
office of governor, which, two days after the date of the new charter, on the 1st July,
1674, was conferred upon major, afterwards Sir Edmund Andross. This officer, now
commenced that career which gained him a conspicuous place in the annals of almost
every province of North America, during tho subsequent period of twenty years. His
instructions required him to respect the estates of the colonists, while he received posses
sion of the province from the Dutch, and to distribute justice in the king's name, accord
ing to the forms established by his predecessors. But in order to raise a revenue and
defray the expenses of government, a variety of rates were imposed by the sole authority
of the duke.*
V. The qualifications of Andross, as the agent of a despotic master, soon developed
themselves. He involved himself in disputes with the neighbouring government of Con
necticut; and excited the indignation of the magistrates, clergy, and people of his own
jurisdiction. The three eastern towns, on Long Island, having reunited themselves to
Connecticut, during the late possession of the Dutch, strenuously endeavoured to maintain
this union, but were compelled, under pain of being declared rebels, to submit themselves
to the Duke's government.
VI. In 1675, a Dutch Clergyman, of the name of Rensselaer, arrived, who claimed the
manor of Rensselaerwick, and was recommended to Andross, by the Duke, to fill one of
the churches ; "probably," says Smith, " to serve the popish cause." He appears to have
been reputed a prophet; had predicted the day of the restoration of Charles II., and his
vaticinations were held in high respect, in Albany. His claim to the manor was un
founded, or at least unsuccessful ; and his right to administer the sacramepts was. denied
by Niewenhyt, pastor of the church at Albany ; on the ground, that he had received
episcopal ordination, and had not been approved by the Classis of Amsterdam on which
the Dutch churches in the province depended. The Governor became a very zealous
party in this contest ; summoned Niewenhyt before him, and so harassed him, by frequent,
fruitless, and expensive attendance, as to awaken the sympathy of the people and excite
them to retaliation. Rensselaer was imprisoned by the magistrates of Albany, for
" dubious words" delivered in a sermon. Andross ordered his release ; and having com
manded the presence of the magistrates at New York, compelled them to give bail to
Rensselaer's suit for false imprisonment, in the sum of JE5,000, each, and threw Leisler,
who refused to comply, into prison. But finding the popular voice against him, and
dreading insurrection, the Governor prudently withdrew from the controversy. In this
dispute, it seems probable, that the magistrates were quite as factious as the Governor
was despotic, and that both lost sight of justice in the tempest of passion.
VII. A new cause for popular dissatisfaction soon arose, from the attempt of the Gov
ernor to eke out the colonial rates by soliciting pecuniary benevolences from various dis
tricts of his jurisdiction. The demonstrations of discontent drove him to seek, by a visit
to England, new instruotions.t The revenue imposed by the Duke was limited to three
years, and the expiration of the term was regarded by the government and people with
equal interest. The latter hoped, that the inadequacy of the existing system of finance,
would induce the proprietary to consent to a representative legislative assembly. But the
Duke, obstinately resolved against this measure, deemed himself graciously condescend
ing, when decreeing the continuance of the impost, he consented to limit it to a further
term of three years. When Andross, on his return, in 1678, promulgated this edict, it
provoked universal discontent, which became vehement, in the succeeding year, upon the
increase of the duty.
VIII. Not content with the plenary powers which he exercised over New York, the
Governor, with the countenance of his master, claimed an undefined and vexatious juris
diction over New Jersey. The foreign trade of that province passed altogether through
the city of New York ; but Philip Carteret, the deputy Governor, sought to obtain, for his
people, a share of the direct trade with England. Viewing this as injurious to the inter
ests of his government, Andross endeavoured, by the seizure and confiscation of the
vessels, to extinguish the commercial enterprise of New Jersey, in its infancy. Carteret
having resisted other efforts to make his province tributary, Andross caused him to be
arrested at Elizabethtown and conveyed to New York. The Duke, on complaint of these
unwarrantable proceedings, displayed the indecision and duplicity which had character
ised his conduct towards his grantees of New Jersey. "He could not" he said, "yield
an indisputable prerogative, but would suspend its exercise, as a favour to his friend, Sir
George Carteref't
IX. These acts, with Hie complaints of his subjects of New York, compelled the Duke
* Scott's Model of tiie Government of New Jersey. Grahame's Col. History.
+ 1677.
\ Douglass, ii. 272. Smith's N. J. Chalmers. Grahame's Col. Hist

20 HISTORY OF
to recall a Governor whose administration had become universally odious. It is thd in
terest and, consequently the essence of despotism, to oppress the people no further than
may be necessary to the maintenance of absolute power. In the conception of the ty-
rant, there is no incompatibility in the happiness of the people and submission to his
will. The Duke, therefore, supposed, that his deputy might have committed some enor-
mities, unconnected with his official functions, and recalled him to ascertain, whether he
had so discredited legitimate tyranny. The Governor, showing that he had but evinced
a temper suitable to his arbitrary functions, and necessary to the execution of his in-
struetions, was acquitted. But circumstances, which occurred in the colony- during the
absence of Andross, restrained the Duke from immediately re-employing him. In the
interim the government devolved upon Anthony Brockholst.
X. It was not possible, for a state surrounded by colonies in whose government the
people had a potential voice, to submit patiently to the despotic will of an individual.
The fever excited by the oppressions of Andross came to a crisis after his departure.
The people boldly questioned, not only the propriety of the taxes, but the right by which
they were imposed; and when the basis of those doubts was established by the opinions of
the most eminent lawyers of England, their indignation broke forth with a violence that
nearly transported them to the commission of injustice greater than the wrongs they en
dured. Dyer, the tdx collector, was tried before a special' court, upon a charge of high-
treason, for having collected taxes without the authority of law. With a logic too preva
lent amid popular commotion, it was contended that though he was not guilty of any
offence specified in the English statute of treasons, he was liable to the penalty of
the statute for the exploded crime of encroaching vowei — one of the vague and unintelligi
ble offences which that statute was designed to abolish. But reason and humanity as
sumed their reign in the interval between the impeachment and the trial; and when the
prisoner demanded, whether the authority of his judges was not derived from the same
source as his commission, the proceedings against him were suspended, and he was or
dered, with an accuser, to England. No accuser appearing, he was discharged imme
diately after his arrival in London.
XI. This irregular, but spirited measure, indicating, unequivocally, the resolution of
the people to vindicate their right of self-government, was productive of the happiest
effects; and to it New York was indebted for her first experience of systematic liberty,
While the Duke regarded with astonishment the violence of popular feeling which had
impeached his officer as a traitor, and had banished him from the colony, he was assailed
by remonstrances in a less violent and more constitutional form. The Governor's coun-
cii, the court of assizes, and the corporation of the City of New York, concurred with
the whole body of the inhabitants in soliciting for the people a participation in 'the legis
lative power; and he was given to understand by his advisers, that the laws of England
would support them in this pretension. Not yet advanced to the height, which he subse
quently held to place him above all law, he was overcome by these instances, and re
luctantly and ungraciously assented to the demands of the colonists. The deputy go
vernor was first instructed " to keep things quiet;" shortly after, he was informed, that
the Duke would condescend to the wishes of the people, provided the principal inhabitants
would, by writing, covenant to supply adequate means for the support of the government;
and at last, his resolution was proclaimed, to establish the same frame of government a
representative assembly included, in New York, as prevailed in other colonies.
XII. The Governor selected for the new administration was Col. Dongtn, afterwards Earl
of Limerick, a man of integrity, moderation and agreeable manners, and though a pa
pist, which was probably his chief recommendalion to the Duke, was justly acceptable to
the people, who regarded popery with suspicion and dislike. His instructions required
him to convoke an assembly consisting of a council of ten members, named by the pro
prietary or his deputy, and a House of Representatives not exceeding eighteen, to be
elected by the freeholders. This body was authorised to make laws conformable to the
general jurisprudence of the empire and subject to the approbation of the proprietary.
XIII. A report by Andross to the English Committee on Colonies, in 1678, when con
trasted with a similar communication, from the municipality of New York to the Board
of Trade, in 1686, shows, in a striking manner, the difference of impulse to the improve.
ment of society which is given by despotic and by free governments. In 1678 the City
of New York contained 3430 inhabitants, and owned only three ships, eight sloops, and
seven boats. No account seems to have been rendered of the population of the whole
province, which contained twenty-four towns, villages and parishes. Fifteen vessel?, on
an average, traded yearly with England, importing English manufactures to the value of
50,000/. sterling, and exporting from the colony, beef, pease, lumber, wheat to the
amount of 60,000 bushels, and tobacco said to equal the finest product of Maryland.
Servants were few and much needed; slaves were occasionally imported from the Barba
dos, but the number was inconsiderable. Agriculture was more followed than trade.

NEW YORK. 21
A trader worth 3 0002. or even 5002. was considered a substantial merchant, and the
planter_wortb half that sum in moveables, was accounted rich. All the estates in the
province were valued at 150,000/. " Ministers were scarce and religions many." The
Duke maintained a chaplain at New York: which was the only certain endowment of the
Church of England. There' were about twenty houses for public worship of which
about half were vacant. The law made it obligatory upon every district to build
churches and provide for their ministers, whose compensation varied from 401. to 702. a.
year, beside a house and garden. But the Presbyterians and Independents, the greater
and more substantial portion of the inhabitants, only, showed much willingness to com
ply with the requisition. Marriages were solemnised indifferently by clergymen or
justices of the peace. There were no beggars in the province and the poor were well
cared for. The militia amounted to 2,000,* including 140 horsemen; and some regular
troops were maintained for the forts at Albany and New York.
Such was the condition of the province before it attained the right of a representative
assembly. In a few years afterwards, the shipping amounted to ten three-masted vessels,
twenty sloops, and a few ketches of intermediate bulk. The militia had increased to
4,000 foot, 300 horse, and a company of dragoons. The augmentation of inhabitants in
dicated by this increase of military force, appears the more considerable when we regard
the diminution of the territory, prior to the last period, by the assignment to Baltimore
and Penn, of the country south of the Delaware.t
The commission of Col. Dongan bore date 30th September, 1682; but he did not arrive
in the province until the 27th of August ot the following year. He immediately caused
an assembly to be elected which convened at Hempstead on the 17th of October, 1683j
Matthias Nichols, a representative from the city was chosen speaker. It passed an act
of general naturalisation, extending and securing equal privileges to all the inhabitants;
an act declaring the liberties of the people, or a Bill of. Rights, and one for defraying the
requisite charges of the government, which with a few others regulating the internal
economy of the province, and particularly dividing it into counties, were duly approved
by the Duke. A second session was holden in Oct. 1684, when the court of assize was
abolished, and sundry alterations made in the former laws f
XIV. The administration of Col. Dongan was chiefly distinguished by his attention to
Indian affairs, and the intimate and influential relations which now commenced with the
" Five Nations."
This confederacy, founded in remote antiquity, originally consisted of five nations
known among the English as the Senecas, Cayugas, Onondagas, and Oneidas and Mo
hawks; of whom the last was the most distinguished. The number of the clans was in
creased, in 1712, by the adoption of the Tuscaroras, who had been expelled by the
English colonists from Carolina, and who, from analogy of language, claimed affinity
with the northern tribes. These nations deemed themselves superior to the rest .of man
kind, and arrogantly assumed the distinctive appellation of Ongve-h'onwe, or men sur
passing all others: They were also called Aganuschioni, or " United People." The
principles of their confederation display policy and refinement, which contrast strongly
with their barbarous condition in other respects. Like the Romans they increased their
strength by the adoption of their conquered foes; many of whom, selected from the mass
of captives and redeemed from customary tortures and death, became leaders and chiefs
among - the conquerors. Each nation or tribe had its separate form of government in
which rank and authority were given only to age and merit, and were held only by the
tenure of public esteem. Each tribe was divided into three classes or orders designated
respectively, by the names and effigiesof the Tortoise, the Bear, and the Wolf. All were
distinguished by the usual Indian qualities, attachment to liberty, fortitude in pain and
adversity, craft in the operations of war, and great active courage and perseverance.
Ambition taught aspiring individuals to cherish popularity, not by airs of ostentation and
superiority, but by the affectation of humility and disinterestedness. The chief was to
be known by the meanness of his robes and the liberal dispensation of all his acquisitions
among his followers.
All matters of common concern were transacted in general meetings of the sachems of
the several nations; and the influence of time, aided by a long course of judicious policy
and victorious enterprise, had given to the federal character and interests, paramount
consideration over those of individual hordes. This generous national -spirit "had ren
dered invincible a few tribes, which, in union, found irresistible strength; but which, se
parate, would have been more feeble than any of the numerous clans they subdued. That
union had enabled them to render tributary the nations spread over the vast country
*lf we suppose the proportion of the militia to the population to be that which now pre
vails, (1 to 11,) the whole number of inhabitants must have been about 22,000.
+ Chalmers. Grahame's Col. Hist. % Wood's Long Island.

22 HISTORY OF
bounded by the lakes and the St. Lawrence, the ocean, the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia,
and by the Ohio river. Their successful military excursions extended over a much larger
space, even to the mouth of the Ohio, the country between that river and the Mississippi,
and far into Canada. Among the vanquished was the great nation of the Lenape or
Delawares, whose affiliated tribes formed much of the population of this vast territory.
Both the French and English writers concur in describing the Five Nations or Iroquois,
as they were termed by the former, as the most judicious and politic, the most fierce and
formidable, of the aborigines of America.
The chief seat of the Mohawks was upon the river which bears their name, extending
westward from Schenectady. On its fertile banks they had four towns and one small
village. The first was at the confluence of the Schoharie Creek with the river, and the
other higher up the stream. The name of this nation was frequently given to the whole
confederacy. The Oneidas dwelt in the vicinity of the Oneida Lake; the Onondagoes
near the Onondaga Lake; the Cayugas near the Cayuga Lake; and the Senecas upon the
Genesee River, about twenty miles from Irondequoit Bay.
During the revolutionary war, the whole confederacy, except a little more than half
the Oneidas, took arms against the United States. They hung, like the scythe of death
upon the rear of our settlements, and the fields of Wyoming, Cherry Valley, and the Mo
hawk, bore terrible testimonials of their ferocity. They received a signal chastisement
from General Sullivan, who with an army of nearly 5,000 men swept their country in the
year 1779. He defeated them near Elmira, in the County of Tioga, drove them from
their fortifications, and marching between the Cayuga and Seneca lakes as far as the
Genesee River, destroyed their orchards, cornfields, and forty villages, the largest of
which contained 128 houses. This was the finishing blow to the power of the con
federacy. A large portion of the tribes were driven from the country, and many of them
permanently remained within the British territory.
The shores of the Hudson were inhabited by tribes of the Lenni Lenape or Delaware
nation, generally known by the name of Mohicans and Mohickanders, who bore other
names derived from the places of their residence. Other tribes of the Lenape nation
were strewed along the present southern boundary of the state. In a map published at
Amsterdam, 1659, we find placed on the left bank of the Hudson, the Mohikans, Wap-
pinges, Waoranecks and Pachami; and on Long Island, the Matouwas. Upon the
western shore, the Sanhicans near the mouth of the North river, the Waranawankongs
north of the Highlands, and the Maquas at the junction of the Mohawk with the Hudson.
So little was the country at this period known, that Lake Iroquois (Champlain) is placed
some miles eastward of the Connecticut river.
When the French settled in Canada, at the commencement of the 17th century, the
Five Nations were at war with the powerful tribe of the Adirondacks, who had driven
them from their ancient seats, around Montreal, to seek an asylum on the south-east side
of Lake Ontario; but who, at this period, were themselves much pressed by these.enemies,
: and compelled to fly from their country upon the Three Rivers, to a safer position behind
the straits of Quebec. The tide of success, however, was suddenly turned, by the ar
rival of Champlain, who conducted the French colony; and who, settling upon the lands of
the Adirondacks, became their ally. The conduct, bravery, and superior weapons of the
new allies, proved an over match for the skill and intrepidity of the Five Nations; who,
defeated in several battles, were reduced to great distress. At this juncture, the Dutch
colonists established themselves at Albany, from whom the Iroquois obtained a supply of
that species of arms to which they owed their defeat They renewed the war, with such
impetuosity and success, as to sweep utterly from their path thev Adirondacks, and to de-
monstrate to the French, that they had adopted the weaker party? Hence originated mu
tual dread and enmity, which long caused many calamities to both.
XV. The French, unaccustomed to the climate and ignorant of the country, vainly at
tempted the rapid and secret expeditions of their savage adversaries. A party despatched,
in the winter of 1665, by Courcelles, Governor of Canada, to attack the Five Nations, lost
their way among wastes of snow, and after enduring great misery, arrived at the village
of Schenectady, which had been recently founded by Corlear. Bewildered and exhausted
by cold and hunger, the French would have fallen an easy prey to a body of Indians near
the village, had not Corlear, touched with compassion, employed both influence and arti
fice, to induce their enemies, to depart for the defence of their own people, whom he re
presented as in danger of attack, from another quarter. The Frenchmen thus snatched
from imminent peril, were supplied with means of returning to their homes, and tausht
an impressive lesson of justice and humanity. The French governor was grateful for
Corlear s kindness, and the Indians forgave his benevolent stratagem, but the feud was
not extinguished. At length, after long, severe, but fruitless hostilities, wearied of war

NEW YORK. 23
but unweaned of their hate, the parties agreed upon a treaty of peace, which was con
cluded in the year 1 667, and subsisted when Dongan arrived in his government
XVI. Of the relations between the Dutch and the Five Nations, confused and uncer
tain accounts, only, have been preserved. It seems established, that at one period they
were those of war, but who were the antagonist Indians, is not known. The colony was
at peace at the close of Stuy vesant's administration. When Nicholls assumed the govern
ment, he formed a treaty of amity with the Five Nations, which contributed to extend a
commercial intercourse, wherein one party furnished peltry in exchange for arms and
ammunition, of the use of which, so long as unemployed against themselves, the vendors
were but too regardless.
XVII. In the mean time, the French advanced their settlements along the St. Law
rence river; and, in the year 1672, built Fort Frontignac on its northwestern bank, at the
point, whence it rushes from the parent waters of Lake Ontario or Cardaraqui. With a
policy proportioned to the vigour of their advances, they filled the Indian settlements
with their missionaries, who multiplied converts to their doctrines and allies for their
countrymen. The Jesuits, here, as in their other missions, adapted their doctrines to the
condition of those they would proselyte; and in some instances, even assumed the habits
and manners of the uncultured savage. With that firmness of purpose, the praise and
tho opprobrium of the order, they overcame all physical difficulties in the search of disci
ples, whom they retained despite of all moral oppugnation. The French laity too, espe
cially their civil and military officers, and the soldiery, succeeded better than the gene
rality of the English, in obtaining the favour of the Indians. The affability and apparent
deference of the one, were every where more acceptable, than the reserve and unveiled
conceit of the other.*
XVIII. The peace and good understanding, which at length prevailed between the
French and the Five Nations, enabled the latter to gratify their propensity and newly
acquired power for conquest, by turning their arms against the copper races, and subject
ing the country from the Mississippi to the borders of the Carohnas; exterminating nu
merous tribes in their destructive progress. The Indian septs of Maryland and Virginia
suffered from their attacks, and these colonies were frequently involved in hostilities, in
defence of their allies, and frequently in defence of themselves against these very allies,
incensed by the discovery, that their enemies derived their greatest means of annoyance
from the English, at New York. But, in July, 1684, Col. Dongan, in conjunction with
Lord Effingham, Governor of Virginia, concluded with the Five Nations, a definitive
treaty of peace, embracing all the English settlements, and all tribes in their alliance.
Hatchets, in numbers, proportioned to the English colonies, were duly buried; and the
arms of the Duke of York, as the acknowledged head of this new confederacy were sus
pended along the frontiers of the united Indian nations. This treaty was long inviolably
preserved; the fidelity of its observance being supported by a renewal of hostilities be
tween the Five Nations and the French.
XIX. Now, for the first time, the merchants of New York adventured on the great-
lakes of the west, to participate in the profitable trade which had been exclusively en
joyed by the French ; for the preservation of which, that nation, excited the animosity of
the Indians against their dreaded rivals. Dongan, perceiving the disadvantages to which
his countrymen were exposed, solicited the English ministry to take measures for pre
venting the French from navigating the lakes ; which, as belonging to the Five nations,
he claimed for England. But he was informed, that it was preposterous to expect, that
France would abandon an advantageous commerce to a rival ; and was directed, rather
by acts of kindness, to secure the affections and the trade of the Indians for the English :
observing, however, such prudence as might prevent offence to his European neighbours.
But it was not possible to obey either command. The trade continued divided ; and a se
ries of disputes now commenced between the two nations, which for the greater part of a
century, engaged them in continual wars and hostile intrigues, threatening the destruc
tion of their colonies, costing the lives of majny of the European settlers, wasting the
blood, and prolonging the barabarism of almost all the Indian tribes, who were drawn in
to the vortex of baleful passions.t
* An Indian tribe was specially charmed by the good breeding of the French, in always
appearing stark naked at their mutual conferences. Oldmixon, ii. 229.
T Charlevoix Hist New France. Colden. Smith. Kalm's Trav. Chalmers. Graham's Col.
Hist. Williams' Vermont

24 HISTORY OF

CHAPTER III.
FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF JAMES II. TO THE END OF THE
REIGN OF WILLIAM III. 1685—1701.
1. Despotic and faithless conduct of James II. towards the province. II. Moderate and pru
dent conduct of Governor Dongan. 111. New rupture between the Five Nations and the
French — Master policy of the French. IV. Sir Edmund Andross, Governor of New
York and New England. V. Success of the Indians against the French. VI. Discon
tents of New York — Revolutionary agitations. VII. Revolt of Leisler. VIII. Opposi
tion to Leisler. IX. He admits others to participate in his power. X. He assumes the
state of Lt. Governor. XI. Convokes an assembly. XII. War with France and des
truction of Schenectady. XIII. Invasion of Canada projected — it fails — Indiscretion
and intemperance of Leisler. XIV. Acceptation of Leisler's proceedings in England-
Appointment of Governor Slaughter. XV. Leisler refuses submission to the Governor.
He is tried, convicted of treason, and executed — His partizans fly the province. XVF.
Slaughter convokes an assembly, which makes a declaration of rights. XVII. Death of
Col. Slaughter. XVIII. Major Schuyler attempts Montreal — Barbarity of the French.
Presidency of Richard Ingoldsby.* XX. Col. Fletcher, Governor — bis thai acter and initia
tory measures. XXI. Inroad of Count Frontignac — Activity of Col. Fletcher. XXII. His
attempts to establish the Church of England in the province — Rudely reproves the assem
bly. XXIII. Further disputes with the assembly. XXIV. The Governor adopts a more
conciliatory policy. XXV. Progress of the war between the French and Five Nations —
Peace. XXVI. Members of assembly refuse to sit without pay. XXVII. Earl of Bel
mont, Governor — His efforts to repress piracy — Unfortunate result. XXVIII. He pro
tects the Leislerian party. XXIX. His address to the assembly. XXX. Violent disputes
in that body. XXXI. Invalidates certain Jar^e grants of lands obtained by individuals
from the Indians. XXXII. The penally of death denounced against popish priests
XXXIII. Death of Lord Belmont— Presidency of Col. Smith-. XXXIV. Violent party
measures of Lt. Governor Manfan — Persecution of Mr. R. Livingston.
I. By the accession of the Duke of York to the throne, on the death of his
brother Charles,* the province with its dependencies devolved to the crown. This event
was welcomed with premature exultation by bis subjects in New York. They had been
long soliciting a formal grant of the constitution which was now in force, and the Duke
had not only promised to gratify them, but had actually signed a patent in conformity
with their wishes, which required, only, some trivial solemnity to render it complete and
irrevocable. But, the king'beld himself absolved from the obligations of the Duke; and
the renewed solicitations of the incorporated bodies and the major part of the inhabitants
of the province were, unhesitatingly, rejected. He not only refused to confer new privi-
leges, but revoked such as he had already granted. In the second year of his reign, he
issued a new commission to Dongan, empowering him, with consent of his council, to
enact laws and impose taxes ; and, specially, commanded him, to suffer no printing press
in his governments So great was the change produced in the sentiments of the colonists
by this treatment, that Dongan wrote to the English ministry, " I wish for more fortifi-
cations, as the people, every day, grow more numerous, and arc of a turbulent disposition."
This censure was as unjust, as the judgment on his own character by a body of the in-
habitants, who denounced him as a wicked popish governor.
II. Dongan was a soldier, rather regarding with indifference, than disposed to enforce
with rigour, a system of arbitrary power, and the remainder of his administration, though
less popular, was not discreditable to his character, being conducted with moderation and
regard for the public weal. Though a catholic, he beheld with alarm, and resisted with
energy, the intrusion of the French priests among the Five Nations: and, when his
bigoted master, influenced by the Court of France, commanded him to desist from thus
obstructing the course of popish conversion, he continued to warn bis Indian allies of the
fatal effects upon their interest and to their friendship»with the English, which must flow
from the admission of the priests; and still insisted, that the French should not treat with
the Indians in alliance with the colony, without his privity and intervention; but he was
ordered, under the same influence, to abandon this pretension.
The Five Nations, however, had more need of the assistance of his force, than of the
suggestions of his policy. Their untutored sagacity perceived, what the ministry of
England could not, or would not discern, that the extensive projects of France threatened
*6 February, 1685.
t Chalmers. Holme's Annual i. 395. Grahame'« Col. Hist.

, NEW YORK. 25
themselves with destruction, the trade of the English colonies, with diminution and
the removal of a powerful barrier to the rival settlements of Canada. Their peace with
the more distant tribes, allied to the other English colonies enabled them to attend,
with less distraction, to thejr nearer interests; and finding the injurious effects, resulting
from the supplies which their numerous enemies derived from the French, they deemed
the trade, furnishing them, contraband, and cause for obstructing and capturing all
traders who supplied their enemies with military stores.
III. The French, under the conduct of two successive governors, De la Barre and
Nonville, had vainly endeavoured, partly by treaty, and partly by force, to repress pro
ceedings so injurious to their commercial and political views; when Dongan, perceiving
that a war would probably ensue, prevailed, by the most urgent entreaties, upon the
English court, to permit him to aid the Five Nations in the impending contest. But the
French ministers apprised of these instructions, sought to render them fruitless; and had
the address to conclude with James a treaty of neutrality for America; stipulating, that
neither party should assist the Indian tribes in their wars with the other. Thus un
impeded, the French power in Canada sought, vigorously, to turn by force and seduce by
art the Indian tribes from the English interest; whilst Dongan was compelled to sacrifice
the honor of his country, to abandon her allies to the enmity, and her barrier to the vio
lation of an enterprizing rival. His remonstrances taught the ministers of James, the
impolicy of this treaty; yet the King could not be deterred from its renewal in the fol
lowing year.*
IV. But the King had no intention of relinquishing his empire in America. Though
tinctured with bigotry, he was not incapable of politic views. The one had prompted
him to abandon the Indians to the French ; the other, suggested the union of all his nor
thern colonies, under one government, for their more effectual defence. Another motive
to the latter, may, also, be found in his desire to facilitate the exercise of arbitrary power.
This scheme included New York. Supposing the people of this province sufficiently
prepared to abide the extremity of his will, he indulged his displeasure against Dongan,
for having obstructed the labors of the Jesuits, of which France had repeatedly complained.
This meritorious officer, by the royal command, April 1 688, surrendered his charge to Sir
Edmund Andross, then Governor of New England, and retired to his farm on Long Island,
where he remained until 1691. And New York, not only reverted to the dominion of its
ancient tyrant, but its existence, as a separate colony, was merged in the amalgamation
of the northern provinces. Andross resided at Boston, as the metropolis of his jurisdic
tion; committing the administration of New York to Francis Nicholson, who had been
Lieut. Governor under Dongan ;t and, though by the vigor of his remonstrances and his
reputation for ability, he compelled the French to suspend some encroachments on the
English territories, he could lend no assistance to the Five Nations, in the war now raging
between them and the French, with mutual fury and ferocity, that obliterated the distinction
between civilized and savage man.
V. To their other discontents, the people of New York added the displeasure of their
breach of promise of aid, to the Indians. But though deserted, the Five Nations main
tained the contest, with an energy which seemed to insure their independence, and finally,
with success, which threatened the subjugation of their enemy. A force of twelve hun
dred warriors- surprised Montreal; burned the town, sacked the plantations, put a thou
sand of the French to the sword, and carried away many prisoners whom they buried
alive, with the loss of only three of their own number. Soon after, they obtained possession
of the French fort on Lake Ontario, which the garrison, in a panic, had abandoned ; and,
being reinforced by many of the late Indian allies of France, they reduced every station
of that power in Canada, to great distress. The ignorance of the assailants of the mode
of attacking fortified places, seems, alone, to have saved the French from destruction; and
the timely assistance of the English colonists, might then have expelled, for ever, their
restless rivals/from this portion of the continent.^
VI. Whilst this war was prolonged by indecisive hostilities, a deep and general dissa
tisfaction with the government of James, was growing at New York, among all ranks.
The principal citizens were irritated by the privation of liberty and the degradation of
the province ; whilst others were seized with the dread of popery. Some angry feelings
excited in the commencement of Dongan's administration, in relation to private and town
boundaries on Long Island, were, also, at this time, revived. Amid this agitation, intel
ligence of the designs of the Prince of Orange upon the English throne, arrived. No
immediate commotion ensued upon the important tidings of the accession of William and
Mary, and the expulsion of James ; nor upon the knowledge of the successful insurrec-
* Grahame's Col. Hist Smith's N. Y. Colden.
+ Chalmers. Grahame's Col. Hist -
t Oldmixon i. 125. Colden i. 60—93. Smith. Chalmers, 428, 588.
4

26 HISTORY OF
tion at Boston, which bad terminated the government of Andross. There might have
been no explosion of popular violence, even under these exciting circumstances, had not
the local authorities indicated a disposition to resist, or at least to discountenance, the ge.
neral revolution in the empire. Nicholson and his council, not only refrained from pro
claiming William and Mary, but despatched a letter *o Governor Bradstreet, haughtily
commanding the immediate release of Andross and the suppression of the insurrectionary
rabble who had presumed to confine him. Still, the reflecting inhabitants of New York,
clearly perceiving that, the. local government must follow the fate of the empire, were
disposed to await the voluntary submission of their governor and council, or the arrival
of orders, or assistance from Britain to enforce it.
VII. But, a portion of the people could not brook this tedious issue ; and were excited
by the apprehension of some notable piece of craft from Nicholson and his officers. This
party found a chief in Jacob Leisler, a man of eager headlong temper and narrow capa
city, whose zeal against popery and former ill treatment by Andross, seemed to desig.
nate him as a leader in a religious and political contest. But, destitute of every personal
qualification for such a station, he was wholly under' the influence of one Milbourne, an
Englishman, who had married his daughter. Leisler committed the first act of resis-
tauce, by refusing to pay the duties upon some goods he had imported, on pretence, that
the collector was a papist, and that there was no legitimate government within tho pro.
vince. Nicholson having begun preparations, avowedly to protect the city against foreign
invasion, and summoned the militia to garrison the fort, a rumor prevailed that the pa-
pists designed to massacre the protestants. Leisler, commanding a company of the train
bands, was admitted into the fort, which he seized, in defence of the protestant cause, and
for the King and Queen of England.
The late King having forbidden the agency of the press, a written declaration, signed
by Leisler and his followers, proclaimed that, though they had suffered many grievances
from a wicked popish governor, they would have patiently awaited redress, had not the
violence of Nicholson and the schemes of the papists forced them to take arms and secure
the fort, until the King and Queen should send a protestant officer to receive it No per
son of consideration in the province countenanced this enterprize: yet, Leisler despatched
a. messenger to King William, and by negotiation with Massachusetts and Connecticut,
interested their governments in his favor. But a report arising, that an English fleet was
in the offing, many persons joined Leisler's standard ; and Nicholson, dreading the fate of
Andross, fled to England. A new proclamation was now prepared, dated 3d June, 1689,
by those in arms, omitting the unworthy censure upon Dongan, and the condition for the
religion of the royal officer to whom the fort should be surrendered.
VIII. The measures of Leisler and his adherents were regarded with great jealousy
and distrust by the late members of the council, the officers of the city, and many of the
distinguished inhabitants; who, though backward themselves in supporting the revolu-.
tion, could not patiently endure, that one, so unqualified, and unnoted should merit the
honor of first proclaiming the new monarchs, and should, in their name, aqtually hold
the sovereign power of the colony. Moved by these sentiments, Courtlandt, Mayor of
the city, Col. Bayard, Major Schuyler, Robert Livingston, and others, retired to Albany,
where, seizing the fort, they declared in favor of King William, and renounced all con-
nection with Leisler. The counties of Kings and Queens embraced his party; but Suffolk
sought to renew its connection with Connecticut, and when unsuccessful, continued neu
tral and inactive during his administration.
IX. Although the militia had entrusted him with the sole command, Leisler deemed it
prudent to associate some respectable citizens with himself in a situation likely to prove
dangerous. Having fortified his own power by the appointment of a committee of safety
at New York, he despatched Milbourne against the adverse faction at Albany, which had
organized itself in convention, and, apprized of Leisler's intention, prepared to defend that
post against him. Upon Milbourne's arrival, a portion of the inhabitants repaired to the
• fort under command of Major Schuyler, while others flocked to a conference at the City
Hall, where Milbourne essayed in vain to convert them to his party. He subsequently,
rashly, attempted the fortress with a very inconsiderable force, and" was spared by the
commandant; who restrained the garrison and some Mohawks, from firing on him. Un-
der these circumstances, Milbourne retired ; but, was in the spring, more successful ; the
inhabitants being engaged in resisting the inroads of some Indians. The members of the
convention absconded, and the vengeful demagogue seized and confiscated their estates;
therein, laying the foundation of a hatred, which caused his own disastrous end, and of
parties which long outlived him.*
X. In the mean while, a letter dated 29th July, 1689, from the English ministry ar
rived, addressed, " To Francis Nicholson, Esq,- or, in his absence, to such, as for the time
' Smith. Grahame.

NEW YORK. 27
being, take care for preserving the peace, and administering the laws in his Majesty's
province of New York, in America," empowering Nicholson to take upon him th'e chief
command, and to call to his assistance, such of the inhabitants as he should' think proper,
" and to da eyery thing appertaining to the office of Lieut. Governor, according to the laws
and custom's of New York, until further orders." In the absence of Nicholson, Leisler as
sumed, that, this letter was addressed to himself; and, from this time, he issued 'all kinds
of commissions in his own name, taking the title, as well as authority of Lieut. Gover
nor. He summoned the committee of safety, and, by their advice, appointed for his
council, Peter Lenoy, Samuel Staats, Hendrick Jansen, and Johannes Vermillie, for New
York ; Gerardus Beekman, for Kings county ; Samuel Edsel, for Queens ; Thomas Wil
liams, for Westchester ; and William Lawrence, for Orange ;* Ulster and Albany still re
fused to recognize his authority.
XI. Still further to strengthen his party, he also summoned a convention of deputies
from the portions of the province over which his influence extended. This assembly, to
which two deputies from Connecticut, were admitted, to assist with their advice, met at
New York, 24th April, 1690", chose John Spratt their speaker, and at this and a subse
quent session, enacted various regulations for the temporary government of the province.
But its acts, especially, financial impositions, were received with little favor by many of
the colonists, whose indignation against Leisler was confined with difficulty to insults and
menaces.! XII. In this state of contention the colonists continued nearly two years. Happily,
the quarrel had no mixture of national antipathy between the Dutch and English races,
who were found indiscriminately upon either party ; and though much heat and maligni
ty were engendered, no blood was shed during the commotion. The misery of foreign
war and hostile invasion, were, however, added to the calamity of internal discord. In the
depth of their reverses, the French not only took prompt means for succour; but at the
instance of M. De Callieres, governor of Canada, who had visited France, specially for
the purpose, planned the subjugation of the Iroquois, and the reduction of New York.
The French Court, now at war with England, believing that the troubles of the parent
kingdom afforded a favorable opportunity for the conquest, readily engaged in the enter
prize. A considerable force was despatched under the aged, but, able and enterprizing
Count de Frontignac, a second time appointed Governor of Canada, with a fleet under
Caffriniere, which was designed to act against the port of New York. The condition
in which Frontignac found his province, compelled him to limit his views. Negotiations
were instituted with the Five Nations, and though a formal peace was not made, their
anger was mollified, and their attachment towards the English so diminished, that, a con
siderable body of French and Indians was directed against New York, in the depth of
winter. (1689 — 1690.) Wandering for two and twenty days through trackless snows, the
troops approached the village of Schenectady, in February, in so exhausted a condition,
that they had resolved to surrender the^jptlves to the inhabitants as prisoners of war.
The village was apprized of the French Tlesigns, but, believing them impracticable at
this season of the year, and, distracted by the party feuds which prevailed, here, as else
where, in the province, disregarded the warning ; consequently, when the French arrived,
in the middle of the night they found the inhabitants buried in deep repose. Exchang
ing their purpose of begging mercy, and forgetful of the charity extended to their coun
trymen, at this place, in 1685, they resolved upon the destruction of the defenceless people
before them, and executed their determination wjth the most frightful barbarity.
Dividing themselves into several parties, they fired the town in many places, and mas
sacred the inhabitants, with fatal advantage, amid the conflagration : and, with the wan
tonness of slaughter, spared neither the pregnant mother, nor sucking babe. But policy
prevailed where humanity was powerless. Many Mohawks were in the town, but not
one was injured ; whilst of the whites, sixty were slain and twenty-seven made prisoners.
Of the fugitives, who escaped to Albany, twenty-five lost limbs by the severity of the
frost The fcnemy leisurely plundered the village, and destroyed what they could not con
veniently bear away.t >
XIII. This event excited the utmost consternation throughout the province. Forces
were quickly raised to repel and retort the injury. The retreating enemy was pursued,
and with the aid of some Mohawk warriors, twenty-five captives were made; and, on the
application of Leisler, the Colony of Connecticut sent him auxiliaries. The province of
Massachusetts was, also, at this time severely harassed by Indian hostilities, instigated
and aided by Count Fr.ontignac; and a plan was, therefore, projected between the New
England states and New Yor,k for a general invasion of Canada. An expedition com
manded by Sir William Phipps sailed from Boston . against Quebec, and the united
forces of Connecticut and New York, under General Winthrop, were directed against
"Smith. + Hutchinson. Trumbull. Chalmers. f Smith, Grahame.

28 HISTORY OF
Montreal. But an attack of the small pox, the insuflScient supply of provisions, and the
incompetent means for crossing the lakes and rivers, forced, the army to retreat. The
progress of the fleet was alike unsuccessful. Indecision and delay gave time to the
enemy for defence, and the courage of the invaders was displayed in vain, before the
impregnable walls of Quebec. Leisler, giddy with his sudden and extraordinary eleva
tion, prone, as such men usually are, to abuse power, and irritated at the result of his
military efforts, caused Winthrop to be arrested; but was instantly compelled by universal
indignation to release him. The government of Connecticut, justly incensed at the
insult offered to its favourite officer, and most respected inhabitant, expressed its astonish
ment and displeasure at his presumption, and warned him, with prophetic voice, that, his
Btate required prudence and the support of friends.*
XIV. King William had received, with much favour Leisler's messenger;! but, Nichol
son, on his arrival in England, made his party good; prejudicing the royal mind against
the insurgents of Boston and New York. The king gave his thanks* indeed, to the
people for their fidelity, but did not recognise the governors in either province whom
they had selected; and demonstrated soon after, how lightly he regarded the complaints
against Andross and Nicholson, by promoting them to the government of other American
provinces. He was (probably disposed to preserve the whole of the northern colonies
under one government, which the urgent demands of Massachussetts for the restoration
of her chartered rights prevented; but he had no inclination to extend like privileges to
New York, and, therefore, committed its separate government, in August, 1689, to Col.
Slaughter; who, engaged in his master's affairs, in Europe, did not arrive in the province
until the second year after his appointments
XV. Leisler had become too deeply enamoured with power, freely to surrender it. He had
hoped to the last that the king would either continue him in office, or acknowledge and re
ward his services. Finding himself no otherwise noticed, than by a summons from Slaugh
ter to surrender the fort, he desperately replied, that he would not yield it, save to an order
under the king's sign manual. This egregious folly gave his enemies, and he had not
used his power so meekly as to make them few, the opportunity they most wished, to
complete his ruin. The Governor's ears were opened to all charges preferred against
him; and though he quickly abandoned his purpose of holding the fort, he was denounced
as a rebel, and committed to prison, with his kinsman Milbourne, and others of his ad
herents, on a charge of high treason. With the surrender of the fort, Messrs. Bayard
and Nicholls, who had been there imprisoned by Leisler, obtained their liberty and were
immediately sworn members of the Governor's council.
Leisler and Milbourne were tried by a special commission, consisting of Sir Tho
mas Robinson, Col. Smith, and others. Leisler pleaded their meritorious services in
originating the revolution in the province, and justified the authority he had exercised
under Lord Nottingham's letter. But this plea was overruled; having been, ignorantlyi
or slavishly, submitted to the Governor by the judges. The prisoners were convicted
and sentenced to death. Slaughter hesitated to command their execution, and wrote to
the English ministers for directions how to dispose of them. But their enemies stimu
lated by hate and apprehension of some reaction in their favour, earnestly through the
legislature and council, pressed their execution. The Governor resisted, until, having
been invited by the petitioners to a sumptuous entertainment he was, his reason drowned
in wine, seduced to sign the death warrant Before he recovered his senses, the pri
soners were executed.
The adherents of Leisler, much enraged at the sentence, were filled with terror and
astonishment by its execution. They fled in such numbers from the province, that it
became necessary to pass, in haste, a general act of indemnity. Leisler's son complained
to the king of the execution of his father and the confiscation of his estate; and the privy
council reported,^ that although the conviction and execution were legal, it was advisable,
under all circumstances, to restore the forfeited property. The offence of Leisler, against
the king and the laws, was his refusal to surrender the fort Justly considered, this
was sedition at most. He became the victim of party passions, admonishing us, that
in this country, party spirit may become as base and as ferocious, as at Athens, Rome,
France, or in an Italian republic.||
XVI. Soon after his arrival, Slaughter convoked an assembly.T which reprobated
Leisler s conduct in holding out the fort, annulled all the regulations established by
former royal governors and their councils, and even the laws which had been enacted by
the popular assembly in 1683. Much to their honour, they also passed an act declaring,
the supreme legislative powers, under their majesties, to be and reside in a governor in
chief and councd appointed by the crown, and in the people by their representatives in
1 f^M Tl^«ni1- Ho,mea- Gra,f1»m?v t Jo,st St0,1> an ensiSn- * »«» March, 1691.
$ 11th March, 1692. fl Smith. Grahame. H 9th April, 1691.

NEW YORK. 29
general nssembly; that, the governor, with the advice of his council, should administer
the government according to the laws of the province, and, where defective, according to
the laws of England; that, in case of bis death or absence, the duties of his office should
devolve on the oldest councillor; and that, a general assembly should be held, annually,
every, person having a freehold of forty shillings per annum, voting for representatives.
The act also designated the number of representatives from the city counties and manors,
prescribed the mode of election, and empowered the assembly to adjourn from time to
time, at discretion.
This act, tending to circumscribe the royal authority and assure the freedom of the
subject was rejected by the king. Other laws provided — for raising revenue, directing
the moneys to be paid into the hands of the receiver general, and disbursed upon the
Governor's warrant; for the confirmation of ancient grants and patents, with the view to
terminate innumerable controversies relating to public townships and private rights, and
for the establishment of courts of justice, constituting among others, a supreme court
with a chief justice and four associates.*
XVII. Governor Slaughter, at a conference with the Five Nations, obtained from them
a declaration of repentance for their pacific relations with the French, and the philanthropic
promise to make war upon that nation so long as they should live. On his return from
this conference, a sudden death terminated Jus " short, weak, and turbulent administra
tion." Being inhumed in the vault of Stuyvesant, his dust was mingled with that of a
more honourable and more capable public servantt
XVIII. Availing himself of the disposition displayed in the late conference, by the
Five Nations, Major Schuyler, who had acquired great influence over them, by_his
courage, good sense, and friendly attention to their interests, undertook, at the close of
this year, an expedition against Montreal, at the head of some three or four hundred
colonists and Indians. Though finally compelled to retreat by a superior force under M.
de Callieres, he inflicted great loss upon the enemy, who ignorant of, or disdaining the
Indian mode of warfare, opposed themselves in masses to adversaries fighting securely
under the cover of trees and ravines. Such was the impulse now given to the warlike
temper of the Iroquois, that they maintained the war themselves with great pertinacity.
To check their ferocity, Count Frontignac, despite the remonstrances of his priests,
resorted to a measure of barbaric retaliation, which has stained, indelibly, the fame of
himself and his nation; demonstrating, that even in the gratification of his malignant
passions, the civilised man has greater ingenuity.than the savage. Two Mohawk cap-
tives.were condemned to the utmost extremity of torture. One escaped its horrors by
suicide, perpetrated with a knife cast by some charitable hand into his prison; the other,
emulous of the fame of a death of glory, such as the martyr covets, reproached the
cowardly evasion of his companion, and at the stake, singing his death-chaunt, defied his
tormentors, whilst his feet were broiled, his hands plunged into red-hot tubes, his joints
dislocated, his sinews twisted with iron bars, his scalp ripped from his head, and the
wound anointed with scorching sand, until the coup de grace was given at the intercession
of a lady.t The plea of policy does not extenuate this barbarity. The universal prac
tice of torturous death, by the Indians, shows, that the dread of suffering it, by either
party, does not restrain its practice by any.
XIX. Although King William had become the instrument of civil liberty^ in England,
he does not seem to have been disposed to abandon any portion of the royal authority in
the provinces. Efforts, directly' and indirectly, were unsuccessfully made to withhold the
chartered rights of Connecticut; and in New York, the power of the crown was main
tained in full rigour.
Upon the death of Slaughter, the government, pursuant to the late act for declaring the
rights of the people, devolved upon the council, over which Joseph Dudley had the right
* Joseph Dudley, C. J., had a salary of 150/.; Johnson, second judge, 1002.; but Wm. Smith,
Steven. Van Courtlandt, aud Wm. Pinhorne, the other judges, and Newton, the attorney
general, received no salary for their services. Governor Slaughter's council consisted of
Joseph Dudley, Frederick Philipse, Step. Van Courtlandt, Gabriel Mienville, Chudley
Brooke, Thomas Willet, and Wm. Pinhorne. The assembly was composed of James Gra
hame, Sr., William Merrett, Jao. Van Courtlandt, Johan. Kipp, for the City and County of
New York; of Derrick Wessels and Levinus Van Scayck, for the City and County of Al
bany; of Henry Beekman and Thomas Garton, for Ulster and Duchess; of Nich. Stillwell
and John Poland for Kings; of Elias Dukesbury and John Dally, for Richmond; of John
Pell, for W. Chester; of Henry Pierson and Matthew Howell, for Suffolk; and of John
Bowne and Nathaniel Percal, for Queens. The members for Queens, being Quakers
were rejected for refusing the oaths directed by the Governor's commission. They offered
to sign the test and to engage to perform the tenor of the oaths under the penalty of perjury.
Minutes of Assembly.
t 25th July, J691. J Colden. Smith.

30 HISTORY OF
of precedency. But the chief command was committed to Richard Ingoldsby, a distin
guished anti-Leislerian, who was qualified 26th of July, 1691. The election was con.
firmed by the acquiescence of Dudley and of the assembly. Ingolsby held a conference
in June, 1692, with the Five Nations, at Albany, to stimulate them in their exertions
against the French. His authority terminated by the arrival of Col. Benjamin Fletcher
on the 29th of August following, with the royal commission.
XX. Governor Fletcher is represented as a man of violent temper, shallow capacity,
and avaricious disposition. The first, at the commencement of his administration, in
volved him in fruitless and irritating controversies with the assembly, subsequently,
moderated and subdued by the force of his avarice, which could be gratified only by the
good will of the provincial legislature. In his Indian relations he was fortunate in pro
curing, and duly appreciating, the services of Major Schuyler, whose influence over the
Iroquois tribes was unbounded — whatever Quiddert proposed, having the force of the
resolutions of their own councils. The Governor cultivated his friendship, raised him to
the council board, and, under his tutelage, acquired an intimate knowledge of Indian
affairs, and with it much popularity.
XXI. A favourable opportunity enabled him, a few months after his arrival, to recom-
mend himself to the Indians. Count Frontignac, though engaged in hostilities with the
colonists of New England, did not cease to prosecute his design of subjecting the Iroquois.
With a vigour, rare in one of his age, he left Montreal in the middle of January, 1693, and
after a march of incredible hardship, passed Schenectady undiscovered, and assailing the
first Indian village, on the Mohawk, which he took completely by surprise, slew many of
the inhabitants, and made more than three hundred captives. Schuyler hastened to the
assistance of his allies, and with about 300 Indians, mostly boys, ill armed, followed the
retreating enemy, closely, occasionally skirmishing with him, until he had recrossed the
North River. In the pursuit, he retook more than fifty prisoners. Such was the suffer
ing in this enterprise, that the Iroquois ate the dead bodies of the enemy; whilst the
French were compelled to eat their own shoes.
The tidings of the French attack reached the City of New York on the 12th of Feb
ruary. The Governor, summoning the militia, demanded who was willing to march in
defence of their allies, and was answered by the cry " One and all." The river, a rare
case at this season of the year, was open; and Fletcher, at the head of three hundred volun
teers, reached Schenectady, by the 17th of the month, in time only, however, to conciliate
his friends, not to overtake his enemies. In commendation of his activity, the Indians
gave him the name of Cayenguirago or " the great swift arrow."
XXII. The activity of Fletcher recommended him to the assembly, convened in March,
which returning him their thanks, raised 6,0002. to pay a force of three hundred volun
teers, for the defence of'the frontiecs. But this good understanding was disturbed at the
close of the session, by the strenuousness of his efforts, to introduce the Episcopal form of
church government, for which the sound policy of establishing English preachers and
schoolmasters afforded a plausible covering. The subsequent assembly (in September)
passed the bill, for settling ministers in the several parishes; but the council having added
to the clause, empowering the people to elect their ministers, the condition, that they
should be approved and collated by the Governor, the house negatived the amendment,
and was immediately prorogued with many reproaches. They endured this rude
ness with patience, but continued firm in their rejection, of the proposed amendment.
The bill, as passed by them, became a law. It provided for the establishment of good
sufficient Protestant ministers to officiate and have the care of souls; in the City of New
York one; in the County of Richmond one; in the county of Westchester two; in Queens
County two; to be called by the vestrymen and church wardens of the respective precincts,
and paid by a tax upon the inhabitants generally, levied by the vestrymen and churGh
wardens, who were elective by such inhabitants.
This act was certainly designed to recognise the Church of England, as the church of
the province, and to make it a charge upon the people, generally; leaving, as in England,
the dissenters at liberty to contribute a2so, to the maintenance of preachers of their own
choice. Nor was the object of the law changed by the fifth section of the act of 1705,
providing for the preservation of the liberty of conscience, granted to other Protestant
Christians by the laws of England or of the colony.
XXIII. The next assembly, which met in March, 1694, was not more compliant than
its predecessor. New causes of contention arose from an inquiry of the house into the
state of the public accounts, and from the demand by the Governor of additional pay for
some troops which had lately arrived, and supplies for those already upon the frontier.
The Governor again resorted to prorogation but not until he had obtained an act for the
support of one hundred men on the border. At the next session (April, 1695,) these
* Instead of" Peter" which they could not pronounce.

NEW1 YORK. 31
disputes were revived, and proceeded to such length, that the house craved the Governor's
leave to print their minutes, by way of appeal to the public; and by a resolution, upon the
petition of certain church wardens and vestrymen of the City of New York, gave a con
struction to their late act, widely different from that of the Governor's wishes, which
would have confined its operation to Episcopal clergymen— declaring, that " the vestry.
men and church wardens have power to call a dissenting Protestant minister, to be paid
and maintained as the act directs." This was an unpardonable offence, and the house
was dissolved.
XXIV. Experience had now taught Fletcher how little was to be gained by contention
with the representatives of the people, and his intercourse with the next and succeeding
assemblies was more amicable and beneficial. The new house was convened to consider a
proposition from the king for raising • troops, and a joint fund by contribution from the
several colonies, for operations against the French. This measure does not appear to
have been favourably entertained by the house, which on the arrival of a considerable
body of the king's troops, hoped that the province would be relieved from raising more
men for its defence. To obtain this end, they voted 10002. to be given, one half to the
Governor, and the other to the English officers and soldiers; but as the salary of the
Governor was already fixed for several years yet unexpired, he would not venture to re
ceive a donative of such equivocal character. • Still, the offer was grateful, and was re
warded by a recommendation to the house to appoint a committee to investigate the
public accounts previous to the next session. Another bill appropriating 8002. for main
taining the troops on the frontier, received the Governor's sanction. This assembly, on
the 4th of October, 1695, appointed, with the concurrence of the Governor and council,
Mr. Nicholls their first agent at St. James; granting him 10002. for his services, with in
structions to show to his majesty the grievances under which they laboured, from their
frontier position, and their consequent expenditure of men and money for the benefit of
other provinces which contributed nothing.
XXV. The remainder of Fletcher's administration has no circumstance worthy of
special commemoration. The war between the French and the Five Nations, some.
times languishing by the address of Frontignac's negotiations, was, occasionally, kindled
into fierceness, by his enterprise and activity. As the contest was prolonged, the parties
emulated each other in cruelty as in courage. Many prisoners on both sides were made
to expire in tortures; but the French, less prepared, by education and physical habits, for
such extremities of suffering, endured more evil than they could inflict In the mean
while, the Governor of New York, encouraged' the Five Nations to maintain the contest,
by negotiating alliances between them and other tribes, and by valuable presents; receiv
ing, alternately, grateful acknowledgments, and angry complaints that he fought his
battles by the sole instrumentality of the Indians. Indeed, except in repelling some in-
significant attacks of the French, Fletcher took no share in the war.
The peace of Ryswick,* interrupting the hostilities between the French and English,
threatened fatal consequences to the allies, which were, probably, averted by the removal
of Fletcher from the government Relieved from hostility in other quarters, the French
commandant was at liberty to prosecute more effectually his vengeance against the
Iroquois, whom he refused to consider as protected by the treaty. But his designwas
frustrated by the vigilance and energy of the Earl of Belmont; who, not only furnished
the Five Nations with ample military stores, but declared to Count Frontignac, that he
would defend them with the whole force of the province. Complaints were made by both
officers to their respective governments, and they were directed by a spirit of accommoda
tion, to make the peace effectual to both nations, and to leave all disputes concerning the
Indian tribes to the determination of commissioners. Shortly after, peace was formally
concluded between the French and Five Nations. The former endeavoured to avail
themselves of the dissatisfaction of the latter with the English, to induce their reception
of the Jesuits into their settlements. But, though the Indians were at first disposed to
entertain the offer, their habitual affection prevailed over transient discontent, and they
declared their resolution to adhere to the English, and to receive, instead of the French
priests, some Protestant pastor, whom Lord Bellamont proposed to establish among
them.tt XXVI. It would seem, that, service in the assembly was deemed by some members ex-
* 10th Sept 1697. + Smith. Grahame. Colden.
^The mission of these pastors seems to have been deferred until 1712, when one An
drews was sent by the English Society for propagating the Gospel. The Indians received
him kindly, but forbade him to teach' the English language to their children. After exer
cising hie office among them, in the Indian tongue, for several years, he was universally
forsaken by his auditors and scholars, and closed a fruitless mission in 1718. Humphrey's
Hist. Acct. of the Society for propagating the Gospel. 295 — 310.

32 HISTORY OF
cessively burdensome, on account of the delay which occurred in Jhe payment of their
wages. Underbill and Purdy, members from Westchester, refused attendance at the
session of March, 1697.r The'ir absence was voted neglect of duty, and they were finally
summoned before the house to answer for contempt. Purdy appeared, made a suitable
apology, and took his seat But Underhill refusing to attend " before he had his money,"
was expelled.*
XXVII. Richard, Earl of Belmont was appointed to succeed Col. Fletcher, in 1695,
but did not arrive in the province, until 2d April, 1698. His commission included the
governments of -Massachusetts and New York; and for the latter, he brought with him
Mr. John Naufan, his kinsman, as Lieut. Governor. At this period, piracy prevailed in
the American seas and, the inhabitants of several of the colonies, were vehemently sus
pected, of giving countenance and aid to the marauders. To repress these disorders was
the avowed purpose of the King in selecting a man of the high rank, resolution, and inte
grity of the Earl.
The late war had given rise to much privateering, which, in many instances, had de
generated to piracy. The mischief had been greatly increased by commissions from the
exiled and dethroned James, to his adherents and professed friends, who hoped thus, to
sanction their robberies with the form of legitimate warfare. From New York, many
English piratical cruizers were known to have sailed ; and there were strong reasons to sus,
pect that, Fletcher himself, and others in authority, participated in the spoil. When cast
ing about for the most efficient means of repressing these practices, the Earl was advised
by Robert Livingston, then in England, to take to his assistance, one Kidd, whom he re
presented as a man of honor and intrepidity, acquainted with the persons and haunts of-
the pirates — A circumstance, which should have caused the most rigid investigation of
his character. A well manned frigate of thirty guns, would have been given him, had
not the exigences of the war prevented. Mr. Livingston proposed a private adventure ',
offering to assume one-fifth part of the charge, and to be responsible for the faithfulness
of Kidd. The King entered so heartily into the project, that, he took one-tenth of the
stock, and the Lord Chancellor Somers, the Duke of Shrewsbury, the Earls of Romney
and Oxford, Sir Edmund Harrison and other persons of distinction, became partners with
their sovereign.
Kidd, with the ordinary commission of a privateer, sailed in April, 1696, from Ply
mouth to New'York, with special orders to proceed against the pirates, and to hold him
self responsible to Lord Belmont. When his lordship reached the province, he learned,
with equal indignation and surprize, that he had become accessary to an enormous ag
gravation of the evil he was chosen to extirpate; Kidd having rendered himself more infa
mous and formidable than all other pirates, by his extensive robberies and numberless
murders. His lordship vigorously exerted himself to check the consequences of his un
happy credulity. He succeeded in apprehending the corsair in Boston ; and at his in
stance, a ship of war was despatched from England to take home the prisoner ; but she
was disabled on her passage and compelled to return to port.
The public mind had been greatly excited by tidings of the freebooter's desperate en-
terprizes, and vague rumors of the share which the first personages in the state had in
his outfit ; and the untoward accident which had happened to the vessel despatched for
him, increased the suspicion of collusion between him and the ministry, who, it was
averred, dreaded to put him on trial, lest their cohfederacyishould be discovered. This
suspicion was fomented by the tory party, in opposition, who moved in the House of
Commons, the dismissal from office, of all persons who had been concerned in. Kidd's
adventure. The motion was rejected; but the pirate, having been at length brought to
England, was examined at the bar of the House, and every effort was used by the party,
with his willing but inefficient aid, to implicate the ministry. After long efforts for this
purpose, Kidd was tried in 1701, at the Old Bailey, was convicted, with several of Ms ac
complices, of piracy and murder, and soon after suffered the just punishment of his
crimes. Although, unquestionably, guiltless of the heinous crime of association with such a wretch
for the worst of purposes, Mr. Livingston, Lord Belmont and the Whig ministers cannot es
cape the charge of gross indiscretion, in not having more carefully ascertained Kidd's true
* Members of the last assembly, during Fletcher's administration, 1695-6-7-8 ' New
For-fc, Jas.Graham,Brandt Schuyler, Lawrence Reade, Tunisde Key. Mbanl/and Rensse-
berwick, John Abeel, Dirk Wessels, Killian Van Rensselaer. Ulster, Henry BeeCaT
XSJ ?em,iei'eY "<***«¦> Humphrey Underhill, Joseph Purdy. fcUoha V »
Ecklen Cornelius Sebring queens, Daniel Head, John Jackson. Su/olk, Matthew
H^e!Lu J,°hn Tuth!U- Sichm«nd, Thomas Stillwell, Elias Dukesbury "launew
Fletchers council consisted of Frederick Philipse, Step. Van Courtland Nicholas
Kn'c£ M'enVllle'Wm- Srai*. Wm. Nicoll, Thomas Willet, Wm. Pinhorne, John

NEW YORK. 33
character, which a proper investigation would have shown to have been wholly unworthy
of confidence. A charge of this kind, against all who aided in procuring Kidd's com
mission, was introduced in the articles of impeachment, soon after preferred against Lord
Somers. In this, the character of the Earl of Bellamont was expressly involved, though
his recent death at New York had saved him from being included in the impeachment,
which purposely, it seems, on the part of the Commons, was never brought to trial.*
XXVIII. The feuds engendered by the assumption of Leisler, were aggravated by bj»
unhappy fate., Fletcher had embraced the party of his enemies, in which he became dis
tinguished for his virulence, and his successful efforts to influence the election of mem
bers of- the assembly. But, the son of Leisler, a. man of energy and enterprize, was in
capable of forgetting or forgiving the tragical end of his father. He had laboured inces
santly to re-establish his character, and to obtain retribution for his wrongs ; and having
by the assistance of the State of Massachusetts, procured from parliament the reversal
of his father's attainder, he urged a claim upon the province for indemnification of his'
family's losses and sufferings, in which the fame and fortune of some of the principal mem
bers, of the antagonist party were involved. These proceedings kindled the hopes of
the oppressed partizans, and awakened the fears of their oppressors. The assembly
became divided, and though the minority was small, it was spirited, and contrived to im
pede, if not to mar, the measures of the majority. Such was the condition of the pro
vince on the arrival of Lord Bellamont.
The Earl entertained a very unfavorable opinion of the morals, policy, and friends of
his predecessor, which was confirmed by information of the part which Fletche%and Ni
cholls, one of the council, had taken in the affairs of the pirates. So unworthy, indeed,
seemed their conduct, probably by party exaggeration, that, it was proposed in council,
to send Fletcher home for trial, and to prosecute Nicholls in the province, because he was
unable to bear the expense of a trial in England. But the recommendation was not car
ried into effect; the evidence, most probably, being insufficient to 'convict The Earl,
however, became a Leislerian, and his influence gave the ascendancy to his party.t
XXIX. The disposition of his lordship was apparent from his first address to the legis
lature}—" I cannot, but observe to. you," he said, " what a legacy my predecessor has left
me, and what difficulties to struggle with ; a divided people, an empty treasury, a few
miserable, naked, half-starved soldiers — not half the number the King allowed pay for ;
the fortifications, and even the Governor's house, very much out of repair ; and, in a
word, the whole government out of frame." In reference to the revenue, the laws autho
rizing which were about to expire, he remarked — " It would be hard, if I, that come
among you with an honest mind, and a resolution to be just to your interest, should meet
with greater difficulties in the discharge of his Majesty's service, than those who have
gone before me. I will take care, that, there shall' be no misapplication of the public mo
ney ; I will pocket none of it myself; nor shall there be any embezzlement of it by
others ; but exact accounts shall be given you when, and as often as you shall require it"
And on the subject of elections, he observed — " You cannot but know, what abuses have
been, formerly, in elections of members to serve in assembly, which tend much to the
subversion of your liberties : I do, therefore, recommend to you, the making a law to pro
vide against them." And with the view of diminishing undue influence upon the House, he
recommended the increase of their numbers, from 19 to 30, and a further increase as the
country became populous. He seemed, however, earnestly disposed to assuage party heats;
urging the assembly " to find out some expedient, to reconcile the parties among them ;"
declaring his heart so much set upon it, that he should consider it the glory of his govern
ment to bring so good a work to pass.
XXX. But the 'assembly was in no condition to profit by this sage advice. In the elec
tions, which had been fiercely contested, the Anti-Leislerians prevailed, and the seats of
many members were disputed. Though unanimous in a vote of thanks to the Governor
for his speech, the House scarce agreed upon any thing else. After spending some weeks
in determining the legality of these elections, giving such discontent, however, that, six
members seceded from the House, and refused to associate in its proceedings, the Gover
nor dissolved them on the 14th June. About the same time he dismissed two of the coun
cil ; Pinhorne for disrespectful words spoken of the King, and Brook, the receiver ge
neral, who was also removed from a seat on the bench.||
In the elections for the next assembly, the Leislerians obtained a decisive majority.1T
* Smith. Smollet, B. i. ch. vi. § 23. Howell's State Trials, vol. xiv. Nos. 416, 417.
Grahame's Col. Hist B. v. ch. ii.
+ Smith's N. Y. Grahame's Col. Hist. Minutes of Assembly. $18 May, 1698.
[Smith's N. Y. Votes of Assembly. Grahame's Col. Hist.
1 The representatives were from New York, James Grahame, Speaker, John De Pey-
rter, Mayor, John Kerfbyl, who dying, was succeeded by David Provost : Orange and
5

34 HISTORY OF
Among the members was one, at least, who had been deeply implicated in the movements
of Leisler, who had been convicted of murder and treason, but had been pardoned by the
King, and had his attainder reversed by act of Parliament; and, who now, was one ,oi the
most efficient representatives. This was Abraham Governeur, a foreigner, who had been
naturalized under the general act of 1683, had been secretary to Leisler, and bad married
the widow of Milbourne. His seat in the House was contested, as well as those of many
others; the records of his conviction, the records of party malignity, were hurled
against him, but, were turned aside by the shield of pardon and reversal. After the vex
atious inquiry into the validity of the elections, the House proceeded peaceably with its
business, establishing a revenue for the maintenance of the government during the suc
ceeding six years ; levying the sum of £2000; fifteen hundred to be presented to the Go
vernor, and the balance to the Lieut. Governor ; regulating the elections pursuant to the
•provisions of the English statutes; providing for the settlement of Milbourne's estate, and
passing a bill for indemnifying all persons who had been excepted from the act of 1691.
XXXI. Among the most prominent proceedings of the session, were those relative to
some large grants of lands, which had been surreptitiously obtained from the Indians,
tad for which Fletcher had issued patents : one to Col. Schuyler, Major Wessels, Wil
liam Pinhorne, Godfrey Delius, and Evert Banker; a second to Delius, alone, and a third
-to Nicholas Bayard. Schuyler and Wessels had withdrawn all claim, being indignant at
the fraud on which the title was founded. The first comprehended all the lands within
-two miles on each side of the Mohawk river, and along its banks for fifty miles; the
¦second, all on the east side of Hudson* river, twenty miles in length, from the north
•bounds of Saratoga; and the third, a large tract in the same part of the country. The
charge preferred by the assembly was, that Delius, Banker, and Pinhorne, the first two
'being agents in Indian affairs, under pretence of a deed of trust, for use of the Mohawks,
-obtained a transfer in fee to themselves, and, subsequently received from the Governor a
patent, reserving a nominal rent of a few skins only. The other grants partook of the
same character. Lord Bellamont, justly considering them as obstacles to the settlement
of the country, and injurious and offensive to the Indians, who complained loudly of the
fraud, procured instructions from the Lords Justices for vacating them, whieh was now
duly accomplished by law. On Delius, the house inflicted a punishment, which, at present,
•would be deemed irregular; he being a clergyman, they suspended his ministerial func
tions. XXXII. The succeeding session of assembly, October, 1700, is chiefly notable for an act,
imposing the penalty of death upon every popish priest coming voluntarily into the pro- .
vince. This severe and intolerant law is to be ascribed to the practices of the French
Jesuits upon the Indians.
XXXIII. The ability and firmness of the Earl of Bellamont repressed the great -viru
lence of party spirit. His sincere and disinterested efforts to promote the public weal, to
gether with his good sense, which taught him to consult the wishes, and even the pre;
judices of the people, had entirely conciliated the Leislerians embracing the democracy of
the country, whilst his affability with the principal leaders of the adverse party, whom he
admitted to familiar personal intercourse, disarmed their enmity. The continued peace
which these circumstrnces promised, was unhappily broken by his death, on the 5th of
March, 1701.
Nanfan, the Lt. Governor, was at this time absent at Barbadoes; and in the contest
for. power, which ensued, the ancient rancour of the parties was not only revived, but
acquired additional force. The majority of the council, consisting of Abraham de
Peyster, Samuel Staats, Robert Walters, and Thomas Weaver, who were Leislerians,
insisted that the government had devolved upon the whole council, and should be ad
ministered by a majority of voices: and such was the opinion of the colonial legislature,
and alsp of the lords of trade in England, to whom the subject was afterwards referred
But Col. Smith, the eldest member of the board, claimed not only to preside over its de
liberations, but to exercise, of right, all the powers of the late governor; and in this pre
tension he was supported by Col. Peter Schuyler, and Robert Livingston. The authority
of precedent was against this assumption; on the death of Governor Slaughter, Captain
•Ingoldsby having been chosen by the council to direct the administration, although
Dudley had the advantage of seniority. The majority of the board adhering to their
construction, Smith and his associates sought to distract the operations of the govern
ment, by absenting themselves from the council. The Assembly, summoned by the late
Kings, Abraham Governeur, Cornelius Sebring, and Cornelius Van Brandt : Queens, John
Jackson, Daniel Whitehead : Richmond, Thomas Morgan and Garrat Veghte : West Ches
ter, John Drake and John Hunt : Albany, Hendrick Hanson, Jan Jansen Bleeker, Ryer,
¦Sehermerhorn : Ulster, Jacob Rutsen and Abraham* Haasbrook : Rensselaer, Killian Van
Rensselaer : Suffblk^Utory Pierson and Matthew Howell.

NEW YORK. 35
Earl, met on the 2d of April, and awaited from day to day, in great perplexity, the issue
of the contest. At length, the majority of the board sent down to the house a represen
tation of the controversy, with many reasons for the action of the assembly, in which,
that body concurred; but the disputes continuing, it thought proper, after a session of
seventeen days, to adjourn. Before the next session the Lt Governor returned.
XXXIV. He brought with him the agreeable intelligence, that the crown had granted
twenty-five hundred pounds for colonial defence, eight hundred pounds for Indian pre
sents, and had purchased from the Indians a large tract of land upon which they resided,
with a view of preserving them from French machinations. Soon after, he established,
by ordinance, pursuant to the special direction of the lords of trade, a court of chancery,
whose powers were vested in the governor and council, or any two of them. The court
was fully organised on the second of September, 1701.
At this period Wm. Atwood, chief justice, was sworn of the council. His assistants
on the bench, were Abraham de Peyster, and R.obert Walters, the former of whom was
also the deputy of Mr. Blaithwaite, the auditor general. Sampson Shelton Broughton,
became attorney general, succeeding Mr. Atwood, upon his translation to the bench-
Both these officers were now commissioned and paid directly by the crown. Amid the
self gratulations of the province on being relieved from the expense of their salaries, it
was not perceived, that this dependence took from them that integrity of character, which
is indispensable to the faithful administration of justice. As, the Governor himself, all
the officers above named, the majority of the council and of the assembly, were of the
Leislerian party, there would seem to have been little cause for dissolving the hpuse, of
representatives, although the measure was resorted to, on the first of June.
The succeeding election, though earnestly contested, resulted in a large majority
of the assembly favourable to the administration; and Dutchess County, hitherto refusing
to bear the charge of a representation, in the house, now sent two members. Mr.
Abraham Gouverneur was chosen speaker. The objection to his naturalisation was a
a second time raised, and a second time overruled. In return for this attack, he procured
a vote vacating the seats of Mr. Nicholls, who had been his rival for the speaker's chair,
and of Mr. Wessels; both having been elected from the County of Albany, which, being
non-resident there, they could not, pursuant to the law, represent Seven members, dis
approving this vote, seceded from the house, and thus gave their adversaries an oppor
tunity to expel them, and to return others more tractable in their stead.
Mr. Livingston, as one of the earliest and most efficient opponents of Leisler, was
peculiarly obnoxious to the party, " because," says Smith, somewhat maliciously, " of his
sense and resolution, qualities rarely united in one individual at that day." The late
Earl had protected him from the rage of his enemies, who, now much provoked, by the
part he had taken in the late proceedings of the council, were disposed to make him feel
the weight of their resentment. Mr. Livingston had been collector of the excise, and
was secretary for Indian affairs. His accounts had never been formally settled, and, it
would seem were intricate and confused, and having been called upon to state them to a,
committee of the house, he very uneourteously refused. Day after day was given for
this purpose; and, at length, a bill was introduced confiscating his estate, unless he ac
counted by a designated period. Still continuing refractory, he was charged with the
largest amounts which appeared by the public records to have come to his hands during
his ministration, for whose expenditure there were not sufficient vouchers; making to
gether the large sum, at that time of eighteen thousand pounds. For these proceedings
the delay of Mr. Livingston furnished some extenuation; but an accusation raised
against him for having obtained a commission from the Five Nations to solicit their affairs
in England, seems to- have been a mere senseless party clamour. The fact charged was
innocent, if true; but was wholly unsupported by evidence. The committee of the house
required, that he should purge himself of the imagined crime, by oath, and upon his in
dignant refusal, the house addressed the Governor to pray the King tp remove him from
office; and until his majesty's pleasure was known, to suspend his commission.*
At the same session, the son of Leisler again presented his claim for indemnity, which
was supported by a letter from the ministry, to Lord Bellamont, commanding him to
recommend his case to the general assembly of New York for relief. The house voted
him the sum of one thousand pounds, which was paid under an act passed by the next
legislature. Tidings at length arrived, that the King had named Lord Cornbury to succeed the
Earl of Bellamont; which so animated the anti-Leislerians, that in the commencement of
the year 1702, Nicholas Bayard prepared addresses to the King, the parliament, and the
governor expectant, which were subscribed at the tavern kept by one Hutchins, an alder
man of the city; and which animadverted severely upon the conduct of the dominant party,
* Smith says Mr. Livingston's books and vouchers were detained from him by the govern
ment

36 HISTORY OF
and that of the deceased Earl; charging the assembly with having obtained by bribery,
the concurrence of the Lt. Governor, and the chief justice, in their measures.
Nanfan summoned Hutchins to deliver to him these addresses, and upon his refusal
committed him to prison. His friends were not discouraged by this violence. Bayard,
Rip Van Dam, Philip French, and Thomas Wenham, boldly addressed the Lt. Governor,
justifying their acts, and demanding Hutchins' discharge. But Bayard fell into a trap
which his over zealous loyalty had prepared for others. In the act drawn by him, on
Slaughter's arrival, in 1696, to recognise the right of William and Mary to the province,
it was provided, that whoever should " by any manner of ways, or upon any pretence
whatever, endeavour, by force of arms or otherwise, to disturb the peace, good and quiet
of their majesties' government as it is now established, shall be deemed and esteemed as
rebels and traitors, and incur the pains and penalties which the laws of England had
provided for such "offences." Under colour of this law, Nanfan committed Bayard to
prison, as a traitor. His trial was hastened lest it should be prevented by the arrival and
interference of Lord Cornbury; and he was formally convicted of high treason, and ac
tually condemned to death. Happily, his persecutors were more merciful, or more
cowardly, than the destroyers of Leisler; and a reprieve was granted until the King's
pleasure should be known. Hutchins was also convicted, but was bailed on the payment
of forty dollars to the sheriff. Bayard was kept in prison, having refused to procure, for
that officer, the gift of a farm of about fifteen hundred pounds value? until liberated by
Cornbury who caused the attainder to be reversed.*
Soon after the trial Nanfan again convened the assembly, which commending his late
measures, outlawed French and Wendham, who had absconded on Bayard's commit
ment; and notwithstanding his successor was momentarily expected, the Lt. Governor
suspended Mr. Livingston from his seat in council.

CHAPTER IV.
i ,
I. Nature of the Provincial History for the first half of the eighteenth century. II. Constitu
tion of the Colony. 1U. Disputed Boundary with France — Indian relations. IV. Ad
ministration of Lord Cornbury. V. Arrival and death of Lord Lovelace. VI. Ad
ministration of Lt. Governor Ingoldsby — Unsuccessful expedition against Canada — Its r
consequences to the province arrested by the treaty of Utrecht — Death of Queen Anne —
Accession of George I. VII. Presidency of Col. Schuyler. VIII. Administration of
Governor Burnet. IX. Of Colonel Montgomery. X. Presidency of Rip Van Dam, and
administration of Governor Cosby. XI. Administration 6f Governor Clarke.
I. During the first half of the 18th century, the history of New York presents few
subjects of interest; and they may be reduced under three genesal divisions: — The contest
for power between the Governor and assembly: — The efforts to restrain the French en
croachments: — And the relations with the Indian tribes.
II. The political power of the colony was divided between the crown and the people;
but the lion's share fell to the former. It possessed all the executive power, including mat
of appointment to office; the right toconstitute the judiciary and the council, and the veto
upon legislation. To the people, however, belonged the power of the purse; frequently
sufficient to protect them from the abuse of the other powers, and even in their restricted
legislation, giving the means of preserving the essentials of political prosperity.
As part of the British empire the colony was wholly dependent upon parliament. But
as subjects of that empire, the people claimed and enjoyed those great principles of civil
and religious liberty which had been matured and established by the revolution of 1688.
These were so protected by public opinion, coextensive with British rule, that no agent
of the government could venture long to infringe them with impunity. Subject to this
parliamentary power, and to these general principles, we must seek the colonial constitu
tion in the royal instructions.
A Governor, and Lt. Governor, were appointed by the crown. A council, executive
and legislative, limited to twelve members, three of whom made a quorum, was some
times appointed by the King, at others, by the Governor. The assembly consisted of
twenty-seven representatives, chosen by the people, pursuant to a writ of summons issued
by the Governor. Its continuance was unlimited until 1737, when it was restricted, by
law, to three years; but this act having been disallowed, a septennial law was passed, in
1744. The Governor, however, still retained the power to dissolve or prorogue it. The
pay of the members varied in the several counties from six to ten shillings per day.
By his commission the Governor was empowered: — To suspend from office the Lt.
* Smith.

NEW YORK. 37
Governor, or any member of Council, and to fill the vacancy; and when the number of the
council was reduced to less than seven, to make up that number: — To convoke the
assembly, according to the usages of the province: — To make laws, with the consent of
the council and assembly; transmitting them, within three months, to the King, for his
approbation or disallowance, but to remain in force until disallowed: — to have a negative
voice in passing all laws: — To hold the public seal of the province — To erect, with con
sent of the council, such courts as he and they should deem necessary; and to appoint
judges and justices of the peace: — To pardon offenders and remit penalties; cases of trea
son, and murder, only excepted: — To collate persons to ecclesiastical benefices: — To levy
and command the military force as captain general: — To raise fortifications, and constitute
cities, with consent of the council: — To dispose by warrant and by consent of the council,
for the support of the government, of all public moneys: — To grant the crown lands, re
serving such quit rents as he and the council should determine: — And to appoint fairs and
ports. ¦In case of vacancy in the office of governor, or in his absence, these powers devolved
on the Lt Governor, if any; otherwise, upon the counsellor first named in the Governor's
instructions and resident in the province.
The instructions accompanying the commission, were explanatory of the patent,fand
regulated the Governor's conduct, on ordinary contingencies; they were never recorded,
and were changeable at the royal pleasure. The salary of the Governor was fixed, and
paid by the assembly, until the year 1770, when it was paid by the ,crown.
The powers conferred by the commission were generally acquiesced in by the people,
except those relating to the disposition of the public funds, and to the establishment of
the judiciary. On the former point, much and frequent controversy arose, and the as
sembly, finally, attained the right of appointing a treasurer to disburse the funds raised
by them. The right was first exercised in 1706, under an instruction of Queen Anne,
but its use was often a subject of contest between the Governor and assembly.
The justices courts, and courts of sessions, and common pleas, were established by
ordinance of the Governor and council. The supreme court was first erected by law;
but subsequently the terms were directed by ordinance, alterable at the pleasure of the
Governor and council. The justices of the peace, and of the court of common pleas, held
their offices at the will of the Governor; the judges of the supreme court held by separate
commissions, generally by the same tenure. In relation to the constitution and
common-law powers of these courts, there prevailed but little diversity of opinion; although
the assembly front time to time asserted that all courts of justice should be established by
the whole legislature. But with regard to the equity power, at one time claimed for the
supreme court, and in regard to the court of chancery, there was great dissatisfaction in
the public mind. The jurisdiction of the supreme court, as a court of exchequer, was
strenuously disputed, was disclaimed by Chief Justice Morris, and was finally abandoned
about the year 1736: one case, only, it would seem, having been entertained by the court.
The establishment of a court of chancery by ordinance, and the exercise of the chan
cellor's power by the Governor, were at all times obnoxious to the people. The general
assembly of 1683, endeavoured to create this court by law, with a chancellor and other
officers to be appointed by the Governor. But the Governor and council returned the
bill, with an amendment, declaring the Governor and council to be the court of chanGery,
with power to the Governor to depute a chancellor, and in this form it was passed. In
1701, as we have seen, the court was established by ordinance, vesting its powers in the
Governor and council, and was so sustained until the revolution. But in 1 708, and in
1735, and at other times, the assembly denounced this organisation as contrary to law,
and dangerous to the liberties and properties of the people.
The other courts were, the prerogative, the powers of which were exercised by the
Governor, by deputy; the admiralty court, constituted under the admiralty in England;
and the court of the Governor and council. The last, under the royal instructions, had
appellate jurisdiction from the courts of common law, in cases where the value in con
troversy exceeded 3002.; and from this court an appeal lay to the King in council, where
the value exceeded 5002. sterling.
III. The undefined boundary, between the French and English possessions in America,
was a source of perpetual 'feud. The French made, continually, encroachments upon
the country south of the lakes, and sought to seduce or subjugate the Indian tribes
which inhabited it. To resist these efforts the English were required to preserve constant
negotiations with the tribes, to purchase theht aid by costly presents and unwavering
kindness, and to awe them by military posts. Were this quarrel to have been main
tained by the principal parties only, it is probable, that it would not have been violent or
enduring. Both had possessions for greater than they could use, and manj years must
have elapsed before their approximation to each other would have been inconvenient;
but the predatory and warlike savages offered an agency through which national enmity

38 HISTORY OF
might be vented; and the fur trade, of which they were the creators, was deemed an
object worthy of purchase by any expenditure of blood.
New York, as a frontier province, and the Five Nations within her borders, who ac
knowledged her dominion, were especially exposed to French aggression. Hence, the
province was required to make incessant expenditures of men and money, frequently dis-
proportionate to her means, and inequitable when compared with the aid supplied by
other colonies, which she covered and protected.. It was the duty of the governors, upon
the royal requisition, to demand these appropriations, and the people sometimes deemed
it a duty to themselves to refuse them. Controversies from these sources often marred
the harmony of the colony.
This concise review, of'the political condition, and main interests of the province, ena
bles us to pursue briefly and satisfactorily the course of our narrative.
IV. Lord Cornbury commenced his administration (3d. May, 1702,) by espousing the
anti-Leislerian fa6tion. Being supported by popular favour, the dread of his power
induced the chief justice Atwood, and Weaver, who had acted as solicitor general, to-
quit the province, both having become odious by the conviction of Bayard. Driven from
the city by an epidemic disease which prevailed during the summer, the Governor retired
to Jamaica, on Long Island, where he began the development of his character, by abet
ting some Episcopalians who had illegally seized a Presbyterian church in that village.
To this injustice he added another more flagrant The Presbyterian pastor, with great
inconvenience to himself, had yielded the manse for his lordship's temporary use, who, in
return for the benefaction, delivered it to the Episcopal party, and encouraged its agent
to farm the glebe for the benefit of the Episcopal church. Bigotry like this could not be
satiated by a single outrage; and he soon after prohibited the Dutch ministers and teachers
from exercising their functions without his special license.
An assembly, elected after his arrival, met him at Jamaica, and being of the same
party with his lordship, gave him credit for his professions of faithful service. Under
pretence of the war which had been declared against France and Spain, in the current
year, he obtained a grant of 18002. for the defence of the frontiers; he also received a
donation of 2,0002. towards the expense of his voyage, which drew forth the reprobation
of the Queen. The revenue act, from which his salary was derived, was continued until
1709. In the succeeding year (April) he obtained 15002., under colour of erecting
batteries at the Narrows. But this sum, and a large part of the former appropriation,
were converted to his private use. In 1704, he demanded further supplies, which the
house deemed unnecessary, inasmuch as a peace between the Five Nations and the
French, preserved the borders of New York from hostility: Yet the eastern provinces
were not spared; Deerfield, in Massachusetts, having been destroyed, and many of the
inhabitants, with their pastor, Mr. Williams, made captives. His requisitions, however,
led to an examination of his conduct, to the conviction of the assembly, of his baseness,
to thek rejection of his demand, and to their dissolution.
The succeeding assembly was not more accommodating; for, though the entrance of a
French privateer in the harbour induced them to grant money for fortification, they
placed it in the hands of a treasurer of their own choice. He punished their refractori
ness by dissolving the house; but found little favour with a third assembly, convened 19th
of August, 1 708; which, though it could not refuse, at this juncture, to provide for Indian
presents, required a list of the articles proposed, and an estimate of the charge, before it
would make the donation. It rejected absolutely his earnest instances for the con
tinuation of the revenue, and passed a series of resolutions condemnatory of his adminis
tration. His lordship again interfered with the religious worship of the dissenters; forbidding
the Dutch congregation, to open their church to Mr. Francis McKeemie, a Presbyterian
preacher; and soon after imprisoned him and Mr. Hampton, another minister of the same
sect, for preaching without his license. They remained in duress for six weeks, and
were finally liberated, on bail, by the chief justice, Mompesson. " McKeemie was 'subse
quently indicted; and, though acquitted, was compelled to pay the costs of prosecution.
These public measures of his lordship were, in themselves, sufficient to alienate the
affections of his own partizans, and to arm his adversaries with irresistible weapons;
but his private deportment was not less unworthy and offensive. His dissolute habits and
ignoble tastes and manners, completed the disgust with which he was now universally re
garded; and when he was seen rambling abroad in the dress of a woman, the people be
held with indignation and shame, the representative of their sovereign, and ruler of the
colony. He was the grandson of the Earl of Clarendon, and first cousin of fhe Queen. Whether
from real difference in sentiment, or from policy, not then uncommon, whilst his father
adhered to James, he attached himself to King William, and was among the first officers
who joined him at Torbay. Having dissipated his substance in riot and debauchery, and

NEW YORK. 39
being* compelled to fly from his creditors, he obtained from his patron the government of
New York, which was confirmed by the Queen, who added the government of New
Jersey. His character is portrayed as a compound of bigotry and intolerance, rapacity
and prodigality, voluptuousness and cruelty, united with the loftiest arrogance and the
meanest chicane.
The Queen was compelled, in 1709, by the reiterated and unanimous complaints of
the people of New York and New Jersey, to revoke his commission. When deprived of
office, his creditors threw him into prison; and thus degraded by his public offences, and
deprived of liberty T>y his private vices, this kinsman of his Queen remained a prisoner
for debt, in the province he had governed, till the death of his father elevating him to the
peerage, entitled him to liberation. He returned to Europe, and died in the yeaT 1728.
V. His successor, John, Lord Lovelace, Baron of Hurley, was appointed in the spring
of 1708, and arrived in the province on the 18th of December, following. His character
seems to have been the antipodes of that of Lord Cornbury. 'But the hopes entertained
of a happy administration were frustrated by his death, on the succeeding 5th of May.
VI. Upon his demise, the government devolved upon Richard Ingoldsby, Lt. Governor.
His administration, of eleven months, is chiefly distinguished by a second unsuccessful
attempt on Canada.
The French continued their aggressions at the eastward. In the preceding year they
penetrated to Haverhill, on the Merrimack, and reduced the town to ashes. Upon the
entreaty of the inhabitants of New England, the British ministry adopted a plan pro
posed by Col. Vetch, for the conquest of Acadia, Canada, and Newfoundland; by which an
attack was to be made on Quebec, by a squadron with five regiments from England, and
1200 provincials, from Massachusetts and Rhode Island; whilst 1500 men, under Cols.
Nicholson and Vetch, from the central colonies, attempted Montreal by way of Lake
Champlain. The inhabitants of New York entered into thiB scheme with great alacrity. They
raised the necessary funds by issuing, for the first time, bills of credit, and fitted out a.
force of 487 men, besides several volunteer companies, which repaired to the rendezvous
upon'Wood creek, where forts, block houses, and stores, with 100 boats, and as many
birch canoes, had been prepared, chiefly at the charge of the province. The Five Nations,
by the influence of Col. Peter Schuyler, had been induced to take up the hatchet, and to
send 600 warriors to the field, leaving their families to be maintained by the provincial
treasury. The conjuncture was deemed highly favourable to the enterprise, as France
was not in a condition to aid her colony, and many of her dependent Indians bad been
neutralised by treaties with the confederate tribes. But the defeat of the Portuguese^ at
this moment, rendering necessary to them all the aid which their English allies could
give,- caused another direction to the European forces designed for the American adven
ture. Thus, the labours and great expenditures of the colonies, to which New York had
contributed 20,0002., were sacrificed to European policy.
Col. Nicholson returned to England to solicit further assistance. He was accompanied
by Col. Schuyler with five sachems of tho confederated Indians. The Colonel bore with
him the most flattering testimonials of the sense which the legislature entertained of his
eminent services. >
It suited the ministry to make an exhibition of these sons of the forest. The court
being then in mourning for the Prince of Denmark, the American kings were dressed in
black under clothes, and their coarse and filthy blankets were exchanged for rich scarlet
cloth mantles trimmed with gold. A more than ordinary solemnity attended the audience
they had of her Majesty; Sir Charles Cotteral conducted them in coaches to St. James;
and the Lord Chamberlain introduced them to the royal presence, where the chief warrior
and orator addressed a speech, with the customary belts of wampum, to her Majesty.
To the solicitations of Cols. Nicholson and Schuyler, the ministry returned the most
favourable promises; but their execution -was so long delayed, that Nicholson resolved to
attack Port Royal, with the means at his disposal in the colonies. Wfth twelve ships of
war and twenty transports, having onboard one regiment of marines, and four of infantry,
raised in New England, he assailed and captured the place, and obtained full possession
of Nova Scotia, on the 5th of October, 1716.
Col. Ingoldsby, from his participation in the" measures of Cornbury, was obnoxious to
the people of New York and New Jersey, and their remonstrances procured his dis
missal. His place was supplied by Gerardus Beekman, the senior councillor, from the
•10th of April, 1710, till the arrival of Governor Hunter, on the 14th of June, following.*
'• The members of council, at the arrival of Hunter, were Messrs. Beekman, Van Dam,
Rensselaer, Mompesson, Barbarie, and Philipse. The leading members of assembly,
during his administration, were Mr. Nicholl, the speaker, Mr.Livingston, Mr. De Lancey,
and Mr. Morris. The last was eminently active and popular. \

40 HISTORY OF
VII. Brigadier General Hunter was a native of Scotland, and had been apprenticed to
an apothecary; but he deserted his master and entered the army. Being a man of wit
and personal beauty, he acquired the affections of Lady Hay, whom he afterwards
married. He had been nominated in the year 1707, Lt. Governor of Virginia, under
George, Earl of Orkney; but having been captured by the French, in bis voyage to that
colony, was carried into France. Upon his release, he was appointed to succeed Lord
Lovelace. He was, unquestionably, a man of merit, since he enjoyed the intimacy of
Swift, Addison and others distinguished for sense and learningr by whose interest, it is
supposed, he obtained this profitable place. He mingled freely with the world, and was
somewhat tainted by its follies; had engaging manners, blended, perhaps not unhappily
for his success, with a dash of original vulgarity.
He brought with him 3,000 Palatines, who, in the previous year, had fled to England
from the rage of persecution in Germany. Many of whom settled in the City of New
York; others in Germantown, Livingston manor, Columbia county; and others in Penn
sylvania. Soon after his arrival he held a conference at Albany with the Five Nations; and was
importunately urged by delegates from New England, to arm them against the tribes
who, in the service of the French, had harassed the north-eastern frontier. But he
wisely resisted their instances, under the conviction, that a breach of the neutrality which
subsisted between the natives, would expose his own province to the most disastrous
results. He met a new assembly at New York and sought to heal effectually the wounds
which the late party conflicts had given to the public peace. But the harmony of his
administration was in some degree marred by disagreement between the assembly and
council, relative to the appropriation law; the latter refusing to place the public funds in
the care of the provincial treasurer; which occasioned a prorogation of the house. The
Governor cautiously refrained from entering, personally, into this dispute, until he had as
certained, that the views of the council would be sanctioned by the ministry; then, he
strongly reproved the course of the house, and categorically demanded, whether they
would support her Majesty's government, in the manner she was pleased to direct, pro
vide for the public debts, and take measures for the protection of the frontier? The
house, confounded by this speech, sought refuge in the pretext, that his prorogation in
the preceding February, whilst he was in the adjacent province, had disqualified them to
act; whereupon, they were dissolved.
An appropriation bill before the next assembly (in 1711) was wrecked by an attempt on
the part of the council to amend it; the right of that body to amend a money bill, being de
nied by the house. Nor was the Governor enabled, until 1713, and after the dissolution of
another assembly, to procure due provision for the support of the government, and pay
ments of its debts, notwithstanding all the positions of the assembly were condemned by
the board of trade and plantations. In May, of that year, he distinctly told the house,
" that it would be in vain to endeavour to lodge the money allotted for the support of
government in other than the hands of the Queen's officers. Nevertheless," said he, " if
you are so resolved, you may put the country to the expense of a treasurer for the custody
of money raised for extraordinary uses." He added, that he would pass no law, until
provision was made for the government Thus coerced, the assembly passed the custo
mary bill; and in the succeeding year, made provision for paying the public debts, which
had been augmented by events, we are about to narrate, to the sum of 28,0002.; issuing
bills of credit to that amount, which they lodged in the hands of the provincial treasurer.
From this period, until he retired from the government, in 1719, his intercourse with the
assembly was entirely cordial.
Animated by his success in Nova Scotia, Col. Nicholson again, and successfully,
urged upon the ministry the reduction of Canada, which the Indian chiefs had also re
commended, as the only effectual means of securing the northern colonies. Circulars
were addressed to the governors of the northern and middle provinces to meet and confer
with him, and to prepare their respective quotas of men and provisions. The assembly
of New York, 2d of July, 1711, in aid of the enterprise, passed an act for raising troops,
restricted the price of provisions, and issued 10,0002. in bills of credit, to be redeemed by
taxation in five years.
But the expedition proved most disastrous. Col. Nicholson, under whom served Cols.
Schuyler, Whiting and Ingoldsby, mustered, at Albany, two thousand colonists, one thou
sand Germans and one thousand Indians, who commenced their march towards Canada,
on the 28th of August. The troops from Boston, consisting of several veteran regiments
of the Duke of Marlborough's army, one battallion of marines, and two provincial regi
ments, amounting to six thousand four hundred men, commanded by Brigadier General
Hill; sailed on board of sixty-eight vessels, under convoy of Sir Hovedon Walker, 30th of
July, and arrived off the St Lawrence, on the 14th of August. In ascending the river,

NEW YORK. 41
the fleet was entangled amid rocks and Islands, on the northern shore, and ran imminent
hazard of total destruction. Eight transports, with eight hundred men, perished. Upon
this disaster, the squadron boro away for Cape Breton; and the expedition was abandoned,
on the ground of want of provisions, and the impossibility of procuring a seasonable
supply. The admiral sailed directly for England, and the colonial forces for Boston;
whilst Col. Nicholson, thus deserted, was compelled to retreat from Fort George, The
want of skill and fortitude, were eminently conspicuous in the British commanders of
this enterprise.*
Apprehensive that the enemy would fall upon the borders of the province, as they
afterwards did in small parties, upon this miscarriage, Governor Hunter obtained from
the assembly means to keep troops in pay during the winter, and to repair the out forts.
For more than a year, the clouds of adversity lowered darkly over the province. The
series of untoward events, clearly deducible from incapacity or criminal negligence in
the European governors, chilled the affections of the Five Nations and prepared them for
the seductions of the enemy. So rife became the discontent of the Indians, generally,
that even those at Catskill sent a belt of wampum to those of Dutchess, to prepare for
war; and the Senecas and Shawnees, gave cause to apprehend hostility. Great dread
also prevailed of an attack from the enemy upon the City of New York by sea; which
was rendered more terrible by an insurrection of the negroes; who, in execution of a plot
to conflagrate the town, fired a house in the night and killed several persons who at
tempted to extinguish it; for which, nineteen were executed. Happily, the impending
evils were averted by the treaty of Utrecht, between the belligerent powers, concluded on
the 31st of March, 1713. This treaty, generally deemed dishonourable to Great Britain
and injurious to her allies, was beneficial to New York, as it recognised the Five
Nations and their country as subject to Great Britain; but it left the boundaries of that
country, as before, wholly undefined.
Queen Anne died on the 1st August, 1714, and was succeeded by George I, from
whom Governor Hunter obtained leave of absence from his government. He left New
York 13th July, 1719 ; and, on his arrival at London, changed his government with
William Burnet, son of the celebrated Bishop Burnet, for the office of comptroller of the
customs. ¦ No colonial Governor has earned a more excellent, or more merited reputation, than
Brigadier Hunter. Whilst he maintained the dignity of his station, and preserved the
royal authority in full vigour, he conciliated the people of New York, and New Jersey,
and received from both, in the form of legislative resolves, the most enviable testimonials
of their esteem and affection.
Like most men remarkable for political success, he seleeted his associates and agents
with much judgment ; and, instead of forcibly opposing the public will, sought, by gen
tle means, to guide it In New Jersey, Col. Lewis Morris, the chief justice and popular
favourite, was his principal adviser : In New York, he was sustained by that gentleman,
who was also chief justice of that provinee, and by Messrs. Robert Livingston, De Lancey,
Schuyler, and others of high character and influence.
VII. During the interval between the departure of Governor Hunter and the arrival of
Governor Burnet, the administration was in the hands of Col. Schuyler. He had no
meeting with the legislature; and the only memorable events of his officiate were the re
newal of the Indian treaty, at Albany, and an effort to determine the boundary between
New York and New Jersey.
VIII. Mr. Burnet arrived, 17th.September, 1720. He possessed good sense and polite
manners, was a well read scholar, and had a sprightly and social disposition, which de
votion to study restrained from excess. He had impaired an inconsiderable fortune by
adventuring in the South Sea Scheme. By the assistance of Mr. Hunter, he was ena
bled, before his arrival, properly to appreciate both persons and things, in the province,
and thus to forestall many of the advantages of experience. He connected himselfvclose-
* The ministry were, generally, censured by tbe Whigs for the project of this enterprise,
and for the measures taken for its execution. It was never laid before Parliament, though
then in session; on account, as it was said, of the greater secresy; and for the same reason
the fleet was not victualled at home. They relied on New England for supplies, and this
defeated the design; for the ships tarried at Boston, until the season for attack was past
According to Lord Harley's account, the whole was a contrivance of Bolingbroke, Moore,
and the Lord Chahoellor Harcourt, to cheat the publio of 20,0002. The latter of these, was
pleased to say, " No government was worth serving, that would not admit of such advan
tageous jobs." — Smith's New York, 131. From the manner in which this and other enter
prises against the possessions of France, in America, were conducted, we are almost pre
pared to agree in opinion with the Swedish traveller, Kalm, that Great Britain "was not
earnestly disposed to drive that power "from the continent, preferring to retain it as a check
upon the colonists, who, they feared, would otherwise become powerful and independent. "
6

42 HISTORY OF
Iy, with Morris, Livingston, Colden, Alexander, and other friends of Mr. Hunter; and,
consequently, few changes were made in the colonial offices.
His administration of seven years was a prosperous one. At the first session of the
assembly after his arrival, he obtained an act for the support of the government for five
years; another, imposing a duty of two per cent, on the import of European goods; and
a third, prohibiting the sale of Indian goods to the French., The last, designed to impair
the influence of these rivals, by restricting their means of gratifying the savages, met
with violent opposition from mercantile men who prospered by the trade ; and was, per
haps, the true source of the difference which arose between bim and the assembly of
1727 ; and the cause of some indiscretion, on his part, towards an eminent and popular
citizen. The persecutions in France which ensued the revocation of the edict of Nantz, drove
the Protestant subjects of Louis XIV, into foreign states. Many fled to this province.
The most opulent settled in the city ; others planted New Rochelle, upon the East River,
and a few seated themselves at New Paltz, in Ulster county. Those in New York estab
lished a church upon the principles and model of that of Geneva, which soon became con
siderable, by the wealth, number, and general respectability of its members. It was
served by two ministers, who, becoming rivals and enemies, divided the congregation,
and Mr. Rou, the most active and aspiring, was dismissed from his charge. He brought
a bill in chancery for restitution, and the congregation apprehending a decree in his fa
vour, from Mr. Burnet, who had admitted him to his intimacy, re-instated him ; and the
disaffected withdrew from the church.
Among the latter, Mr. De Lancey was distinguished for wealth and popular influence.
He was zealous in his religion, and a generous benefactor of the church, which he left
with great regret. He had opposed the prohibition of the French trade, and the Governor,
deeming him an enemy, inflicted upon him a personal indignity. Mr. De Lancey was
returned to the assembly in the room of a deceased member, in 1725 ; and when he offer
ed himself to take the oaths, the Governor demanded how he had become a subject of the
crown. He answered, that he had been denized in England : but his excellency dis
missed him, taking time, as he alleged, for further consideration of the subject
The qualifications of Mr. De Lancey were indubitable. He had sat in several assem
blies unquestioned. The house, whose province the Governor had invaded by assuming
to judge of the qualification of a member, admitted him to a seat, and was indignant
towards the Governor, but could find no other ground on which to assail him, save that
of the court of chancery. Resolutions condemnatory of the organization of that court,
and questioning its expediency in any form, were passed, whereupon the, Governor in
stantly dissolved the house. He never met another in the province, being transferred to
the government of Massachusetts.
He left New York with deep regret. His marriage with a daughter of Mr. Vanhorne
had connected him with a numerous family there ; and he had contracted, with several
of the inhabitants, an intimate friendship. The great merit of his administration con
sisted in his effectual efforts to diminish the trade and influence of the French with the
northern Indians. To which end, he erected several forts : and that at Oswego, at his
own expense. He failed, however, in his endeavours to prevent the establishment of a
French fort at Niagara, by which that nation secured to themselves the possession of the
west end of lake Ontario, as they had previously that of .the east by fort Frontignac,
built many years before.
His merits were not immediately obvious to the public sense ; and until the vast de
signs of the French upon America were developed, his administration was not duly appre
ciated. Even the acts which he had obtained to restrain the trade with the French, were
disallowed by the crown. The excessive love of money, common to colonial governors,
was a vice from which he was entirely free. He sold no offices, nor attempted to raise
a fortune by indirect means. He lived generously, and carried scarce any thing away
with him except his books. These, and the conversation of men of letters, were to
him inexhaustible sources of delight. His astronomical observations were useful ; but by
a comment on the Apocalypse he exposed himself, as other learned men have done, to the
criticism of those who have not ability to write half so well.*
IX. Col. John Montgomery received from him the seals of the provinces of New York
and New Jersey, on the 15th April, 1728. He was a Scotchman, bred a soldier, but had
been, during the latter years of his life, groom of the bed-chamber, to Georo-e the Second,
before his accession to the throne. This station, and a seat in parliament,°had paved his
way to preferment in America. Good natured, and enterprizing, and fond of ease, his
short administration presents scarce any matter worthy of special note.
He avoided the shoals on whiah his predecessor had struck. Dissolved the assembly
* Smith's New York, 172, 173.

NEW YORK.

43

which Burnet had called, even before it had convened, and declined the duties of chan
cellor, for which he declared himself unfit ; until specially enjoined to exercise the office
by orders from England ; and even then, he never made a decree. The legislature estab
lished his salary for five years. He uenewed, at Albany, the treaty with the Five Nations,
and engaged them in the defence of the fort at Oswego, which had been threatened by
the French.
During his term, in the year 1731, the boundary between New York and Connecticut
was finally settled ; and a tract of land, upon the Connecticut side, of 60,000 acres, called
the Oblong, was ceded to the former, in consideration of another, near the Sound, sur
rendered to the latter. For this Oblong, two patents w.ere issued ; one in London, on the
day after the surrender, to Sir Joseph Eyles and others; and the other, posterior, in the
city of New York, to Hawley «&. Co. These grants became subjects of litigation, and the
source of much party animosity.
X. Governor Montgomery died on the 1st July, 1731. He was succeeded by Rip Van
Dam, the oldest member of the council, and an eminent merchant of the city; who held
the government until the 1st August, 1732, when William Cosby arrived with a commis
sion, to govern this and the province of New Jersey.
In this year, Fort Frederick was erected at Crown Point, on Lake Champlain, by the
French, in contravention, as the English writers allege, of the treaty of Utrecht They
were suffered, however, to complete a work that gave (hem the command of this impor
tant pass, between the St. Lawrence and the Hudson, not only without interruption, but
without prohibition.*
About the time of Col. Cosby's appointment, a bill had been introduced into parliament,
for the encouragement of the sugar plantations, by which the colonists on the main sup
posed their interests were sacrificed to those of their fellow-subjects of the islands. Gene
ral alarm prevailed through the provinces, and petitions and remonstrances were trans
mitted from the respective legislatures against the bill. Mr. Cosby had taken an active
part in London, in favour of'the provinces, and the reputation of his services spread be
fore him a bright sun-shine, in which he might, with prudence, have basked. But with
regard to public services, there is this difference between those who perform and those
who receive them. With the one, time gives new claims for consideration and reward;
whilst with the other, their importance fades, and the first compensation is deemed a pay
ment in full. If the benefactor have sometimes cause to complain of ingratitude, the ob
ligee has more frequently reason to reproach him for presumption and extortion. These
views of the opposite sides of the shield, led, as usual, to violent conflicts.
The assembly convened on the 19th August, and readily passed an act for the mainte
nance of the government for six years, and proposed to present the Governor 7502. for his
services, relative to the sugar act, which they were induced to make 10002. in consequence
of his dissatisfaction with the first sum. But, as the reward rose, the Governor sunk in
their estimation. They made provision for establishing a Latin grammar school, 'for
maintaining the forts at Oswego, and in the Indian country ; broached, for consideration,
the vexed question of fees in courts of justice, which were not fixed by law ; and appro
priated two hundred pounds for a provincial agent in London, to be appointed by certain
merchants there.
The province had been free from faction, at least, since the commencement of Governor
Burnet's administration,' but it was destined again to become the sport of party, growing
out of mere personal considerations. The senior member of council, it would seem, when
administering the government was entitled to one-half the emoluments of office, during
the absence of the Governor. Mr. Van Dam, with the approbation of the council, had,
however, received the whole salary, for the term of his service. But Cosby brought out
the king's order, for an equal partition. Van Dam assented, upon condition the Governor
would also divide with him the sums which he had received in England, stating his own
receipts at 19752, and the Governor's at 64072. ; and, upon the rejection of this proposition,
not only refused to pay, but demanded a balance.
The Governor resorted to a bill in equity, before the judges of the supreme court, as
barons of the exchequer, and Van Dam endeavoured to institute a suit at common law,
but was baffled by the judges in one effort, and by the clerk in another. In defence
against the bill, his counsel, Messrs. Smith and Alexander, excepted to the jurisdiction
of the court. De Lancey and Phihpse, two of the judges, over-ruled the plea, against the
opinion of Chief Justice Morris. The last, by the publication of his opinion, excited the
Governor to remove him from office, and to substitute Mr. De Lancey, junr. And having
done this without consultation with his council, he gave that body great offence. Thus,
* Members of Council: Walters, Van Dam, Barbarie, Clarke, Harrison, Colden, Alex
ander, Morris, jun. Van Horns, Provost, Livingston, Kennedy, De Lancey, and Courtland,
Speaker of assembly, Pbilipie.

44 HISTORY OF
by assailing some of the most popular men, of the colony, and disregarding those asso
ciated with him in the administration, he raised against himself a host of enemies.
He was, however, supported by a powerful party, and studying to propitiate the peo
ple, by recommending measures of a popular character, and by attention to his public
duties, he was enabled to retain a majority in the assembly, though Morris had, been re
turned from Westchester county. At the session of June, 1734, the opposition assailed
the court of exchequer, and prevailed on the house to hear counsel, Mr. Murray for, and"
Mr. Smith, against it. But no definite measure appears to have resulted from the discus
sion. During the session, large appropriations were made for fortifications; and the
Quakers ohtained the exemption from oaths granted to the sect in Great Britain.
The press was engaged by both parties in their quarrel. The opposition claiming the
title of patriots used the journal of Zenger, and the administration that of Bradford. The
satire in the former, either from its grossness or its wit, became intolerable to the ad
ministration. At the instance of the chief justice, certain ballads in the former we're pre
sented by the grand jury as libels, and ordered to be burned by the common hangman.
It would have been well had the vengeance of party been confined to such works of party,
and the persons of partizans been spared. It is always preferable that party rage should
vent itself upon the writings and effigies of obnoxious men, than upon their property,
their liberties, or their lives. But political rancour is not always to be restrained within
these comparatively Harmless bounds. The jury addressed the Governor for a proclama
tion offering a reward for discovery of the author, and the council caballed with the as
sembly to detect the writer of other libels in Zenger's journal. The house, however, de
clined to become an agent in the quarrel, which the council pushed to extremes. In
formal session, at which were present the governor, chief.justice, and Messrs. Clarke,
Harrison, Colden, Livingston, Kennedy, Courtlandt, Lane, and Horsmanden, certain
numbers of the New York Weekly Journal, were ordered to be burned by the hangman,
"as containing many things tending to sedition and faction, to bring his majesty's govern
ment into contempt, and to disturb the peace, and containing in them, likewise, not only
reflections upon his excellency the Governor, in particular, and the legislature in general,
but also upon the most considerable persons in the most distinguished stations in the pro
vince;" and the mayor and magistrates of the city were directed to attend the execution of
the sentence.
But this was a duty which the city officers would not recognize. The court of sessions
refused to permit the order to be entered; and the aldermen protested against it as arbi
trary and illegal. The hangman being forbidden to obey it, his place was supplied by a
negro slave of the sheriff, in presence of the recorder, Harrison, and some dependents of
the Governor. Soon after, Zenger was committed to close confinement, but was liberated
upon high bail; and, being strenuously supported, continued the publication of his paper.
The Governor still retained the confidence of the assembly ; . and, though that body
could not resist the popular motion made for its dissolution, it concurred in the vote, upon
an understanding that the Governor would take upon himself the responsibility of reject
ing it. Despairing of success through a new assembly, the opposition ' resolved to pre
sent an accusation against bim to the king, which they entrusted to Mr. Morris, who had
personal views, relative to New Jersey, for visiting London. That he might retain his
seat in the house, which he would have vacated by departure without leave, and at the
same time preserve his purpose secret until it was too late to circumvent it, he obtained
leave "to go home;" employing an equivocal expression applicable to his residence in
New Jersey and to Great Britain. He repaired to Shrewsbury-house, and thence em
barked without observation. But his mission was unsuccessful. The lords of trade,
after hearing Mr. Murray, afterwards Lord Mansfield, against the Governor, reported
that the reasons for his removal were insufficient
The grand jury refusing to indict Zenger, the attorney general was driven to the odious
-proceeding by information. His counsel, Messrs. Alexander and Smith, with not more
bpldness than wantonness, in order to embarrass the prosecutor, ventured to impeach the
authority of the judges, by excepting to the legality of their commissions. The bench
lost all patience at this attack ; and the chief justice refused to allow or hear the excep
tion. " You thought," said he to Smith, " to have gained great popularity and applause
by opposing this court, as you did the court of the exchequer ; but you have brought it
to that point, that, either we must go from the bench, or you from the bar." At the
same time, he handed an order to the clerk, excluding Alexander and Smith from prac
tice, and directing their names to be stricken from the roll of attorneys. This was, indeed,
a high-handed and unwarrantable measure. For, however captious and unfounded the
exception may have been, the right to make it, cannot be questioned. Mr. Chambers was
named by the court, counsel for Zenger, who took safer ground for himself, and pleaded
the general issue.
The silenced counsel carried the case of their client before another tribunal, where

NEW YORK.

45

they had assurance of an attentive hearing, if not of a sound decision. They argued it
in the public journals, before tavern clubs, and street juries ; and with such effect too,
that, when the cause came to be formally tried by a special jury, there was, probably,
not a man of the panel who was unprejudiced. When the case was called, Mr. Andrew
Hamilton, a distinguished lawyer, from Pennsylvania, appeared for the defendant, and
was hailed by his party as the champion of liberty. He adopted the principle of stra
tegy, that the safest defence was an attack of the enemy; and covering the baldness of his1
client's case, he had the address to submit a new issue to the jury, the guilt of his pro
secutors, and the good fortune to procure a verdict against them, by the acquital of his
client. The decision was received with exulting shouts from the audience. Mr. Hamilton
was splendidly entertained by the city authorities, and received the freedom of the city,
in a gold box, on which its arms were engraven, and encircled by laudatory quotations.
His success served him much, also, in his own colony, contributing to pave his way there
to the highest honours.
The English patentees of the " Oblong," sought relief in chancery before the Governor ;
whilst Alexander and Smith, who were interested in the last patent, gave new cause of
offence, by excepting to the Governor's exercise of chancery powers, and by their suc
cessful efforts to engage the assembly in their opposition. That body, unanimously, and
perhaps sincerely, as their longer continuance was becoming very offensive to the coun
try, prayed for dissolution, which the Governor again refused. The country party did
not manage these circumstances with due skill; tor, notwithstanding the prayer of the
house, it charged upon their protracted service the decay of trade, and all the mighty
evils which party leaders ascribe to all causes which oppose their aims. Thus irritated,
the house would not follow up the lead; but declined to entertain the complaint of Zen-
ger's counsel against the act of the judges striking them from the rolls.
In the midst of these party feuds Mr. Cosby died, (March 10th, 1736,) and in the arms
of death, the ruling passion prevailed. He excluded Mr. Van Dam from the council board,
and, thereby, from the succession to the government, which must otherwise have fallen
upon him. Upon a review of his administration from the materials before us, we concur
in the opinion which Mr. Smith expressed of his own incapacity to judge properly of the
Governor's conduct; and incline to believe, that, in the second historical sketch by that
gentleman, party feeling has discoloured' the page, and the name of Cosby, with un-
merited obloquy.
The public acts of the Governor were' such as the country required, and as liberal as
those of his predecessors. He preserved the confidence of the assembly, and the support
of many of the most distinguished inhabitants. In an embittered contest, the forms of
the law and the constitution were observed; and if the exclusion, of the councillors from
practice may not be justified, it may be palliated, by the wantonness of his assailants,
who with equal power would not probably have shown more moderation. Another histo
rian, whilst condemning his acts of omission, has awarded him no mean praise.* "It
mu9t be acknowledged," he observes, "that, he possessed many good and amiable
qualities. He was affable and courteous in his deportment; honest and sincere in all his
private transactions. Though not possessed of talents, either splendid or great, yet he
was attentive to the concerns of the colony, and to the fair and impartial administration
of justice within it."
XL Mr. George Clarke, after Mr. Van Dam, was the senior member of council; and as
the right of the Governor to suspend a member was unquestionable, Mr. Clarke was per
mitted, unanimously, in council to lake the oaths as president, and was subsequently
recognised by the assembly. Mr. Alexander, however, found it necessary to declare his
non-concurrence, in order to preserve his standing with his party. Van Dam claimed the
seals, alleging that the Governor was delirious when his suspension was declared, and
that it ceased upon his death. Futile as these objections certainly were, they .sufficed to
sustain the party contest, which seriously threatened the public peace.
Open violence was apprehended upon the 14th of October, the day, on which, by the
city charter, the officers of the year were to be inaugurated. The party of Van Dam had
prevailed at the election for aldermen and common council, electing such as would act
with a mayor, recorder, sheriff, and coroner appointed by him. Clarke made appoint
ments also to these offices, and by proclamation warned Van Dam's appointees, against
acting by his authority. The opposition threw out threats of prosecution against Clarke,
before a tribunal to be erected by Van Dam; whilst the administration called into the fort,
the military force for protection against the expected horrors of the .approaching day.
The temper of the time is indicated by an expression of Col. Morris, who returned, upon
* Yates' continuation of Smith. Mr. Smith says that Van Dam was privately suspended
ou the 24th of the preceding November.

46 HISTORY OF
the 7th of November, from England. Having learned to what extremes the contest had
been carried, and being importuned for his advice, he gravely said, " If you don t hang
them, they will hang you." He declared, "that Van Dam had the right to the adminis
tration; that, he would serve as chief justice under him; that the assembly was dissolved;
and force should be opposed to force, if Clarke insisted on his authority."
The assembly convened on the 12th, but Morris prudently retired, with leave, on the
13th, to New Jersey, of which province he had been appointed governor. Van Dam's
appointees had resolved to act upon the next day, and preparations were made to support
them by arms. Fortunately, for all parties, within twenty-four hours of the irruption of
a civil war, a commission as president and commander in chief was received by Mr.
Clarke, which took away all pretence for resisting his authority; and in the course of the
year, he was advanced to -the rank of Lt. Governor. Mr. Morris is charged with having
known of Clarke's appointment, and concealing his knowledge. But concealment in this
case was too wicked to be credited on the evidence produced.
Thus confirmed in power, Mr. Clarke turned himself, with much ability, to break down
and amalgamate the contending parties. Finding the assembly divided, and that it could
not be relied on for his support, he made a merit with the people for dissolving it, after it
had subsisted for nine years. A new house convened about midsummer, 1737, Lewis
Morris, Junr., speaker, but sat only two days, during which the rule of publishing
the yeas and nays on any subject of deliberation was adopted, and many bills of a
popular character proposed. The majority of the house was composed of the enemies of
the Governor, but their enmity had been tempered by the dissolution of the late assembly
against the wishes of the Cosbyan party which formed the council. By choosing a mid
dle path, the Governor was enabled to get happily through an active session of nearly
four months.'
To a conciliatory speech, the house returned a sharp and long address, reviewing
the prominent measures which had, from time, to time been proposed by the popular
party. They reproached their predecessors with subserviency; asked for frequent and
uninfluenced elections; for an agent in England dependent solely upon themselves; the es
tablishment of courts, and especially of courts of equity, and the fees of office, by legislative
acts; and proposed to pass a bill for supplies yearly, accompanied by an act specially ap
propriating the public funds. No way disconcerted by these views, nor by the coarse
tone in which they were declared, Mr. Clarke prudently engaged his assent to the election
bill, and to all others, consistent with his duty to the crown.
At this session, many highly important acts were passed. " The militia was re
modelled; the practice of'the law amended; triennial elections ordained; the importation of
base copper money restrained; courts for the summary decision of petty suits established;
a mathematical and grammar school encouraged; interest reduced from eight to seven
per cent; the fort at Oswego supported, and the Indian trade promoted; paper money
emitted for paying the provincial debt; a loan office erected; and a precedent established
of an annual legislative provision for the government. Other bills of a like popular
character were frustrated by the council, upon whom the odium fell; inasmueh as the
Governor had very properly refrained from meeting that body when sitting in its legisla
tive capacity; contenting himself with the exercise of his veto, when he deemed it re
quisite. His triumph was complete. The civil list and his own salary were satisfactorily
adjusted, and he acquired the general esteem without risking the resentment of his
master; for the triennial act was soon after repealed in England, and the lower branches
of the legislature divided between them, the odium of all the disappointments both of the
crown and the subject.
His course with the assembly had averted the favour of the council; to recover which,
and establish his power in the assembly, he essayed to discredit the leaders with their
constituents, by tempting them with the hopes of office, into a state of dependency
which they had rendered contemptible. His stratagem succeeded. The leading patriots,
including Mr. Morris, the speaker, caught at the offers of place, and greedily received
promises of support, which the Governor profusely gave, after having concerted with the
council, the rejection of the nominations. The promulgation of these intrigues disgusted
the people, and prostrated the leaders of the popular party.
The assembly again met in the autumn of 1738. The elder Morris, who foresaw the
storm, retired from the house, to his government in New Jersey. The Governor de
manded an appropriation for a permanent support, as a condition precedent to passing
laws for the maintenance of the bills of credit and other essential measures; and upon the
pertinacious refusal of the house to comply, he. dissolved them. But, though he mi<rht
change the leaders of the assembly, it soon became obvious that he could not alter the
principles which had taken deep root in the public mind; among which, the dependence of
the crown officers upon the legislature for their annual support, was deemed most essen
tial. Every effort to obtain an appropriation for a longer time was vain, and, the Governor

NEW YORK. 47
was constrained to assent to annual bills, with which, the house passed such others as
the fortifications, the Indian relations, and a war with Spain required.*' With exception
of the disputes which rose on this point, which Vere annual, the harmony between
the several branches of the legislature seems to have been little disturbed, during the re
mainder of Mr. Clarke's administration.
The most important events of this period, other than those we have mentioned, were,
the disinfranchisement of the Jews; the effort to settle a colony of Highlanders upon
Wood Creek; and the negro plot or alleged conspiracy of the slaves.
On a contested election for the city, exception was taken against Jewish voters, and
sustained by the insidious eloquence of Mr. Smith, who succeeded in inflaming the re
ligious feelings of the house to such a degree, as to induce them to reject the votes upon
the broad and indefensible ground of the impolicy of Jewish interposition in the legisla
tion of a Christian community.
To oppose the progress of the French around Lakes Champlain and George, the settle
ment of the lands there with Highlanders from Scotland was projected. Seduced by a
proclamation, Capt. Laughlin Campbell came over in 1737; and being satisfied with the
country, the favourable disposition of the Indians, and the promise of the Governor to
grant to him and his associates 30,000 acres of land upon favourable terms, he returned
to Isla, sold his estate, and transported, at his own expense, eighty-three Protestant
families, consisting of 423 adults and many children. The design required the aid of the
assembly to maintain the colony until in a condition to sustain itself. But that aid was
denied, as Smith alleges, on discovery that the Governor and the surveyor general in
sisted upon their fees and a share of the lands. Campbell sought redress by application to
the assembly and to tke board of trade in England; both efforts were abortive, and with
the remnant of his fortune, he purchased a small farm in the province. The abandoned
colonists were rescued from starvation by enlisting in an expedition against Carthagena.
The negro plot involves one of those cases of extraordinary panic and infatuation,
which, like the famous popish plot, bears down all distinction between innocence and
guilt. In March, 1741, the government house and its appurtenances were accidentally
destroyed by fire. Mr. Van Home, a militia officer, conceived the opinion, that the fire
had been communicated by the negroes, and that they had combined to burn the city.
He succeeded in rendering consternation almost universal; and probably contributed to
produce the events which he dreaded. Several fires broke out between the 25th of March
and the 6th of April, attended with suspicious circumstances. No man now doubted the
reality of a plot; and the fears of the multitude led them to presume, that the slaves had
conspired to massacre their masters and regain their freedom.
A servant maid of one Hughson who kejit a house of ill repute, frequented by negroes,
when before the grand inquest, upon other matters, confessed, after much importunity,
that certain slaves caballed there in private, and had formed a conspiracy to fire the town;
but denied, that any white was present at their consultations, save her master, his wife,
herself and another servant. Her testimony expanded, however, like that of Titus Qates,
as the occassion offered, until the prisons were crowded by the accused, including twenty-
one whites and one*hundred and sixty slaves.
" The whole summer was spent in the prosecutions; every new trial led to further accu
sations: a coincidence of slight circumstances, was magnified by the general terror into
violent presumptions; tales collected without doors, mingling with the proofs given at the
bar, poisoned the minds of the jurors; and the sanguinary spirit of the day suffered no
check, till the capital informer, bewildered by frequent examinations and suggestions,
lost her first impressions, and began to touch characters, which malice itself did not dare
to suspect. But before this, thirteen blacks were burnt at the stake, eighteen hanged,
and seventy transported upon conditional pardons. Hughson's wife, and the maid, with
one Ury, died at the gallows, and Hughson and a-negro were gibbeted."*
Subsequent circumstances render it probable that, these arsons originated in the design
of plunder; and involved a small portion only of those who were convicted. Ury's fate
was much lamented; he was capitally convicted as a conspirator, and for officiating as a
popish priest upon an old law of the colony; and died earnestly protesting his innocence.
The infection seized the whole legislature, which convened whilst these tragedies were
acting in the court and fields. The grand jurors prayed for severer laws against the un
fortunate Africans, and had the thanks of the house for their zeal and vigour.
Governor Clarke was superseded by Mr. Clinton on the 22d of September, 1743. He
had been made secretary of the province early in the reign of Queen Anne — had genius
and talent for business, a perfect command of his temper, prepossessing address, and in
timate knowledge of the affairs ot his country. His administration proved, that, in poli
tical skill he was, at least, equal to his cotemporaries. He had preserved the favour of
* 2d Smith's New York, pp. 59, 60.

48 HISTORY OF
every governor under whom he had served, was cheerfully supported by his fellow coun-
cillors on the death of Cosby, and promptly advanced by the Crown to the rank of Lt.
Governor. He contrived to hold his post, by such accounts of the colony as deterred
Lord Delaware from accepting the appointment of Governor in chief. In early life, he
pursued the study of the law; and married a lady of the name of Hyde, of the family of
Lord Clarendon. /He prudently used the opportunities which his official station gave
him of amassing property in the province, and retired, in 1745, with a large estate to
Cheshire in England. The family was among the few who had been high in office in
the colony, that preserved their estates, in the revolution. ,
— i.rt© ©©««•—
CHAPTER V.
I. Administration of Governor Clinton — Reduction of Louisburg — Project against Canada.
Differences with the assembly — Appropriation for a College. II. Unsuccessful effort
of the northern colonies to oppose the enemy — Peace of Aix la Chapelle — Provincial
agents appointed — Continued disputes between the Governor and Assembly — Accommo
dation. HI. Termination of Mr. Clinton's administration — His character. IV. Admi
nistration of Sir Danvers Osborne — His unhappy death. V. Mr. De Lancey Lieutenant
Governor — His administration — War of 1756. VI. Sir Charles Hardy — Governor, in
fluenced by Mr. De Lancey — War prosecuted. VII. Government again devolves on Mr.
De Lancey. VIII. Energetic efforts of Mr. Pitt — Reduction of Canada — Death and cha
racter of Mr. De Lancey. IX. Administration of Mr. Colden. X. Indian war.
I. For a period of thirty-three years, we have had to trace little else than the story of
private feuds, having no interest beyond the moment which begat them, nor influence, be
yond the bounds of the colony. The administration of Mr. Clinton is marked with more
stirring and important scenes, closely connected with tha general operations of the Bri
tish empire.
He convened a new assembly soon after his arrival. - A short session, conducted with
great harmony, gave him the necessary means for administering the government, and the
people high gratification, by the passage of an annual act of appropriation, a bill for sep
tennial election of assemblies, and another, vesting the common law courts with jurisdic
tion of suits for legacies, and thus diminishing, in some measure, the authority of the
odious court of chancery.
The prospect of a rebellion in Scotland afforded to the house, in April, 1744, an oppor
tunity of demonstrating its loyalty, by addresses to the throne, and votes for large sums
of money for defence of the northern frontier.
A masked war had been long carried on between France and Great Britain, which
broke into open hostilities by the declaration of the former, on the 20th, and of the latter,
on the 24th March, 1744. This event produced dismay upon the northern lines, and the
traders at Oswego hastily fled into the interior, leaving their Indian allies exposed to the
machinations of the enemy. In the spring of 1745, Governor Shirley, of Massachusetts,
proposed to reduce the French settlements at Cape Breton, and to capture Louisburg, the
key to Canada, and the most commodious harbour of the French in America. In aid of
the enterprize, Governor Clinton sent him ten pieces of cannon, and the assembly voted
throe thousand pounds.
The plan was approved by the British government, and admiral Warren, commandant
upon the American station, was directed to repair to Boston to support it. He did not
arrive, however, until after .the provincial fleet had sailed, with 6000 men, under the com-
mand of Mr. Pepperel, a trader of Piscataqua. The town of Louisburg was taken, after
a siege of two months, in which the American forces displayed courage, activity, and for
titude, that would have distinguished veteran troops. The English historians have en-
deavoured to strip the colonies of this early trophy of their spirit and capacity, bringing
Warren on the scene before the departure of the provincials from Boston, whefl, in truth,
they sailed without any expectation of his assistance. The English ministry, however,
was compelled to recognize their merit, and to reward their leader, Pepperel, by a
baronetcy. About this time, a bill was pending in parliament to restrain the issues of colonial pa
per money, and to discredit it by taking away its character of legal tender  a measure
so fraught with injury to all the colonies, that they earnestly united, by their agents, in
London, to oppose it. New York having no agent there, in consequence of the refusal of the
several branches of the legislature to unite in the appointment, the assembly claiming for it
self the exclusive nomination, an agent for the occasion was constituted by the council, the
city members of assembly, and some influential merchants. The house, in 1744, had dis-

NEW YORK. 49
regarded the instances of the Governor on this matter, much to the dissatisfaction of their
constituents. The recurrence to the subject by his excellency in March, 1745, was
deemed a reproach, and received by them with ill humour. In this temper they treated
him with disrespect — presented no address in answer to his message — were inattentive
to its recommendations— assumed an unwonted agency in the city fortifications — intimated
a design to reduce the garrison at Oswego — declined to aid, as he proposed, in the protec
tion of the coast and in the provision of.presents to the Indians — and refused to appoint an
agent Hopeless, therefore, of its co-operation, he dissolved it, with strong marks of
reprobation. The new assembly, convened in June, although composed chiefly of the members of
the preceding one, proved more tractable ; voting an additional 50002. for the Louisburg
expedition, and large sums for fortifications, and for the Indians. The Six Nations had
expressed a disinclination to enter into the war unless their possessions should be at
tacked ; and had, indeed, betrayed symptoms of partiality towards the enemy, whom they
lately visited in Canada ; but they were now induced by the Governor, and a congress of
deputies from New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, at a treaty at
Albany, to take up the hatchet, and to prepare for immediate action, in case of further
inroads by the French Indians. This intelligence was communicated to the house in
November, with the Governor's apprehension of an immediate invasion by the foe.
Soon after, the country north of Albany was kept in perpetual alarm by Indian war
riors, who, pursuing their customary mode of warfare, ranged in small parties, marking
their course with conflagration, and indiscriminate slaughter. The town of Hoosick
was deserted by its inhabitants, the fort there, under command of Col. Hawks, having
been captured, after a spirited defence against a superior force, from Crown Point under
M. De Vandrieul, 6tb August, 1746; and the settlements at Saratoga were surprized by
some French and savages, on the H3th November, when many of the inhabitants, includ
ing a brother of Col. Schuyler, were slain, and others made captive. These events ex
tended the panic even to Ulster and Orange counties.
The clamours of the sufferers were loud against the government, especially against the
commander in chiefs who was irreproachable. Stung with the unmerited obloquy, he, in
a message to the assembly, charged them in such strong terms with neglecting the public
weal, as to excite an enduring resentment. But suppressing their indignation, they de
clared their resolution to concur in all reasonable measures for the defence of the pro
vince and assistance of their neighbours; passed votes of credit; offered a reward of ten
pounds for the scalp of an enemy and doubled that sum for his capture alive, and appro
priated funds for the erection of redoubts and procurement of the necessary munitions
of war. The resentment of the house displayed itself in the reaction of Mr. Holland
from a scat, to which he had^ been elected by the town of Schenectady, on the pretext
that he was not qualified under the town charter ; but, in truth, because he was a resi
dent of the city of New York, and a friend to the Governor. The transactions of th/s year
are characterized by petty disputes between the Governor and the house ; by repeated de
mands for money on his part,' and by procrastination and ungracious compliance, on
theirs. Happily, these bickerings were allayed, and unanimity produced, by a new pro
posal to attempt the conquest of Canada, which was popular with all classes.
This project also originated with Governor Shirley, ' whose solicitations, enforced by
the success at Louisburg, prevailed with the ministry. A squadron of ships, with land
forces commanded by Sir John St Clair, was, as early as the season would permit, to
unite with the New England detachments, at Louisburg, and to proceed thence to Que
bec ; whilst an army, raised in New York and the southern provinces, penetrated, by way
of Crown Point, to Montreal. The plan, so far as it depended on the colonists, was exe
cuted with promptness and alacrity. The troops embodied, and waited impatiently for
employment ; but neither general, army, nor orders, arrived from England. The major
part of the provincial forces was disbanded in the autumn, without an effort to effect the
object of their levy. This is another of the thousand instances of incapacity and mis
rule which the parent state inflicted on the colonies.
The assembly of New York entered upon this design with great zeal and liberality;
raised bounties for volunteers ; applied large sums for the purchase of provisions and mu
nitions of war ; forbade the export of such products as the army might require ; con
voked the Indians, and excited the other colonies to increase the customary presents ; im
pressed artificers for the public works, detached part of the militia for the service, and
levied a tax of 40,0002. to redeem bills issued for the occasion. They refused, however
to furnish provisions for the Indians, or to transport the public stores from Albany — duties
which they held incumbent on the crown, or upon the colonies generally. The failure of
the enterprize was afflictive in proportion to the lively hope of success which had stimu
lated these exertions.
In the month of July, another congress of the Six Nations was held with the Governor
7

50 HISTORY OF
at Albany, who was attended by Dr. Colden, Mr. Livingston, and Mr. Rutherford, mem-
bers of the council. The first of these had been taken into his confidence in the place of
Chief Justice De Lancey, with whom he had quarrelled, in consequence, as Smith asserts,
of that gentleman attempting "to domineer over him." Mr. De Lancey holding his com-
mission during good behaviour, and strongly supported by his connection with admiral
Sir Peter Warren, his brother-in-law, and with Dr. Herring, formerly his tutor, now his
correspondent and archbishop of Canterbury , was disposed to assume an influence in pub
lic affairs, which the Governor deemed incompatible with his dignity. By great exertions
of the provincial agents, particularly of Mr. William Johnson, who appeared with the
Mohawks, painted and dressed in their manner, a large number of Indians were assem-
bled, including some chiefs of the Missisagac tribes, in the vicinity of Lake Huron.
The indisposition of the Governor prevented him from opening the conference in person,
, and that duty fell upon Dr. Colden, who was successful in rousing the ancient enmity of
the tribes against the French, and obtaining their apparent hearty concurrence in the
proposed descent. On the succeeding day, they formally renewed with the Governor
their pledge to unite zealously in the war. Soon after, the Governor also held a treaty
with the tribes on the Lower Hudson, and upon the Connecticut and Delaware Rivers,
and distributed among them presents for promises which they never intended to perform.
The duties of Governor Clinton, had, at this period, become very onerous; the direction
of the provincial forces in New York devolving on him, by reason of the refusal of Go
vernor Gooch, of Virginia, to take the command.
Vexatious disputes, too, arose between him and. the assembly at their meeting in Octo
ber. Reports were bruited abroad of misappropriation of the funds given for the late. In
dian treaty, in which his honour was implicated ; and, though the house voted partial
supplies to maintain a winter campaign, they showed a greater disposition to inquire into
the application of sums previously granted, than to give new ones. This untoward dis
position was fomented by the seizure of some provisions at Albany for the use of the king's
troops. The stores had been furnished for the provincial forces, and for 1600 men; that
numbor had been decreased to 1400, and the Governor supplied the deficiency by two
hundred regulars, for whose subsistence these provisions were taken against the consent \
of the commissioners appointed by the assembly, in whose charge they were placed.
The house condemned this measure, and the agents co'ncerned in ft, without reserve, and
•refused further supplies until assured of redress. This assurance, the Governor, in alarm,
hastened to give. The house was prorogued, on the 6th December, having provided
sparely but what was indispensable for the public service, and appropriated 22502., to be
raised by lottery, for founding a college.
The year 1747 was spent in mutual recrimination between the Governor and assembly.
The expedition against Canada, though not prosecuted, was not abandoned by the minis
try, until the 19th October. The demands for the support of the troops, transporting
provisions, erection of forts, and conciliation of the Indians, were incessant, and though
indispensable, were reluctantly granted. The politicians of the colony, with the usual
views of obtaining and preserving a party inguence, which they found profitable, were
prone to fan the embers of passion into flame. On the part of the Governor, Dr. Colden
was the most active, conspicuous, and to the assembly the most obnoxious, agent. On
the part of the house, Messrs. Clarkson, Jones, Van Home, Richards, Cruger, Philipse,
Thomas, Morris, Pierson, and Nichols,* were the prominent agitators, over whom Mr.
De Lancey exercised his influence. To Dr. Colden the assembly ascribed the seizure of
the provisions at Albany, and all measures which they chose to condemn ; such as the
winter encampment, the erection of forts near Crown Point, and the reproachful tone of
the Governor's messages ; and they finally voted him an enemy to the colony. In one of
his messages, the Governor intimated, that much of the difficulty he had encountered in
his negotiations with the Indians, as well as their inaction, arose from the interference
"of the principal traders and richest men in Albany, who did not wish well to an expe
dition against Canada, from attachment to the trade with that country, engrossed by' a
few, and which he had effectually obstructed." This personality called from the assem
bly one equally broad, charging him with embezzlement of moneys voted for Indian
presents. II. When the prosecution of the Canada enterprize, by the ministry, became desperate,
the eastern colonies sought to combine the provincial forces against Grown Point, and
other portions of the country in possession of the enemy ; but the jealousy which pre
vailed among the provinces, and the difficulty of apportioning the quotas of troops and
money, rendered their effort abortive. Commissioners appointed by Massachusetts,
Connecticut, and New York, had adopted a plan of operations, which failed, by the dis-
* Mr. William Nichols, 2d, from the year 1739, was regularly elected to the house, from
Suffolk county, tor 29 years, and was speaker during the last nine years.

NEW YORK. 51
agreement of Massachusetts. When the army was disbanded by the crown, the pro
vince of New York retained eight hundred troops in pay for defence of the frontiers, at
the recommendation of the ministry, and in reliance on the reimbursement of the ex
pense by parliament.
Notwithstanding the bickerings between the Governor and assembly, the public ser
vice dpes not appear to have much suffered. The necessity of maintaining a military
force was too universally felt to be resisted ; and hence, due appropriations were gene
rally, seasonably, made. During the war, up to this period, the province had contributed
the sum of £70,000. But as the chief branches of the government could no longer act
harmoniously together, the Governor dissolved the house on the 25th November, 1747.
No further material transactions took place in America during £he war. Preliminary
articles of peace were signed on the 30th of April ; but hostilities continued in Europe
and on the ocean, until October, 1748 ; when the definitive treaty was executed, at Aix.
la-Chapelle. The island of Cape Breton, with Louisburg, its capital, so dearly purchased
by provincial blood and treasure, was given up under the stipulation, that all conquests
should be restored; and the Americans had great cause to condemn the indifference or
ignorance, which exposed them to future vexation and renewed hostilities, by neglecting
to ascertain the boundaries of the French and English territories on the American con
tinent. The Governor's party acquired no strength by the dissolution of the house, since all the
principal members were again returned, and Mr. Jones, of Long Island, was. re-elected
speaker. Upon the meeting of the assembly, 12th February. 1748, the Governor availing
himself of intelligence most agreeable to the house, that the crown had assumed the ex
pense of maintaining the Indian fidelity, sought to induce them to improve this circum
stance, by some vigorous enterprize, in conjunction with the other colonies, against the
enemy ; but his instances were powerless, for the reasons we have already stated.
At this session, the assembly appointed Robert Charles, Esq. their agent in Great Bri
tain ; and voted 2001. per annum for his compensation. He held this office until his
death, in 1770, and was succeeded by the celebrated Edmund Burke.
A new series of contention commenced with the demand of Mr. Clinton of appropria
tions for the support of the government for five years. Nothing could be more ill-advised,
had it been dictated by a desire to promote the weal of the colony ; but as a measure to
bring the assembly in open and declared opposition to the royal instruction, it was deem
ed a proper trait of party tactics. The demand was met by a round declaration that the
assembly would not depart from the modern method of annual support bills, and re
proaches to the Governor for submitting his conduct tp the sole guidance of " one of so
mean and despicable a character" as Dr. Colden. The retort of the Governor was scarce
more courteous, in which he, accused the house of violating the rules of decency, and
threatened to send their addresses to the king.
Several sessions were held during this and the succeeding year, by prorogations and
adjournments, with little improvement in the temper and deportment of either party.
At length, the Governor became apprehensive that these disputes, in which he was in
truth but tbe instrument of others, might give such dissatisfaction to the ministry, as to
produce his dismissal from office. He sought to relieve himself from this embarrassment
by cultivating the friendship of Robert Hunter Morris. It seems to have been concert
ed, that this gentleman, about to visit England, with a view to the settlement of the
boundary between New York and New Jersey, should make such representation, in his
favour, as would counteract the efforts of his enemies ; and, in consideration of this ser
vice, should receive the aid of the powerful friends of Mr. Clinton, in his own affairs.
Mr. Morris was moved, too, by the animosity which had long subsisted between the families
of Morris and De Lancey, and by the hope of procuring for himself the office of Lieut.
Governor. But, as this would conflict with the expectations of Mr. Colden, it became ne
cessary to sacrifice that gentleman, and-he was accordingly, soon after, replaced in the
Governor's confidence, by Mr. Alexander, the friend of Mr. Morris.
The lords of trade readily espoused the cause of the Governor', and engaged in the pre
paration of a memorial to his majesty on the state of the colony, from which Mr. Clinton
expected an entire victory over his assembly, which he had frequently prorogued with
that object. But the memorial progressed slowly ; and, wearied by delay, he dissolved
the house, determining, if not supported by the ministry, to yield to the practice of an
nual supplies ; and the rather, because it was impossible for him to form a party with the
people, until the clamours of the public creditors were appeased.
The new assembly met, 4th September, 1750, with better dispositions for business
among all parties, than had for several years prevailed. The leaders of the house, as well
as the Governor, being under salutary dread of tbe result of the inquiry pending before
the lords of trade. During a short session, thirty-five acts were passed ; the paper currency-
was prolonged; an inspection of flour established; the public creditors satisfied; the ar-

52

HISTORY OF

rears due to the officers of the government paid; provision made for their support for the
ensuing year, and a digest of the laws of the colony authorized. This pacific and useful
intercourse continued until the close of the next year, when new disputes arose", on an
effort, real or suppositious, of the council to interfere with the right claimed exclusively
for the house, to originate money bills. But, having early in the session passed the sup
ply bill, the Governor found himself at liberty to terminate the controversy by dissolving
the bouse. To this strong measure he was emboldened, by the favourable views of his
case taken by the ministry.
Still the influence of Mr.,De Lancey was unimpaired with the people. Of the new as
sembly, convened, on the 24th October, 1752, the principal members were his relatives,
or particular friends ; and all were subject to his influence, except Mr. Livingston, who
represented his own manor. But, it was no longer prudent to maintain a controversy,
which the assembly's agent, in London, assured them was distasteful to the crown, which
appeared to have declared conclusively for the Governor's party, by the nomination df
Mr. R. H. Morris, to the office of Lieut. Governor. The lords of trade had made a volu
minous report upon colonial affairs, which, though yet a sealed book, was known to be
unfavourable to the popular party. The measures of the Governor, too, were less ob
noxious. Under the guidance of Mr. Alexander and Mr. Smith, the latter of whom he
had appointed attorney and auditor general, and soon after raised to the council, his mes
sages, and intercourse with the assembly, were less verbose, and more dignified. All
these circumstances induced Mr. De Lancey to fear, that he had over-acted his part, and
that his present course might have a. permanent and fatal influence upon his future pros
pects, and led him and his party to greater moderation. This disposition, in both parties,
was strikingly evinced in their unanimous concurrence in the appointment of Mr. John
son, now a member of the council, to conduct a congress with the Indians, and to distri
bute presents among them. Nor was the harmonious intercourse interrupted during the
short remnant of Mr. Clinton's administration, which terminated on the 7th October,
1753, at his own desire, it would seem, by the arrival of his successor, Sir Danvers
Osborne. III. Mr. Clinton was the son of the Earl of Lincoln, and was connected by the mar
riage of his nephew, on whom the title descended, with the family of New Castle ; he
having wedded the daughter of Mr. Pelham, a leading member of the ministry. The
Governor had spent the greater part of his life in the navy, and owed his promotion to
the interest of his friends. Easy in his temper, but incapable of business, he was always
dependent upon some favourite. He was self-indulgent : but retiring in his manners.
In a province and station which required him to live in public, and to mingle freely and
generally with the people, he committed the error of secluding himself in the fort, or at
his country seat, where he spent his time over his bottle, with a few dependents, who
played billiards with his lady, and lived on his bounty. He was seldom abroad ; many
of the citizens never saw him ; and he did not attend divine worship more than three or
four times during his whole administration. His first favourite, Mr. De Lancey, he had
made independent, by the tenure of his commission of Chief Justice, and with equal im
prudence had hastily thrown off his yoke ; his second, Mr. Colden, whose station in coun
cil giving him hope of the presidency, was interested in procuring his recall, or rendering
him unpopular. Mr. Clinton is represented to have been mercenary ; to have used every
plausible device for enhancing the profits of his government ; to have sold offices, and
even the reversions of such as were ministerial; and to have amassed a fortune, during
his administration often years, of more than 80,0002. sterling. He became, afterwards,
Governor of Greenwich hospital.
The management of such a man was among the simplest of political problems. His
motives being known, and such as could be easily swayed, the popular leaders, by indulg
ing bis love of ease, and his avarice, might have rendered him entirely subservient to
their, views ; but, by joining Mr. De Lancey, they became the dupes of private ambition,
and brought the colony, through the Newcastle interest, into disgrace with the crown.
IV. The administration of Sir Danvers Osborne endured for a few days only. This
unhappy gentleman had the reputation of great worth, was a member of parliament for
Bedfordshire, and brother-in-law to the Earl of Halifax. But, grief for ,the loss of
his wife had afflicted him with profound melancholy, and so deranged his mind, that he
committed suicide. He was received by the people with acclamations of joy, mingled
with reproaches to his predecessor. But in the treatment of that predecessor he fancied
he saw his own fate, should he hold the government The contention between the partieB
of Colden and De Lancey had caused a new article to be inserted in the Governor's in
structions, reciting, that, the peace of the province had been obstructed, and the preroga
tive trampled on ; that the assembly refusing to comply with the requisitions for the sup
port of government had assumed the disposal of the public money, the nomination of
officers, and the direction of the militia, and other troops, in which some of the council

NEW YORK. 53
i
had concurred; and, therefore, enjoined the commander in chief to declare to the assem
bly and council, the king's high displeasure — to exact due obedience, to require them to
recede from all encroachments, to consider without delay of a proper law for a perma
nent revenue, solid, indefinite, and without limitation, giving salaries to all Governors,
and other officers ; to provide for erecting and repairing fortifications, for annual presents
to the Indians, and for Indian expenses, and for all other charges which might be fixed
and ascertained ; and directed that aZ2 moneys should be applied by the warrant of the
Governor, with the consent of the council — forbade the assembly to examine any ac
counts, and required the suspension and report to the board of trade, of any councillor, or
other crown officer, who should assent, advise, or concur, with the assembly for lessening
the prerogative, or raising, or disposing of money in any other manner. In order to pre
vent the Governor from being unduly influenced by the assembly, he was forbidden to
assent to any law whereby a gift was made to him in any other manner — his salary was
limited to 12002. sterling, but he was permitted to receive more, if settled, on himself and
his successors, or during the whole of his administration, and within a year after his
arrival. Those who framed the instructions could scarce hope that they would be executed.
The assembly that obeyed them would prove traitorous to itself, and Would deliver its
constituents in bonds to the mercy of their rulers. The labour of carrying on the war
which must necessarily ensue the attempt to enforce them, was foreseen with great dread,
by Osborne; and when assured, by the members of council, and every well informed
man whom he consulted, that the assembly would never submit to these conditions, he
must have anticipated that his administration would prove not only destructive to his pri
vate fortune, but would dfaw upon him the general odium of the country, and excite tu
mults dangerous to his personal safety. In despair he exclaimed, " What then have I
come here for." On the morning of the 12th October, five days only after his arrival, he
was found suspended by the neck in the garden of his dwelling, life being totally extinct*
V. Under the well known maxim " Divide and govern," the ministry, instead of appoint
ing Mr. Morris to the Lieutenancy of New York, gave that office to Mr. De Lancey, and
obtained for Mr. Morris the government of Pennsylvania. The power which De Lancey
had shown, as the leader of a party, it was seen, might be eminently useful in an officer
of the crown. To this station, it had been long known the intrigues of the Chief Justice
tended. Upon him, therefore, the government devolved, on the death of the commander
in chief.
Mr. De Lancey had now official duties to perform which conflicted with his private
sentiments, and with the most cherished opinions of his party. But his representations
in support of the royal instructions, were understood by the assembly to come as through
a conduit, and as no way implicating his consistency. Privately, he encouraged the re
fusal of the house to change their mode of granting supplies, in full conviction, that,
whilst he preserved its favour, means would be found, sooner or later, to provide for his
salary, and the ordinary expenses of the government, without abandoning an essential
'right. During the two years of his exclusive administration, he thus preserved the con
fidence of the assembly, and the harmony of the province.
Upon their first meeting after his accession, the house prepared an address to the king,
exculpatory of the offences charged upon them in the additional instructions; and a re
presentation to the lords of trade impeaching the late Governor Clinton of gross misde
meanors — attributing to his mal-administration the late disputes, and charging him with
having maligned the colony to escape the censure which he merited. They accused him
of being interested in privateers — of hiring out the royal cannon — of subjecting Saratoga
to the inroads of the enemy by withdrawing the troops for his own special benefit — of
causing the Indian disaffection, by embezzling the moneys raised for their use — of de
manding subsistence for two Indian companies, under officers of his own appointment,
when no such companies were in existence — of granting extravagant tracts of land, and
exacting 122. 10s. for every 1000 acres in the remote parts of the colony, besides reserving
large shares in the grants to himself, by inserting fictitious names — of obstructing the
course, of justice, by letters to the judges, and otherwise — of appointing unqualified per
sons to office ; and of openly selling offices, military and civil. How much of these
weighty charges was true, we cannot determine ; they were not sustained by evidence,
and the lords of trade, to whom they were preferred, utterly discredited them.
The treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which, in Europe, was but a hollow- truce, was scarce re
garded by the French, in America. Eager to extend their territories, and to connect
their northern possessions with Louisiana, they projected a line of military positions along
* Members of council at this period : — Messrs. Colden, Alexander, Kennedy, De Lan
cey, Clarke, H. Murray, Rutherford, Holland, Johnson, Chambers, Smith. — Speaker of
assembly, Jones.

54 HISTORY OF
the Mississippi and Ohio rivers; explored and occupied theland upon the Ohio; buried, in
many places, through the country, metal plates, with inscriptions declaratory of their
claims;* caressed and threatened the Indians by turns; scattered liberal presents, and pre
pared to compel by force, what should be refused to their kindness.
In their Indian relations, the energy of the French, strongly contrasted with the apathy
of the English. After the peace of 1748, the latter discontinued tbeir attentions, even to
the Indians they had induced to take up arms; suffered the captives to remain long un-
ransomed, their families to pine in want, and utterly disregarded the children of the
slain; whilst the former, attentive to the vanity and interests of their allies, dressed them
in finery, and loaded them with presents. Their influence over these untutored tribes,
might have been greater, had they not sought to convert them to the Catholic faith; for
the Indians fancied, that the religious ceremonies were arts, to reduce them to slavery .t
The French had, by this policy, succeeded in estranging the Indians on the Ohio, and in
dividing the councils of the Six Nations; drawing off the Onondagoes, Cayugas and Se-
necas. Their progress with these tribes, was rendered more dangerous, by the death of
several chiefs, who had been in the English interest, and by the advances of the British in
the western country, without the consent of the aborigines.
In prosecution of their views, the French attacked the Twightees, and slew many, in
chastisement of their adherence to the British. The Ohio Company having surveyed
large tracts of land upon the Ohio river, with the design of settlement, the Governor of
Canada remonstrated with the governors of New York and Pennsylvania, upon this inva
sion of the French territories; and threatened to resort to force, unless the English
traders abandoned their intercourse with the Indians. These threats being disregarded,
he captured some traders and sent them to France, whence they returned, without redress.
He also opened a communication from Presqu'isle, by French Creek, and the Alleghany
river, to the Ohio; and though the Six Nations forbade him to occupy the Ohio lands, he
contemned the present weakness of those tribes.
These measures produced the fruitless mission from Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia,
to Fort Venango, on French Creek, in Pennsylvania, in which Mr. George Washington
first entered upon public employment. The French founded their claim to the Ohio
river and its appurtenances, on the voyage of La Salle, sixty years before; and their
present efforts for its defence had grown out of the attempts of the Ohio Company to
occupy its banks. The remonstrances of the British court were disregarded, and it
instructed the American governors to repel all encroachments.
The English force in America, numerically considered, was much greater than that of
the French;, but divided among many and independent sections, its combined efforts were
feeble and sluggish, whilst the French, directed by one will, had the advantages of union
and promptitude. To resist them, effectually, some confederacy of the colonies was
necessary ,^and common prudence required, that the affections of the Indians, towards the
English, should be assured. A conference between the Six Nations, and the representa
tives of the colonies, was ordered by the ministry under the direction of Governor De
Lancey. The Six Nations, although large presents were made them, were cold to the instances
of the confederate council, which met on the 14th of June. Few attended, and it was
evident that the affection of all towards the English had diminished. They refused to
enter into a coalition against the French, but consented to assist in driving them from the
positions they had assumed in the West, and to renew former treaties.
In this convention, several plahs for a political union of the colonies were proposed,
and that devised by Dr. Franklin, who was delegated from Pennsylvania, was approved
on the 4th of July. When submitted to the board of trade in England, and to the pro
vincial assemblies, it had the singular fate, to be rejected by the one as too democratic,
and by the other, as containing too much prerogative. Had it been adopted, the projector
might have been famed as the forger of a nation's chains, instead of the destroyer of a
tyrant's sceptre.t The plan, supported by Messrs. Smith, Johnson and Chambers, and
opposed by Mr. Murray and Lt. Governor De Lancey, was disapproved by the assembly. In
its rejection by the several colonies, it is probable, that the jealousy which they entertained
of each other, had as much influence as the fear of political oppression. As a substitute,
the British ministry proposed, that the governors of the colonies, with one or more mem
bers of their respective councils, should resolve on the measures of defence, and draw on
the British treasury for the funds, to be reimbursed by a general tax, imposed by Parlia
ment upon the provinces. But this the latter deemed wholly inadmissible.
At length, Great Britain prepared to oppose, energetically, the growing power of her
restless rival in the Western World. Two regiments of foot from Ireland, under Cols.
• In 1750. + MSS. Journals of Conrad Weiser. Penes me.
\ Casio eripuit fulmen sceptrumque tyrannis.

NEW YORK. ^ 55
Dunbar and Halkott, were ordered to Virginia; and Governor Shirley and Sir Wm. Pep-
perell, were directed to raise two regiments of a thousand men each, to be officered from
New England, and commanded by themselves, to be employed in threatening Canada,
whilst the forces in the south were directed against Ohio. The provinces, generally, were
required to collect men for enlistment; to supply the troops on their arrival with provisions,
and to furnish all necessaries for the soldiers landed or raised within their respective limits;
to provide the officers with means for travelling, for impressing carriages and quartering
troops. And as these were " local matters," arising entirely within their colonies, his
Majesty expected the charges to be borne by them in their respective provinces, whilst
articles of more general concern would be charged upon a common fund to be raised from
all the colonies of North America; towards which, the governors were severally requested
to urge the assemblies to contribute, liberally, until a union of the northern colonies, for
general defence, could be effected.
The legislature of New York, with some delay, upon the requisition of the Lt.
Governor, disregarding the royal instructions, forbidding the further issue of paper money,
unless their bills for that purpose were approved by the crown, emitted 45,0002. in paper,
to be sunk by a tax; subjected the militia'to such duties and penalties as the executive
should prescribe; and authorised the levy of 800 men and the impressment of artificers;
prohibited the exportation of provisions to the French, and provided funds for arming the
troops, and for presents to the Indians and other necessary expences.
Major-general Braddock, and the Irish regiments arrived early in March at Alexandria,
in Virginia, whence they marched to Fredericktown, in Maryland. A convention of the
governors of New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Virginia, convened at Annapolis,
to settle with the General a plan of military operations. Three expeditions were resolved
on. The first against Fort Du Quesne, under the command of Braddock, in person,
with the British troops, and such aid as he could draw from Maryland and Virginia; the
second, against Forts Niagara and Frontignac, under Gen. Shirley, with his own and
Pepperell's regiments; and the third, originally proposed by Massachusetts, against
Crown point, to be executed altogether with colonial troops from New England, New
York, and New Jersey, under Major-general Wm. Johnson.
Whilst these measures were in embryo, an attack conducted by Lt Colonel Monckton,
a British officer, and Lt Col Winslow, a major-general of the Massachusetts militia, was
made against the French who had possessed themselves of a portion of the country claimed
by the English, for the province of Nova Scotia. In little more than a month, with the
loss of three men, only, possession was obtained of the whole province according to the
British definition of its boundaries. This easy conquest elated the colonies, and produced
sanguine anticipations of the results of their future efforts.
But these hopes were destined to speedy and severe disappointment, by the ignorance
and presumption of Gen. Braddock. Unacquainted with the country and the Indian mode
of warfare, he disregarded the suggestions.of the Duke of Cumberland, whose instructions
seemed founded on a prescience of his conduct, and the advice of his American officers,
to employ his Indians in guarding against ambush and surprise. He neglected and dis
obliged the Virginians, and behaved with insupportable haughtiness to all around him.
With a lethargy in all his senses, induced by self-sufficiency, he led his troops to be
slaughtered by a handful of men who intended only to molest their march; and himself
received his death-wound in the massacre.*
This event produced great consternation throughout all the colonies. The legislature
of New York immediately voted an additional sum of 10,0002. for the public service, and
instituted measures for a further levy of troops, which were discontinued only upon in
telligence that Gen. Shirley ,?who had now succeeded to the command, had ordered, to the
North, Col. Dunbar with the remnant of Braddock's army.
The troops destined for the northern expeditions, assembled at Albany, on the close
of June, but were not equipped for the field, until the last of August Gen. Johnson
proceeded to the southern shore of Lake George, on his way to Ticonderoga, where he
received information of the approach of Baron Dieskau, at the head of twelve hundred
regulars, and six hundred Canadians and Indians. He detached Col. Williams, with one
thousand men, to reconnoitre, and to skirmish with the enemy. Engaging with the foe,
the detachment was overthrown, put to flight, and its commander killed. A second de
tachment, sent to the aid of the first, experienced a like fate: both were pursued to the
camp, where they found shelter, behind a breastwork of fallen trees, which the American
army had thrown up, in front. The artillery was served with effect; and though the
Baron advanced firhaly to the charge, his militia and Indians deserted him, and he was
compelled with his regulars to retreat. In the pursuit, which was close and ardent he •
was mortally wounded and made prisoner. A scouting party, under the command of
* July 9th.

56 HISTORY OF
Captains Fc4som£nd Maginnis, from Fort Edward, fell on the baggage of the enemy,
routed the guard, and immediately after engaged with the retreating army; which, sur
prised by a force it did not know, fled precipitately towards the posts on the lake. This
repulse of Dieskau, though not followed up by Johnson, magnified into a splendid victory,
served in some rneasure, to relieve the effect of Braddock's defeat, and procured the for.
tunate general, a present of five thousand pounds sterling, from the house of commons,
and the title of baronet, from the King. This army was soon after discharged, with the
exception of six hundred men, retained to garrison Forts Edward and William Henry,
which were now constructed. The French seized and fortified Ticonderoga. (
The conduct of Gen. Johnson, on this occasion, has been much censured by a distin
guished American writer,* and the merit of the victory is given to Gen. Lyman, the
second in command; and the historian ascribes his favour with the ministry to the efforts
of the De Lancey party, who sought to raise in him a rival to Gen. Shirley, whom they
dreaded and disliked. In the battle, about forty Indians were killed, on the English side,
among whom was the distinguished Mohawk chief, Hendricks, at a very advanced stage
of life. His years had not prevented him from joining the army, in which he was con
spicuous for courage and conduct.
Gen. Shirley, at the head of the expedition against Niagara and Frontignac, did not
reach Oswego, on Lake Ontario, until late in August His force consisting of about
thirteen hundred regulars, and one hundred and twenty militia and Indians, he divided;
embarking between six and seven hundred men, for Niagara, and leaving the remainder
at Oswego. But he had scarce departed, before the rains set in with fury, and his
Indians discouraged, dispersed. It was apparent that the season was now too far ad
vanced for the accomplishment of his design, which, by the advice of a council of war,
was abandoned. A garrison of seven hundred men was left at Oswego, to complete the
works, and the general returned to Albany.
VI. Sir Charles Hardy, a distinguished officer of the navy, arrived in New York on
the 2d of September, 1755, with the commission of Governor. But this event scarce
diminished the power of Mr. De Lancey; since Sir Charles, ignorant of civil affairs, and
especially of those of the province, put himself into his hands, and was guided altogether
by his counsels.
Gen. Shirley, having been appointed commander in chief, summoned the governors of
the northern and middle colonies, to settle the plan of the campaign. The congress met
at New York on the 12th of December, and agreed to raise a force of 10,000 men; to
, attack Forts Frontignac, Toronto and Niagara, that the communication between Canada
and Louisiana might be cut off; to reduce Ticonderoga and Crown Point, that the com
mand of Lake Champlain might be obtained, and New York freed from the terrors of
invasion; to besiege Fort Du Quesne, and to detach a body of forces by the Kennebeek,
to alarm the capital of Canada. The plan was too extensive for the means the General
possessed, and served but to dissipate the strength, which more concentrated efforts might
have rendered serviceable. In the mean time, it was proposed to take advantage of the
season, when the lake should be frozen over, to seize Ticonderoga; but this was defeated
by the unusual mildness of the winter, which rendered the transportation of the necessary
stores impracticable.
During the winter and spring, marauding parties of the western Indians spread
themselves over Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the south-western part of New York,
committing many atrocities in the counties of Orange and Ulster. These cruelties ex
cited clamours from the suffering inhabitants, and reproaches against the assembly.
The censures published in the Gazette, gave offence to the house, and were punished by
the commitment of the printers^but they stimulated the assembly to make provision of
men and troops for defence of the frontier.
Though France and England had been engaged in the warmest hostilities, in America,
since 1754, the peace was not avowedly broken in Europe, until May, 1755. The events
in America, in 1754, had determined each to despatch considerable reinforcements to
the colonies. The French, understanding that orders had been given to Boscawen, to
intercept their squadron, declared they would consider the first gun fired as a declaration
of war; and their minister was recalled from London, in consequence of an attack upon
their fleet by that admiral. The British government instantly issued letters of marque,
under which a large number of French merchant ships, and seven thousand French
sailors, were captured. A blow which had great effect upon the subsequent operations of
the war in Europe and America.
Either from want of confidence in the military talents of Gen. Shirley, or that, he might
give them information on American affairs, the ministry removed him from his command,
and summoned him to England. Gen. Abercrombie succeeded him; with whom came
* Dr. T. Dwight

NEW YORK. 57
out two additional regiments. But the Chief direction of the war. was soon after: given to
the Earl of Loudon, appointed Governor of Virginia, and colonel of the royal American
regiment, which had been lately formed from the German emigrants.
In the mean time, Sir William Johnson had succeeded, by the mediation of the Six
Nations, in disposing the Shawanese and Delawares to an accommodation. Hostilities
against them were suspended, and the treaty of peace was soon after ratified at Easton.
This was the withdrawal of one painful thorn from the, side of the colonies; and the
chastisement inflicted by Col. Armstrong of Pennsylvania,* by the destruction of the
den of the horde, at Kittanning, soon extracted another.
Of the many enterprises resolved on by Gen. Shirley, several were unattempted; none
were successful. The recruiting service moved heavily; much time was lost by the
change of commanders; and the season for operation was nearly half spent, before the
arrival of Lord Loudon. No preparations were made against Fort Du Quesne. The
colonies of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, far from pursuing offensive measures,
were unable to protect themselves. The expedition against Ticonderoga and Crown
Point, was confided to Gen. Winslow, who had won golden opinions during his last
campaign, in Nova Scotia. Seven thousand provincialists assembled near Lake George,
but their number was reduced by subtraction for the garrisons in their rear. Winslow
refused to proceed without reinforcements; and though soon after strengthened by some Bri
tish troops, under Gen. Abercrombie, he was perplexed and embarrassed by disputes relative
to rank, which grew out of this junction. The regulations of the crown, on this subject,
had given great offence in America, and such was the reluctance of the provincialists to
serve under British officers, that, in the present case, in order to enable the troops to act,
separately, the Americans were withdrawn, from the garrisons, to the army, and their
places supplied with British forces. The expedition to Ontario was rendered hopeless by
the successes of the French under Montcalm, who captured the forts of Ontario and
Oswego, situate on either side of the Onondago river, at its juncture with the lake;
which being in the country of the Six Nations, he, with sound policy, destroyed, in their
presence. With the forts, 120 cannon, 14 mortars, a large quantity of stores and provi
sions, 1600 men, composing Shirley and Pepperell's regiments, one half of the Jersey
regiment under Col. Schuyler, and a respectable fleet on the lake, fell into the handB
of the enemy.
Discouraged and disconcerted by these events, Loudon relinquished all offensive
operations, and disposed his troops for the defence of the frontier. Renewed efforts to
increase his force were rendered abortive by the appearance of the small pox at Albany.
The troops on march from New England, and the army at Lake George, were panic-
struck by the irruption of an enemy more dreadful than the French; and it became ne
cessary to garrison all the posts with British troops, and to discharge the provincialists,
excepting one regiment raised in New York. Thus terminated, for a second time, in
defeat and utter disappointment, the sanguine hopes, formed by the colonists, of a brilliant
and successful campaign. Much labour had been employed, and much money expended,
in collecting, by land, from a great distance, troops, provisions, and military stores, at
Albany,. and in transporting them through an almost unsettled country, to Lake George;
yet not an effort had been made to drive the invaders even from their outposts at Ticon
deroga. The province of New York authorised for this campaign 1700 men; and levied, in
various ways, more than 30,0002. Fifteen thousand pounds were also thrown into the
public treasury from an appropriation made by parliament for the relief of the northern
and middle colonies. The exigencies of the times compelled the Governor to pass almost
every act which the assembly prepared, though no prospective provisions were made for
the support of the government. The mode adopted for the latter, was to consider the
salaries of the officers as debts, from the province; and by appropriating money for the
payment, at its pleasure, the assembly held the officers dependent upon them. The offen
sive instructions from the crown were thus rendered nugatory, and the administration
had the good sense to revoke them. . Thus, the colony triumphed in the maintenance of
a principle and practice indispensable to its welfare and honourable political existence.
Lord Loudon, in the middle of January, summoned the Governors of the New England
provinces to New York. In no very good humour, he attributed to them, the disasters
of the late campaign; and concluded his reprimand by a requisition for additional troops
from New England, New York, and New Jersey. The spirit of the colonists, however,
was not to be broken by misfortune, caused by the incapacity of the ministry of the
parent state, and her delegated satraps, nor to be perverted by unmerited reproaches. His
demands were, generally, complied with; and he was placed, in the spring, at the head of
a respectable army, to tempt his fortune under his own star. The New England pro-
* September 8th, 1756.
8

58 HISTORY OF
vinces exerted themselves greatly at this time, arid authorised a draft, or conscription,
should their. quotas not be completed by voluntary enlistment.
At his departure, his lordship left an army of about 6,000 men under Major Gen. Webb.
Nearly one half of this force was posted at Fort William Henry at the south end of Lake
George; 1500 at Fort Edward, and the residue was scattered at Saratoga, Stillwater,
Albany, and the country of the Mohawks.
The province of New York raised 1000 men, and appropriated 35,0002. to the service.
The failures of the past year were attributed to the multiplied objects of the campaign,
and the consequent division of the forces. Unity of design, and concentration of the
troops, it was presumed, would ensure success. It was' therefore resolved, that Louisburg
should be attacked; and Halifax was fixed as the rendezvous of the fleet and army.
Early in July, Admiral Holburn arrived there with a large squadron of ships and five
thousand land forces; and after many delays, was joined by Lord Loudon, with six
thousand regulars. Much was properly anticipated from this formidable armament, but
the procrastination of the commander in chief doomed the country to severe disappoint
ment For before his preparations were completed, the French had occupied Louisburg
with a superior force, despatched from Brest, against which his lordship was not dis
posed to make an effort.
The enemy, however, was not slow to avail himself of the advantages which might
accrue by the diminution of the British troops on the northern frontiers. Montcalm, at
the head of nine thousand men, drawn principally from Crown Point, Ticonderoga and
the neighbouring forts, with some Canadians and Indians, having defeated an advanced
party on the lake of four hundred men under Col. Parker, invested Fort William Henry,
and Col. Monroe was compelled to surrender it within six days after its investment*
Montcalm's triumph was stained by the barbarities of his Indian allies, and though he
exerted himself to protect his prisoners, the massacre of many of them will ever be
coupled with his name.
Major Gen. Webb, who lay at Fort Edward, fourteen miles from Lake George, ap
prised of the approach of Montcalm, made strenuous exertions to increase his force, from
Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, and had sufficient strength, if exerted with
promptitude and vigour, to relieve Col. Monroe, and probably to save the garrison. But
instead of marching to its succour, he despatched a messenger with his answer to the
Colonel's demand for assistance, advising him to make the best terms in his power with
the enemy. The Colonel bravely defended the post until the trenches were opened almost
to the east battery, and his ammunition nearly expended. Nor did Gen. Webb, when his
force had been rendered greater than that of the enemy, make an effort to repel him.
His reinforcements, however, enabled him to hold the French troops in check, until,
learning the return of Lord Loudon to New York,, they retired.
The troops from Halifax were immediately ordered to Albany, and about one hundred
and fifty of them were sent to garrison a small fort in the valley of the Mohawk, in Her
kimer county. A detachment of one thousand was sent to New York, and their officers
put at free quarters upon the citizens in the most imperious and offensive manner by the
commander in chief. »
Notwithstanding the presents which had been lavished on the Six Nations, by the '
British, for a series of years, the blandishments of the French, and more especially their
successes, had seduced four of the tribes wholly from the British interests. A party of
five hundred warriors from the Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas, led by the
French, fell upon the German Flats, on the 15th of November, massacred a number of
the inhabitants, carried others into captivity, and broke up the settlements.
VII. Governor Sir Charles Hardy was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral of the
Blue with a command in the expedition against Louisburg. Embarking on the second
of July, he left the government in the hands of Mr. De Lancey, who, upon intelligence of
the movement of the French, in the vicinity of Lake George, hastened to Albany to ex
pedite the levies ordered to Gen. Webb, but his efforts were not in season to avert the
fate of the fort.
VIII. With the year 1758, a new era dawned upon the colonies, -roused from a state of
apathy by the voice of William Pitt. The enterprise, judgment, and firmness, which had
raised England from the depths of humility, were now employed for the reduction of the
American continent. The plan of the campaign was wisely matured, and committed for
execution, to men who had reputations to lose and fortunes to gain. Loudon was re
called. Abercrombie commanded in chief, with Amherst for his second, aided by Briga
diers Wolfe and Forbes. The fleet, consisting altogether of one hundred and fifty sail,
was under Boscawen. * 9th of AugHst

NEW YORK. 59
The designated objects of the campaign were Louisburg, thd forts on the lakes, and
Fort Du Quesne. Major Gen. Amherst, with 12,000 men, aided by the.fleet, laid siege
to the first, early in June; and captured it, after an obstinate defence of seven weeks.
Gen.'Abercrombie, with seven thousand regulars, and ten thousand provincials marched
against the northern forts. He embarked his forces on Lake George on board one hun
dred and twenty-five whale boats, and nine hundred batteaux, attended by a formidable
train of artillery, transported on rafts,- with every other requisite of success. In crossing
the isthmus, between Lakes George and Champlain, Lord Howe, at tlie'head of the right
centre column, fell in with the advanced guard of the enemy, which, in retreating from
Lake George, like the English column, was lost in the woods. He attacked and dispersed
them, killing several, and making one hundred and forty-eight prisoners. But, though
only two officers on the British side were slain, Lord Howe was one. He had gained
ihe esteem of the army and the country, and fell universally lamented.
Learning from the prisoners the force under the walls of Ticonderoga, and that a re
inforcement of three thousand men was daily expected, Gen. Abercrombie proposed to
storm the place, and caused the works to be reconnoitered. Upon a superficial and im
perfect survey, the fatal resolution was taken to attempt the fort, before the artillery arrived.
The troops marched intrepidly to the assault, (6th of July,) but conld make no impres
sion; the fallen trees in front of the entrenchment, which had been unobserved, and a
breastwork of eight or nine feet, presented unexpected and insurmountable obstacles, be
fore which the assailants were exposed to a murderous fire for four hours, with the loss of
two thousand men.
This rash attempt was not more ill advised than the subsequent hasty retreat. The
fort was, in truth, unfinished; and at one point easily approachable, and the garrison did
not exceed three thousand men; and, from the dread of the British, greatly superior in
numbers, the French general had actually prepared to abandon this position, with
Crown Point. This misfortune was in some measure balanced, by the capture of Fort
Frontignac, on the north side of the river St. Lawrence, at its entrance from Lake On
tario; commanding the river, and serving as a magazine for the more southern castles.
The garrison consisted of one hundred and ten men only; but the fort contained a large
stock of arms, stores, and provisions for the western posts. Nine armed vessels, some of
which carried eighteen guns, were also taken. The enterprise was projected and exe
cuted by Lieut. Col. Bradstreet*
For want of practicable roads, the march of the army to Fort Du Quesne was tedious
and difficult, and was interrupted by some sharp skirmishing with the enemy. The army
was also greatly afflicted by sickness, and weakened by desertion. But the capture of
Frontignac, and the consequent defection of the Indian tribes from the French interest,
had prepared the way for success. The garrison of Fort Du Quesne, unsustained by
their savage allies, and hopeless of reinforcement, held the place only until the approach
of the English army should justify its abandonment. On the 24th of November, when
Forbes was within a day's march of the fort, they burned it, and escaped, by the Ohio
river, to the French settlements upon the Mississippi.
In the preparations of the colonies for this campaign, we have new evidence of the
power which an energetic spirit, directed by wisdom, may obtain over the mass of man
kind. The contributions of the provinces, towards carrying on the continental war, had,
for the previous campaigns, been merely the cold returns of duty ; but in this, the people
* The expedition under Col. Bradstreet consisted of the following troops: Regulars, 135;
royal artillery, SO; New York provincials, 1112; Massachusetts, do. 675; New Jersey, do.
412; Rhode Island, do. 318; batteau men, 300; and about 60 rangers; in all, 3,035. The
regulars were commanded by Capt. Ogilvie, and the artillery by Lieut. Brown.
The New York troops consisted of two detachments. The first commanded by Lieut.
Colonel Charles Clinton, of Ulster, amounting in the whole to 440, under Capts. Jonathan
Ogden, of Westchester, Peter Dubois of New York, Samuel. Bladgley of Dutchess, and
Daniel Wright of Queens. The second was commanded by Lieut. Col. Isaac Corse, of
Queens, and Major Nathaniel Woodhull of Suffolk, amounting to 668, under Capts. Elias
Hand of Suffolk, Richard Hewlett of Queens, Thomas Arrowsmith of Richmond, William
Humphrey of Dutchess, Ebenezer Seeley of Ulster, and Peter Yates and Goosen Van
Schaick, of Albany.
The troops left Fort Stanwix, August 14th, 1758, and the fort capitulated the 27th. The
commander of the fort was exchanged for Col. Peter Schuyler.
Colonel Corse, who had distinguished himself in the three preceding campaigns, with a
part of his troops volunteered to erect a battery in the night of the 26th, in the midst of the
enemy's fire, which in the morning commanded their fort, and led to an immmediate
surrender. The Colonel received a slight wound, but not so severe as to unfit him for duty. The
detachment returned to Fort Stanwix the 10th of September.

60 HISTORY OF
displayed all the zeal with which men pursue their interests, when animated by well
founded hopes, of success. Their combined forces, they were now assured, would be ap
plied to remove the enemy from the frontiers ; and, instead of being required to furnish
a specific quota of troops, each colony Was directed to raise as large a force as was in its
power, with the greatest possible despatch. To render such force effective, Mr. Pitt re
commended to the respective Governors, to commission popular men for officers ; and, in
bestowing military appointments, to have regard solely to the public service. Arms, am
munition, tents, and provisions, were furnished by the crown ; and the expense of levying,
clothing, and pay, was borne by the provinces. But, even these charges, he promised to
recommend parliament to pay, as the vigour and efforts of the provinces should merit
The legislature of New York authorized the levy of 2680 men, to be completed by
draughts upon the militia, in case volunteers could not be procured ; and issued the sum
of 100,0002. in bills of credit, bearing interest, and redeemable in 1768, by the proceeds of
an annual tax ; and they maintained this force during the remainder of the war ; provid
ing also, liberally, for other military purposes, and for the civil list. The impositions, in
the space of five months of the year 1759, amounted to $625,000. At the. instance of
General Amherst a loan of 150,0002. was made to the crown, which was repaid in specie,
Great Britain, having resolved to annihilate the French power in North America,
made adequate preparations for the campaign of 1759. An army of eight thousand men,
under General Wolfe, was destined to attack Quebec; whilst General Amherst, with
12,000 regular and provincial troops, should, by the rivers Richelieu and St. Lawrence,
join Wolfe; and General Prideaux, assisted by Sir Wilh'am Johnson, at the head of some
friendly Indians, should capture the fort at the falls of Niagara, and proceed, by Lake
Ontario and Montreal, to unite with the other generals. To General Stanwix, was con
fided the southern department, with orders to watch the western frontier, and to erect
proper forts for its defence.
This stupendous plan was only partly executed. Quebec was purchased with the
life of the gallant Wolfe. (18th September.) Amherst obtained possession of Crown Point
and Ticonderoga, but too late in the season to permit him to accomplish the remainder of
the work assigned to him. Prideaux invested Niagara, but was slain in the trenches by
the bursting of a cohort The fort was, however, captured by Sir William Johnson, who
succeeded him in the command, 25th July. It was not until September 8th, of the fol-
lowing year, that the great object was entirely gained ; when, by the union of three Bri
tish armies, before Montreal, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, was compelled to surrender, by
capitulation, the whole of the French possessions to his Britannic majesty.
Thus fell the great power of France in America. Possessed of the northern and
southern parts of the continent, her encroachments became formidable to the British Ame
rican empire, which she sought to confine to a narrow slip of sea-coast. She thus brought
upon her the united power of England and her colonies, which she baffled, when feebly
directed; but which proved irresistible in the hands of a wise and energetic minister.
The share of the provincials in this result gives lustre to the colonial history.
They had kept in the field an average force of twenty-five thousand men during the war;
had lost thirty thousand of their young men, and contributed three millions five hundred,
thousand pounds sterling, to the payment of its expenses.* Four hundred privateers,
from their ports, ravaged the French West India islands, and distressed the commerce of
France in all parts of the world. Their troops preserved the remains of the army wrecked
by the folly of Braddock; under Monckton, they captured Beau Sejour, in Nova Scotia;
commanded by Sir William Johnson, they destroyed the army of Baron Dieskau, and re-
duced Fort Niagara, one of the most important posts on the continent. The merit of these
actions, is ascribable to them, solely. In all the marches and battles they were principal
sufferers ; and where honour was to be gained, the provincial was distinguished, by his
fortitude in adversity, and his promptitude and courage in the hour of peril,
Spain became party to the war, in January, 1762; but the conflict against the
united house of Bourbon, was not of long continuance; peace being made on the 3d of
November, of the same year. France surrendered her pretensions to Nova Scotia, and
ceded Canada, including Louisiana. Spain yielded Florida. In exchange for this mighty
domain, France received the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, near Newfoundland, wiJh
a restricted privilege of the fishery, and the islands of Martinique, Guadaloupe, Marie-
galante, Deseada, and St. Lucia. — Spain obtained the restoration of the Havana — a price
more than adequate for Florida, which would not have been paid, but with the design of
preserving the eastern shore of North America from foreign influence.
During the period of seven years, a period too of as great difficulty as the province
had known under the English government, Mr. De Lancey had directed its affairs with
* Of this sum, parliament reimbursed at several times, £1,031,666 sterling.

NEW YORK. 61
extraordinary ability, and distinguished success. The. two years during which Sir Charles
Hardy held the reins, can scarce be deducted from the term.
With the assembly, elected in 1752, near the close of Mr. Clinton's administration,
Mr. De Lancey preserved unbroken harmony, until near the end of its legal term, when
he dissolved it, with the consent of all, that the next one might be constituted in due sea
son for the transaction of business. His policy had been entirely successful, in preserving
to the assembly the right of annual appropriations, and circumstances enabled it to evade
the prohibition of the crown upon bills for issuing paper money; so that, during his ad
ministration, the province felt as little of colonial subjection as at any period since its set
tlement. All the offices were filled by his relatives, his friends, or his dependants ; and
such was his power, and so prudently was it exercised, that scarce an effort appears to
have been made to resist him, until after the election of anew assembly in January, 1759,
when a party was formed, termed the Livingston party, but which did not prevent him
from obtaining the ascendency in that body. In one instance only, does he appear to
have lost sight of those broad and popular principles which were the source of his power.
In 1754, he incautiously gave his sanction to an act incorporating King's College, by
•which all persons were excluded from the president's chair, unless in communion with
the Church of England ; and the Common Prayer Book was introduced for religious
exercises. Of his political ability his success affords ample evidence. He is charged by the his
torian, Smith, who was his political enemy, with practising the arts of the demagogue,
and with having an " itching palm." His daily coffee-house haunts, his controversy with
Clinton, his persuading Sir Charles Hardy to resign on the contract for half of the salary
and emoluments, the subserviency of his tools, his double claim to be chancellor and
chief justice, his exaction of high fees for land grants, and his receipt of 4002. yearly, for
the garrison, after the troops had been removed from it, are all made subjects of reproach ;
in which, perhaps, there was more of party colouring than of truth.
Mr; Smith admits his knowledge of law, history, and husbandry, to have been credita
ble, and that he preserved the classical learning he had acquired at Cambridge; that he
Was ready in producing the stores he possessed ; had clear and quick views of subjects
presented to his consideration, and delivered his sentiments with brevity and perspicuity.
These were qualities of no ordinary kind ; and were doubtless the cause of his success.
This statesman, one of the most eminent which New York may boast, died on the 30th
July, 1760, suddenly, at his mansion in New York, of an attack of asthma, to which he
had been many years subject.
During the year 1759, the fort captured at Niagara was re-built, and garrisoned ; a new
pentagonal fort at Oswego ; a small fort at the Little Falls of the Onondaga River ; one
at the western extremity of Oneida Lake; one at the east end of that lake; and another,
called Fort Stanwix, on the site of the present village of Rome, were erected. These
works commanded the route from the lakes to the Hudson. On the north, General Am
herst began to re-build the fort of William Henry, and the enlargement of the works at
Crown Point, and completed the fortifications at Ticonderoga.
IX. On the death of Mr. De Lancey, the duties of Governor devolved on Dr. Cadwal-
lader Colden, now 73 years of age, who was thus recalled from his retirement in Ulster
county, as the senior member, and president of the council. He soon after received the
commission of Lieut. Governor, dated 14th April? 1761. The opponents of the De Lan
cey interest gave him their cordial support. The friends of the late Governor were un
prepared to disturb' his administration, and he sought to conciliate them by encomiums
on their regretted leader. His intercourse with the assembly was harmonious, as he
passed their bills for the annual supplies, and paper issues, without objection. _
Mr. Colden was superseded by General Monckton, on the 26th of October. But that
gentleman, being placed at the head of an expedition against Martinique, left him the
government, on the 15th November, under an agreement for an equal division of the sa
lary and perquisites, which he continued to hold until the return of the General from his
successful enterprize, 11th June, 1762. But the General remained in the province only
until 29th June, 1763, when, departing for Europe, his power again devolved on the
'Lieut Governor.
The demise of the king, George II, 25th October, 1760, and the consequent dissolution
of the assembly, gave a favourable opportunity for party to display itself in the new elec
tions. The adversaries of Mr. Colden obtained an accession of strength in that assembly
which emboldened them to propose measures which he could not sanction. They sent
him two bills ; one for removing doubts respecting transactions between the death of the
king and the time when notice of it was received in the province; and the other, for the
appointment of the judges of the supreme court during good behaviour. He rejected the
first, as unnecessarily annulling the laws passed at the previous session, and the second
as incompatible with his instructions.

62 HISTORY OF
The latter was much desired by the people, and no measure could be more unpopular
than its rejection. In Great Britain the independence of the judiciary was assured, by
the permanence of tenure and salary. Nor would the British ministry have objected to
commissions in the colonies, during good behaviour, had the assembly provided certain,
competent and durable salaries for the judges. But so little was the true policy of govern-
ment understood, or so. inconsistent was the conduct of the legislature, that, whilst they
would have rendered the judiciary independent of the executive, they would have held it
in subservience upon whatever party possessed a majority in the assembly. Mr. Colden's
refusal was ascribed to a wish to propitiate the ministry by leaving to it the appointment
to the vacant office of Chief Justice. But all discretion was taken from him by absolute
prohibition from the king, to grant it during good behaviour. Mr. Pratt, a distinguished
lawyer, of Boston, received the commission from the crown : but as the legislature pro
vided no salary he was unable long to hold it.
It would seem, however, that Mr. Colden was disposed to sustain, without diminution,
the power of the executive- branch of the government. We have seen, that the Governor
and Council possessed appellate jurisdiction from the courts. This had hitherto been
exercised by writ of error only, by which the legality of the proceedings, and not the merits
of the cause came in question. But the Lieut. Governor now entertained an appeal from
the supreme court, which superinduced an inquiry into the facts. The innovation was
highly obnoxious to the assembly, and though sustained by the king, they, in 1765, voted
it illegal, and declared that the Lieut Governor having sought to give success to the ma
chination, had filled the minds of his majesty's subjects with jealousies and distrusts.*
X. In exclusive possession of an immense territory, comprehending nearly one-fifth of
the globe, Great Britain and her colonies rationally looked forward, to its peaceful enjoy
ment, in full confidence that the aboriginal inhabitants, no longer exposed to dangerous
solicitations, nor supported by alien power, would not dare to provoke the resentment of
those upon whom they must entirely depend, for the gratifications supplied by the whites.
But the cupidity of the savage had been highly excited, during the late conflict, and as
deeply indulged. The present unprotected state of the frontier, held forth irresistible
temptations to his whetted appetite for plunder. His barbarities had been rather reward
ed than chastised. Every treaty brought him rich presents; and his detention of pri
soners, whom he had again and again promised to surrender, was overlooked, on slight
apologies; though, obviously done to afford opportunities for new treaties and additional
gifts. But, we may, perhaps, look deeper, for the cause of the wide extended confederacy,
which now took place among the aborigines, and which may have been dictated by pro
found policy. They beheld the French driven- out of the whole country, and themselves
in danger of becoming wholly dependent upon a power, which already commanded by its
forts, the great lakes and rivers ; and they may have felt, that an immediate and mighty
effort was necessary to restrain the tide, which, if unimpeded, would spread itself over the
continent, overwhelming all their nations in its course.
A secret coalition was formed among the Shawanese, the tribes upon the Ohio, and its
tributary waters, and about Detroit, to attack, simultaneously, the English posts and set
tlements upon the frontier. The plan was deliberately and skilfully projected. The set
tlements were to be invaded during harvest; the inhabitants, with their corn and cattle,
to be destroyed ; and the outposts to be reduced by famine. The Indians fell, suddenly,
upon the traders, whom they had invited among them, murdered many, and plundered
the effects of all, to an immense amount (July, 1763.) The frontiers of Pennsylvania,
Maryland, and Virginia, were overrun by scalping parties, committing their usual enor
mities. The out-forts, even the most remote, were assailed about the same time ; and all,
immediately, fell into the hands of the enemy, save Niagara, Detroit, and Fort Pitt
As, in the preceding Indian contest the frontier inhabitants were driven in, and the
enemy again penetrated into the thickly settled country ; but more skill and courage
were generally displayed in resisting them. Niagara and Detroit were protected by de-
tachments sent to their relief by General Amherst, whilst Colonel Bouquet, after much
fatigue and a bloody battle, succeeded in succouring Fort Pittt These distressing hosti-
lities continued until October, 1764, when they were terminated by Col. Bouquet who,
with fifteen hundred men, overran the Indian country in Ohio, compelling the submission
of the tribes, and releasing many white prisoners. The Indians, soon after, entered into
a final and satisfactory treaty with Sir William Johnson, who was authorized for that
purpose by the crown.
* Votes of Assembly. t Formerly Fort Du Quesne.

NEW YORK. 63

CHAPTER VI.
I. Impressions on the ministry by the wealth and power displayed by the colonies, n. Pro
position of Mr. Grenville to tax the provinces. III. Views of the provinces on this sub
ject. IV. Effect produced in America — Proceedings of the legislature of New York.
V. Reception of'the Stamp Act in the colonies. VI. Temporary suspension of legal
proceedings — Of newspapers — Anti-importation associations. VII. Organization of the
" Sons of Liberty." VHI. First colonial congress — Its proceedings. IX. Efforts in Eng
land for repeal of the Stamp Act X. Arrival of Governor Moore — His moderation re
lative to the public commotions. XI. Remaining discontents of the provinces. XII.
American taxation again proposed — Proceedings thereon. XIII. Modified repeal of
the imposts. XIV. Death of Governor Moore — His administration. XV. Third ad
ministration of Lieut. Governor Colden — Lord Dunmore appointed Governor — Is suc
ceeded by Governor Tryon.
I. The great pecuniary contribution of the colonies, in the late wars, discovered to
the ministry of Great Britain, a mine of wealth, whose existence they had not hitherto
Buspected; and with the knowledge came an inexpressible longing to subject the treasure
to the use of the parent state. But no good genius whispered, that there existed also,
the spirit, as well as the means, to maintain the political freedom which had been, at
once, the source of riches and of happiness. It was supposed, that, if in a few years,
these long neglected and distant provinces could pay, without apparent inconvenience,
millions for defence, they might, also, be compelled to pay millions for tribute.
II. On this assumption, Mr. Grenville, first commissioner of the treasury, flattered
himself that he might establish a high financial character, in relieving his country by the
taxation of her provinces. To a superficial observer, few obstacles were apparent in such
a course. Parliament had frequently imposed duties upon the Colonial trade; which, as a
part of a general system, for regulating the commerce of the empire, had been patiently
borne. But no attempt had been, hitherto, made, avowedly, to raise a revenue from the
colonies, for the use of the British treasury. '
III. The right of parliament to legislate generally, for the colonies, had not been
questioned, since Massachusetts and New York, in 1692, and New York, in 1708, had
denied the power of any other than their own representatives to tax them.
By the charter of Charles II, to Penn, the right of parliament to lay duties on imports
and exports, and to impose taxes, or customs, on the inhabitants of Pennsylvania, their
lands, goods, and chattels, was clearly reserved. In 1739, Sir William Keith, in conjunc
tion with some American merchants, proposed to raise troops for the western frontier, to
be supported by a duty laid by parliament on stamped paper and parchment, in all the
colonies. But the subject was then too inconsiderable to claim the attention of the go
vernment. When efforts were made to unite the colonies, in 1754, a plan for colonial
taxation was suggested; but the ministers, finding the colonies averse to their views, did
not venture to press it on the eve of a war, in which the cordial and undivided exertions
of the whole^nation were required.
A more favourable occasion seemed now to present itself. The war which had'grown
out of American interests, had been honourably terminated; and it was supposed, that
the provinces, grateful for their deliverance, would cheerfully repay the care of a foster
ing mother. Nor would such anticipations have been disappointed, had the designs of
the ministry no other consequences than a single pecuniary burden upon the people.
Towards the end of the year 1763, Mr. Grenville communicated to the colonial agents
in London, his purpose of drawing a revenue from America, by means of a stamp duty,
, to be imposed by act of parliament, and directed them to transmit this intelligence to
their respective assemblies, that they might suggest any more preferable duty, equally
productive.* The following view, briefly exhibited, was then taken of this subject, by
all the provinces.
The colonies were considered as integral^governments, of which the crown was the
head, having exclusive political power within their respective territories, except in cases
involving the general interests of the empire, in which, from principles of convenience
and necessity, they admitted the supremacy of parliament. On these principles, they had
submitted to the general regulations of commerce, however restrictive of their exertions
* One hundred thousand pounds sterling, was the sum required by Mr. Grenville.

64 HISTORY OF
' at home and abroad; and where the letter of the law pressed heavily on their natural
rights, murmurs were seldom heard, as such acts were not rigidly enforced. ,
The mode of drawing aid from the colonists accorded with these principles. The
sovereign having well considered the occasion, in his privy council, directed his secretary
of state to apply to each colony, through its Governor, to grant him such sums as were
suitable to its ability. And as the colonies had always made liberal grants on such re
quisitions, the proposition to tax them in parliament, was unnecessary, cruel, and unjust
Unjust, because it was diametrically opposite to the letter and spirit of their constitutions,
which had established as a fundamental axiom, that taxation and representation are in
separable, and that as the colonies were not, and from local and political obstacles could
not be, represented in the British parliament, it would be the very essence of tyranny to
attempt to exercise an authority over them, which, from its nature, must inevitably lead
to gross abuse. For, when in absolute possession of the power now claimed, could it be
imagined, that parliament would not rather vote away the money of the colonists, than of
their constituents ? By the constitution, their business in matters of aid was with the
king alone; they had no connexion with any financier, nor were the provincial agents
the proper persons through whom requisitions should be made. For these reasons, it
was improper for the provinces to make propositions to Mr. Grenville, in relation to
taxes, especially, as the notice he had sent, did not appear to have been by the king's
order, "and was, perhaps, without his knowledge."*
These views certainly did not proceed from a desire to avoid contribution, in relief of
the public wants. Several of tbe colonial legislatures declared, >' that as they always had
thought, so they always should think, it their duty to grant aid to the crown." Copies of
these votes were presented to Mr. Grenville, and an opportunity was thus offered to raise
by constitutional means, more than a compulsory tax would produce. But he had re
solved to establish the absolute supremacy of parliament over the provinces, and open the
way for its unrestrained exercise.
When forming his plan he certainly did not apprehend all its consequences. But,
aware that it would be opposed, he was desirous of trying an old measure under a new
aspect, and proposed, in distinct terms, to raise a revenue, by taxes on colonial imports.
This measure, sufficiently obnoxious in itself, was accompanied by a resolution of parlia-
ment, " that it may be proper to charge certain stamp duties in the colonies." The act
of parliament, based on the first proposition, was extremely onerous to the American
trade ; the duties thereby imposed amounting almost to a prohibition of commercial in
tercourse with the French and Spanish colonies. It is true, that this trade, previous to
the passage of the act, was unlawful^ but it was connived at, as it was highly profitable;
furnishing to the provinces, gold and silver for their remittances to England. The minis
ter, in his care to prevent smuggling, did not consider the difference' betweeji an advan
tageous trade in the western hemisphere, and the illicit commerce on the British coast
Converting naval officers into officers of the customs, he nearly destroyed the whole co
lonial trade with the Spanish and French islands. The preamble to the new impost law,
declaring it to be just and necessary, that a revenue should be raised in America, and
the resolution to follow it up with a stamp act, gave an unequivocal and odious character
to the law, and sent it forth to the colonies, the pioneer of a system of boundless op
pression. The revenue act became still more unpopular, by the means used to enforce it The
penalties for breach of its provisions, were recoverable in the courts of admiralty, without
the intervention of a jury, before judges dependent upon the crown, drawing their sala-
ries'from forfeitures adjudged by themselves. The duties were required to be paid in
gold and silver, now scarce attainable, and consequently,, the paper currency, more than
ever necessary, was rejected and depreciated.
IV. The impression, caused by these measures on the public mind, was uniform
throughout America. The legislature of Massachusetts, whose population, essentially
commercial, felt most severely the late restrictions, was the first to notice them. That
body resolved, " that the act of parliament relating to the sugar trade with foreign colo
nies, and the resolution of the house of commons, in regard to stamp duties, and other
taxes proposed to be laid on the colonies, had a tendency to deprive the colonists of their
most essential rights,' as British subjects, and as men — particularly, the right of assess.
ing their own taxes, and of being free from any impositions, but such as they consented
to, by themselves or representatives.". They directed Mr. Mauduit their agent in Lon
don, to remonstrate against the ministerial measures, to solicit a repeal of the sugar act,
and to deprecate the imposition- of further duties and taxes on the colonies. They ad
dressed the assemblies of the other provinces, requesting them to unite in a petition
* Votes of the assemblies of the several colonies. Franklin's Letters, March 8th, 1770.
Provincial Remonstrances. Marshall's Life of Washington, vol. ii. 68, &c.

NEW YORK. 65
against the designs of the ministry, and to instruct their agents to remonstrate against
attempts so destructive lo the liberty, the commerce and prosperity, of the colonies. The
colony of Rhode Island proposed to the provincial assemblies, to collect the sense of all
the colonies, and to unite in a common petition to the king and parliament.
The petitions of the assembly of New York, to the king and parliament, were drawn
with singular ability. In that to the house of commons, they maintained that, " an
exemption from the burden of ungranted and involuntary taxes, must be the grand prin.
ciple of every free state; and that, without such a right vested in themselves, exclusive of
all others, there can be no liberty, no happiness, no security." ' While they acknowledged
the right of parliament to regulate the trade of the colonies, they denied the right of im
posing duties for the purpose of revenue; asserting, that, "a freedom to drive all kinds of
traffic in subordination to, and not inconsistent with, the British trade, and an exemption
from all duties in such a course of commerce, is humbly claimed by the colonies, as the ¦
most essential of all the rights to which they arc entitled as colonists, and connected in
the common bond of liberty with the free sons of Great Britain." So bold was the Ian.
guage of this petition, that no member of the house of commons could be prevailed upon
to present it The committee appointed to transmit these papers to the colonial agent,
were empowered to correspond with the several assemblies, or their committees, upon the
sugar act the act restraining the paper money of the colony from being a legal tender,
the late acts of parliament relating to the trade of the northern colonics, and upon the im
pending dangers which threatened the colonies, of being taxed by laws to be passed in
Great Britain.
All the efforts of the American colonies to stay the mad career of the English ministry,
proved unavailing. The stamp act was passed, with slight opposition, by the commons,
and unanimity by the lords.* Dr. Franklin, who had been despatched to Europe, in
November, 1764, as the agent of Pennsylvania, laboured earnestly to avert a measure,
which his sagacity and perfect knowledge of the American people, taught him was preg
nant with danger to the British empire. But, even he does not appear to have enter
tained the idea, that it would be forcibly resisted.
The ministry, desirous to render the stamp act as little obnoxious as possible, resolved
to appoint the officers of distribution and collection, from among the discreet and repu
table inhabitants of the provinces. But, there were no means, by which to reconcile the
people to a law, every where regarded as the forerunner of political slavery. The stamp
officers, either voluntarily or compulsorily resigned their offices ; some were hung or
burned in effigy, in several of the provinces, and violent outrages were committed on the
person and property of the deputy-governor, and other officers, at Boston.
VI. The universal refusal of the colonists to submit to the stamp act, occasioned the
entire suspension of legal proceedings. In some of the provinces, however, business was
speedily resumed ; and in nearly all, the penalties of the act were braved before its repeal.
By law, the stamp duty was to commence on the first of November. On the previous
day, the newspapers, generally, were put in mourning for their approaching extinction ;
the editors having resolved to suspend their publication, until some plan should be devised
to protect them from the penalties for publishing without stamps. The term of suspen
sion, however, was short. *
To interest the people of England against tho measures of administration, associa
tions were formed in every part of the continent, for the encouragement of domestic ma
nufactures, and against the use of those imported from Great Britain. To increase their
quantity of wool, the colonists determined to kill no lambs, and to use all the means in
their power to multiply their flocks of sheep.
VII. While this resolute and systematic opposition was made by the thinking part of tho
community, there were some riotous' and disorderly proceedings, especially in the large
towns, which threatened serious consequences. Many houses were destroyed, much pro
perty injured, and several persons, highly respectable in character(and station, grossly
abused. These violences received no countenance from the leading members of society ;
but it was difficult to stimulate the mass of the people, to that vigorous and persevering
opposition, deemed essential to the preservation of American liberty, and yet to restrain
all those excesses, which disgrace, and often defeat, the wisest measures. In Connecticut
and New York, originated an association of persons, styling themselves the " Sons of
Liberty," which extended into other colonies ; who bound themselves, among other things,
to march to any part of the continent, at their own expense, to support the British con
stitution in America; by which, was understood, the prevention of any attempt to carry
the stamp act into operation. A corresponding committee of these Sons of Liberty was
* The stamp act was passed on the 22d of March, 1765. It was under the consideration
of parliament, in March, of the foregoing year, but was postponed, it was said, by the exer
tions of Mr. Allen, chief-justice of Pennsylvania, at that time on a visit to London.
9

66 HISTORY OF
established, who addressed letters to certain conspicuous characters, throughout the colo
nies, and contributed materially to increase the spirit, of opposition, and perhaps the tur
bulence, with which it was in some places attended.*
In New York.Peter De Lancey, James M'Evers, and other stamp officers, obeyed the
public voice, and renounced their commissions. Governor Colden having taken the oath
to execute the stamp act became the special subject of popular indignation. His effigy
was borne about the city, and hung. His carriage and other property, were burned;
and his person was probably protected from violence only by his advanced age. Anony.
mous letters threatened him with death, unless he resisted, to the utmost of his power,.
the execution of the act. On the same day, (2d November, 1765,) the mob proceeded to
the house of Major James; who was conspicuous in favour of the act, and burned, or
otherwise destroyed, the furniture and contents. When the stamps arrived they were
lodged in the fort, which the Governor, contrary to the advice of his council, put into.a
state for defence. But he was finally compelled to surrender their custody to the city
corporation, on the assurance of being responsible for their value, and to declare, that he
would take no measures to enforce the act, but leave the subject to his successor, Sir
Henry Moore, who was hourly expected. Stamps, which subsequently arrived, were also
delivered to the corporation; but a shipment often boxes were burned by the mob.
VIII. On receipt of intelligence of the passage of the stamp act, several of the colonial
legislatures, of which Virginia was the first, asserted the exclusive right of the assemblies
to lay taxes and impositions on the inhabitants of the colonies, respectively. But the
house of representatives of Massachusetts, contemplating a still mote solemn and effectual
expression of the general sentiment, and pursuing the suggestion of Rhode Island, recom
mended a congress of deputies from all the colonial assemblies, to meet at New York, on
the first Tuesday in October. Circular letters, signed by the speaker, communicating
this recommendation, were addressed, respectively, to the speakers of the assemblies in
the other provinces. Wherever the legislatures were in session, this communication was
immediately acted upon.
On the 18th October, 1764, the legislature of New York appointed John Cruger, Ro
bert R^ Livingston, Philip Livingston, William Bayard, and Leonard Lispenard, delegates
from the colony to the congress.
Delegates from the assemblies of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and South Carolina, assembled at New
York at the time appointed. New Hampshire, Georgia, Virginia, and North Carolina,
were, not represented; but the two former gave assurances of their disposition to unite
in petitions to the king and parliament. The assemblies of the two last, not having
been in session since the proposition for a congress had been made, had no opportunity
to act upon the subject.
This congress adopted a declaration of rights and grievances, upon which they founded
a petition to the king, and a memorial to parliament In these, they claimed the full pri
vileges of English subjects, averred the plenary legislative power of the colonial assem
blies, protested against taxation by parliament, and the dispensation of the trial by jury ;
and earnestly pressed upon the attention of the parent state, the burdens imposed by tbe
stamp and other acts, with the fitter impossibility of continuing the execution of the
former, in consequence of the drain of specie it would produce. A difference of opinion
prevailed upon the question, whether the petitions and memorials should be signed and
transmitted by the congress, or be sanctioned and forwarded by the provincial assemblies,
as their several acts. Messrs. Ruggles, of Massachusetts, the chairman of the convention,
and Ogden, of New Jersey, believing in the propriety of the latter mode, refused to sign
with the other delegates ; but their conduct was censured by their constituents.
The delegates from New York reported the proceedings of the congress to the legisla
ture, on the 20th November, by whom they were unanimously approved, and a committee
was appointed to draught a memorial to the constituted authorities of the parent state, in
strict conformity to that passed by the congress, and which was afterwards duly sanc
tioned by the house.
IX. Whilst these efforts were made on this side of the Atlantic, the colonial agents, the
friends of freedom and equal rights, and the merchants interested in the American trade,
were not idle in Great Britain. The refusal to import her manufactures touched her in
a vital part. The great diminution of orders for goods, compelled a powerful class of
traders to advocate liberal principles, who, under other circumstances, would have gladly
sustained any policy which might lessen their burden of taxation. Powerful as this com
bination certainly was, it had to contend against the most imperious passions, the pride
and avarice of the people. The lofty position assumed by the Americans was intolerable.
They had long been viewed as an inferior race. The arrogant philosophy of Europe
". Marshall's Life of Washington, vol. i.

NEW YORK. 67
placed them, and the animal productions of their country, low in the scale of perfectibility.
By the mass of the English vulgar, they were ranked with savages and negroes. The
colonies, the dependencies of Great Britain, on which she had, for years, poured forth the
scourings of her prisons, had denied her supremacy, and refused to submit to her parlia-
ment, hitherto deemed throughout her vast empire, politically omnipotent. With the sin
of a rebellious temper, they were also charged with ingratitude. Under the pressure of
accumulated debt and heavy taxation, the English people envied the display of wealth by
the provincialists in the late war, and forgot that its exhibition was made in the common
•Cause, with a generosity which had enforced from English justice, the return of more
than a million sterling. Thus supported, the ministry, which sought relief for the peo
ple by taxing American industry, would scarcely have been driven from their purpose.
But other causes transferred the government to other statesmen, whom consistency re
quired, at least, to reverse measures which they had denounced with unqualified repro
bation. Under the new ministers an inquiry was instituted into the effects of the colonial po
licy of their predecessors. The merchants and manufacturers gave ample testimony of
the paralysis in trade; whilst Dr. Franklin, as the representative of America, before a
committee of the whole house of commons, demonstrated the impossibility of levying the
new impositions, and the consequent necessity of their repeal. The majority of parlia
ment was, now, divided into two parties. The larger one affirmed the right to tax the
colonies, hut denied the expediency of its present exercise; the other, led by Mr. Pitt, re
pudiated this right, on the ground that all aids are gifts from the people, and can never
be legally obtained without their assent; and that this assent could not be had in parlia
ment, since the colonists were not there represented. "A repeal on these principles, how
ever just, according to the English constitution, would not have saved the pride of the
nation, and would have destroyed the hopes of future revenue at the will of parliament.
Hence, the repeal of the stamp act, which took place on the eighteenth of March, by a
vote of two hundred and seventy-five, to one hundred and sixty-seven, was accompanied
by a declaration of the right of parliament to tax America. It was followed by an act
indemnifying those who had incurred penalties on account of stamp duties. The tidings
of this event were received in America with joy more temperate than might have been
expected from the excitement of the public mind. The prudence displayed had been
earnestly recommended by a committee of merchants in London trading with "America,
and by others friendly to American interests.*
X. In tracing _the events relative to the stamp act, we have been carried away from those
immediately relating to New York. Sir Henry Moore, Bart, commissioned Governor-
in-chief, 19th July, 1765, met the council on the 13th November following. He proposed
at once to attempt the execution of the stamp act, but the unanimous advice of his coun
cil, with the demonstrations of public feeling, induced him to a more prudent course; and
he even forbore to notice, in his address to the assembly, the commotions which agitated
the colony. These, however, attained an alarming height. In December, a guard was
ordered for the preservation of the peace, and the protection of the stamps, in consequence
of the attack of the mob upon a ship, commanded by Capt. Haviland, and the destruction
of the stamped paper on board. The regular troops were increased, the king's stores
were shipped, for security, on board vessels in the riv«>, and a disposition was evinced to
maintain the royal authority by force. The people prepared- for the crisis with undaunt
ed spirit. The Sons of Liberty, in the city, concerted with those of Connecticut and Mas
sachusetts, an organised resistance in case of an attack by the military: and the inhabi
tants of Duchess county embodied for the deliverance of the rioters who had been impri
soned in the city. An impending contest with arms was averted only by the repeal of the
obnoxious act.
XI. Although the joy produced by the repeal was common to all the colonies, the same
temper did not prevail in all. In the commercial cities, tho restrictions on trade excited
scarce less disgust than the stamp act itself; and in the North, political parties betrayed
excessive bitterness. The first measures of Massachusetts and New York demonstrated
that the reconciliation with the colonies was not cordial.
With the circular of Secretary Conway, announcing the repeal of the stamp act, came
a resolution of parliament, declaring, that those who had suffered injury by assisting to
execute that act, ought to he compensated by the colonies, respectively, in which such in
jury was done. This, specially affected Massachusetts, where compliance with the reso
lution was tardy, reluctant, and ungracious. An act of pardon to the offenders, and of in
demnity to the sufferers, was, however, passed; but was rejected by the king, because the
colonial assembly had no power, under their charter, to pass an act of general pardon, but
at the instance of the crown.
* New York gratefully voted statues to his Majesty and Mr. Pitt

68 HISTORY OF
In New York, where General Gage was expected with a considerable body of troops,
the Governor required from the legislature, compliance with the act of parliament, called
the "'Mutiny Act," which directed the colony, in which any of his majesty's forces might
be stationed, to provide barracks for them, and certain necessaries in their quarters. The
legislature, reluctantly and partially, complied with tbe requisition; but at a subsequent
session, they determined, that the act of parliament could only be construed to require
necessaries for troops on a march, and not while permanently stationed in the country.
This admitted the obligation to obey the act Yet, its requisitions were, unquestionably,
a tax; and between the power of parliament to levy money by its own authority, and, com-«
pulsorily, through the colonial legislatures, no essential distinction can be drawn.
The contumacy of New York was learned with great indignation in parliament, and a
resolution to prohibit the legislature to pass any law, until the mutiny act had been, in
every respect complied with, was adopted by a large majority. A law to that effect
was subsequently enacted; but, before its passage, the colonial assembly, in December,
1666, made the requisite provision for tbe troops.
XII. The repeal of the stamp act, so grateful to the colonists, was not popular with the
nation at large. The supremacy of the parliament was maintained by the mass of the
people; the hope of revenue from America was too fascinating to be surrendered without
further exertionj^and the King beheld, with high indignation, the resistance to his
authority, and the political principles which his American subjects had displayed.
Moved oy these considerations, Mr. Charles Townsend, a man of splendid and versatile
talents, chancellor of the exchequer, in an administration formed by Lord Chatham,, in
vited the attention of parliament again, to the subject of American taxation. He boasted,
" that he knew how to draw a revenue from the colonies, without giving them offence;
and, animated by the challenge of Mr. Grenville, to make his vaunting true, proposed and
carried, almost unanimously, a bill imposing certain duties on tea, glass, paper and
painter's colours, imported into the colonies from Great Britain; the proceeds of which
were appropriated to the support of government in America, so far as should be necessary,
and the balance to the British treasury.*
This measure was founded in the erroneous belief, that the colonists objected rather to
the mode, than to the right, of taxation. But though there had been some inaccuracy in
expressing their views on the statutes regulating trade, there should have heen no misap
prehension of their determination to resist every attempt to tax them without their con
sent. The bill of Mr. Townsend had the unequivocal character of a revenue law, and as
such was avowedly enacted; nor were the provincialists slow to declare their sense of its
true character.
Though petition and remonstrance were again resorted to by the colonial legislatures,
the tone generally taken was not so high as in case of the stamp act; but the conviction
that the one was as great a violation of political liberty as the other, soon became uni
versal. In addition to remonstrances to the King, parliament and ministers, the colony
of Massachusetts again addressed a circular letter to the assemblies of the other pro-
.vinces, stating her own proceedings, and soliciting their co-operation to obtain redress.
In December, 1768, the assembly of New York not only adopted petitions to the
King, and the lords, and a representation to the commons, against the taxes, but resolved,
that, they had, and ought to exercise, the constitutional right of petitioning his majesty
for constitutional benefits and redress of grievances: — That the authority of the provincial
legislature could not be constitutionally suspended, abridged or annulled, by any power
whatever, the prerogative of the crown ordinarily exercised for prorogation or dissolution,
excepted: — That, the house had an undoubted right to correspond and consult with any
of the* neighbouring colonies, or with their fellow subjects out of the colony, on any
matter whatever, whereby they consider their liberties or rights affected: — And that a
committee should, during the recess of the house, correspond and consult with their agent,
or with any other of his majesty's subjects upon such matters. And an answer was
transmitted to the assemblies of Massachusetts and Virginia, approbatory of their proceed
ings. A like course was pursued by most of the other colonies.
The unanimity of the colonies, on this occasion, was justly ascribed to the judicious
and eloquent essays of Mr- John Dickinson, of Philadelphia, published as " Letters from
a Farmer in Pennsylvania, to the inhabitants of the British Colonies." They were re
published in every colony, and the people of Boston and other towns, voted their thanks
to the " patriotic, enlightened, and noble spirited author."
In the controversy upon the stamp act, the colonies found their most effectual weapon
in the non-importation agreements. Recourse was again had to them, but they were not
now observed with the former fidelity. The merchants of Newport and New York broke
the compact, and were severely censured by the patriots of Massachusetts, New Jersey
* 29th of June, 1767.

NEW YORK. 69
and Pennsylvania. They justified themselves by alleging the example of the merchants
of Boston, who they averred had not ceased to make large importations.
On the first intimation of the measures of Massachusetts, the Earl of Hillsborough,
secretary for the department of the colonies, addressed a letter to the several governors,
to be laid before their legislatures, condemning the circular of Massachusetts as of the
most factious and dangerous tendency; with instructions to dissolve such assemblies as
should countenance " such an unjustifiable attempt to revive those distractions which had
operated so fatally to the prejudice of the colonies and of the mother country." By this
command Sir Henry Moore was constrained to dissolve the legislature of New York,
though it had been elected, only, one year previously.
This circular of Massachusetts, together with the violent proceedings which were sub
sequently had in that colony, were the cause'of joint resolutions of both houses of Par
liament, condemning in the strongest terms, the measures pursued by the Americans.
An address, approving the conduct of'the crown, gave assurances of effectual support to
maintain the civil magistrates in a due execution of the laws within the province of
Massachusetts Bay; and besought his Majesty, to direct the governor of that colony to
transmit information of all treasons committed therein, since the year 1767, with the
names of the persons who had teen most active in promoting such offences, that prose
cutions might be instituted against them, within the realm, in pursuance of the statute of
the 36th of Henry VIII. , '
The impression made by these menaces, directed specially against Massachusetts, in
expectation that the other provinces would be, thereby, deterred from involving them
selves in her dangers, was very unfavourable to the views of the mother country. The
resolution to resist the exercise of the authority claimed by her, was not only unshaken,
but manifested itself in a still more determined form. The Assembly of Virginia as
serted, unanimously, the exclusive right of that assembly to impose taxes on their con
stituents, petition for redress of grievances, and to obtain the concurrence of the other
colonies. Alluding particularly to the joint address of the two houses of parliament to
the King, they resolved, that all persons charged with any offence, within that colony,
were entitled to a trial before the tribunals of the country, according to the. fixed and
known course of proceedings therein; and that to seize such persons, and transport them
beyond seas for trial, derogated, in a high degree, from the rights of British subjects; as,
thereby, the inestimable privilege of being tried by a jury, from the vicinage' as well as
the liberty of summoning and producing witnesses, in such trial, would be taken from
the party accused. The Assembly of New York on the 29th of November, 1769, con
curred in these resolutions, and ordered them to be entered upon their minutes.
XIII. Notwithstanding these strong measures of parliament, the English trading popula
tion, feeling, severely, the consequences of the non-importaf ion agreement, urged the abroga
tion of the new duties; and the ministry, affected by the commercial distress, were de
sirous to give relief, though resolute to maintain tho parliamentary right to tax the
colonies. With criminal weakness they adopted a middle course, remarkable for the ignorance
it displays of the state of the public mind, and the nature of the public character, in
America. The earnest remonstrances and energetic resistance of the colonies, had failed
to convince them, that the assertion of the right, and not the amount of duty levied, was
the true source of complaint. The ministers persisted in believing that a reduction of
the tax would restore tranquillity. Under this delusion, assurances were given, in 1769,
that five-sixths of the taxes imposed in 1767, should be repealed: and, in 1770, the whole
were abolished, save the duty on tea.
Adhering strictly to their principles, the colonists modified their non-importation
agreements, to operate on tea alone. By the revenue act, in its modified form, their rights
were exposed to violation, yet their preservation depended on themselves; since, whilst
no dutiable commodity was purchased, no duty was paid; and whilst this commodity
was, other wise, cheaply procured, no privation was sustained. Hence, a state of political quiet
ensued the repealing act of 1770. The ministry seemed disposed to avoid further aggres
sion, and the Americans, generally, ceased to remonstrate and complain; although they
continued to watch, with lynx"-eyed vigilance, every movement of the British government,
and to discuss, publicly and privately, the value of the union between the colonies and the
parent state.
XIV. The administration of Sir Henry Moore, which terminated by his death, on 11th
of SeptemBer, 1769, was prudent and dignified. His messages to the assembly are cha
racterised by moderation, good sense and brevity, and, in inforcing the odious requisi
tions of the parent state, he did not suffer zeal for the crown to carry him in^o indiscreet
controversies with the people. Yet he twice dissolved the assembly for resistance to
the parliamentary proceedings. During his term of service, efforts were unsuccessfully
made to settje the boundaries between this province and Massachusetts, by commissioners

70 HISTORY OF
from the two colonies; much injury, public and private having grown out of the controversy
relative to limits. New York claimed to the Connecticut, and Massachusetts to the
Pacific ocean. Emigrants from the latter province intruded into the counties along the
Hudson, and settled even in the manor of Rensselaerwyck. Force was frequently necessary
to remove them, and blood was more than once shed in the attempt. Commissioners
consisting of Messrs. Nicholls, Smith, and Robert R. Livingston, on the part of New
York, and Hutchinson, Brattle, and Sheaffe, on the part of Massachusetts, met at New
Haven on the 1st of October, 1767, for determining the boundary, and agreed that the
western line of Massachusetts should be fixed at twenty miles east from the Hudson
river, but differed as to the manner in which that line should be determined. By an
agreement dated 18th of May, 1773, the boundary line on the easterly part of the pro
vince, was settled to commence at the N. W. angle of the Oblong, and to run thence
north 21° 10' 30" to the north line of Massachusetts, by the commissioners of the two
provinces met at Hartford.
At the termination of Sir Henry Moore's administration, the supreme court consisted
of four judges. Daniel Horsemanden, chief justice, David Jones, second, William
Smith, third, and Robert R. Livingston, fourth, justice. The first received 3002., and
the others 2002. per annum. The salary of the Governor had been increased from time
to time, to 2,0002. per annum, with a perquisite of 4002. granted as an appropriation
for fire-woodfand candles, for Fort George. The attorney general toad 1502. and the colo
nial agent, Mr. Charles, at London, 5002. per annum.
The controversy, with the mother country, led the assembly into some very important
alterations in its own constitution. Hitherto, members were admitted to represent dis
tricts in which they did not reside, notwithstanding the prohibition of an early law of tke
province, and the holding offices under the crown was not a disqualification for a seat in
the house. But during the session of 1769, Mr. Philip Livingston, and Col. Lewis
Morris, were dismissed from the house, because they did not reside in the counties for
which they were elected; and the judges and others holding offices of honour or profit
under the erown, were interdicted a seat.
XV. By the death ofSir Henry Moore, the government again devolved on Mr. Colden.
This, his third administration, continued until the 18th of November, 1770, when he was
superseded by John, Lord Dunmore. With the service of this nobleman, commenced
the practice, subsequently denounced by most of the colonies as a serious grievance, of
paying the Governor in chief by the crown, and thus making him wholly independent of
the provincial assembly. Its announcement at this time, however, was received by the
assembly of New York, without emotion or comment. His lordship governed the colony
until his removal to Virginia, when his place was supplied by Governor Tryon, 8th of
July, 1771.
On the 15th of December, 1769, the assembly resolved to make the annual appropria
tion for supplying the King's troops, quartered in the province, with necessaries, devoting
2,0002. to this service. But the public mind was no longer disposed to submit to this
mode of illegal taxation. Upon the passage of the resolution, the house was closely
divided, there being twelve votes in the , affirmative, and eleven in the negative. On the
final passage of the bill, the vote was twelve to ten.* On the 18th of the month, the
speaker laid before the house a printed paper, delivered to him by the mayor of the city,
accompanied by the sheriff, directed " To the betrayed inhabitants of the City and
Colony of New York," and signed a " Son of Liberty." This paper, forcibly written,
charged the house under the influence of Lt. Governor Colden, and the De Lancey
family, combined for the nonce, with having betrayed their trust, by dividing from
the other colonies on the great questions for which all were contending; and by granting
money to the troops, acknowledging the authority which had enacted, and the obligation
of, the obnoxious revenue acts; and proposed an assemblage of the people to express their
sense of the conduct of the house, and in a body to wait upon their representatives, to
insist that they unite with the minority against the bill; and, in case of their refusal, to
appoint a committee to represent the whole matter to the several continental assemblies,
and to the friends of their cause in England.
On the succeeding day, on the motion of Mr. De Lancey, the house resolved, twenty
members in the affirmative, and Col. Schuyler alone in the negative, that " the paper was,
a.falsej(seditious, and infamous libel;" and further resolved, unanimously, that the proposal,
to come down in a body to the house, was an audacious attempt to destroy its freedom
and independence; that the author, his aiders and abettors, were guilty of a high misde
meanour; and that the Lt. Governor be requested to offer 1002. reward for their dis-
* Ayes: De Lancey, Van Kleeck, Jauncey, Seaman, Kissam, Walton, Boeram, Cant De
Lancey, Rapalje, Philips, Billop, and Nicholl. Nays: Van Courtland, Ten Eyck, De
Noyellis, Clinfon, Ten Broeck, Capt Seaman, Mynderse, Gale, De Witt, and Woodhull.

NEW YORK. • 71
covery. Similar resolutions were adopted in relation to another printed paper signed
" Legion," denouncing the " late base inglorious conduct of the assembly," and appoint
ing time and place for a public meeting. A few days after, this meeting, consisting of
1400 citizens, convened, and resolved almost unanimously to instruct their representatives
to oppose the bill.
At the subsequent session, (13th of December, 1770,) Mr. De Noycllis moved the at
tendance of Alexander McDougall, to answer the charge of having written or published
the paper signed " Son of Liberty." To the question whether he was not the author or
publisher, he replied, " That as the grand jury and assembly had declared the paper a
libel he could not answer; that, as he was under prosecution in the supreme court, he
conceived it would be an infraction of justice to punish twice for one offence; but that he
would not deny the authority of the house to punish for a breach of privilege when no
cognizance is taken of it in another court." His answer was declared a contempt; and he,
refusing to ask pardon, was committed to prison, where he remained until the close of
the session of the assembly, Feb. 16, 1771. In his confinement, he had the consolatory
visits of the patriots male and female. The indictment for libel was never tried.
The determination to provide for the royal troops was the more unacceptable to the
people by reason of the quarrels which had prevailed almost daily betweeh them. The
liberty poles, reared by the citizens, were cut down by the soldiery, and every occasion
for riot and disorder seems to have been -seized by the latter. In these tumults, Capt
Sears and Mr. McDougall, distinguished " sons of liberty" were active leaders.

CHAPTER VII.
I. General quiet disturbed by the shipment of Teas. — II. Proceeding thereon in America
generally — In New York. — HI. Measures of the Administration against the Colonies. —
IV, Effect in the Provinces — Second Congress convoked — Delegates chosen in New York,
and Committees of correspondence appointed. — V. Proceedings of tbe Congress. — VI.
Separate action of the Assembly of New York — Influence of Governor Tryon — Commit
tee of Observation in New York. — VII. Reception of the American proceedings in
England — Lord North's conciliatory proposition. — VIII. Second meeting of the second
Congress — Defensive measures of the people — Proceedings of Congress — Warlike mea
sures adopted — Commander in chief and other General officers appointed — Siege of
Boston — Invasion of Canada. — IX. Committee of Snperintendence — Provincial Congress
in New York elected — Plan of reconciliation proposed — Troops from Connecticut in
vited to protect the City — Committee of Safety — Supplies furnished to the enemy. — X.
Second Provincial Convention — Queens and Richmond Counties refuse to send Dele
gates — Measures to repress the Tory influence in New York — Governor Tryon
goes on shipboard — Destruction of Rivington's Press— General Lee with a mili
tary force takes possession of New York. — XI. Measures for the defence of New
York under General Washington. — XII. Congress recommends to the Colonies to form
independent governments — Progress towards independence — Declaration of Indepen
dence. — XIII. Third Provincial Congress — Recommends to the people, to give specially,
the power to form a new Government. — XIV. Fourth Provincial Congress — Approves the
Declaration of Independence — Defines and denounces Treason. — XV. Extensive military
preparations of Great Britain. — XVI. British Army arrives at Staten Island — American
state of defence — Attempt of British Commissioners at pacification. — XVI. Battle of
Long Island and its consequences — Second attempt of the Commissioners for pacifica
tion. — XVII. The American Army abandons York Island — Battle of White Plains — Loss
of Forts Washington and Lee — Retreat of the American Army into Pennsylvania.—
XVIII. — State constitution adopted, and State Government organised. — XIX. Territorial
division of the State.— -XX. Unsuccessful efforts to propitiate the Indians — Exposed state
of the Frontiers; — Influence of the Johnson family upon the Indians— Cruel proceedings
of the Tories and Indians in the interior of the State — Of the Tories on the Seaboard. —
XXI. Measures adopted by the State against the Tories.— XXII. Settlement of the
Boundaries of the State — Controversy with Vermont — XXIII. Boundary between New
York and New Jersey. — XXIV. Devotion of New York to the Confederation — Boundary
between New York and Pennsylvania on the West and South. — XXV. Adoption of the
Federal Constitution.
I. It being now our chief purpose to trace the events in the colony which tended to
its separation from the parent state, we shall notice such acts only of the other provinces,
as are indispensable to elucidate this subject
The general state of quiet, induced by the prudence of the European and American
parties in relation to the shipment of teas, was terminated by the impolicy of the British
ministry. The East India company had become embarrassed by lavish expenditure, the

72 HISTORY OF
peculations of their servants, and the diminution of business in consequence of the
American quarrel.
Applying to the government for assistance, they proposed, that the duty of three pence
per pound, payable on teas imported into the colonies,1 should be abolished, and that six
cents per pound should be imposed on the exportation. This favourable and honourable
mode of removing the occasion for dispute between the parent and her offspring was, we
cannot, now, say, unfortunately, rejected by the administration; who, as if by extraordi
nary stimulus to accelerate the coming contest, proposed and carried a bill authorising
the company to export their teas altogether free of duty. Lord North, says the English
historian, recommended this measure to parliament with a twofold view; to relieve the
India Company and to improve the revenue. The latter was to be accomplished by
tempting the Americans to purchase large quantities of teas at a low price. But the
company' would not venture to ship, until assured by the ministry, that in no event they
should suffer loss.
The export of tea to America, under these circumstances, was, in itself, sufficient to
arouse opposition. But the occasion was eagerly seized by those whose interests would
be promoted by popular resistance. Merchants in England, whose profits were endan
gered, and cis-atlantic smugglers, whose trade was threatened with extinction, laboured
with the patriot, to convince the people of the immutable determination of the parent
state to tax the colonies, and for that purpose, to compel the sale of the tea, in despite of
the solemn resolutions, and oft declared sense of the inhabitants. The cry of endangered
liberty was again heard from New Hampshire to Georgia. Town meetings were held
in the capitals of the different provinces, and combinations formed to obstruct the sale of
the fatal weed. The consignees of the company were, generally compelled to relinquish
.their appointments, and substitutes could not be procured.
II. A determined spirit of resistance was manifested in every quarter. The assembly
of New York, 20th of January, 1774, appointed John Cruger, their speaker, James De
Lancey, James Jauncey, Jacob Walton, Benjamin Seaman, Isaac Wilkins, Frederick
Philips, Daniel Kissam, Zebulon Seaman, John Rapalje, Simon Boerum, John De Noyellis,
and George Clinton, a standing committee of correspondence, to obtain the most early
and authentic intelligence of the proceedings of parliament, and of the administration
which might affect the liberties and privileges of his Majesty's subjects in America; to
maintain a correspondence with the sister colonies, respecting these important considera
tions; and to inform the speakers of the several continental assemblies of this resolution,
that it might be submitted to the several houses; and they gave their thanks to the bur
gesses of Virginia, for their early attention to the liberties of America.
On the approach of the tea ships destined for Philadelphia, the pilots in the Delaware
were warned not' to conduct them into harbour, and their captains, apprised of the
temper of the people, deeming it unsafe to land their cargoes, consented to return with
out making an entry at the custom house; the owners cheerfully submitting to the in
convenience of having their merchandise sent back to Great Britain. The tea sent to
Charleston was landed and stored, but not offered for sale; and being placed in damp
cellars, became rotten, and was entirely lost. *"The ships designated for Boston entered
that port, but before the tea could be landed, a number of colonists, disguised as Indians,
pursuant to a concerted plan, boarded the vessels, and without other damage, broke open
three hundred and forty-two chests, and emptied their contents into the sea. Such was
the union of sentiment among the people, and so systematic their opposition, that not a
single chest of the cargoes, sent out by the East India Company, was sold for their
benefit. In New York, popular vengeance was denounced against all who should contribute to
introduce the tea; the consignees pledged themselves not to act; and the resolution to pre
vent its landing was signed by all classes, as sons of liberty, and approved at a public
meeting of two thousand citizens, who rejected a proposition from the Governor publicly
to store the teas, until the council should advise their delivery, or until the order of the
King or the proprietors should be received in relation to them.
The ship Nancy, Capt. Lockyar, freighted with tea, arrived by. way of Antigua, at
Sandy Hook, 18th of April, 1774. The commander was suffered to enter the city to
equip himself for a return voyage; but his vessel was detained in the bay, guarded by a
sloop with a committee of citizens on board. On the 23d he was escorted to the wharf
by the citizens in mass, with the view of demonstrating their unanimity; and he sailed,
on the same day, for Europe. Before the arrival of Capt. Lockyar, intelligence had been
•received through several channels, that, Capt. Chambers, of the ship London, had taken
on board eighteen chests, fine teas, upon his private account The vessel reached New
York on the 22d of April, and was immediately seized by the citizens. The Captain
denied that he had any tea on board; but, surrendered it, when assured, that every package
would be strictly searched. The Mohawks were prepared to imitate the Boston feat; but

NEW YORK. 73
were anticipated by the impatient multitude, who emptied the packages into the river,
without damage to the ship or remaining cargo. Chambers, having escaped with some
difficulty from popular indignation, returned to London with Capt. Lockyar.
The conduct of the colonists, generally, in relation to the tea ships, and, especially, the
daring trespass at Boston, gave great umbrage to the King. In his message* to parlia
ment, he characterised the colonial proceedings as obstructing the commerce of Great
Britain, and subversive of her constitution. High and general indignation was excited
in that -body. His majesty's measures were almost unanimously approved, and pledges
were given to secure the due execution of the laws, and the dependence of tbe colonies.
To maintain that dependence, the whole nation seemed disposed to concur in the severest
measures of the ministry. All consideration for the just rights of the colonists, was lost
in the desire to punish their audacity: and, for the moment, the patriot forgot his princi
ples, and the merchant" his interest whilst fired with indignation at the bold resistance
to the will of the parent state.
Upon Massachusetts the vials of wrath were first poured. Before the magnitude of her
guilt, the offences of other colonies became insignificant. By one act of parliament the
port of Boston was closed, and the custom house "and its dependencies transferred to the
town of Salem, until compensation should be made to the East India Company, and until
the King in council, should be satisfied of the restoration of peace and good order in the
town of Boston.- By another, the charter of Massachusetts was subverted: By a third,
persons indicted for any capital offence, if an allegation were made on oath, that it had
been committed, in aid of the magistracy in suppression of riots, and that a fair trial
could not be had in the province, might be sent to any other colony, or to Great Britain,
for trial. A bill was also passed for quartering soldiers upon the inhabitants.
An act, passed simultaneously with the foregoing, making more effectual provision for
the government of the province of Quebec, excited as much irritation and more dread'
among the colonies, than the severe measures against Massachusetts. The latter might
be palliated as the result of exasperation, violent, but not causeless; while the former,
vesting the legislative power in a council dependent on the crown, and subjecting the
whole revenue to the King's disposal, bore strong indications of the resolution of the
ministry to take from the colonies, generally, the right of self-government Had sym
pathy failed to unite the other provinces to the fate of Massachusetts, regard to their
common safety, so openly threatened, would have rendered their union indissoluble.
IV. The inhabitants of Boston had foreseen the crisis, and they met it with undaunted
spirit. On,information of the passage of the Port act, the town resolved, " that if the
other colonies would unite with them to slop all importations from Great Britain and the
West Indies, until thatfict should be repealed, it would prove the salvation of North
America and her liberties; but should they continue their exports and imports, there was
reason to fear that fraud, power, and the most odious oppression, would triumph over
justice, right social happiness, and freedom." A copy of this resolution was transmitted
to the other colonies, the inhabitants of which expressed deep sympathy in the sufferings
of their brethren in Boston, endured in the common cause; and concurring in opinion
with them on the propriety of convening a provincial congress, delegates for that purpose
were generally chosen.
Throughout the continent, the first of June, tbe day on which the Boston Port act was
to take effect, on the resolution of the Assembly, of Virginia, was adopted as a day of
fasting, humiliation, and prayer, to implore the Divine interposition to avert the hea,y
calamity which threatened destruction to their civil rights, and the evils of civil war, and
to give one heart and one mind to the people, firmly to oppose every invasion of their
liberties. On receipt, at New York, of tidings of the Boston Port act, in May, a letter, signed by
Messrs. Sears and McDougal, was despatched, by express, to the committee of corres
pondence at Boston, assuring them of the public indignation against this measure, and
that a meeting would be immediately convoked to express the public sentiment, and to
make common cause with the sufferers. At "the large assembly, soon after convened, the
adherents of the administration, and many men of property attended, with the design of
controlling the proceedings and moderating the efforts of the zealous whigs. For this
purpose, they had prepared a list of the committee to whom they proposed to refer the
consideration of the port bill; but their object was defeated by Sears, who moved that no
lists should be presented, but that, the committee should be formed by nominations made
by the meeting at large. Thus, a committee, nearly equally divided, but having a ma
jority of the liberal party, was obtained. Like committees were raised in the adjacent
counties. That in the city, consisting of fifty persons, was the first body organised in the colony
* 7th of March, 1774.
10

74 HISTORY OF
in opposition to British measures, and it contributed, essentially, to give tone to the public
sentiment. The answer of this committee to a letter from a committee at Boston,
(23d of May,) contains the first proposition for convoking a general congress of the colo-
nies to consider the present state of affairs. On the 7th of June, the New York com
mittee requested the Boston committee to appoint the time and place for the assembling
of the congress; and on the 4th of July, resolved that delegates ought to be appointed to
represent the city, and recommended to the citizens to meet on the 19th of the month for
that purpose; at the same time nominating five gentlemen for their suffrage.
A diversity of opinion prevailed among the whigs, as to the measures which ought to
be pursued. A majority of the committee was disposed to refer every important matter
to the discretion of the congress; whilst a portion of their constituents was desirous of
immediate resistance and retaliation, by means of a non-importation agreement. The
meeting of the 19th was composed chiefly of the latter, and, though the candidates nomi-
nated by the committee were chosen,* a resolution proposed by it to refer the course of
action to the congress, and another deprecative of injury to the manufacturers, traders,
and merchants of Great Britain, were rejected. Mr. Jay and two others of the delega
tion, dissatisfied with this partial nomination, published a card declaring, that until the
sentiments of the town were ascertained with greater precision, they could not conceive
themselves or others duly chosen. A new election, by ballot, was therefore holden on
the 28th, at which the aldermen and common council presided, and all who paid taxes
were allowed to vote. The previous choice was unanimously confirmed; the nominees
having declared their opinion, that, a general non-importation agreement, proposed by
congress, and faithfully observed, would prove the most efficacious means to procure a
redress of grievances. Of the other counties, Suffolk, Orange and Kings, were the only
ones which chose representatives. Mr. Floyd represented Suffolk; Mr. Boerum, Kings;
and Messrs. Wisner and Haring, Orange. The towns of Kingston, New Windsor, Bed
ford, White Plains, Mamaroneck, Poughkeepsie, and the City of Albany, empowered the
New York delegation to act for them.t
V. The delegates from eleven provinces assembled at Philadelphia, on the 5th of Sep
tember; those from North Carolina did not appear until the fourteenth. Peyton Randolph,
of Virginia, was chosen president, and Charles Thompson secretary. As the congress
was composed of men who gave tone to the sentiments of the provinces, it was in course,
that the prominent acts of the. colonies should be supported with the ability and dignity
pertaining to their joint endeavours. Whilst expressing "their sympathy in the suffer
ings of their countrymen of Massachusetts, under the late unjust, cruel, and oppressive
acts of the British Parliament," they approved of the resolve of the county of Suffolk,.in
which Boston lies, " that no obedience was due from that province to such acts, but that
they should be rejected as the attempts of a wicked administration:" They resolved, that
contributions from all the colonies, for supplying the necessities and alleviating the dis
tresses of their brethren at Boston, ought to be continued in such manner, and so long,
as their occasions might require: They requested the merchants of the several colonies
to refuse new orders for goods from Great Britain, and to suspend the execution of such
as had been sent, until the sense of congress, on the means to be adopted for the pre
servation of the liberties of America, should be made public: And soon after, they adopted
resolutions prohibiting the importation, the purchase, or use, of goods from Great Britain,
or Ireland, or their dependencies, after the first day of the succeeding December; and
directing that all exports to Great Britain and the West Indies, should cease on the 10th
of September, 1775, unless American grievances should be sooner redressed. An asso
ciation, corresponding with these resolutions, was then framed, and signed by every
member present. " Never," says Mr. Marshall, " were laws more faithfully observed,
than were the resolves of congress at this period, and their association was, of conse
quence, universally adopted."
The better to enforce these resolutions, congress recommended the appointment of
committees in the several counties and towns, who, soon after their appointment under
* Messrs. Alsop, Duane, Jay, Isaac Low and Philip Livingston.
+ The following gentlemen composed the first committee of correspondence: John Alsop,
Wm. Bayard, Theo: Bache, P. V. B. Livingston, Isaac Sears, David Johnston, Charles
McEver, Charles Nicholls, Alexander McDougall, Thomas Randall, John Moore, Leonard
Lispenard, Jacobus Van Zandt, James Duane, Edward Laight, Thomas Pearsall, Elias
Desbrosses, William Walton, Richard Yates, John De Lancey, Miles Sherbrook, John
Thurman, John Broome, John Jay, Benjamin Booth, Joseph Hallet, Charles Shaw, Alex
ander Wallace, James Jauncey, G. H. Ludlow, Nicholas Hoffman, Abraham Walton,
Gerardus Duyckinck, P. Van Schaik, Henrv Remsen, Hamilton Young, George Bowne,
Peter T. Curtenius, Peter Goelet, Abraham Brasher, Abraham P. Lott, David Van Home,
G. W. Beekman, Abraham Duryec, Joseph Bull, William McAdam, Richard Sharpe,
Thomas Marston, Francis Lewis. Isaac Low, chairman.

NEW YORK. 75
the names of committees of superintendence and correspondence, assumed no inconsider
able portion of the executive power and duties in the several colonies, and become efficient
instruments in aiding the progress of the revolution.
Committees were appointed, to state the rights of the colonies infringed by parliament
since 1763; to prepare a petition to the King, and addresses to the people of Great- Britain,
to the inhabitants of Canada and of the colonies represented in the congress. The petition
to the King and the address to the inhabitants of Great Britain, were reported by Messrs.
Jay, Livingston, and Lee, and are generally attributed to the first.
VI. But no effort of the friends of the congressional proceedings could induce the
Assembly of New York to give them its sanction. A motion of Mr. Ten Broeck, 26th of
Jan. 1775, to consider them, was negatived; a proposition of Col. Schuyler to insert upon
their minutes, and to publish, the correspondence between the committees of New York
and Connecticut, and with Edmund Burke the provincial agent in Great Britain; another,
by Col. Woodhull, to give the thanks of the house to the provincial delegates in congress;
a third, by Col. P. Livingston, to thank the merchants and inhabitants of the colony for
their adherence to the non-importation agreement; a fourth by Mr. Thomas, for taking
the sense of the house on the necessity of appointing delegates to the congress of the
ensuing May; shared the same fate. Ufion these questions, Messrs. Jauncey, Philips,
Brush, Nicholl, Billopp, Gale, Coe, Wells7 Van Kleeck, Brinckerhoff, Kissam, Walton,
Wilkins, De Lancey, Ten Eyck, voted in the negative; and Messrs. Thomas, De Witt,
Van Courtlandt, Boerum, Schuyler, Woodhull, Seaman, Clinton, Ten Broeek and P.
Livingston, in the affirmative.
Yet the house unanimously resolved, on motion of Mr. Livingston, to 'appoint a day to
consider the state of the colony, and to prepare a humble, firm, dutiful and loyal petition,
to their most gracious sovereign; and at the instance of Mr. De Lancey, a memorial to
the lords, and a representation and remonstrance to the commons. These instruments,
framed by a committee from both parties, underwent much discussion, and were finally
adopted, 25th of March, 1775. They set forth, substantially! the grievances enumerated
in the address of congress, but in a tone of deference and supplication indicative of the
royal influence.
This separation from the other colonies was justly attributable to the prudence and
popularity of Governor Tryon, who had won the esteem of all classes. Many persons,
disposed to go the greatest lengths against the measures of parliament, declined a con
troversy with him; whilst he seems sedulously to have avoided, without neglect of his
duty, all discussions which might avert the affections of the people. In evidence of the
popular feeling towards him, we may remark, that, when the government house in Fort
George was burned, accidentally, on the night of the 29th of December, 1774, from which
he and his family escaped only with their lives, the assembly voted him 5,0002. to "repair
his losses; and that when about to embark for England to confer with ministers relative
to the angry controversy with Vermont, they addressed him in the most affectionate
terms; expressing their grateful sense of the uprightness and integrity of his conduct,
and a concern for his departure which nothing could alleviate but the hope of his speedy
return. Upon the same occasion, like addresses were presented from the officers of
several counties, and from every corporation; the city gave him a public entertainment;
and Columbia College, in which he had founded a professorship of municipal law, con
ferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws.
He left New York 7th of April, 1774, and returned June 30th, 1775, at the instance of
the ministry, who required his presence in the government. But he did not again meet
the assembly, that body having adjourned on the 3d of April, 1775, and was not after
wards convened. The mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city, congratulated him
and themselves on his return to the province. (3d of July, 1775.)
The separate action of the assembly of New York had the most important influence on
the fate of the country. So great, that it is quite possible, that without it the grievances
of America might have been redressed, and the declaration of independence never have
taken place. " Mr. Brook Watson, a principal merchant in England, declared to many
respectable gentlemen in the province, that the ministry, soon after the publication of the
congressional proceedings, were disposed to retract their measures. To this end applica
tion was made, under the auspices of Lord North, to the body of American merchants,
of whom Mr. Watson was one, desiring them to frame petitions for the redress of
American grievances, and the restoration of American rights, and promising compliance
with thern, as it was most agreeable to the ministry, to repeal the obnoxious acts,
seemingly in consequence of petitions at home. While this was in agitation, letters
were received from New York, assuring, that the assembly would reject the proceedings
of the congress, and that there would be a separation of this colony from the rest.
Fresh hopes were conceived from the prospect of a division, and the merchants were de
sired to alter the plan of their petition, and to frame it solely upon commercial principles.

76 HISTORY OF
The conduct of the assembly confirmed that information, and the ministry, encouraged by
the certain prospect, as they deemed it, of disunion, were induced to push matters to ex
tremity."* This circumstance renders the infatuation of the ministry still mdre extra
ordinary. t3ound policy would have encouraged this division, by treating the represen-
tions of the New York assembly with respect, and high consideration; yet the address
of the assembly to parliament was rejected, when offered by their agent Mr. Burke,
on the ground, that it contained claims incompatible with the supremacy of that
body. ¦
In consequenee of the recommendation of congress for the appointment of committees
of superintendence, in the several colonies, the New York committee of correspondence
convoked the citizens lo elect a committee of observation, and was thereupon dissolved.
The new committee, chosen on the 18th of November, 1774, consisted of sixty persons,
embracing most of the members of the preceding committee. It took measures for the
election of delegates to the new congress; convening a provincial convention in New
York, on the 20th of April, 1775, consisting of deputies from each county, for the sole
purpose of making the choice. Messrs. Alsop, Duane, Jay, Livingston, and Francis
Lewis, were appointed delegates from New York, Mr. Low declining to serve; Mr.
Boerum, from , Kings; Col. Floyd, from Suffolk; Col. Lewis Morris, from Westchester;
Col. P. Schuyler, from Albany; R. R. Livingston, from Dutchess; George Clinton, from
Ulster; and Henry Wisner from Orange, county.
VII. In England, the proceedings of the Americans were still viewed with great in
dignation by the King and his ministry. His majesty, in his opening speech,-!: .to a par
liament newly elected, declared, before intelligence had been received of the course of the
congress, " that a most daring spirit of resistance and disobedience to the laws unhappily
prevailed in the province of Massachusetts,_and had broken forth in fresh violences of a
very -criminal nature; and that these proceedings had been countenanced and encouraged
in his other colonies; that unwarrantable attempts had been made to obstruct the com
merce of his kingdom by unlawful combinations; and that he had taken such measures,
and given such orders, as he judged most proper and effectual for carrying into execution
the laws, which were passed in the last session of the late parliament, relative to the pro
vince of Massachusetts. An address, echoing the royal speech, was carried by large
majorities in both houses of parliament
The reception, in London, of the proceedings' of congress, appeared to have a mo
mentary beneficial effect upon their cause. The administration was staggered, and the
opposition triumphed in the fulfilment of their predictions, that the measures pursued by
the ministry would unite all the colonies in resistance. The petition of congress to the
King, declared by the secretary of state, after a day's perusal, to be decent and proper,
was received, graciously, by his majesty, who promised to lay it before his two houses of
parliament. But the ministry had resolved to compel the obedience of the Americans.
Hence every representation from America, coming through channels other than minis
terial partisans, was unwillingly received and denied all credit. The remonstrances
of the representatives of three millions of men, made under the most awful and affecting
circumstances, and the most sacred responsibilities, were treated, perhaps believed, as the
clamours of an unruly multitude.
In vain did the British merchants, by petition, portray the evils which must result
from /such determination, and predict the dangers to the commercial interests of the
kingdom; In vain did the planters of the sugar colonies, resident in Great Britain, re
present, that the profits on British property in the West India islands, amounting to many
millions, which ultimately centered in Great Britain, would be deranged and endangered
by the continuance of the American troubles: In vain did the venerable Earl of Chatham,
roused from a long retirement, by the danger of losing the colonies, which his own mea
sures had protected, and, seemingly, assured to tbe patent state, apply his comprehensive
mind and matchless eloquence to arrest the fatal course: In vain, from a prophetic view of
events, did he demonstrate the impossibility of subjugating the colonies; and urge the
immediate removal of the troops collected by Gen. Gage, at Boston, as a measure indis
pensably necessary to open the way for an adjustment of the differences with the pro
vinces: In vain, when undiscouraged by the rejection of the motion, did he propose a bill
for settling the troubles in America. The period of -American emancipation had ap
proached, and the power which might have delayed it, was providentially stultified.
Both houses of parliament joined in an address to the King, declaring " that they find a
rebellion actually exists in the province of Massachusetts." This was followed by an act
for restraining the trade and commerce of the New England provinces, and prohibiting
them from carrying on the fisheries on the banks of Newfoundland, which was subse-
quently extended to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, and
* American Remembrancer, vol. ii. p. 227. t October 30th, 1774.

NEW YORK. 77
the counties on the Delaware. But the loyalty of the governments ]of New York and
North Carolina protected those colonies from its operation.
Pending the consideration of this bill, Lord North introduced what he termed a concilia
tory proposition; providing that when any colony should propose, according to its circum
stances, to contribute its proportion to the common defence, (to be raised under the au
thority of the general assembly, and disposable by parliament,) and should engage to
make provision also, for the support of the Civil government and the administration of
justice, it would be proper, if such proposal were approved by his Majesty and
parliament, and for so long as such provisions should be made, to forbear to levy any duty
or tax, except such duties as were expedient for the regulation of commerce; the net
produce of which should be carried to the account of such colony. This proposition was
opposed by the friends of the minister, as on admission of the American views of taxation
by parliament and a concession to armed rebels; until it was explained, that the resolution
was designed to enforce the essential part of taxation, by compelling the Americans to
raise, not only what they, but what parliament, should think reasonable. The minister
declared, " that he did not expect the proposition would be acceptable to the Americans;
jut, that if it had no beneficial effect in the colonies, it would unite the people of England
jy holding out to them a distinct object of revenue; that, as it tended to unite England,
it would produce disunion in America; for, if one colony accepted it, the confederacy,
which made them -formidable, would be broken."
• This avowal of the character and tendency of the resolution was not requisite to en
lighten the colonists. On its transmission to the provinces, it was unanimously rejected.
VIII. Congress had fixed on the month of May, for their next meeting, that the dispo
sition of the parent state might be known previously to their deliberations. They enter
tained hopes, that their re-assembling might be unnecessary. But these flattering delu
sions now gave place to the stern and gloo'my truth, that their rights must be defended by
the sword, their quarrel be determined by the god of battles. For this appeal, the colonies,
generally prepared, as soon as the proceedings of parliament and the resolution of the
ministry to send out additional troops were known. Means were every where taken to
organise and instruct the militia, and to procure arms and munitions of war.
Before congress again met* hostilities between the colonists and the British troops in
America, had commenced. The battle of Lexington was fought,t and Ticonderoga and
Crown Point were capturedjt and soon after, the ever memorable engagement at Breed's
Hill,(j gave confidence to the colonists; and the British army, under Gen. Gage, was be
sieged in Boston. Instead of contending against orations of ministers, votes and acts of
parliament, by petition and remonstrance, addresses and resolutions, congress was now to
be employed, in developing the resources and directing the energies of the colonies, to
resist the military power of Great Britain.
Peyton Randolph was again chosen president, but being in a few days called to his
duties, as speaker of the house of burgesses,,of Virginia, Mr. John Hancock, of Boston,
was unanimously elected his successor. Mr. Charles Thompson was re-appointed secre
tary. The leading patriots had long foreseen, that, the controversy must be decided by
arms; yet they were anxious, that the odium of the war should fall on their oppressors.
Care was, therefore, taken, to show that the royal troops had been the aggressors at
Lexington; and the inhabitants of New York were advised to act, defensively, on the
arrival of British troops there; to permit the forces to remain in barracks, but to suffer no
fortifications to be erected, nor the communication between tbe town and country to be
impeded. To this cause, we must also assign the resolution of congress ascribing the
capture of Ticonderoga, to the imperious necessity of resisting a cruel invasion from
Canada, planned and commenced by the ministry.'
Congress promptly proceeded to further measures of offence and defence. They pro
hibited exports to such parts of British America, as had not joined the confederacy; for
bade the supply of provisions, or other necessaries, to the English fisheries on the coast, to
the army and navy in Massachusetts, and to vessels employed in transporting British
tropps and munitions of war; and interdicted the negotiation of bills of exchange, drawn
by British officers, agents or contractors, and the advance of money to them, on any
terms whatever. To secure the colonies against the forcible execution of the late ob
noxious acts of parliament, they resolved, to put them immediately in a state of defence;
recommending to them, severally, to provide the munitions of war; to prepare the militia;
so classing them, that a fourth of their number might be drawn into action, at a minute's
¦ warning; and to form a corps for continual service; authorising each colony, apprehensive
of attack, to levy one thousand regulars at the expense of the confederacy. They or
ganised the higher departments of the army, framed regulations for its government, and
issued three millions of dollars, in bills of credit, for its maintenance. They prepared an
* 10th May, 1775. fl9th April? * 9th May. % June 17th, 1775.

78 HISTORY OF
address to the army and the people, reviewing the conduct of Great Britain, exposing the
enormity of her pretensions, exhibiting the dreadful alternative she had created, ot un
conditional submission, or resistance by arms, and asserting the justice of their cause, the
competency of the means to maintain it, and their fixed determination to employ, at every
hazard, the utmost energy of the powers granted them by their Creator, for the preserva
tion of their liberties. This spirit-stirring manifesto closed with the following solemn
protestation: " In our native land, in defence of the freedom which is our birth-right, and
which we ever enjoyed, until the late violation of it, for the protection of our property,
acquired solely by the honest industry of our forefathers, and ourselves, against violence
actually offered, we have taken up arms; we shall lay them down when hostilities shall
cease on the part of the aggressors, and all danger of their being removed, and not before."
Under other circumstances, the selection of a commander-in-chief, amid opposing pre
tensions, would have been exceedingly difficult. The individual best fitted for this im
portant trust was now a delegate in congress, and had embarked a high character and
splendid fortune, with his life, in the contest. Of mature age, and advantageously known
to all British America, by his military talents, sound judgment, firm temper, spotless in
tegrity, and dignified person and demeanour, there could not exist a single personal ob
jection to his nomination. The middle and southern districts possessed no man having
superior claims to public confidence; and if the northern had a preference for an in
dividual of their own section, policy and gratitude required its sacrifice. The delegates
of Massachusetts, therefore, nominated ,Col. George Washington, of Virginia, who was
unanimously appointed commander in chief of the united colonies.* His commission,
revocable by congress, invested him with " full power and authority to act as he should
think for the good and welfare of the service;" subject to the rules of war and the orders
of congress. By a resolution, simultaneous with his appointment; congress declared,
" that for the maintenance and preservation of American liberty, they would adhere to
him with their lives and fortunes." The reply of Mr. Washington, to the annunciation
of his appointment, by the president of congress, was marked by that modesty, disinterest
edness, and devotion to duty, which eminently distinguished him. As no pecuniary mo
tive had excited him to assume the dangerous honour, he declined all compensation for
services that were inestimable; declaring that he would accept only the reimbursement
of his expenses.
Soon after the nomination of the commander in chief, congress created and filled the
offices of subordinate generals. Artemas Ward, Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler, and
Israel Putman, were appointed major-generals, ranking in the order we have named
them; Horatio Gates, adjutant-general; and Seth PomerOy, Richard Montgomery, David
Wooster, William Heath, Joseph Spencer, John Thomas, John Sullivan, and Nathaniel
Greene, brigadiers.
Although determined to resist to the uttermost the tyranny of the parent state, the
colonies had given no public indication of their desire to become independent of her
government. Many provincialists, certainly, looked to political independence as the
possible result of the contest; some, perhaps, wished and sought it, but none avowed such
wishes. The American people were proud of their derivation, and exulted in their con
nection with Great Britain. Some of their most distinguished patriots could under no
circumstances, resolve to break the bonds which bound them to her. It was charac
teristic, therefore, that, amid warlike preparations, renewed attempts should be made to
propitiate the British government and people. Another petition to the King was, how
ever, opposed by several members of tbe congress, from a conviction that it would prove
nugatory. But the influence of Mr. Dickenson, by whom it was proposed and written,
procured its adoption.
This address, replete with professions of duty and attachment, declared, that " the pro
vincialists not only most fervently desired the former harmony between Great Britain
and the colonies to be restored, but that a concord might be established between them
upon so firm a basis, as to perpetuate its blessings, uninterrupted by any future dissen-
tions, to succeeding generations in both countries. They, therefore, besought his Majesty
to direct some mode by which the united applications of his faithful colonists to the
throne, ill pursuance of their common counsels, might be improved to a happy and per
manent reconciliation. These sincere professions of three millions of his subjects, were
contemptuously treated by the King. The petition was presented through the secretary
for American affairs, on the first of September, by Messrs. Richard Penn and Henry Lee;
and on the fourth, Lord Dartmouth informed them, that " to it no answer would be
given." And in a speech from the throne, the colonists were accused of designing " to
amuse, by-Tague expressions of attachment to the parent state, and the strongest protesta
tions of loyalty to their King, while they were preparing for a general revolt; and their
* June 15th, 1775.

NEW YORK. 79
rebellious war was manifestly carried on for the purpose of establishing an independent
empire." Contumely so unwise and undeserved, served but to confirm the scrupulous in
America, in the course of resistance — removing the faintest hope of redress by the humble
and pacific means of petition and remonstrance.
Whilst resorting to arms, respect for the opinions of., their fellow subjects induced
congress to make an exposition of their motives in addresses to the inhabitants of Great
Britain, to the people of Ireland, and to the Assembly of Jamaica. They also published
a declaration to the world, setting forth the necessity of assuming arms, and recapitulating
the injnries they had sustained. " We are," they said, " reduced to the alternative of
choosing an unconditional submission to the tyranny of irritated ministers, or resistance
by force. The latter is our choice. We have counted the cost of this contest, and find
nothing so dreadful as voluntary slavery."
General Washington, immediately after his appointment to the chief command, repaired
to the army before Boston. With incredible difficulty he was enabled to maintain a show
of force, which confined the British troops to that town from the month of June, 1775,
until the month of March following, when the Americans, having seized and fortified
Dorchester Heights, which overlooked and commanded the place, General Howe, who
had succeeded General Gage,* abandoned it, and sailed with his command for Halifax.
The capture of Ticonderoga had opened the gates of Canada. At the instance of Col.
Arnold, congress resolved to invade that province; and from the unprepared state of its
defence, and the friendly disposition of its inhabitants, well founded hopes were enter
tained of success. This step, which changed the character of the war from defensive to
offensive, was justified by the obvious propriety of depriving the enemy, for such the
parent state was now considered, of the means of assailing the colonies from that quarter.
The command of this enterprise was given to Generals Schuyler and Montgomery. The
former, however, soon retired, in consequence of ill health. The latter, with a force of
one thousand men, proceeded to Montreal in despite of the opposing efforts of General
Carlton; and, thence led his gallant little army to Quebec.
During the progress of General Montgomery, Colonel Arnold, with boldness and per
severance rarely surpassed, conducted a detachment to the St Lawrence, by an unex
plored course along the Kennebcck and Chaudiere rivers, through a trackless desert of
three hundred miles.
The united American forces laid siege to Quebec, but the paucity of their number
forbade any just expectation of reducing the place, unless by a coup de main. The es
calade of the town was made with a force of less than eight hundred men.t The princi
pal attacks were conducted by Montgomery and Arnold, in person. The former ad
vancing against the lower town, had passed the first barrier, and was preparing to storm
the second, when he was killed by the discharge of a cannon fired by the last of its re
treating defenders. His death so dispirited the assailants, that Colonel Campbell, on
whom the command devolved, thought proper to draw them off. Arnold, at the head of
about three hundred and fifty men, with irresistible impetuosity, carried a two gun battery;
but in the conflict receiving a wound from a musket ball, which shattered his leg, he was
compelled to quit the field. His party continued the assault, and mastered a second
barrier. But after a contest for three hours with the greater part of the garrison, finding
themselves hemmed in, without hopes of success, relief, or retreat, they yielded themselves
prisoners. This issue, so unfortunate for the colonists, relieved the town from all appre
hensions for its safety; the invaders being so much weakened as to be scarce competent
to their own defence. Arnold encamped at three miles distance from Quebec, and main
tained his position amid many difficulties and great privations, until the spring, when though
joined by reinforcements, he was compelled to make a precipitate and disastrous retreat.
On the 1st of July, 1776, the whole army, driven from Canada, reached Crown Point.
The fall of Montgomery was deplored by friends and foes. He was an Irishman by
birth, and though scarce thirty-eight years of age, a veteran soldier. He had shared in
the labours and triumph of Wolfe, and was distinguished for talent and military genius.
The highest honours of his profession awaited him in the British service. These he
abandoned for the enjoyment of domestic happiness in the country of his adoption. But,
devoted to freedom, he engaged enthusiastically in defence of the American cause. In
parliament, his worth was acknowledged, and his fate lamented. By congress he was
mourned as a martyr to liberty, and by their direction a marble monument, of beautiful
simplicity, has been erected to his memory, in front of St. Paul's church, New' York.
IX. The news of the battle of Lexington threw the city of New York into violent agita
tion, which prevailed for some days, until a new committee of superintendence, consisting
of one hundred of the most respectable citizens, was formed at the instance of the " com
mittee of observation," who deemed themselves unauthorised to act in this unforseen
* October 10th. t December 31st, 1775.

80 HISTORY OF
exigency. That committee resolved, that a provincial congress ought to be speedily as-
sembled, to assume the government of the colony, to prepare for defence against hostile
invasion and provide for the exigences of the time; and it addressed circulars to the com-
mittees in the several counties, recommending the election of delegates. It submitted, at
the same time, the form of an association, to be signed by the inhabitants, in which, after
declaring themselves "persuaded, that the salvation of the rights and liberties of America
de pended, under God, on the firm union of its inhabitants in a vigorous prosecution, of the
measures necessary for its safety, and convinced of the necessity of preventing the anarchy
and confusion, which attend a dissolution of the powers of government" they resolved
*' in the most solemn manner never to become slaves, and to associate, under all the ties of
religion, honour and love to their country, to adopt-and endeavour to carry into execution
whatever measures may be recominended by the continental eongress, or resolved upon
by the provincial convention for the purpose of preserving their constitution, and opposing
the several arbitrary and oppressive acts of the British parliament, until a reconciliation,
between Great Britain and America, on constitutional principlespwhich is most ardently
desired, can be obtained." This association was signed by the whigs with great cordiality,
and by the tories under fear of, or by actual, constraint And the inhabitants, generally,
began to arm under the direction of the committees. Six hundred stands of arms were
seized by them in the city arsenals and distributed; and soon after, by the spirited efforts
of Mr, afterwards, Col. Marinus Willet, another parcel was taken from the soldiery when
actually on the way to the harbour to be exported to Boston.
The general committee communicated to Lt Gov. Colden, May 11th, the intention of
the citizens to arm, defending it by an abstract of their grievances, and soliciting him to
request Gen. Gage not to send troops to the city. In a temperate reply, Mr. Colden re
commended to the committee the consideration of Lord North's conciliatory proposition,
and promised to prefer their request to the General.*
The committee also stopped all supplies of provisions to Boston, Newfoundland and all
the fishing coasts, after tbe example of Philadelphia, and addressed an eloquent appeal to
the Lord Mayor, aldermen and common council, of the City of London, for sympathy and
justice. They applied to "the continental Congress for instructions how to conduct them
selves with regard to the troops expected in the city, and were advised, should they arrive,
to act on the defensive, to suffer the troops to remain in the barracks, but not to permit
them to raise fortifications, or cut off the communication between the town and country;
to remove the warlike stores, to provide places of retreat for the women and children; and
to embody a force sufficient to protect the inhabitants from insult and injury.
Eighty -one members were returned to the provincial congress, of whom about seventy
convened at New York, on the 22d of May, 1775. Peter V. B. Livingston was chosen
president Vokert P. Douw, vice president, and John McKisson and Robert Benson,
, secretaries.t Mr. Livingston was succeeded in the office of president by Gen. Nathaniel
Woodhull, on the 28th of August The proceedings of the convention were determined
by counties: New York having four; Albany three; and each of the others, two votes.
The congress, however, was deeply imbued with the tory leaven, as became obvioUs by
the fate of a motion to approve the measures of the late continental congress, which after
debate was postponed for future consideration. Still, the members, by a unanimous vote,
concurred in the " associatiou," and recommended it to their constituents, but deprecated
coercive" means to enforce it: measures were considered for raising funds, and the finan-
* This was one of the last political acts of Mr. Colden, who was soon after relieved from
the cares of public business by the arrival of Governor Tryon from Europe. He retired
to a farm on Long Island, where he died, September 28th, 1776, in the 89th year of his age.
Dr. Colden was the son of the Rev. Alexander Colden of Dunse, Scotland; he graduated at
Edinburgh in 1705; and attracted by the fame of the colony of Pennsylvania, came to
America in 1708; returned to England in 1715; married a lady by the name of Christie, and
came to America again in 1716. At the instance of Governor Hunter, he settled in New
York, in 1718, was soon after appointed the first surveyor general of the province, and ia
1720 was raised by Governor Burnet to the council. Upon the triumph of De Lancey, in
1755, he retired to a wild unimproved tract, now in Orange county, which still bears the
name of Coldenham, given in his patent.
Dr. Colden has been hardly dealt with by the historian Smith. His virtues and talents,
if not concealed, are certainly not brought out in relief; whilst his political errors, are
magnified and distorted. He was a man of science and devoted to literature — was the cor
respondent of Halley, Linneus, Gronovius, Franklin and other distinguished men of his
age; was conspicuous for his knowledge of medicine, botany and natural philosophy; and
Dr. Franklin acknowledges his obligation to him for the suggestion to form the American
Philosophical Society. He published several esteemed articles on medical and philosophi
cal subjects; but the History of the Five Nations, is the best known of his literary works.
f See Appendix I, for names of members.

NEW YORK.

81

ciol powers of Mr. G. Morris, were advantageously displayed, in a report, recommending
the issue of paper money by the continental congrgss, each colony being liable for its
rateable proportion, but the congress guaranteeing the whole: Two regiments were
authorised to be levied; the first to be commanded by Alexander McDougal, and Majors
Edward Fleming, and Rodolphus Ritzema; of the second, Mr. John Jay was named
Colonel. Bounties were offered for the manufacture of oowder and muskets in the pro
vince; fortifications were projected at King's Bridge -and the Highlands; and Philip Schuyler
and Richard Montgomery were recommended, the first as Major General, the second as
Brigadier, to be appointed by the continental congress.
But the subject deemed most important by the .provincial congress, was the formation
of a "plan of reconciliation with the parent state. A committee, of which G. Morris was
chairman, made a report, which, after much discussion, and some amendment, was
adopted, on the 24th of June; proposing the repeal of the offensive acts of parliament; ad
mitting the right of Great Britain to regulate the trade of the empire; claiming for the
colonies, individually, the powers of taxation; recommending triennial assemblies in all
the provinces; declaring their willingness to raise funds for the support of government,
and, on proper requisition, for general defence; and, if necessary by means of a conti
nental congress, having a president appointed by the crown, to apportion the general aids,
with the advice of the British parliament. But declaring, also, that the colonies, re
spectively, were entitled to the free and 'exclusive power of legislation, in all cases of in
ternal polity whatever, subject only to the negative of their sovereign in the accustomed
mode. The report, however, amounted only to an expression of opinion, and as such
was transmitted to the delegates of the province in the continental congress, with an
earnest request, that, they should labour to set on foot some treaty for the restoration of
peace and harmony to the country.
Whilst engaged in debating this scheme of accommodation, congress was apprised of
the journey of General Washington towards Boston, and appointed a committee, who
with the militia should escort him to the city. On the day succeeding his arrival, 20th
of June, the General met the congress to exchange addresses of congratulation and
civility. In that of the congress he received an intimation, " that when the contest should
be decided by an accommodation, with the mother country, he should resign the important
deposit committed to his hands."
We may advert here to a resolution, on the 25th of May, by the provincial congress,
which contrasts strongly with the measures soon after adopted by tbe continental congress;
the resolution earnestly recommended to all persons not to commit hostilities against the
people of Canada, and denounced, " every such step" as infamous.
About the middle of June, apprehensions prevailed, that a regiment from Ireland was
to be immediately landed in New York, which induced the provincial congress to apply
to General Wooster, commanding the Connecticut forces at Greenwich, to march into the
province for its protection. The General established himself at Harlaem with his army,
for several weeks, whence he despatched a force to the eastern part of Long Island to
secure the inhabitants against the excursions of the enemy, who came there to obtain
provisions for the troops at Boston. About this time, also, a system, by the aid of Mr.
Morris, was established, for regulating the commerce of New York, and a rigid inspection
of the entrance and clearance of vessels was enforced. At the close of August, the con
gress resolved to remove the cannon from the battery; and twenty-one pieces were
secured, on the night of the 23d, by the provincial artillery under Capt. Lamb, despite
the efforts of the Asia, man of war, and her barge, which fired upon the militia, repeat
edly, with no other damage, however, than wounding three men, and slightly injuring
some houses. The town was greatly alarmed, and many of the inhabitants left it.
Upon the adjournment of the congress, in September, for a month, they delegated their
powers to a committee of safety; and this expedient was adopted upon every subsequent
adjournment. Ordinarily, this committee was composed of three members from the city,
and one from each of the other counties; and every member of congress was admitted to
their sessions; due care being had, to preserve the proportional vote assigned to each
county. When on the reassembling of congress, and at other times, a quorum was not
present, the members resolved themselves into a committee of safety, and thus the public
business was never interrupted. The committee was empowered, to execute the resolves
"of the provincial and general congresses, to -superintend the military affairs of the pro
vince, to fulfil the requisitions of the generals of the continental army, to appropriate
money for the public service, and to convene the congress' when and where they deemed
necessary. An order of the committee, of September, authorising the seizure of arms, in
possession of all persons who had not signed the association, gave such offence, that it
was soon after condemned, and rescinded by the congress.
But this act of the congress may have been the result of timidity, and irresolution. If
that body were free of tory taint, it contained many whigs who observed the impending
11

82 HISTORY OF
contest with far more dread than hope; and their conduct was viewed with reprehension
and distrust by the more zealous friends of the cause. Whilst in every other portion of
the country it was an offence, second only to treason, to supply the enemy with provi-
sions, the King's ships, in the port of New York, were furnished with all they required,
not only with the knowledge, but under the regulation of the provincial congress. The
only extenuation of this inconsistency, is found in the exposure of the city to the firs from
the ships, and the fear of the citizens that their town might be battered about their ears.
X. On the 18th of October, this congress declared its purpose of dissolving jtself on the
14th of the ensuing month, and recommended the election of another, to be composed of
twenty-one members from New York; twelve from Albany; nine from Dutchess; nine from
Westchester; eight from Ulster; four from Kings; four from Tryon; three from Cumber
land; two from Gloucester; and two from Charlotte; to be elected by landholders in fee or
on lease, whose land was valued at 802. But on the day appointed for the meeting of
this second provincial congress, a quorum did not, appear; and in some of the districts no
election had been holden. The members assembled made an earnest appeal to the people,
setting forth the evil consequences which must ensue the want of a regulating power in
the province, and the appearance of a disposition to depart from the continental union.
The appeal was answered, by completing the elections, so far as to constitute the congress
on the 6th of December.
But Queens and Richmond counties refused to send delegates. At meetings convened,
specially, to consider the subject, the inhabitants by a formal vote at the polls determined
against it; alleging, that they had been disappointed in the hopes they entertained of the
former congress, and that a reconciliation would have been effected. But, in truth, they
were opposed to the progressing revolution, had taken side with the King, and had been
supplied with arms and ammunition, from the ships in the harbour, by direction of
Governor Tryon. The congress passed a harmless vote of censure upon their conduct,
declared them out of its protection, authorised the delinquents to be denounced by name,
an3 directed all commercial intercourse between them and the other inhabitants to be
discontinued. This was as much as they deemed a " prudent regard" to the circum-
stances of the city would permit.
Apprehensions had been, for some time, generally, entertained, in the adjacent colonies,
of the steadiness of New York in the colonial interests, as the great influence of Governor
Tryon became apparent, and the opinions of many men of wealth and consideration were
developed. Such was the effect of these causes, aided by the presence of the royal ships,
and the newspaper press of Mr. Rivington, that disaffection to the American interest
openly showed itself, and the determination to join the royal standard was proclaimed
with impunity. The fears of the patriots were still further excited, by intelligence from
England, that, the government designed to secure the Hudson, and to occupy New York
and Albany. If was proposed, therefore, in the continental congress, to seize the person
of Governor Tryon, and to remove him from a position in which he was so powerful, and
so dreaded. But even in that body, he had efficient friends, who, for a time, averted the
resolution, which finally assumed the form of recommendation to the provincial authorities
to secure all persons whose going at large might endanger the public safety.
The Governor, apprised of this purpose, applied to Whitehead Hicks, the mayor of the
city, for a formal pledge of assurance of his safety from arrest, under any circumstance.
The mayor expressed entire satisfaction with his government; and the city committee,
Henry Remsen, chairman, denied having received any recommendation from congress
in relation to him; and, subsequently, assured him of all protection, from them and their
fellow citizens, consistent with the great principle of their own safety and preservation;
and of their utmost confidence in his disposition to serve the true interests of the province,.
by his endeavours, through wise and prudent mediation, to restore harmony between
Great' Britain and the colonies.
In the qualification of this assurance, the Governor discovered impending danger; and
prudently retired on board the Halifax sloop of war, on the 19th of October, (1775,)
where for some time he received the council, and exercised his powers with little inter
ruption.* Early in December, he informed the corporation, that he had permission to
retire from his government, which he was induced to use, as he had no hopes of restoring
harmony; and expressed his regret, that Lord North's proposition had not been better receiv
ed, and his conviction, that, it might still be happily improvedr The provincial convention
replied to the communication, declaring their wish, that the ordinary assembly should
convene and exercise its usual functions, and protesting, that, the duties of the conven
tion and general committee, were to obtain redress of grievances: but they deprecated all
separate action on Lord North's proposition. On the 6th of February, 1776, anew as
sembly was elected, but, it never met; being prorogued by the Governor.
* Members of council in attendance: De Lancey, Wallace, Axtell, Cruger, Jauncey,
Smith.

NEW YORK. 83
So pernicious was the press of Rivington deemed, by the zealous whigs, that Captain
Sears, who had associated himself with the ardent spirits of Connecticut, on the 23d of
November, at the head of a company of light horse, seventy-five,in number, proceeded to
Rivington's house, in the city, broke his presses, and carried off his types, which they
afterwards cast into bullets; much less effective instruments of good or of evil. In their
retreat, these violators of the public peace committed further outrage, by seizing on the
persons of a clergyman, and justice of the peace, of Westchester county, whom they sus
pected of toryism. The provincial congress of New York, remonstrated with Governor
Trumbull of Connecticut on this invasion, and requested the return of the types; pro
testing, however, that they meant not to justify him from whom they were taken, but
earnestly wished that the glory of the present contest might not be sullied by restraint
on the freedom of the press. Governor Trumbull replied, that if the injury were deemed
a private one, the proper resort was the courts of law; if a public one, it was to be
ascribed to a respectable member of their city and congress, who was amenable to their
jurisdiction alone, and that, therefore, the affair must be considered as a disorder happen
ing among themselves. The discussion was dropped, probably, on Rivington's withdrawal
for a season to England. Prior to this attack, it seems, that, he had been under
durante by order of the committee, notwithstanding their regard for the freedom of the
press, to whom he had given offence by an ill judged publication; but, that, on publishing
a handbill declaring bis adherence to the association, and asking pardon of'the public, he
had been permitted to return to his house and family, with a recommendation to the
citizens not to molest him in person or property. Captain Sears had suffered personally
from the newspaper attacks of Rivington, and it might thence be deduced, that, the
gratification of private vengeance was the primary motive for this violence.
Early in January, 1776, Gen. Washington was apprised that an armament, under Gen.
Clinton, was about to sail from Boston on a secret expedition, which he supposed was
destined for New York; where, at that time, the King's friends were supposed to have a
majority, even in the provincial convention, and the tories on Long Island were embodying
in large numbers. It was of the greatest importance that this city and province should be
preserved to the United Colonies. While deliberating upon the subject, Washington receiv
ed a letter from General Lee, requesting his authority to assemble a body of volunteers in
Connecticut to march to the city. By the advice of Mr. John Adams, the'permission was
given, with instruction to call also to his aid, the battallions of New Jersey, and New
York,; to repair the fortifications of the city, and on the' North River; to disarm and secure
all persons inimical to the American cause, and especially those on Long Island.
Congress had already directed the disarming and securing the disaffected in Queens
county, when the people had refused to elect delegates to the provincial convention.
The inhabitants werfe declared out of the protection of the United Colonies, and were for
bidden to travel or abide beyond the limits of their county; and any lawyer appearing in
an action for them, was denounced as an enemy to the American cause. Two battallions
had been ordered to enter the county at opposite ends, and seize the arms of every in
dividual who had thus declined to vote. But these vigorous orders were countermanded,
and a regiment raised in Connecticut, specially for executing Ihern, under Col. Waterbury, ,
was discharged, upon the ground, that the convention of New York was opposed to the
commencement of hostilities in that colony; and in apprehension, that, so strong a mea
sure would throw into the arms of the enemy all who were unprepared for open war.
This infirmity of purpose was deeply regretted by the commander in chief, who deemed
our enemies from the other side of the Atlantic to be sufficiently numerous, and that it
concerned us to have as few internal ones as possible.
He wrote to General Lee, after Sir Henry Clinton had left Boston, his apprehension,
that Governor Tryon, on the arrival of the Britisji troops, would join them, at the head of
the disaffected, and urged speedy and decisive operations; expressing a hope, that the
Governor might be among the number of tories he would secure. . Deeming Lee to be
under the direction of congress, to whom that officer had applied for instructions, he in
timated his wish that he might be permitted to act with proper decision.
But congress had already submitted the whole subject to the colonial authorities, re
commending them to disarm the disaffected, and confine the most dangerous, or compel
them to give security for their good- behaviour, and authorising them to call to their aid
the continental troops, to be wholly under their control while employed in this service.
In little more than a fortnight, by the instrumentality of Governor Trumbull, to whom
Captain Sears had been sent, by Lee, with the title of Adjutant General, and the rank of
Lieutenant, Lee was at the head of 1200 men in full march for the city. His ap
proach threw the inhabitants into great consternation, and several families instantly be
gan to remove their effects. The committee of safety expressed their astonishment that
he should propose to enter their town without previous intimation of his design, and their
fears of the injurious consequence of this measure, as Captain Parker of the Asia had

84 HISTORY OF
declared his determination of destroying the city should it be entered by any consider.
able body of the continental forces, and earnestly solicited that he would halt upon the
confines of Connecticut until further explanation.
The fears of the citizens, and of the committe, had been recently stimulated, by a com
munication from Governor Tryon, of instructions given to the commanders of his
majesty's ships, in case violence should be offered to any officers of the crown, or other
peaceably disposed subjects, or bodies of men should be raised and armed, or military
works be erected, other than by the royal 'authority, or attempts should be made to seize
or destroy any public magazine of arms, or other stores, in any town, that such town
should be treated as in open rebellion.
Lee disregarded alike the remonstrances of the committee, and the threats of the foe.
He assured the committee that he had neither instructions nor design to assail the
British ships in the harbour; his object being to prevent the enemy from occupying the
city, or Long Island. " If," said he, " the ships of war are quiet, I shall be quiet, but, I
declare solemnly, that, if they make a pretext of my presence to fire on the town, the
first house set in flames, by their guns, shall be the funeral pile of some of their best
friends." And he entered the city two hours after Clinton arrived at the Hook. That
officer came up to the city without troops, averring, that, he had no design to attack it,
but was destined to North Carolina, whither' he soon after proceeded, followed by
General Lee.
At the instance of Lee, who strenuously advocated strong measures against the tories,
the continental congress modified their resolutions, and despatched a committee of three
to consult with him and the council of safety, on fortifying the place. His experience
and ability gave him the direction of these measures. It was determined to fortify some
commanding position in the city, and to garrison it with 2,000 men; to defend the passage
of Hellgate by batteries on either side; to form an entrenched camp on Long Island for
3,000 men, and to strengthen the defences of the Highlands, placing in them a battallion
of regulars. Before his departure for the south, Lee took such security for the conduct
of the tories, as a forced oath, to act offensively and defensively with the country, could
give. On the 7th of March, 1776, he surrendered his command, consisting of about 1700
men, to Lord Stirling.
XI. Immediately after the evacuation of Boston by the enemy, Gen. Washington, in
full confidence that the grand efforts of the royal forces would be directed to the Hudson,
hastened with the main body of his army to New York, where he arrived on the 14th of
April, and continued with unremitting exertions the preparations which Lee had com
menced. His first care, with the assistance of the council of safety, was to break up the
unrestrained intercourse which still prevailed between the inhabitants and the British
ships in the harbour. His next was to prevent the ships of war from ascending the
Hudson, or penetrating the East river; sinking hulks to obstruct the channels, and for
tifying the most advantageous points on both sides of the former stream.
These labours were rendered more arduous by the disaffection of the inhabitants about
the city, and the adjacent country. A plot was formed to favour the enemy when he should
arrive, and to seize Gen. Washington himself, in which Governor Tryon and the mayor
of the city were believed to be the principals. It extended to the American army, and
even embraced some of the General's guards. But it was, fortunately, seasonably dis
covered; and spme of the persons concerned were executed. About the same time a
similar plot was developed at Albany, where some executions were also deemed
necessary. '
XII. For more than a year the whole country had been, not only in open rebellion
against the King, but its inhabitants had actually made war upon their fellow subjects,
who, unconscious of oppression had preserved their loyalty. Yet, during this period, the
governments of the United Colonies, respectively, were administered in the King's name,
and the people, every where, professed affection for his person, and attachment to the
parent state. In the first half of the year 1775, amongst the great mass of the people,
and many of their leaders, these sentiments were real. But the most daring and am
bitious spirits had not only foreseen that the continuance of political connection was not
much longer possible, but had, successfully, sought to inspire the people with the desire
of independence.
This inconsistency could not continue without great injury to the cause of the colonists.
Whilst the expectation of a reunion was suffered, a reluctance to pursue those energetic
measures which the crisis demanded, paralysed the best efforts of the patriots. In effect-
ing a change and demonstration of public opinion, perhaps, no single agent was more
powerful, than a pamphlet styled Common Sense, written by Thomas Paine; which, in a
clear, perspicuous, and popular style, boldly pronounced a^continued connection with
England unsafe, as well as impracticable; and successfully ridiculed her constitution,
which had hitherto been deemed the masterpiece of political workmanship.

NEW YORK. 85
The measures of congress, during this remarkable contest, took their complexion from
the temper of the people. Their proceedings against those disaffected to their cause be
came more vigorous; their language relative to the British government, less that of sub
ordinate states — general letters of marque and reprisal were granted, and the ports were
opened to all nations not subject to the British crown.
At length, the great and important step of independence was in effect, though not in
form, taken. On the 15th of May, 1776, congress declared, that his Britannic Majesty,
with the lords and commons, had, by act of parliament, excluded the United Colonies from
the protection of the crown; that, not only had their humble petition for redress and re
conciliation been received with disdain, but the whole force of the kingdom, aided by
foreign mercenaries, was about to be exerted for their destruction; that, therefore, it was
irreconcilable with reason and good conscience for the colonists to take the oaths for
supporting any government under the crown of Great Britain; and it was necessary that
the exercise of every kind of authority under the crown should be suppressed, and that all
the powers of government should be exercised by the people of the colonies for the pre
servation of internal peace, virtue, and good order, and the defence of their lives, liberties,
and properties, against the hostile invasions and cruel depredations of their enemies.
And they resolved, " That it be recommended to the respective assemblies and conven
tions of the United Colonies, where no government sufficient to the exigencies of their
affairs has been hitherto established, to adopt such government as shall, in the opinions of
the representatives of the people, best conduce to the happiness and safety of their con
stituents in particular, and America in general."
From the actual assumption of political independence, to the formal declaration, the
interval was short On the day that congress recommended to the colonies a change in
their form of government, the convention in Virginia resolved, unanimously, that their
delegates in congress should propose to that body, to declare the United Colonies free and
independent states. The proposition was made in congress, on the 7th of June, 1776, by
Richard Henry Lee of Virginia,, and seconded by John Adams of Massachusetts, " that the
United Colonies, are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states, and that all
political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is, and ought to be, to
tally dissolved." In favour of this resolution, Messrs. Lee and Adams were the most
distinguished speakers. The latter has been characterised as the " ablest advocate" of
independence. Its most formidable opponent was Mr. John Dickenson, whose " Farmer's
Letters," had signally served to awaken the resistance of the people to British oppression.
Mr. Dickenson's views were those of a sincere, but timid patriot. He lived to discover that
his fears wei;e groundless, and to give his aid in maturing and perfecting the institutions of
independent America. In resisting the declaration of independence, he was actuated by no
ignoble personal fears; his apprehension was for his country. For at this period, no man could
be more obnoxious to British statesmen, than the author of the Farmer's Letters, who now,
bore a colonel's commission, and was, in the month of July, 1776, upon the lines of New
Jersey, and New York. The considerations which weighed upon his mind affected the
minds of others; among whom were Wilson1, of Pennsylvania, R. R. Livingston, of New
York, E. Rutledge, and R. Laurens, of South Carolina, and William Livingston of New
Jersey; who, if they did not doubt of the absolute inexpediency of the measure, believed it
premature. On the first day of July, the resolution declaratory of independence, was approved in
committee of the whole, by all the colonies, except Pennsylvania and Delaware. Seven
of the delegates from the former were present, four of whom voted against it. Mr. Rodney,'
one of the delegates from the latter, was absent, and the other two, Thomas M'Kean and
George Read, were divided in opinion; M'Kean voting for, and Read against, the resolu
tion. On the report of the committee to the house, the further consideration of the sub
ject was postponed until the next day, when the resolution was finally adopted, and en
tered on4he journals.* Pending this memorable discussion, a committee, consisting of
Messrs. Jefferson, John Adams, Franklin, Sherman, and R. R. Livingston, was appointed
to prepare the declaration of independence. Messrs. Jefferson and Adams were named a
sub-committee, charged especially with that duty; and the original draught of that elo- '
quent manifesto was made by the former.t It was adopted by the chief committee with-
* Journals of Congress.
t The delegates from New York who signed the declaration of independence, on her part,
were William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, and Lewis Morris; Messrs Jay
and Duane, though members of congress, at the time, were deprived of this honour by their
presence in the state convention. Mr. Alsop was opposed to the declaration and refdsed to
sign it, and on the 16th of July resigned his seat. On the 1st of July, the New York dele
gates enclosed a draft of the declaration to the provincial congress; and in another letter,
bearing date the second, they stated the embarrassments under which they laboured for
want of proper instructions. Upon the final vote, on the declaration, they asked and ob-

86 HISTORY OF
out amendment, and reported to congress on the 28th of June. On the 4th of July,
having received some slight alterations, it was sanctioned by the vote of every colony.*
XIII. The second provincial congress having been elected for six months, only, a third
was chosen in April, 1776, to serve for the ensuing year. Of this body several of the
delegates in congress, as Messrs. Jay, Philip Livingston, Duane, and Alsop, were mem
bers. A quorum was formed on the 8th of May. Among its earliest proceedings, was
the consideration of the resolutions of the continental congress of the 15th of May, re-
commending the organisation of a new form of government. The subject was referred
to a committee, of which Mr. Jay was chairman, who reported on the 27th, substantially,
" That the right of framing their government belonged to the people; that the present form
of congress and committees originated with, and depended on them; that, this form, in
stituted whilst the old government subsisted, was necessarily defective; that by voluntary
abdication of the late Governor Tryon, the dissolution of the colonial assembly, and the
hostilities of the British, the old form of government was ipso facto dissolved; whereupon,
it became necessary, that, the people should institute a new government, in exclusion of
foreign and external power; and that as doubts had arisen as to the authority of the con
gress to do this, which could be removed only by the people, the congress should continue
the exercise of such powers as were clearly delegated, and in the mean time, the people
should either authorise their present representatives, or elect others, to form a new
government, and that they should express their sentiments by the usual mode of election."
This report was adopted; but before the sense of the people could be ascertained, the
delegates in the continental congress, by letter of June 8th, apprised the provincial con-
gress, that, the question of independence would be soon agitated, and requested immediate
instructions thereon; " inasmuch, as their original instructions empowered them only to
take such measures as should be effectual for the re.establishment and preservation of
American rights, and the restoration of harmony between Great Britain and her colo
nies." Upon this communication another resolution, also, proposed by Mr. Jay, was,
unanimously, adopted; recommending to the people to empower their representatives, "to
deliberate and determine on every question, whatever, that may concern or affect the in
terests of the colony, and to conclude upon, ordain, and execute, every act and measure,
which to them shall appear conducive to the happiness, security, and welfare of this
colony; and that they hold and exercise such powers until the second Tuesday in May
next, or until a regular form of government shall be established;" and moreover, " to in
struct or otherwise inform the said deputies of their sentiments relative to the great ques
tion of independency, and such other points as they may think proper."
By the arrival of the British fleet and army, the crisis became too perilous to permit
the provincial congress to deliberate on other subjects than the immediate defence of the
colony. They immediately devolved, on the commander in chief, unlimited power over
its military force, and authorised him to apprehend such disaffected persons as he might
deem dangerous to the security of the province, and the liberties of America: And, on the
30th of June, adjourned to White Plains, where, three days after, a few members
only assembled.
XIV. The fourth provincial congress convened at White Plains on the 9th of July,
Leonard Gansevdort was chosen president, and Robert Benson, secretary. This body
took the title of " The Representatives of the State of New York," and exercised all the
powers of sovereignty, until the eetablishment of the government under the constitution.
On the first day of their meeting, they received from the continental congress the
Declaration of Independence, which was immediately referred to a committee, Mr: Jay,
chairman, who instantly reported the following resolution, which was unanimously
adopted: " Resolved, That the reasons assigned by the continental congress for declaring these
United Colonies free and independent states, are cogent and conclusive; and that, while
we lament the cruel necessity which has rendered this measure unavoidable, we approve
the same, and will, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, join with the other colonies in
supporting it."
By these measures, the relations of the colonists with Great Britain, and with each
other, were wholly changed. The duties of allegiance and protection were established
between the new governments and those residing within their respective territories. All
persons within them, who adhered to the enemy, or sought to subvert the state, became
guilty of treason. The convention, therefore, on the 16th of July, on motion of Mr. Jay,
declared, that all persons abiding in the state, and who were entitled to the protection of
tained leave to withdraw, (a) From this perplexity they were soon afterwards relieved,
and empowered to affix their names to the instrument
* Journals of congress. (a) Jefferson's Memoirs vol i. p. 15.

NEW YORK.

87

its laws, who should aid or abet its enemies, should, on conviction, suffer the penalty of
death. This measure was almost simultaneously adopted throughout the United States,
^nd though operating with great severity upon those whose sense of duty required them
to sustain the parent state, was one of absolute political necessity.
Although the convention had been organised expressly for the establishment of a state
government, so many other important subjects^ claimed its attention, that, it was not until
the 1st of August, that a committee was appointed to report a form of government:
Nor was this great labour completed until the 20th of April, 1777.
XV. Notwithstanding the universal resistance, in America, the parliament and people
of Great Britain could not be made to believe, that it.would be maintained against a de-
termined spirit on the part of the government, and a few thousand troops to aid the
established authorities. This erroneous opinion was confirmed by the royal officers, who
were, probably, themselves deceived by their wishes. The military operations, therefore,
of the year 1775, were adopted, more to strengthen the civil authority, than to support a
contest for empire. But the battles of Lexington, Breed's Hill, and the measures subse
quently adopted by congress, awakened the nation from this delusive dream, and pro-
duced an earnest resolution, at all hazards, to establish its supremacy over the colonies.
With the sanction of parliament, estimates for the public service were made on the
basis of operations against a foreign armed power. Twenty-eight thousand seamen and
fifty five thousand land forces were immediately voted; authority was given to employ
foreign mercenaries; an act* interdicted all trade with the Americans, authorised the
capture of their property, whether of ships or goods, upon the high seas; and directed,
" that the masters, crews, and other persons found on board captured American vessels,
should be entered on board his Majesty's vessels of war, and there considered to be in
his Majesty's service, to all intents and purposes, as if they had entered of their own ac
cord. And this, worse than Mahommedan slavery, was insolently represented, as a
merciful substitution of an act of grace and favour, for the death which was due to re
bellion. This bill, also, authorised the crown to appoint commissioners, with power to
grant pardon to individuals, to inquire into general and particular grievances, and to de
termine whether any colony or part of a colony was returned to that state of obedience,
which might entitle it to be received within the King's peace arid protection; in which
case the restrictions of the law were to cease. In the debate on the bill, Lord Mansfield,
whose ability and legal knowledge were known and admired in America, declared, " that
the questions of original right and wrong wore no longer to be considered; that they were
engaged in a war, and must use their utmost efforts to obtain the ends proposed by it;
that they must either fight or be pursued; and that the justice of the cause must give
way to their present situation." This declaration, justified by circumstances, from the
mouth of a ministerial partisan, excited the astonishment, and aided to cement the union,
of the colonists; and the act was justly characterised, by a member of the opposition, as
" a bill for carrying more effectually, into execution, the resolves of congress." By trea
ties, approved by parliament, with the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel, the Duke of Brunswick, ,
and the hereditary prince of Hesse Cassel,t sixteen thousand of their subjects were en
gaged to reduce the rebellious colonies to submission. The command in chief was given to
Sir William Howe.
It was resolved, to open the campaign with a force that would look down opposition,
and produce submission without bloodshed; and to direct it to three objects: 1. The relief
of Quebec; the recovery of Canada; and the invasion of the adjacent provinces: 2. The
chastisement of the southern colonies: 3. The seizure of New York with a force sufficient
to keep possession of the Hudson river, to maintain the communication with Canada, and
to overrun the adjacent country. The partial success of the first, we have already noticed.
The execution of the second, was committed to General Clinton and Sir Peter Parker,
and eventuated in their repulse, from Charleston, by the vigorous efforts of the colonists,
at Fort Moultrie, and of General Lee, who had charge of the southern department. The
third.asks from us more particular detail.
XVl. With the force destined against New York, came Admiral Lord Howe, and his
brother Sir William, who were, also, appointed commissioners for restoring peace to the
colonies. On evacuating Boston, General Howe, as we have seen, retired to Halifax, de
signing, there, to await reinforcements from England. But his situation proving uncom
fortable, and the arrival of succours being delayed, he at length (June 10th, 1776,) resolved
to sail for New York. On the 4th of July, he was established on Staten Island, where he
awaited the arrival of the troops from Europe. The inhabitants received him with great
demonstrations of joy, took the oath of allegiance to the crown, and embodied under
the command of Governor Tryon. He received, also, strong assurances from Long
Island, and the neighbouring parts of New Jersey, of the favourable disposition of the
* 20th Nov. 1775. f Feb. 29th, 1776.

88 HISTORY OF «
greater proportion of the people to the royal cause. Admiral Lord Howe arrived, with the
fleet and auxiliary forces, on the twelfth of the same month.
The experience which Washington already had of the materials that must necessarily
compose kis army, determined him to pursue the Fabian mode of war, a war of posts;
to hazard nothing, but to hover round the enemy, watching his motions, cutting off his
supplies, and perpetually harassing him with small detachments, until his own army had
become accustomed to military fatigue and danger. With this view, works were erected,
in and about New York, on Long Island, and the heights of Harlaem. Congress on the
opening of the campaign, had a force far inadequate to its objects. And though feeling
the inconvenience of the temporary armies formed of the militia, on short tours of service,
they, or the country, probably both, were not prepared to enlist men for periods that
would render them efficient soldiers, and therefore they adopted middle expedients. They
instituted a flying camp, composed of one thousand men from the states of Pennsylvania,
Delaware, and Maryland, engaged until the first day of the ensuing December, and at the
same time, called out 13,800 of the ordinary militia. The ranks of the first were chiefly
filled, but great deficiencies occurred in those of the second. The difficulty of providing
the troops with arms, which had hitherto been distressingly great, was now much in
creased. By the returns of April, the garrison at Fort Montgomery in the Highlands,
composed of two hundred and eight privates, had only forty-one -guns fit for use; and that
at Fort Constitution of one hundred and thirty-six men, had only sixty-eight guns.
Flints were scarce, and the lead for musket balls was obtained, by stripping the
dwellings. .Before commencing military operations, the British commanders and commissioners
made an effort at- pacification. But as they had only power to pardon those, who uncon
scious of transgression, sought no forgiveness, their efforts proved wholly nugatory.
The amount of the American force rendered the British, commanders cautious in com
mencing their operations by land. Their fleet, however, gave them great advantages,
and soon demonstrated the total inefficiency of the obstructions to the passage of the
North river. Frigates and smaller vessels passed the batteries of New York, Paulus Hook,
Red Bank, and Governor's Island, with impunity. The American army in the vicinity
of New York, on the 8th of August, consisted of not more than seventeen thousand men,
mostly new recruits, distributed in small and unconnected posts, some of which were
fifteen miles distant from others. It was soon after increased by Smallwood's regiment
from Maryland, two regiments from Pennsylvania, and a body of New England and
New York militia, to twenty-seven thousand; of whom, however, one- fourth were unfitted
for duty by sickness. A part of this force was stationed on Long Island, where Major
General Greene had originally commanded, but becoming extremely ill, had been suc
ceeded by Major General Sullivan.
The whole of the English force having at length arrived, General Howe resolved
to pass to Long Island which, unhappily, the Americans had determined to defend. On
the 25th his army had crossed the Narrows; and on the 27th the battle of Brooklyn was
fought, the American army being under the immediate command of Major General Put-
man, in which the Americans were defeated, with a loss, estimated by Washington at one
thousand, and by Lord Howe at three thousand three hundred men, of whomjone thousand
and ninety-seven were prisoners. Among the latter, were Major General Sullivan, and
Brigadiers Lord Stirling, "and Woodhull.* The British loss is given at twenty-one
officers, and three hundred and forty-six privates killed, wounded, and taken.
Successful resistance to the victorious enemy being hopeless, the American troops were,
on the night of the 28th, withdrawn from the island. This difficult movement was effected
with such silence and despatch, that, the troops, military stores, and the greater part of
the provisions and artillery, were carried over in safety. If the attempt to defend the
island, impeached the judgment of the commander in chief, his masterly, retreat justly
raised his reputation with military men.
The consequences of this defeat were most injurious to the American cause. The
troops were deprived of self confidence, which gave place to a panic dread of the enemy.
* General Woodhull was not in the action. He held a command in the New York mi
litia, and had been detached a few days previously by the provincial convention, with a
small force to remove the cattle and provisions from the west end of the Island. It was
proposed to aid him in this service by Smith's and Remsen's regiments of Long Island mi
litia; but they could not be spared from the main army. During the battle, he was at
Jamaica, and in his retreat thence, almost alone, was captured. Major Baird, of the
71st, commanded him to say " God save the King." He replied, " God save us all."
Whereupon the British officer, cowardly, and cruelly, assailed him with a broadsword,
giving him many severe wounds, of which he soon afterwards died. His life was at the
moment preserved by the interference of Major De Lancey of the Dragoons. (See Wood's
Long Island, Appendix.)

NEW YORK. 89
The militia became dismayed, intractable,' and deserted their standards in companies
battallions, and regiments; and their example infected the regular troops, and demon
strated the folly of reliance upon militia in protracted warfare. The frequent remon
strances of the commander in chief, and the experience of this occasion, soon after in
duced congress to provide for a permanent army, to be composed of eighty-eight battal
lions;*. allowing a bounty of twenty dollars to each recruit, and a donation of land to each
officer and private.t .
Lord Howe, in his character of commissioner, sought, immediately to avail himself of
the impression, which he supposed the victory of the 27th might have made on congress.
He sent General Sullivan, on parole, to Philadelphia, with a verbal message, purporting,
that although his lordship could not treat with congress as a political body, he was de
sirous to confer with some of its members as private gentlemen. Congress resolved " that
though it could not appoint any of its members to confer with him in their private cha
racter, yet desirous of establishing peace upon reasonable terms, they would send a com-
mitteet to learn whether he had authority to treat with persons authorised by them on
behalf of America, and what that authority was, and to hear, such propositions as he
should think proper to make/' But, as his lordship had no new proposition, this negotiation
was also without fruit.
XVII. Washington, by the advice of a council of war, removed the public stores to Dobb's
Ferry, and resolved not to risk the army in defence of the city; yet a show of resistance
was for a short time preserved, and the army was distributed from one end of the island
to the other; but the city was finally abandoned on the 12th of September. On the 15th,
an unsuccessful attempt was made to oppose the landing of the British army between
Kipp's and Turtle bays, in which the American troops, especially the militia, betrayed
great want of courage and conduct In the consequent retreat, a heavy loss was expe
rienced in baggage, stores, and provisions.
The American commander still held the north part of the island, including King's
Bridge. The ICth was distinguished by some skirmishing, successful on the part of the
Americans, in which the troops, who had disgraced themselves on the preceding day,
displayed extraordinary bravery.
After taking measures ,for the defence of the city, General Howe attempted to gain the
rear of the American camp, and to possess himself of the North river, above King's
Bridge. His frigates passed Forts Washington and Lee without injury from the batteries
or the chevaux-de-frise, which had been sunk in the channel; while his army landed on
Throg's neck, about nine miles from the American camp at Harlaem, where it remained
some days waiting reinforcement In the mean time, General Lee, having returned from
the south, induced Washington to remove his army from the island; but, unfortunately,
the instances of General Green prevailed for the retention of Fort Washington.^
Between fthe 18th and 25th, the hostile armies were engaged in making dispositions,
the British for attack, and the American for defence; during which several skirmishes
occurred. On the 25th, General Howe proposed to storm the American camp, near
White Plains, and he dislodged General McDougal from a favourable position on the
right after a sharp conflict in which the loss was equal,)and so much time was spent, that
further efforts, for the day, were deemed inexpedient Some change in the American
position procrastinated the attack for several days, and at length the retreat of Washington
* New Hampshire 3, Massachusetts 15, Rhode Island 2, Connecticut 8, New York 4,
New Jersey 4, Pennsylvania 12, Delaware 1, Maryland 3, Virginia 1 5, North Carolina 9,
South Carolina 6, Georgia 1.^-88.
t To a colonel 500 acres, lieutenant-colonel 450, major 400, captain 300, lieutenant, 200,
ensign 150, and a non-commissioned officer or private 1 00 acres.
The resolution was afterwards changed so as to give the option to enlist for three years,
or during the war. Those enlisting for three years not to be entitled to land.
1. Dr. Franklin, J. Adams, E. Rutledge.
§ On the night of the 20th of September, 1776, nearly one fourth part of the city of New
York was destroyed by fire. The fire commenced near Whitehall; the weather being
very dry, and a south wind prevailing, the flames spread with irresistible rapidity. There
were few citizens iu town; the fire engines and pumps were out of order. Two regiments
of soldiers were immediately ordered in, and many men were sent from the fleet, by whose
labours the city was preserved from total destruction. All that part west of the New
Exchange, along Broad street, to the North river, as high as the City Hall, and thence
along Broadway and North river, to King's College, was reduced to ashes. Between one
thousand and fifteen hundred houses were burned, including Trinity church, the Lutheran
church, the Parsonage, and Charity School. St Paul's church and the College were saved
with difficulty. The conflagration was ascribed by the royalists to incendiaries employed
by the patriots. We have seen no evidence in corroboration of this assertion, which, if true,
forms a parallel to the conflagration of Moscow. Persons were detected in setting fire to
the houses, and one individual was slain by the soldiers whilst in the act.
12

90 HISTORY OF
to the strong heights of North Castle, five miles from White Plains, induced Howe to give
a new direction to his efforts.
It was essential to the secure possession of York Island, and the navigation of the HudBon,
that Forts Washington and Lee should be in the hands of the British. An attempt on
the former was immediately made. The Americans, driven from Fort Independence, at
King's Bridge, retired to the larger fort, which, with a numerous garrison, was held by
Col. Magaw, under General Green, who occupied Fort Lee, on the opposite bank. Not
withstanding the strength of the work, Howe resolved to storm it 'on the 15th of No
vember; and after a severe struggle, and the los3 pf a thousand men, took it with about
2,500 prisoners. This severe blow was followed by the capture of Fort Lee, on the 19th,
by Lord Cornwallis, at the head of 6,000 men, whilst tbe Americans were in the act of
abandoning it The garrison was saved, but the heavy cannon, and a large quantity of
provisions and military stores, fell into the hands of the enemy.
In anticipation of the purpose of Howe, i Washington had crossed with a. large
portion of his army into Jersey; leaving the eastern regiments, under General Lee, with
orders also to cross the river, should the British effect it. At this period, the time of
service of a great proportion of the American soldiers had^ expired; they refused tore-
enlist, and with his reduced force Washington could make no head against his stronger,
better disciplined, and successful adversary; and he was compelled slowly to retreat, until,
on the 8th of December, he had crossed the Delaware into Pennsylvania.
A detachment of about 3,000 troops had been left at Peekskill, Under General Heath.
These were ordered to join the commander in chief, as was General Gates with the
regulars of the northern army. General Lee had frequently received a like order which
was tardily obeyed; he manifesting a disposition to maintain a separate command.
Whilst passing through Morris county, near Baskingridge, about twenty miles from the
British camp, he indiscreetly quartered, under a slight guard, about three miles from his
troops. His situation was betrayed to Col. Harcourt, who, with a body of cavalry,
watching his movements, by a rapid march, made him prisoner. Such was the esteem
in which the General was held, that his capture was deemed the greatest calamity which
had yet befallen the country.
The gloom caused by these disastrous' events, was soon after broken by the bold passage
of the Delaware, on the night of the 25th of December, and the successful actions of
Trenton and Princeton. After which, the American army retired into winter quarters,
at Morristown, and the adjacent country.
In the dark hour which followed the retreat of the American troops, the convention of
, New York did not yield to despondency. On the 23d of December, they published an
address, from the pen of Mr. Jay, to thejr constituents, well adapted to sustain their in
dignation against their opponents, to animate their fortitude, and stimulate their enter
prise. This was extensively circulated; the continental congress earnestly recommended
it " to the serious perusal and attention of the inhabitants of the United States; and ordered
it to be translated and printed in the German language at the expense of the continent"
XVIII. The state convention driven from New York, convened, from time to time, at
Harlaem, King's Bridge, Philip's Manor, Fishkill, White Plains, Poughkeepsie, and
Kingston. On the 1st of August, 1776, a committee was appointed to report a constitu
tion. The draft of this instrument was prepared by Mr. Jay, who omitted several' im-
portant provisions, designing to introduce them, separately, "as amendments before tbe
convention. But the haste in which the instrument was finally adopted, and his tempo
rary absence prevented the full completion of his purpose; depriving New York, probably,
of the honour of setting the first example of the voluntary abolition of the slave trade.
The draft was reported on the 12th of March, and the instrument was finally adopted on
the 20th of April, 1777. It was amended by convention October 27th, 1801, and was
superseded by the present constitution on the 10th of November, 1821.
The constitution of 1777, contained features, which the progress of political science,
tending to vest in the people, its true proprietors, all political power, has not failed to re
probate. The most prominent of these were: 1. The founding the legislative power upon
the possession of property in the electors, and the elected; requiring in the elector, of
members for assembly, a freehold estate of 202. value, or a leasehold of 40 shillings, an-
nual value; and of the elector of a senator, a like estate of 1002. value, beyond debts
charged thereon: The senators were required to be freeholders, but in the members.of
assembly no property qualification was requisite: 2. The vesting the appointing power,
to many offices which could be conveniently filled by the people, such as of sheriffs, coro
ners, and justices of the peace, in a council of appointment: And 3. The power given to
the executive to prorogue the legislature.
These errors were in some degree amended by the constitution of 1821, and its amend-
ments; abolishing the property qualification of the electors; reserving to the people the
election of sheriffs; coroners, and justices of the peace, and other officers before appointed

NEW YORK. 91
l»y the council; and by taking from the governor all power to suspend the deliberations of
the legislature. Two other features of the first constitution were also expunged; the
council for revising the laws enacted by the legislature, apd tbe council selected from the
senate by the house of representatives, invested with the power of appointment to such
offices as were not otherwise filled by the constitution.
No provision was made for submitting the constitution to the people for their approba
tion — a species of substitution for on original social contract which would . not now be
dispensed with. There was no power to impose this duty upon the convention; but it
should have imposed it upon itself. The omission cannot be ascribed to inadvertence,
since it was twice reminded of this duty by the " Union of mechanics" in New York.
Rut, the state of the country was such as required a speedy institution of a well regulated
governing power, and admitted for the people little opportunity or means for discussing
.that which should be framed.*
Having adopted the constitution, the congress prooeeded-to provide for the government
of the state, until the officers required by that instrument should be duly elected. Robert
R. Livingston was named chancellor, John Jay chief justice, Robert Yates, Jr., and John
Sloss Hobart, puisne justices, Egbert Benson attorney general. The courts of the several
counties were filled. To a council of safety, consisting of J. Morin Scott, Robert R. Liv
ingston, Charles Tappan, Abraham Yates, Jr., Gouverneur Morris, Zep. Piatt, John Jay,
Charles De Witt Robert Harper, Jacob Cuyler, Thomas Tredwell, J. Sloss Hobart, and Jon.
G. Tompkins, were confided all the powers of the state, to be exercised without control,
until superseded by the constituted authorities.
The returns of the first elections were made to the council of safety on the 9th of July.
General George Clinton was chosen Governor, and was sworn into office on the 30th of
the same month, at Kingston; being then in active command of the New York militia,
he did not quit the field until after the defeat of Burgoyne; but discharged such civil
duties as devolved on him by correspondence with the council of safety. He retained
this office, by repeated election, until 1795, when he was succeeded by Mr. Jay. The 1st
of August was appointed for the meeting of the legislature; but'eing prorogued by the
Governor it did not convene until the 1st of September, when it met at Kingston. Pierre
Van Courtlandt was president of the senate, and Walter Livingston speaker of the as
sembly. The government was then fully organised by the reappointment of the judiciary
officers we have above named, and the appointment of John Morin Scott, secretary of
state, and Comfort Sands auditor general.
We have thus traced with a rapid hand the events which led to the independent and
constitutional government of the State of New York, touching slightly upon the general
proceedings of the continental congress, and upon the military operations, under its direc
tion, full accounts of. which are found in the numerous general histories of the Revolution.
We shall close our essay with some remarks upon the proceedings relative to the tories
within the state; an account of the controversy with Vermont; a notice of the settlement
of the southern and western boundaries, and of the adoption of the confederation and the
constitution of the United States. Since the declaration of independence, tbe history of
New York, except so much as relates to the new modelling of her government her adop
tion of the present constitution of the United States, the establishment of her school
system, and the creation of her canals, belongs to the history of the United States, and is
inseparable from it. Most if not all of the subjects peculiar to the state history, which haye
been omitted from this essay, are noticed in the subsequent or gazetteer portion of our
work. XIX. At the adoption of the constitution of 1777, the state was divided into 14 coun
ties; New York," Richmond, Kings, QueenS, Suffolk, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange,
Ulster, Albany, Tryon, Charlotte, Cumberland, and Gloster; the last two formed part of
the present state of Vermont The first six {except part of Westchester and part of
Orange) remained in possession of the enemy, until the peace; the .Highlands forming1 the
great barrier to his further advance from the south. On the northern frontier the enemy
maintained, until long after the conflict, all the fortified posts, and with them, a fatal in
fluence over the Indian tribes, which was mercilessly employed to devastate the border
settlements. '
XX. One of the first measures of the provincial government after the rupture with the
parent state, was an effort, directed by Col. Schuyler, to propitiate the sons of the forest, in
which he was aided by the Rey. Samuel Kirkland, a missionary to the Oneidas. But, it
soon became apparent that the influence of the Johnsons, and their tory coadjutors, had
alienated their affections from the colonists, by the open defection of the Mohawks,
Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas. The Oneidas or the greater part of them adhered to
the Americans, and were removed to Schenectady, where they remained until the
year 1784. * See Appendix for pames of the members of this congress.

92 HISTORY OF
Daring the contest, the state established garrisons, chiefly of militia, upon the frontiers
of Orange, Ulster, Albany, and Tryon, counties. In the most exposed districts the in
habitants dwelt, in forts, cultivating the land around them, with the musket on the plough;
but whei;e not sufficiently numerous for self defence, they were compelled wholly to aban
don their farms.
The power which Sir William Johnson had acquired over the savages descended to his
son, Sir John, and his nephew Col. Guy Johnson, who succeeded him in the agency of
Indian affairs, and they made that power severely felt over the country in which lay
their once spacious domain. The family had derived all their wealth and consideration
from the crown, and they readily perilled all, to maintain the power which had fostered
them. Their devoted loyalty might have become a subject of praise, had they, not
blended ivith it, the fiercest desire of revenge, for the personal injuries they had sustained
in its duties. The confiscation of their possessions inspired the most implacable passions.
, So early as January 1776, the continental congress found it necessary to despatch Gen.
Schuyler into the valley of the Mohawk, to counteract their influence, and to disarm them
and the disaffected inhabitants, particularly the Scotch, who had banded for hostility.
This object the General effected at the head of three thousand men, including nine hun
dred of tho Tryon county whigs, making a convention with Sir John Johnson, that he
would not take arms against America, and taking hostages from the Scotch inhabitants,
for their pacific conduct. But this treaty was broken by the Johnsons and their de-
pendents on the first favourable opportunity.
At their instance, most probably, and certainly with their participation, the attack by
the British and Indians under Crjlonel Barry St. Leger, upon Fort Schuyler, was made,
in August, 1777; in defence of which, Colonel Gansevoort; and Lt Colonel Willet
acquired high and merited renown, and in attempting to relieve which, General
Herkimer perished. To the same influence might be traced the massacre at Wyo
ming, Penna., by a party of tories and Indians, under Colonel John Butler, on the 3d
of July, and that at. Cherry Valley, by a similar party under Walter Butler and
Brandt on the 11th ofNovember, 1778; the devastation of the German Flats, in the sum
mer of the same year; of the Minisink settlements in July, 1779; and of the country around
Canajoharie, in August, 1780. Sir John Johnson, in person, directed the ravages of the
valleys of the Schoharie and Mohawk in J$ctober, 1780; the inroads of the Indians and
lories, in various parts of this section, in the following year, and the incursion of Ross and
Walter Butler in August, 1781, to Johnstown, with a force of 477 men. The defeat and
destruction of this party by Col. Willet, and the death of Walter Butler, by an Oneida
Indian, while yelling in his ears "Remember Cherry Valley," put an end to depredations
which almost depopulated one of the finest sections of the state. In all these incursions,
the ferocity of the savage was excited, yet excelled by the greater malignity of their tory
allies.* We have already seen how much the City of New York, and the adjacent country, were
infected by tory principles. A large proportion of the wealthy and distinguished inhabitants,
including many who had actually sought redress for political grievances, maintained their
loyalty, and became enemies to American independence. Upon the arrival of the British
army, in 1776, the disaffected in this part of the state, and the neighbouring parts of New
Jersey, were embodied under officers selected by themselves. The family of De Lancey
were distinguished for their devotion to the King, and generally took military service;
Oliver De Lancey was appointed a General, with authority to raise a brigade of tories:
and a like commission was given to Courtland Skinner of New Jersey. These troops
.committed many murders and robberies on both sides of the Hudson River, but more es-
pecially in Westchester county. *"•'
Upon the entry of the British army into the city, Governor Tyron resumed the exercise
of his gubernatorial powers, and received the congratulations of the loyal inhabitants,
signed by Daniel Horsemanden, and Oliver De Lancey, and nine hundred and forty-six
others, who, at the same time, in an address to Lord and General Howe, as commissioners
for the restoration of peace, professed their loyalty and affection to the King, and prayed
¦that the city and county might be restored to his majesty's, protection and peace. On the
21st of October, addresses of like nature were presented to the Commissioners and the
Governor, signed by D. Colden, and 10,184 inhabitants of Queens county; and on the
24th of the same month, the committee of Suffolk dissolved, disclaimed and re
jected the orders of congress, and declared themselves, " desirous to obey the legal
authority of government; hoping that the Governor would pass by their former misconduct,
and be graciously pleased to protect them, agreeably to the laws of the province."
This example was followed by the committees of the several towns of that county.
XXI. When the disaffected entered into oetiye correspondence with the enemy, au-
* For an account of these terrible scenes of partisan warfare, the reader is referred to
Campbell's Annals of Tryon County, and the " Military Exploits of Col. Willet"

NEW YORK. 93
thority was given to the County committes to apprehend them and decide on their guilt;
sitting in judgment and receiving testimony under oath. They were empowered to in- -
flict punishment at discretion, not exceeding three months imprisonment, at the expense
of the offender; but their sentence in some cases extended to banishment from the colony.
After the arrival of the British army, in 1776, the Provincial Congress resorted to mea
sures still more energetic.
They appointed " a committee for inquiring into, detecting and defeating all conspi
racies which may be formed in the state, against the liberties of Afnerica," empowered to
send for persons and papers, to call out the militia, in the several counties, for suppressing
insurrection; to apprehend, secure, or remove persons whom they might judge dangerous
to tho state; to make the necessary drafts upon the treasury; to enjoin secrecy upon their
members and the persons they employed; and to raise and officer 220 men, and employ
them as they saw fit. Of this formidable committee, Mr. Jay was the first chairman.
It was continued by the legislature, at its first session, and by laws enacted from time to
time during the war. Its dread powers were employed with the energy which the cause
of its constitution required. Numberless arrests, imprisonments, and banishments were
made by it throughout the state. Many tories and their families were sent into New
York, others expelled the state, others required to give security to reside within pre
scribed limits; and occasionally the jails and even the churches were crowded with its
prisoners; and many were sent for safer keeping to the jails of Connecticut. Among the
latter, was the mayor of New York. The convention also defined treason against the
state, and denounced the penalty of death against the offender. It established a partial
system of confiscation, directing the personal property of those who had joined the enemy
to be sold, and the proceeds to be deposited in the state treasury, subject to the discretion
of the legislature. >
Soon after the constitution was adopted, an oath of allegiance to the state was required
by law, and all persons refusing it, were directed to be removed within the enemy's lines,
or to be exchanged for prisoners of war, and their lands were subjected to double taxes.
On the 22d October, 1779, an act was passed, " for the forfeiture and sale of the estates
of persons who had adhered to the enemy and for declaring the sovereignty of the state,
in respect to all property within it. This act attainted, specially, the most distinguished
among the disaffected, forfeited their estates, banished their persons, under penalty of
death in case of return, and provided, generally, for the conviction and attainder of other
offenders.* Under the view, that the adherence of the tories to the king was from a sense of duty
as well as of interest, these attainders and confiscations have been deemed, by many, even
among the high minded whigs, as reprehensibly severe. But before we condemn wo
should reflect, that the tories were enemies, seen in the most partial light, as dangerous
as the strictly foreign foe; that the patriot fought with the halter and axe suspended
over him; and that the confiscation of his estates would have been the most inconsidera
ble of the consequences of his subjection. His life, his fortune, and bis sacred honour,
were staked on the event, and he gave much to toleration, when he forbore the example
ofthe royalists, who constrained their prisoners to fight in their ranks, or to pine in
dungeons under the accusation of treason. Had the tory been content to proclaim his
loyalty and to vouch it in the fair field of battle, only, he would have been entitled to no
greater consideration than any other enemy; he would have been exempted from the
penalty of treason, but not from the loss of property, which, every where, in war belongs
to the captor. But he was not a fair and open enemy; he claimed to be a citizen of
the country against which he fought, and by that claim, being in the minority and seek
ing by force to overturn its political institutions, he became a traitor, whom it was lawful
to attaint. In his warfare his local knowledge gave him advantages which a foreign
enemy did not possess, and which he used with a ferocity and malevolence which a
* The persons subjected to special attainder, were John Murray, Earl of Dunmore, Wil
liam Tryon, John Watts, Oliver De Lancey, Hugh Wallace, Henry White, John Harris
Cruger, Wm. Axtell, Roger Morris, late member of council; George Duncan Ludlow, and
Thos. Jones, late justices of the supreme court; John Taber Kempe, late attorney general;
Wm. Bayard, Robert Bayard, and James De Lancey; David Matthews, late mayor of New
York; James Jauncey, George Folliet, Thomas White, William McAdam, Isaac Low,
Miles Sherbrooke, Alexander Wallace, and John Weatherhead; Charles Inglis and Mar-
garetta his wife; Sir John Johnson, Guy Johnson, Daniel Claus, son-in-law of Sir William
Johnson, and John Butler, John Joost Herkimer; Frederick Philipse, senior and junior,
David Colden, Daniel Kissam the elder, and Gabriel Ludlow; Philip Skeene, Andrew P.
Skeene, Benjamin Seaman, Christopher Billop, Beverly Robinson, senior and junior, Mal-
oom Morrison, John Kane, Abraham C, Cuyler, Robert Leake, Edward Jessup, Ebenezer
Jessup, Peter Dubois, Thomas H. Barclay, Susannah Robinson, Mary Morris, John Rapalje,
George Morrison, Richard Floyd, Parker Wickham, Henry Lloyd, and Sir Henry Clinton.

94 HISTORY OF
foreign enemy did not know. Midnight marauding, attended by cruel murder and
wanton devastation, were his wont. Against such an enemy the use of extraordinary
weapons would have been lawful. In those used by the patriots, there was more forbear
ance than has been displayed in the many civil wars which have since shaken the
world. They employed neither guillotines, nor fusillades, nor noyades, and death was
rarely inflicted, save in the heat of battle.
Could the tory in duty to his king have withdrawn from the conflict, he might have
claimed exemption from its evils. But that was impossible. In civil wars assuredly all
who are not for us are against us. There can be no neutrality, consistent with duty.
That many tories acted as honourable enemies, cannot be denied, and such merited
generous treatment when the passions and the dangers of the war were over. But to
discriminate was not easy; and the disposition of their property, the only subject, on
which generosity was not displayed, made restoration impracticable. The conduct,
therefore, of the whigs, in this respect, if not the subject of praise, calls not for reprehen
sion; and it may well be doubted, whether the greater political knowledge and the more
pretending philanthropy of the present day would produce better fruit The angry pas
sions excited by the war were most rife, perhaps, in New York; and yet when that city
was abandoned, in 1783, by the British forces, many distinguished tories remained, not
only unmolested, but in the full enjoyment of all the rights of citizenship. Even Rivington
with his Royal Gazette, converted into the New York Gazette, pursued his business un
interruptedly. In the grants of provinces by the crown, there were found two sources of uncertainty and
contention, relative to the boundaries of the several colonies; 1, The grants were incon.
sistent and conflicting with each other; or 2, The limits were so illy defined as to be very
difficult of ascertainment. New York suffered from both causes, and upon every side.
We have noticed the final settlement of the political boundary upon the east, with Con
necticut and Massachusetts, and reserved, for this place and for one view, the controversy
with Vermont, and the settlement of the line with New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
XXII. We have seen, that, by the grant of Charles II to the Duke of York, the Pro
vince was bounded E. by the Connecticut river: It extended northward, by subsequent
limitation to the 45th degree of N. Latitude: We have seen, also, that this eastern boun
dary was successfully contested by Connecticut and Massachusetts: There still remained,
however, undisputed, all the country N. of the Massachusetts line, comprising an area of
10.237£ square miles, or 6,552,000 acres. This large tract was lost to the state, by the
avarice of her colonial governors and land speculators.
Whilst this country, in common with other northern portions of the state, was subject
to the inroads of the French and Indians, there was little inducement to explore, and less
to settle it But when security for labour and its fruits was obtained by the conquest of
Canada, the verdant hills and fertile valleys of Vermont excited a general desire in the
enterprising inhabitants of the adjacent colonies to inhabit them. In the prevailing ig
norance, it was supposed, that these lands lay within the limits of New Hampshire, whose
governor, tempted by high fees for granting them, encouraged the delusion. There was
probably, also, carelessness with regard to the channel through which the muniments
-of title passed, arising from the fact, that the lands, whether in New Hampshire or New
York, belonged to, and were granted by, the crown; and that, therefore, whatever might
be the political disposition of the country, the title to the soil would be unaffected. We
may add, that, some acts of the Royal councils, gavjs colour to the opinion, that, the ju
risdiction of New Hampshire had been extended west of the Connecticut river.
Even so early as 1749, Governor Benning Wentworth, had granted a township here,
and subsequently other tracts; but the war of 1754 interrupted the settlements. After
the conquest in 1760, the Governor directed a survey op the Connecticut river for 60 miles,
and three tiers of townships to be laid out upon each side of it. In 1763, his grants ex
tended to the shore of Lake Champlain. From the custonjary fees and donations, and
from the reservation of 500 acres in every township, to himself^ he accumulated a large
fortune. The rapid settlement of the country, awakened the envy and cupidity of the royal offi
cers of the colony of New York, who from larger fees would have derived greater emolu
ments than the Governor of New Hampshire had received.* Lt. Gov. Colden, issued a
proclamation reciting the title of the colony, and commanding the sheriff of Albany coun
ty, to return the names of all, who, under the New Hampshire grants, had taken posses
sion of lands, west of the river. But a counter proclamation of the Governor of New
Hampshire, controverted that title, and encouraged the settlers to proceed in their labours,
* The fees to the Governor of New Hampshire for granting a town, were about $100; in
New York, from $2000, to 2600. The quit rent reserved to the crown, in New Hampshire,
was 1 shilling the acre.

NEW YORK. , 95
by the promise of protection. New York applied to the Crown, representing the settlers
on the New Hampshire grants, as desirous to be included in that government, and ob
tained, July 20th, 1764, a royal order, that, "the western bank of the river Connecticut,
should be the boundary between her and New Hampshire."
The settlers, having no conception that this change of jurisdiction, could strip them of
their possessions, felt no interest in the decree, until, by giving it a retrospective operation,
New York sought to vacate the grants td them, when they beheld imminent danger of
losing the fruits of years of toil and anxiety.
The legislature of New York divided the district into four counties. The southwestern
part was annexed to Albany; the northwest formed the county of Charlotte; and the coun
try on the east of the Green mountains, the counties of Cumberland and Gloucester, —
The settlers were required to surrender their patents and to take others from New York,
for which large fees and rents were exacted. Some of the towns complied, but the major
part refused. New grants were consequently made of lands in the latter, and the occu
pants harassed by actions of ejectment, in which they had not a doubt of an adverse re
sult. But it was one thing to obtain judgment, and another to execute it. The people
associated in self defence, and the officers of the courts were forcibly deterred from exe
cuting their process. In vain the officers invoked the power of the county; the militia
refused to aid, what they deemed crimes of unprincipled speculators; and every attempt
to enforce obedience to the law, became highly perilous.
In these scenes of contention, Ethan Allen and Seth Warner were conspicuous actors.
They were men of resolute spirits, better qualified to maintain their conception of right
than to determine its justice. Allen held the sword and the pen; and though clumsy per
haps in the use of both, was feeble with neither. Warner with equal firmness, had more
coolness and steadiness, which increased his efficiency. Under their influence, an appli
cation was made to the crown for redress; and in 1767, his majesty required the governor
of New York, under pain of his highest displeasure, not to make any grant, of the dis
puted lands, until his further pleasure should be known. But the royal mandate was lit
tle regarded; and whilst the governors could obtain their fees, they continued to issue
warrants. In 1772, Governor Tryon made an attempt at accommodation, which proving
unsuccessful, he, in 1774, proceeded to London, principally with the view to obtain a re
vision of the whole matter by the king; whilst the provincial legislature sought to dis-
courage insurrection, by various penal enactments; extending the punishment of death,
to persons refusing to surrender themselves upon the governor's order; and making all
crimes committed on the grants, triable in the county of Albany; at the same time, a re
ward of £50 per head was offered for the apprehension of Allen, Warner, and six other
agitators. These measures, only increased the force and fierceness of the opposition,
On the 13th March, 1775, when the court of Cumberland oounty was about to convene,
the judges found the people in possession of the court house, with the purpose of exclud
ing them. They returned quietly to their quarters; but in the night, the sheriff and his
party, armed, made another attempt at entrance, and being opposed, fired upon the occu
pants, killing one and wounding several others. A coroner's inquest returned a verdict
of wilful murder; and several of the perpetrators were seized and imprisoned, but were
liberated, by an order of the chief justice of New York. In their indignation, the people
resolved, wholly, to renounce and to resist the administration of the government of New
York, until their lives and property could be secured, or until they could have his majes
ty's determination upon the subject.
Such was the posture of affairs in the northeastern section of the state, when the pro
gressive revolution absorbed all other interests, and directed the energies of the inhabi
tants of all the colonies for a season, exclusively, into one channel. For several years, no
civil government was established in Vermont; unless it were absolute democracy. The
people in mass, or by committees, organised resistance to that of New York, provided for
defence against British invasion, and for the maintenance of those' social relations which
are indispensable for the preservation of persons and property. It was true, Col. Skeene
had, with the approbation of some of the inhabitants, obtained a commission from the
King to be Governor of Crown Point, Ticonderoga, and the adjacent country; but the pro
posed extent of the New Colony was unknown, and the time was unpropitious for its es
tablishment. In this singular state, the people of the New Hampshire grants were found, at the declara
tion of independence, by congress. For them the declaration did nothing; as they had no in
tegral being upon which it could operate. By petition, in Jan., 1776°, they sought to obtain
from congress, some recognition of their independent existence; renouncing the authority
of New York, but proposing that congress when requiring their services should call upon
them as inhabitants of the New Hampshire grants; but congress recommended, present
submission to New York with a reservation of rights to be adjudicated at some future
moment of peace.

96 HISTORY OF
A disposition to form an independent government soon after became manifest, in con-
ventions holden in the following July and September: And in January, 1777„a general
convention proclaimed the territory a free and independent state, by the name of New
Connecticut, alias Vermont. This important measure was formally announced to the
continental congress, with a prayer that tije new state might be admitted into the
Union, -
This declaration of independence was held by New York to be a declaration of rebellion.
On January 20tb, 1777, A. Teh Broek, president of the provincial convention, remon,
strafed with the continental congress on the encouragement which had been given to the
rebels by a commission to Col. Warner, empowering him to raise a regiment independently
of New York. Other remonstrances against the action of congress in favour of Vermont,
were made in March and May following; and it was apparent that the people of New
York, now, took a deep interest in the question. In truth, the independence assumed by the
several states, had wholly changed the character of the subject. Previous to the revolution,
the contest on the part of New York, could scarcely be deemed other than a selfish effort of
the royal officers to obtain the power to regrant the royal lands, that they might enjoy the
resulting emoluments. The colony of New York had no interest in the soil, which
had been fairly^ though perhaps irregularly, purchased of the undisputed proprietor,
the King; and the purchasers, whilst possession was assured them, were disposed to sub
mit to the political authority of that colony.
But when New York became an independent state, it claimed all the rights of the
crown, including not only ungranted lands, but, also, the quit rents reserved on such as
had been granted. The people, therefore, of this state, had now an interest, in vacating all
grants in Vermont which had not been formally made, and in maintaining the rents on
tracts which had been duly granted. The stake of the Vermontese in the question, al
ready sufficiently deep, had been greatly enhanced by the assumption of independence.
If that were sustained, they not only established their right in the appropriated lands, but,
obtained for the state, to be exercised for their benefit, full power over all rents reserved,
and lands ungranted.
Congress (30th of June, 1777,) resolved, that none, of its proceedings were intended to
countenance any thing injurious to the rights of the states represented in it, as those
states stood at the time of its first institution: That the independent government of Ver
mont, could derive no justification from the declaration of independence by, or from any
other act of, congress: And, that the petition signed by Jonas Fay, Thomas Chittenden,
Heman Allen, and Reuben Jones, praying for the recognition of Vermont as an inde
pendent state, and for its admission into the Union be dismissed.
About this time, the new state was proffered an accession of territory and population,
that was in no small degree embarrassing. New Hampshire by the grant to Mason, was
originally limited by a line sixty miles distant from tbe sea. The land westward of that
line reaching to the Connecticut river, had been annexed, from time to time, by the royal
commissioners. Having no pretensions beyond that river, that state did not hesitate to
recognise the state of Vermont, entertaining no apprehension that, thereby, her own locks
might be shorn away. But the towns on the river had become desirous to form part of a
state which should have its centre and its capital upon the Connecticut; assuming that all the
acts of the crown subsequent to the grant to Mason, were annulled by the revolution, and,
that they were free to dissolve their connection with one government and to form, or unite
with, another, they petitioned the assembly of Vermont to receive them to her jurisdic
tion. That body, unfavourable to the application, was compelled by the instances of the
towns immediately on the west bank of the river, to refer it to the people, who deter.
mined, by a new election of members, in favour of the union. (June, 1778.)
New Hampshire remonstrated with Vermont on this proceeding, and endeavoured to
obtain the interposition of the continental congress; whose unanimous opinion against it
was reported to the assembly of Vermont in October, by Ethan Allen, who had been sent
to Philadelphia to ascertain their sense upon the subject. The assembly;discountenanced
further progress towards the union; in consequence of which the representatives of all
the eastern towns, and some of those west of the river, withdrew; and afterwards endea
voured to erect a new state, including the eastern towns, or to restore to New Hampshire
the full extent Of jurisdiction, she possessed before the royal order of 1764. But this pro
ject failed, and the Vermont assembly, 12th of February, 1779, formally dissolved the
union which had been formed with the New Hampshire towns.
But New Hampshire, not content with security against division, sought aggrandise
ment, by now setting up a claim, to the whole of the territory which had once been under
her jurisdiction; a groundless pretension, supposed to have been made with a view to a
division of the territory with New York. All the adjacent states seem to have deemed
Vermont a quarry to be run down and appropriated, as their several or joint interests

NEW YORK. 97
shoidd dictate ; for Massachusetts also advanced a claim to a large portion of the new
state, with less colour of right than belonged to New Hampshire.
In the mean time, the controversy with New York, became more acerbated. A con
siderable portion of the county of Cumberland acknowledged the authority of that state,
and prepared to support it by arms against General Allen, who proposed to establish by
military force the jurisdiction of Vermont Governor Clinton of New York, (June, 1779,)
communicated this alarming state of affairs to the General Congress, who appointed a
committee to compose the differences. But, before the committee was ready to act, Allen
had reduced the New York partizans to submission, capturing the force which had em
bodied in favour of New York. A renewed application to Congress, was followed by the
appointmentrof five commissioners, two of whom, Dr.Witherspoon and Mr. Atlee, repaired
to Vermont, but failed to effect a reconciliation.
All the contending parties had now appealed to Congress, and it became necessary for
that body to take further order upon the subject, but it seems to have sought nothing
more than a temporary pacification:* Recommending to Massachusetts, New Hamp
shire, and New York, to authorise congress to determine all differences relative to their
respective boundaries, and in case such authority was given, resolving to decide thereon,
on the first of February following; to the Vermontese, to abstain, in the mean time, from
exercising jurisdiction over such inhabitants of the district, as recognised the authority
of any of, the other slates; and to the three claiming states to suspend the execution of
their laws in the disputed territory, and to grant no unappropriated lands, or forfeited, or
confiscated,, estates, therein, until the final decision of congress in the premises.
New Hampshire and New York passed the requisite laws; Massachusetts did not;
with a view, it has been conjectured, of preserving Vermont from sacrifice by either, or
both of the other states. Vermont, however, could not submit to a policy which went to
establish four independent jurisdictions within her territory. She, therefore, December
10th, 1779, refused the arbitrement of congress, and denied the right of that body to in
terfere with the internal police of a state, not represented in, and no wise responsible to
it. Still, in June following, congress denounced the proceedings of Vermont as unwar
rantable, and subversive of the peace and welfare of the United States, and strictly en
joined that she should not exercise authority over persons professing allegiance to other

In answer to these resolutions, Chittenden, the Governor of Vermont, July 25th 1780,
reiterated the independence of the state; and asserted its rights, in its exclusion from the
Union, to offer or accept separate terms of accommodation with Great Britain; but again
proffered union with the United States. In September, congress heard the evidence on
the part of New Hampshire, but under a protest from the agents of Vermont; and, then
postponed further consideration of the subject; as any decision must offend some one of
the parties whose enmity would produce great injury to the Union.
With a pplicy certainly as justifiable as that of New Hampshire, Vermont now sought
to increase her power by extending her jurisdiction. A convention of the western
towns of New Hampshire, January, 1781, appointed a committee to confer with the
legislature of Vermont, on the terms of Union; whereupon the legislature, February 14th,
resolved, " to lay a jurisdictional claim to all the lands, whatever, east of Connecticut
river, north of the Massachusetts, west of the Mason, line, and south of Latitude 45°; and
that they do not exercise jurisdiction for the time being." Soon after, (Feb. 23d,) articles
of union were agreed upon with the convention of the New Hampshire towns. At the
same time; the legislature, petitioned by the inhabitants of the adjacent ports of New
York to protect them against the enemy in Canada, and to admit them into union with
Vermont, resolved, also, to " lay a jurisdictional claim to all the land north of the north
line of the state of Massachusetts, extending to the Hudson river, and thence by the river
to the head thereof; and thence east of a north line to Latitude 45°. And not to exercise
jurisdiction for the time being." The union was completed with 12 districts of New
York on the 16th June following.
Many circumstances had combined to produce this union; and the belief, which had
become prevalent, that, the leading men of Vermont were negotiating with the British,
propitiated the Royalists towards the New State. Such was now her condition, that she
had nothing to fear from the power or policy of her oppressors, and she no longer re
frained from making grants of the unappropriated lands within her jurisdiction. This
demonstration of strength incited the British agents to attempt her seduction from the
American Union. Overtures were made, in Maroh, 1 780, and February, 1781, by Be
verly Robinson, at New York, to Ethan Allen, which he communicated to congress.
Like overtures were made from Canada, by General Haldiman, to Governor Chittenden,
which led to secret and purposely indecisive negotiations by which Vermont preserved her
* September 24th, 1779.
13

98 HISTORY OF
territory from hostile intrusion during the remainder of the war. It is perhaps not pos
sible to justify this correspondence, but it is extenuated by the indisputable fact, that the
eight persons in Vermont,* to whom only it was known, were devoted to the American
cause; and employed the negotiation, only, as a shield, when they had no power to use
the sword.
This policy served them, not only with the enemy, but with the United States. A
letter from Lord George Germain to Sir Henry Clinton, dated February 7th, 1781, inter
cepted and published in Philadelphia, exposed the efforts and views of the British in re
lation to Vermont. The dread of the result extorted from congress an opinion much
more favourable to the pretensions of Vermont, than they had hitherto expressed. It was
resolved, that a committee of five, should confer with the agents of Vermont, on her
claim to independence, and the terms of her admission to the Union; that the agents of
New York and N. Hampshire should be invited to the conference. But, as an indispensable
preliminary to the recognition of the independence of Vermont, it was required, that she
should relinquish her claim to lands and jurisdiction, on the east of the Connecticut river,
and west of a line running from the N W. corner of the state of Massachusetts, twenty
miles E. of the Hudson river, so far as the river runs N. E. in its general course; thence
by the W. bounds of the townships, granted by New Hampshire, to the river running
from South Bay to Lake Champlain; < thence along the said river to Lake Champlain;
thence by the waters of Lake Champlain to Latitude 45° N. excepting a neck of land be-
tween Missiskoy bay and the waters of Lake Champlain.t But Vermont would not con
sent to submit the question of her independence to any arbitrament; though she readily
consented to refer the determination of her boundary to commissioners, and when admit
ted to the Union to submit any differences relative thereto to congress.
In these resolutions of congress, New York beheld a virtual decision on her claims.
She solemnly protested against the disposition of congress, from political expediency, to
establish an arbitrary boundary, which stripped her of a great part of her territory; against
the right of congress to intermeddle with the former territorial extent of jurisdiction, or
property of any state, except in eases of dispute between two or more states of the Union,
or to admit into the Union, any British colony, except Canada, without the consent-of nine
states, or any other state, much less one created by the dismemberment of one of the
primitive thirteen states: And declared an attempt to execute the resolutions, to be an as
sumption of power manifestly infracting the articles of confederation, and instructed her
delegates to enter their dissent on every step taken by congress relative thereto.
Both New Hampshire and New York, also demonstrated a disposition to resort to
force. In December, 1781, Vermont organised to resist both, and sent commissioners to
remonstrate with the former against measures which would dye the country in blood. —
General Gansevoort had already marched to enforce obedience to the laws of New York,
in Schaghticoke and Hoosic, where he was opposed by Col. Walbridge. Happily neither,
party was prone to violence and the influence of General Washington was seasonably ex
ercised, for pacification. In reply to a letter of Governor Chittenden, he suggested, that,
the withdrawal of the j urisdiction of Vermont to the confines of her proper district would
effectually terminate the dispute.
Under this conviction, the assembly of the state, on the 22d Febrnary, 1782, conformed
to the resolutions of congress, by the reduction of her boundaries, much to the dissatis
faction of the New Hampshire and New York towns. And having, thus, complied, they
despatched four agents and delegates to negotiate the admission of the state in congress,
two of whom were to represent her when admitted. A committee reported in favour of
the admission, but congress procrastinated the consideration of the report, indefinitely, and
the inhabitants of Vermont felt that they had been drawn into measures which essentially
diminished their strength.
The sources of contention, therefore, were still open. When Vermont sought to or
ganise a military force, she was resisted by persons in the S. E. part of the state, who
were encouraged by the inhabitants of New York. The leaders were arrested, five of the
most prominent were banished and others fined in due form of law. Having appealed
to the government of New York, without redress, the sufferers carried their complaint to
congress, where no definite measure was taken until the 5th December, 1782; when it was
resolved that, the proceedings of the state were derogatory to the authority of the United
States, and dangerous to the confederacy and required the immediate and decided interpo
sition of congress, for tho protection and relief of the sufferers: that the inhabitants be
required without delay to make ample restitution to them; and that the United States
would, in case of noncompliance, take effectual measures to enforce obedience.
* Thomas Chittenden, Moses Robinson, Samuel Safford, Ethan Allen, Ira Allen, Timo
thy Brownson, John Fasset, and Joseph Fay. .
•)• Resolutions of 7th and 20th August, 1781.

NEW YORK.

99

These minatory resolutions had no other effect in Vermont, than to provoke a sharp re
monstrance from the governor and council,* and subsequently another of like character
from the assembly; in which they reproached congress with a breadh of faith, under the
resolutions of Adgust, 1781; demonstrated the absence of right in the United States, un
der the articles of confederation, to interfere with the internal policy of any state, and
especially with that of Vermont, which belonged not to the Union; averred the right of
Vermont, to independence, to be equal to that of the United States, and her right to pre
scribe laws for the Union, to be as great as that, of the congress to legislate for her; de
clared that congress were pursuing like measures against Vermont, that Great Britain had
adopted against her colonies, and thus made the liberty and natural rights of mankind a
mere bubble, the sport of state politicians; that Vermont would maintain the independence
which her pebple had enjoyed since the first settlement of the country, and would not be
resolved out of them by the influence of her adversary, New York. To the threat of force,
they replied, that, they would appeal to the justice of his excellency General Washington;
and as ho and most of'the inhabitants of the contiguous states were favourable to the inde
pendence of Vermont, it would be more prudent for congress to refer the settlement of this
dispute to the states of New York and Vermont than to embroil the confederacy with it.
But supposing congress to have a judicial authority over the latter state, it was unjust they
urged, to exercise it upon an exparte hearing. The remonstrance concluded with the re
petition of the request for the admission of the state into the Union.
With the peace, which was established soon after, the anxiety of Vermontforthis union
ceased; for she was actually in a more enviable situation, than any of the United Colo
nies. She was unembarrassed by debt, and unperplexed by the calls of congress for
money; her government was duly and satisfactorily administered, and her , treasury was
replenished by the sales of the large tracts of valuable land, to the emigrants who flock
ed in from all the New England states. But when the benefits of the new federal consti
tution Were apparent, Vermont, became anxious to participate in them; and the northern
and eastern states, including New York, desirous to avail 'themselves of the influence in
the national councils, which her admission into the Union would give to this section of
the confederacy.
Swayed by ihe latter motive and not less by the more liberal one of completing the
Union, the legislature of New York, on the 15th July, 1789, appointed commissioners
with full powers to acknowledge the independence of Vermont, and to settle all matters
in controversy with her. These were promptly met by commissioners from the latter, and
on Oct. 7th, 1790, the commissioners of New York, by virtue of their powers, declared
the consent of the legislature, that the state of Vermont be admitted into the Union, and
that immediately thereupon, the jurisdiction of the state of New York should cease
within the state of Vermont, and that the perpetual boundary line between the two, should
be the W. line of the most western towns, granted by New Hampshire and the middle
channel of Lake Champlain.
The commissioners of New York further declared, that if the legislature of Ver
mont before the 1st January, 1792, should agree that on or before the 1st June, 1794,
that state would pay to New York the sum of thirty thousand dollars, that all right to
lands under grants from the government of the colony of New York, or from the state of
New York, should cease, those excepted which had been made in confirmation of the
grants of New Hampshire. The required act and declaration were made, on the 28th Oc
tober, 1790; and thus terminated a controversy which had endured for twenty six years,
and in which to the honour of the parties be it spoken, a single life, only, had been lost
New Hampshire had previously abandoned all her pretensions to territories west of the
Connecticut river. All obstacles to the admission of Vermont into the Federal Union having
been thus removed, she become one of the United States by a unanimous vote in con
gress, 18th February, 1791.
XXIII. The grant by the Duke of York to Berkeley and Carteret, extended New
Jersey " northward as far as the northernmost branch of the bay or river Delaware, which
is in 41° 40' of latitude, and thence in a straight line to Hudson river in 41° of latitude."
In 1719, under a commission appointed by Governor Hunter, the Fish kill was deter
mined to be the " northernmost branch of the Delaware," in Lat 41° 40' with a view to
settle the controversy between the East and West Jersey proprietors, relative to their
boundaries. The division line between the provinces of New York and New Jersey, re
mained long unsettled; and from the conflicting pretensions of the border inhabitants, dis
orders arose which required the frequent interposition of the respective colonial authori
ties. Many fruitless efforts were made to settle their disputes. In 1764, however, acts,
were passed in both provinces referring the subject to the King, by whom seven com.
missioners were appointed; who, meeting at New York, on the 18th July, 1769, deter.
* January 9th, 178S.

100 HISTORY OF
mined that the boundary should be a straight and direct line, not from the station point,
as fixed by the commission of 1719, but from the mouth of the Mackackamack river,
(Nevesink,) at its junction with the Delaware, in Lat. 41° 21' 37", to Lat. 41* on
Hudson river.
This was a determination, however, of only part of the boundary between the two
states. New York claimed title to and jurisdiction over " the whole waters lying between
the respective states, including shores, roads and harbours within the natural territorial
limits of New Jersey." While New Jersey asserted, that, the eastern boundary of that
state passed through the Narrows, and consequently included Staten Island.
From these pretensions vexatious conflicts arose relative to jurisdiction. But no effort
was successful for their termination, until the 16th September, 1833, when the commis
sioners for the two states fixed the boundary line, " from a point in the middle of Hudson
river, opposite the point on the west shore thereof, in the 41° of north latitude to the
main sea, to be the middle of said river, of the bay of New York and the waters between
Staten Island and New Jersey, and of Raritan bay, to the main sea," with certain excep-
tions specially set forth in the agreement. (See State Laws, 1834, p. 8.)
XXIV. The articles of confederation adopted by congress, on the 17th November, 1777,
were approved by the assembly of this state on the 6th February, 1778. Much difficulty
was experienced in obtaining the ratification of this instrument, in several of the states.
Among other things it was objected that the large tracts of unappropriated or waste land
which lay in some of the states, were held as exclusive property by such states, when, as
they must be acquired by joint endeavours, they should be the common property of the
Union. The state of New York, to manifest her regard for her . sister states and her
earnest desire to accelerate the federal alliance, generously passed an act, on the 19th
February, 1780, empowering her delegates in congress, to restrict the boundaries of the
state in such manner as they should think expedient, conveying the territory to be ceded
with or without the jurisdiction. Under this act, Messrs. Duane, Floyd, and McDougall,
conveyed to the United States, the tract known as the Triangle, lying west of Chautauque
town, and north of the northern line of Pennsylvania, continued to Lake Erie; and which
subsequently was purchased by Pennsylvania, that she might obtain a front upon the
lake. *
By an agreement between the provincial governments of Pennsylvania and New York,
the line between the two states was partly determined by commissioners in 1774. It was
fully and finally run, by James Clinton and Simeon De Witt, commissioners from this
state, and Andrew Ellicott, from Pennsylvania, in the years 1786 and 1787.
XXV, In the convention which adopted the federal constitution, New York was repre
sented by Alexander Hamilton* and Robert Yates, chief justice.
* Mr. Hamilton, whilst yet a student of Kings college, engaged in the revolutionary con
test with great ardour and with ability, rarely surpassed by one so young. He first entered
the arena at 17 years of age, addressing copiously and ably the public meeting convened in
New York, preparatory lo the election of the first provincial congress. He distinguished
himself soon after, by a pamphlet, in support of the Whig cause, entitled, " A full vindi
cation of the Measures of Congress, from the calumnies of their Enemies, in answer to a
letter under the signature of a Westchester Farmer, 1774;" by another, called " The Far
mer refuted," 1775; and by a third, styled, " Remarks on the Quebec Bill." He became a
member of the volunteer corps called the " Hearts of Oak," and participated with it in the
removal of the cannon from the Battery. He was appointed, on the 14th March, 1776, by
the recommendation of Col. McDougal, captain of a provincial company of artillery. He
was engaged in the battle of Long Island, and in the sunsequent military operations, at the
head of his company, until the 1st March, 1777, when at the invitation of General Washing
ton, he entered his family as aid de camp, with the rank of Lt. Colonel, to the exclusion, it
is said, of Col. Aaron Burr, who aspired to the same station. During four years that he
held this post, he was alike distinguished in the council and the field. He brilliantly ter
minated his military career by storming one of the redoubts at Yorktown.
Mr. Hamilton was not a native of New York; he was born in the Island of Nevis. Bat
from the year 1.774, he was inseparably blended with the great men of that state who, by
their swords and their pens, contributed to the accomplishment of the revolution. And we
may here remark, that no state in the Union furnished abler coadjutors in this great work.
To the army, she gave Generals Montgomery, Schuyler, McDougal, the brothers, George
and Jarn.es Clinton; Colonels Gansevoort, Willet, Van Cortland, and Van Schaick. And to
fee civil department, she supplied Jay, G. Morris, Robert R. Livingston, George Clinton,
Hamilton, McDougal, Duane, J. M. Scott, Gansevoort, Ten Broeck, Yates, Benson, Duer,
Piatt, Van Cortlandt, Hobart, and many others, scarce less distinguished.
The continental service was unfortunately deprived of the aid of General Schuyler, after
he bad by consummate ability prepared the way for the capture of Burgoyne. This mis
fortune is ts be ascribed to the prejudice entertained against him by the New England peo
ple, and to their predilection for General Gates. The abandonment of T iconderoga, by

NEW YORK. 101
In no state of the confederacy was hostility to this instrument more extensive or more
violent than in this. Except in the city and one or two of the adjacent counties, public
opinion was generally opposed to it. The papers since collected in the volumes called
the Federalist, written by Messrs. Madison, Hamilton, and Jay, together with a pamphlet
prepared by the last, contributed, in some measure, to diminish and remove the prevail
ing prejudice. Yet, in the State Convention, assembled at Poughkeepsie, on the 17th
June, 1788, of which Governor Clinton was President, of fifty-seven delegates, no less
than forty-six, embracing the Governor, and some of the most distinguished citizens
of the state, were anti.Federalist In support of the constitution, however, Messrs. Jay,
Livingston, Hamilton, and others were strenuous and successful advocates, and aided by
the accession of New Hampshire and Virginia, to the states which had previously adopt
ed the constitution, they procured the vote of the New York convention, by a majority of
three, on the final question of ratification on the 26th of July, 1788. Thus establishing a
Union, which every friend of freedem and happiness must wish to be perpetual.
General St. Clair, erroneously ascribed to the order of General Schuyler, a measure uot
the less wise, because it was hastily and violently condemned, inflamed the public mind
against the General. The injustice which he suffered did not for a moment abate his zeal
for the cause in which he perilled a large fortune with his life. In congress, in the state
legislature, in the committees of his fellow citizens, he was distinguished alike by energy
and wisdom. He gave himself to his country wherever he could be useful, and received
the reward of a high and spotless fame.

APPENDIX TO HISTORY.

Members of Provincial Convention, 22d May, 1775.
City and County of New York. — L. Lispenard, J. Law, Abraham Walton, Isaac Roose-
velt, Abraham Brasher, Alexander McDougal, P. V. B. Livingston, James Beekman,
John Morin Scott, Thomas Smith, Benjamin Kissam, Samuel Verplank, David Clarkson,
George Folliot, Joseph Hallet, John Van Cortlandt, John De Lancey, Richard Yates,
John Marston, Walter Franklin, Jacobus Van Zandt, (21.)
Albany. — P. V. Douw, R. Yates, Abraham Yates, Jacob Cuyler, Peter Sylvester, D.
Swart Walter Livingston, R. Van Rensselaer, H. Glenn, Abraham Ten Broeck, Francis
Nicholl. Dutchess. — Dirk Brinkerhoff, Andrew Hoffman, Z. Piatt, Richard Montgomery, (after
wards General,) E. Pain, Gilbert Livingston, Jonathan Langdon, Gysbert Schenk, Meln.
Smith, N. Sacket
Ulster. — Col. John Hardenburg, Egbert Drummond, Christopher Tappan, J. Hornbecjt,
Col. James Clinton, Dr. Charles Clinton, John Nicholson.
Orange.— John Coe, David Rye, Michael Jackson, Benjamin Tusler, Peter Clows, Wm.
Allison, Col. Abraham Lent, John Haring.
Suffolk.— Col. Nathaniel Woodhull, John Sloss Hobart, Ezra L. Hommedieu, Thomas
Wickham, Thomas Tredwell, John Foster, James Havens, Selah Strong.
Richmond. — Paul Michaen, John Journey, Aaron Corblyon, Richard Conner, Major
Richard Lawrence.
Westchester. — Gouverneur Morris, L. Graham, Colonel J. Van Cortlandt, Stephen Ward,
Joseph Drake, Major P. Van Cortlandt, Colonel James Holmes, David Drayton, John
Thomas, jr. Robert Graham, Wm. Paulding. ^
Kings. — Johannes E. Lott, Henry Williams, J. Remsen, Richard Stillwell, Theodorus
Polhemus, John Lefferts, Nicholas Covenhoven, John Van Derbilt.
Queens.— Col. Jacob Blackwell, Capt. Jonathan Lawrence, Daniel Rapalje, Zeb. Wil
liams, Samuel Townsend, Joseph French, Joseph Robinson, Nathaniel Tom, Thomas
Hicks, Richard Thorn.
Charlotte. — Dr. John Williams, William Marsh.

102 APPENDIX TO HISTORY.
II.
Members of the Convention which framed the Constitution of 1777. Those whose
names are in italics did not attend.
New y'ork. — John Jay, James Duane, John Morrin Scott, James Beekman, Daniel
Dunscorab, Robert Harper, Philip Livingston, Abraham P. Lott, Peter P. Van Zandt,
Anthony Rutgers, Evert Bancker, Isaac Stoutenbergh, Isaac Roosevelt, John Van Court-
landt, William Denning — 15 ; Jacobus Van Zandt, Abraham Brashier, Comfort Sands,
Henry Remsen, Garrit Abeel, John Broome — 6.
Albany.— Abraham Ten Broeck, Robert Yates, Leonard Gansevoort, Abraham Yates,
jun., John Ten Broeck, John Tayler, Peter R. Livingston, Robert Van Rensselaer, Mat
thew Adgate, John I. Bleecker, Jacob C'uyler — 11.
Dutchess. — Robert R. Livingston, Zephaniah Piatt, John Schenck, Jonathan Landon,
Gilbert Livingston, James Livingston, Henry Schenck — 7 ; Nathaniel Sackett, Dr. Crane,
Mr. Hopkins — 3.
Ulster. — Christopher Tappen, Matthew Rea, Matthew Cantine, Charles De Witt, Arthur
Parks — 5 ; Levi Pawling, Henry Wisner, jr. — 2.
Westchester. — Pierre Van Courtlandt, Gouverneur Morris, Gilbert Drake, Lewis Gra
ham,  Lockwood, Zebedjah Mills, Jonathan Piatt, Jonathan G. Tompkins — 8 ; Lewis
Morris, William Paulding, Mr. Haveland — 3.
Orange. — William Allison, Henry Wisner, Jeremiah Clarke, Isaac Sherwood, Joshua
H. Smith — 5 ; John Haring, Mr. Little, David Pye, Thomas Outwater — 4.
Suffolk. — William Smith, Thomas Treadwell, John Sloss Hobart, Matthias .Burned
Miller, Ezra L'Hommedieu — 5; Nathaniel Woodhull, Thomas Deering, David Gelston — 3.
Queens. — Jonathan Lawrence — 1 ; Reverend Mr. Kettletas, Samuel Townsend, James
Townsend, Mr. Van Wyck, Col. Blackwell — 5.
Tryon. — William Harper, Isaac Paris, Mr. Veeder, John Moore, Benjn. Newkirk — 5.
Charlotte. — John Williams, Alexander Webster, William Duer — 3.
Cumberland. — Simeon Stephens — 1 ; Joseph Marsh, John Sessions — 2.
Gloucester. — Jacob Bayley, Peter Olcott — 2.
Kings and Richmond. — It does not appear from any entry on the journals, or from any
papers now to be found, that the members elected in these two counties, (if any,) ever
atttended the provincial congress, or the convention, after the 30th June, 1776. Before
that period Messrs. Bancker and Lawrence were in the provincial congress, from Rich
mond ; and in the month of June, 1776, Messrs. Journey, Conner, and Cortelyou were
occasionally attending from Richmond, and Messrs. Lefferts, Polhemus, and Covenhoven,
from Kings.

GAZETTEER

STATE OF NEW YORK

GAZETTEER OF NEW YORK.
BOOK I.
GENERAL PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE.

CHAPTER I.
GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION AND SURFACE.
1. Geographical Position. 2. General Boundaries. 3. Great interest of the Topography
of the State. 4. Concise notice of the Appalachian System of Mountains. 5. Extension
of that System over the State of New York, Subdivisons, Western, Eastern, Tables of
Heights and Distances from the Hudson River to Lake Erie. 6. The Kaatsbenjs. 7.
The South Mountains or Highlands. 8. The Tagheanic, Matteawan, and Peterbo
rough Mountains. 9. The Northern Subdivision of the Mountain System — Palmertown,
Kayaderosseras, Clinton, Peru, Chateaugua, Mountains — Highlands of Black River —
Hassencleaver Mountain. 10. Vales and Plains — Seneca and Oneida Vale — Monte
zuma Marshes — Great Plain of the West — Plain of Long Island.
1. The state of New York lies between 40° 30' and 45° north latitude; and
between 5° 05' East, and 2° 55' West, longitude from the city of Washington.
Its extreme length, east and west, including Long Island is 408, and exclusive
of thatlsland 340, miles. Its greatest breadth north and south, 310 miles. Area,
comprehending the whole surface, excepting the waters of the large lakes,
29,220,936 acres, or 45,658 square miles.*
2. The state is bounded, Southeast, by the Atlantic Ocean ; South, by New
Jersey and Pennsylvania; West, by Pennsylvania, Lake Erie and Niagara river;
Northwest, by Lake Ontario, and St. Lawrence river ; North, by Lower Canada ;
and East, by Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut. The boundaries are spe
cially defined by the revised laws, vol. i, p. 61.
3. The Topography has many interesting and peculiar features. The great
lakes and their outlets on the North and West, the line of water communication
formed by the Hudson and Lake Champlain upon the East — the connected series
of small lakes in the interior, with the large streams which rise in the middle of
the state and pass through its southern boundary — give diversity to its surface
and facility of internal navigation, possessed, perhaps, by no other section of
country of equal extent.
4. The eastern portion, or Atlantic slope of the United States, is separated from
the central valley of the Mississippi, by a continuous ridge of land extending from
Alabama to the south shore of Lake Ontario, which is the true water shed of the
country; determining the course of the rivers falling into the Atlantic, on the one
side, and the Mississippi on the other. It has * mean height of about 2500 feet,
and cannot be crossed, it is said, at any point, south of the State of New York, by
an elevation of less than 2000 feet above the Ocean level. Upon the acclivities of
this ridge are based an indeterminate number of spurs, hills, and collateral subor
dinate ridges, which often rise to a much greater height than the crest of the
water shed. But these ridges are not continuous, and are often cut through by the
Atlantic rivers. They have, however, nearly, the same direction as the main
*By the report of the comptroller, January, 1836, the assessment rolls give 27,680,839
acres, or 43,251 square miles. This estimate excludes, the lakes and lands not taxable.
1

2 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
ridge; and, in passing through North Carolina and Virginia, assume the form of
four principal ranges nearly parallel to each other.
The three westernmost, mingling together in the northern part of Pennsyl
vania, form a chain which diverges eastwardly from the water shed, and, in
passing through New York, occupies the space between Seneca lake and the
Hudson river. At first sight, it appears to terminate at the valley of the Mohawk;
but soon rises again on the north side of the river, forming the mountain district
between Ontario and Champlain; is afterwards cut through by the valley of the
latter, and continues towards the sources of the Connecticut. _ The remaining
range, separated from the others, and suddenly turning to the East in Pennsylvania,
crosses New Jersey and is bisected by the Hudson, at West Point; where it
forms the Highlands of the river. Thence, it passes to the North, in nearly a
straight line, dividing the waters of the Hudson from those of the Connecticut.
At the sources of the latter, it mingles with the other mountain ridges, and, with
them, bending to the Northeast, may be traced to the coast of Labrador.
The opening between these ridges forms a long deep and narrow valley, in
which flows that part of the Hudson river, between West Point and Glen's Falls,
and the whole of Lake Champlain. South of this state, the several collateral
ridges are traversed by the Susquehanna, the Potomac, and other streams, of less
magnitude, which rise near the crest of the water shed, and flow rapidly to the
ocean. This circumstance, said to be peculiar to the topography of our country,
has given rise to the hope of finding practicable canal passes through the river
valleys, from the waters of the Atlantic to the Mississippi : but the water shed is
supposed to present every where an insuperable barrier, unless near the head
waters of the West Branch of the Susquehanna river.
As a whole, these mountains bear the name cf the Appalachian System. The
parallel ridges are generally known as the Alleganies ; but in their course have
received different local names ; as the Blue Ridge, in Virginia ; Catskill, in New
York; and the White Mountains, in New Hampshire.
5. The Appalachian system covers the principal part of the state ; the moun-
tains'appearing to be only partially interrupted by the valleys of rivers, or depressed
by the basins of lakes. The most important depressions of surface are the great
basins of Lakes Erie and Ontario, and the long narrow valley which contains the
Hudson river and Lake Champlain. The valleys of Ontario and the Hudson are
connected by that of the Mohawk river, and the Oneida lake; and, with it, sepa
rate the mountain system of the state into three great divisions. The first and
largest fills the space south of the Mohawk river and Ontario valley, and between
the Hudson river and Lake Erie; the second lies north of the Mohawk, and
between Lake Champlain and the east end of Lake Ontario ; the third comprises
a part of the mountain range on the east side of the Hudson river.
The first division is separated into two parts by the basins of Seneca and Cayuga
lakes, and by an elevated valley extending from the head of the former to the val
ley of the Chemung or Tioga river, at Elmira.
_ The western subdivision, between Seneca lake and Lake Erie, contains that por
tion of the mountain system denominated the water-shed, which, in Pennsylvania
and New York, forms a table land of 2000 feet mean elevation. Its highest part
comprises the counties of Steuben, Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauque. North
of these, it begins to decline, and finally descends by three principal steps to its
termination on the south shore of Lake Ontario. The great elevation and geo
graphical importance of this table land may be inferred from the fact, that it sends
forth streams which find the ocean, at points almost as distant as the extremities
of the continent. The head branches of the Allegany, the Genesee, and the Sus
quehanna, interlock in the county of Allegany, whilst they, respectively, pour their
waters into the sea, at the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Chesapeake Bay, and the
Gulf of Mexico. But the following heights, from actual survey, will give a more
definite idea of its general elevation.
Chautauque lake, the largest sheet of water on this table, and the most elevated
of its size in the United States, is 1291, or, according to the report on the Erie Rail
road survey, 1305 feet, above the ocean, and 740 above, though only 9 miles dis
tant from, Lake Erie. It sends its waters to the ocean along the western declivity
of the water-shed, through the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. The lowest pass to
the east, over a swell of land near Casadaga outlet in Chautauque county, is 1720

MOUNTAINS. d
feet high, and another pass in the same swell is 1972 feet. The lowest niche in
the height of land between Elm and Little Valley creeks, in Cattaraugus county,
is 1725 feet, and between Little Valley and Big Valley, the lowest pass is 2180
feet above the level of the tide. The valley of the Allegany, cutting the ridge
transversely, rises from 1250 to 1419 feet above the ocean. Pranklinville has an
elevation of 1580, and Angelica, 1428, feet, although both are situated in valleys.'
This height of land extends close to the shore of Lake Erie ; the head waters
of the Alleghany, rising within four or five miles of the lake. The surface is not
broken, but consists of large swells, between which broad shallow valleys inter
vene. The principal depression is the valley of the Genesee river, which may be
considered as an arm of the Ontario valley, extending into the state of Pennsyl
vania. The extreme southern branches of this river are elevated, it is said, more
than 2500 feet above tide.
The space between Seneca lake and the Hudson, and south of the Mohawk, con
tains the three, united ranges already mentioned. The surface is much more une
ven than that we have described, being broken into many ridges. The highest,
that of the Kaatsbergs, bounds the valley of the Hudson on the west, and rises,
in places, nearly 4000 feet. The principal depressions of surface in this subdivi
sion, are the valleys of the Susquehanna, of the Delaware, and of their several
branches. The Chemung river, the main part of the Susquehanna, and the Dela
ware river, when viewed in connection with each other, present an almost entire
water course, extending along the Pennsylvania line, from Painted Post; in Steu
ben County, to thenorthwest angle of the state of New Jersey, interrupted, only,
by the space between the Delaware and the Susquehanna. The valleys in which
they flow cross the mountains in an east and west direction ; but their tributaries,
the branches of the Susquehanna, the Unadilla, and the Chenango rivers, the
Owego and Cayuga creeks, and several smaller streams, descend to the South, and
intersect the principal valleys in a remarkable manner, nearly at right angles with
their general course. These streams all rise on a narrow table land, a little south
of the line of the Erie canal, which may be traced, between heads of others, flow
ing, north and south, in an interrupted course from the Kaatsbergs to the head of
Seneca lake, and thence, with the exception of the Genesee river, westward to
Lake Erie.
Along the summit of this table are many small lakes, which give a peculiar
character to the region. The first of these, from the East, and the largest, is Ot
sego lake, from which, flows the Susquehanna river — a beautiful expanse of
water, surrounded by hills, nine miles in length, three in breadth, and 1193 feet
above the ocean. Schuyler's lake, also giving a branch to the Susquehanna, lies
west of the Otsego lake, in the same county; and is supposed to have an elevation
of not less than 1200 feet. The other lakes worthy of note, on this table land, are
Cazenovia, Skaneatelas, and Owasco. They are on the northern declivity, and
discharge their waters to the North : The first is 900, the second 840, and the
last 670, feet above the ocean. They are all several hundred feet above the high
est level of the Erie canal, and form inexhaustible reservoirs to supply it.
The following tables of heights and distances across the country, from three points
on the Hudson to the village of Bath, in Steuben county, and thence to lake Erie,
give a correct view of the configuration of the surface of the southern part of the
state. The distances, in the two first, are on straight lines from point to point,
measured on the map; the heights are abstracted from the surveys made by direc
tion of the commissioners appointed to explore the route of a state road through
the south tier of counties, in 1825, and in the third, from the survey of the Erie
Rail Road. It must, however, be observed, that, these heights are of the lowest
passes, near the line of direction, and are consequently less than the general
height of the respective ridges.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

No. 1.
TABLE of Elevations and Distances from the village of Catskill, on
Bath, in Steuben county, and thence to lake Erie.
Miles. Rises
From Cattskill to Madison Village, - 4
Cairo, ... .... 7 11
Shinglekill at Cairo, - ... - - 11
Cattskill mountain summit, - - - 13 24
Valley of the Schoharie, at Gilboa, - - - 10 34
Head waters of the Delaware, - - - - 10 44
Delhi, on the Delaware, - - - - - 18 62
Height between the Delaware and Susquehanna - 5 67
Susquehanna river at the junction of the Oleout creek, 17 84
Unadilla river, 1 mile above junction with Susque
hanna, - ... .-5 89
Between Unadilla and Chenango, - - 6 95
Valley of the Chenango, at Oxford, - - - 6 101
Between Chenango, and Tioughnioga, - - 13 114
Valley of Tioughnioga, atthe junction of the Otselic, 6 120
Between Tioughnioga and Owego creek, - - 8 128
Valley of the Owego, at Richford, - - - 7 135
Between the Owego and Cayuga valley, 4 139
Valley of the Cayuga at Ithaca, ... 10 149
Between Cayuga valley and Seneca inlet, at Cathe
rine landing, ------- 11 160
Catherine landing, ...... 7 167
Between Seneca valley and Mud creek, a branch
of Conhocton, ------ 9 176 rises
Valley of Mud creek, 1 mile below Mud lake, - 4 180 falls
Between Mud creek and Conhocton, 6 186 rises
Conhocton valley, at the village of Bath, - 4 190 falls
Between Conhocton and Canisteo, - - - 7 197 rises
Canisteo valley, at Arkport, - - - 9 206 falls
Between the Canisteo and Genesee, - 8 214 rises
Genesee Valley at Angelica, - - - - 10 224 falls
Between the Genesee valley and Oil creek, - - 13 237 rises
Oil creek valley, a tributary of the Allegany, - 2 239 falls
Between Oil creek and Ellicottville, - - - 12 251 rises
Ellicottville, on a tributary of the Allegany, - 8 259 falls
Between Ellicottville and the Conewango, - - 3 262 rises
Conewango valley, at the junction of Clear creek, 15 277 falls
Between Conewango valley and Chautauque lake, 8 285 rises
Chautauque lake,  18 303 falls
Between Chautauque and lake Erie, - - 1 304 rises
Lake Erie, at Portland Harbour, 7 311 falls

rises falls
rises fallsrises falls
rises falls
fallsrises
falls rises falls
rises
falls
rises
falls rises
falls

the Hudson, to
Feet. 184
226 410
40 370
1542 1912
742 1170
716 1886
504 1384
759 2143
1143 1000

27
657
669 133159
445
235
2T5
962 849
801
1188 528 463479750 646
868634 59 39
696
630 621885716675 61
787

973
1630 961
1094 935
13801095
1370 403
1257 456
1644
1116 15791090
18401194
2062 14281487 1448
2144 1514
2135 1250196612911352 565

No. 2.
TABLE of Elevations and Distances from the Hudson, near Kingston, to the village
of Bath, Steuben county. Miles. Feet.
From Hudson river, at the Rondout, to Kingston, - 2 rises 188 188
Wawarsing, -.  21 23 — 123 311
Sullivan county line, on the Rondout, - - 10 33 — 462 773
Height between the Rondout and Nevisink, - 6 39  896 1669
Neyisink river,  2^ 411 falls 357 1312
Height between the Nevisink and Beaverkill, - 2J. 44 rises 768 2080
Junction of Beaverkill and E. branch of the Dela-
T wa?e>  24 68 falls 1062 1018
Junction of the E. and W. branches of the Delaware, 7 75  96 922
Deposit, on W. branch of Delaware, - - - 11 86 rises 82 1004

MOUNTAINS.
No. 2  Continued.

5

Miles. Feet.
Height Tietween Delaware and Susquehanna, - 6 92 rises 684 1688
Susquehanna, at Windsor,  4 96 falls 741 947
Height across the great bend of the Susquehanna, 5 101 rises 610 1557
Binghampton, on the Susquehanna, - - - 9 110 falls 721 836
Oweco, on the Susquehanna, - - - - 18 128 — 32 804
State line above Tioga Point, - - - - 15 143 — 19 785
Newton, on the Chemung or Tioga, - - - 13 156 rises 51 836
Painted Post,atthe junction of Tiogaand Conhocton, 14 170 — 106 942
Bath, on the Conhocton,  17 187 — 148 1090
No. 3.
TABLE of Elevations above the Hudson, on the line of the Erie Hail Road.
Feet above the
Hudson river.
Cheechunk creek, near Goshent Orange county, - 377
Top of Shawangunk mountain, Deerpark, ------ 875
Level near Delaware and Hudson Canal, -*-..-- 525
Summit 107 miles from Hudson river, »..---- 1424
Level near Deposit, ---------- 996
Bettsburg summit, - 1430
Binghampton, -.-.------- 836
Susquehanna river, at the mouth of the Chenango, - 819
Susquehanna river, at Owego, -------- 783
Susquehanna river, at Pennsylvania state line, - - - 745
Summit between Susquehanna and Chemung rivers, - - - - 835
Chemung river, Pennsylvania state line, ------ 756
Chemung river, at Elmira,  833
Chemung river, above the dam at Chimney Narrows, ... 912
Conhocton river, at Painted Post, ...--.- 921
Canisteo river, at the village of Addison, - - - - 964
Canisteo river, at the mouth of Bennet's creek, - - - - - 1112
Canisteo river, at Homellsville, -...--- 1172
Caneadea creek, at the village of Almond, - - - - - 1310
Caneadea creek, at Baker's bridge, ------- 1579
Summit of South Valley between Baker's bridge and Andover, - - 1797
Summit of M'Henry's or Carr's valley, - - ... 2054
Summit of Major's valley,  2092
Summit of Knight's or North valley (by state road survey) - - 2472
Genesee river, at the mouth of Dike's creek, above dam, - - - 1482
Genesee river, at the mouth of Van de Mark's creek, - - - - 1436
Genesee river, at the mouth of Philip's creek, ----- 1356
Genesee river, at the mouth of Van Camp's creek, .... 1333
Genesee river, at the mouth of Angelica creek, ----- 1291
Summit between the valley of Van Camp's creek and Oil creek, - 1678
Summit between the valleys of Black creek and Oil creek, - - - 1489
Summit between the valleys of Knight's creek and Little Genesee, - 1956
Allegany river, at the mouth of the Oswaya river, ... - 1419
Allegany river, at Olean Point, - .... - X403
Allegany river, at the mouth of Great Valley creek, .... 1366
Allegany river, at the mouth of Little Valley creek, - - - - 1352
Allegany river, at the mouth of Cold Spring creek, - - - 1311
Allegany river, at the mouth of Van Horn's run, - 1281
Summit between Little Valley creek and Connewango creek, between
Matteson's and Gay's,  1709
Alder Bottom summit of Little Valley creek, - 1600
Summit between Cold Spring creek and Little Conewango creek, - 1420
Summit between Van Horn's run and Connewango (Covey's Springs) 1548
Junction of Great and Little Connewango creeks, .... 1260
Connewango creek at the village of Waterboro', - - * - - 1355

O GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
Casadaga creek, one mile below Plumb's mills, .... 1231
Chautauque lake --------- 1305
Bear lake,  - 1312
Mud lake,  1366
Stillson's lake,  1338
Summit between Chautauque lake and lake Erie, .... 1351
Summit between Bear lake and lake Erie, ..... 1320
Summit between Mud lake and lake Erie, ..... 1397
Lake Erie,  569£
It is apparent, from these tables, that the mountain system covers the Southern
part of the state, between the Hudson river and Lake Erie. The northern section,
by table No. 1, exhibits a mean elevation of 1300 feet, and presents no heightless
than 935 feet, except at its extremities, and in the deep ravines of the Cayuga and
Seneca lakes. Had the survey line passed a few miles south of the head of the
latter lake, the lowest point would have been 885 feet, at the bottom of the valley
extending from the Seneca lake to the Chemung river. The southern section from
the village of Kingston, to Bath, passes for a considerable distance, within a
few miles of the Pennsylvania line, and through the east and west valleys of the
two great branches of the Susquehanna. The six last heights of table No. 2,
give a mean elevation to this valley of 900 feet; its lowest point apparent by the
rail road survey, is at the Susquehanna on the Pennsylvania line, and is 745 feet
above tide. The mountains on each side rise from 500 to 1000 feet higher.
The eastern portion of this southern division of the Appalachian system lying
west of the Hudson, including the Kaatsbergs, merits special consideration.
6. The Kaatsberg enters this state from New Jersey, under the name of the
Shawangunk mountain. It is known in New Jersey as the Blue Mountain, and in
Pennsylvania as the Kittatinney. Its range is the most continuous of the Appala
chian chains, and preserves great uniformity of height, varying, however, from
1500 to 2000 feet above the ocean. It is broken through by the Susquehanna near
Harrisburg|; the Schuylkill, at Hamburg, in Berks county, Pennsylvania; the Le
high in Northampton county; and the Delaware, on the line between Pennsylva
nia and New Jersey. It enters Orange county, forming the east boundary of the
valleys of the Nevisink river and Bashe's kill— passes thence into Ulster county,
dividing the valleys of the Shawangunk and Wallkill rivers, from that of the Ron
dout, and sinks to near the general level of the country, at the junction of the
Rondout and' Wallkill. It is not, however, wholly discontinued here; but may
be traced to the neighbourhood of Kingston, in low swells, approaching the Hud
son at an angle of about 35°, and separating the Rondout from the Esopus creek.
Rising again, rapidly, north of the Esopus, the ridge receives the name of
" Kaatsberg;" and receding by about the same angle, from the Hudson northwest,
runs through Greene county; where it bifurcates, sending one branch west, into
Delaware county, and another northwest, along the line of Delaware and Scho
harie counties, and the line of Schoharie and Otsego counties, to their northern
boundary, at their junction with Montgomery county ; whence turning west, under
the names of Mount Independence and Otsquake hill,&c, it continues, by an irre
gular course, through Madison, Onondaga, Cortland, and Cayuga counties. In the
last, it is broken by the Cayuga lake, and in Seneca county, by the Seneca lake; —
or it may, perhaps, be properly said, that curving round the heads of these lakes,
and of Crooked lake, it dips south, into Tompkins, Tioga, and Steuben counties.
Thence rising north to the southern boundary of Yates and Livingston, it runs
across the north part of Allegany and south part of Genesee, and over Cattaraugus
and Chautauque, counties, to the borders of Lake Erie, along which it has a south
west course into Pennsylvania.
In all this route, it is the water shed of the country, with the singular exception
of the Genesee river, which breaks through it North of Kingston, it divides the
waters of the Hudson and the Delaware; east of Otsego county, those of the
Delaware and Susquehanna from the Mohawk; and west of Madison county, those
of the Susquehanna and Allegany from those of the St. Lawrence basin.
The height of this extraordinary ridge is variable; at the Shawangunk 2000; at
Pine Orchard 3000; and at the High Peak towering to 3804 feet. In Schoharie
county, near the source of the Delawara river, it sinks to 2400 feet; and at Mount

MOUNTAINS. '
Independence and Osquake to 2100; at the head of the Chenango river to 1200;
between the Cayuga and Seneca lakes to 1200, and in some places 1400; at Port-
ageville, on the Genesee river, to 1300, and at the Chautauque ridge, north of Bear
lake, 1305 feet. The lateral ridges running, south, frequently rise higher than the
spine, especially, in the central and western parts of the state; but those tending
north toward the' Mohawk liver are lower; and those in Sullivan and Ulster coun
ties extending to the Delaware, are irregular in their form and course and also
lower. The last ridges are commonly known as the Blue Mountains. Between
them and the Shawangunk is a broad valley drained by the Rondout creek and its
tributaries. 7. The southern chain of hills, in this southeastern section, runs parallel with
the Shawangunk or Kittatinny as it enters the state from New Jersey. It may be
distinctly traced through Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, and is known in
all by the name of the South Mountain; but in New Jersey it has the local names
of Musconetcong, Schooley's, Hamburg, and Wallkill mountains; and in New
York, west of the Hudson, it is sometimes called the Highlands ; at others the
Scunemunk 'mountain; and east of the river, the Matteawan and Fishkill moun
tain. The chain has a breadth of 18 miles on the Hudson river, and is composed
there, as to the south, of several parallel ridges, extending from the Dunderberg
in Rockland, to Butter hill in Orange; rising, in the latter, to the height of 1529
feet. The valley between this chain and the Shawangunk, about 20 miles in width,
underlaid upon the south chiefly by limestone, and on the north with clay slate,
is remarkably fertile in its whole length, particularly, upon its southern side. East
of the Hudson this ridge merges in the Taghcanic.
8. The Taghcanic enters the state in the northeast corner of Rensselaer county,
and pursues a south course, sometimes within this state, and at others within the
State of Massachusetts, to the southeast corner of Columbia county, a distance
of fifty miles, where it divides into two ridges. One continues south through
Dutchess, Putnam, and Westchester, counties, sinking in its course and terminat
ing on the Hudson, north of Harlaem river; forming the water shed between the
tributaries of Long Island Sound and those of the Hudson, broken through, how
ever, in Dutchess county, by the Ten-mile creek. The other bends to the Hudson,
crossing the county of Dutchess obliquely, and forms the Matteawan or Fishkill
ridge; rising in the Beacon hills near the river to more than 1500 feet. In the
north, the Taghcanic is called the Williamstown mountain ; and, in Sheffield,
Massachusetts, has an altitude of 3000 feet. The valley between the Taghcanic
and Matteawan ridges is drained, in Dutchess county by Ten-mile creek and Swamp
river, and in Putnam and Westchester counties by the Croton river.
The Peterborough ridge, another link of the chain, rises in Washington county,
and passes through Rensselaer and Columbia counties,and curves through Dutchess
county, with the Matteawan ridge, to the Hudson river; west of that stream it may,
perhaps, be recognized in the hills east of the Wallkill. It is low, frequently
broken by the streams, and sometimes sinks to the general level of the country.
We have thus, somewhat out of our proposed order, briefly noticed the first and
third divisions of the mountains of the state.
9. The second division of the mountain system, that north of the Mohawk and
Oneida valley,and between lakes Ontario and Champlain, has not been so minutely
explored by topographical surveys as the first above described. But it is known to
be traversed, in a northeast direction, by six principal ridges, and some subordi
nate ones. These, collectively, have been called the Sacandaga mountains, and
have a length northeast and southwest, of 140, and a breadth east and west, of
about 125, miles where broadest. The length and breadth, however, vary greatly.
Upon the north line of the state, lat. 45°, the breadth is not 20 miles, while at
lat. 43° 30' it exceeds one hundred.
It is bounded east by the hills of Clinton county ,and by Lake Champlain, and a
line drawn from the head of South Bay, on that lake, to the Hudson, between
Glen's and the Great Falls ; south by the champaigns and plains of Saratoga and
Montgomery; and thence west, with some exception, by the valley of the Mo
hawk and the hills of Oneida county north of Oneida lake ; west and northwest
by the hills of Oswego, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties ; and north by the level
country of Lower Canada. It comprises the whole of the counties of Essex,

8 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
Warren, and Hamilton; the northern parts of Washington, Saratoga, and Montgo
mery; the central and north portion of Herkimer, the north of Oneida, the north
east of Oswego, a small part of Jefferson, the larger part of Lewis, St. Law
rence, Franklin, and Clinton; an area of more than 8000 square miles.
The chains are not continuous; but are formed of detached links, in parallel
lines, varying in elevation, with summits regular, rounded, denticulated, pyramidal,
or saddle shaped. Scattered over this great area, are many hills not reduceable to
any range — solitary, or in detached groups — some vying in elevation with the de
terminate ridges — others, low masses of rocks assuming various fantastic forms.
The two principal chains divide the waters of the Hudson, Sable, and Saranac from
those of the Black, Oswegatchie, Grass, Racket, St. Regis, Salmon, and Cha-
teaugay, rivers. These chains are from seven to twenty miles asunder, and ex
tend in parallel lines, to the Mohawk river nearly fifty miles; numerous lakes lie
between them; and in some of the most elevated, the Hudson and Racket rivers
have their sources.
From these chains others diverge, on the one hand, towards Lake Ontario and
the St. Lawrence river; on the other, towards Lake Champlain and the basin pro
per of the Hudson. The whole tract, taken together, declines on all sides, some
times gradually, at others abruptly.
Commencing on the east, the first is the Palmertown range. Rising on the
shore of Lake Champlain, near Ticonderoga, it traverses the north and northwest
parts of Washington, and the southeast of Warren, counties, into Saratoga, above
Glen's Falls, and is said to sink to the general level near Saratoga Springs; but
may be traced, we think, over the northeast corner of Schenectady and the south
east angle of Montgomery counties to the Mohawk river, in the line of Flint hill,
which is there broken. If this be the case, its connection with the Kaatsbergs is
severed only by that river. Its recognised length exceeds 60 miles ; and its
breadth, at the base, is from three to seven miles. It fills the space between lakes
Champlain and George, where its sides are steep, and often precipitous, formed of
granite, naked, savage, and sterile. Its elevation, in the North, is from 700 to 1200;
in the South, from 400 to 600, feet.
Bounding the east side of Lake Champlain, is a similar range, commencing at
Mount Independence, and running near to Whitehall, whence it bends eastwardly,
and sinks to low hills. In some places, the lake separates the bases scarcely more
than a stone's cast.
The Kayaderosseras is from four to eight miles, west of the Palmertown range.
It also rises on the shore of Lake Champlain, near Crown Point, and runs, at
a short distance, parallel therewith and with Lake George, bounding the latter,
westward; it continues through Warrren, the northeast angle of Saratoga, into
the eastern part of Montgomery county ; where it gradually subsides, compelling
the Sacandaga river, approaching from the northwest, to cuive round its base
to attain a northeast course. It is broken through by the Hudson river, on the
line of Franklin and Saratoga counties. Between Lake George and Sehroon river,
its height is estimated at, from 800 to 1200; in Saratoga county, at from 500 to 700,
feet. Its base is wider than that of the Palmertown mountain ; and its length
exceeds 70 miles.
To the third range, the venerated name of Clinton has been given. It rises
from Point Trembleau, on Lake Champlain, south of Port Kent, Essex county;
run3 southwest, and centrally through Essex, the western part of Warren, the
southeast par.t of Hamilton, and the middle of Montgomery, to the Mohawk river;
by which, 8 miles west of Caughnawaga, it is broken into the promontory called
Anthony's Nose, from a fancied resemblance it bears to, the human feature. It is
continued, however, across the south part of Montgomery county to the main
ridge of the Kaatsberg upou the west bank of Schoharie creek. In Essex, it is
called the Giant of the Valley; in Montgomery, Mayfield mountain and Clip hill.
Its whole length exceeds 130 miles. In Essex, about a mile west of the Court
House, it has an almost perpendicular elevation of 1300 feet; south of which, it
is yet higher, but, declines as it approaches the Mohawk. The Hudson breaks
through it in Essex county.
The fourth, the Sable, or Peru range, rises in Clinton county, south of the
Saranac river, and about 10 miles west of Lake Champlain ; and, by a course,
like that of the other ranges, crosses the west part of Essex, the southeast of

MOUNTAINS. 9
Hamilton, and, entering Montgomery, terminates some miles, north of the Mo
hawk. It is higher than the preceding ranges, rising, in Essex conn fy, in the peak
called White Face, 2000 feet. Its length is about 130 miles. It contains much
excellent iron ore, including the celebrated Peru mines. ,^
The Chateaugua range, the longest and highest, commences in Lower Canada, a
short distance north of the boundary line, and pursues a southwest course'! of 140
miles through Clinton, Franklin, Essex, Hamilton, and Herkimer counties, cross
ing the Mohawk river at the Little Falls and blending with the Kaatsberg at the
Osqnake Hill. The Chateaugua hills spring abruptly from the Canada plain, and
soon attain an altitude of 1200 feet above the ocean. Sixteen miles South of the
line, they are yet higher. Chateaugua lake, which lies upon them, is 1400 feet
above li.de, and the summit soars far above it; in Hamilton, it is probably 2000
feet. So far as its surface isjtnown, through Hamilton county, it is unfavourable
to cultivation. In;01inton county, where crossed by the road to Ogdensburg, it is
densely wooded in places, and may, therefore, become highly valuable.
The sixth range, 12 or 15 miles northwest of the Chateaugua, has been little
explored. It is of less extent than the last; and is broken jnto sections by the
St. Regis, Racket, Grasse, and other rivers descending to the St. Lawrence. The
country upon the West, for the most part, as far as Jefferson county, is covered
with the solitary hills and groups, of which we have spoken.
There are, however, two subordinate ridges, which challenge special remark.
The first, denominated the Highlands of Black river,' extends from the sources of
Black creek, a tributary of the West Canada creek, west and northwest, about
60 miles, covering much of the country, between the Black river, on the one side,
and the champaign and plains north of Oneida lake, upon the other. West Canada
creek descends its southern declivity ; and the Mohawk, Fish creek, Salmon river,
Sandy and Deer creeks rise in it. ,;Its altitude is given from 1200 to 1600 feet ;
and it has frequently a rolling surfaee'upon its top of several miles in width. The
summit of the proposed canal, between the Mohawk and Black rivers, is 111.6J
feet above tide, and 696£ feet above the range of the Erie canal, at Rome.
The Hassencleaver mountain, the .other ridge, extending from Herkimer into
Oneida county, about 20 miles, occupying ,the space between the Highlands and
Mohawk river, is about nine miles broad at the hase, and has an altitude varying
from 800 to 1200 feet, with a rolling surface.
10. To complete*our view of the land superficies of the state, we must notice
the Oneida and Seneca vale, the Great Plain of the West, and that of Long Island.
The'*Seneca and Oneida vale, is bounded east, by the upper end of the Mohawk
valley ; south, by the hills skirting the Erie canal ; on the southwest by the
termination of the valley of the Canandaigua river, and the champaigns north and
south of that valley ; north, by a ridge of moderate acclivity between the Seneca
and Oneida rivers and Oneida lake, on one side, and Lake Ontario, on the other, —
and by the foot of the Highlands of Black river, and .Hassencleaver mountain.
The valley is between 80 and 90 miles long, from east to west, and from 2 to
16 broad, from south to north, comprehending about 900 square miles; of which
90 are water. Oneida, Onondaga, and Cross lakes are within it; and it is drained
by the Mohawk, Oneida, Seneca and Oswego rivers. It comprises parts of the
counties, of Oneida, Madison, Oswego, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Wayne.
The hills which environ it, rise gradually on all sides ; and its bottom is so flat,
that no undulation swells more than 100 feet. The streams, with which it is
bounteously furnished, wind over it, in countless sinuosities, inundating, in the
vernal and. autumnal floods, large tracts which are tardily gained ; forming
marshes, as at Rome, Sullivan and Montezuma, containing, each, some thousand
acres. The soil, generally, highly fertile, consists, of alluvion, vegetable mould,
marls, clays of various tenacity, looms, sand and gravel, sometimes distinct, at
others, blended.
The vale, probably, once formed a portion of the Ontario lake, and was drained
by the breaking down of the barriers, on the Oswego and Mohawk Rivers, by
which its congregated waters are now carried off. A large portiont-is still covered
with forest. It contains the city of Utica, and the villages of Whitesborough
Onskinny, Rome, Vernon, Conestota, Syracuse, Salina, Liverpool, Geddysburg'
Jordan, Weedsporf, Buckville, Montezuma, &c, which, with the exception of
Vernon and Liverpool,, are upon or near the banks of the canal.
2

10 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
It is naturally divided into three parts. The first, comprehends the valley of the
Mohawk, for 18 miles, from Frankfort, in Herkimer county, westwardly to Rome.
The second, the country around Oneida lake and its outlet, from 110 miles in
length and,from 6 to 16 in width; including that between Wood creek, and the
Rome summit; that upon Fish creek nearly to its forks ; that on Oneida creek as
far as the Castle ; and, on the South of the lake, that reaching to the Erie canal,
and some portions beyond it. On the north, this division reaches to the ridge,
about 6 miles ; and it covers the lands between the ridge and canal. The third,
lies along the Seneca river, around Onondaga lake and along the lower part of
Canandaigua and Seneca outlets ; and is about 30 miles in length, varying from 5
to 14 in width.
Extensive views of this great vale, may be obtained from a hill west of the
Oneida creek; from another in Lennox; from the Chitteningo hill in Manlius:
from the Onondaga hill, and from a hill in Camillus. The most extensive views
are from the Chitteningo and Onondaga hills.
The Montezuma marshes commence at the foot of Cayuga lake, and extend along
the outlet and Seneca river, 14 miles, with a breadth of from 2J to 3 miles; exclusive
of an island, in front of the village of Montezuma, running north and south 6
miles, with a breadth from one to one and a half miles. Tbe marsh, east of the
island, is %\ miles broad; and on the west; from half to a full mile. The whole
breadth, where the causeway crosses the marsh and island, is 4 miles. Seneca
and Cayuga outlets, and Canandaigua and Seneca rivers meander over this great
morass with very sluggish currents. The marsh is covered with grass from 3 to
4 feet high, and assumes, in summer, the appearance of cultivated meadow. It is
. commonly environed by swamps. The surface is loose, yielding, and humid, and
is composed of vegetable matter, animal remains, and extraneous earths, brought
down by the streams, apparently forming three distinct strata; the first of vegeta
ble earth, from two to four feet deep, the second of marl of ljke depth, and the
third of earth, similar to the first, but firmer, and resting on common earth. The
first and last are so imperfectly decomposed, that, grassy fibres, similar to those
now growing, are visible in them, and have the character of peat. Efforts have
been, successfully, made to drain portions of this marsh, converting it into highly
productive soil.
Marl, similar to that which is a chief constituent of these marshes, is abundant
in other marshes and swamps of the vale, and is formed of fresh water shells of
a kind still plentiful in the brooks, ponds, and lakes. A belt of such marl sur
rounds the Onondaga lake; and here the process of generation and conversidn is
fully exhibited, with the vegetations which have made, and are still making, firm
land, in the shallow basins of water. The vale also contains beds of shale indu
rated clay, gypsum, water lime, and calcareous tuffa.
The swamps, some of which have an extent, scarcely less than the Montezuma
marsh, are respectively covered with, cedar, black ash, and alder; where the
latter prevails, the soil is firmer and more cohesive.
The Great Plain of the West commences upon the Genesee river and extends
west to the river Niagara and Lake Erie, "and thence far over Canada. Within
the state, bounded north by Lake Ontario, and south by the Chautauque and Alle
gany hills, it is 80 miles long from east to west, and from 30 to 40 in breadth ;
and comprises the counties of Niagara and Orleans, and the greater part of Monroe,
Livingston, Genesee, and Erie. It is traversed from east to west by two lime
stone ridges, which divide it into three plains or terraces, declining to Lake On
tario; the ridgesjare from 10 to 14 miles asunder; the northern from 4 to 10
miles, south of the lake. The Erie canal runs at the foot of the northern steep.
The lowest terrace rises from 20 to 270 feet above Ontario; the second, to 323
feet, and the third to 470 feet, giving the greatest elevation, at 700 feet above tide.
As a whole, it is rich, and portions have inexhaustible fertility.
Long Island, formed by the sound, New York Bay and the ocean, more particu
larly described hereafter, is mostly a plain, extending, in length, about 115, with
an average breadth of about 10, miles. The uniformity of its surface is broken
only, by a ridge of granitic hills, near its northern boundary stretching from the
West end to Riverhead, 60 miles, with an elevation varying from 100 to 400 feet.
South and east of the ridge, the country is a low level, declining almost impercep
tibly, to the ocean, with a soil of sand and sandy loom.

11
CHAPTER It «*¦ ¥*"\'
OF THE ST. LAWRENCE BASIN. !<**
1. General Notice of the St Lawrence Basin — Subdivisions — Area — Depth — Elevations —
Quantity of Fresh Water. 2. Upper Division and Lake Superior. 3. Central Division —
Lake Huron — Lake Michigan — Chicago — Green Bay — Lake St. Clair — Lake Erie —
Grand River — Welland Canal — Niagara River and Falls. 4.Lower Division-Pass between
the St. Lawrence Basin and the Basin of the Hudson — Former Limits of Lake Ontario,
— Mountain Ridge and Ridge Road— Levels and Distances through the St. Lawrence
Basin — upon the line of the Erie Canal — Elevations of the smaller lakes within the Ba
sin — Valley of the Hudson River and Lake Champlain — Description of the Hudson
River and its Chief Tributaries. 5. Tributaries of Lake Ontario — the Genesee River —
Proposed Canal to Olean from Rochester — Oswego River, and its Constituents — Prr-
posed Ship Canal from Oswego — Other Tributaries from this State to Lake Ontario and
the St. Lawrence River. 6. Description of the St. Lawrence River and its Chief Con
fluents — Rideau Canal. 7? Tables of Distances through the St. Lawrence Basin.
1. We have observed, that the most important depressions of the surface are the
basins of lakes Erie and Ontario, the valley of the Oneida lake and Mohawk river,
and that of the Hudson and Lake Champlain. Lakes Erie and Ontarib are parts
of the immense St. Lawrence basin, which contains the five great western lakes,
and bounds a principal part of the northern frontier of the United States. This
basin, so intimately connected with the topography of this State, claims special
notice. Commencing at the Gulf of St. Lawrence, it extends almost to the head
waters of the Mississippi, nearly 1800 miles; and is computed to contain 511,330
square miles of surface; 72,930, of which are covered with water. It may be di-'
vided into three great, but unequal portions; the upper, middle, and lower. The
first, in the form of a rhomb, has an area of about 90,000 square miles — more than
one-fourth of which is filled with the waters of Lake Superior. The middle divi
sion occupies a quadrangle of at least 160,000 square miles; containing the three
central lakes, Huron, Michigan, and Erie, in its lowest depressions. The lower
has about 260,000 square miles, and is covered in part, by the waters of Lake
Ontario and the St. Lawrence river.
Lakes Michigan and Huron in some places sink to the almost incredible depth,,
of 1000 feet below their surface, and more than 300 feet below the level of^he
oceaii; and are supposed to be the lowest depressions on the continental surface of
the earth. The surface of Lake Erie is elevated 565 feet above the ocean; 76
below Lake Superior, and 35 below the general level of Michigan and Huron.
Its bottom, rarely sunk more,than 200 feet, is composed of alluvial deposit, proba
bly washed by the current from the upper lakes. Lake Ontario is 281 feet above
the ocean, and has a mean depth of 492 feet. The Sl.Lawrence river, connecting
the system of lakes with the Atlantic, is the second river in magnitude in America;
being not less than 100 miles wide at its mouth, and navigable for ships of the
largest size, 400 miles from the ocean. - -Its length, from Lake. Ontario to the sea,
is 692 miles.
The following table, compiled from Darby's Geographical View of the United
States, gives in a connected form the elevation and extent of the several waters of
this basin.

'•*

SS.2

e5
id U)
a m
2
w -a
sis
ss
S£
<
Feet.
Feet.
Miles.
Miles.
Sq. miles.
Lake Superior
-
-
-
- 641
900
300
80
24,000
Lake Huron -
-
-
-
- 596
900
200
95
19,000
Lake Michigan
-
-
-
- 600
900
300
50
15,000
Lake Erie
-
-
-
- 565
120
230
35
8,030
Lake Ontario
-
-
-
- 231
492
180
30
5,400
River St. Lawrence and smaller lakes
-
20
1,500
Total Water surface ... 72,930
12 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
The slopes of this great basin not covered by water, have been estimated as
sufficient to sustain a population of thirty millions of inhabitants. But the most
interesting fact connected with it, is the vast quantity of fresh water contained in
its several reservoirs. From the data furnished by the preceding table, which may
be considered as an approximation to the truth, we find the whole amount of water
to be 10,509 cubic miles; more than one-half of the fresh water on the surface of
the globe.
2. The great and increasing commercial interest of New York in this basin, war
rants, if it does not require, a more comprehensive notice than is demanded by a
mere geographical description of the state; and no apology, therefore, can be ne
cessary for the space we shall allot to it.
The upper portion of the basin, commencing with Lake Superior, has a length east
and west of 490, and breadth of about 300, miles. It receives, it is said, more than 50
rivers, none of which however are large and important, except St.Louis and the Grand
Portage. The former falls into the extreme southwest angle of the lake, and affords
a channel of communication with the upper Mississippi by a course of about 80
miles, in which there is a descent of 530 feet. The Savannah portage of 6 miles,
leads to the Savannah river, a tributary of Sandy lake of the Mississippi, distant
12 miles. The Grand Portage enters the northwest side of Lake Superior, and
by its channel, the route to the northern regions of the continent, leaves the Cana
dian sea. The Ontanogon river flows to the lake 316 miles above Point Iroquois,
computed by the winding of the shore, and is remarkable for the masses of native
copper upon its banks.
The lake embosoms many large and well wooded islands; the chief of which are
Maurepas, reputed to abound with minerals; Philipeux, the Island of Yellow
Sands, and Isle Royal. The country on the north and east is represented as a moun
tainous embankment of rock from 200 to 1500 feet high; the climate unfavourable,
and the vegetation slow and scanty. Upon the south, the land is high, generally
sandy, sterile, and the coast dangerous in navigation; subject to storms and sudden
transitions of temperature, to fogs and mists. The mean heat in June and July
is given at 65°. But a frightful winter prevails for nine months of the year. Its
geology and mineralogy are said to be interesting; and its copper, iron, and lead
may become important in future commerce. The harbours of Grand Isle and Che-
goimegen Bay, on the south coast, are rarely equalled. The Chippeway tribes
Inhabiting the shores, are poor and miserable, depending for subsistence chiefly
up * the fish of the lake, and the. folk avoignet or wild rice of the adjacent savan
nahs. • ' ¦ -
Lake Superior pours its waters into Lake Huron, through the river or strait
of St. Mary, about 60 miles long with a variable width, expanding into broad
sheets at the commencement and end; containing several -large islands, of which
St. Joseph, 75 miles in circumference, at the mouth, beautiful and fertile, is the
chief. The entrance to the river presents scenes of much grandeur. It opens from
a deep bay of the lake between two high promontories, Point Iroquois and Grand
Cape, apparently rent asunder by the force of the water or some violent convul
sion. Fifteen miles below this point, and 90 northwest of Mackina, is the
cataract or Sault de St. Marie, the largest of three rapids which impede the navi
gation of the river. The fall here is 23 feet in half a mile; but'boats aseend with
much difficulty. Sail boats of 6 feet draught, gain the foot of the falls, but vessels
of a larger size are stopped at Sugar Island. Below the cataract, the strait widens,
and is divided into two channels by St. George's island; both of which, it is sup
posed, might be rendered passable for vessels navigating Lake Huron.
There is a village upon each side of the falls; and that in Canada is a station of
the Northwest Fur Company. The commanding position of this place", at tb* head
of aloop navigation, makes it an advantageous site for a military and trading post,
which was. early seized by the French. By it, all the fur trade of the Northwestis
compelled to pass, and it is thegrand thoroughfare of Indian communication so far as
the arctic circle. Independent of these circumstances, the abundance of white
fish at the foot of the rapids has always made it the resort of the Indian tribes of
the region.
In 1820, the United States obtained a cession of the soil, four miles square,
from the Chippewas, and on the 17th July, 1822, a military station was founded
here.

ST. LAWRENCE BASIN.

IB

3. Lake Huron commences at Cape Detour. It has a triangular form, and la.
divided into unequal parts, by the Manatoulin (evil spirit) chain of islands, extend
ing from a peninsula upon the southeast side, and nearly parallel to the north shore,
entirely across the lake to about midway between the mouths of the Michilimakinac
and St. Mary's straits. Between the chain and the N. shore, the lake has a length
of 200, by a breadth of 30, miles, and is much chequered with islands. The mean
breadth of the lake is 95 miles, and its circumference exceeds 1,000. The whole
number of islands contained in it is said to exceed 32,000. It receive* the
waters of lake Michigan on the south, by the straits of Michilimakinac, and of
. Nipising lake on the north, by the river Francis.
Saganawjbay, penetrating the state of Michigan, 60 miles in depth and 30 in
width, is the most capacious of the many inlets indenting the irregular shores.
It contains numerous islands, tbe largest of which, is Shawangunk, near the
centre. The navigation is safe for vessels of any burden, and the coves and islands
afford good harbours. It receives the Saganaw river at the south extremity— a
broad and deep stream formed by many tributaries, irrigating an extensive, fertile,
and delightful country. Its bapks were inhabited by bands of Chippewas and Otto-
was, who long derived an easy subsistence from the fine hunting grounds in the
Vicinity, and the abundance of fish in the bay. The country is now settled by a
dense white population. ' >
The southern shore of lake Huron is generally low and frequently swampy; and
is strewed with fragments of primitive rocks, not in place, and therefore carried
hither at some remote period by the force of the waters. The under-lying rocks of
the country are lime and sandstone. The lake is subject to sudden and frightful
tempests, scarcely surpassed by the fiercest storms of the ocean.
The inhabitants of Upper Canada have projected a canal, under circumstances
which warrant a belief that it will be speedily executed, for connecting lake Huron
with lake Ontario. The distance between the nearest points of the, two lakes is
under 75 miles, and the intermediate country is represented to have a mild and
salubrious climate, and to be well adapted to the object. The accomplishment cf
this work would open a much more direct route from tide water to lakes Huron
and Michigan, than the present one; would lessen the distance from New York to
those regions 250 miles ; wou^entirely avoid lake Erie, one of the most danger
ous of the great lakes ; and would bring a large portion of the products of the far
West immediately into lake Ontario, and direct them to the Atlantic by the port
of Oswego, instead of the harbour of Buffalo.
Lake Michigan communicates with Huron by the strait of Michilimakinac, run
ning from the northwest corner of the former to the northeast extremity of the latter.
At tbe entrance from Huron, lies the island of Michilimakinac, or. (Grarf Turtle),
formed of limestone, nine miles in circumference, and containing an area of 7680
acres, rising 312 feet "above the lake, with a population of about 800 souls. This
is a military post, garrisoned by troops of the United States. Including the strait,
lake Michigan is about 340 miles in length, and varies in breadth from 20 to 70
miles. Its shores rise by very gentle inclination, with soils of sandy loam and
sand, resting on secondary lime and sandstone. On its margin, also, fragments
of primitive rocks, consisting of water-worn masses of greasy translucent quartz;
are found. The streams which fall into it are generally small, though numerous.
At the southern, extremity of the lake, in the state of Illinois, lies the town of
Chicago, upon the creek of the same name, one of the most favohrable positions for
trade in the great West. This advantage caused an almost unparalleled contest
for property here, at high prices, at a late sale of the lands by the government. The
creek is 80 yards wide at the mouth, but a bar prevents the entrance of vessels ;
within the'bar, however, the water is deep. It is ascended 11 miles by boats and
barges ; whence a portage of 7 miles, across a prairie, conducts to the river Pkih,
the main northwest fork of the Illinois river. The intervening country consists of
strata of marl and clay, of easy excavation ; and the difference in the level of tbe
streams is so inconsiderable, that loaded boats, of small class, pass over the prairie,
during the spring and autumnal freshets. But at midsummer, it is necessary to
transport merchandise over land, 30 miles, to Mount Juliet. Thence, the navigation
is free, at all seasons, to St. Louis, 400 miles. The impediments here, to uninter
rupted navigation, will not long withstand the power and enterprize of the country;

14 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
and vessels laden at Buffalo may pass, before many years, bulk,unbroken, to the
mouth of the Missouri, and to New Orleans.
The country around Chicago is fertile and beautiful — diversified with woods
and prairies, with gentle slopes, rising into hills, and irrigated by clear streams,
flowing, respectively, to lake Michigan and the Mississippi. It has the rich soil
of the lowland prairies, with an elevation which exempts it from stagnant waters,
while its natural meadows give all the advantages for grazing of the most favored
part of the Mississippi valley. A summer of delightful serenity, compensates for
the rigours of winter. A valuable bed of mineral coal lies 40 miles southwest of the
town, on the Fox river, near its embouchure, and indications of iron are abundant.
Green Bay forms an important arm of lake Michigan upon the west, running
nearly parallel with the lake, from which it is separated by a broad peninsula. Its
length is under 150 miles, with a width decreasing from 25 miles. It has two
considerable indentations called Little and Great Bays de Noquet. A fine tract of
fertile land, upon Fox river, at the head of the bay, had been chosen by the Stock-
bridge and Oneida tribes, from New York ; but their anticipation of a quiet home,
separated from the white man, has not been fulfilled ; the attractions of a fertile
country having drawn thither many white settlers.
The peninsula of Michigan, bounded by the lake of the same name on the west,
and lake Huron on the east, is one of the most beautiful territories of America,
skirted by a coast of 800 -miles, of the purest fresh water seas, navigable for ships
of any burden. The climate is mild and healthful, the soil fertile — with streams
sufficient for all useful purposes, and the upland level chequered with numerous
small lakes, varying from one to ten miles in circumference, pure and clear as the
fountains of Eden, and abounding in fish. These basins impart a charm to the
region, altogether unrivajled. They are the sources of the riversand small streams
which flow into either lake. The transparency of the waters is a marvel — an
incredible wonder to those who have been accustomed only to turbid lakes and
rivers. Under the name of St. Clair's river, the vast discharge of Huron issues by a
rapid current.of 35 miles, moderately deep, and three-fourths of a mile wide, to
lake St. Clair. The banks of this river are elevated and well wooded, with maple,
beach, oak, and elm. The soil is rich, and, on the American side, well settled.
The stream, broad, with gravelly shores, and adorned by beautiful islandsjJs a
theme of admiration to all who pass it. At the outlet, there is a rapid, three
miles long, over which the current has a velocity of six miles the hour. At the
head of the rapid, stands fort Gratiot, commanding the entrance tojake Huron. Its
chief tributaries are Belle and Black, rivers, both entering from the U. S. shore ;
the former 14, the latter 2, miles below the fort. The river enters lake St. Clair by
many mouths, .through a wide delta of marsh, covered with prairie grass, inter
spersed with copse wood.
Lake St. Clair is circular, and about 20 miles in diameter; shallow, admitting
vessels of a moderate size. It receives the Thames from the North. Its shores
are low and level, and from the centre of the lake loom up, in all directions, while
the marginal forests, broken by the indentations of the coast, seem to hang sus
pended in the horizon, and to play and dance before the eye in a sort of fairy
vision. It empties into lake Erie by the Detroit river. This stream is also shal
low, being passable by vessels of 8 feet draught only. Six miles, below St. Clair,
upon the west bank, stands the city of Detroit, 40 feet above the river, laid out
with much regularity, and commanding an admirable prospect. It is the capital of
the new state of Michigan, enjoys an extensive commerce, and has a population
exceeding 4,000 souls.
Lake Erie extends, in form of an oval, S. W. by W. 280 miles, with a breadth.
of about 65 miles, where broadest. , Its ,extreme N. point is in N. lat. 43°, and
the S. in 41° 20'; and it reaches from 1° to 6° W. long. The, shores, in some
places, are low and sandy, and in others, rock bound. Compared with the other
great lakes, it is shallow, seldom exceeding 4,0 or 50 fathoms. It receives, from
Canada, but a few small streams, the principal of which is the Ouse river; from
Michigan, the Huron, and Raisin ; from Ohio, the Maumee, Portage, Sandusky,
Huron, Vermillion, Black, Cuyahoga, Grand, Ashtabula, and Conneautj from
Pennsylvania, the Elk creek, and other small streams; and from New York, the
Cattauraugus and Buffalo creeks.

ST. LAWRENCE BASIN.

15

The rivers of Erie, are, without exception, obstructed by bars at'their mouths,
affording rarely more than 8 feet water. A small group of islands, called tho
Bass, lies in the S. W. curve of the lake. In the central one is Put-in-Bay,
which has 12 feet water — the most accessible and best of its havens. The rivers
from Ohio and Michigan, have also falls and rapids. The best harbours', on the
south shore, are Sandusky in Ohio, Erie in Pennsylvania,, and Buffalo and Black
Rock in New York. In Canada, the Thames river, running parallel with the lake
for nearly 100 miles, cuts off the streams; and the consequence is that, two-thirds
of that shore have not even a large creek, nor opening worthy the name of a
harbour. The Grand, or Ouse river, affords the best and almost the only haven,
called Port Maitland. "Gravelly Bay contains the entrance to the Welland canal.
Lakes Erie and Ontario are separated by a peninsula extending 40 miles be
tween the W. extremity of the latter, and the S. E. of the former, with a mean
breadth of 35 miles, along the E. border of which winds the Niagara river. Three-
fourths of the surface are plain, in part marshy, spreading north from, and little
elevated above, Lake Erie; terminated, about 6 miles from Lake Ontario, by the
rocky ledge forming the " Mountain Ridge." Between the summit level and the
southern shore of Lake Ontario, the ground falls, rapidly, leaving a narrow allu
vial border along the lake, stretching from the mouth of Niagara river to Burling
ton bay, the extreme W. end of the lake.
Grand river rises in 43° 40' N. lat., 3° 30' W. longituue from Washington, in
the country. of the Six Nations, and, flowing thence south 70 miles, enters Haldi-
man county, and turning southeast winds by a tortuous channel and sluggish cur
rent, into Lake Erie, 40 miles directly west of the outlet of that lake; after an
entire comparative course of 100 miles; forming the southern termination to the
peninsula we have described. ^ " #.
Rising east from Grand river, about 10 miles from Lake Erie, the Wellaqd or
Chippewa river, also a sluggish stream, flows eastwardly to the Niagara river, im
mediately above the rapids, at the falls.
The navigable feeder of the Welland canal commences at Port Maitland, at the
mouth of Grand river, and follows the channel of that stream 1 and J of a mile,
and thence up Broad creek 5 of a mile. Thence, the artificial channel is made
by a cut of 10 miles, through Winfleet marsh, which, elevated from 10 to 16 feet
above the lake, spreads between Welland and Grand rivers, and thence down Mill
creek 2j miles to the Welland river, in which it descends by a lock of 8 feet lift,
and runs 10 miles.
From Welland it pursues a northerly direction, winding up a ravine 66 chains,
having 8 or 10 feet cutting; where commences the deep cut through the dividing
ridge an almost abrupt height of 27 feet above the canal bottom; thence, rises gra
dually to 56 feet 6 inches in a distance of 100 chains; thence, descends to 30 feet in
28 chains, and abruptly breaks off into another ravine; the whole distance through
the deep cut being 1 mile 54 chains, and the average depth 45 feet. To the depth
of 34 feet from the surface, the ground is a compound of sand and clay, and deeper
a blue clay. From the end of the deep cut, to the descent of the mountain ridge,
the distance is 4 miles 23 chains lo lock No. 1, as it is termed, though properly
No. 2; thence, the canal continues in a ravine 53 chains, gradually descending by
4 locks; and thence, for 1 mile 55 chains, winds around the brow of the hill, de
scending by 17 locks. In this distance there are 60,000 yards of rock excavation.
From the foot of this series, it continues along a ravine 2,\ miles, sinking by 12
locks, to St. Catherine's; and thence 5 miles, mostly in the bed of Twelve Mile'
creek, it falls by four locks to its northern termination in Port Dalhousie on Lake
Ontario. In the mountain descent, and in the distance of 4 miles and 72j chains,
from lock No. 1. there are 32 locks, with a descent of 322 feet, 22 feet wide, and
100 long. Below the mountain descent, the locks are 32 feet wide and 125 feet
long. There are 5 dams, one of which is 23 feet high. The whole length of
the canal is 43j miles, 19 of which are slack water; the total lockage 334 feet.- It
was originally navigated by vessels of 125 tons burden, and was, in the whole
length, adapted to steamboats in 1834.
This great work, fully demonstrating the practicability of a like one on the south
side of the»Niagara river, was projected and executed by. the Canada Land Com
pany. From its location it has, however, an advantage over a canal which may
be made on the American side around the falls, resulting from the prevailing winds

16 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
of Lake Erie. These, throughout the year, blow so generally down tbe lake as to
require for a voyage from Buffalo to Detroit, three, four, or five times as many days
as the reverse passage. The lake contracting at the northeast extremity and the
Niagara river, turning nearly at right angles to its general course, forms a gorge* in
which ice is driven by the never-tiring vestern winds. Hence, the Welland canal
must ordinarily be open several weeks, annually, longer than the Niagara river or
canal on the south side of the lake.
The canal was commenced inl824, and completed in five years, at a cost, includ
ing subsequent improvements, of $1,644,000. A large portion of the stock is owned
by individuals in the State of New York. The company owns all the land and
water privileges on the line of the canal, with a tract of 16,000 acres granted them
by the British government.
The following table exhibits the increase in the quantity of staple articles trans
ported on the canal.

1832.

1833.'

1834.

Barrels of Pork

.

5,422

9,611

23,422|

Bushels of Wheat

-

- 155,170

229,675

264,919

Number of Staves

-

- 146,130

161,792

392,055

Feet of Square Timber

-

- 75,922

30,942

94,380

Barrels of Salt -

-

- 34,546

46,552

59,641

Tpns of Merchandise

-

1,032

1,323

1,880

Number of Schooners passed

240

433

570

Boats and Scows

-

175

287

334

Lake Erie was navigated, in 1835, by thirty-four steamboats, all, except two,
owned in the United States, and by more than 150 brigs, schooners, and sloops,
besides a large number belonging on Lake Ontario, and the River St. Lawrence,
trading regularly with the ports on this and the upper lakes by means of the Wel
land canal. The steamboats are chiefly used for the conveyance of passengers, in
which they find constant and profitable employment during the season of naviga
tion. Occasionally some of them run to the Sault of St. Mary.
The waters accumulated in the upper Lakes, for more than a thousand miles, are
discharged by the Niagara river; which issuing from the northeastern extremity
of Lake Erie, at Black Rock, runs, northerly 35 miles, to Lake Ontario; forming,
in its way, several beautiful islands, and the celebrated Falls. Its passage from
Lake Erie is interrupted by a ledge of rocks projecting from Bird island across, the
stream, causing rapids which are very detrimental to navigation, and which con
tinue for more than a mile and a half; having in that distance a fall of 4 feet 7 in
ches, and a current varying from 4 to 7 miles the hour. The inconvenience pro
duced by this current was very great. The greater part of the river above, Jhe
Great Falls, forms a' safe harbour for lake shipping, at all times, easy of access
and more secure, than any other. In violent storms, it is dangerous for vessejs to
attempt to enter Buffalo creek or to pass between Bird island and our shore! by
reason of the rocky reefs above that island. In such emergencies, they pass down
the broad and open channel between Bird island and the Canada shore. But this
was very objeptionable, on account of the difficulty and expense of re-ascending the
river. Vessels might be detained below the rapids, for the greater part of the sea
son, if they awaited a favourable wind sufficiently strong to extricate them. Resort
was, therefore, had to the power of oxen to drawn them up, and as vessels cannot
come close to the shore, the difficulty of the operation was very great. The Portage
Company, formerly established for transporting goods from Lake Ontario, em
ployed, for their boats, other means. In the most difficult part of the rapid, arope
of 75 fathoms, was fastened, by a ring and bolt, to a rock, by which a boat with
half a load was drawn up by the hands on board. The result of this labour,was,
that the portage of a barrel of salt cost 75 cents, and of a barrel of merchandise
one dollar, from Lewiston to Black Rock.
Happily it is no longer necessary for vessels to ascend this rapid, since the lake
may be regained by the lock and canal or basin, which has been constructed as
part of the Erie canal.
^The banks, from Black Rock to the Falls, preserve an elevation seldom exceeding
8 or 10 feet, and the country on all sides, is a uniform plain. Two miles above the

FALLS OF NIAGARA.

17

Falls, the ancient banks are visible, extending down the stream to the chasm below,
where they have an apparent elevation of 70 or 80 feet. But this is a deceit of the
vision, caused by the depression of the bed of the stream in the last two miles.
From the Falls to Lewiston, the banks have from 170 to 370 feet perpendicular
altitude; for whilst the river descends, they have a gradual ascent for 6 miles;
so that from the top of the bank to the water, at Brock's monument, near Queens-
ton, the descent is 370 feet; and the heights, there, are 38 feet higher than Lake
Erie, and 25 feet higher than the land at Schlosser. Below Lewiston the banks
are from 20 to 30 feet above the river.
From the foot of the Black Rock rapid, to near the head of the rapids, above
the falls, the current does not exceed 2J miles, while between the Falls and Lewis-
ton, its rate is 12 miles, and below that place about three miles, the hour.
Lake vessels descend to Schlosser and Chippewa from Erie ; and ascend to
Lewistown from Ontario.
The bed and banks of the river from Lake Erie to the Falls consist of lime
stone ; between the Falls and Lewistown, the banks are composed of limestone
slate, and sandstone, lying on each other,, in the order named; between Lewistown
and the river, slate and sandstone are, probably, the prevailing rocks.
Niagara river, as it flows from the lake, is about £ of a mile in width, and from
20 to 40 feet deep, and maintains an average depth of 20 feet, to the Falls, suffi
cient to float any vessel that sails the Lakes. For 3 miles, it has a rapid current;
and then becomes calm and smooth until within one mile of the Falls. Five miles
from the lake, it is divided into two channels by Grand island. The eastern
channel maintains a width exceeding 100 rods ; the western, larger, and generally
deeper, forms the boundary between the United States and Canada. We have
said the western channel is the deeper, and this is generally true : but, at the head
of Grand Island, a reef of rocks crosses that channel and forms a considerable
shoal. The island is 12 miles long measured around its edges, and contains
17,384 acres. In the wider channel, at the foot of Grand island, lies Navy
island, belonging to the British, comprehending 304 acres. The whole number of
islands in the two branches, and in the main stream above and below Grand island,
is forty. Of these, besides those above described, and Goat island, the principal
are, Bird island above noticed, lying between Buffalo and Fort Erie; Squaw, em
bracing 131 acres, opposite Black Rock; Strawberry islands, containing 100 acres;
Beaver, 30 acres ; Rattlesnake, 48 acres ; Tonawanta, opposite the Creek and vil
lage of that name, 69 acres; Cayuga, near the New York shore, 4 miles above the
Falls, 100 acres : Buckhorn, near the lower end of Grand and Navy islands, 146
acres. Neither the snows of winter nor the evaporation of summer, nor rains, nor
drought materially affect the volume of this majestic river. It flows on unchanged
and unchangeable ; unless the tale be true, that a small gradual rise is percepti
ble, once in seven or, as some say, in twelve years. It, with the enduring cata
ract, presents to the mind the most striking material image of eternity.
The shores of the river, upon either side, are thinly settled. Between Buffalo
and the Falls, on the American, there are two villages, only, Black Rock and
Tonawanta. Thick forests still cover the banks, with some farm houses few and
far between. On the Canada shore, are Waterloo, opposite to Black Rock, and
the hamlet of Chippewa, opposite to Fort Schlosser.
THE FALLS.
It has been correctly said, by a distinguished English traveller, "That, all
parts of the Niagara, are on a scale which baffles every attempt of the imagination,
and it were ridiculous, therefore, to think of describing it. The ordinary means
of description, analogy, and direct comparison with things more accessible, fail
entirely in the case of that amazing cataract, which is altogether unique." Our
account therefore will be in the simplest style, aiming only at conciseness and per
spicuity. Below Grand and Navy islands, the union of the two branches gives a breadth to
the river of two and a half miles. The waters have an accelerated motion, and
three fourths of a mile above the Falls, commence their rapid descent; falling,
within that distance, by successive chutes, fifty two feet, on the American, and
S

18 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
fifty seven on the Canadian, side. These stupendous rapids form one of the most
imposing featares of the scene, and gave us, asTmany other visitors, more delight,
than the great cataract itself. We had seen so'many descriptions of the cascade,
written and pictorial, that when we approached the mighty water fall it seemed,
as familiar to us, as if we had beheld it, daily, for years. But of the rapids, we
had conceived no adequate idea, and their magnitude and sublimity broke upon us
with all the effect of surprise.
Seen from the shores of Goat island, the torrent seemed interminable, and to
rollkupon us, in successive volumes, a mile in width, of from 10 to 30 feet high,
yet apparently having an altitude, much greater than the reality ; breaking into
white capped billows, like the curling surges of the ocean, but, unlike them, know
ing no retrocession. Their course was still onward. We heard their tremendous
roar, and felt the vibrations of the earth which they caused, and, notwithstanding
our assurance of safety, a dread of being overwhelmed by them stole over us.
Some time elapsed before we could reduce the scene within the compass of its
verity. The rapids may be advantageously viewed from several positions ; as from the
Table Rock on the Canada shore, from the river as you approach from Buffalo,
and from the main American shore ; but the best point of vision is from the south
west corner of Goat island, above the Moss islands, whence, also, is visible; the
amazing torrents between those islands.
The combined roar of the cataract and rapids may, according to the state of the
atmosphere, be heard from five to twenty miles ; and sometimes, at Toronto, fifty
miles distant. The mist, rising in masses of fantastic clouds, is seen at the dis
tance of from three to fifty miles, according to the atmospheric state, the height of
the sun, and the force and direction of the wind. In the morning, soon after sun
rise, this is an object of great curiosity. It then sparkles like diamonds, and is
illumined with the most brilliant colours.
Goat island, so called from the circumstance, that about the year 1770, Mr.
Steadman, resident at Schlosser, put a few goats upon it, and latterly nominated
7m island, by reason of the rainbow which talmost perpetually hovers about it,
and so termed by the commissioners for settling the boundaries under the treaty
of Ghent, lies in the middle of the river and extends to the precipice,- dividing
the Falls into two sheets. It is half a mile long by a quarter wide, and contains
75 acres of rich, heavily timbered, land. Its tall trees (beech, oak, maple, &c.)
are adorned by draperies of ivy, and bear the names, of couutless aspirants for im
mortality, who seek to inform successive visitors through all time, that theyshave
seen the waterfall. But, unhappily, the monument, designed to perpetuate the
important event, is destroyed by the record — the tree is wounded to death by the
incisions of its bark. The earliest genuine date of any name yet found on trees is
of the year 1769 ; but on the rocks, near the Falls, on the American side, names
have been cut bearing date, 1.711, 1736, 1745, &c. The island would seem to have
been used by the Indians as a burial place; skeletons, having, within a few years,
been disinterred there. Nearly two hundred species of plants have been discovered
here. A walk has been made, near the water, around the island, a large garden
laid out and planted, and other improvements, adding to its attractions, have been
made and aTe making by its proprietors.
There are many other islands among the rapids, some of which are connected
with Goat island by bridges; and Bath island, 24 rods long, is joined to the Ameri
can shore, by an ingeniously constructed bridge, and contains the toll house, and
an extensive paper mill.
Luna island, directly upon the precipice, near Goat island, again divides the
stream, and the " Centre Fall," from the " American Fall." From the northwest
point of this ialand, the best view of the American Fall is obtained.
Our delay in approaching the Falls is such as the visitor actually makes, when
about to view them, impressed with indefinable sensations of dread, expectation
and prudential desire to learn the localities, to which he has committed himself.
There are three distinct cascades ; two on the American side of Iris island,
and one upon the British. Upon the American side, the lower fall is about
220 yards broad, and 164 feet high. This fall, formerly straight, is changing
to a curve. The centre fall is near 80 yards wide, with a height similar to the
foregoing. These are on the side of the ravine, facing the Canada shore. The

FALLS OF NIAGARA. 19
Upper or Great Fall, from its form, called tbe Crescent, or Horse Shoe, is at the
head of the ravine crossing the direct line of the stream. Its breadth is estimated at
600 yards, and seven-eighths of the waters of the river are supposed to pass over
it. Its height is 158 feet.
The depth of the waters in the American channel, being much less, than in the
Canadian one, the rocks are near the surface and break up the flood into foam.
But in the Canadian channel, the deep green of the billows is but relieved by, the
white crests which surmount them.
The Crescent Falls are best seen from the Table Rock, on the Canadian shore,
and from the bank above it ; whence, also, perhaps, the finest and most comprehen
sive view of the whole cataract, including all the Falls, the rapids, and the river be
low the Falls, is obtained. A most interesting and imposing- view of these, how
ever, is had from Goat Island. The Terrapin Bridge, 300 feet from the island,
projects 10 feet over tbe Falls, and affords a sight requiring some tension of the
nerves fully and leisurely to enjoy. From it, the eye' beholds the vast flood, and
the deep abyss into which it is poured ; but it is only to find obscurity visible ; for
it cannot penetrate the veil, which the thick spray and mist, perpetually, spread
over it. And fancy, until corrected by a glance at the hurrying tide below, appre
hends the depth to he immeasurable. But this misty veil is, in sunny weather,
the source of new surprise and pleasure. The Iris, changing forms, as the sun and
the volume of spray shift, dances, fairy-like, upon it. It is neither the " rainbow"
nor the " arch in the heavens," {fare tn ceil'), but the crescent of the abyss, re
splendent beneath our feet, and the lovely crown of all its glories, lightening and
enlivening a scene, almost too impressive for the senses. There also may be fre
quently seen, the phenomenon of the lunar bow.
Near the end of Terrapin Bridge, in the water, and on the verge of tbe precipice,
stands a stone tower, 45 feet high, having winding steps, in the interior, to the
top, built in 1833 ; whence also the whole scene may be viewed.
The flood does not descend from the ledge, perpendicularly, but, driven by the
mighty impetus of its vast gravity, increased by the space through which it has
already fallen, forms an arch 20 feet thick, whose semi-chord at the base, may be,
from 40 to 50 feet. The quantity of water discharged, here, has been variously
estimated ; at, 670,250 tons, the minute, or 40,235,000 tons the hour ; at eighty-five
millions of tons the hour; at 102,093,750, tons the hour; and at, 1,672,704,000
cubic inches. The depth of the abyss into which this incredible mass is perpetu
ally poured, exceeds 250 feet"; at least, such is the depth of the river below the
Falls. But what line has sounded the depth immediately beneath the incessant
avalanche 1 The banks rise, from the ravine, perpendicularly above the river, as
we have already observed, 180 feet, requiring extraordinary means for descending
to the water's edge.
These have been employed, in the form of staircases, at three points : One upon
the main, on the New York side, six rods below the Falls, by which access is had
to the Ferry. The passage of the river is appalling, from the rapidity of the
current, its numerous eddies, and the agitation of the water; but is entirely safe,
and row boats are constantly crossing the. stream. A carriage way, however, is
being constructed through the precipitous walls, on either side, which must become
an impoltant thoroughfare. A second staircase, erected at the expense of Nicholas
Biddle, Esq., in 1829, is at the lower end of Goat Island. The descent from the
plane of the island to the margin of the river, is 185 feet ; an open flight of steps
leads down, 40 feet, to a hexagon tower, of wood, 65 feet high, enclosing the
spiral staircase, having 90 steps, landing upon the debris of the mural precipice;
whence three paths lead to important points of observation. One runs to the river,
80 feet helow ; where is one of the finest fishing places in the country. The path
on the left, conducts the visiter to the Crescent Fall, whence, when the wind
blows up the river, he may pass behind the waterfall beneath its ever moving
arch. The path to the right, leads to the cave of jEolus, discovered some 25 years
since. This cave is about 120 feet across, 50 wide, and 100 high. It is
directly behind the Centre Fall, which at the bottom is more than 100 feet wide •
and visiters may safely pass through it. Beyond the cave, at the foot of Luna
Island, is an open space where they may rest, at pleasure, upon1 the fecks over
which the floods are pouring, and then venture as far as they please behind the

20 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
Whale American Fall ; it being supposed practicable to gain the bank near the
ferry by this passage.
The third stair, also, of a spiral form, is on the Canada side, at the Table
Rock. This rock, elevated 163 feet from the river below, projects about 50 feet,
and has a large fissure, which having annually increased for several years, indicates
a speedy disrupture. Visitants, desirous to pass beneath the watery arch of the
Crescent, are supplied by the keeper of the stairs with dresses and a guide. From
the bottom of the stairs, a rough path winds along the foot of the precipice, and
under the excavated bank, which in one place overhangs, about 40 feet. The
entrance into the tremendous cavern behind, should never be attempted by persons
of weak nerves. The humidity of the atmosphere, which, at times, almost pre
vents respiration; the deafening roar of the foaming torrent, and the sombre
appearance of surrounding objects, may well unnerve the stoutest: yet, in truth,
the danger is apparent only, and the arch is frequently visited by women. The
farthest distance attainable is the Termination Rock, 153 feet from the Table Rock.
Few venture further than 100 feet.
The scenery around the Falls, beautiful as it is in summer, is most splendid in
the winter. Then tho trees and shrubs, on the islands and banks, are covered with
transparent sleet, and glitter as if encrusted with diamonds. The mists from the
Falls freeze upon them, so gradually and so thick, as to assume the appearance of
alabaster ; and ^the spray is decorated by the dazzling colours of the rainbows ,
which arch the river from twenty different points.
Sometimes, during part of the winter, the ice is driven by the wind from Lake
Erie, and poured over the Falls in such quantities, as to block op the river between
the banks for a mile or more, to the depth of from 30 to 50 feet : so that, it maybe
crossed to Canada, on foot, for weeks together. The river itself is never frozen
over, either above or below the Falls.
Three miles below the Falls, the current rushes against a promontory, whose
hardness has resisted its force, and compelled it to make a right angle in its course.
But the efforts of the stream to overcome the vis inertia of the rock are never pre
termitted, and a tremendous whirlpool is thereby created. The river here does not
exceed 30 rods in width, is narrower than at any other place and runs with such
amazing velocity, as by the rebound to swell in the middle 10 feet above the sides.
Logs and trees aie sometimes whirled around for days together in its vortex, fre
quently drawn down with great force in the centre, and ejected at the sides, until
crushed to pieces or driven by some eccentric wave, they pass off by the open
channel of the river. An eddy somewhat similar, probably once existed, abouit a
mile below tbe whirlpool on the American side near the Lewiston road, where is
now a gulf of about two acres, called the " devil's hole," cut out laterally and per
pendicularly in the rock by the side of the river, and about 150 feet deep. The
river chasm is here, too, contracted; and the current driven against the bank under
mined the rock until a sufficient jiassage was opened for a comparatively peaceful
exit of the waters. ;
A path leads down either bank to the whirlpool, and though somewhat'difficult,
the ascent and descent are accomplished, on the American side, daily by gentle
men, and often by ladies. A brisk and refreshing breeze is felt there during the
hottest and stillest days of summer. The rapids here are much more powerful and
terrific than above the falls, and resemble a. flood of brilliants. The whirlpool is,
indeed, a phenomenon of great interest as seen even from the top of the bank; but
to have an adequate idea of its power and motion, one should descend to the wa
ter's edge, and walk some distance up the river. There are several other places
on both sides- of the stream, where the spectator may descend to the lower margin.
Doubts have been expressed as to the causes which have worked the position of
the mighty cataract. The ravine into which it falls is supposed, by some, to have
been formed before the course of the waters, or to have been since opened by
volcanic force. But nature, it seems to us, has no where written her mode of
operation more legibly, than, along the whole line of the river, from one lake to
the other.
_ The efflux waters of Lake Erie, by their friction, not the least efficient file of
time, first wore away, but yet imperfectly, the corniferous limestone, at Black
Rock, and then the geodiferous limestone, which .forms the upper stratum on the
banks of the river, from that place to the brow of the mountain ridge at Lewiston,

FALLS OF NIAGARA. 21
cutting their way -some 20 or 30 feet deep, through the southern acclivity of the
mountain ridge. If, at this period, Lake Ontario rose to the brow of that ridge,
the Falls of Niagara did not exist. Bat, if that lake then Jay at the foot of the
ridge, covering the plains now north of Lewiston, the Falls were more stupendous
than they now ate; for, the cataract must have fallen full two hundred feet; and,
if the cataract had not receded, until after the reduction of Lake Ontario, to its pre
sent level, its descent must have exceeded 300 feet.
The mode of recession is obvious from the process which is hourly working at
the present Falls, under our eyes. It will be recollected, that the overlaying rock
of this region, for the depth of 70 feet, is hard limestone, in strata, which long
resist the action of the water; but, that, the underlaying stratum, is soft, crum
bling shale, which readily disintegrates by the action of the water, and even of the
air. This is apparent at the Falls, and upon the banks of the river at Lewiston.
Not only does it yield to the direct action of the waters at the Falls, but the reflect
ed surge excavates it beneath the limestone, and forms an arch corresponding, in
reverse, to that formed by the flood, in its descent, until the support of the lime
stone having been worn away, the. superincumbent masses are precipitated by their
own gravity, and the inappreciable weight of the water, into the chasm beneath;
where, exposed to the incessant force of the waterfall, they are broken into frag
ments, and dispersed.
Such were the causes, which in July, 1818, broke off a mass of Table Rock, 160
feet in length, and from 30 to 40 in breadth; which, on the 9th of December, 1828,
threw down immense portions from the Horseshoe fall, with a shock like an earth
quake; whieh, in the summer of 1829, cast off another large portion, with a noise
that was heard several miles; which are now splitting the Table Rock on the Ca
nada shore, and which have dislodged and swept away all the masses that filled
the ravine of the river, for seven miles above Lewiston.
Yet this elaboration has been very slow; since, from the published accounts of
the Falls, which reach back nearly two hundred years, the recession has -been incon
siderable in that period.
Father Hennepin, who first published an account of the Falls, and visited them in
16.78, describes them thus: "*' Betwixt the lakes Ontario and Erie,* there is a vast
and prodigious cadence of water, which falls down after a surprising and astonish
ing manner, insomuch that the universe does not afford its parallel. 'Tis true,
Italy and Swedeland boast of some such things, but we may well say, that, they
are but sorry patterns, when compared with this, of which we speak. At the foot
of this horrible precipice, we meet with the River Niagara, which is not above a
quarter of a league broad, but is wonderfully deep, in some places. It is so rapid
above this descent, that it, violently, hurries down the Wild beasts, while endea
vouring to pass it to feed on the other side, they not being able to withstand the
force of its current, which inevitably casts them headlong, above six hundred feet
high. "This wonderful downfal is composed of two great streams of water, and two
falls, with an isle sloping along the middle of it. . The waters which fall from this
horrible precipice, do foam and boil after the most hideous manner imaginable,
making an outrageous noise, more terrible than that of thunder; for when the wind
blows out of the South, their dismal roaring may be heard more than fifteen leagues
off. "The River Niagara having thrown itself down this incredible precipice, con
tinues its impetuous course for two leagues together, to the great rock above men
tioned, with an inexpressible rapidity; but having passed that, its impetuosity re
lents, gliding along, more gently, for other two leagues, till it arrives at the Lake
Ontario, or Froutenac.
" From the Great fall unto this rock, which is to the west of the river, the two
brinks of it are so prodigious high, that it would make one tremble to look steadily
upon the water, rolling along with a rapidity not to be imagined. Were it not for
this vast cataract, which interrupts navigation, they might sail with barks or greater
vessels, more than 450 leagues, crossing the Lake of Hurons, and reaching even
to the further end of Lake Illinois; which two lakes, we may easily say, are little
seas of fresh water." ( ...
* Translation published in London,1698. '»

22 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
This extract, with' the remainder of his description, bating the exaggeration of
the height of the falls, and with some explanation relative to the Rock and the three
mountains, is remarkably correct, and establishes, that when he wrote, there were,
then, as now, three distinct falls, and that, the one on the Canada side wore the ap
pearance of a horse-shoe. His description of the islands, shores, &c, corresponds
with their present appearance. The whole account is corroborated by a work of
the Chevalier de Tonti, who was of Father Hennepin's party.
Baron La Hontan, who visited the cataract in 1688, says: " As for the waterfall
of Niagara, 'tis 7 or 800 feet high, and a half a league broad. Towards the middle
of it we descry an island that leans towards the precipice, as if it were ready to
fall. All the beasts that cross the water within half a quarter of a league above
this unfortunate island, are sucked in by the force of the stream. And the beasts
and fish that are thus killed by the prodigious fall, serve for food to fifty Iroquese,
who are settled about two leagues off, and take them out of the water, with their
canoes. Between the surface of the water, that shelves off prodigiously, and the
foot of the precipice, three men may cross in a breast, without any other damage,
than a sprinkling of some few drops of water."
In the Philosophical Transactions for 1722, there is a description of the Falls by
M. Borassau, who had visited them at seven different times. He says that, the
governor of Canada had, in the previous year, " ordered his-son, with three other
officers, to survey Niagara and take the exact height of the cataract, which they did
with a stone of half a hundred weight, and a large cod line; and found it upon a
perpendicular, 26 fathoms," or 156 feet.
The distances and descents along the Niagara river from Lake Erie to Lake
Ontario, from actual survey on the American side, are as follow:
From Lake Erie to the head of the rapids, - - - 20 miles ; fall 15 feet.
Thence to the Falls,  1 « " 51 "
The Falls, -  » « 164 "
From the Falls to Lewiston at the mouth of the chasm - 7 (nearly 15 feet to the
mile) « 104 "
Thence to Lake Ontario, - - - - - - 7 " " 2 "
35 miles ; fall 336 feet.
4. The slopes of the lower subdivision of the St.'Lawrence basin which descend
to the shores of Lake Ontario occupy a considerable portion of the state of New
York. Beginning near the eastern extremity of Lake Erie, the edge of this
sub-basin may be traced, by the heads of streams falling into Lake Ontario,
through the southern part of the counties of Erie and Genesee to the valley of
the Genesee river. From the Genesee river, the boundary curves southeast,
around the southern extremities of Seneca and Cayuga lakes, including the four
smaller lakes which lie to the west of them. Seneca and Cayuga lakes, occupy
deep ravines which are also arms of the principal basin, separated from each
other by a ridge rising 1200 feet above the ocean. From the head of the Cayuga
lake the edge of the basin turns suddenly to the north, along the lake, and passes,
in a northeast direction, through the northern part of Cortland county a little
south of Skaneateles lake, in nearly a straight line to the Little Falls on the Mo
hawk river. Here, for the first time, in the course we have described, it suffers
interruption, and an outlet seems to have been forced by some tremendous concus
sion of nature.
From the Little Falls, the edge of the St. Lawrence basin may be traced along
the sources of the Mohawk river, Fish creek, and the Salmon river, to the valley of
the Black river, a branch of the basin extending back almost to the valley of the
Mohawk. From Black river, to St. Regis, the remainder of the basin, in this
state, consists of the narrow slope along the St. Lawrence river and the several
valleys, through which descend the Grass, the Racket, and the St. Regis rivers.
Thus, it is apparent, that the lower division of the basin comprises the most fer
tile part of the state.
The lowest pass from the ocean into the great depression of the St. Lawrence
basin throughput its whole extent", except the bed of the St. Lawrence. river, is
through the valleys of the Hudson andiMohawk rivers. The highest part of this
pass is near the Little Falls, and is only 425 feet above the tide. The gap next
in depth is south of Lake Michigan, and is about 700 feet above the ocean. The

ST. LAWRENCE BASIN. 23
lowest pass south of Lake Erie is on tbe line of the Ohio canal, 400 feet above
the lake, or nearly 1000 above the sea. The lowest pass from Ontario to the south
is through the valley, extending from the head of Seneca lake to Elmira, on the
West Branch of the\ Susquehanna, the summit of which is 885 feet above tide.
From these data we may infer, that if a sufficient barrier were raised across the
St. Lawrence river near Quebec, and another at the Little Falls on the Mohawk,
Lake Ontario would rise to the level of Lake Superior ; and the five great west
ern lakes would be merged in one great inland sea. The appearance of these
outlets, particularly at the Little Falls, and the nature of the surface of the several
slopes of the whole basin, give cause to believe, that such at some remote period
may have been the case.
But whatever may be the opinion relative to these suppositious barriers at the
Little Falls, there cannot be a rational doubt that, Lake Ontario once covered all
the country, lying between the Mountain Ridge, over which the Niagara river
pours its accumulated floods, and the present shore of the Lake. This fact is de
monstrable from several striking features, of the country. The first and most im
portant, is, the Ridge Road or Alluvial Way, which runs parallel with the whole
southern border of the lake, generally, from 6 to 7 miles distant from it, but
somewhat nearer at the eastern end, and along the St. Lawrence, and from two to
three miles from the northern steep.
It is composed of common beach sand, and gravel stones worn smooth by the
action of water. Its summit is flat, or gently curving, and varies from 7 to 25
rods in breath, widening in its progress westerly, and is from six to eighteen
feet high. The north side dropping to the level of the plain is more strongly
marked than the south, and in places has much the appearance of having been
formed by the falling down of the ancient bank. The slope on the north is com
monly very gradual, and scarcely visible to the eye. Yet it is raised above the lake
from 120 to 130 feet. On the south, the ground rises, more rapidly, but yet grad
ually, in the distance of about 3 miles about 136 feet to the ledge of rocks of the
mountain; whence the ascent is precipitous, nearly 100 feet.
This ridge has been the shore or bar of the lake. Its course may be traced, in
broken parts, west of the Niagara river, in Canada; and from the eastern side,
it is continued, uninterruptedly, for 80 miles through Niagara, Orleans and Mon
roe counties, to Rochester. Thence, it is distinctly visible, although occasionally
interrupted, through Oswego and Jefferson counties, passing in the latter, near the
village of Watertown. Its length exceeds 230 miles. Were examinations made,
it is probable, that the whole extent of country covered by the lake, when its
waves beat against the ridge, might be delineated.
In support of the position, that, this ridge was once the beach of the lake, it has
been observed, that, along the borders of the western rivers and lakes, small
mounds of gravel of a conical form, have been erected by the fish for the protec
tion of their spawn. Such fish banks are found at the foot of the ridge, on the
side towards the lake, but on the opposite side none have been discovered. The
points of the creeks, too, which pass through the ridge, correspond in appearance
with the entrance of the streams into the lake.
The lands along the ridge, are or may be rendered arable. Swamps and
marshes upon its southern border lie along almost its whole extent, obviously
caused by the ridge which dams them in. These may be readily drained by
cutting the dyke which imprisons the waters. The swamps are covered with
heavy timber, but the marshes, as elsewhere, are bare.
The ridge does not cross the ravines of the stream. Originally it may have
been otherwise, as bars in the lake usually lie at the mouths of the creeks ; and
the beds of the streams here were once on a level with the ridge, and probably
higher. But, on the reduction of the lake, the creeks soon removed these barriers,
and now flow in deep ravines, dividing the ridge into parts, breaking its continuity.
The levels on the eastern side of the lake are not less remarkable than those on
the south. So flat is the country between Sackett's Harbour and Watertown, that
a canal has been carried upon one plain from Black river, near the latter village, to
the Harbour. vS
The line of the ridge is undulating-, resembling somewhat, the shore of the
lake. There is but one bay, which is nearly north of Lockport, and which is
traversed by Eighteen mile creek. Its breadth at the mouth is about 4 miles, and

Miles.

Feet

450

200 650
rises
231
175 825
—
334
565
340 1165
_
31
596
240 1405
—
45
641
24 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
Its depth, less. Itis swampy, and the ridge, every where elevated, winds around it.
This is the only place where the road quits the ridge in a distance of more than
70 miles east of the Niagara river.
The road constructed on the beach may be made, one of the best in the state.
The lake, then, once reached this ridge. How has its area been reduced? By
sudden, or by gradual disruption of its barrier? If by the latter, what time has
been employed in the elaboration? The waters of the Baltic subside, we are told,
at the rate of half an inch, annually. By this ratio, giving 50 inches in the century,
and,' allowing the height of the ridge to be 140 feet, or 1680 inches above the pres
ent level of the lake, more than 3300 years have elapsed, since the lake commenced
to recede from the ridge.
The annexed Tables of Elevations and Distances, one through the whole extent
of the St. Lawrence basin, and the other along the line of the Erie canal, in connec
tion with Tables No. 1 & 2, will show the great depression of the St. Lawrence
basin below the mountain surface.
Up St. Lawrence river to head of tide
Lake Ontario level ------
Lake Erie level ------
Lake Huron level ------
Lake Superior level ------
Month of. St. Louis river, in the western angle of
Lake Superior . - - w - - 380 1785 — 641
TABLE of Ascents and Distances on the line of the Erie Canal, through the Mo
hawk valley, from the mouth of the rimer to Little Falls, and thence along the St.
Lawrence basin to Lake Erie.
route. Miles. Feet.
Mouth of the Mohawk to Schenectady
Head of Little Falls 
Beginning of the long level of Utica - - -
Along that level to its end near Syracuse -
Montezuma, at the Seneca river -
Beginning of the Rochester level' -
Along that level to Lockport and Lake Erie level
Along that level to Lake Erie - - - -
The whole length of the canal, from Albany to Lake Erie, is 363 miles. The
junction of the Hudson and Mohawk is 9 miles above Albany.
Between Utica and Lake Erie, the elevation is remarkably uniform, there being
but one intervening depression of 45 feet, at' the Seneca river. The great length
of its levels is also a striking feature of this route. The Utica level being 69^
miles long, and the Rochester, 63 miles. This circumstance is, in consequence
of the canal passing, from Little Falls to Lake Erie, along the slope of the St. Law
rence basin ; the gradual descent of which favours a line of uniform elevation.
The following are heights of the principal lakes of the state, included within the
boundaries of the lower sub-basin of the St. Lawrence.
_ , , , , . ., , „ Above tide. Aboveli. Ontario.
Crooked lake, in Yates and Steuben counties - - 718 487
Canandaigua lake ------- 668 437
Seneca lake at Geneva ------ 447 gjg
Cayuga lake  387 156
Oneida lake ---.-... 375 144
Cross lake  370 139
Onondaga or Salt lake ...... 330 gg
The interesting valley containing the Hudson river and Lake Champlain, part
of which only is now in the St. Lawrence basin, is deep and narrow, and extends
in a direct line from the ocean near New York, to the vale of the St. Lawrence
-
21
rises
226
58
79
—
142
368
12
91

57
425
69i
I60i
—

425
36|62l
1974
falls
45
380
261
rises
126
506
63
324
—
59
565
30
354
—
565
ST. LAWRENCE BASIN. 25
liver, a distance of 380 miles. That part north of West Point' is bounded west
ward by the Catskill mountains, extending north of the Mohawk, and on the east
by the continuation of the Highlands. There are but two lateral passes from this
valley; both to the west. The first is by the lower valley of the Mohawk, which,
extending back to the Little Falls, penetrates through the Appalachian mountains
into the great Basin of the St. Lawrence. Its greatest height, as already observed,
is 425 feet above tide. The second pass is that through which the Delaware and
Hudson canal has been constructed, and is 500 feet above the level of the river.
But the most remarkable and peculiar feature of the Hudson and Champlain val
ley, is its great and uniform depth. The highest part of its bottom, between the
river and the lake, is only 147 feet above the tide of the Hudson, and 54 above
the surface of the lake. Hence, an obstruction in the channel of the Hudson, at
the entrance of the Highlands, near Newburg, of only 150 feet in height, would
turn the current of the river northward, and cause it to descend by Lake Cham
plain and its outlet to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. And such obstruction is sup
posed once to have existed.
This extraordinary valley may be divided into two unequal basins : one contain
ing lakes George and Champlain, and the Chambly river; and the other, the
Hudson river below Glenn's Falls. Lake George, 34 miles long, and from one
to three wide, communicates with Champlain by a channel descending nearly 200
feet. A particular description of it will be found under the article Warren county.
Lake Champlain,* forming the most important part of the Upper basin, and
separating this statefrom Vermont, is 110 miles long, from the head of South
Bay in Washington county to La Cole's Mills, in Upper Canada; varying in
breadth from one quarter of a mile to 14 miles — broadest opposite lo Peru Land
ing, in the county of Clinton ; most narrow between Ticonderoga and South Bay.
It might properly be considered as commencing at Ticonderoga, since, for 23 miles
above, it is a gorge, with little more space than is sufficient to turn a steam boat ;
bounded on each side by steep and rugged mountains. Its surface is estimated
at 440 square miles. The shores, for two-thirds of its length are hemmed in by
mountains; on the W. by the Kayaderosseras, and Clinton ranges, and on the E.
by the Green Mountains ; the latter leaving a broader margin than the former.
Towards the N. the borders are low, the country level, and occasionally swampy,
and thinly peopled. Its inlet, Wood creek, formerly, an essential feature in the
internal navigation of the state, now gives its valley to the Champlain canal. Its
outlet, the Sorrel, Richelieu, or Chambly, admits lake vessels to St. Johns, 20 miles
from the lake ; thence, to the basin, at Chambly, the current is strong, and im
peded by rocks and rapids; but from Chambly to the mouth in the St. Lawrence,
35 miles, to William Henry, 40 miles below Montreal, the stream is gentle, ob
structed by shoals, but navigable for 15 miles by vessels of 150 tons. At the
village of William Henry, it is 250 yards broad. It was formerly the channel of
an extensive down stream trade, which now finds a better market on the Hudson.
The chain of navigable communication between the tide of the Hudson and St.
Lawrence rivers, has an uninterrupted extent for 260 miles. Steamboats leave
Whitehall and St. Johns daily, and the line connects with canal packets from
Whitehall to Fort Edward. The lake is stored with Salmon, Pike, Pickerel,
Bass, Salmon-trout, Yellow and White Perch, Sturgeon, &c.
The lake has visibly decreased in extent and elevation. The ancient shores
rise from 30 to 50 feet higher than the present ; and within them, for several miles
from the lake, fossil shells and the trunks of trees are found for 15 or 20 feet be
neath the surface.
It contains several islands; the most important of which, are Valcour, on the
coast of Clinton county, nearly equi-distant, between the mouths of Saranac and
Au-Sable rivers, in breadth one, and in length three, miles ;-^3chuyler, 5 miles S.
area one by two miles ; North Hero, 11 by 2 miles ; South Hero, 13 by 4 miles,
separated by a strait ; and La Motte, 6 by 2 miles: The three last belong to
Vermont. The principal Bays, are South and East bays, at its head ; the latter 7 miles by 1;
* This lake was called by the Dutch, Lake Iroquois — by the Indians themselves, Ca-
niaderi Guarante, " the door of the country." Its present name is derived from Cham
plain, the French adventurer, who discovered it in 1609.
4

26 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
Cumberland, in Clinton county, 4 by 2 miles, receiving the Saranac river at Platts-
burg; Burlington^ in Vermont, 5 by 2 miles; upon which lies the beautiful village
of Burlington ; Missisco, near the N. end, irregular in form, 12 miles long, and
from 2 to 4 wide.
The chief streams falling into the lake, are Wood creek, Outlet of Lake
George, Bouquet, Au-Sable, Saranac, and Big Chazy, from this State; Lamoille
and Onion rivers, and Otter creek, from Vermont; and the Poultney river, which
is common to both states.
The other portion of the Hudson and Champlain valley, is the deep basin of the
Hudson river, which may be described under two subdivisions. The first includes
the lower valley of the Mohawk, and the slopes of the Hudson from Glenn's Falls
to the entrance of the Highlands, near Newburg. The sandy plain, between Al
bany and Schenectady, is a shelf of the lower valley of the Mohawk, whose south
ern boundary is a branch of the Kaatsbergs. It has a mean elevation of 320 feet,
and declines into the valley of the Hudson by a precipitous step, nearly parallel to
the river. The capital, at Albany, is built upon the very edge of this step, and
the Mohawk, in passing over it, forms the Cahoes falls. There is a similar shelf
on each side of the Hudson, from Albany to the Highlands. The country rises
abruptly from the river to more than 200 feet, and then sweeps back by gradual
elevation to the mountain chains. On this ledge, are all the towns which border
the river, except Troy, Lansingburg, and Waterford, which are on thealluVial flat.
The lower sub-basin of the Hudson includes all that par tof the state south of
the Highlands, (except Long Island,) as well as a part of New Jersey. Its greatest
width, from the southern source of the Raritan to the eastern head of Croton
river in Putnam county, is 100 miles.
The following table shows the ascents and distances through the Hudson and
Champlain valley, from the ocean at New York to the St. Lawrence river.
ROUTE.
New York to the mouth of Mohawk,
Level, at Stillwater, -
Level, at Fort Miller, 
Beginning of Summit Level, at Fort Edward
near Glenn's Falls, - -
Along that level to Fort Ann, ...
Lake Champlain at Whitehall, ...
Along the Lake to its outlet, near the 45° of
N. lat.  110 324 — — 90
Down the Chambly to its junction with the
St. Lawrence, 40 miles above tide, - - 70 394  55 36
The Hudson river is one of the most interesting water courses on the face of the
globe; and as a navigable outlet to the vast and fertile regions of the west, has
high claims to attention. It is formed of two principal branches, the Hudson pro
per and the Mohawk.*
The Mohawk rises east of Oneida lake, interlocking its sources with those of
Black river of Ontario. Flowing south, about 20 miles, it turns suddenly to the
southeast at Rome, where it falls into what is termed the upper valley of the Mo
hawk. Here, in high floods, the waters of the river once divided^one part passing
to the Hudson, and the other through Wood creek and the Oneida lake to On
tario. From Rome to the foot of Little Falls, 37 miles, the river descends 97 feet.
1 hence it falls by a narrow pass, over a ledge of primitive rocks, into the lower
valley; offering incontestible evidence of having forced the passage. The rocks,
on each side, bear obvious marks of the action of -water at the height of more
than 40 feet above the level of the stream. The whole fall of the river, from Rome
to its mouth, is 425 feet, in a distance of 116 miles. Seventy-eight feet of this
fcr^t n.mi'n^K^.f the 8e™ral Indian tribes on "»e shores of the Hudson, gave it dif-
E^rSilS '" reference '° different parts of the stream. Thus it was called
rT'" X °S„V. *te n6£' ltS m0U,thJ Majiakaneghtac, or Mohican-Nittack, and Mahe-
C.?Duteh ani f^J^\Sha"em^ b/ 0t£er tribe3> and Cohetaba by the Iroquois. By
river,lJaho ftetudson:" *"* "** '° diStingUUh !t fr°m "«***> <* Delaware

Miles.

Feet.

151

14 165

rises.

99 99

17 182

—

18 117

8 190

__

30 147

12 202

_

— 147

12 214

falls.

54 93

ST. LAWRENCE BASIN. 27
descent, is at the cataract of the Cahoes, one mile above its junction with the Hud
son. The extreme northwest source of this fine river is in Lewis county, N.
lat. 43° 31', long. W. C. 1° 35' east. Its junction with the Hudson is at N.lat.
42° 46', long. W. C. 3° 20' E.
The Hudson proper rises by two branches, the' main, and the northeast, in the
marshy regions of Hamilton, and Essex" counties. These unite, after a general
course, S.S.E. of 40 miles each, in Warren county, and continuing south 15 miles,
receive tbe Sacandaga, between Warren and Saratoga. The Saoandaga rises, also
by two branches; one in the west part of Warren, the other in the southeast angle
of Hamilton. Flowing south about 40 miles, to the village of Northampton, on
the line between Montgomery and Saratoga, it turns N.N.E., and runs rapidly 20
miles; thence gradually curving to the east, joins the Hudson below Jessup's falls.
The united streams, now a considerable river, flow, a little to the east of south, 15
miles, and are precipitated over a ledgeof rocks, called the Great Falls; inclining
thence to the northeast 20 miles, the river is borne over another stratum, forming
Glenn's Falls, into the deep valley of the Hudson andChamplain basin. The length
of what may be called the upper Hudson, is about 120 miles. From Glenn's Falls
to its junction with the Mohawk, it has a course of 40 miles, with a fall of 147
feet; thence, by a line running a little west of south, 156 miles, it seeks the ocean
at Sandy Hook.
Below tide, though the character of the river is maintained in seasons of flood,
it assumes, in ordinary times, that of a bay. The oscillation of its tides is an in
teresting phenomenon; not being caused, as in the main ocean, by the direct action
of the sun and moon, but by a vast wave propelled by the Atlantic tide along the
slightly inclined plane of the bed of the river; the crest of which passes through
the whole distance of 151 miles, between New York and Troy, in from seven to
nine hours.
Below the head of the tide, the mean breadth of the river does not reach a mile.
In all its length, above New York island, it is bordered by a steep acclivity, in
many places mountainous. It affords rapidly varying landscapes. The channel
appears an interminable vista, bounded, on the western shore by walls of primitive
rock, and on the east, by a highly cultivated country rising boldly from the brink.
This contrast continues to th& Highlands; where enormous mountain peaks rise
suddenly on both sides, to 1200 or 1500 fee't, through which the channel seems to
have been rifted by some almost inconceivable force. It presents the only known
instance, except that of the St. Lawrence, in which the ocean tides pass the primi
tive mountain chain, carrying depth for the largest vessels. This depth is found
for 120 miles — five miles above the city of Hudson. North of this point, sloops
pass to Troy, and thence through the lock of the dam to Waterford. Above the
Highlands, the banks continue bold, rocky, and often precipitous, though not
mountainous. The farms and villages hang upon the cliffs, or rise by stages from
the water's edge. In a few places, bottoms occur; but they are rare and of limited
extent. Flowing in a deep channel, the river is seldom seen, and rarely to advantage,
from the road on either bank; and from the appearance of the country, the traveller
would not often suppose himself in the vicinity of a large and navigable stream.
Following the Hudson proper above its confluence with the Mohawk, the above
described features are generally preserved; but along the latter, another character
of scenery prevails. Above the Cahoes Falls, secondary rock foims the substra
tum. Precipices occur in a few places, but of little elevation. At Schenectady,
Herkimer, Utica, and Rome, extensive flats spread between the hills. The Her
kimer flats, above the Little Falls, appear to have once been the bottom of a lake.
In general, however, the banks rise by gentle ascent, producing a soft and pleas
ing, rather than sublime effect. At the Little Falls, the scenery is wild and broken;
and above the village, strongly contrasted with the expansive alluvial bottoms of
Herkimer. From the foot of the Highlands to the city of New York, the distance is within
a small fraction of 50 miles. At the lower point of the city, the river dilates into
a spacious basin of about 5 by 4 miles; into the northeast angle of which the East
river enters, giving to the city an additional entrance from the ocean. Staten Island
extends, in an elliptical form, from New York basin to the mouth of the Raritan
river, with the length of 12, and mean breadth of 5 miles. Between the west end

28 GENERAL DESCRIPTION. /
of Long Island and the eastern cape of Staten Island, the Hudson, by the strait
called the "Narrows," terminates in Amboy bay. From the head of Staten Island,
and from the southwest angle of New York basin, a strait, the Kill van Kuhl, ex
tends 3 miles, into Newark, or Passaic bay, the recipient of the Passaic and
Hackensack rivers; thence, Staten Island sound, by a southwest course of 9 miles,
forms one mouth with the Raritan river,i"nto Raritan bay. Thus, with Long Island
sound, and the Hudson, and the two entrances from the Atlantic, New York har
bour has four outlets.
Amboy or Raritan Bay has been called the true mouth of the Hudson. It is
8 miles long from east to west, and about 5 miles wide, at its opening into Sandy
Hook bay. It has Staten Island on the north and the shore of New Jersey upon
the south. Sandy Hook bay, lying in the latter state 5 miles, long N. W. and
S. E. has somewhat of a triangular form, and is separated from the ocean by a
narrow strip of sandy land ; at the north extremity of which, 8 miles southeast
from the Narrows and 17 from New York, is the Light House. Five miles south
east of the Light House, are the Highlands of Nevisink, the first land visible on
approaching the coast. The Romer shoal fills a considerable portion of the bay;
on which there is not sufficient water even for sloops.*
The streams which fall into the Hudson basin are particularly noticed under the
counties to which they respectively belong.
The very extraordinary and interesting connection between the valley of the
Hudson and the St. Lawrence basin, has caused a digression scarcely avoidable.
We return to the description of that basin, the great and growing trade of which
with New York seems almost to make the whole of it part of her domain. Certain
it is, her enterprize and liberal policy have contributed much, and will contribute
yet more, to its population and improvement.
5. Lake Ontario receives from Canada many streams, all of which are incon
siderable, save the river Trent, entering near the head of the St. Lawrence. Such
also is the character of its tributaries from the American shore, with the exception
of the Genesee, the Oswego, and the Black rivers. West of the Genesee it
receives, Eighteen mile and Tuscarora creeks from Niagara county ; Johnson's
and Oak Orchard, from Orleans ; Sandy, Salmon, "and Rush from Monroe county.
The Genesee valley is the greatest southern [extent of the St. Lawrence basin.
The River rises on the table land of northern Pennsylvania, latitude 41° 52,' at an
elevation, of at least 2000 feet, interlocking with the head waters, of Allegany
river, French creek, and the Susquehanna ; and by a general course, at first^west,
but afterwards deflecting to the E. of N., through the counties of Allegany, Ge
nesee, Livingston, and Monroe, of about 125 miles, it reaches Lake Ontario. It is
*The following observations relati-ve to the navigation of this Bay, taken from a late
survey and chart made by Lieut. Gedney, are important.
"By the old ship channel the course from off the point of Sandy Hook is about E. J N. for
a distance of more -than a mile, when you haul up and stand about S. E. by S. till you get
the beach House and West Beacon in a range, when you stand off due east till you get clear
of the outer Bar. By the new channel, as laid down on this chart, the course from off
Sandy Hook is about E. N. E. for a distance of about two miles, when you haul up and .steer
E. by S. The shoalest water in any part of this channel is 23 feet at dead low water, with
an allowance for the lead, which will make all of 24 feet. By this new and direct channel,
therefore, vessels of the largest class can always have free ingress and egress without any
interruption. But if government would go to the trifling expense of dragging on the shoalest
part of the channel which is a spot about two hundred feet in length and a quarter of a mile
across, thirty feet water, could easily be obtained, and thus all doubts, if any still existed,
would be removed as to the capabilities of the Sandy Hook Bar.
"The discovery of this channel is of comparatively small importance to that of the fact es
tablished by these surveys that the East channel, situated between Romer Shoal and East
Bank, which has heretofore only been usedby-the pilot boats and small river craft, has water
enough for our, largest merchantmen. The channel runs about N. W. by W. and S. E. by
E. is about half a mile wide", and the passage is nearly direct, through which may be car
ried seventeen feet. In order to render this channel useful to the merchants of New York,
a very small expenditure only is necessary, as all that is requisite is to place four buoys to
mark the shoals and three leading buoys. By taking this channel vessels can make a straight
course to sea, from the Narrows, and save all of five miles with a fair wind.
"In relation to the False Hook channel this survey also establishes an important fact It
has heretofore been supposed that it was only navigable for vessels drawing t-welve feet water;
¦whereas it will admit vessels drawing nineteen feet, and is consequently a good sloop of
war channel."

ST. LAWRENCE BASIN. 29
a small stream at Angelica, the capital of Allegany county, and moves Sluggishly,
through a rich country, to the first series of falls in the town of Portageville, in the
north part of that eounty; where it is precipitated over four ledges of 8,66,110,
and 13, feet fall. The whole fall in the distance of 2 miles is 274 feet. "Thence
by a course of 90 miles, it flows to Rochester : boats ascend to Mount Morris 45
miles from that city. At Rochester, another series of falls commences, over which,
by leaps of 12, 97, 20, and 105, feet,4he river attains the level of the lake, and
thence is navigable for sloeps and steamboats, about 5 miles to its recipient. The
village of Charlotte, or Port Genesee, and a light house are at its mouth. Six miles
square at the head of the river embrace waters that enter the Atlantic, through the
bays of St. Lawrence, Mexico and Chesapeake. We have described the Upper
Falls under " Chautauque county"tand the lower under " Monroe county."
The chief tributaries of the Genesee are, the Canaseraga, Angelica, Conesus,
Honeoye, Allen's, and Black creeks.
The projectors of the Erie canal contemplated its connection, not only with
Lake Erie, but with the Ohio river, by a southwest branch to the Allegany, at
Olean, by the valley of the Genesee. The route was superficially surveyed in
1825, and the late Governor Clinton invited the attention of the Legislature to the
subject, in four successive messages from 1825 to 1828. Pursuant to an act of
1834, a particular survey and estimates were made. The length of the proposed
canal, including navigable feeders, is 107 milesJ To which is to be added a side
cut of 15^- miles,.to Danville from'Mount Morris. ' Lockage 1057 feet. Estimated
cost, with stone locks, $1,890,614; with composite locks, $1, 774,372, exclusive of
damages. But the Senate committee, in their report on this subject, in 1835, esti
mate the cost at $ 2,300,000.
The summit is 11^ miles long; and the greatest depth of excavation thereon,
12 feet. This level, and the canal south to Olean, and north to the first feeder from
the Genesee river, a distance of 30 miles, is to be supplied with water from various
lakes, and creeks, and artificial reservoirs, furnishing an adequate quantity, 3434,
cubic feet per minute. The distance from Olean to Pittsburg, by the Allegany
river, is 280 miles; and the average fall in the river 2^ feet the mile. Freight may
now be transported by the river to Pittsburg for 25, and up to Olean for 120, cents
the lOOlbs. By the canal, the average time required for a trip from New York
to Olean is supposed to be 10 days ; and light goods, it is said, may be thus car
ried for 68 cents, and heavy goods for 41 cents less the 100 lb., by this route to
Pittsburg from New York, than by way of the Pennsylvania canal. Bituminous
coal may be obtained 40 miles from Olean, and is now used at that place. Large
deposits of this valuable mineral are said to have been discovered in 1835, near
the oil spring, at the head of Oil creek, and upon the line of the proposed canal.
Should this prove true, a great inducement will be offered for making the Genesee
canal, very speedily — ¦•much sooner than it would, in any other event, be made.
The estimated annual charge upon the treasury, foyhaking and maintaining this
canal, is thus given:
Cost of the canal $2,300,000; annual interest at 5 per cent., - - 115,000
Repairs on 122 miles of canal, at $300 per mile, - - - - 36,300
Five superintendents, at $500 each per annum, - - - - - 2,500
114 lock tenders, at $18 per month, each,  16,316
$176,000
The estimated tolls upon the line are given at - $39,125,60
Extra tonnage derived to the Erie canal, - - 39,179 00
 78,304 60
Leaving a charge on the general fund of ----- $97,696 40
But against this charge there should be set off the rapid and great improvement
of the country through which the canal wonld pass, and the increased wealth of
its inhabitants.
East of the Genesee, the tributaries to the lake, are inconsiderable, until we
reach the Oswego river, one of the most important streams of the state, as con
nected with the great system of internal navigation. This river is formed by the
junction of the Seneca and Oneida rivers, at Three River Point, in the town of
Cicero, Onondago county, 24 miles S. S. E. from the lake. Its principal branch.

30 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
the Seneca, is composed of the Seneca and Canandaigua outlets, which unite in
the Montezuma marshes.
The Seneca outlet, leaves the Seneca lake at its northeast corner, and by a
northeast course of 13 miles, flows across the' northern extremity of Cayuga
lake, falling in that distance about 60 feet, and thence north, by a gentle current,
6 miles, to the junction with the Canandaigua.
The Canandaigua outlet, has a northeast course from the lake of the same name,
about 30 miles to the village of Lyons, Wayne county, where it receives Mud
creek, which, flows by a like course of 50 miles, from West Bloomfield, On
tario county, and through Wayne county ; receiving in its way a considerable
accession by Flint creek. The united streams, by the name of- Clyde river, have
an easterly course, of 20 miles, to the Seneca.
From the union, Seneca river runs north, 5 miles; where, after dividing into two
branches, which soon reunite, it bends to' the east, passing through the south end
of Cross lake, to the outlet of Onondago lake, 34 miles, by its curves; thence it
continues, northwest, 6 miles, to its union with the Oneida river, at Three River
Point. From the mouth of Clyde river to this point, the stream is tame, has low
banks, no falls, and few rapids. Its descent is 20 feet. Before the construction of
the Erie canal, it afforded, a good navigation, by its stem and branches, to the
Cayuga lake, on the one hand, and to Lyons on the other. It receives, above the
point, and below the marshes, Owasco, Skaneateles and Onondago outlets. The
outlet from the Owasco lake, Cayuga county, has a northwest course of 13 miles
to the Montezuma marshes, and a descent estimated at, 300 feet, That of the Ska
neateles lake, in Onondago county, a course N. N. W. 10 miles, to the river, west
of Cross lake, with a fall of 460 feet. That from the Onondago lake, is artificial,
the old drain having been closed, and has a length only of 100 rods.
The Oneida river, from the west end of Oneida lake, has a western, but very
serpentine course to.the Seneca, of about 18 miles by its windings; though in a
direct line not over nine, and has a fall of 12j feet.
From the Oneida river, the Oswego, for about 12 miles to the Falls near Fulton,
is a gentle stream, descending 14 feet 4 inches. Thence, to Lake Ontario, 11
miles, it falls 124 feet, 40 of which' in the space of 3 miles from the Cataract, to
Mooney's Bay; the remainder by an almost continued rapid. Mooney's Bay, about
2 miles long, from 60 to 100 rods wide, and from 15 to 20 feet deep, has the pla
cidity of a lake. This river affords great abundance of fish, as, Salmon, Bass,
Pike, Eels ; of the last more than 1000 barrels have been taken in a season. To
protect the fisheries, especially of the Salmon, and to preserve the navigation for
rafts, dams on the river are required by law to have a slope apron in the channel,
at least 26 feet wide, declining from the top of the dam, on an angle of 25 degrees,
to the bottom of the river below ; the dam Jto be so much lower at the apron, as
may be necessary to create a sufficient draught and depth of water for the free pas
sage of the Salmon up, and of rafts down, the stream. And spearing, or otherwise
catching or disturbing Salmon, in their passage up the aprons, or within the dis
tance of 5 rods thereof, is prohibited under the penalty of 25 dollars, and costs of
suit for each offence.
The Oswego, draining a country in extent about 4,500 square miles, has a vast
volume, which, by its fall and constancy, is most valuable for use in hydraulics or
navigation. It is now advantageously used for both, and, a proposed further ap
plication to the latter is of the greatest importance.
Stimulated by the efforts making in Canada, by the improvement of the St.
Lawrence, and the formation of the Welland canal, to secure the immense and
growing trade of the St. Lawrence basin to that colony, the inhabitants of Oswego
nave proposed to make a steamboat and sloop canal from Lake Ontario to the
Hudson. In aid of their purpose, the citizens of Utica, in 1834, sent a memorial to
the legislature; called a state convention at that place, in September of that year;
and engaged Mr. E. F. Johnson to survey the line. That gentleman reported,
February 5th, 1835, to a meeting of citizens, the result of his labours, as highly
favorable to the object, and his views were laid before the legislature on the 12th
of that month.
The distance from the Hudson river to Lake Erie, by this route, is but 15 miles
more than by the Erie canal. One third will be lake navigation, and more
than 40 miles will be along the Oneida and Oswego rivers. One hundred and

ST. LAWRENCE BASIN. 31
forty miles, only, will be by canal, principally, along the Mohawk river. The
contemplated advantages of this project are, the increased speed attainable, the
saving of expense in transportation, and the inconvenience of reshipment ; since
vessels laden on the lakes will not break bulk until their arrival at the city of
New York.
The plan comprehends, also, ultimately, the improvement of the Seneca river,
so as to form a steam navigation 140 miles in extent, connecting with the Ononda
go, Cayuga, and Seneca lakes, and penetrating to the heart of a mostfertile country.
But to make this magnificent project fully effective, a steamboat canal must be
made from the Niagara river above the Falls to Lake Ontario.
The distance from Utica to Oswego, by the proposed route, is 92^ miles. Lock
age 180 feet. Estimated cost, $1,130,989.
It is proposed to make the canal 8 feet deep and 90 feet broad at the surface,
the inside slope of the banks 2 horizontal to 1 perpendicular, well faced with stone,
—a towing path upon the banks — the locks 30 by 130 feet in the clear, with a lift
of about 8 feet — the culverts of stone, and the aqueducts, waste weirs, and bridges
to be constructed with substantial stone abutments ; the last to be formed with
draws for the passage of vessels. The vessels to be adapted to the canal are rated
as follows ; schooners 160 tons; freight vessels to be towed by steamers 190 tons,
and steamboats 140 tons — the tonnage estimated by register.
The route commences on the west line of the city of Utica, and thence follows
the channel of the Erie canal to old Fort Bull, in Rome, 16J miles ; thence on the
north side of, and parallel to, Wood creek, 10 miles to Fish creek, at the level of
the Oneida lake, a short distance above the junction of the two streams — descend
ing 63^ feet by 8 locks ; thence through the Oneida lake 22 miles : thence by the
Oneida river 19- miles, to Three River Point, and thence by the Oswego canal and
river to Lake Ontario at Oswego.
The plan, of course. includes, the corresponding enlargement of the Erie canal
from Utica to the Hudson.
The prosecution of this enterprize is disapproved by the canal board in their
report to the legislature, March 30th, 1835; and their views are sustained by
Messrs. Hutchinson, Jervis and Mills, engineers ; who admitting the practicability
of the proposed work, maintain; 1. That, the use of steam power on the improve
ment would be inexpedient, except where it may be important to avoid the
expense of a towing path, which would be only on the Oneida lake, a distance of
21 miles; 2. That, in the employment of schooners, instead of canal boats adapted
to an enlarged canal, one day only in navigation between Oswego and Albany
would be gained, by saving transhipment; 3. That, the cost of transportation
would be 66 cents per ton greater than by boats; 4. That, schooners would re
quire double the quantity of lockage water ; 5. That, in consequence of the neces
sity of drawbridges, a schooner navigation would greatly discommode the ordi
nary intercommunication of the country through which it passed ; 6. That, upon
an enlarged canal between Buffalo and Albany, the cost of transportation, would
be 94 cents, per ton less, than by the Ontario route, and the time employed 25. 6
hours less, than by that route, unless steam power, necessarily at advanced cost,
should be used on Lake Ontario, when the lake' route would prove the shorter only
by one day; and that, whether the communication be made from the Hudson to
Lake Ontario, or from the Hudson to Lake Erie, a canal designed for boats exclu
sively adapted to its navigation, and which may be towed by steamboats on the
Hudson, will best accommodate the prominent interest involved in the great trade
for which provision is to be made.
The remaining chief tributaries from the state to Lake Ontario and the St. Law
rence, are Big and Little Salmon creeks, and Little Sandy creek, from Oswego
county'; Big Sandy creek, Black river, Perch creek, Chaumont river, from JefferT
son county; the Oswegatchie, Indian, Grasse, Racket, and St. Regis rivers, from St.
Lawrence county ; Salmon, Trent, and Chateaugua rivers from Franklin county;
all of which are fully described under the counties to which they belong.
6.The St. Lawrence river bounds the state from the outlet of Lake Ontario to lat.
45°, a distance of 109 miles. Issuing from the northeast corner of the Lake,
it is divided into two branches, by Grand island, upon the north of which, on the
Canada shore, is the handsome village of Kingston, 40 miles northeast from Sack-
ett's Harbour, and, 11 north from Cape Vincent, in the other channel. Grand

32 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
island is 18 miles long, and about 8 wide, containing 3200 acres, and has fallen,
in the settlement of the north boundary, to Great Britain; north of Grand island
is another of less than half its size, called Howe island. Below Grand island the
bosom of the river is broken by an amazing cluster called the " Thousand Islands,"
stretching for 27 miles, almost to Brockville; than which, no scene is more sa
vage. Their actual number, counting every islet, exceeds fifteen hundred. Here,
at some period, the unbroken mass formed a barrier to the mighty waters. Thus
far the river may be considered as an arm of the lake, having no perceptible cur
rent; nor, indeed, is the descent of the waters visible, for some miles further,
near Ogdensburg, from which steamboats of the largest size navigate the river to
the lake.
Below Ogdensbnrgvto Montreal, the channel consists of reaches of slack water,
and rapids. It is navigable, for boats drawing three feet water, and small steam
boats directed by experienced pilots, descend in about 3 days to La Chine, 7 miles
above Montreal. Boats of this class leave Ogdensburg daily. The first rapids are
at Isles au Gallop, or Red mills, 5 miles below Ogdensburg, where the current, for
250 yards, has great velocity. On one of these islands, the French had a strong
fortress, which was demolished by General Amherst, in 1760. The second fall is
at Rapid Plat, 20 miles; the third, at Pepper Point, short but swift; the fourth, at
Store's Point, inconsiderable; the fifth, La Grande and La Petite Chute, about
890 yards long, through which the current rushes at the rate of 16 miles the hour;
the sixth, at Point Ellicott, 10 miles above St. Regis, a mile in length, in which
the water runs 11 miles the hour; the. seventh, the Long Sault, comprehending a
series of falls, 9 miles in length, usually passedjin twenty minutes, or at the
rate of 27 miles the hour; the eighth, the strait separating Massena point from
the head of Cornwall, through which the velocity of the current is 8 miles the
hour. Here the course of the river, upon the line of New York, terminates. The
ninth rapid, ;4 miles above the mouth of the St.Regis river,extends 440 yards, with
a motion of about 5 miles .the hour.
At the mouth of the St. Regis, lies the Indian village through which passes the
northern boundary of the United States. Here commences, the expansion of the
river, known as Lake St. Francis, whose greatest length is 25, and greatest
breadth 15, miles. Its borders are so low, that they can scarcely be distinguished
from its centre. At the lower end of this lake, the river again contracts into two
narrow channels, separated by Gros Isle. Rapids occur here, and at the Cedars,
8 miles below the lake. The latter continue for 4 miles; when the river again
dilates, having one channel communicating with the Ottawa river, and the other
pouring its foaming waters over the cascade, into Lake St. Louis. The latter con
tinues 17 miles to La Chine, the upper part of Montreal. Here the river is once
more restricted to a narrow channel, with strong rapids. Nearly opposite to Mon
treal, however, the last rapids occur; and below them to Lake St. Peter, the head
of tide, the current is gentle, and the channel deep enough for vessels of 600 tons.
The Ottawa or Grand river, is a great northern branch of the St. Lawrence, ris
ing in the imperfectly known regions north of Lake Huron, and flowing southeast,
by comparative courses, 600 miles, into Coteau du Lac, 20 miles west from Mon
treal. The distance from that city to Lake Superior, is one-third longer by the
St. Lawrence than by the Ottawa; for which reason the latter was formerly much
frequented by the traders. The confluence of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence, is one
of the most picturesque spots in the world. Three channels form the large islands
of Montreal and Jesus, which unite at Bout de L'Isle.
The island of Montreal, so called from a mountain 700 feet high, upon it, ex
tends 30,with a mean breadth of 7, miles. The city stretches along the river about
2 miles, and is remarkable for the beauty of its position, its commercial advan
tages, and the"elegance of many of its buildings. A canal 9 miles long, from the
city to La Chine, enables boats to avoid the rapids, along the island. The Rideau
canal, constructed by the British government, forms a navigable communication
between Lake Ontario and the Ottawa river, practicable for vessels of 125 tons,
securing to the Canadas, by an interior route, the transport of military stores and
commodities of trade. The junction of the Rideau river with the Ottawa, the
lower extremity of the canal, is 120 miles from Montreal, and from Kingston,
where the canal leaves Lake Ontario, 160 by water, and 130 by land; whilst the
distance by the St. Lawrence, between Kingston and Montreal, is but 173 miles.

ST. LAWRENCE BASIN. 33
The elevation of the mouth of the canal above the tide, is estimated at 110 feet,
and 121 below the level of Lake Ontario.
From Montreal to Quebec, the distance is 170 miles. A large proportion of the in
habitants of Lower Canada is congregated upon the shores of the river. The dwell
ings and cultivated grounds are so continuous, that each bank has the semblance
of an unbroken street, with groupes of houses in the vicinity of the several churches,
which are erected from 6 to 9 miles apart, commonly in sight from the river. A
short distance below the city, are the rapids of St. Mary's, in returning up which
steamboats are often aided by cattle. Proceeding down the river, the villages of
Longeuil, Longue Point, Vercheres, Varennes, Point aux Trembles, Contrecceur;
Repentigny, St. Sulpice, La Morage, Berthier, and Machiche, are successively
passed before reaching the town of William Henry, 40 miles from Montreal.
Near this town, the river expands into Lake St. Peter, from 12 to 15 miles wide,
and 25 long. The current here is very gentle, and the water from 8 to 11 feet
deep. At the upper end are several small islands — the only ones above Orleans,
distant 117 miles. On the north side of the lake is the village of Trois Rivieres,
at the mouth of the St. Maurice, containing above 400 houses, and 3000 inhabi
tants! Seven miles below, the Richelieu rapids commence. The river is com
pressed within half a mile, and the current for four miles, has great swiftness; but
being deep and unbroken, except at the shores, the descent is made by steamboats,
without danger, during the day, but is never attempted by night. Thence, to the
village of St. James Cartier, at the mouth of Cartier river, the distance is 4, to
St. Nicholas, at the mouth of the Chaudiere river 29, and to Quebec 35, miles.
Soon after leaving the month of the Chaudiere, the towers and citadel of that fa
mous city open to view, situated on a rock 345 feet high, called Cape Diamond,
from the gem-like quality of the crystals imbedded in the granite beneath the sur
face. The city lies upon -a peninsular point, at the confluence of the St. Charles
and St. Lawrence rivers, which forms a capacious and beautiful bay and har
bour. Eight miles below the city, the Montmorenci pours its flood into the St. Law
rence, over a perpendicular precipice, 240 feet in height. The breadth of the fall
is 100 feet. The prodigious depth of the descent, overhung by dense foliage — the
brightness and volubility of the waters — their rapid course through the air — the
loud and hollow roar from the basin, swelling with incessant agitation from the
weight of the dashing waters, form a highly interesting and enchanting scene. Be
low the falls, the stream is diffused to the breadth of 1500 feet.
The falls of the Chaudiere, above the city, have scarcely less attraction. The
current contracted to 400 feet, has a descent of 135 feet, divided by rocks into three
separate cascades, falling into the same basin.
Five miles below Quebec, is the island of Orleans. Above this island, the St.
Lawrence is comparatively confined to a narrow channel, passing through a level
country, of great sameness on the south, with mountains, on the north, too dis
tant to produce much effect in the scenery. Below the island, the river, from many
points, upon its northern banks, lies open to the view for a hundred miles; vary
ing from 20 to 25 miles in breadth; the whole course and coast of which, in this
clear atmosphere, can be distinctly discerned. Beautiful islands, adorned with neat
mansions and cultivated fields, contrast with others of naked rock, or clothed with
wood — the dense settlements, villages, and distant highlands on the south shore,
are opposed to the bold and lofty mountains of the north, crowned with primeval
forests, impending the river margin — while the valleys, formed by the streams and
torrents of these elevated regions, have vistas in which the village spires are dis
cernible, relieved by the bare, rugged, and stupendous cliffs in the back ground.
Again, cultivation extends nearly to the tops of the mountains, offering to the view
comfortable dwellings, luxuriant harvests, and green fields, scattered over the face
of nature's wildest domain.
Along the main channel of the river, hundreds of vessels, frequenting Quebec,
during the season of navigation, are continually passing up under crouded sails, or
quietly anchored, waiting the tides or winds; and in every bay and creek, smaller
vessels are ever plying in pursuit of pleasure or gain.
The Saguenay, which enters the St. Lawrence on tbe northern shore, about 100
miles below Quebec, is one of the most extraordinary rivers of the world. The
grand outlet of the waters of the Saguenay country, it has the appearance of a long
5

34 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
mountain lake, through an extent of 50 miles, rather than of a river, environed by
scenery of the wildest and most magnificent description. It varies in breadth from
one to two miles, and has an impetuous southeast course, through a deep valley
girded by mountains of gneiss and sienitic granite, rising in some places from the
water, 2000 feet.
This river has a feature of the most curious and singular character. The St.
Lawrence, at their confluence, is about 18 miles wide, and has a depth of 240 feet.
A ridge of rocks beneath the water, through which is a channel 120 feet deep,
stretches across the mouth of the Saguenay, within which the depth increases, to
840 feet: so that, the bed of this river, is absolutely 600 feet below that of the St.
Lawrence — a depth preserved for many miles up the stream. The resistance to
the current by the rocks at the mouth, causes a surf, much increased and dangerous
to boats at ebb tide.
From Quebec, to the island of Anticosti, generally considered the month of the
St. Lawrence, the distance is 360 miles. Here the river is about 100 miles wide,
and connects with the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 350 miles long, and 150 wide, com
municating with the Atlantic by three passages. As in the Hudson, the tide in
the St. Lawrence passes through the primitive mountains, on whose breach stands
Quebec. At that city it rises from 17 to 24 feet, and it ascends to Three Rivers,
450 miles from Anticosti. Above this, without the aid of tide, large vessels are
navigated to Montreal. These excessive tides prevent the river from beingcovered
with compact ice, below Quebec; yet such are the enormous masses driven in
every direction by the winds and currents, that it is innavigable nearly half the
year. Above Quebec it is frozen over, commonly, from the first of December to
the first of April.
We have given above estimates of the quantity of water supposed to pass over
the Falls of Niagara. This volume is increased by the accessions from Lake Onta
rio, and the many rivers below it; and such is the mass encircling Montreal and
Jesus islands, that the vast flood of the Ottawa, makes no perceptible augmenta
tion. It is supposed to send to the ocean, a quantity exceeding by much more than
half, that delivered by the Mississippi. The volume of the St. Lawrence is as
remarkable for its uniformity throughout the year, as is that of the Mississippi for
its continual change.
7. We give tables of distances from the ocean, through the whole lineal extent of
the St. Lawrence basin. It is not, perhaps, correct in every particular, yet it can
not fail to be useful.
TABLE 1.
Distances from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the lower extremity of Lake Ontario.
From the Island of Anticosti to Cape St. Michael, at Bout de
Cape Coribon, 100 100 l'Isle, 30 510
Black river, on the left, 50 150 Montreal, 15 525
Breslard river, do. 10 160 La Chine, 6 531
Betsiamis river, do. 12 172 Head of Lake St. Louis, 17 548
Saguenay river, do. 70 242 Cedar Rapids, 4 552
L'Isle au Coudre, 55 297 Lower end of Lake St. Francis, 8 560
Lower end of the Island of Or- Bodet river, dividing Upper and
leans, 27 324 Lower Canada, 12 572
River of Montmorenci, 21 345 Mouth, of St. Regis river, 18 590
Head of the Island of Orleans, 2 347 Mouth of Racket river, 2 592
Quebec, 5 352 Mouth of Grasse river, 3 595
Mouth of the Chaudiere, 6 358 Narrows, lower end of Long
Village of St. James Cartier, Sault rapids, 1 598
river, 25 383 Head of Long Sault rapids, 10 606
Richelieu Rapids, 4 387 Hamilton andlsleau Rapid Plat 16 622
Village of St. Anna — river, 20 407 Point Iroquois, 3 625
River Becancour, 20 427 Galloupe Islands, or Red Mill, 5 630
Three Rivers — head of tide, 5 432 Ogdensburg, 12 642
Lake St. Peter— lower end, 12 444 Prescott, U. C. 1 643
Delta at the mouths of the Ya- Morristown and Brockville, 12 655
masee and St.Francis rivers, 16 470 Gananquoi river, 27 682
Mouth of Chambly river, and Kingston, or Cape Vincent, 16 698
head of Lake St. Peter, 12 482

ST. LAWRENCE BASIN.

35

TABLE 2.
Distances from Cape St. Vincent to the Head of Lake Ontario.

From Cape St. Vincent to
Sackett's Harbour, 20 20
Oswego river, and village, 40 60
Great Sodus bay, 28 88
Genesee river, 35 123
Fort Niagara, Niagara river, 74 197

Port Dal housie,. 10 207
L ridge at the outlet of Burling
ton bay, 25 232
Dundas, head of Burlington bay,
and extreme end of Lake On
tario, 8 240

It will be observed that these distances are along the S. coast of the lake. The
direct length of the lake is given by various authorities at from 180 to 210 miles.
TABLE 3.
Distance from Fort Niagara to Buffalo.
From Fort Niagara to Steamboat Landing,
Lewiston, 7 Tonawanta and White Haven,
Niagara Falls, 7 14 Black Rock,
Fort Schlosser, 2 16 Buffalo,
TABLE 4.

1

17

8

35

9

44

3

47

Distances from Buffalo to Detroit.

Buffalo harbour to
creek,
Cayuga creek,
Two Sisters creek,
Cattaraugus creek,
Dunkirk Harbour,
Fredonia creek,

Smoker's

96
9
13 1

4
1319
28
41
42

New Market and mouth of Grand
river, 27
New Market creek, 9
Cuyahoga river and town of
Cleveland, where the Ohio
canal debouches into Lake

Portland, mouth of Chautauque
creek, 14
Northern angle of Pennsylvania,10
Twenty Mile creek, 1
Sixteen Mile creek, 6
Twelve Mile creek, 5
Erie town and harbour, 8
Fairview and mouth of Walnut
creek, 5
Elk creek, 6
Crooked creek, 5
Northwest angle of Pennsylva
nia, 4
Coneaught village and river, 1
Ashtabula village and river, 14

Erie,
Rocky river,
56 Black river,
66 Beaver river,
67 Vermillion river,
73 Old Woman's creek,
78 Huron river,
86 Sandusky bay,
Portage river,
91 Toussaint river,
97 Maumee river,
102 Raisin river,
Stony creek,
106 Huron river,
107 Rouge. river,
121 Detroit,

18 6
18 4 5
10 3
10
20 8
15 9
5
10
22 3

TABLE 5.
Distances from Detroit to the Island of Michilimakinac.

To the upper end of Peach
Island, and entrance into St.

Clair,

6
Grosse Point,
3
9
Mouth of Huron river
of Lake
St. Clair,
.15
24
Mouth of St. Clair river,
8
32
Belle Riviere at St.
Ch
lir
settle
ment,
13
60
Black river,
9
69
Fort Gratiot,
2
71
White Rock,
55
129
Elm creek,
id
136
Black river, 12
Point aux Barques, 12
Point aux Chenes, on Saganaw
bay, 18
Shawangunk island, 11
River aux Sables, 30
Thunder Bay island, 40
Flat Rock Point, near Middle
island, 18
Presqu' Isle, 20
Lower end of the island of Bois
Blanc, 60
Michilimakinac, 12
148
157
175
18.1
199
203208
218 221
231251259
274283
288298
320 323
148
160178
189
210250
268288348360
36

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

, TABLE 6.
Distances from Michilimakinac to the River Ontonagon.
From Michilimakinac to Granite Point, 6 262
Detour, 40 Garlic river, 9 271
Thence to the Sault de St. St. John's river, 15 286
Marie, 45 85 Salmon Trout, or BurnUiver, 12 298
Point aux Pins, 6 91 Pine River, * 6 304
Point Iroquois at the entrance Huron River,'(Huron Islandslie
into Lake Superior, 9 100 off this river) 9 313
Tonquamenon river, 15 115 Point Abbaye, (E. cape of Kew-
Shelldrake river, 9 124 eena Bay) 6 319
White Fish Point, 9 133 Mouth of the Portage river, 21 340
Two-hearted river, 24 157 Head of-Portage river, through
Grande Marrais and commence- Keweena Lake, 24 364
ment of Grandes Sables, 21 178 Lake Superior, at the head, of
La Point des Grandes Sables, 9 187 the portage, 1 365
Pictured Rocks, (La Portaille) 12 199 Little Salmon Trout river, 9 374
Doric Rock and Miner's River, 6 205 Graverods river, (small, with
Grande Island, 12 217 flat rocks at the mouth) 6 380
River aux Trains, 9 226 Riviere au Misiere, 12 392
Isle aux Trains, 3 229 Tiresteell river, 18 410
Laughing Fish River, 6 235 Ontonagon or Copper Mine Ri-
Chocolate river, 15 250 ver, 6 416
Dead river,(in Presqu' Isle bay) 6 256
TABLE 7.
Distances from the River Ontonagon to the American Fur Company's Establishment.
From the Ontonagon to Framboise (Raspberry) river, 15 99
Iron River, " . 15 30 Sandy river, 6 105
Carp river and the Porcupine De Tour (Foot of Fond du Lac) 3 108
Mountains, 15 30 Cranberry creek, 30 138
Presqu' Isle river, 6 36 Bois Brule (Burntwood) river, 15 153
Black river, 6 42 Mouth of St.. Louis river, or
Montreal river, 21 63 Fond du Lac, 21 174
La Mauvais riviere, (Bad river) 12 75 Chippeway village, 3 177
Point Chegoimegon, 6 81 American Fur Company's Esta-
Cadott's House, (Island of St. blishment, 18 195
Michael, 3 84
RECAPITULATION.
Distance from the Island of Anticosti to Cape Vincent, - - - 698
From Cape Vincent to Fort Niagara, ------- 197
From Fort Niagara to Buffalo, -------- 47
From Buffalo to Detroit,  325
From Detroit to Michilimakinac, --------360
From Michilimakinac to the river Ontonagon, 416
From that river to the American Fur Company's Establishment, - - 195

37

CHAPTER III.
OF THE RIVERS FLOWING SOUTHWARD FROM NEW YORK.
1. Delaware. — 2. Susquehanna. — 3. Allegany.
To complete out general view of the surface of the state, it remains to describe
the rivers other than the Hudson and the Mohawk, which, rising in the state, seek
the ocean by a southern course. These are the Delaware, the Susquehanna, and the
Allegany. 1 . The Delaware river, called by the Indians Pautuxat, Marisqueton, Mdkeriskkis-
kon, Lenape Wihittuck, (stream of the Lenape) ; by the Dutch, Zuydt, or South,
Charles and Nassau, river, and by the Swedes, New Swedeland stream, rises, by two
branches, in the western chain of the Kaatsbergs. The northernmost, called the Mo
hawk, or Cooquago, issues from the small pond or lake Utsayanthe, near the boundary
of Schoharie county, lat. 42° 45', at an elevation above tide of 1886 feet, and flows
S. W. across Delaware county, nearly 50 miles, to the E .line of Broome county, with
in 10 miles of the Susquehanna river; whence turning, suddenly, it pursues a S. E.
course of 5 miles over the Pennsylvania line in N. lat. 42°; 8 miles below which, it
receives the Popachton branch from the S. E. This branch rises in Delaware
county, near Mooresville, in Roxbury, and has, also, a S. W. course of about 50 miles,
parallel with the former. Thence, the river, by a serpentine course, maintains a
S. E. direction about 60 miles, to the N. W. corner of the state of New Jersey, N.
lat. 41° 24', at Carpenter's Point, at the mouth of the NevHsink or Mackackomack,
in Orange county. Encountering the Kittatinny chain of mountains, the Delaware
then turns to the S. W. almost washing the mountain base, 35 miles, to the mouth
of Broadhead's creek, from Pike and Northampton counties, Pa. Curving to the
south, it penetrates the Kittatinny by the Water Gap, and enters the fine valley
between that and the Blue Ridge. At the foot of the latter it receives the first
large confluent, the Lehigh ; when, piercing that chain, and 5 miles below the
South East mountain, it winds to the S. E. having flowed in a southern direction
30 miles. From the Blue Ridge, below Easton, to the first ledge of primitive
rock over which it falls at Trenton, the river has a S. E. course of about 60 miles;
in which there are 25 noted rapids, with an aggregate fall of 165 feet. But the
navigation has been improved, and is safe for Durham boats at the ordinary height
of the water. It meets the tide at Trenton ; thence by a course of 35 miles, it
flows to Philadelphia ; 5 miles below which, it receives the Schuylkill from the
N.W. ; thence, passing by Chester, Wilmington, Newcastle, Delaware City,
and Port Penn, it communicates by a wide estuary with the Atlantic ocean.
Two surveys have been made for a canal along the Delaware valley, from Car
penter's Point to Easton. The Morris Canal communicates with the river at
Philipsburg, opposite to Easton. The Delaware and Raritan canal taps the river,
by its feeder, 23 miles above Trenton. From Easton to Bristol, on the Pennsyl
vania shore, runs the Delaware division of the Pennsylvania canal, which, in con
nection with the Lehigh canal, affords advantageous communication with the coal
mines and valley of the Lehigh river. At the head of the Bay at Delaware City,
and opposite to Fort Delaware, which commands the passage of the river, the
Delaware and Chesapeake canal, 14 miles in length, connects this with the Chesa
peake bay and its tributary rivers. This point is , distant from Philadelphia 45
miles ; and the bay extends thence 75 miles to the ocean, with a width varyino-
from 3 to 30 miles. At its mouth, is being constructed the much needed artificial
harbour or breakwater. The "length of the bay and river, to the head of tide at
Trenton, is 155 miles. A 74 gun ship may ascend to Philadelphia, 120 miles ;
sloops and steamboats to Trenton Falls ; boats of 8 or 10 tons 100 miles above
them ; and canoes 150 miles higher.
2. The valley of the Susquehanna, extends through Madison, Oneida, Herkimer,
and Otsego counties, as high as N. lat. 42° 55', and in long, from 1° to.2i° E.
from Washington City; within 16 miles of Oneida lake, 15 from the Erie canal,
and between the sources of the Oneida and Mohawlc rivers. The most northern
branch is the Chenango, which, after receiving many minor streams, flows by a
general S. course 60 miles, and joins the Susquehanna from Otsego lake, a much
larger river from the Northeast. The Susquehanna proper, meaning, in the Seneca

38 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
language, Crooked River, rises in the northern spine of the Kaatsbergs, and with
its W. branch, the Unadilla, drains the space between the Cooquago branch of
the Delaware and the Chenango; and its most northern source reaches to within
ten miles of the Mohawk river and Erie canal, near Herkimer. The northeastern
branch of the Susquehanna is designated, correctly, the East Branch ; and is the
eastern water of the Chesapeake basin, whose fountains gush forth within 40 miles
of the tide of the Hudson, at Albany. The East Branch, after a general course of
50 miles S. W., receives the Unadilla, at the S. W. angle of Otsego county; thence,
inclining more southward, it enters into, and rapidly curves out of, Pennsylvania;
again, entering New York, turns to the west, and receives the Chenango at Bing
hampton. Continuing a western course 20 miles, it passes Oswego, and winding
to S. W. and S. re-enters Pennsylvania and joins the Chemung or Tioga from the
N. W., after an entire comparative course of 140 miles.
TheChemung is composed of three branches. The Canisteo and Conhocton,
rising in Allegany and Steuben counties, N. Y., and the Tioga or Connewisque,
from Tioga county, Pa. Uniting in Steuben, they turn S. E. enter Pennsylvania,
and join the Susquehanna, at Athens or Tioga Point, after a comparative course of
80 miles.
Already has the Chemung river been connected with the Erie canal, by the Che
mung canal, the Seneca lake, and the Seneca canal; and the completion of the
Chenango canal, will shortly unite the main branch of the Susquehanna with the
Erie canal at Utica.
Below Tioga point,' the united streams form a noble river, which.flowing east of
south, 15 miles, encounters the mountain ridge at Towanda creek, near Meansville,
Bradford county, Pennsylvania; thence, turning southeast, pierces the first chain,
and 30 miles further, reaches the Tunkhannock creek and ridge; breaking through
the latter, and several other ridges, it enters the Wyoming valley at the mouth of
the Lackawannock, 9 miles above Wilkesbarre. It winds by. a southwest course
down that, and other mountain valleys, about 70 miles, to the influx of the western
branch at Northumberland. In all its course of 120 miles, from Tioga Point to
Northumberland, it receives no tributary stream of fifty miles in length.
The west branch is exclusively a Pennsylvania river. Rising in the central se
condary formation, in Indiana and Cambria counties, 35 miles east of the Allegany
river, atKittanning, after a northeast course of 70 miles, it receives the Sinnamahon-
ingfrom the northwest, at the north angle of Centre county; thence,flowing various
courses, for 30 miles, it receives Bald Eagle river from the southwest. Immedi
ately above the last stream, the Susquehanna breaks through the Allegany, or main
chain of the Appalachian system, arid enters on the transition formation; thence,
running east and south, about 65 miles, it unites with the East branch at North
umberland. Thirty-five miles below Northumberland, the Juniata, the southwest branch,
unites with the main stream. It rises in, and drains the north part of, Bedford
county; flowing from the southeast side of the Allegany chain, it is precipitated by
a devious and rapid course, of more than 140 miles, through several mountain
chains, to its recipient — augmented by the Frankstown branch, at Huntingdon.
The Juniata is the last important tributary of the Susquehanna.
From Pennsbury, on the West branch, to the mouth of the Juniata, is the most
mountainous part of the course of this river, by either branch. Independent of
minor ridges, in the distance of sixty miles, it traverses six or seven of the principal
chains; and below the Juniata, in the course of 80 miles, carries its immense vo
lume through the Kittatinny mountain, 5 miles above, and through the Blue ridge,
8 miles below Harrisburg; and, lastly, through the southeast mountain, below the
Conestoga. From the Blue ridge, the channel becomes more and more interrupted
by shoals and rapids, until the stream pours over the last rocky ledge into the
Chesapeake bay.
The valley of the Susquehanna, in all its principal ramifications, forms an im
portant feature in the system of internal improvement, pursued by Pennsylvania.
A canal ascends the main stream, from Columbia to Northumberland, and thence
follows the northeast branch to the Wyoming valley. A company has been incor
porated, and is preparing to construct a canal, from Columbia to tide water. From
Wilkesbarre, the river at certain stages of the water, is navigable for steamboats of
peculiar construction, to Owego, and has been so navigated, and may, at small ex-

SOUTHERN RIVERS. 39
pense, it is said, he rendered practicable at any state of the water. By the act char
tering the Bank of the United States, passed by the State of Pennsylvania, Fe
bruary, 1836, the canal commissioners of that state, are required to put under con
tract not less than 20 nor more than 40 miles of the north branch division of the
Pennsylvania canal during the year; commencing at the New York state line; so
that, in a short period, it may be confidently expected that a safe and commodious
navigation will be made, between the Chesapeake bay and the heart of New York;
to complete which, the link between the state line and the termination of the
Chenango canal, at Binghamton, must be made.
A more stupendous project, however, has been proposed, and seriously recom
mended to the people, and the councils of the nation — that of a sloop and steam
boat communication, from the Chesapeake bay, by the Susquehanna and the Che
mung rivers, the Cbemung canal, the Seneca lake and outlet, and a cut from
the Seneca river, to Great Sodus bay, of Lake Ontario, in Wayne county. The
elevation lo be surmounted exceeds 900 feet. The expense of this great work has
been estimated at twenty millions of dollars. The inducements to the enterprise are,
the diversion of the great commerce of the lakes, present and future, from the St.
Lawrence river, and the power to compete, in war, with the facilities for martial
operations, which the British have' obtained by the construction of the Welland
and Rideau canals.
A navigable communication has also been made upon the West branch of the
Susquehanna, from Northumberland to Bald Eagle creek, a distance of 65 miles,
partly by canal, and partly in the river, by dams and locks.
By the act of Pennsylvania above cited, her canal commissioners are required
to survey the route of a canal and slack-water navigation, from the head of the
West branch division to the Allegany river; and if a sufficient supply of water can
not be obtained for that purpose, then, to ascertain the most eligible route for a
rail road, between the said points, or of a communication, partly by canal and partly
by rail road, as the engineer may deem advisable.
A canal, also, ascends the valley of the Juniata river, and the Frankstown
branch, from Duncan's island, on the Susquehanna, to Hollydaysbufg, about 128
miles. 3.The Allegany river rises on the west of the water shed, in Potter county, Penn
sylvania, and is separated from the Sinnemahoning creek, a tributary of the Sus
quehanna, by a portage of 23 miles. Thence, by a north course, it passes into the
State of New York, near the southeast corner of Cattaraugus county; whence,
curving west, it runs nearly 45 miles in that county, quitting it and the state by
the southwest corner of the county. It is boatable the whole distance, through
Cattaraugus; from which it receives several tributaries. Re-entering Pennsylva
nia, and pursuing a southwest course, of about 180 miles, it, by union with the
Monongahela at Pittsburg, forms the Ohio. The trade by the Allegany, with the
lakes, is considerable. Several thousand barrels of salt have, annually, passed
from the Onandago salt works, and the quantity of boards and, timber floated down
the stream is immense. A steamboat of peculiar construction, of an hundred tons
burthen, and light draught of water, has ascended the river to Olean point, or Ha.
milton village inCattaraugus county, near the head of the river, and 270 miles from
its mouth. A point 600 feet above the level at Pittsburg; 1400 feet above the
ocean, and 2500 miles distant from it, by the course of the rivers.
The Allegany, at Pittsburg, is 747 feet above the surface of the Gulf of Mexico;
Lake Erie is 565, and Pittsburg 830 feet above tide water in the Atlantic bays of
Chesapeake, Delaware, Hudson, and St. Lawrence; consequently Pittsburg is
265 feet above Lake Erie. The intermediate distance, in a direct line, is 105 miles.
If, therefore, a channel could be opened from the level of the Ohio, at Pittsburg,
as deep as the bottom of that river, and carried into Lake Erie, the waters of the
Monongahela and Allegany would flow into Lake Erie, with the velocity of more
than 2j feet per mile.
The Allegany receives from this state, a most important tributary, the Conne
wango flowing through Cattaraugus and Chautauque counties. In the rapid march
of improvement, it will,at no distant period, be rendered navigable at all seasons of
the year, by dams and locks, and afford to the western counties, a most commo
dious outlet for their trade to the Mississippi. Already large quantities of lumber,
agricultural produce, and manufactures, pass with the spring freshets, from Chau
tauque county to the flourishing mart of Pittsburg.

40
CHAPTER IV.
GEOLOGY.
1. Proposed Geological Survey. 2. Primitive Formation — Northern District — Mineral
Constituents and Localities — Southern District — Highlands — Beds of Marble'of Dutchess
and West Chester — Noticeof Long and Staten Islands. 3. Transition, and Lower Se
condary Formations — Characteristics — Extent — Vast Limestone Districts — Subordinate
Series, comprehending Saliferous, Ferriferous and the Lower Lias, or Water Lime —
Rocks — Salt Springs — Gypsum — Southern Sandstone District — Basaltic Rocks — Palli-
sades. 4. Secondary Formation — Characteristics — Extent — Coal — Peat. 5. Tertiary For
mation — Constituents — Locality. 6. Latest Deposits. 7. Soils — Their Dependence on
Geological Constituents — Primitive — Transition and Secondary Soils — Their Respective
Properties. 8. Condition of Agriculture in the several parts of the State.
1. No general geological survey has yet been made of the state of New York:
but the legislature has instituted measures for minute explorations and consequent
development of the geological formation of the country and the mineral treasures,
which it is known to possess. A resolution of the 18th April, 1835, directed the
Secretary of state " to report to the legislature, at its next session, the most expe
dient method of obtaining a complete geological survey of the state, which shall
furnish a scientific and perfect account of its rocks, soils, and minerals, and of
their localities ; a list of all its mineralogical, botanical, and zoological produc
tions ; and provide for procuring and preserving specimens of the same; together
with an estimate of the expenses, which may attend the prosecution of the design
and of the cost of publication of an edition of three thousand copies of the report,
drawings, and geological map of its results."
The Secretary, invoking the aid of. many scientific'' gentlemen in different parts
of the country, prepared a valuable report, injwhich he took a cursory but highly
interesting view of the prevailing rocks, and minerals, of their localities, of their
usefulness in agriculture and the arts, with some remarks upon the zoology and
botany of the state; and submitted a comprehensive and well digested plan for the
contemplated survey, which was adopted by the legislature, March, 1836. Four
competent persons are to be appointed to the service, for which $26,000, per an
num, is appropriated for four years.
To execute the plan of survey proposed by the legislature, several years will
be requisite; and as some general geological recognizances have been- made of the
whole state, and more minute ones of several portions of it, we propose, from
these materials, imperfect as they are, to give a concise, and general outline of its
geological features. In this essay, avoiding all speculation, and seeking only a
registry of facts, we shall adhere tothe broad classification of geological formations
into primitive, transition, secondary, and tertiary, which, in the present limited state
of our knowledge, has the advantage of simplicity ; disregarding the distinction
between upper and lower secondary, as some geologists class the latter with the
transition. THE PRIMITIVE FORMATION.
2. The primitive formation, is so called because it consists of rocks in which'no
fossil remains of animals, or vegetables are found, and which are supposed to
have been formed prior to the creation of organized beings. Such rocks, are ge
nerally very hard, in immense masses, and, constituting the lowest part of the
known surface of the earth, are the basis of all others.
Of this formation, there are two large portions in the state ; separated by a
broad field of transition, and called, from their relative positions, the northern and
southern districts.
The northern primitive district, begins" at or near the head of Cumberland
bay, on the west shore of Lake Champlain, and runs northwest over the county of
Clinton, some four miles south, of the north line of the state ; and deflecting,
southwest, in a course parallel with the St. Lawrence river, spreads, over Frank
lin and St. Lawrence counties, into the town of Wilna of Jefferson county ; thence,
the line turns, southeast, along the Black river, to the mouth of Black creek, of
Oneidacounty ; thence easterly to the forks of West Canada creek, five miles
above Trenton Falls ; thence, by an irregular, but generally southeast course, to

GEOLOGY. 41
the southern termination of the Palmertown mountain, in Saratoga county; thence,
by that mountain, to Lake Champlain, and thence, by the lake, to the point of
departure. The district, with the exceptions hereinafter noted, comprehends about two thirds
of the county of Clinton — the whole of Warren, Essex, and Hamilton — the north
ern part of Washington, Saratoga, Montgomery, and Herkimer — the northeast of
Oneida — the easterly half of Lewis — the southeasterly half of St. Lawrence — and
the southerly half of Franklin, counties — and includes almost the whole of the
northern mountain section of the state. It extends, in length N. E. and S. W.
about 115, and its extreme breadth is, nearly, 85, miles.
Its area, however, is chequered with small portions of transition and perhaps of
secondary formation, whose lines of division are unsettled. On the south, the
primitive rocks of the mountain ridges, run into transition and secondary districts,
of which the Clinton range at Anthony's Nose, and the Chateaugua range crossing
the Mohawk, at Little Falls, are conspicuous instances. The latter range, before
reaching the Falls, passes under more recent rocks, and other ridges frequently
dip beneath them. Thus, in crossing the country from Trenton Falls to the Sara
toga Springs, the rocks of the three classes, in place, alternate, and may be traced,
on diverging from this' line, to the north and south. Northwardly, the primitive
rocks prevail, until they entirely supersede the transition and secondary, and on
the south, the latter increase until they overspread the former.
Thus, Fall Hill is covered several miles before it reaches the Mohawk, whose
waters, cutting it to the base, have bared the granitic rocks, which, however, are
again soon concealed, south of the defile. On the north, a short distance from
the river, the covering of the hill is limestone, and the primitive rocks do not ap
pear, exclusively, short of ten miles from the river. Upon the south, graywacke
mantles its summit. The Clinton range, as it approaches the river, is partially
covered with recent formation. The promontory of Anthony's Nose is partly pri
mitive and partly transition. The former is visible at the road, for a few rods on
either side of the point ; and the latter, in the form of sandstone, combined with
lime, extends along the east side three miles, and along the west, one; forming,
for part of the distance, a mural precipice nearly 200 feet high. The river at the
base flows over primitive rock.
Generally, on the north, and probably on the south, side of the river, the primi
tive rocks approach near the surface. In West Canada creek, nine miles from its
mouth, they emerge in masses; and they are denuded by East Canada and Zim
merman's creeks, and other streams. They descend as they approach the river and
rise as they recede. The later formations have been thinly imposed. This is ap
parent from the configuration of the country, over which they follow all the ine
qualities of the surface of the basis rock.
Primitive rock forms the nucleus of the Highlands of Black river, and breaks
through the surface, along the east side of that stream; is often visible in its bed,
and not unfrequently rises in masses upon the western intervale.
In Saratoga county, the transition formation rests upon the granitic in various
places. Near the south line of Greenfield, on the southeast side of the Kayade
rosseras mountain, it occurs in the shape of pudding stone, composed of rounded
pebbles of quartz, from the size of small shot, to that of a man's head, cemented
by coarse ferruginous sand. The masses are largest where the formation unites
with the primitive rock, and decrease as we rise the ridge, until they pass into a
uniform quartzose stone, which overlays it. Broken, rounded, fragments of this
formation are found over the country, and abundantly along the valley-between the
Palmertown and Kayaderosseras mountains, which is, also, extensively, but thinly
overlaid with the quartzose rock above mentioned ; alternating with, or passing
into the conglomerate. Upon this sandstone, lie patches of metalliferous lime
stone, which may, possibly, be traced twenty miles through the extent of the valley.
The principal rocks of this primitive formation, are granite, gneiss, sienite.
hornblende, mica slate, granular limestone, steatite, serpentine, and sandstone.
The granitic rocks, comprehending well defined granite and gneiss, are'the most
abundant; but the latter pervade the whole district. Here, as in other granitic
regions, they run into each other, and the line of demarcation is frequently difficult
to be ascertained. Where the mica is in excess., the stone becomes slaty or schis-
6

42 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
tose, and is then the true gneiss ; but where the feldspar predominates, the rock
becoming massive, is recognized as genuine granite.
Massive granite is found throughout the whole extent of the Palmertown and
Kayaderosseras mountains. It towers in the highest peaks of the former, and
breaks forth at the base and on the declivities of both. There is a remarkable
locality of this rock, at the southern termination of the Palmertown range, within
a mile of Saratoga springs, traversing the course of the mountain, and said to be
the last of the primitive rocks which appears north of the Highlands of the Hud
son. In the town of Day, on the north side of the Sacandaga river, near the road
leading from Hadley to Edinburg, there is an extensive range of beautiful flesh
coloured feldspar, rising through the gneiss, and running a southwest course of
some miles. It is termed granite,-' but the absence of the other constituents, mica
and quartz, forbids us to class it with true granite. Its character is highly crys
talline. Granite abounds also in the Clinton and Chateaugua ranges, and in the inter
vening valleys and ridges. It is seen in the first, in the towns of Johnstown and
Mayfield, Montgomery county, ana at various places in Warren and Essex coun
ties, more to the northeast. That found three miles west of the village of Johns
town, partakes of the graphic character. Granite underlays the gneiss at Little
Falls, is abundant in the northern towns of Herkimer county, and may be found in
definite form throughout the whole of the primitive district.
So far, however, as examination has yet extended, it would seem, that, it is of a
coarse structure, not sufficiently compact to be used advantageously in architecture.
The gneiss displays all the varieties which belong to this rock, is sometimes
slaty, abounding with mica ; at others, the slaty character is indistinct, and, it ap
proaches the massive form.
Hornblende rock, comprehending sienite, appears in various parts of the district,
and in the granitic, slaty, and porphyritic forms. In Herkimer county, it is seen at
the Little Falls and at Salisbury. In Montgomery, at Clip Hill, where it is sien-
itic ; in Saratoga county, along the western declivity of the Palmertown mountain,
and the southern termination of the Kayaderosseras, in the town of Providence.
Mica slate, of the compact and fissile characters, may be found in various places
over the district. It occurs, in Saratoga county, along the southern termination of
the primitive region, in the town of Greenfield. Near Fitch's mills, it forms a
distinct stratification, and along the mountains to the north and northeast, rests on
the gneiss and forms seams in several places in the granite. It appears extensively
stratified on the Palmertown and Kayaderosseras mountains. A slaty stone, com
posed of fine particles of quartz and mica intimately blended, and a small portion
of feldspar, is abundant in Essex, Clinton, Franklin, and St. Lawrence, counties.
It is beautifully stratified in the bed and banks of the Au Sable river, and forms
the walls of the wonderful ravine, through which that river flows, three miles be
low Keeseville. lt is frequently veined and spotted with oxide of iron, but often
of a clear light gray colour, which preserves its freshness under any exposure, and
forms a most beautiful building material, extensively used at Keeseville, Malone,
Bangor, and Potsdam. It is the gangue or matrix of much of the iron ore of the
northern region.
Granular limestone is seen in all parts of the district; near the foot of the Palmer
town mountain in Moreau, Saratoga county, it is abundant — of a coarse structure,
and in its general character and appearance strongly resembling the Bennington
and Shaftsbury marble3. But crystals of feldspar are so diffused throughout the
mass as to render it unfit for the chisel. Some beds of a more useful character
are said to exist in Franklin county ; others of a fine quality lie near Potsdam, in
St. Lawrence, the stone from which is wrought for ornamental purposes.
Steatite, soapstone, or talcose slate appears on the Indian river, and also near
Canton, and in other parts of St. Lawrence county — in tbe towns of Moreau, Co
rinth and Greenfield, in Saratoga county, and in other parts of the district. That
at Canton is said to be very beautiful. That, in Saratoga county, is of the variety
called pot stone. The bed in Moreau is extensive, and is covered by granular
limestone. The minerals imbedded in this district are tourmaline, garnets, beryl, sulphuret
of molybdena, graphite, spodumene, iron, lead, chrysoberyl, prismatic and lami
nated mica, cocolite, crystals of quartz, diallage, &c.

GEOLOGY. 43
This region, very little explored, is yet known to be remarkably rich in metals.
Iron is abundant in Essex, Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Lewis,
counties ; in all which it is manufactured into pigs, bars, bolts, or castings. The
valley of the Au Sable river has- about 80 forge fires constantly employed in smelt
ing. The Peru mines of Clinton, annually furnish ore of surpassing quality to
the value of near $40,000. And the annual exports of manufactured irond'rom the
valley exceed in amount $300,000. The district, so far as it has been examined,
is said to bear a striking analogy in its formation, to that of the iron districts of
Sweden. Graphite, plumbago or black lead crops out in many places. The deposit at
Ticonderoga is extensive ; and the ore of excellent quality forms a valuable article
of commerce.
Sulphuret of iron, or iron pyrites is common. In Moreau, of Saratoga county,
it abounds; but the most extensive deposit yet discovered is in Canton, St. Law
rence county ; from which, during the last three years, much copperas has been
manufactured. The ore is imbedded in hard rock, and contains so large a portion
of alumina that the proprietors have found it more profitable to make the alum of
commerce, than the copperas, and in the year 1835, fifteen tons were sent to
market. Lead mines in St. Lawrence county have been long known to the Indians, who,
down to a late period, drew from them abundant supplies, but carefully concealed
their locality from the whites. In 1835, however, a large and, it is said, an inex
haustible bed was discovered in Rossie, near Indian river, in a gangue of quartz,
yielding 80 per cent, of metal. Should this prove true, it will supersede that
brought from Missouri, which lately found its way to the New York market by
Chicago, the lakes, and the Erie canal.
The great central portion of this primitive district is broken and sterile, appa
rently forbidding every effort to settle and improve it; yet a geological survey may
discover beneath its surface the greatest attractions for the commercial and manu
facturing enterprize of the state.
The Southern Primitive District comprehends, the whole of Long Island,
Staten Island, Manhattan Island, the greater part of the counties of Westchester
and Putnam, a large part of Dutchess, a portion of Columbia, nearly the southern
half of Orange, and the northern of Rockland, counties.
The northwest line of this formation enters the state from Massachusetts, near
the S. W. angle of Columbia county, in the Taghcanic mountain, and includes that
and the Matteawan mountain, crossing with the latter the Hudson river, and run
ning southwest into New Jersey. The continuation of the formation, southward,
on the east side of the Hudson river, is interrupted by a narrow strip of transition
6late, which bounds the Highlands. South of this strip, upon the west side of the
Hudson river, is a wide field of secondary sandstone, supporting basaltic rocks, of
which the Palisades, the Closter mountain^ and the ridge bordering Tappan Sea,
form a conspicuous part. With these exceptions, the whole country, southeast of
the line above designated, is of primitive formation.
The Highlands, the most conspicuous feature of this region, are chiefly com
posed of gneiss, sienite, gneissoid hornblende, and granite. The gneiss some
times passing into mica slate, and the sienite into gneissoid hornblende. The
granite proper, is said never to be found in place, here, except as beds and veins
in the other rocks. That in beds, is frequently thirty feet thick ; coarse grained, with
a base of red feldspar, and often containing adularia. That in veins, has generally
a finer texture, and rarely contains the red feldspar. The direction of the veins is
irregular, but most of them, are said to intersect the strata at right angles. The
dip of the strata is very variable. In many places, it is vertical, in others, scarce
sinking from the horizontal line. In some places, the strata are so contorted, as in
a short distance to assume every possible variety of dip. The general line of
bearing is N. N. E.; that, of the mountain chain. Augite, serpentine, primitive
limestone, magnetic oxide of iron, and various mixtures of these with each other
and with other minerals, constitute almost innumerable beds, of small extent,
ecattered in every direction, without any regularity in their disposition. Nearly
all the varieties of pyrogene are found in the augite rocks. Siliceous limestone
has been observed in but one locality, in place, but is scattered in boulders and
gravel in every direction.

44 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
Scapolite and spbene are associated with the augite rocks. Hornblende exists
as a constituentof thesienitic rocks, and, not unfrequently, occurs in distinct beds.
Magnetic iron ore is found in numerous beds and veins, in gneiss, and some
times in other rocks, accompanied by copper and iron pyrites, in small quantity, as
well as augite, hornblende, and its varieties, and some other minerals. Four only
of these ore beds are wrought to much extent.
In the red limestone, scapolite, hornblende, and phosphate of lime, are usually
associated ; and with the white ones; brncite, spinelle, or graphite, mica and horn
blende ; and where serpentine is in connection with the limestone, diallage, amian
thus, diopside, and the cocolites, white, red, and green, are usually found.
With the augite rocks are fine glassy feldspar, and adularia with mica, some
times in six-sided prisms, scapolite crystallized and massive, sphene and copper,
and arsenical pyrites in small quantities. Blende and carbonate of zinc are occa
sionally seen in loose masses.
Sulphuret of molybdenum is found in small quantities, usually in a matrix of
milky quartz, forming beds of small extent between the strata of gneiss. Sulphu-
rets of lead and silver are said to have been discovered.*
On the mountain, south of West Point, there is a bed of well defined granite,
from which large blocks have been taken. But we may presume, that its quality
for architectural purposes has not been approved, since the bed is not extensively
wrought, notwithstanding the great demand for this valuable material in the city
of New York, and the other cities and villages upon the river.
We abstract a further description of the geology of the Highlands from a survey
made by Mr. Eaton, in company with several scientific gentlemen of the West
Point Academy.
The middle portion, for 10 miles in extent, taking Buttermilk Falls as the cen
tre, consists, almost wholly, of well characterized gneiss, with alternating layers
of granite and hornblende. It is bounded south and north, by a belt of hornblende
rocks two miles broad, alternating with rock resembling gneiss, in which very
dark coloured lamellar hornblende seems substituted for mica. Such rocks con
stitute Butterhill and the Dunderberg.
At the termination of the hornblende, on either side of the mountains, transition
argillite commences, alternating with transition limestone and gray wacke ; the
latter containing terebratulites and orthocerites.
All the locks, in the range, primitive and transition, incline, from a vertical po
sition, to the norlhwestA
The granitic layers, embraced by the gneiss, consist of semi-transparent quartz,
of a hyaline appearance, a very little silver coloured mica, and a large proportion
of grayish white feldspar, of a pearly lustre. In a few limited localities, the feld
spar is flesh-coloured. Sometimes the quartz is very dark ; and in some rocks,
the feldspar is of sky blue.
The mica of the gneiss is almost invariably black, and the feldspar white. Ex
tensive beds in the gneiss rock near Fort Putnam, consist chiefly of hornblende.
Here are found imperfect crystals of green augite, of large size, and considerable
quantities of the green cocolite variety.
Where the gneiss meets the hornblende strata in the belts, many interesting
minerals are disseminated. Beautiful specimens of serpentine in calc spar are
found at this junction, three miles north of the Military Academy; appearing like
grass green gems, set in pearl.
Vast quantities of very dark lamellar hornblende form veins in the hornblende
rock; and the same variety of hornblende is disseminated in the granitic layers of
the gneiss rock, which is often, on a slight view, taken for schorl, and sometimes
gives the granite a graphic appearance. Here, also, may be found the primitive
trap, primitive green stone, sienite, green stone porphyry, and perhaps every vari
ety of the hornblende rock known in any country.
Mr. Eaton observes, that in this survey he found no well characterized mica
slate. The gneiss becomes more slaty near and north of Fort Montgomery, and in
some spots of little extent near the Academy, and might, by some geologists, be
* The above notice of the rocks and minerals of the Highlands is extracted from the
Memoir of Lieut. Mather, of West Point, who had ability and opportunity to explore them.
t On the inclination of the Rocks Mr. Mather and Mr. Eaton do not seem to agree.

GEOLOGY. 45
called mica slate ; but it always has a large portion of feldspar. It contains
much soft granulated sulphate of iron, and disintegrates rapidly.
An anomalous formation was discovered in a vertical layer of slaty rock, simi
lar to gray wacke slate, firmly set in the gneiss at the base of the Dunderberg Hill,
on the east side of the river.
The transition rocks bounding the Highlands north and south, bear a strong re
semblance to the range of similar formation along the western foot of the Green
mountains of Vermont and Massachusetts.
Gneiss is also the prevailing rock upon the easterly part of Dutchess, and Put
nam counties, and over Westchester county and Manhattan Island. But it alter
nates with broad veins or beds of granular limestone, which extend from Sunder
land in Vermont, through Dover valley, in Dutchess county, across Putnam and
Westchester counties, to the North river at Sing Sing and Kingsbridge, in which
very valuable marble quarries are opened, and extensively wrought.
The stone from several of these quarries in the Dover valley, gives employment
to seven or eight mills erected there for cutting it into slabs. The quarries at
Sing Sing produce one of the most beautiful materials for ornamental architecture
iu the United States, extensively used in the cities of New York, Albany, and
Troy. Unfortunately, at New York it does not long retain its primitive purity of
surface, being soon discoloured by the action of the salt air. One of the objects in
establishing the State Prison at Sing Sing, was to employ the convicts in the
quarries ; on them depends the permanence of a branch of business in which
about 200 of the prisoners are constantly engaged.
Other quarries, of like quality, have been opened by individuals in Westches
ter county. Two of them are now worked for the custom house at New York;
and the price, owing to the abundance of the stone and facility of transportation,
is less than that of some of the granites, from New England.
The marble at Kingsbridge is mixed with iron pyrites, which, by exposure to the
weather, stain it, and hasten its decomposition. Further examinations, there,
may give a purer stone.
The notable minerals, in the southern portion of this district, are glimmer,
sometimes brown, at others colourless ; tourmalines, black and green, rough and
crystallized, often large aud highly beautiful ; red garnets of a friable texture ;
beryl, chalcedony ; steatite; stellated asbestos, embedding actinolite in beautiful
green crystals, from one to two inches long, sometimes running into serpentine of
the noble sort, which may be cut into slabs, greenish and variegated. Some spe
cimens are beautifully coloured ; others present the appearance of vegetable
forms, in painting. Here, also, is amianthus, with fibres ten or twelve inches
long, by their whiteness, parallelism, and flexibility, resembling flax.
We have included the whole of Long Island in the primitive district, notwith
standing the larger portion of the southern side is alluvial ; upon the principle,
that, the country should be considered of the nature of the first rock, in place,
even though it be buried many feet beneath the surface. The ridge known as the
spine of the island is granitic, and the rocks at Hellgate, on the East river, and
many places on the Sound, are of the same character, and have induced the conjec
ture, that the island has been, by some convulsion, separated from the main. We
have spoken more fully of this island in another part of the work.
If the supposition be entertained, that Long Island was joined to the continent,
we may without difficulty believe that, Staten Island formed part of Long Island,
before the passage was forced by the northern floods through the narrows which
separates them ; since the one has the same geological character as the other.
See "Richmond county." TRANSITION FORMATION.
3. The Transition proper, in this state, has the smallest area of all the forma
tions. It commences with the northern boundary, follows the eastern margin of
Lake Champlain, and runs southwest over the greater part, perhaps, the whole
of Washington and Rensselaer counties, the far greater part of Columbia,
the northwesterly portions of Dutchess, the northern and western parts of Orano-e,
and the easterly portion of Sullivan, Ulster, Greene, Albany, Schenectady, and
Saratoga counties. But, if we include in this class the lower secondary, it will

46 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
comprehend some central portions of Saratoga, Warren, Essex, Clinton, Montgo
mery, Hamilton, and Franklin counties; and a waving belt extending northwest,
from Ulster county, over Greene, Albany, Schenectady, and Schoharie; the south
ern parts of Montgomery and Herkimer, and the northern of Otsego; the whole of
Oneida, the western part of Lewis, all of Oswego, Wayne, Monroe, Orleans,
Niagara, the northern and greater parts of Madison, Onondaga, Yates, and Onta
rio, Livingston, Genesee, and Erie; striking lakes Ontario and Erie, and extend
ing westward over the boundary of the state.*
The basis of this formation, is carboniferous slate, upon which rests graywacke
and limestone; the latter including the varieties of sparry, siliceous, metalliferous,
geodiferous, and corniferous, rock. The distinction between the transition proper,
and the lower secondary, not always easily to be made, depends upon the inclina
tion of the rocks, and chiefly, perhaps, on the character of their organic contents.
Of the constituents of the transition and lower secondary, We may remark, that
the argillite base of the former is more inclined than that of the latter; that in both it
is divided into — clay slate, when nearly destitute of grittiness, and contains no
mica or talc; wacke slate, when somewhat gritty, and having mica scales; roof
slate, when divisible into thin plates; glazed slate, when the natural cleavages are
lined with black glazing; jasper slate, when combined with green flint; siliceous
slate, when much indurated by silex; and aluminous slate, when highly charged
with alum salt. The glazed variety contains anthracite coal, ferns, and a few ani
mal remains. Of the transition formation, clay slate is found in the Williamstown
mountain range, and in the bed and banks of the Hudson river. Wacke slate overlays
the clay slate, most of the way from Massachusetts line to three miles west of Ca
hoes Falls,and is intimately united with the former. Roofingslate abounds in Hoosic,
Rensselaer county, Chatham, Columbia county, and in Clinton, of Dutchess coun
ty; glazed slate in the beds and banks of the Hudson, from Fort Millerto Newburg.
Transition graywacke, consisting of angular quartzose sand, united by an argil
laceous cement, spangled with glimmering scales, is never found above the calci-
ferous sand rock, or metalliferous lime rock. It is termed graywacke slate, when
the grains are so fine as to give it a homogeneous appearance, and is divisible by
natural cleavages into tables; millstone grit and gray rubble, when the grains are
coarse and congloberated. Both subdivisions are often coloured green, by chlorite.
The slate is nearly horizontal, and lies immediately on the inclined edges of the
argillite, from Canada to Georgia. The millstone grit occupies the whole of the
Shawangunk mountain, and the gray rubble, the highest ridges between the Mas
sachusetts line and the Hudson. The wacke contains milky quartz, calcareous spar,
and disseminated anthracite. It is a valuable building stone, in many localities; but
is frequently brittle and irregular; often red and sandy.
The second gray wacke is distinguished from the first, by having its grains less
angular, and generally some fine grains of limestone. It is always above the cal-
ciferous sand, and metalliferous lime, rock. The s late of this class, sometimes
gritty, contains a few glimmering scales, and anasphaltic coal; is often soft and of
a dark brown colour. The city of Utica stands on this rock, and it extends un
broken, from Salmon river on Lake Ontario, to Little Falls, and by the south side
of the Falls,into Albany county. The second millstone grit and rubble, differ little
from the first. The millstone grit may be traced from Lake Ontario to Utica,
overlaying the slate. The secondary gray wacke, according to some geologists,
comprehends the red saliferous sand rock.
The sparry transition lime rock, consists of carbonate of lime, intermediate in
texture, between granular and compact, traversed by veins of calcareous spar, con
taining chlorite and calc spar — often cut into small irregular blocks by the spar,
and thence termed chequered. The compact is found about New Lebanon springs;
the slaty, three miles south of the springs, on the Hudson turnpike; the chequered,
near the springs, and on the Little Hoosic. The calcifcrous sand rock consists of
fine grains of quartzose sand, and carbonate of lime united without cement, or with
email portions; the compact, uniform without cavities, is seen in Flint hill; the
geodiferous, having numerous curvilinear cavities, empty, or filled with calc spar,
quartz crystals, barytes, anthracite, or other minerals different from the rock, may
* On the eastern border of Washington, Rensselaer, and Columbia counties, is a strip of
argillite, whose place is undetermined. Geologists hesitate, whether to call it primitive or
transition. Before its character be settled, a primitive clay must be admitted.

GEOLOGY. 47
be obtained at Flat creek, west of the Noses; the oolitic, consisting in part of ootifa,
of a dark colour, neaT Saratoga springs. Varieties may be found at the above
places, and at West Canada creek, and at Little Falls. Coarse agate, in large, and
fine fortification agate, in small quantities, are found at Flint hill, and in the North
hill opposite Spraker's basin, on the Mohawk; and numerous quartz crystals, with
pyramids at each end, some containing anthracite, in the same locality, and near
Troy. In some specimens, the anthracite floats in a limpid liquid.
The metalliferous lime rock, composed of carbonate of lime in a homogeneous state,
or in petrifactions, is compact, when containing few of the latter, and susceptible of
polish; shelly, when formed of the latter chiefly. The variety called bird's eye
marble, has the mass pierced transversely by cylindric petrifactions, giving the
bird's eye appearance when polished. These varieties often pass into each other,
and are considered as simultaneous deposits. The lower side of the last is mostly
compact; differing from the upper, containing the encrinus transversus, lithoden-
dron, dichotumen, and plicatum; whilst the upper is shelly, and contains fungia
discoida and pqlymorphu. The compact is found on Otsquago creek, and west of
Little Falls, and marked with bird's eye, abundantly, near Syracuse, Onondaga
county; the shelly, at Trenton, north of Utica, and Glenn's Falls.
The geodijerous lime rock of the lower secondary formation, consists of carbonate
of lime, combined with a small portion of argillite or quartz, in a compact state,
and is generally fetid. It is termed swinestone, and stinkstone, when containing
little or no sand, is irregular in its structure, fetid, and abounding in geodes; sandy,
when of quartzose sand, stratified, slightly fetid, with few geodes. The swine
stone is found in the bed and banks of the Erie canal, extending one mile east of
Genesee river. The canal at Lockport, is cut through it to the depth of nearly 30
feet, for two miles. It forms the upper part of Niagara Falls, to the depth of 70
feet; and has many other localities in the district. The sandy species overlays the
swinestone. It is well exhibited at Black Rock, immediately under the cornife-
rous lime rock, and is in part constituted of malachite and magnesia. Specimens
of this rock, after lying a year in a damp cellar, have shot forth numerous crystals
of Epsom salt. The geodes contain sulphate of strontian, granular gypsum, la
minated selenite, anhydrous gypsum, fluorspar in limpid cubes, arragonite, dogtooth
spar, brown spar, and waxy blende. Galena has been found in small masses, im
bedded iu this rock; and bitumen in exudations upon its surface, and in geodes.
The corniferous lime rock of the same formation, is composed of carbonate of
lime, imbedding hornstone, and numerous species of petrifactions, called stone-
horns. It is compact, when close grained, and containing hornstone in layers —
shelly, when consisting of shells, with hornstone in nodules, or Irregular masses.
The former is abundant at Black- Rock, and the latter at Auburn. The stratum
has been traced from Lake Erie to the Helderbergs, in Albany connty — up the
Cayuga and Seneca lakes, and from the head of vhe latter to Catherine creek.
The separation of the transition and lower secondary, is not so regularly and dis
tinctly traced, as that of the transition and primitive. Many valleys are formed
of the horizontal secondary limestone, filled with shells, whilst the bounding ridges
are of transition rock. The two formations interlock, and are mixed irvmany places,
so as to require much time and attention to reduce them to the regular and prober
limits, if such limits be determined.
In the transition region, the limestone, graywacke, and wacke slate, generally
occupy the valleys, and the quartzose aggregates, including the millstone grit and
rubble, the ridges. The large limestone caverns are commonly found in this forma
tion. The vast deposits of anthracite coal upon the Susquehanna, the Lehigh, and
Schuylkill rivers, are given to it by Maclure; but are averred to be in the lower
secondary, by Eaton and other geologists. But in his latest views, Mr. Eaton has
placed them in the upper secondary. Iron and lead are the principal metals in this
formation; and there are localities of both, in Columbia county.
Our notice of the transition and lower secondary limestones, shows their posi
tions amid the formations, but gives a very inadequate idea of their extent. Their
importance is such, both as to area and economical uses, as to require further de.
ecription. ,
Upon the east side of the Hudson, a narrow strip of this formation extends from
the southern shore of Lake Champlain, over Washington, Rensselaer, Columbia,
Ulster, Orange, and Sullivan counties, having in some places, for 'miles, one un-

48 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
broken line; and at others, alternating with the slate. Its breadth is various, and
it not unfrequently appears in fields or patches.
Connected with this strip, and proceeding from it, as branches from a stem, and
from the central part of Ulster county, are two ramifications curving northwesterly,
terminating in this state; the one, upon the St. Lawrence river and Lake Ontario,
and, the other, upon the Niagara river and Lake Erie. They enclose a cuneiform
and irregular area of carboniferous slate, gray wacke, and the saliferous sandstone,
hereinafter described.
The southern branch, perhaps, from two to three miles broad, in Ulster and
Greene counties, expands, as it passes over Albany, Schoharie, Otsego, and the
counties westward to the lakes. Between the counties of Herkimer and Otsego,
it has a breadth of about five; in Madison, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and
Wayne, of nine or ten; at Genesee river, sixteen; and at Niagara and lake Erie,
about 25, miles. Its length is not under 275 miles; and giving it a mean width of
nine miles, it comprehends an area of 2475 square miles, or 1,584,000 acres.
Crossing the state, on the greater portion of its breadth, from east to west, it
surmounts almost every elevation of surface. In the county of Albany, its sum
mit is from 500 to 700 feet above tide, in Otsego and Herkimer, from 1200 to 1400
feet; in Oneida, Madison, and Onondaga, from 850 to 1150; at Cayuga lake, 370;
at, and along, the Genesee, 500; and at Niagara river, 550, feet. Rising, from its
commencement, to the sources of the Susequhanna; thence, preserving nearly a
uniform elevation, to the confines of Cayuga county; thence, descending to Cayu
ga lake; thence, ascending gradually to Genesee river; and extending, thence, upon
a nearly level plain to and over the western limit of the state. Its highest summits
are frequently overlaid by third graywacke. With this diversity of altitude, it affords
almost every variety of scenery. From the town of Carlisle, the great western
turnpike passes over almost its whole length, and affords many opportunities for
inspecting the formation.
It includes many caverns in the Helderbergs, and in Schoharie county, and pro
bably in other places not yet explored, It forms valuable marble in Albany, Scho
harie, Otsego, Herkimer, Madison, Onondaga, Cayuga, Niagara, and Erie coun
ties, and perhaps, in every county over which it passes. It is extensively used for
building and flagging, in Auburn and Buffalo, where it is cut for architectural pur
poses, by the saw; and for flagging in Albany and Utica. Through the western
counties, it is abudantly converted into quick lime, and its varieties are popularly
known as the blue and gray. The blue, shelly, or corniferous, brilliant in colour,
compact, and durable, and the purer carbonate yields the largest quantity of lime;
the gray, shelly, also firm in texture, and not less durable, contains a larger pro
portion of silex, which, when burned, becomes a sharp sand, and diminishes the
quantity of that material requisite to make it into mortar. The abundance of fuel
in this district, enables the manufacturer to bring his lime profitably into market,
at 12^ cents the bushel; and when this is considered, together with the excellence
of the stone for building, we cannot but be surprised that it is not, as in many of
the counties of Pennsylvania, the chief material for dwellings, and other structures.
Throughout its extent, the lime formation abounds with sinks and subterranean
streams; the one, frequently swallowing large currents; and the other, bursting
forth, in torrents adequate for valuable hydraulic purposes. The waters percolat
ing the rock, produce in many places, much and curious calcareous tuffa; as at
Chitteningo, in the county of Madison; at Nine-mile creek, in Onondaga; and at
the sources of the Osquake, in Herkimer. Resting upon this formation, are. nu
merous patches of sandstone, water lime, gypsum, clay, and marl.
The imbedded minerals are sulphate of zinc, barytes, strontian, fluate of lime,
selenite, snowy gypsum, quartz crystals, &c. &c. &c.
The northern branch of this lime formation, runs ia an irregular curve from Ul
ster, over Greene, Albany, and Schenectady counties, into the valley of the Mo
hawk, east of Anthony's Nose, and pursues that valley to the west side of Fall
hill; passes over the counties of Herkimer, Oneida, Lewis, and Jefferson, to Lake
Ontario, and the St. Lawrence river; and follows the river along its course to the
boundary of the state, in 45° north latitude. Like the southern branch, it is narrow
in the south, frequently under, and rarely exceeding, three miles in breadth, east of
Fall hill; over Herkimer, it expands, in some places, to five miles; and in Oneida
still more. Between Black river, in Lewis county, and Lake Ontario, it is 25
miles wide; along the lake to its outlet, yet wider; and upon the river, covers

GEOLOGY. 49
the flat margin, or lower terrace. Its length may be about 175 miles, and its area,
from 1200 to 1400 square miles.
Two minor branches of this ramification, stretch northward from the Mohawk
valley, through Montgomery, Hamilton, and Franklin; a third through Sara
toga, Warren, Essex, and Clinton, counties; and a fourth, an offset from the third,
may be traced along Wood creek to, and down Lake Champlain.
This district contains the various species which characterise the southern, and
like it, is chequered with fields and patches of calcareous sandstone, porous sand
stone, and grsry wacke, and has similar imbedded minerals.
Mr. Eaton has classed the saliferous, the ferriferous, and the lower lias rocks, as
subordinate series of ihe lower secondary formation.
There are two extensive localities of the variegated or saliferous sandstone, the ¦
northern and the s^outhern.The former commences in the southeast part, of the town
of German Flats, Herkimer county, and extends nearly in a western direction into
Upppr Canada. It comprehends the southern portion of Oneida and Madison, the
northeasterly of Onondaga, the westerly, and greater part of Oswego, and the
northerly parts of Wayne, Monroe, and Niagara, counties. Its length is about
210 miles. It is 7 miles broad upon the Niagara river; 24 at Little Sodus bay; 27
between the mouth of Oswego river, and the Erie canal, inCamillus; 19 between
the southeast part of the county of Oswego, and the Canaseraga creek, in Ma
dison county; 9 at Oriskinny, in Oneida county; and it terminates in a point in
Herkimer county.
This sandstone, is sometimes red, at others gray. Generally, the red prevails
west of Oneida county; but in that county-, and in the country to the eastward, the
gray predominates. It is known to rest, in many places, upon the gray wacke, and
that rock is supposed to be every where its base. Its stratification may be well
observed at the ravine of the Genesee river, below Rochester, at Oak Orchard, and
Eighteen Mile creeks, and upon other streams. It is frequently used as a build
ing stone; but portions are subject to rapid disintegration, as may he observed in
the Rochester aqueduct. In the Oneida and Seneca vale, and in the valley of tho
Canandaimia, it is deeply covered by alluvion; and at Salina, and Montezuma, is
discoverable only by boring or digging. The strata vary greatly in thickness.
The cement is argillaceous, and the rock contains animal remains. In the town
of German Flats, it has a prodigious number of bivalve shells. This rock is called
marl slate, when soft and slaty, and containing minute grains of carbonate of lime;
sandy, when in blocks and layers, composed principally- of quartzose sand. Its
varieties are greyband, the uppermost layers of bluish grey; and conglomerate, con
sisting of rounded pebbles of red, gray, or rust colour.
The lands within this district are fertile, and may be classed among the best in
the state.
The ferriferous rock is sometimes soft, slaty, and argillaceous; at others, hard
and siliceous. It contains a red argillaceous iron ore. It is subdivided into the
slaty, of a green, or bluish green, smooth, soft slate, generally under the layer of
ore; and the sandy, composed of gray, or rusty, gray aggregates of quartzose sand,
in compact blocks or layers, overlaying the ore. 'The.conglomerate, is a variety
similar to that of the saliferous rock.
The metalliferous rock reposes upon the saliferous, every where west of the
Little Falls. A layer of red argillaceous iron ore, about a foot and a half thick,
lies between the sandy and slaty divisions, or alternates with one or both. The
softest variety of the ore, is termed .reddle, and is used as paint. This stratum of
iron extends east and west about 200 miles. The ore is easily reduced, and the iron
makes excellent castings. In Herkimer, it is too meagre to be profitably worked;
but in Oneida, and westwardly, it is generally rich, yielding from 15 to 30 per
cent. The best is soft and unctuous, and may be rubbed to pieces between the
fingers. Marine and fresh water petrifactions have been found in the oxide.
The liisrock or Unsold, is an argillaceous limestone, with an admixture of mag
nesia, iron, and finely pulverized quartz, forming a compound of homogeneous as
pect. It is termed argillaceous, when the clay prevails; and calcareous, when lime
predominates. This "rock furnishes the invaluable cement, which hardens alike in
air and water, and becomes an artificial stone, scarcely less durable than granite.
lis use was discovered by Mr. CanvassWhite, whilst employed on the Erie canal;
and it is, now, applied to most architectural works in which great firmness and du-
7

50 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
rability are required. It is most advantageously used for cisterns and conduits;
and being more plastic than clay, may be formed into ornaments, for buildings of
every variety. It extends along the stage road, from 30 miles west of Utica, to
Genesee river; is abundant in Madison, Onondaga, Cayuga, and the western coun
ties, in Albany, and in Ulster county, upon the Rondout creek. In the last locality
the cement is very extensively manufactured.
But the great wealth of this subordinate series of rocks, is in the salt and gyp
sum it contains.
Salt springs are found in that portion of the formation, extending more than 180
miles from the town of Vernon, Oneida county, westward to the Niagara river.
Those now known, rise, respectively, in the counties of Oneida, Madison, Onon
daga, Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Monroe, Orleans, and Niagara. Those in Onon
daga and Cayuga only, are at present used for the manufacture of salt. The brine
of the others being weak, and consequently requiring an expense of labour and
fuel which denies a profitable product. The works at Montezuma have declined
for some years, but are not yet wholly abandoned. Those at Salina, Liverpool,
Geddes, and Syracuse, yield the large quantities of salt, so useful to the citizens,
and productive to the state treasury.
The salt springs around the Onondaga lake, were known to the aboriginal inha
bitants, who communicated their knowledge to the white settlers. One of the lat
ter, about 45 years since, with an Indian guide in a canoe, descended the Onon
daga creek, and by the lake approached the spring on Mud creek. Salt water was
obtained by lowering to the bottom, then four or five feet below the surface of the
fresh water of the lake, an iron vessel, which filling instantly with the heavier
fluid, was drawn up. In this way, by boiling the brine, a small quantity of
brownish coloured, and very impure salt, was obtained. With the settlement of
the country, the vicinage was explored, and many other sources of brine disco
vered. Many wells were sunk, generally to the depth of 18 feet. There was a
great difference in the strength of the water which they afforded; varying with the
seasons, and diminishing in drought nearly one-third. With the introduction of
hydraulic machinery for pumping, in 1822, a more rapid influx of brine has been
produced, with an increase of strength, from 20 to 25 per cent.; standing at 13°
on the hydrometer of Beaume, of which the point of saturation is 22°. That de
gree has, with little change, been since maintained.
The springs are in the marsh extending round the head of the lake. This marsh
was formerly two miles long, and half a mile broad, but-has been diminished by
an artificial reduction of the lake. The plain, on which are the lake, and the vil
lages of Salina and Syracuse, is bounded on the south by hills of gentle ascent
and moderate elevation. The soil of the plain consists of vegetable earths, imper
fectly decomposed, marls, clays, loams, sand, and gravel.
The principal springs are at Salina and Geddes. From the former the water is
obtained for the works at Salina, Liverpool, and Syracuse. The well has been
excavated to the depth of 22 feet, by 10 in diameter.
A difference of opinion prevails relative to the source of the brine. From the
fact that the circumjacent rocks, when exposed to the humidity of a cellar, gave
forth crystals of salt, Mr. Eaton inferred, that, the brine was produced bytheirele-
mentary materials. This opinion he supposed to be supported by the absence of
gypsum in the saliferous rock here. But he appears to have erred in this, since
we are assured by Mr. Forman, that " it is a matter of general notoriety, that
lumps of gypsum are thrown up in digging salt springs and wells in the village;
and in sinking a salt well at Montezuma, 116 feet deep, beautiful specimens of
gypsum were found, nearly transparent." Dr. Lewis C. Beck, aud others, also
dissent from this opinion; and it would seem, from later publications, that Mr.
Eaton has not full confidence in his hypothesis. The general opinion is, that Jeds
of rock salt, exist here, as at other salt springs; and it is sustained by the fact,
that the geological character of the strata, through which the brine passes, re
sembles that of the strata overlaying the beds of rock salt, near Norwich, in Che
shire, England; and that of the strata in the vicinity of the salt mines at Cardona,
in Spain; and in other localities in Europe. Whether such deposits of rock salt
have an oceanic or volcanic origin will, perhaps, ever remain a vexed question.
If such beds be here, they lie at great depth. Borings have been made at Onon
daga, at several points; in one instance, to the depth of 250 feet, without finding

GEOLOGY. 51
fossil salt, and without passing through the saliferous rock; much of the distance
being in cemented gravel. But the very important fact was elicited, that the
strength of the brine increased with the depth of the well.
The salt beds in Cheshire, were discovered about 160 years ago, in boring for
coal, at about 125 feet below the surface; and have been since penetrated to nearly
twice that depth. But the salt mines of Wilielska, near Cracovia, in Poland, are
worked at the depth of 750 feet; and those of Eperies, at 990 feet. The failure,
therefore, to discover beds of fossil salt here, should not discourage further efforts.
The strength of the brine, at Salina, is very remarkable. Three hundred and
sixty gallons of sea water, on our coast, yield 75 lbs. of salt; while 55 gallons
from the Onondaga springs, give the same quantity. The analysis of the brine
from the Salina spring, made by Dr. Lewis C. Beck, gives
Carbonate of lime, - - - - 1.79
Sulphate of do  4.20
Muriate of do. - - - - 3.48
Muriate of Magnesia, ... 2.57
Muriate of Soda, (pure salt) - 143.50
155.54
The manufacture of salt, at Salina, has increased rapidly, producing, from the
duty paid to the state, a very large revenue. In 1824, the product was 800,000
bushels. With the facilities for transportation, it has steadily augmented. It was,
in Bushels. Duty.
1831  1,441,559 giving $ 122,769 86
1832 — -1,652,986 - - - 179,096 46
1833  1,838,646 - - - 227,860 05
1834  1,943,252 - - - 160,782 98
1835  2,222,694 - - - 118,364 92
Should beds of rock salt be discovered, and rendered accessible, this source
of public wealth must be greatly enlarged. The salt beds near Norwich, Eng
land, produce more than 150,000 tons annually — nearly three times as much as the
annual product of the Onondaga springs.
The duty, previous to the year 1834, was 12i cents the bushel. It was reduced
to six cents, in that year,by an alteration in the Consitution, in consequence of the
reduction of the impost on foreign salt. This change accounts for the diminished
revenue in 1834 and 1835, upon the increased product.
The market for this salt is now very extensive. Large quantities are sent to
Canada; and by the lakes and portage at Chicago, into the western slates. It is
possible that the latter section of country may hereafter derive much of its supply
from Pennsylvania and Virginia, with the increased facilities for transportation in
that quarter. But the advantages, constantly increasing in that regard, possessed
by New York, and the vast growth of- the population of the west, assure her the
means of successful competition.
The gypsum of this district is scarcely less interesting than the salt. Their as
sociation is so common, that it has been regarded as almost invariable. Gyp
sum lies in beds, through an extent of country of more than 200 miles in length,
by about 12 in breadth. It is said not to be in immediate contact, with- the strata
through which the brine is drawn, at Salina. It abounds, however, in the vicinity,
but is not met with in the wells at greater elevation than the salt marshes. Mr.
Eaton asserts, that all the gypsum of the salt district, exists in limited beds in the
contiguous strata of calc slate; and that there are three distinct strata between
those which contain the gypsum, and those which contain the salt. Dr. L. C.
Beck concurs in the opinion, that it is not associated with the salt formation here.
Others, however, aver, that gypsum and salt, are associated in this district, as in
Europe. We have seen, that, the former has been found in lumps, in wells, in Onon
daga; and in boring for salt water at Montezuma, several layers of gypsum were
penetrated, before reaching the brine, and in immediate contact with the strata
containing the latter. Should the supposition of Messrs. Eaton and Beck prove
correct, the case will be anomalous. It was for a time supposed, that gypsum was
wanting in the immediate vicinity of the salt mines of Cardona; but subsequent

52 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
examination, showed gypsum to enter largely into the formation of the mountain
of salt.
Gypsum, associated with rock salt, is believed to be almost universally anhy
drous, though sometimes mixed with common gypsum. Thatof our district, seems
to be the common, containing, in 100 parts, 21 of water, 32 of lirne, and 47 of sul
phuric acid. But no inference should hence be drawn, that, beds of rock salt are
not in^the vicinage; since, anhydrous gypsum, exposed to the atmosphere and the
action of water, is converted into common gypsum.
Gypsum is found in the counties of Madison, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne,
Ontario, Livingston, Orleans, and Niagara. It abounds also in Upper Canada.
The formation comprehends the varieties of selenite, coxcomb, and snowy. It is
extensively quarried in Lennox and Sullivan, Madison county, near the Erie ca
nal; in Manlius, and other parts of Onondaga; on the east side of Cayuga lake; at
Galen and Lyons, in Wayne; in the county of Ontario, along the Canandaigua
outlet; and in East and West Bloomfield; at Caledonia, and other places, in Li
vingston county, &c. &c. It is sent in large quantities to distant markets, by the
Erie canal, and by the Cayuga and Seneca lakes, the Chemung canal, and the
Ithaca and Owego rail road, and the Susquehanna river; reaching, by this latter
Toute, the rich counties of Pennsylvania. Its value, as a fertilizer of the soil,
especially, for the product of grass, cannot be too highly appreciated, wherever its
effects are not neutralized by the salt atmosphere of the ocean.
The beds commonly lie about ten feet below the surface, and rarely exceed 30
feet in thickness. They are often denuded by the streams.
The southern sandstone district, covers that portion of Rockland county, (about
one half its area,) which is en the 60uth of the line of the narrow strip of transi
tion; and extends southwest over the state of New Jersey. No salt or gypsum
has been discovered, we believe, in this district, but it is remarkable for the basal
tic ridges which it sustains, and more especially for that ridge which borders the
Hudson river, from the northwest corner of Haverstraw bay, to Bergen point, on
the Kill van Kuhl.
The sandstone, does not very essentially differ from that of the district already
described. It is generally hard and firm; and forms, at Nyack and other places
along the river, a very valuable building stone, which is quarried in large quanti
ties. A species of this sandstone is highly valuable from its capacity to withstand the
fire. In some places, however, the rock assumes a shaly slaty form, has much
•clay, and disintegrates rapidly on exposure to the atmosphere, forming a tolerably
fertile soil. Small portions of copper pyrites and green carbonate of copper are
found in it.
The basaltic ridge, is bounded on the south of Hoboken, by a narrow plain
gently inclining towards the river. It rises gradually from Bergen point, and at
tains a height near Verdrietje's hook, of 668 feet; and further to the northwest,
some of its summits rise to 1000 feet. It curves around the Tappan sea, leaving
in the cove an agreeable, but limited, champaign country. The average width of
the ridge may be about two miles, with a summit of table land. From its western
brow there is a gradual descent into the valley of the Hackensac. Its eastern side
is generally precipitous. From a point, a short distance above Hoboken, to near
Slote creek, it presents a perpendicular wall, increasing in its northern progress
from 200 to 517 feet in height, in which are numerous vertical fissures, crossing
each other in every direction, forming basaltic columns from which the name
" Palisades" is derived. The face of the ledge is bare, but vegetation is occasion
ally seen in the crevices. From the apparent base of the precipice to the river's
edge, there is a steep declivity covered with angular blocks, the debris of the
mountain, occasionally shaded with trees. From Weehawk to Fort Lee, a dis
tance of 7 miles, precipitous ledges and steep declivities alternate with intervals
which admit of cultivation.
This basalt rock, comprehends, perhaps, every variety of the formation. Here
are the Amygdaloid, amorphous and containing cellules, empty or filled, and
sometimes having the warty appearance and resembling slag, and thence called
toadstonc — the basaltic Brescia or traptuff, consisting of pebbles, and angular
grains cemented: — the columnar basalt in prismatic polygons more or less regular,
sometimes articulated consisting of hornblende, feldspar* and epidote, with which
prehnite compact and radiated is sometimes blended. At the base of the moun-

GEOLOGY. 53
tain bordering the river, in many places, secondary argillaceous schist, conglome
rate, red, white, yellow, and purple sandstone, and indurated clay alternate, in
strata nearly horizontal, the inclination being from 8 to 10 degrees. In this
may be observed, in some few places, a compact white stone resembling the Port
land stone of England. A very fine view isobtained of this formation from the river.
Beneath the Nyack Hills, Dr. Mitchell informs ns, the bones of land animals
were found in a stratum of loam underlaying a mass of sandstone 8 feet thick
upon which was arable soil 4 feel deep. Patches of the red sandstone and lias
lime are seen in the Kaatsbergs in Ulster and Greene counties.
UPPER SECONDARY FORMATION.
4. That part of the state, which lies south and west of the great district last de
scribed, consists of the Upper Secondary Formation, more broadly distinguished
from the transition formation than the lower secondary by the horizontal position
and the constituents of the strata. The third graywacke, which is the lowest of
the series, is an aggregate of quartzose sand and pebbles, less angular than those
of the second, and generally containing fine grains of limestone, with iron pyrites,
at greater or less intervals, and thence termed pyritiferous slate and grit. It rests
upon the cherty or corniferous, called the carboniferous, lime rock by foreign geolo
gists. This graywacke is also called carboniferous slate, as it embraces the great
coal measures.
It contains a quartzose formation, common but not universal, resting on the gray
wacke, composed of millstone grit and rubble, distinguishable from those of pre
vious formation, more by the position of the stratum, than by other qualities.
This stratum is uppermost in the higher ridges of the Allegany and Cattskill moun
tains. It is often wanting in the lower, leaving the next calcareous deposit imme
diately on the third gray wacke, as upon the Helderbergs.
The calcareous stratum usually resting on the last is oolitic containing more or
less carbonate of lime of an earthy texture; in minute spheres combined with fine
grains of quartz, or made up, chiefly, of fragments of corralines. The siliceous
variety is found, in place, in fields, or in large boulders, every where upon the
ridges of the Allegany and over the great western valley. It is generally dark
brown or black, and the lime disintegrating on the surface, leaves ther quartz
blackened, apparently by the dissolution of the pyrites. The coral rag appears in
the coral cave on the Helderbergs.
This formation embraces, as is said, the whole of the coal formation of Penn
sylvania and of the West. The coal resting upon a floor of the corniferous lime,
and having a roof of third gray wacke. In this state, it comprehends the western
portions of Orange, Ulster, and Greene, the wholeof Sullivan, Delaware, Broome,
Cortland, Tompkins, Tioga, Steuben, Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauque;
the southern part of Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Yates, Seneca, Cayuga,
Onondaga, Madison, Otsego, and Schoharie, counties.
Throughout the whole of this region, bituminous shale is found; frequently con
taining so much bitumen, as to be inflammable; as on lake Erie, south of Eighteen
mile creek, and at the Honeoye and Conesus lakes. Springs of petroleum rise
in it, at the head of Oil creek, in Cattaraugus county, and upon Cattaraugus creek,
near lake Erie; and springs of carburetted hydrogen gas, are abundantly dispersed
over it: for the localities of which, reference may be had to our index. Large
fields of quartzose or sandrock, spread over the district — in the southeast part of
Chautauque, the southern of Cattaraugus, the southwestern and central of Alle
gany — the eastern of Steuben — the northwest and the eastern of Tioga — the south
east of Cortland — and the southwest of Chenango — the greater part of Delaware 
the western part of Sullivan, and Ulster, and the southwest section of Greene,
counties. This sandstone, frequently hard and compact, affords in many locali
ties, a valuable building material.
COAL.
The identity of this upper secondary formation, with that of the coal measures
of Pennsylvania, the bituminous shale, the abundance of carburretted hydrogen,
or inflammable gas, the issue of petroleum, the discovery of thin beds of bitumi
nous coal — and the striking similarity which exists between the saliferous sand-

54 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
stone regions of the state, and the coal district of Newcastle, in England, have
caused lively hopes,- of discovering fossil coal, in sufficient quantity to make the
working of the beds profitable.
The limited and imperfect explorations of the country, have, as yet, yielded lit
tle to gratify these hopes, unless the bed of bituminous coal, discovered near the
petroleum spring, in Cattaraugus, prove, as it is said to be, an exception. Veins
of anthracite, have been denuded in the Kaatsbergs, and inconsiderable seams have
been found elsewhere, in the red sandstone. After weighing probabilities, and
comparing the results of his numerous observations, Mr. Eaton has arrived at the
conclusion, that, all hopes of discovering valuable coal beds in the state of New
York, are necessarily limited to the second coal formation, in which the anthracite
coal beds of Pennsylvania, are embraced; which formation, he considers identical
with that, stretching along the foot of the Kaatsbergs and Helderbergs, by the way
of Utica, to big Salmon river, on lake Ontario. And he further observes, that if
coal be found, in this district, it will probably be, at the depth of 600 feet below
the surface, and of the bituminous kind. His views are given at length,
in an article read before the Albany Institute, in 1830; part of which has been pub
lished in Silliman's Journal, vol. 19, p. 21.
His opinions, so far as they relate to the non existence of coal, in the upper
secondary region, have been controverted, by Mr. David Thomas, in a short me
moir, published in the same volume, p. 326. But, if coal is to be procured from
the saliferous sandstone formation, only at the depth of 600 feet, it would seem,
that New York may be more certainly and cheaply supplied, with this desirable
fuel, by extending and perfecting her natural and artificial communications with
the great coal districts, of her sister states, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan.
PEAT.
Whilst speaking of fuel, we are naturally led to advert to the deposits of peat,
which are found in the state. Extensive beds of this vegetable aggregate lie —
in the town of Canaan, in Columbia county, sufficient, as is supposed, to supply
the inhabitants with fuel for a thousand years — in Clinton, northeast, and Rhine-
beck, of Dutchess county — in the Drowned Lands, of the Wallkill, in Orange
county — in the Montezuma marshes — Sacandaga, Fly, and some of the Cedar
swamps of the Oneida and Seneca vales, and in other basins of the state. That,
in the counties along the Hudson, especially in Columbia and Orange counties, is
said to be of an excellent quality, and, lying in sections of country in which fuel
is rapidly becoming scarce, may, at no distant period, form a valuable article in
domestic economy, at a distance from the navigable waters, by which supplies
of anthracite coal are obtained. TERTIARY FORMATION.
5. The tertiary formation, the latest of the classified series, spreading over the
surface of the globe, consists — in the lower stratum, of plastic or potter's clay, which
when white is called pipe clay ; and will not effervesce with acids — In the second
stratum, of marly clay, which will effervesce with strong acids, and which fre
quently encloses, near its lower surface, lignite or wood coal, iron stone, bog ore,
iron pyrites, &c. ; and, in some localities, green sand, or chlorite chalk, having
numerous animal remains vertebrated and invertebrated. This stratum is almost
universal, in situations, where it is not subject to be washed away ; and contain
ing muriate of lime, renders the water in it, hard — In the third stratum, of a quart
zose formation of marine sand, and crag — the sand, consisting of fine loose grains
of quartz, which may mostly be poured ; the crag formed of pebbles, clay, and
loam, cemented by clay or iron, as pudding stone and hard pan; or not cemented,
as stratified gravel; or united by adhesion, as the arenaceous concretions, on Green
Island, near Troy: — And in the fourth stratum, of shell marl.
Potter's clay appears near the water's edge of Lake Champlain, and in many
other localities over the state ; marine sand occupies a broad belt on the west side
of the Hudson, from Lake Champlain, to Greene county, comprehending large
portions of Saratoga, and Albany counties ; — shell marl, in insulated or con
tinued layers, fields or patches, generally reposing on marine sand, or crag, in
bottom grounds, in every part of the Catskill, and Allegany ranges and in the

GEOLOGY. 55
western valley of the state. This marl consists chiefly of broken, pulverized and
entire shells of the genus helix (snails), and often imbeds calcareous tuffa. In many
places, it is formed into brick-like blocks, and burned into good quick lime.
It is remarkable that the tertiary deposits, contain the bones of mammiferous
quadrupeds, frequently as perfect in their organization, as any of the existing spe
cies of land quadrupeds, but belonging mostly to extinct genera or species, and
that, the strata have frequent alternation of beds; some containing the bones of ma
rine and others the bones of land, animals. In these strata, lie the bones of the
Mastodon discovered in this state, in other parts of the United States, in South
America, and in Europe. LATEST DEPOSITS.
6. The latest unstratified anomalous deposits, are classed as — Diluvion, supposed
to have been made by the deluge, and composed of vegetable mould gravel, sand
and loam, localities, of which are found along the canal from Little Falls to Gene
see river, and under the city of Troy, and beneath all the ancient elevated forests
— Postdiluvian, consisting of pebbles, gravel, and fine sediment, found in the bed of
the Hudson, 40 feet thick, between Troy and Albany, and in the valleys of most
large streams. — Analluvion formed by the disintegration of the exposed surface of
all rocks ; called argillaceous, when the detritus is fine and adhesive, and granu
lated, when in coarse grains or friable.
Among these latest deposits, basalt is ranked.
OF SOILS.
7. One of the most important advantages derived from the science of geology is
the knowledge of the formation of soils, and of their relative fertiliy. Except in
case of diluvion, or postdiluvion, it must be obvious that all soils partake of the
character of the underlying rocks, from which they are formed, by disintegration;
and that their natural capacity for vegetable production depends upon the consti
tuents of the debris, as does, in a great measure, their improvable quality. For, if
the soil do not contain the proper food for plants, or will not retain it when sup
plied, nor permit the proper absorption of heat and moisture, we must seek in vain,
for fertility. These qualities exist in different degrees in the soils formed, res
pectively, from the several classes of rocks.
In considering the natural fertility of the soil, we must put out of view, all ani
mal or vegetable manures, whether afforded by decayed vegetation, or supplied by
human industry, except inasmuch as the properties of the original soil may conduce
to the retention and preservation of the adventitious cause of fertility. Lands
usually cleared in the United States for cultivation, have a stratum of black vege
table mould, deep in proportion, to the original properties of the soil, the time of
accumulation, and the level which preserves it from transportation by currents.
While this mould remains, the cultivator is rewarded by abundant crops ; en
joying, for the few years before he exhausts it, not only the natural supply of
manure of that period, but the supply furnished for manyFhundreds, perhaps thou
sands, of years. Such was, probably, the cause of the exuberant fertility of the
lands in Jefferson, and St. Lawrence counties, many years ago; and the negli
gence of preserving this manure or supplying its expenditure by proper culture,
the reason of the discontent which had subsequently prevailed in relation to the
yet truly valuable lands of these counties.
It is only when this mould is exhausted that the difference between a granite,
and a limestone soil appears; that it be comes obvious, that, the granite affords only
sand, mixed with a small proportion of clay, and that the clay is subject to filter
through the aggregate of the gravel — that tbe limestone, facile of decomposition
and solution, furnishes with every rain, food for vegetation, and the medium
through which it may receive the other necessary fluids for its growth.
With these prefatory remarks, we proceed to state concisely, the nature of the
several formations of rocks, as adapted by their analluvion to promote vegetation.
In this view, rocks are divisible, into two classes, crystalline and deposition.
The former are difficult and slow of disintegration ; and decomposing by a dis
union of their crystals, fall into angular gravel, through which fluids pass more or

56 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
less rapidly, in proportion to the size of the crystals, and in the further process of
decomposition form beds of granular sand.
Rocks of deposition, composed of particles of other rocks, when decomposed, fall
into earth, pervious to fluids according to the nature of'the particles; whiclvhav-
ing been once already decomposed, form a mass sufficiently compact to prevent
the fluids from bearing with them the finer particles. Such soils are, perhaps, on
this account, more easily carried off by water from the steep sides of hills; but
they are better adapted than the former to retain whatever manures may be given
to them.
The primitive rocks are crystalline— generally situated on the higher elevations
— have no remains, vegetable or animal — absorb little moisture, or heat, have little
or no soluble constituent, and are destitute of coal. Granite is the hardest, and
least convertible into soil. Gneiss is more easily decomposed, and yields some
clay. Mica slate, still more readily decomposed, gives also more argil. Clay
slate, forms a tough and strong soil, retentive of the little nutriment it receives.
The accidental beds of limestone, hornblende, and serpentine, forming part of
the primitive, are generally too inconsiderable to affect much the nature of the
soil, and are subject, though in a less degree, to the objections applicable to the
granitic rocks. But their almost perpendicular position bringing their edges to
the surface, renders a mixture of their components an almost certain consequence
of their decomposition, and probably forms a better soil, than either, alone, would
make. The debris of the limestone, from its calcareous matter, forms, perhaps,
the best of the primitive soils, and that of the hornblende, the next, on account of
the pyrites it contains. Serpentine, though decomposing easily into stiff clay, is
too adhesive for the vegetable roots to penetrate.
It follows from these observations that the soils of primitive formation, are al
ways less productive than those of later formations, and that when the usual coat
of vegetable mould is exhausted, can be rendered fruitful only at much cost and
by judicious culture.
The transition rocks, consisting of particles from the decomposition of other
rocks, are more easily converted into fertile soil. They contain some vegetable
and animal remains — have more or less calcareous matter — from the roundness of
their particles, absorb heat and moisture — imbed portions of anthracite and carbo
naceous substance — but have a portion of the disadvantages of the primitive from
the altitude of their position ; occupying commonly high and broken countries.
The sandstone of the transition, decomposes slowly into a light gravelly soil;
the graywacke forms also a sand and gravel, but the lime and clay which it
contains, make it tolerably fertile. The graywacke slate, consisting of small
rounded particles with much clay mixed with lime, and alternating with beds of
limestone, decomposes into fine loam, favorable to vegetation. The limestone, in
large fields, gives a highly fertile soil, but sometimes sparsely supplied with water,
by reason of the drainage in subterranean ducts. This is often prevented by the
alternation of graywacke slate, which stopping the drain, throws the water to the
surface. The alternation of strata, in the transition districts, gives the great ad
vantage of commixture of soils.
The secondary class of rocks is most favourable to vegetable production. It
forms extended level plains, dropping by steps, rarely precipitous; its aggrega
tions are soft, and easily reducible to mould. It contains, abundantly, vegetable
and animal remains ; much limestone and rocks highly charged with lime ; has
many beds of gypsum and salt, and in most districts, of coal — and it readily ab
sorbs and tenaciously preserves heat and moisture.
The oldest red sandstone, one of the principal members of this class, partakes
of the properties of the transition, in having a large portion of cement of fine
clay mixed with oxide of iron, and forms a good soil ; while other sandstones,
united by the infiltration of water with a smaller proportion of cement, decom
pose into dry and barren sand.
The limestone, alternating with a slaty clay, forms an excellent loam, and lime
stone alone, equally good soil when not desiccated by subterranean drains.
The slate every where charged with animal relics, with bitumen, sulphur, and
carbon, forms a menstruum, which, if not the most favourable for wheat, is ad
mirably adapted to grasses and summer crops.
This analytical view of the constituents for soils of the several goological for-

GEOLOGY.

57

mations, taken in^e^rie^tj-pn, with the topograpical notice of those formations,
makes a description raisaw&e of the agricultural capacity of the several sections
of the state, fiaq'eoutpfs for the natural barrenness of the counties of Warren,
Essex, and Clinton^ |if. the northern portions of Washington, Montgomery* and
Herkimer ; of the eastern parts of Lewis, and thesoutheasteni of St. Lawrence,
and the south of Franklin ; of the eastern of Columbia, the southern of Dutchess,
and Orange; of the northern of Rockland and of the greater part of Putnam, West
chester, New York,, Loflg Island, and Staten Island; exhibiting the source of
sterility in the unrelenting hardness of the underlaying rock.
We say the natural barrenness, for many of these portions have been rendered
productive by careful cultivation. When this primitive country was covered with
a stratum of vegetable mould, it doubtless gave a fair return for cultivation; and,
as the mould become exhausted, the stimulus of a near and ready market, for the
country on the North River and the sea board, excited the inhabitants to the labour
and skill necessary to produce profitable crops, under which they continued to raise
grain for home consumption! with a surplus for exportation. But when the fa-?
cility of transportation by the Erie canal brought the products of the more fertile,
secondary formation of the central and western counties into competition, we
learn at once why all the endeavours of capital and skill have failed, not only in
the primitive, but in the transition, districts ofthe East, to maintain the rivalry; and
why the cultivation of grain has, in a great measure, given place to that of grass,
and the rearing of cattle and sheep, and small meats for the supply of the great
cities and villages, and the numerous manufactories which have grown up, and are
rapidly increasing therein.
In a survey of the primitive and transition districts, upon the Hudson, we ob
served with surprise the almost total disuse of lime as a manure, where it can be
procured at a very reasonable price, by reason of the abundance of the stone and
the supply of anthracite coal from the Delaware and Hudson canal. In a country
of similar formation, extending over the southeastern portion of Pennsylvania, the
most extensive use is made of this invaluable fertilizer. From 40 to 140 bushels
an. acre, are applied in a ratio to the strength of the soil ; and farms of 100 acres
ha¥e had bestowed upon them, in ten years, from 3,000 to 6,000 bushels. Within
ashort period, lime has also been applied, with highly beneficial results, to the
arenaceous and argillaceous soils of New Jersey. The slate soils on the north
side of the Kittatinny valley, warmed by lime, are so productive in wheat, that
the proprietors claim for them a preference over the limestone soils, as they become
eqtially fertile, are more easily tilled, and are less subject to suffer from frost. Can
any good reason be given, why the like effects should not be produced upon the
loams of Westchester, and Putnam, the red sand of Rockland, and the clays of all
the slate districts, the marine sands of Albany and Saratoga, along the Hudson? ¦ :
In this view of the geological composition of soils, we see the causes of the re
newed fertility of many farms in Jefferson, St. Lawrence, and Oswego, counties,
on which improved husbandry has given to the surface, by deep ploughing, the cal
careous manures, which lay, beneath the exhausted vegetable mould, and find the
secret, why every effectual ploughing, is the source of renovated vegetation.": In
this view,too, we discover the source of lh.e perpetual fexiWily of the soils of the great
wheat counties of Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, Yates, Ontario, Livingston, and
Genesee, in the lime gravel, which overspreads them, rapidly disintegrating as it is
stirred by the plough,_incessantly imparting the nutriment expended on 'vegetation.
In the greater abundance of organic remains, and of calcareous deposits, spread over
the southwestern counties, we behold the cause of the superior productiveness,, ia
wheat, of the uplands over the valleys ; where such uplands are not rendered too
moist, by the hard pan retentive of water ; and in the hard pan itself we find, by
thatretentiveness, its value in the production of grass.
In the description of the several counties, the reader will find notices of their
general geological characters, and ofthe minerals they contain.
8. From the constituentsgf sails, to the condition of their eultare, the transition is
obvious. In the older counties and less fertile soils, much care has of late years
been given, to ascertain and improve their qualities, and the art of agriculture has
been much improved,Awith the subdivision of the large tracts, into which the
country was originally apportioned. The manures adapted to the character of the
sol^are carefully studied and sought for, and the advantages derivable from the
8

58 GENERAL DESCRIPTION,
proper rotation- of crops, are more universally appreciated. But one ofthe most
useful improvements, growing, partly from experience, and partly from the neces
sity imposed by the opening of the eastern markets to the western region, is the
appropriation of soils, exclusively, to the products for which they are adapted; and
the consequent abandonment ofthe practice of endeavouring to compel every spe
cies, to yield crops, to which it is not congenial. Under this improved system,
much of the country upon the North river has ceased to be a grain district. Large
portions, of it are devoted to horticulture, for supplying culinary vegetables to the
greatly increasing population ofthe cities, and numerous viU^es; and those por
tions of the district, most remote from market, are rapidly being converted into
pasturage. Thus, the comparatively sterile soil of Long Island, and Westchester, is profita
bly devoted to the production of garden and field esculents, fruit, hay, oats, small
meats, for the great market of the city; in the proximity of which, the cultivator
finds ample compensation for the inferiority of soil, and the consequent greater cost
of production; his lands being rendered, by this circumstance, with the facil
ity of obtaining manures, more valuable than the rich fields of the west. The
vicinage of the city, too, makes this section, the favourite of many persons en
gaged in commerce, who seek amusement and relaxation, and sometimes increase
of wealth, from country seats and farms; and who, less regardful of cost than the
mere agriculturist, compel the soil to yield, to the utmost of its capacity, and fre
quently, introduce valuable improvements in culture, which the farmer adopts with
out the risk of the experiment. From these causes, this portion of the state is
i aj&prned with many very comfortable, and some splendid mansions.
' Thus, too, the high and hilly grounds of Putnam county, with the free use of
gypsum, have been made very productive pastures, in which the plough is com
paratively little used; and which maintain large droves of cattle and sheep, but
chiefly the former.
The counties of Dutchess, Columbia, and Washington, especially the first two,
comprising considerable portions of limestone soil, alternating with slate, yet pro
duce profitable crops of wheat. But, the eastern and northern portions of Dutchess,
and the hilly sections of Columbia, are chiefly employed as sheep farms; and in
Washington, the raising of sheep is rapidly becoming the staple business.
The transition soils of Orange county, much diversified in surface and character,
are, as the lime or slate prevails, adapted to winter grains, or grass and summer
crops. But, the greatest products, are of the dairy: and the butter of this county
has long maintained the highest estimation. The culture of sheep, too, extends
here rapidly. '
Ulster and Greene counties, partaking ofthe geological character of Orange, but
more mountainous and broken, and under inferior cultivation, generally, also pro
duce large quantities of cattle, and sheep, and of late years, of butter and hay for
export. The portions of Albany and Saratoga counties, not covered with sand, and the
portion of the latter not included in the primitive mountains, are under good cultiva
tion. Much care is given to manuring, and the summer crops are abundant. Wheat
is not unprofitable, and Albany exports large quantities. Still the be'st returns are
obtained from cattle and sheep.
The northern counties, Warren, Essex, and Clinton, can boast little-' of their »
agriculture; yet the primitive virgin mould is scarce any where exhausted, and
the forest trees grow thickly, and to a large size. The abundance of timber,' and
the facility of getting it to market, and the rich mineral deposits, have hitherto
engaged the chief attention ofthe inhabitants.
The northern portions of Franklin and St. Lawrence counties, very partially
cleared, level, or gently undulating, are well adapted for cultivation. Some dis
tricts produce fine crops of wheat, barley, oats, and peas; esculent roots are cer
tain and profitable crops, and Indian corn is generally productive. No parts of the
state yield more, or better, grass, and the raising of cattle and sheep isTound to be
the most profitable employment ofthe soil.
Jefferson county, almost every where overspfead with limestone, is emphati
cally a wheat country. The tsystem of agriculture here has, within a few
years, been much improved. With the exhaustion of the vegetable mould, the
discovery has been made of the riohes.of the sub-soil, under proper treatment.

GEOLOGY. 59
Grain, grass, and fruit may be produced here, in equal abundance, at the will of
the culttjtjfoj'. ~ *> :£*
The eastern portion of Lewis, broken and stony in the hills, and but little clear
ed, may one day make fine sheep pastirre; the lime soils on the west of the Black
river, give valuable crops of wheat, and the sandy stratum of the southwestern
portion, is favourable to grass.
Oswego county contains some land favourable to wheat; but the greater portion
of the soil, sandy, and mixed, with calcareous matter, is adapted to grass, and .
the county is becoming famed for dairy products. Such, too, may be deemed the
predominant character of the level country along lake'Ontario. In which, how
ever, abundant crops of wheat are grown, especially in the gravelly districts, where
lime forms a chief constituent of the extraordinary mounds.
The great wheat district of the state, commences in the valley ofthe Mohawk,
abovefthe primitive spur at- Little Falls, in the fertile soil of calcareous alluvion,
which overspreads the valley at G/erman Flats. This district, comprehending tho
central portipfjs of Oneida county, extends westward to the lakes; and is bounded,
northward, by the north ridge of the valley, by Lake Ontario, and, southward, by
a line verging southwest, from Utica to the mouth of Cattaraugus creek, at Lake
Erie. This is the garden of the state — including the rich Seneca 'vale, and the
far famed " Genesee Country." Portions of this district are sandy, and in others,
the rock rises too near the surface; whilst others, are not abundantly watered. But,
taken as a whole, it is not surpassed by any district of equal extent, in the United
States. Here, artificial manures are rarely used, and indeed, rarely needed. In the newly
cleared lands, the richness of the mould, and of the sub-soil, is all that the farmer
requires; happy if he can, by clearing away the forest, bring it forth. Amid the
stumps of his trees, he ploughs as he can, not as his judgment might dictate. Ill
tracts long cleared, deep ploughing, blending the mould and the soil, preserves
the former, and turns up the latter, to disintegrate, and thus to yield its calca
reous matter. Upon such farms, some attention is given to rotation in crops, with
a view to the preservation of fertility. But it is not uncommon to find the same
field, sown in wheat for a series of years, without the intervention of other crops.
We have seen every where, "large accumulations of straw, stable manure, and
spent ashes, which, in less happy regions, would be deemed treasures, regarded
only as incumbrances. And the story of the farmer, who reared his stables on a
high foundation, that he might not be speedily compelled, by the accumulation of
manure, to remove them, is scarcely an exaggeration.
The apple, the pear, the cherry, the quince, all thrive admirably; and the peach,
in size and flavour, is scarcely inferior to that of the Atlantic coast. Grapes, too,
foreign and indigenous, richly repay careful cultivation.
Taking the whole district together, the average product of wheat may be from
25 to 30 bushels the acre; from 40 to 50 are frequently obtained. Instances have
been known, of more than 80 bushels to the acre, and of Indian corn, 125.
The traveller in this district will not fail to remark, how little the appearance of
the dwellings comports with the obvious wealth of the country. The original log
cabins still remain updn farms well cleared, well fenced, and under high cultiva
tion. But, they are gradually giving way to more commodious frame buildings,
and in some cases, to large and beautiful mansions. In the grazing counties, the
buildings are generally of a better character, than in the grain growing districts.
' The region south of this line, and north of the southern boundary of the state,
and between LakeErie and that portion ofthe Kaatsbergs which runs parallel with
the Hudson, may be characterised as a grazing country. Upon its northern bor
der, the limestone, more abundant than in other parts, renders the soil, more or less,
productive in wheat. And this section, producing grain and grass abundantly,$s
b^y many, preferred to that which is most fertile in wheat. Where grazing is the
Ach.ief business ofthe farmer, his labour is less, and more profitable, than th^t ex
pended in the production of wheat. "J
Far the larger portion of this southwestern district, is yet covered with forests.
And in most places upon its southern borders, the chief business of its inhabitants
is the getting and vending lumber, and" consequently its agricultural.products are
inconsiderable, compared with its population. There are, however, some well cul-

60 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
tivated tracts in all the border counties, and in Chautauque, upon and near the
shores of Lake Erie. j
Perhaps there is as much science in the agriculture of New York, as is to be found
in any part ofthe Union, upon lands as recently settled. But, that much improve
ment may be made, is obvious to every traveller, and not less so to the inhabitants.
Legislative efforts have not been wanting to promote this desirable end. By an
act passed 7th April, 1819, on the recommendation of Gov. DeWitt Clinton, enti
tled, ^Anact to improve the agriculture of this state," the sum of $10,000 was an
nually appropriated, for four years, for the promotion of agriculture, and family do
mestic manufactures, to be divided among such counties, as should form agricul
tural societies, raising, by voluntary contribution, any sum of money — and in pro
portion to the amount so raised, not exceeding the sum specially appropriated for
each. The largest sum- allotted by the act, was $650, to the county of New York,
and the smallest $50, to the county of Chautauque. Under the act, the presidents
ofthe county societies, or a delegate from each, formed a board of agriculture; of
which any five members made a quorum; meeting in the capitol at Albany, on the
Jirst Monday after the annual meeting of the legislature. The board was required
to publish annually, a volume of agricultural transactions, and to distribute 1500
copies thereof, gratuitously. One thousand dollars were, annually, granted to de
fray the expense of publication, and to enable the board to purchase and distribute,
among the several societies, such useful seeds as they might deem proper.
. The act was, in 1820, extended to a further period of four years. Societies
were formed in mostofthe counties; and the board published in 1821, a volume of
memoirs; inl822, a second, and in 1826, a third — edited byG.W. Featherstonhangh,
Esq. A spirit of emulation, for a season, pervaded the state. Many useful com
munications were made, relative to husbandry and domestic economy, and fairs,
annual, or semi-annual, were held in several counties, for the exhibition and sale
of products, for competitions in ploughing, &c, and for social communication. But
this spirit could not be sustained. The county societies grew languid, and gene
rally expired with the term fixed in the last recited act. No farther legislative
provision was made. And of all the societies that were constituted, that of Oneida
county, we believe, alone remains.
In 1832, April 26, "The New York Agricultural Society," was incorporated.
It meets at Albany. Its object being to improve the condition of agriculture, hor
ticulture, and the household arts, it is allowed for those purposes only, to hold
real and personal estate, the former to the amount of $25,000, and is endowed with
the usual corporate powers. This society established a weekly paper, called the
Cultivator, conducted by the president, (Mr. Jesse Buel,) into whose hands it lias
since passed, with success and great public utility.
Horticultural societies have been formed at Albany, New York, and Geneva; the
last, called The Horticultural Society of the Western part of New York; whose
influence, aided by the practical labours of their members, cannot fail to produce
the happiest effects. INDIAN ANTIQUITIES.
The line of extraordinary works, supposed to have been of a military character,
which may be traced from the shores of Lake Ontario, into the valley ofthe Mis
sissippi, and thence southward to an indefinite extent, may not be omitted in a
survey ofthe surface of this state.
These works consist of earthen parapets, whose sites for defence, appear to have
been selected with much judgment, and'upon which, skill, greater than any dis
played by the Indian races known to us, was exhibited. The construction of these
fortifications has been ascribed to the European nations, Spanish and French, who
in early periods after.tiie^discovery, visited our continent, and also, to a race of in
habitants, -supposed to have preceded that found here by European visitants. The
claim of European origin is satisfactorily rebutted, by the number and great extent
of the remains; by their antiquity, having, from every appearance, been erected
long before the discovery of America, and by their form, which is totally different
from European fortification, ancient or modern. If full confidence could be placed
in the traditions of the Lenape, relative to the irruption of their ancestors, and those
,pf the Mengwl, into the country, and to the state of its population at that remote,

CLIMATE. 61
and undetermined period, we might assign these structures to the Alligewi, and
suppose them, to have been raised for protection against the invaders.
The works themselves, afford no means of tracing their origin. The imagina
tion is unrestrained by facts, and the ingenious speculator is at liberty to ascribe
them to the Alligewi, the Toltecs, the Aztecs, or any other of the races, which
found their way to Mexico, over the northern parts of the continent. One fact, how
ever, seems probable, from the fragments of rude pottery, and the absence of finish
ed works of art,in wood or metals, that the architects were not greatly advanced in
civilization. We have not room, nor is it germain to our object, to enter into this
inquiry, nor to describe the fortifications, found in other portions ofthe west; but
must content ourselves with giving, here, a general and concise notice of such as
exist in this state — leaving a particular description, even of them, for our accounts
of the several counties in which they lie.
The forms of these remains are various — circular, elliptical, triangular, and
square; and they are generally placed in situations which command the adjacent
country. Near many of the forts, are mounds of earth raised for cemeteries, in
which human bones, in various stages of decay, are common. These may have
been the burial places, in some instances, ofthe more recent Indian tribes.
The number of forts and mounds in the western part of this state, much exceeds
an hundred. The enclosed areas of the fortifications vary, from 6 acres, to 100
feet, in diameter, and the earthen walls which enclose them,*in their present
abraded condition, from 10, to 2 feet, in height, and from 6, to 8, in breadth. Some
of these breastworks bear, or have borne, trees, whose age has been estimated at
more than 275 years; and which may have been preceded by others, in long
series. The most remarkable of these remains,>are in the counties of Jefferson, Onon
daga, Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Livingston, Monroe, Genesee, Orleans,
Erie, Chautauque, Cattaraugus, Allegany, and Tioga. And to the articles, respec
tively, on these counties, we refer the reader for descriptions.
— ..?,©©©««»«—
CHAPTER V.
** CLIMATE.
1. Great Variability. 2. Principles which govern Climate — Latitude — Elevation of Sur
face — Currents of Air — Forests. 3. Consideration of the effect upon Climate, by
Clearing and, Cultivating the Soil. 4. Winter Season — Duration.ih several parts of
the State — Comforts of the Winter. 5. Summer Heats — Variations of the Thermome
ter at different Seasons. 6. Autumn — Changes in the Season — Indian Summer.
7. ' Alternations of Frost and Thaw. 8. Winds — General — Peculiar — North
west Wind — Northeast — East — Southeast — South — Southwest, and West. 9. Thun
der Storms — System of Meteorological Observations, established by the-Regent§.of the
University. 1. Understanding by climate, the degree of heat and cold, moisture and dryness,
to which any region is subject, we may remark of New York, as of the other
middle states, that the temperature is so variable, at alljiseasons, that no rule, for
any month, can be established. iit -j-
2. The first great element of temperature is solar influence, shed upon the cir
cles of the earth in proportion to their proximity to the equator. Were this ele
ment unmodified by circumstances, New York, in the same latitude as Spain, the
south of France, Italy and Turkey, would be the land of the Olive, the Vine, the
Orange and the Fig. But, affected by causes which diminish, in the^western
hemisphere, the heat of the eastern, in parallel latitudes, this state is denied these
luxuries; yet the denial is tempered with blessings more desirable — the imposi
tion and reward of energetic labour. .;•;¦¦-'¦
The circumstances which modify the results of latitude, are elevation of surface,
exposure to certain current^ of air, and the existence of dense forests.
It has been ascertained, th^at, an elevation oftsurface of -338 feet, produces, in
Europe, a diminution of heat, equal. to a degree of latitude removed -fipom the
equator, and that a like result is caused, here, by an altitude of 400 feet. We
have seen, that, in almost every part of the state, the surface rise! from 1000 to

62 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
1600 feet, and in the higher summits of rhe Kaatsbergs, from 2600 to 3800 feet.
This elevation must, therefore, induce a diminution in the temperature of the
mountains, of from 3° to 13° greater than would result from the mere difference
of latitude. Such diminution must necessarily have much, though varying, effect
upon the contiguous valleys and plains, and prove one cause of the great variabili
ty of the seasons.
Another cause, more obvious and more uniform, is exposure to currents of air,
passing over land, with striking but different effects, and over water with differ
ences less perceptible. The northwest wind, rushing from the lofty and icy moun
tains of an illimitable region, comes to us dry and keen, absorbing the moisture
of the soil, and producing, in winter, almost insufferable cold, and in summer,
sudden and violent changes of temperature. The southwest wind, blowing over
a milder region, and charged with caloric, unchains, in winter, the streams, and in
summer, by long duration, frequently, adds to the intensity of the heat; though
often bearing on its wings delightful and exhilarating freshness. The south wind,
from low and heated levels, becomes, by long prevalence, almost as suffocating as
the Sirocco. The northeast, from the icy ocean, gathers from the broad Atlantic,
masses of vapour, which, in winter, condense into snow and sleet, and in sum
mer, fall in copious, cold and enduring rain. The southeast, originating in
warmer latitudes, brings also, from the sea, much moisture, and frequent showers,
which, sometimes, continue, with intervals, for days. The east winds, also, moist
and comparatively warm, likewise, endure for days, often with rain; but, in the
months of August and September, losing their stormy character, rise with the sun
and follow him to the west.
That dense forests exclude the rays of the sun, from the earth, prevent
the absorption and emission of heat, .preserve moisture, and engender deleterious
miasma, cannot admit of rational doubt; nor, is it less obvious, that their removal,
ameliorates the climate, by giving unimpeded action to the sun and wind, and
thereby drying the pestilent swamps and marshes. Consequent upon this, must
be the diminution ofthe water upon the surface of the country, and ofthe vapour,
which forms rain and snow; and every land must, therefore, as it becomes cleared,
be desiccated, and the volume of its streams diminished. Such has been the case
every where in our country.
3. But another consequence has been contended[for, which ad mits of great doubt.
It is said, that not only is the quantity of rain and snow thus diminished, but, the
average quantity of caloric is increased, and the winters made shorter and less
severe. The advocates'of this opinion assert, that, 2000 years ago, almost nnintermit-
ting winter prevailed over France, Germany, Poland and European Scythia — that,
the prostration of the forest, and cultivation of the soil, have drained the lakes
and dried the marshes; causing mild skies and genial suns to nourish cereal
gramina and delicious fruits, where otice the dark and damp forest shed its chill
ing and baleful vapours — tbat upon our continent like causes, are producing like
effects — that cultivation, breaking and softening the surface ofthe earth, increas
es its capacity to imbibe the solar rays of summer and to emit its internal heat in
winter: — and that, with the progress of time, and cultivation, the amelioration of
climate here, will be similar, to that, which they assert to have been, produced in
Europe. *•
It is true, and universally admitted, that extended cultivation, has removed, from
the European countries, referred to, many of their lakes and fens, and rendered
them less subject to snow; but it is denied that there has been any important diminu
tion of cold. This position, is strongly corroborated by a series of memoranda on the
weather, from the year 400, to the year 1819; which shows that, although there
have been intervals of remarkable moderation, yet during the period of 1400 years,
the climate has varied,Jittle. A thermometrical register at Paris, shows corres
ponding results, from the year 1700, to 1823. And cases are registered, where
the removal of the forest, has been destructive to large vine districts, by the ad
mission of the cold winds.
Admitting the forest to be the source of a portion of the moisture of the atmos
phere, it is but a small portion, and, its effect, whatever it may be, has not been,
greatly diminished by reduction of the mass; not more than one-third of the sur
face of the state having been changed by cultivation. The sources of the rigours

CLIMATE.

63

of our climate are wider, and out of the limits of the state — in the frozen regions
of the north and northwest, and in the ocean in vapours from the northeast and
east. While these endure, no permanent or extensive change can be hoped for, in
the climate. The quantity of snow, may be somewhat less; it may commence
later and dissolve earlier in some localities; but the general effect ofthe reduction.
ofthe forest, must expose the earth to the sweep of winds, which exhaust rapidly
its latent heat, and bring early and intense frosts. The contest too, between such
winds, and the power of the vernal sun, producing alternate thaw and frost, is
alike ungrateful to animal, and destructive of vegetable, life.
Alf evidence, entitled to consideration, demonstrates, that there has been no
•'change. We put aside the testimony of our feelings and recollections, the one,
depending on a thousand uncertain and varying circumstances, and the other, pro
verbially, frail. We have before us, memoranda of the weather at Philadelphia,
"during the winter months, from the year 1681, to 1834, and in that period we find
little difference in any series we may take. From 1681, to 1807, — 126 years, our
thermometer is the Delaware river.
On December 11th, 1681, the river froze over in the night; but, in February,
1714, flowers were gathered in the woods; whilst, on Nov. the 11th, 1720, a mer
chant writes to his correspondent, " my ink freezes, which obliges me to con
clude." In 1723 and 1724, the navigation seems to have been unimpeded by
ice— so in 1734 and 1735, 1738, 1739, 1742, 1745, 1757. The len„years that fol
lowed 1757, gave severe winters, in every one of which, ice was abundant in the
river; but the navigation was frequently open during the months of January and
February. In 1775, the river was navigable during the year. In 1780, the me
morable cold winter, it was frozen during three months, the ice being from 16 to
19 inches thick, and the ground was frozen from 4 to 5 feet in depth. But the
winter of 1781, was remarkably mild, and garlic was tasted in butter made in
January. On the 5th Feb. 1788, the thermometer fell to 6° below 0° having fall
en in 17 hours 42°. But in January, 1790, it is remarked, " such an open win
ter as the present, has not been known in this city, since it was founded. Boys
bathing in the river, as if it were summer." These memoranda show that mild
winters, alternated with severe ones, from the period of the first settlements.
Let us now observe, what has been the state of many winters, from 1790 to
1836. In 1794 — 95 — 96, the river was closed in January and February. On
November 30th, 1796, snow fell and the river was closed on the 23d, December.
In January, '97, the weather was said to be as cold as was remembered for 50 years,
and severe frosts were felt on the 13th May. On the 1st December, 1797, the Schuyl- .
kill was frozen over, and the Delaware full of ice and closed on the 23d. On the
31st October, 1798, snow. The winters of 1799, 1801, 1802, were severe. In
1806 — frost on the 17th October, deep snow from 4th to i2th December, and snow
on 3d April, 1807. In 1809, snow one foot deep on the 24th November. In 1810,
snow in April and November. In 1815, winter hard, and heavy frosts in all the
summer months of 1816. On October 19th and 25th, the mountains at Gettys
burg and Chambersburg were covered with snow.
From 1807, to 1828, we have a thermometrical register of the weather, in the
month of January, which gives the mean temperature of the month, in the first
year, at 42°; by three degrees, the highest of the whole'series. In 1828, the mean
was 38°. In 1821, it was 27°; and the average mean of the series of 20 years,
is 34° — showing little variation. "7 A-
In a table of the average mean temperature of each year, for 9 years, from 1826,
to 1834, reported by the regents of the University, in 1835, there appears no varia
tion worthy of remark, in any part of the state. And a similar table, for rain and
snow, shows that the mean quantity, though variable, has not been diminished in
the later years. The difference in the mean temperature between any two years of
the series, at any of the many places at which it was observed, does not exceed
three degrees; and the mean of the year is frequently lower in the later, than in
the earlier parts of the series. The quantity of rain and snow which fell, is very
variable; but no reason appears for supposing, that, it was greater or less — in the
last, than in the first half of'the series. In 1831, the Delaware was frozen fast
on the 7th September. The passing- wiuter, 1835 — 6,'has not been exceeded for
very many years, by intensity and duration of the cold, nr the- quantity of snow.
Throughout the state of New York, the snow, during the month of February, was

64 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
nearly 5 feet upon the level, and the range of the thermometer was, from Zero, to
26° below it.
These facts, with many others, which may be adduced, more conclusive than
volumes of hypothetical reasoning, founded on historical records, carelessly, and
rhetorically written, show, that, no change has taken place in the character of our
climate, during the last 150 years; and forbid us to expect, that the limited efforts
of man, can materially affect the great operations of nature, in forming our sea
sons. 4. From the causes, we have stated, our winters have been and mnst be, gen
erally, severe and variable. The thermometer ranging from 70° above, to 26°
below zero. The mercury, however, rarely falls below 0°; and the greatest de
pression dees not, commonly, exceed 12°, or 14° below it. The ordinary range
between December and March, is, from 2°, to 58° above it. Severe cold and
snow, commence, sometimes, in tbe middle of November. Snow falls, in the
open country, during the winter, from 10 to 30 inches in depth, and in the forests,
from 3 to 5 feet. But the quantity is very variable. The navigation of the ca
nals, is generally closed and that of the rivers, obstructed, by ice, in the middle
of December; and, is opened in March. Snow lies in the forests, between the
Mohawk and St. Lawrence rivers, until the last of April, or first of May; and or
dinarily, some weeks longer than on or near the shores of the rivers.
Along the shores of lakes Ontario and Erie, and of the Niagara river, the win
ter is, usually, three weeks shorter than on the St. Lawrence and in the interior
counties; and is generally milder — an effect, as well of the difference of latitude,
as it regards the St. Lawrence, as of the great bodies of water. Upon the high
table lands of the southwestern counties, the severe cold commences a month
sooner than upon the coast of lake- Erie, and continues a month later. There is a
striking difference in the temperature of that portion ofthe western country which
lies between the Oneida creek and Niagara river, and lake Erie, and between lake
Ontario and the Chautauque and Allegany hills; arising from difference of alti
tude, the vicinage of the lakes, the nature of the soil, and the prevalence of the
southwest wind. The peach attains here a perfection greater than on the sea
coast, two degrees more south. The black walnut grows, spontaneously, and the
sassafras, little more than a shrub, in most other parts of the state, attains the
magnitude of a tree; whilst the oak, the elm, the chestnut, the poplar, and the
buttonwood, are greatly increased in size.
The difference of vegetation, between the eastern and western parts of the state>
is from 10 to 15 days in favour of the latter. The harvests are gathered earlier,
and verdure continues longer. The peach tree, in the same parallels alongijhe
Hudson, is sickly, andin the Mohawk country, rarely bears fruit. In the northern
portions of the state, and in the Highlands, the forests are destitute of verdure for
nearly seven months ofthe year. In the eastern parts of Putnam, Dutchess, Co
lumbia, Rensselaer, and Washington counties, vegetation is from 8 to 10 days
latter than alqng the Hudson river; and such is also the difference between the
country from 8 to 10 miles north and south ofthe Mohawk valley, and that near
to the stream. South of the Cayuga and Seneca lakes, the like difference in the
time of harvest prevails; and in the mountainous region extending thence to the
Shawangunk, the difference is increased to two weeks. On the highlands in the
county of Oneida, it is full two weeks later than at Whitestown, on the Mohawk;
and between Sandy hill, of Washington county, and the Matteawan mountains on
the borders of the Hudson, the harvest is earlier by a week, than on the Mohawk,
between the eastern limits of Montgomery, and the western of Herkimer, in the
valley. South of the Matteawan mountains, approaching the sea coast, the climate is
milder, and the vegetation earlier, and of longer continuance, than in the north and
west; the harvests are gathered commonly by the middle of July, whilst in the
west, they are postponed to the first, and in the north, sometimes to the middle,
of August.
The winter season, however, when steady and accompanied with abundant
snows, has not that discomfort, which might be supposed. The temperature of
the dwellings is maintained at summer heat, by metal stoves, for the supply of
which, every householder carefully provides requisite fuel in his wood-house, the
necessary and conspicuous appurtenance to every farm house. It is the season
allotted by the agriculturist, for business and pleasure. He visits his friends and

CLIMATE.

65

neighbours, and makes long journeys in his sleigh, with ease and rapidity, with
out dread of rough and bad roads. Then, the highways have an even and firm
bed, and the streams and lakes are bridged with ice. Wrapped in furs, or warm
clothing, and seated in his sleigh drawn by a pair of horses, he and his wife will
travel from 60 to 70 miles a day, with little fatigue. The bracing clearness of the
air, the brightness and purity of the skies, the often picturesque appearance of the
ice crystallized- forests, the rapidity of movement, and number of like vehicles
upon the roads, are sources of high enjoyment. The snow forms a covering for
the crops, and a road to- bear the harvests to market.
5. The intense heats beo-in about tbe first of June, and continue to the middle
of August, and, occasionalfy, extend to the autumnal equinox. During which pe
riod the thermometer ordinarily fluctuates from 70° to 85°. The heat, in April and
May, is sometimes from 70° to 80°, in the middle ofthe day; and it is not uncom
mon for the thermometer to have a like range in the early, part of October. The
greatest heats are in July, in which the mercury rises from 70° to 95°, and in some
seasons, to more than 100°. Such excessive heats are rare, and seldom endure
more than three days. The maximum, is between 1 and 3 o'clock of the after
noon, and tbe minimum, between 1 and 4 in the morning.
The variations of the weather, at all seasons, are great and sudden; changing the
temperature in a few hours, 40 or 50°, rising with the southerly, and diminishing
with the northerly, winds. The scale of variation, in summer, may be given at
from 35° to 60°; in autumn, from 60° to 73°; in winter, from 70° above,
to 26° below zero; and in spring, from 3° to 75°. The variation is greatest
Upon the Atlantic coast, along the St. Lawrence, and around lakes Ontario and
Erie; the N. E., E., S. E., and S. W. winds, being more prevalent upon the
coast, and theN. E. and S. W. on those lakes, and along the St. Lawrence river.
6.1n autumn, there are usually several great movements in the atmosphere,' pre
cursors of the winter. The first, about the equinox, is often attended by high
winds, and much rain, and by storms on the Atlantic coast, and on the great lakes.
It is succeeded by fine weather, which continues, with few interruptions, nntil the
middle of October, when the second occurs. That, also, is accompanied by wind
and rain; the former frequently very violent, especially on Lake Erie, where the
S.vW., S.E., and N. W. gales seem to strive for mastery; the first, commonly
prevailing. The conflict is often terrible, paralleled only by the hurricanes of the
tropics. This weather, rarely lasting more than two or three d.iys, is followed
by a short period of cold, and settles down into a clear and mild atmosphere, suc
ceeded, at uncertain periods, by the IndianSummcr. This is a season warm and hazy,
lasting from 10 to 14 days, and said to be shorter and later, than formerly. A
third movement, less windy, more rainy, sometimes snowy, generally commences
towards the close of November; winter sometimes sets in with it, and continues
until, the following, April. A fourth, usually begins with the middle or end of
December, when winter assumes its reign.
The autumn is the most agreeable season of the year. The weather is com
monly less variable, and,with the interruptions above noted, may be deemed steady.
The air is dry and elastic, and the skies are clear, bright, and at a distance from
stagnant waters, benignant. The cool mornings are followed by days of pleasant
warmth.- Towards the close Of this season, the forest is remarkable for a variety
and brilliancy of colouring, which is Ihe admiration of all who view it.
7. In the middle of January, a thaw very commonly occurs, accompanied by
southwest wind and rain, andj sometimes, by thunder and lightning. This wind
prevails mostly in the basins of the Hudson and St. Lawrence, but in the former
becomes southerly. It, however, not unfrequently pervades the greater portion of
the state. At times, it enters the valley of the Mohawk, from the Hudson and St.
Lawrence, meeting in the vicinage of Fall Hill, or Anthony's Nose. At 'others]
it extends westerly or easterly, through the whole valley. Tb,e thaw lasts from
two to four days, and carries off most of the snow in the vicinity of the Hudson
and the neighbourhood of the lakes. Its influence in the Mohawk and Susque
hanna countries is less, diminishing, asit recedes from the lines ofthe gr"eat aerial
currents. A second, but less effective thaw, also, occurs; hitween the 10th and
25th of February, enduring for two or three days. There are, however, other re
laxations of frost, in these months. A third notable thaw, takes place about the
vernal equinox, most remarkable, in the Hudson and St: Lawrence basins but
9 :}* '.. *'

66 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
more enlarged in Its sphere than the preceding ones. None of these have much
effect upon the snows in the forest, arid seldom break up the ice.of the streams.
A fourth, begins between the 1st and 10th of April, lasts some days, and is fol
lowed by fair weather, which commonly continues to the last of the month, and in
such cases, induces the trees to put forth their foliage. Its continuance is longer
in the basins ofthe St. Lawrence and Hudson, than in the interior. On its cessa
tion, rains ensue.
May, is more wet than April. Frosts generally cease in the latter end of the
former month, and commence about the 20th of September, and are latest in the
spring, and earliest in the fall, on the highest lands. But frosts are not unusual,
in low moist grounds, distant from'rivers and lakes, in every month of the year. In
the middle of August, 1833, they caused a very extensive destruction of Indian
corn, in Cortland and Madison counties, and elsewhere, affecting chiefly the lowest
meadows, whilst the more elevated fields escaped their ravage.
The weather in the interior, is more settled and steady, than on the' sea and lake
coasts. The snow is more copious and durable, and the frost more equable.
8.The winds which affect the state, may be classed as general, or peculiar. The
northwest, northeast, and east, are general, pervading all parts of the state; the
southwest is nearly so, being common to the basins ofthe St. Lawrence, Hudson,
and Susquehanna, and to the valley ofthe Allegany.
The northwest wind, dry, cold, piercing, elastic, and invigorating, is the most
frequent, constant, and powerful, enduring commonly for three days, but often for
longer and shorter periods. It is most prevalent and strong in the late fall, the
winter, and spring months. It always causes a sudden change of temperature, and
though unfrequent in the summer months, its presence is then most grateful. Un
der its influence, in winter, the mercury has sunk 60°, and in summer 40°, in 12
hours. And in winter, the most intense cold we experience, follows its long and
fierce prevalence. It is sometimes attended by rain or snow; but this is supposed
to be produced by its contact with currents of air from the east, usually charged
with vapour. Local northwest winds are not unusual, in the summer, after thun
der storms, milder and less violent, than those which originate beyond the lakes.
The northeast wind is common on the sea coast, and in the St. Lawrence basin.
It is usually wet, cold, and impetuous, losing its force and its moisture, as it ad
vances over the surface, when it becomes general. It is the source of our'most
violent storms of rain and snow; and sometimes prevails with unabated fierceness,
for days. It occurs at all seasons, but most in the winter and spring months; and
generally attends the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. It maintains a conflict With
the southwest; and its most violent and most durable effects, are preceded*by.a
strong blow from that quarter. It is, almost invariably, followed by a southwest
ern breeze. It prevails, occasionally, with great fury ii, the month of October,
upon the lakes.
The east wind, general on the sea coast, is not unusual in the interior, but is
always felt with diminished force, and is deprived, in its passage over the moun
tains, of much of its moisture. In summer, it rarely crosses the mountains; but,
in the other seasons, it reaches upper Canada; carrying with it, generally, accord
ing, to the season, rain or snow; but sometimes neither. In the valleys ofthe Mo
hawk and Oneida lake, there are local easterly winds. That ofthe former, seems
a diversion of the south wind from the Hudson basin, turned by the' moun
tains which circumscribe it on the north; prevailing, whenever there is an irrup
tion of,south, or southwest winds, into that basin. It is distinguished from the
true east wind, by its mildness. The east wind of Oneida lake, warm and moist,
may be caused by the contiguous air pressing on that of the lake, producing,.com-
monly, a current to the west, following the outlet. Its course, however, is often
reversed,' and in warm weather, east and west winds alternate, upon the lake.
Upon the west side of Lake Champlain, a local east wind is common in warm
weather, as also, at Sackett's Harbour, and around the easterly end of Lake On
tario. The southeast, south, southwest, and west winds, are peculiar to certain dis
tricts. The southeast, is mostly confined to the Atlantic counties. It is ordinarily light
and warm, and strongest about the periods ofthe equinoxes, when it occasionally
produces tempests. It sometimes, crosses the highlands, and is felt in the basins

CLIMATE. 67
of the Hudson and.Susqueliannu; and, in the former, appears as a southwest cur-
tent. A wind from this quarter, is not unusual at Skaneateles, and at Auburn, ac
companied with snow or rain.
. The south wind, is chiefly felt in the valley of the Hudson; through which it
passes in an almostdirect line, to Lake Champlain, and thence to Canada. It is
generally hot and moist, frequently attended with r<iin, and, when this occurs in the
winter, and enduresfor two or three days, it breaks up the ice of the river, and dis
solves the snows along the shores. This wind is not uncommon in the basin ofthe
Susquehanna, in the valleys of the Chenango and Unadilla, and of the Otsego
lake; and in the Qriskinny, Oneida, Chitteningo, and Onondaga valleys. It is
frequent, in«warm weather, on. the Cayuga, Senec-a, and Canandaigua lakes, ori
ginating in the hills, which bound them on the south. Descending from the higher
to the lower surface, it is cool and refreshing. The prevalence of these local winds
is said to increase with the clearing of the country.
The southwest wind pervades two-thirds ofthe state, through the basins of the
St. Lawrence, Allegany, Susquehanna, and the Hudson rivers. It reaches the St.
Lawrence basin by way ofthe Mississippi valley; and that ofthe Hudson, by the
Atlantic slope; the great current being divided by the Allegany range. In the basin
ofthe Hudson, from the conformation north ofthe Highlands, it assumes a south
erly course, and like other south winds, passes over Champlain, to the St. Law
rence, and diffuses itself through the mountain breaches, to the right and left.
This wind reaches the upper portion of the St. Lawrence basin by the Ohio side,
and commonly has greater violence than upon the coast. It contributes much to
the mildness which characterizes the western and northwestern counties, when
compared with those ofthe same parallels in the east. Duringthe summer months,
it is commonly gentle, and is frequently steady, for eight or ten days together, ren
dering the. passage of vessels up the lakes, tedious and laborious. In the seasons
ofthe equinox, it often blows with great violence, accompanied with thunder,
lightning, and rain; and is far more furious upon Lake Erie, than on Lake On
tario. Almost yearly, between the 8th and 25th of October, it produces one or
more tempests on that lake, of great violence; during which squalls and gusts,
occupying small spaces, and various parts of the lake, at the same hour, prevail;
arising, probably, from the conflict with winds from other quarters. Much da
mage is often done by these stprms; many vessels are wrecked, and lives lost;
and the port of Buffalo is especially subject to their fury. In 1835, the waves
were driven over the lower part of the city, doing vast injury to the shipping and
dwellings. When of long continuance, or great force, the south wind extends, through the
St. Lawrence basin to the ocean, and over the adjacent lands, into the valleys of
the Mohawk, Allegany, and Susquehanna; and becomes almost general, west of
the Kaatsbergs. It often prevails in November, December, January, February,
and March, for two or three days, and advances to the outlet of Lake Ontario. On
reaching the lake, it is feeble, but gathers strength in its progress. Wet, warm,
and rapid, it then discharges torrents of rain, dissolves the snow, thaws the ground,
and brings a vernal temperature; raising the mercury to 60° or 70°. Generally,
it blows on the coast, at the periods that it sweeps the St. Lawrence basin; and,
mounting the valley of the Hudson, is -deflected into that ofthe Mohawk, to con
tend with a portion ofthe same original current, flowing from the lakes.
The west wind is never general, is always mild and agreeable, and prevails during
warm weather, in the St. Lawrence basin, between the hills and lake Ontario, in
the valley of the Hudson, and along the Atlantic coast. It sometimes blows gen
tly portions of several days for weeks; and is said to become more common with
the increase of clearing.
9. Storms with thunder and lightning frequently occur,during the summer months,
and, occasionally, at all seasons ofthe year. But they are not_ common, in April,
May, September, or October, and are very rare at other periods. Those of the
summer, are often violent, and sometimes cause the loss of lives and the confla
gration of buildings. They are general or partial. The former, from the north
west or southwest, are rare, but are the more enduring. Those from the south
west prevail mostly, in the St. Lawrence, Susquehanna and Hudson basins. The
latter, of limited extent, occur in every part of the state; but more frequently in
the hilly and mountainous districts, than in the open country. In such districts,

68 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
clouds charged with aqueous and electric fluids, gather suddenly, and discharge'
their contents with great fury; sometimes causing in two or three hours very large;
freshets. Their duration, however, seldom exceeds an hour. :
By a resolution of March 1, 1825, the regents of the University required, from
the academies under their jurisdiction, meteorological observations and reports,
embracing the daily range of the thermometer, the number and course of the
winds, the variations of the weather, and the measure of the rains and snows, and
also the variation of the magnetic needle. Reports on all these interesting sub
jects, are now annually received from 42 institutions distributed in everypart of
the state, and at various elevations above the ocean level. The observations of
ten years, demonstrate the great variability of the climate, and,^as we have al
ready remarked that, no important change is observable in the quantum of heat
and cold, the course of the winds, or in the quantity of water whiph falls in rain'
and snow. The period of observation is yet too short to warrant general deduc
tions applicable to the whole state; but the system, being one of the most exten
sive which has been instituted in any country, cannot fail to produce the most de
sirable results, to the science of meteorology.
As we are not compiling a history of the American climate, but describing the
actual state of that of New York, we have given no consideration to the various
theories which are afloat on this subject.
CHAPTER. VI.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
1. Great effects flowing from the New York Canal System. 2. Character ofthe Hudson
and Mohawk Valleys. — Views of Improvement, during Colonial Administration. 3.
Early view of connecting the Hudson river, with lake Eric — Merit of such conception.'
4. Claims to the honour of first proposing the Erie Canal — For Gouverneur Morris —
For Jesse Hawley — For Joshua Forman. 5. Resolution proposed by Mr. Forman,
adopted by the Assembly — Survey by Mr. Geddes. 6. Public attention drawn, to In
ternal Imrpovements. 7. Western and Northern Inland Navigation Companies. 8. Ef
forts of Thomas Eddy, and proposition for Survey, by Judge Piatt — Appointment of the
first Canal Commissioners. 9. Their Report— Commissioners continued — Application
to the General Government for aid — Authority given by the State to borrow Money-4<
Proceedings suspended by the war of 1812. 10. Renewed Efforts of the Friends ofthe
Canal, in 1815— Memorial prepared by De Witt Clinton. 11. Act of 17th April, 1816,
and proceedings thereon. 12. Act of 15th April, 1817, authorizing the commencement of
Canals — Obstacles. 13. Canal Fund. 14. Progress ofthe Work — Celebration !of its
completion, 4lh Nov. 1825. 15. Extension of the System of Internal Improvement
16. Donations in aid of the Canals. 17. Commissioners and Engineers. 18. Benefi
cial effect on the public sentiment— Consequences. 19. Extinction of the Canal Debt-
Tolls — Repairs. 20. Description of the Canals. First, Of the Erie Canal. Table of
distances. Period of Navigation. Enlargement of the Canal. Estimate of Cost
Second, Champlain Canal. Table of Distances. Third, Oswego Canal. Distances.
Fourth, Cayuga and Seneca Canal. Distances. Fifth, Chemung Canal. Distances.
Sixtli, Crooked Lake Canal. 21. Statement of Receipts and Expenditures of the Canal
Fund to 1835, inclusive. 22. Statement of Cost, Tolls, &c. of Canals. 23. Rates of
Toll. 24. Tables showing the business of the Canals. 25. Description of the Dela
ware and Hudson Canal. Distances. 26 Description of the Morris Canal. Distances.
27. Description of the Delaware and Raritan Canal. 28. Rail Roads — List, of such as
have been authorized by the State. 29. Turnpike Roads and Bridges.
I. The eminent success of the New York system of internal navigationjshas
had the most beneficial influence, not only on her own happy destinies, but also upon
those of the whole nation. It has more than accomplished the predictions of its
most sanguine advocates. As one of the bonds of union, between the Western
and Atlantic states, (and it was the precursor and the cause of many such bonds,)
it is cherished by every patriot. As the mean of communication betweenpthe
Hudson, the Mississippi, the St. Lawrence, the great Lakes of the North and the
West, it is creating the greatest inland trade of the world. It has given high
value, not otherwise attainable, to the surplus products of a vast and fertile region,
whether such products be of the soil, the forest, the mines, the waters, or of the

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. 69
arts. It is nt^ing the city of New York, the granary of the world, the empori
um of commerce, the seat of manufactures, the focus of great monied operations,
arid the concentrating point-of vast accumulating and disposable capital. It has
converted the prophecies of its great supporter, (Clinton,) long before the period
appointed for their fulfilment, into history. But it has had a still greater effect;
the scope of which is scarce appreciable. It has demonstrated that, a people self4
governed, and enlightened by a knowledge o£ their true interest, have a powerirt
the execution of useful public works, infinitely greater than the governments di
rected, by individuals, who claim:to have been created for dominion. No event
has contributed more to establish, the superiority of popular institutions, than the
completion-of an enterprize, surpassing in extent and- utility any which honours'
the old world— completed by a state, which at its commencement, had a popula
tion under a million and a half— completed without taxation— and paid for within
ten years afteT it-bad become operative. -
It is not therejfire surprising, that many competitors have appeared for the hon
our of originating so great a work; nor, that, numerous volumes have been filled
with the history of its progress. Our limits confine the notices of the origin and
development, of the great plan, to a few paragraphronly.
;• 2. We have seen, that the valleys of the Hudson and the Mohawk, with that of
the Oneida lake and Oswego river, formed, a natural communication, between lake
Ontario, and the Ocean,which the summit, at Rome,impeded only in the dry seasons;
whilst, a like communication between the Hudson, and Champlain valleys united
the sea, with the St. Lawrence river, by aid of a short portage between the Hud
son river, and Wood creek. These natural advantages were known, and used by
the aborigines and by the earliest white inhabitants- who had relations of war or
commerce with them.
The superior intelligence ofthe European, soon discovered, that, these eommu-"-
nications were cf the highest value to a growing community and suscepti
ble of vast improvement and'extension. So early as 1724, Cadwallader Colden,
thep surveyor general of the colony of New York, formed conceptions of a sys
tem of improvement, somewhat similar to that which has been perfected. And
in 1768, Sir Henry Moore, governor of the province, recommended to the legis
lature the improvement pf the inland navigation, as of the greatest importance
att'd Worthy of their serious consideration; submitting, at the same time, that the
obstructions in the navigation of the Mohawk river, between Schenectady and
Fort Stanwix, might be remedied by sluices, on the plan of, the canal of Langue-
doc. These suggestions were rendered fruitless, by the political contests in
which the contracted policy-of the parent state, so frequently involved the pro
vincial legislatures. ,j -.,.'... *
Even amid the -deepest gloom ofthe revolutionary struggle, the buoyant spirits
of some of the distinguished patriots, anticipating the assurance of independence,
looked to the improvement! of the streams of New York, as the source of vast
and-- unlimited prosperity;- and Gouverneur Morris predicted, that, "at no distant
day, the waters of the great western inland seas, would, by the aid of man, break
through the barriers, and mingle with those of the Hudson." A prediction,
which, in after life, bearded to fulfil.
3. Scarce was the ink dry upon the treaty, which recognised the American Na
tion, when propositions were broached, for improving our internal navigation;: In
1784; Mr. Christopher Colles, suggested to the legislature, the construction of
canals, to supersede the portages on the Mohawk and Oswego rivers,-and to
unite the Mohawk river with Wood creek; and received, in the subsequent
year, some small aid from the state, to enable him to mature and develope his
plans. In 1786, Mr. Jeffrey Smith, a member of assembly from Suffolk county,
reported a bill, "for improving the navigation ofthe Mohawk river, Wood creek,
and the Onondaga river, with a view of opening an inland navigation to Oswego',-
and for extending the same, if practicable,1oi-Lake Erie;" upon which, however? no
definite action was had. This effort, demonstrates, that, even at this period, when
(he country, west ofthe Oneida lake, was little known; views were, probably, en
tertained, of a continual canal route to lake Erie. '
• The idea of making such a canal, may have! floated, inconsequentially, in the
minds of many persons; and perhaps did not escape! any one, who, viewing, the
eourse of the waters, and the nature of the country; gave attention to the subject.

70 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
But, between such vague and crude conceptions, and the formation*' of a practica
ble plan of operations, there is a vast difference—all the difference which, subsists,
between, an ordinary mind and the power of genius. Nor is the difference less,^
in point of merit, between the drafting of probable plans in the closet, and the ac
tual determination of their feasibility, and carrying them into full fruition, despite
of the obstacles which ignorance, party, envy, and peculiar interests, oppose. By
a scale graduated on these suggestions, should the merits of the several claimants
for thehonour of proposing-the Erie canal be decided. ...
4. Claims for this honour have been advanced for three individuals. Goover-
neur Morris, Jesse Hawley, and Joshua Forman, all of whom, merit great, but a
different degree of, praise.
Mr. Morris, justly ranked among the ablest and most distinguished men of our
country, possessing a comprehensive and richly stored mind, which enabled him
to grasp, with great force; vast generalities, and a sanguine temperament,' which
gave to his conceptions the most brilliant hues, might unquestionabiy'have enten
tained the idea of connecting the Hudson and lake Erie, by a continual canal-a
since, that idea had been promulged by minds less gifted. But,' it may also be,
and probably was, true, that the character of his understanding, disqualified him
for those minute details and examinations which are not less essential than great
conceptions, to great results.
There cannot be a doubt, from the report of the venerable Simeon DeWitt,
whose veracity is unquestionable, and whose details are too circumstantial to ad
mit of the supposition of defect of memory, that, Mr. Morris, in 1803, entertained
the idea of a continued canal. Mr. DeWitt, in a letter to Mr. Darby, 25th Feb;
1822,;states; " the merit of first starting the idea of a direct communication by
water, betweenlake Erieand Hudson river, unquestionably belongs to Mr. Gou-
verneur Morris. The first suggestion I had of it was from him. In 1803, 1 ac
cidentally met with him at Schenectady. We put up for the night at the same* -
inn, and passed the evening together. Among the numerous topics of conversa?
tion, to which his prolific mind and excursive imagination gave birth, was that of
improving the means of intercourse with the interior of our state. He then men
tioned- the project of- tapping lake Erie, as he expressed himself, and leading*its
waters, in an artificial river, directly across the country to Hudson river. To this,
Ivery naturally objected, the intermediate hills and valleys, *as insuperable obsta
cles. His answer was, in* substance,' labor improbus <ymnia vincit,- and the objee'th
would justify the labor and expense whatever that might be. Considering this as
a romantic thing and characteristic of the man, I related it on several occasions.
Mr. Geddes, now, reminds me, that, I mentioned it to him in 1804, when he was
here, as a itfember of the legislature; and adds that, afterwards when in company
with Mr. Jesse Hawley, it became a subject of conversation, which probablyj -led
to inquiries, that induced Mr. Hawley to write the essays which afterwards ap
peared in the newspapers, on the subject of carrying a canal, from LakeErie-i to
Albany, through; 'the interior of the country, without going by the way of Lake
Ontario." ¦'¦•
It is inferable from this statement, that neither of the interlocutors was suffix
cjently acquainted- with the surface of the western country, to judge of the praiSlli*-*
cability of making the artificial river. Were it otherwise, Mr. De Witt, woifll
not have supposed the intermediate hills and valleys to*be "insuperable; and>Mh
Morris would have described the rout&by which his river should flow. -The con
ception of the latter was vague and crude — was never acted upon or sustained by
himself, and, so far as his own conduct was concerned — was never pro'diir&tive of
fruit. Other declarations and some letters, of Mr. Morris, about this time, show,
that, his more determinate views were directed to a communication by the' Oneida-
lake and Oswego river — views which he held in common with thousands»of his
fellow citizens. But these circumstances do not detract from the merit of his ser
vices, when the plan of the Erie canal was shown to be practicable bydirect ex
amination of a route proposed by others.
We have seen, that Mr, Geddes declared, that, he communicated Mr. Morris's*
idea of an " artificial river," to Mr. Hawley. This communication, he says, in art
article published in the Monroe Democrat, 29th December,'1835, was marfe+in
1805. But, in the same journal, Mr. Hawley avers that he has no recollection' of
having had any conversation with Mr. Geddes, on the subject of canal8j4ntil

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

71

Sept. 1811, — and that, f no person ever, at any time, made mention to him, of Mr.
Morris's claim, to the over land route of the canal, until after the publication of hjs
(Mr. M's) letter to Mr. Parish,'' in 1820. -;:.,
Non nostrum, tantas coinponere lites. '
.It is> certain, that, on the 14th of June, 1807, Mr. Hawley published, in a jtoute
nal at PittsbuTg, an essay, in which he proposed to connect, "the waters of
Lake Erie and tjiose of the Mohavtik and Hudson rivers, by means of a canal," "to
commence at the -foot of Lake Erie," " to pursue a northeastern course for. some
.miles," " then an eastern course and across the Genesee river, some where afefove its
falls; thence near to, and probably in the channel of Mud creek,* an outlet' of
Canandaigua lake, and follow thence into Seneca river; but leaving that, up stream
to Jack's rifts, for the purpose of preserving the head of water; — thence meander
ing along between the high and:law grounds of Onondaga- and Oneida counties,
going south of their lakes and falling into the Mohawk, and mingling with its'
waters some, ssshere above Utica.?'
It is, also, certain, that, he published, in the same year, in the Ontario Messen
ger; 14 other essays, in which hft enforced and explained his views— proposed to
give the canal a breadth of 100 feet. and depth, of ten — and calculated the-expense
at six millions of dollars.
,: These efforts were highly meritorious. They proposed and maintained a plan,
which has been, in its essential features executed — and gave a close approxima
tion, to its cost — .roused the attention of the public, and, though by. some deemed
frantic, induced many, among.others Mr. Ellicott, to make investigations resulting
in convictions of success. The vague. suggestion of Mr. Morris, if communica
ted to Mr. Hawley, does not impair the merit of the latter. If the one carelessly-
dropped the seed, the other nourished it, and niade it^produce valuable fruit, when'
Otherwise it might have perished, by the wayside. It.we.uld be cruel, as well as
unjust, to take one leaf from the chaplet, which Mr-. Hawley, honestly wears. —
But, the praise of Mr. Hawley, would have been, that, only, of a zealous pro
jector, had not other and more influential agents been provided for the work.
;On the 4th Feb. 1808, Mr. Joshua Forman, then, a member of assembly from
Qnondaga county, instigated, solely, as he says, by reading the article "Canal."
in Rees's Cyclopedia, and "the -Message of Mr. Jefferson, recommending to Con
gress, the/ appropriation of the surplus moneys, of the treasury, to the opening of
canals and roads— and in total ignorance of Mr. Morris's suggestion, and Mr. Haw-
ley's essays, proposed to the house, that "/a joint committee be appointed to. lake
into consideration the propriety of exploring and causing an accurate survey to be
made of the most eligible and direct route for a canal, to open a communication
between the tide waters of the Hudson and lake Erie, to the end, that Congress may
be enabled to appropriate such sums as may. be necessary to the accomplishment
of that 'great object."
u 5. The proposition was received by the house, '.' with such expressions of sur
prise and ridicule, as are due, to a very wild, foolish project." It was, fortunately,
however,.firmly sustained by the proposer,- and his friends; rand finally sanctioned,
upon the principle, " that it could do no harm, and might do some good." But
the joint committee, prepossessed in favor of the Oswego route, directed the sur
veyor general to .cause a survey of the. :rivers, streams,- and -waters, in the usual
route between the Hudson river, and Lake Erie, and such other, route as he might
deem proper. Shifting to the surveyor general the responsibility of countenancing
a project deemed absurd. Six. hundred dollars only, could be procured for the
exploratipn. •> -, ¦ > , :i
.- , For this object, happily, the choice. of the surveyor general, (Mr. De Witt) fell
on James Geddes, esquire, who was instructed, "as the -sum. appropriated, was. not
adequate to the effectual exploration of the, country," "in thR first place* to ex
amine what may appear tbe best place for a canal, from Oneida lake, ^IcaJfieAQn*
tario," and next, " the ground between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, withitheiview
to determine what will be the most eligible track, for a canalyfrombelow-Njtagara
paHs, to Lake Erie." ~ ¦> . i'
The over land route, was treated, as a subordinate object. The surveyor stated,
that, "as Mr. Joseph Ellicotbhas.jgivenme a description of the country:from the
Tonnewanta creek, to the Genesee river,; and pointed out a route for a canal through

7$ GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
thaTtract, it is important, to have jthe continuation of it explored, to the Seneea
river. No level or survey of it will be necessary for the present. It must be left
as a work by itself, to be undertaken, hereafter, should tbe government deem it
necessary." • .-*,-,-.
The report of Mr. tieddes, necessarily imperfect, by- reason of the, scanty means
suppliedfor survey, and the hastiness of his views, made 12th January£l809, es
tablished the practicability of the interior route; and that, achieving. much, if not
all, thaf'could be obtained by the exterior and longer one, it would hejvejft; a large
extent of rich country that would be excluded from the latter.
6. No legislative action followed, immediate)/, the report; but, thce people began
to take ajdjeep interest in the subject of internal improvement. The recommenda
tion crff.Mr". Jefferson, to Cpngresj^tjie report of Mr. Gallatin, on roads and canals,
made pursuant to a. resolution, prop^sej by Mr. J. Q. Adams—the ihiportant com
munication of Mr. Fulton, ,accompanyihg it— -the essays of Drs. Williamson and
Hosaek— the speech of Peter B. Porter, in Congress, all conspired to enlighJS
and stimulate the public mind. But, hefpxe, we enter upon the details of -fatft|pt
legislative proceedings in New York, we must review, some measures for im
proving the navigation of her rivers, which have ah intimate connection with the
subject. . • . .
7. Mr. Elkanah Watson, having, in September 1788, visited fort Stanwix, to
be -present at an Indian treaty, was induced by a view of the valley of .the Mo
hawk and the country near the Oneida lake, to form a plan, of a navigaWe'jcom-
munication,ljetween the Hudson and tlie Lakes. Further observation, in ^791,
confirmed his purpose; in which he deeply interested his: fri^rrdi- General Philjp
Schuyler. By the influence ofthe latter, whilst^in the Senate, a Joint comraittee
yras appointed, 15th Feb. 1791, to inquire into the means, ofrempyingithe obstruc
tions to the naviga'tj,oh of the Hudson and Mohawk rivers; and an i acjt was passed
providing, among other things,pfor the.snrvey of the ground between Wood creek,
and the Mohawk river, and between the Hudson and .Wand .creek, of Lake Charnl;
plain, and for an estimate of the cost of constructing canals, between these respec
tive points. This was a bold and comprehensive enterprize for the period, when
the country, in which the improvements were proposed, was still a wilderness;
and the population of the state did npt exceed 400,000 souls.
An effort to make this, wholly, a ^state enterprise was unsuccessful; and, the
report of the Commissioners, resulted in the incorporation (1792).,of the Western
and Northern Inland Navigation Companies— the one, to make a lock navigation
from the Hudson, to lake Ontario, and to Seneca Lake; and the other, a Like navi
gation from the Hudson, to lake Champlain.
Under the superintendence of General Schuyler, the western company, in 1796,.
engaged Mr. Weston, an JEnglish engineer, to survey the route, by the. Mohawk,
Wood creek, Oneida lake, and Oswego river, to Lake Ontario. The engineer
pronounced a canal upon the Oswego river, jto.be impracticable at any tolerable
expense ; and the company confining) their operations more to the state of their
funds, than to t;be,.scppe of their project, soon after, constructed a canal at Little
Falls,' one mile long ^ with five locks; another, over the German Flats, with two
locks ; and a third, from the Mohawk to Wood creek, one mile, with two loctfs
and a feeder of the same length. Several dams and locks werealso erected on
Wood creek, to facilitate the passage to and from Oneida lake. ^ Thus, a naviga
tion for boats of 15 tons was effected, in 1802, between that lake, and the. lower
Mohawk. The cost of these works was near $450,000; towards which the state
as stockholder contributed $92,000. The actual expenditure quadrupled the esti
mates. The company becoming discouraged, suspended tiieir operations ,, and
the works which were completed, proved unprofitable, onaecountof the inconveni
ences still attending the navigatjori of the river. The Northern Cqmpany did little
ot nothing, towards effecting the object assigned to them,, - .,«,
8. Yet? from this apparent desperate state of affairs grew an incident, most pro-i
pitious to, the new system of improvements. Mr. Thomas Eddy* of New,,Yprk,
an active director, and the treasurer of the Western Company, who 'had fbiSse|eraJ

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

73

practicability of making a canal to Lake Erie, by the interior route. Deeming any
plan connected with the western company inauspicious, he proposed' to institute
a commission to examine and survey the whole route, from the Hudson to Lake
Ontario, and also to Lake Erie ; with a view to form a canal, in which the rivers
should be used as feeders only ; and to determine, by an accurate estimate of the
expense, which route should be adopted. To this, after some hesitation, Mr. Eddy
acceded and promised his support.
In the selection of commissioners these gentlemen displayed mnch tact and
judgment ; naming men of wealth and influence of the opposing political parties,
who would neither need, nor require, compensation for their services, and who
would thereby relieve them from asking any appropriation, save for the expense
of engineers and surveyors. The plan was then communicated to Mr. Clinton, of
the Senate, and to Mr. Van Rensselaer and others, members ofthe Assembly, who
approved, and pledged themselves to aid it. Thus encouraged, Mr. Piatt offered
a resolution, in the Senate, to appoint Governor Morris, Stephen Van Rensselaer,
De Witt Clinton, Simeon De Witt, William North, Thomas Eddy and Peter B.
Porter, commissioners, for exploring the whole route, examining the present con
dition ofthe western navigation, and considering what further improvement ought
to be made therein, with authority to procure the necessary surveys; and requiring
them to report, to the next legislature, a full view of the subject with their esti
mates and opinions thereon. The resolution was adopted in tbe Senate on the
13th, and concurred in by the house, on the 15th, March, 1610.
9. The commissioners employed Mr. Geddes for the survey, and went themselves
over the ground. Their able and splendid report, in favour of the interior route,
drawn by Mr. Morris, gave the estimate of the cost for the whole line at five mil
lions of dollars, and recommended, that, the enterprize should be offered to tbe
general government.
The act of 14th March, 1812, continued the commission, and added Robert R.
Livingston, and Robert Fulton to the board ; authorizing them to apply for aid to
Congress and the legislatures of the several states, and to appoint engineers ; and
appropriated $15,000 to the service.
The application to the general and state governments was made without suc
cess. The former refused to adopt the enterprize, or to make a grant of land, for
its support, conditioned to take effect upon the completion of the canal. Here
was a new case, in which apparent misfortune proved a blessing in disguise. The
rejection by the general government, secured to the state, all the advantages of
the canal profits, and enabled her, uncontrolled by any other state, to pursue
her best interests. Messrs. Morris and Clinton, the committee of the commis
sioners, who personally solicited the affair at Washington, indignant at the re
fusal, sought, by an appeal to the pride of their own state, to induce it to prose
cute the enterprize, in reliance exclusively on its own powers. The report of
the commissioners, in March, 1812, was also from the pen of Mr. Morris, and was
followed by an act, passed in June, authorizing them to borrow five millions of
dollars in Europe, on the credit of the state. But, the war with England induced
the repeal ofthe law, in 1814, and all proceedings relative to the canal were sus
pended. 10. But, a few months only after the restoration of peace, the subject was revived
by its friends. By the exertions of Mr. Eddy, a public meeting was held in the
autumn of 1815, at New York, which was addressed by Judge Piatt, Mr. Clinton,
and others, and a committee was appointed to prepare and circulate a memorial to
the legislature in favor of the canal project. The memorial, drawn by Mr. Clin
ton, a brilliant display of the propriety and advantages of the object and of the ca
pacity of its author, produced great sensation over the state. Meetings were held
in several counties ; and petitions, signed by many thousand citizens, were pre
sented to the legislature. a
11. Thus stimulated, the legislature passed the act, of 17th April, 1816 — ap
pointing commissioners to devise means to effectuate the canals between Lakes
Erie, and Champlain, and the Hudson — to explore the most eligible routes  to
apply to the governments, of the United States, and of the States and Territories
to be benefitted by the canals, and to the proprietors of lands through or near
which they would pass, for donations — to ascertain on what terms loans might be
obtained— to estimate the cost— and to report to the next legislature.
10

1 i

74 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
19. These duties were faithfully executed. The commissioners reported detailed
surveys and estimates of the routes they had selected, laying the foundation for
the act, of 15th April, 1817, " Concerning navigable communications between
the great western and northern lakes and the Atlantic Ocean ;" establishing the
canal fund — continuing the former commissioners — authorizing the commence
ment of the work by opening communications by canals and locks between the
Mohawk and Seneca rivers, and between Lake Champlain and the Hudson — em
powering the commissioners, to purchase the rights of the Western Inland Naviga
tion Company and to assess $250,000, upon lands on or within 25j miles of the
route. For the passage of this bill through the Senate, much is due to the efforts
of Mr. Van Buren.
But this consummation ofthe commencement was not attained, without difficulty.
The friends of the canal had to contend with the doubts and fears of many sensi
ble and prudent men ; with, conflicting local interests, and with the political ca
bals and [personal hostility to Mr. Clinton, "who had boldly identified himself
with the canal, and staked his public character on the issue." To the incessant
labour, unremitting energy, and inflexible resolution of this great man, the final
success of the enterprize is universally ascribed. The leading advocates of the
canal were objects of ridicule throughout the United States; and hallucination
was the mildest epithet applied to them.
This important act, passed, each house by a very small majority ; and was sub
jected to a severe and critical ordeal in the council of revision. Lieut. Gov. Tay
lor, acting president of the council, was one ofthe ablest and most formidable op
ponents of the canal. The other attendant members of the board were Chancel
lor Kent, Chief Justice Thompson, Judges Yates and Piatt. The two former,
on the first comparison of opinions, inclined, for various reasons, against the bill;
and the two latter, earnestly advocated it. Its fate hung in suspense and seemed
to depend upon the casting voice of the president. But, deliberate investigation
obviated in some measure the objections of the Chancellor and Chief Justice.
Near the close of the debate, Vice President Tompkins, entered the council
chamber and participated in the discussion, which was desultory and informal.
He opposed the bill, assigning, among other reasons, that the peace with Great
Britain was merely a truce, and that instead of wasting the credit and resources of
the state in a chimerical project, they should be employed in preparations for war.
" Do you think so V said the chancellor. "Yes. England will never forgive
us our victories, and my word for it we shall have another war with her, within
two years." " If," rejoined the chancellor, rising with great animation," we must
have war, or a canal, I am in favour of the canal, and I vote for this bill."
13. The necessary moneys for the object were proposed to be obtained by large
loans in Europe. But a bill for this purpose, prepared by Governor Clinton, was
unacceptable to the assembly, and a system of finance, proposed by George Tib-
bets, Esq. of Troy, was incorporated in the general law — establishing a fund with
commissioners for its management, authorizing them to borrow, on the credit
of the state, from time to time, moneys at a rate of interest not exceeding 6 per
cent, per annum, and not exceeding, in any one year, a sum, which together with
the net income, ofthe fund, should amount to $400,000. (See Canal Fund). The
power to borrow was enlarged as occasion required.
14. The first contract was made, 27th June, 1817. On the 4th July, following, the
first ground was broken, near Rome. The whole line was divided into three sec
tions — the western, extending from Lake Erie, to the Seneca river  the middle,
from that river to Utica — and the eastern — from Utica to the Hudson. The mid
dle section was rendered navigable about the 15th of October, 1819 ; including
the branch from Syracuse to Onondaga lake. Operations were conducted on the
eastern and western sections, simultaneously. In the years 1819, and 1820, 43
miles of the western section, chiefly on the east of the Genesee river, and in the
latter year, 26 miles ofthe eastern section, were put under contract. In the early
part of 1821, the residue of the eastern, and that part of the western, section, be
tween Genesee river, and Tonnewanta creek, were let. In the month of Novem
ber of this year, boats descended as far as the Little Falls on the Mohawk. To
wards the close of 1822, boats navigated 220 miles of the canal:— On October 8th,
1823, 280 miles were finished, and boats from the north and west entered the
Hudson at Albany : and finally, in October, 1825, the first boat passed from Lake
Erie to the Hudson, with Mr. Clinton, then governor of the state, and other gen-

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

75

tieraen on board, followed by a second, bearing Mr. Talmadge' the Lieutenant
Governor, and Mr. Seymour, the Canal Commissioner.
The period betwedn the commencement and completion of this canal was eight
years three months and fifteen days. The celebration of the union of the waters,
was splendidly kept, at the city of New York, on the 4th November, 1825.
The Champlain canal commenced in October, 1816; was navigable, on the
24th November, 1819, and was finally completed in 1823.
In 1820, the state acquired, by appraisement and purchase, the rights of the
Western Inland Navigation Company, paying to the stockholders the sum of
$151,820 80. The interest of the state in this valuation of the stock, was, how
ever, $60,204 80.
15. But (hough the primary design of this artificial navigation, the opening a
route by the canals between the Atlantic ocean, and the great lakes, had been thus
accomplished, the perfection, of- the system of internal improvement, conceived by
the statesmen of New York, required, that, the waters of Ontario should be con
nected with the Erie canal — that the minor lakes and- secondary rivers should also
be united to that great thorough-fare — that a junction should be made between the
important rivers, and also between the bays on the sea coast.
These great objects have been unremittingly pursued, and in furtherance of
them, the Oswego canal was commenced in 1826, and completed in 1828. The
Cayuga and Seneca canal commenced in 1827, and completed in 1829. The Che
mung and Crooked Lake canals commenced in 1830, and completed in 1833. The
Chenango canal, commenced, in 1833, is now in progress; and strenuous exertions
are making to extend the line, along the valleys of all the great rivers.
16. Much aid was anticipated from donations, in prosecuting the Erie canal,
from the great landholders of the West. Much of the land along the line was
given. The Holland Land Company granted 106,036 acres in Cattaraugus county,
which brought, in 1831, $28,210,26. John Greig, as agent for the Hornby estate,
gave 3000 in Steuben county, sold in 1832, for $3000. Gideon Granger pre
sented 1000 acres, also, in Steuben county, and guaranteed that they should bring,
when the canal should be completed, the sura of $5000. They were sold, in
1832, for $1030. The fulfilment of the guarantee has not been demanded. With
the rights of ,the Western Inland Navigation Company, the canal fund then obtain
ed a strip of land along the margin of Wood creek; which, in 1835, was sold, for
$6192,33. And from the sale of Grand Island the fund received about $60,000.
17. During the prosecution of the Erie canal, the acting commissioners were
Messrs. Holley, Hart, Seymour and Bouck. Messrs. Van Rensselaer and Clin
ton, though having no charge as acting commissioners, rendered the most import
ant services by their influence with the legislature and their fellow citizens.
Messrs. Holley and Hart, were appointed in 1816. Mr. Seymour succeeded the
latter in 1820. Mr. Bouck was nominated on the removal of Mr. Clinton, in 1824.
The removal of Mr. Clinton from the board, gave additional evidence to that
already abundant, that, the spirit of party and the genius of patriotism are not,
synonymous. The engineers were Messrs. James Geddes, Benjamin Wright, Valentine Gill,
David Thomas, Charles C. Broadhead, Isaac Briggs, Canvass White, Nathan S.
Roberts, and David S. Bates. The eastern section was constructed under the su
perintendence of Mr. Seymour, and Mr. Wright. Mr. Geddes was mostly em
ployed on the western section. Messrs. Wright and Geddes, surveyed and su
perintended the middle section; the one having the easterly and the other the
westerly half.
Upon the Champlain canal, Mr. Samuel Young was acting commissioner. Co
lonel Lewis Garin, had been employed as engineer at an early period, but was
succeeded by Mr. William Jerome, in 1820.
18. The bold and magnanimous spirit with which these great works were com
menced and prosecuted, is thrown into striking relief, by comparison, with the
opinions of some of the most intelligent men of the age. The members of the
general government, deemed the enterprise chimerical and its projectors infatuated.
Nor, were the sentiments of those persons who respectively administered the state
governments more favorable.* All viewed it with doubt and distrust. When
in January, 1809, Mr. Forman waited on President Jefferson, and informed him'
•We may except Massachusetts, Ohio, and Tennessee, vhich instructed their repreaen
tatives in Congress, to use their influence in promoting the object.

76 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
that, in view of his proposal to expend the surplus revenues of the nation, in mak
ing roads and canals, the state of New York, had explored the route of a canal
from the Hudson to Lake Erie, and had found it practicable; and when he had
described all the advantages anticipated, the president replied, that, " it was a
very fine project and might be executed a century hence." " Why sir," said he,
"here is a canal, of a few miles, projected by General Washington, which if com
pleted would render this a fine commercial city, which has languished for many
years, because the small sum of $200,000 necessary to complete it, cannot be ob
tained from the general government, the state government, or from individuals—
and you talk of making a canal of 350 miles through the wilderness f It is little
short of madness to think of it, at this day."
But when the great work was near its completion, Mr. Jefferson declared,
"many, I dare say, think with me, that New York has anticipated, by a full centu
ry, the ordinary progress of improvement." But such was not the fact. She had
anticipated nothing; she had done more; a much more useful thing, she had
demonstrated to the people, the greatness of their power, in the profitable employ
ment of capital. And the lesson was not lost on the nation. The noble works of
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia and Maryland, and a thousand others, which are
reticulating the whole country, have been made in consequence of her example;
and her own citizens, owe no larger debt of gratitude to the perseverance of her
statesmen than do the inhabitants of every state in the Union.
19. The Erie and Champlain canals, as we have already observed, were com
pleted in the autumn of 1825, and the annual report ofthe commissioners of the ca
nal fund, made to the senate, in April, 1826, states the expenditures for construc
tion, including interest upon loans, at $10,731,594 75, and the amount of debt out
standing at $7,737,770 !)9, payable in 1837, and 1845. In their report of 1825,
the commissioners anticipated, that, this debt would be paid in 10 years. Nor
have their anticipations been widely different from the result. Notwithstanding
the heavy charges for repairs, and the reduction of tolls, and salt duties, such has
been the increase of tolls, that the means for the full discharge of the debt were
produced, in the year 1836. The progressive increase of tolls and the fiscal
operations of the canals, will appear from table A, hereunto annexed; and the
eost of the respective works, from table B. The net product of tolls on the Erie
and Champlain canals, now amounts to about a million annually; the average in
crease of tolls exceeds 12 per cent, annually, on the business of 1826.
It would seem that the cost of repair of the canals increases with their business.
In 1829, the eost for repair on the Erie canal, was $493 12, and in- 1834, $883 78,
per mile, and the average for 6 years, $603 76, per mile.
DESCRIPTION OP THE CANALS.
20. The Erie canal commences at the city of Buffalo, at the Little Buffalo creek,
two miles above the entrance of the canal, from Lake Erie. — Cr, perhaps, it
may be said with greater propriety, to commence at Bird Island and Black Rock
harbour, at the foot of the lake, and to communicate with Buffalo by a short
branch. From Black Rock, it extends eastwardly to the Hudson river, at Albany,
363 miles. Locks. Dist.Fall.Rise.
From Bird island, it follows the margin of the Niagara river,
to the Tonnawanta creek, ..... g
Entering that creek, which has been raised by a dam to its
level, it ascends the stream to Pendleton, ... jg
Thence, turning southeast, runs to 'Lockport, one-half the way
by a cut, through limestone rock, average 20- feet in depth,
completed after the most assiduous labour of four years, 6
At Lockport, it descends from the upper to the lower terrace, of
the mountain ridge, through a natural ravine, by 5 double
locks, of excellent workmanship, each falling 11 feet 'J inches, 5 58.9
Thence, upon this terrace, it extends to a point, 2 miles east of
Rochester, ......... 65
Passing, in its course, Oak Orchard: creek, by an aqueduct of
60 feet span, and the Genesee river by another, 750 long, on
1 1 arches. (See Rochester.)

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

77

5

37

1 8

8

1 15

10

1 3
1 T

10

3 12

24

1 3i

10

1 4

6

1 H

7

1 5

6

1 6J-

8

1

6

1

1

H

9

1

4

9

1

9

11

Locks.Dist.Fall.Rise.
From the termination of the Rochester level, it descends toward
the Seneca vale,
By locks, dropping each 7-jV feeti - - - - -
At Pittsford, by 
At the end of the Torronto level-, by 
At the village of Palmyra, by ......
East ofthe village of Palmyra, by (8 feet each,)
West of the village of Lyons, by »
At Lyons, by  " *
East of Lyons, by-  - -
At Clyde, by 
At Canandaigua outlet, and Montezuma marshes, by -
Thus, descending by 16 locks, in 64 miles, 126 feet: Crossing
the valley of the Irondequoit creek, Monroe county, upon an
embankment 650 yards long, and from 40 to 76 feet high,
the greatest work of this kind upon the line. Between the
embankment and Palmyra, the route is through a deep
swamp,'whose waters flow, partly to the Irondequoit creek,
and partly to Mud creek. The canal also passes Mud creek,
near Lyons, upon a culvert of 3 arches, each of 30 feet span.
From Montezuma, the line rises,
On the east side of Seneca river, by -
Distant from the last lock, by -
Near Bucksville, by .......
At Jordan's basin, by .......
Ascending by 4 locks, in 21 miles, 36 feet. Passing through,
and along the Montezuma marshes, 11 miles, and over the
Owasco outlet, by an aqueduct of stone, of 4 arches, 20 feet
each, and over the Skaneateles outlet, by an aqueduct of 3
arches, 100 feet long.
Upon the Jordan level the line extends eastward; descending
At the Otisco outlet, by ------ »
At the east side of Geddesburg, by
Crossing the Otisco creek, by au aqueduct of stone, of 2 arches,
each 30 feet span — sinking by 2 locks, in 19 miles, 17 feet.
The line again rises,
East of Syracuse, by .......
Further east, by 2 locks, 10 feet lift each, ....
Passing the Onondaga creek by an aqueduct of 4 arches, each
30 feet span.
The Long, or Utica level, commences at the last lock, Ononda
ga county, and stretches through Madison and Oneida coun
ties, into Herkimer, at the village of Frankfort,
This is the longest canal level in the world. The line passes
the valley of Oneida creek, by an aqueduct and embankment,
together 400 feet long, and from 20 to 26 feet high; the aque
duct alone, having a length of 120 feet. It enters the Mo
hawk valley near Rome.
From Frankfort to Albany, tbe line is wholly descending;
From Frankfort to the head of Little Falls, by 7 locks, each
falling 8 feet, and 1 falling 9 feet, ....
At Little Falls, by locks of 8 feet each, ....
Thence, through the county of Herkimer, by - - -
Thence, through the county of Montgomery, by locks — 6 of 8
feet— 2 of 7 feet— 1 of 6 feeWand 1 of 4 feet fall,
Thence, through the county of Schenectady, by locks- each hav
ing 8 feet fall, to the Schenectady level,
The Schenectady level drbsses the Mohawk by an aqueduct of
wood, 748 feet long, on 16 limestone piers, terminating in
Saratoga county.
Thence, the line falls by locks of 7 feet each, - - - 6 16 42

12 7

11 6

20

69i

12 1|
b

6540

10 38 72
3 16 24

78 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
Locks.Level.Fall.Rise.
to another aqueduct, recrossing the Mohawk, 1188 feet long,
24 feet high, on 26 stone piers.
Thence,it falls very rapidly, Over the ridges on the south ofthe
Mohawk, into the valley of the Hudson,
By a series of locks at Cahoes, each 8 feet, - - - 4 3 32
Another series, each 9 feet, ------ 4 36
A third series, each 8 feet, - - - - -_- 91 72
Between the two last locks of the last series, the union with the
Lake Champlain canal is formed at Juncta, or theGrand Junc
tion.
Below the Junction, the line drops, by locks of 11 feet each, 2 3 22
to the level of Gibbonsville, or West Troy, where two outlet
locks communicate with the Hudson river. (See Troy.)
The descent here, in somewhat more than 2 miles, is 162 feet,
by 19 locks.
Thence, to the termination of the canal in Albany, by locks of
11 feet each,  2 7 22
84 363 642 56
For description of the Albany basin, see Albany.
The aggregate lockage on the whole line, may be distributed
thus. Miles. Locks. Fall.
Western section from Buffalo to Montezuma, 158 21 186
Middle section — Montezuma to Utica, - 96 11 95 rise and fall.
Eastern section — Utica to Albany, - - 110 52 417
364 84 698
The level, of the junction, above tide, is 44 feet: Of Schenectady level, 226.
Of Utica level, 425: Montezuma level, 370: Rochester level, 506: Lockport
level, 565.
The locks of sand or lime, stone laid in water cement, are each 90 feet long, within
the'gates, and 15,wide. Five minutes are, ordinarily, required to pass a boat through
each. The numerous culverts are of stone or iron.
The canal has eight principal feeders.
The first, is taken from the Tonnawanta creek, near the west end of Tonna-
wanta swamp, by a canal more than 4 miles long, connecting with Oak Orchard
creek, and with the canal at Medina, in Orleans county.
The second, from the Genesee river, at Rochester; commencing about two
miles south ofthe canal, and entering a spacious basin, southeast ofthe aqueduct.
The water is turned into the feeder, by a dam in the river, 18 inches high, and 200
yards long. It is 26 feet wide, and 3 deep, and navigable for boats to the river
above. The third, from the Onondaga lake, by the Oswego canal.
The fourth, at Orville, Manlius, Onondaga county, conducts the waters of the
Butternut creek. It is two miles long, and navigable to the North Seneca turn
pike. The fifth, the branch canal, 2 miles long, to Chitteningo village, having four
locks, descending 6 feet each, and tapping the Chitteningo creek, was made by a
company, incorporated in 1818.
The sixth, 2 miles long, is taken from the Mohawk river, and was partly made
by the Western Inland Lock Navigation Company. In droughts, it nearly drains
the river. It is navigated one-fourth of a mile to Rome.
The seventh, also from the Mohawk, at the Little Falls, half a mile long, crosses
the river by a superb aqueduct, (See Little Falls,) by which boats enter the com
modious basin, in the village.
The eighth, also from the Mohawk, at Minden, in the county of Montgomery,
1^ miles long, is supplied by a dam in the river 11 feet high.
There are other feeders, short, inconsiderable, and innavigable.
A feeder is about te be made, 3£ miles long, in the valley of Nine-mile creek,
town of Camillus, Onondaga county.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

79

A LIST ofthe Places on the Junction and Erie Canals, and their distance from each
other, as adopted by the Canal Board.

DISTANCE FROM

NAMES OF PLACES.  Place to
place.
Albany, ..-.---0
Port-Schuyler, ...... 5
Washington, (Gibbonsville,) - - - - 1
West Troys  l
Junction, ....---2
Cahoes, ....... l
Lower aqueduct, ...... 3
Willow Spring,  - 6
Upper aqueduct, ------ 7
Schenectady, ...... 4
Rotterdam, ....---9
Phillips' locks, ...... 5
Amsterdam, ..----.3
Schoharie creek, ...... 5
Smithtown, (Auriesville,) - - - - 2
Caughnawaga, (Fultonville,) - 3
Big Nose, ...--.-7
Spraker's basin, - - - - - - - 2
Canajoharie, - - -•- - - -.3
Fort Plain,  3
Diefendorf's landing, ..... 3
Minden dam, (St. Johnsville,) - - - 2
East Canada creek, - - - - - 4
Indian Castle, (Nowandaga creek,) - - 2
Fink's ferry,  3
Little Falls,  -2
Rankin's lock, (No. 7,) 1 - - - - 3
Herkimer lower bridge, ----- 4
Herkimer upper bridge, ----- 1
Fulmer's creek, ...... 1
Morgan's landing, ...... 1
Steel's creek, ...... l
Frankfort, ....---2
Fergdson's, ....... 6
Utica, .-------3
York Mills, (Wetmore's,) .... 3
Whitesboro', ------- 1
Oriskany, ----...3
Rome, ....... g
Wood creek aqueduct, (Fort Bull,) - - - 2
Hawley's basin, ...... 2
Stony creek, ...... 1
New London,  - 2
Higgins', .---...4
Loomis', .......2
Oneida creek, (Durhamville,) - - - 3
Canastota, - -- - - - -5
New Boston, (Canasaraga,) .... 4
Chitteningo, ...... 3
Pool's brook,  3
Kirkville,  2
Little lake,  2
Manlius, (Reels,)  2
Limestone feeder, ------ 1
Orville feeder, ...... g

Albany. Utica. .Rochester. Buffalo.

0
5 6
7 9
101319
26 3039
44 47
52 5457 646669
72
7577
8183
8688 9195 9697 9899
101107
110113
114
117 125
127129130132
136 138141146150153156158
160 162
163165

110
105
104
103101100 9791
84 80
71 6663
58 565346
44413835
33
29
272422 19 15 1413 12 11 9
3
0
347
151719
202226
. 2831 36
40
43
4648
- 50 52
5355

269
264263
262
260259
256250243239230
825 222247215 212205203
200 197
194192188
186 183181178174 173172 171 170
168
162
159
156155 152144142140139137
133131128 123
119
116113
111109107
106
104

364
359358
357
355
354351
345
338334325320317312 310 307
300298
295
292289
287283281278
276 273269 268 267
266265
263
257
' 254 251250247239237
235 234
232228226 222
218214
211208
206
' 204
202
201 199

80

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

DISTANCE FROM

NAMES OF PLACES. .' '  '  "
Place to Albany. Utica. Rochester.
place.
Lodi,  5 170 60 99
Syracuse,  1 171 61 98
Geddes,  2 173 63 96
Belisle,  - 4 177 67 92
Nine-mile creek, - - - - - -11 78 68 91
.Camillas,  1 179 69 90
Canton,  5 184 74 85
Peru,  2 186 76 83
Jordan,  4 190 80 79
Cold Spring,  1 191 81 78
Weedsport,  5 196 86 73
Centreport,  1 197 87 72
Port Byron,  2 199 89 70
Montezuma, (Lakeport,) .... 6 205 95 64
Lockpit,  6 211 101 58
Clyde,  5 216 106 53
Lock Berlin,  5 221 111 48
Lyons,  4 225 115 44
Lockville  6 231 121 38
Newark,  1 232 122 37
Port Gibson,  3 235 125 34
Palmyra,  5 240 130 29
Macedonville,  4 244 134 25
Wayneport, (Barrager's basin) - - - 3 247 137 22
Perrinton, (Lindel's bridge,) - - - - 2 249 139 2e
Perrinton Centre, (Col. Peter's,) - - - 2 251 141 18
Fairport,  1 252 142 17
Fullam's basjn,  1 253 143 16
Bushnel's basin,  - 3 256 146 13
Pittsford,  3 259 149 10
Billinghast's basin,  4 263 153 6
Lock No. 3,  2 265 155 4
Rochester  4 269 159 0
Brockway's,  10 279 169 10
Spencer's basin, ------ a 281 171 12
Adams' basin,  3 284 174 15
Cooley's basin,  3 287 177 ' 18
Brockport,  2 289 179 20
Holley,  5 294 184 25
Scio, - -  4 298 188 29
Albion,  6 304 194 35
Gaines' basin,  2 306 196 37
Eagle harbour,  1 307 197 38
Long bridge,  2 309 199 40
Knowlesville,  2 311 201 42
Road culvert,  1 312 202 43
Medina,  3 315 205 46
Shelby basin,  3 318 208 49
Middleport,  3 321 211 52
Reynold's basin,  3 324 214 55
Ga'sport,  2 326 216 57
Lockport, i  7 333 223 64
Pendleton,  7 340 230 71
Welch's,  2 342 232 73
H. Brockway's  4" 346 236 77
Tonnawanta,  6 352 242 83
Lower Black Rock, - . - - 8 360 250 91
Black Rock  1 361 251 92
Buffalo,  3 364 254 95
28.90 chains over, to Lake Erie — Big Buffalo creek harbour.

Buffalo.
194 193191187186185180 178
174 173 168167 165159153148143 139133132129 124 120 117 U5113112 111 108105 101 99 95 85
838077 7570 66 60585755 5352 49464340 38 3124 23 1812 4 30

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. 81
The period of navigation, upon the canals, is about 220 days in the year. The
western and middle sections of the Erie canal, comprising the space between Lake
Erie and Utica, open 10 or 12 days earlier in the spring, and are unclosed as many
days later in autumn, than the eastern. Between German Flats, in Herkimer,
and the Little Nose, in Montgomery county, frost is more severe than on any
other part of the line — closing the canal here, first, and relenting latest. The
snows are deeper, and lie longer. Enlargement ofthe Canal.
Already has this great thoroughfare been found too restricted, for the immense
trade which flows thiough it. By act of 11th of May, 1835, provision has been
made for its extension; authorising the canal commissioners to enlarge and improve
it — to construct a double set of lift locks — to make independent canals, near cities
and villages on the line — to alter and re-arrange the present, and to make additional,
feeders, and other works necessary for the supply of the enlarged canal. After
the year 1837, the expenditures under the act are to be so limited, as to leave from
the canal revenues, without reference to auction and salt duties, an annual income
to the state, of at least $300,000, over the ordinary repairs and expenditures on the
Erie and Champlain canals.
This act was founded on a recommendation of the canal commissioners, to the
legislature, in 1835, to widen the canal, at the water line, to 60 or 70 feet, and to
deepen it 2 feet, making the depth 6, instead of 4, feet. The following is a sum
mary ofthe estimates, ofthe proposed improvements, exclusive of the enlargement
of the canal.
Rochester Aqueduct, for reconstruction, &c. .... $242,890 35
Jordan level, for a new feeder from Nine-mile creek, ... 16,839 09
Double locks, 53 between Syracuse and Albany, aggregate lift
426 feet,  936,878 75
Extending and enlarging upper aqueduct over the Mohawk, - 33,761 20
Reconstructing lower aqueduct over that river, .... 93,205 75
Increased excavation for the Cahoes descent, .... 85,655 95
1,409,231 00
The Champlain Canal.
2. The Champlain canal, commences at Whitehall, at the head of
the navigation on Lake Champlain, and rises by feet, miles.
Three locks,  ...g6
To a level that extends, through indurated clay, to Wood creek, - 5-]
Where it enters the creek upon a pool, made by a dam, and follows its
channels, -----..___. 3
One lock at the end of this level in the creek rises, - - - - 4
Thence it still pursues the bed of the creek, to the village offFort Ann, 34
Three locks here, lift it to a level,  24
Which extends through Fort Ann, Kingsbury, and Fort Edward, in
loam, clay, and vegetable mould, to the village of Fort Edward,
upon the Hudson, where -------- 54 12
A feeder is carried from the Hudson Jriver, half a mile in length, by
means of a dam across that stream 900 feet long, 28 hich. -
Three locks at Fort Edward, drop the canal,  30
To the level of the Hudson river, by which the navigation is continued
to Fort Miller; where are, ........ 8
Two locks sinking to the level ofthe dam at Saratoga Falls, - 18 3
Above this dam, which is 1390 feet long, the canal leaves the river on
a plain, extending with a descent of J¥ of a foot, per mile, - - 17
Passingthrough the towns of Saratoga, Stillwater and Half Moon, and
over Fish creek, by an 'aqueduct, terminating 2 miles below Still
water village, one lock descending, -  9
Below which about, -  ,1
It crosses Anthony's Kill, by a double stone culvert, and, - - 3!
t urther descends by one lock, in Halfmoon, of - - - - 9
Thence it coutinues about, ---"._. 1
11 '

82 GENERAL DESCRIPTION. feet, miles.
Within a few rods of another stone culvert to one lock also descending, 9
Thence about,  3
Three locks in the town of Waterford, drop it, - - - - - 26j
Thence, at the distance of, ------- - 1|
Three other locks fall into the Mohawk river, at the village of Water-
ford,  32J
Whence the navigation by the Mohawk and Hudson river, has been
improved, by means ofthe dam, and sloop lock at Troy.
From the head of the last three locks, where are some basins, the ca
nal is continued to the Mohawk, and crosses that river, by a dam 7
feet high, of wood, 1650 feet long, and thence, f of a mile to the
junction with the Erie canal ; the length of this level is about, - 3
21 locks — lockage 188 64
A navigable feeder, 7 miles long, is taken from the Hudson, two miles above
Glenn's Falls ; where a dam 12 feet high, and 770 feet long, has been erected.
This feeder enters the summit level about 1^ miles northeast of Fort Edward.
The locks of this canal, by some extraordinary inadvertence, are 1 foot nar
rower, than those of the Erie canal, and the boats of the latter navigate it, with
difficulty. There are 4 guard locks — 1 at Fort Edward dam — 1 at Fort Miller
dam — 1 at Saratoga dam — and 2 at the Mohawk dam.
Table of Distances.
names or places. Albany. White- NAMES 0P PLACES. Albany. White-
Albany, 0 73 Saratoga Bridge, - - 38 35
West Troy, - 7 66 Fort Miller, - - - 41 32
Junction, ... 9 64 Moses Kill, - - - 44 29
Waterford, - - - 12 61 Fort Edward,- - - 49 24
Mechanicsville, - - 20 53 Glenn's Falls Feeder, - 51 22
Stillwater, - - - 24 49 Baker's Basin, - - 52 21
Bleecher's Basin, - - 26 47 Smith's Basin, - - 57 16
Wilbeer's Basin, - - 28 45 Fort Ann, - - - 61 12
Van Duzen's Landing, 33 40 Comstock's Landing, - 65 8
Schuylerville, - - 36 37 Whitehall, - 73 —
Glenn's Falls Feeder.
Champlain canal to
Sandy Hill,  2 Head of the Feeder, - - 7
Glenn's Falls, .... 5 Head of the Pond, - - - - 12
The Oswego Canal.
3. The Oswego canal, commencing at the Erie canal, at Syracuse, Onondaga
county, runs north to Lake Ontario, 38 miles. The Onondaga lake and its outlet are
in the line. After reaching Seneca river by the drain, it runs down that river, and
Oswego to its exit. About half the distance'is slack water or river navigation, with
towing path on the bank. There are 14 lift locks of cut stone ; 2 of which are
used as guard locks. There are also 6 guard locks, each 17 feet wide, and 90
feet long; one of which is of wood, the others of hammered stone. Lockage on
canals and dams 123 feet.
NAMES OF PLACES. DISTANCE FROM
Place to Syracuse. Oswego.
place.
Syracuse,  0 0 38
Salina,  S 2 36
Liverpool,- - - - - - 3 5 33
Mud Lock, .... 2 7 31
Cold Spring,  1 8 30
New Bridge,  5 13 25
Three River Point,  2 15 23

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. 83
Phcenix,  2 17 21
Sweet's Lock,  3 20 18
Ox Creek,  3 23 15
Fulton,  4 27 11
Braddock's Rapid,  4 31 7
Tiffany's Landing,  4 35 3
High Dam,  1 36 2
Oswego  2 38 0
The Cayuga and Seneca Sana!.
4. The Cayuga and Seneca canal, commences at the foot of the declivity on
which the village of Geneva is built, and runsjeastwardly along the north end of Se
neca lake, to the outlet, about two miles. Thence it continues down the outlet, to
Montezuma, 19 miles, about 5 of which are through the marshes. It connects
with the Cayuga lake, at East Cayuga, by a side cut 2 miles in length, making
the whole line of canal navigation, 23 miles ; about one half of which is in the bed
of the river. But the whole line of navigation which is connected with the Erie
canal by this improvement, comprehending the Seneca and Cayuga lakes, is about
100 miles, and including the Chemung canal and its feeder, 139 miles.
NAMES OP PLACES. DISTANCE PROM
Place to Monte- Geneva.
place, zuma.
Montezuma,  0 0 21
Seneca River, ...... 5 5 16
S. Dermont's,  2 7 14
Seneca Falls,  3 10 11
Chamberlain's Mills, ----- 2 12 9
Waterloo,  2 14 7
Teal's,  5 19 2
Geneva,  2 21 0
Lateral canal to East Cayuga village, 2 miles, 2
23
The Chemung Canal.
5. The Chemung canal, enters the valley of Catharine creek, at the head of
Seneca lake, which it follows to the village of Horseheads ; and thence, by the
valley of Marsh creek, is conducted to Elmira, on the Chemung river, 6 miles ;
forming part of the chain of communication between the Erie canal, and the Sus
quehanna river. A navigable feeder, taken from the Chemung river, at Knoxville,
runs 16 miles, to the summit level, at Horseheads, making with the main canal 39
miles of navigation. It has 52 lift locks, 1 guard lock, which connects the feeder
with the Chemung river, at the Chimney Narrows. The locks are of wood. Lock
age on the main line 488 feet, on the feeder 28 feet, whole lockage 516 feet.
There are; three aqueducts, 5 culverts, and 76 bridges on the line. The distance
from Elmira to Albany, by the way of this canal, Seneca lake, Cayuga and Se
neca, and Erie canals, is 326 miles— by direct route, 194 miles.
NAMES OF PLACES. DISTANCE FROM
Place to Seneca Elmira. Knoxville.
place. Lake.
Seneca Lake, --..-o 0 23 33
Havana,  4 4 19 29
Millport,  6 10 13 23
Horse Heads,  7 17 6 16
Elmira, -,* - 6 23 0 22
Knoxville,  22 33 22 0

$4 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
Feeder. — (Chemung Canal.)

NAMES OP PLACES.

DISTANCE FROM

Place to

Seneca Elmira. Knoxville.

place.

Lake.

Horse Heads, ....

- 0

17 6 16

Miller's Basin, - - - -

- 7

24 13 9

Dam at the head of Feeder,

- 7

31 20 2

Knoxville, ....

- 2

33 22 0

Canal from Lake to Elmira,

.

23 miles.

Feeder, - - - - -

-

16

DISTANCE

FROM

Mace to Seneca

Crooked

place. Lake.

Lake.

0 0

8

3 3

5

2 5

5

2 7

1

1 8

0

39
The Crooked Lake Canal.
6. The Crooked Lake canal from the foot of Crooked Lake, near Penn Yan, to
Dresden, on the Cayuga lake, has a length of 8 miles, and 269 feet of lockage,
overcome by 27 wooden locks. There are upon it, 1 guard lock, 3 culverts, 1
waste weir, and 12 bridges. It forms with Crooked lake, which is 20 miles long,
with a branch of 7 miles, 35 miles of navigation.
NAMES OF PLACES.

Seneca Lake, (Dresden,)
Mallory's, ....
Andrews and Ways, - - -
Penn-Yan, - - - -
Crooked Lake, - - - -
The Chenango Canal.
7. An act of the legislature, February, 1833, authorised the construction of the
Chenango canal ; to extend from the Erie canal, in Oneida county, to the Susque
hanna river, at Binghamton, Broome county. Length, about 97 miles: — Com
mencing at the city of Utica, passing through the valleys of the Oriskany and
Sauquoit creeks, and Chenango river, and by the towns and villages of New
Hartford, Clinton, Madison, Hamilton, Sherburne, Norwich, Oxford, Greene and
Chenango Forks, and terminating at Binghamton, in the Susquehannah river.
Elevation from the Erie canal to the summit level, 706 feet.
Descent thence to the Susquehanna river, 303
Total lockage, 1,009
Estimated cost in 1828, $ 944,775 36; in 1835, $ 1,960, 456 28; and in 1836,
$ 1,976,821, exclusive of damages.
During the season of 1833, surveys of different routes were made from Sher
burne, a few miles south of the summit level, north to the Erie canal and a pre
ference given to the route terminating at Whitesborongh. The legislature, how
ever, by an act passed in March, 1834, have decided to change it to Utica. On
this part of the canal there will be 87 locks and 4 aqueducts ; and it is proposed
to construct the locks with wooden chambers, supported by a dry wall of stone
masonry on the sides, excepting about eight feet below the upper gates. Some of
the locks are to be of stone. The plan adopted for making this canal, and its dif
ferent structures, will increase its aggregate cost beyond the sum for which a ca
nal less substantial might have been constructed; but it is the opinion of the ca
nal commissioners that it will prove the cheapest and most useful, requiring less
expense for repairs.
The work for the whole line of the canal is, with some unimportant sections, all
under contract, and the distances and estimates, according to the surveys made
under direction of the canal commissioners, are as follows: —
Miles. Chains. Estimated Cost.
Utica to Sherburne, 40 45 $ 1,045,650 70
* Sherburne to Greene, 34 70 525,182 91
Greene to Binghamton, 21 48 389,622 67
Total 97 03 $ 1,960,456 28

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. 85
To supply the summit level of the canal with water, it is proposed to construct
six reservoirs, having a total area of 988 acres, to be filled partly from brooks and
ponds, and partly from rain water. Mr. Jervis, the engineer, assumes one fifth of
the falling (rain) water as the quantity which reaches the reservoirs when passing
over a tight and uncultivated soil. These reservoirs, it is estimated, will furnish
about 492 millions cubic feet of water for the canal. From Sherburne to Bing
hamton, an abundant supply of water can be obtained by feeders from the Che
nango river.
Many of the contractors have made considerable progress, and the 15th October,
1836, is the time stipulated for the completion of the work.
The Oswego, Cayuga and Seneca, Crooked Lake, Chemung, and Chenango
canals, have been constructed, by funds specially borrowed for each: except that,
the proceeds of certain lands at Salina, belonging to the state, were assigned to
the first. In 1835, the debt on account of these canals, at 5 per cent interest,
was for The Oswego Canal, .... g 427,347
Cayuga and Seneca, .... 237,000
Chemung, .... 316,000
Crooked Lake, .... 120,000
Chenango, .... 1,000,000
2,100,347
From the Chenango canal, yet unfinished, there is of course no revenue. And
that derived from the others, is insufficient to pay the expenses of maintenance
and the interest upon the loans. The deficiency is a charge upon the general fund,
or in other words, upon the common treasury.
The aggregate amount, paid from the general fund, during the six years pre
ceding 1836, was for the
Oswego Canal, in 6 years, $ 84,608 14
Cayuga and Seneca, 6 years, ... 47,988 96
Chemung, 3 years, - - - 123,676 09
Crooked Lake, 3 years, - - - 37,833 50
294,111 69
The estimate of the deficiencies for 1836, was about $ 69,000.
This view has induced an inference, that the lateral canals are a dead weight
upon the treasury, and the corollary, that it is unwise to extend the system of
ramification. But to a correct conclusion on this point, it is indispensable to
know, what proportion" of the income of the Erie canal, is derived from the arti
cles supplied by the lateral canals; for if the toll, on such articles, upon the Erie
canal, with that on the lateral canals, be greater than the cost of maintaining the
latter, it is certain, that, they are actually a source of gain. Such would seem to
be the true view of the case, since, in the year 1835, the tolls of the Erie canal,
on lumber alone, the greatest part of which would never have reached the Erie
canal, but for these lateral canals, viz. the Chemung, the Oswego and Crooked
Lake canals, amounted, to $ 81,774 28
Whilst the deficiency of tolls on the lateral canals, to pay the
expenses, of maintenance, interest included, was 41,113 89
So that tbe actual gain of the state, from these lateral canals, was $ 40.660 48
In this statement the Cayuga and Seneca canal is not included.
To the profit, caused by the lateral canals, should be added, the large tolls on
flour, wheat and ashes, and the return merchandise. And the Oswego canal should
be credited by the state, for the cordwood which it floats to sustain the salt works
at Syracuse and Salina.

RECEIVED.

a-"- *
w»¦« -• P c
= 3g
»I'E
Hi
• a «

3 art?
Is!O m «>
3 m na
S°S
" &S-
° -.-
a K»

|Year.

To 30th do.do.do.do.

1817
1818 J 819
1820
182116-2218-23 1824
1825
1826 1827
1828 182'J
1830
Sept. 1831
183218331834
1835

Availsof loans ex- Premiums
elusive of prem. on loans.

200 000 00
• 200,000 00
400,000 00
693,500 00
1,400,000 00
1,344,906 25
*1,596,105 00
1,568,270 99
270,000 00

$7,672,782 24f

9,040" 00
7,885 00
23,517 50
50,760 00
47,827 75
1,609 50
82,729 01

2,200 00
44 486 72
119,988 08
289,320 58
521,343 94
839,925 02
849,032 07
786,236 64
763,527 91
990,842 96
700,788 27
1,059,006 36
1,317,258 33
1,305,573 14
1,395,306 26

Vendue duty.

72,061 41
145,943 02
111,319 04
122,653 07
121,195 97
146,485 59
181,814 36
196,424 73
253,452 38
203,737 84
265,290 65
221,686 40
215,385 18
179,681 02
155,901 66
250,424 02
181,014 23
169,337 04
211,037 24

$223,368 76 .$10,984,836 28 $3,404,844 85 $1,990,694 69 $73,509 99 $97,944 48

Salt Duty.

48 54. 67.
46. 65
102,

126.118157.
163. 98
179.
227. 160
118.

926 28
784 27
410 69
038 67
345 24
,416 37
221 64
,2X1 18
,222 75
272 59
030 58
,423 89
,160 58
421 55
703 91
096 46
,860 05
782 98
864 92

Steamboat Tax.

16,509 93
18,902 70
16,412 44
6,684 92
5,000 00
5,000 00
5,000 00

Sales of
Lands.

13

2,371 30
483 37
3,826 41
,522 32
911 67
,868 17
,223 45
934 43
,441 03
,362 83

Int. on invtst-
ments of surplus

Rent of sur
plus waters.

4,515 40
9,487
17,957 30
26,173 80
39.600 17
46,256 20
104,369 15
140,319 90
121,174 64
158,177 19

$668,031 81

680 00
1,467 00
1,956 00
1,639 18
1,135 50
398 00
5,438 50
1,307 50

$14,021 68

Other re-
ceipts.

5,060 00
3,678 00

677 50
1,074 69
6,549 25
8,278 56
400 00

$25,718 00

Total.

291,497
427,729
590,027 917,072
1,625,5011,654,122
2,006,7382,235,956 1,118,390
1,131,934 1,279,3471,145,7711,178,4031,377,171
1,027,2021,596,517 1,875,6651,765,1471,911,555

6299 17
16
2168
58
4937
2267
2329
24
III!4450

PAID.

$25,155,752 59

Year.

1817181818l9 1820182118221823
182418251826
1827 182818291830
To 30th Sept. 1831
do. 1832
do. 1833
do. jt 1834
do.#' 1835

Canal Com
missioners.

200,000 00
466,900 00
587,467 09
668,900 00
1,120,500 00
1,955,012 23
1,784,102 61
1,275,543 82
990,537 84
403,255 91
153,551 67
92,310 92
48,698 21
18,255 81
11,377 68
33,890 81
35,264 66
15,006 17
52.109 05

Interest W-I. Lock Naviga- Notes of Miscellaneous Superintend* Extinguish.
tion'Company. M. Holley. payments, entsof repairs, ment of debt.

6,000 00
16,250 00
38,836 64
70,927 27
123,672 55
190,948 50
209,297 13
442,041 40
409,884 24
414,994 11
399,275 49
397,592 60
387,035 64
379,695 99
284,615 10
379,486 80
356,794 88
278,173 26
260,959 08

$9,911,684 48 $5,046,478 S8

152,718

52

$153,718 52 $17,155 91

15,808 58
1,347 33

200 00
158 37
167 37
232 86
2,707 95
1,787 50
484 80
194 44
313 04
401 90
25,083 16
26,757 31
15,216 28
15,200 24
4,524 06
13,335 54
39,189 38
9,739 20
8,621 41

$164,314 SI

124
284 215
234 211 156333,
330. 423
403.

,652 51
,654 16
,809 25
,504 21
044 19
553 66
,786 05
759 44
517 10
473 90

$2,718,754 47

270,000 00
94,615 00
21,000 00
333,942 99
30,977 14

1,566,310 03
638,830 06
784,160 58

83,737,835 80

Total.

206,200 00
483,308 37
626,471 10
892,778 65
1,1,246,880 50
2,147,748 23
1 1,993,884 54
1,717,779 66
1,416,543 70
1,214,651 76
957,179 48
753,470 28
1,019,397 33
655,173 37
457,070 50
759,499 20
2,328,318 39
1,365,265 79
1,507,322 02

$21,748,942 87
$3,406,809 72

00

£*<

s3

O (Ti
V,
^S
a
MS.
V
>
g & >
t*
a.
to _.
O
50
S»w
< Q
?0
S'S?
H
3
O
3
2
(B)

22. — Description, Cost, Tolls, &c. afthe various Canals in the State of New York.

Dimensions.

1 ».<DP.mO
O

o o
El

P3mQD

1

-o

Names of Canals*

« aaoc
'5 So
£j n

<0 rj,
<*- a
•B e
qta
>4&

bx,
a
-3 boo,
B<£
¦,3 o

0)o
a p.

s
a J,
¦-* O
A

•i oo6
25

o
o oB&
hi

DO
¦3 Oo

fSeS a
'3 Sao a,bo
o

-a a B
t3 .
0) 03
<2 3
s S
bo o
j: oo

03
1
-a o0)
¦a 6

•a a><u
13, soua
&

0ID
"o 0
s OseS
"3 0
Eh

Erie, ... .
Champlain, 
Glenn's Falls feeder, .
Side cut at Waterford,
River navigation above Troy dam,
Cayuga and Seneca, .
Crooked Lake, . .

363 64
*38 21 23 8
97
108 43
101

8
12 32
16
22

371
N 38
23 39 8

4444
4
4 4
,4 4476
4

404030
40 404042
4242
36 75
5032

84
21 5g
13 31
1411
53 27
109no 14 lg.
24 locks
23 plains

9097
9797
130 909090909076
110
P5

15141414
22 1515 15 1515 9
24 9

689 163$
' 123* 73
488269

132 35 9 7
28

no. 4 4900
1 800
'l 1200
8 5667
1 630
1 50
1
5

1825 182418291824 182818281833
1833 1828 1834 1832

$19,255 49
I 15,520 95
14,879 93
10,295 85
8,504 96
19,597 11
20,210 87
20,665 00
37,417 91
19,703 19

$7,143,789 86
] 1,257,604 26
565,437 35
236,804 74
331,693 57
156,776 90

$1,290,136 20
132,559 02
22,950 47
17,174 69
694 00
200 84

$1,179,744 97
115,211 89
22,168 02
18,130 43
3,378 05
1,473 40

1.10,535,613 19
105,708 08
83,029 55
4,072 05
1,674 24

Totals,

558

1805$

211

$9,692,106 68

$1,463,715 22

$1,340,106 79! $10,730,097 11

Chenango, ,. .
Constructed by incorporated Cos.
Delaware and Hudson,
Delaware and Raritan,
Feeder to said canal, .
Morris canal, ....

97
108
I «{
101

10211073
<116j 10$
223
i 1334

1-

1,960,456 28
2,231,820 00
2,500,000 00
1,990,007 00

5S B
fS > S>O«! B
B3?3
00 -3
S.A3— a p
s» s g
« a . ..
A p

H £ i> PrffwisioBs.
"-. No. C
1. On flour, salted beef and pork, butter and
cheese, beer and cider, per 1000 pounds per mile,
2. On bran and ship stalls in bulk, per 1000 pounds
per mile, Iron, Minerals, Ores, fyc.
3. On salt manufactured in this state, per 1000
pounds per mile,
4. On foreign salt, per 1000 pounds per.mile,
5. On gypsum, the product of this state, per 1000
pounds per mile,
6. On foreign gypsum, per 1000 pounds per mile,
7. On brick, sand, lime, clay, earth, leached ashes,
manure and iron ore, per 1000 pounds per mile.
On pot and pearl ashes, kelp, mineral coal, char
coal, pig iron, broken castings and scrap iron,
per 1000 pounds per mile,
9. On stove and all other iron castings, per 1000
pounds per mile,
. 10. On copperas and manganese, going towards tide
water, per 1000 pounds per mile.
11. On bar and pig lead, going towards tide water,
per 1000 pounds per mile,
Furs> Peltry, Skins, fyc.
12. Oh furs and peltry, (except deer, buffalo and
moose skins,) per 1000 pounds per mile,
13. On deer, buffalo and moose skins, per 1000
pounds per mile,
14. On sheep skins and other raw hides of domestic
animals of the United States, per 1000 pounds
per mile,
' 15. On imported raw hides of domestic and other
animals, per 1000 pounds per mile,
Furniture, fyc.
16. On household furniture, accompanied by, and
actually belonging to, families emigrating, per
1000 pounds per mile,
17. On carts, wagons, sleighs, ploughs and mecha
nic's tools, necessary^for the owner's individual
use, when accompanied by the owner, emigrat
ing for the purpose of settlement, per 1000
pounds per mile, Stone, Slate, #c.
18. On slate and tile for roofing, and stone ware,
per lfiOO pounds per mile,
'. 19. On alTstone, wrought or unwrought, per 1000
pounds per mile,

£b

s.

m.

fr.

No
20.

0

4

5

21.

0

4

5

22.-

0

2

3

3

0

0

0

2

3

0

4

5

0
2
3
23.24.
0
4
5
0
4
5
25.
0
4
5
26.
0
4
5
27.
28.
1
4
0
29.
0
5
0
30.31.
0
4
3
0
5
0
32.33.
0
4
5
34.
35.
0
4
5
36.
0
4
5
37.
0
2
3
23.— CANAL TOLLS FOE 1836.
Lumber, Wood, S;c. Cts. m. fr.
On timber, squared and round, per 100 cubic
feet per mile, if carried in boats, 0 5 0
On the same, if carried in rafts per 100 cubic
feet per mile, 15 0
—1st On boards, plank, scantling, and sawed
timber, reduced to inch measure, and all sid
ing lath', and other sawed stuff, less than one
inch thick, carried in boats, (except such as
is ennmerated in regulations number 24 and
33), per 1000 feet per mile, 0 5 0
2d — On mahogany, (except veneering), reduced
to inch measure, per 1000 feet per mile, 15 0
On the same, if transported in rafts per 1000
feet per mile, 2 0 0
On sawed lath of less than five feet in length,
split lath, hoop poles, hand spikes, rowing oars
and broom handles, per 1000 pounds per mile, 0 2 0
On staves and heading, transported in boats,
per 1000 pounds per mile. 0 2 0
On the same, if transported in rafts, per 1000
pounds per mile, 0 5 0
On shingles per M. per mile, carried in boats, 0 10
On the same, if conveyed in rafts, per M. per
mile, 0 4 0
On split posts, and rails for fencing, per M. per
, mile, carried in boats, 2 0 0
On the same, if conveyed in rafts, per M. per
mile, 8 0 0
On wood for fuel, (except such as may be used
in the manufacture of salt, which shall be
exempt from toll,) and tan bark per cord per
mile, 10 0
On the same, if transported in rafts, per cord
per mile, 2 0 0
On Bawed stuff for window blinds, not exceed-
ing oue fourth of an inch in thickness per 1000
pounds per mile, 0 5 0
Agricultural productions, ftc.
On cotton, per 1000 pounds per mile, 0 4 5
On live cattle, sheep and hogs, per 1000 lbs. per
mile, 0 4 5
On horses, (and each horse when not weighed,
to be computed at 900 pounds,) per 1000 pounds
per mile, 0 5 0
On rags, per 1000 pounds per mile, 0 4 5
Agricultural productions, 8;c.
No. Cts.m.fr.
38. On hemp and unmanufactured tobacco.per 1000
pounds per mile, 0 4 5
39. On wheat and all other agricultural produc
tions ofthe United States, not particularly spe
cified, and not being merchandise, per 1000
pounds per mile, 0 4 5
40. On merchandise, 0 9 0
Articles not enumerated.
41. On all articles not ennmerated or excepted,
passing from tide water, per 1000 pounds per
mile,
42. On all articles not enumerated or excepted,
passing towards tide water, per 1000 lbs. per
mile, Boats and Passengers.
43. On boats, used chiefly for the transportation of
persons, and navigatingthe Erie canal between
Schenectady and Utica per mile, 15
44. On boats, used chiefly for the transportation of
persons, and navigating the Erie canal west of
Utica, per mile.
45. On boats, used chiefly for the transportation
of persons, and navigating the Champlain, or
Champlain and Junction canal per mile.-
46. On boats, used chiefly for the transportation of
persons, and navigating the Oswego canal, per
mile,
47. On boats, used chiefly for the transportation of
persons, and navigating the Cayuga and Sene
ca canal, and the lateral canal to East Cayuga
village, or either of them, per mile.
On boats, used chiefly for the transportation of
persons, navigating the Junction canal, and
not connected with regular lines of boats for
the transportation of persons on the Erie or
Champlain canals,- per mile, 50 0 0
On boats, used chiefly for the transportation of
property, per mile, 2 0 0
50. On each person over eight years of age, trans
ported in a boat used chiefly for the transpor
tation of persons, per mile, 0 2 0
51. On each person over twelve years of age, trans
ported in a boat used chiefly for the transpor
tation of property, per mile, 0 2 0
00
CO
0 9 0
0 4 5
0 0
8 0 0
6 0 0
8 0 0
6 0 0
oB
2B
S >sUlOS>»— ,
?0 HO55
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

8ft

(D)
Articles which came to the Hudson river on both canals in 1834, as well as the quan
tity and the estimated value of each article in market, viz:

ARTICLES.

Quantity.

Tons of
2,000 lbs.

Total value in
market.

Flour,

bar.

979,520

105,787

$4,897,600

Wheat, ' -

bus.

822,195

24,665

822,195

Coarse grain,

u

" 651,548

14,659

325,774

Bran and ship stuffs,

tt

323,558

2,911

40,445

Cheese,

lbs.

6,345,704

3,172

444,199

Butter and lard,

tl

3,626,441

1,813

362,644

Peas and beans,

bus.

15,780

473

15,780

Potatoes,

(t

20,534

513

5,133

Flaxseed

lbs.

1,899,446

> 949

56,982

Clover and grass seed.

14

1,125,034

562

78,750

Provisions,

bar.

41,613

6,241

332,904

Salt,

14

11,378

1,707

17,067

Ashes,

*'

28,202

7,050

564,040

Wool,

lbs.

992,860

497

446,787

Tobacco,

(4

1,740,649

871

87,032

Hemp,

44

68,681

34

6,868

Stone, lime, &c,

fl

37,246,683

18,623

50,000

Iron ware,

m 14

1,301,722

650

/>• 65,000

Boards and scantling

feet

107,747,903

181,016

-' 1,292,964

Timber, cubic,

- - - •*

1,440,515

28,810"

• 172,861

Staves,

lbs.

55,351,800

32,676

1,107,036

Wood,

cords

34,515

96,642

172,575

Shingles,

M.

34,045

5,719

68,090

Domestic spirits,

galls.

1,225,696

5,515

306,424

Beer,

bbls.

349

52

2,094

Cider,

tt

105

15

315

Apples,

t*

1,544

193

2,546

Dried fruit, •

lbs.

156,244

78

3,000

Pig iron,

tt

132,513

67

2,680

Lead,

U

1,000

70

Sundries,

tt

21,095,095

10,547

1,000,000

Merchandise,

¦ . . •*

584,518

292

87,600

Furniture,

**

581,447

291

51,798

Furs and peltry,

U

474,483

237

474,483

Hops,

11

270,765

135

40,614

¦Gypsum,

• ¦* - "

86,900

43

215

Charcoal,

*lt

183,000

91

457

Total,

$13,405,022

12

(E)

Statement of the principal articles passing Utica on the Erie canal, both ways, from 1821 to 1834, both years inclu

ARTICLES.

Flour,
Provisions,
Salt, Ashes,Oil,
Water cement,
Wheat,Coarse grain,
Flaxseed,
Feae and Beans, .
Grass seed, - tons,
Wool,
Cheese,Butter and Lard
Hops,
Furs and Peltry,
Cypsum, Stone,
Bran and Shorts,
Pig iron, .
Household goods,
Merchandise,Glass,
Domestic spirits,
Boards and scantling,
Timber, cubic,
Staves,
Shingles,Wood,

barrels. do do
do do
do
bushels. dodo do
2,000 lbs
dododo
dododo
dododo
do boxes,
gallons, feet, do
M.
cords,

1821.
94 miles
navigable.

44,723 5,543
17,068 4,472 153
43,078 8,200

70
2,8002,481
67,273
1,061,844 48,981 923

1822. «
116 miles
navigable.

114,512 9,495
17,666 4,872 366
98^174 14,800

1111
154

5,1734,552
194,398
1,435,225 111,627

1,161

1823.
160 miles
navigable.

120,742 8,133
18,419 7,643 618
14,167
128,703 5,943

2029
¦75 16
1,027

8,061 6,315
132,154
2,229,000 72,201 1,950 750

18-J4.
280 miles
navigable.

151,718 19,140
40,73528,251 1,537
5,573
273,551 7,947

426 142116

996
22,146 5,662
349,765
3,477,774 34,357
1,899,000 1,161

1825.
333 miles
navigable

237,124 18,741
42,808
24,001 1,186
9,602
547,497 29,181 2,755

114369
607248 150
8,903

1,353
25,259 13,307
409,768
8,667,343 521,550
7,721,000 2,793

1826.
363 miles
navigable

372,149 30,658
55,19936,155 789
9,660
1,292,996 213,059 337
12,538 139 100
353
922 87
137
5,-4,025 97
1,0451,541
23,986 15,137
1,162,528
15,795,395 150,112
8,577,482 6,176
2,212

1827.
363 miles
navigable

1828.
363 miles
navigable

422,321

348,565

54,123

61,350

36,713

62,921

20,159

16,259

152

427

8,612

7,299

1,290,552

554,768

185,534

122,896

1,050

614

5,262

8,170

131

157

139

325

405

592

967

1,181

411

237

93

96

2,068

1,041

8,701

17,087

L615

2J834

27,372

37,338

2,170,077

3,504,524

16,228,322

22,066,603

160,483

242,833

4,684,882

11,006,100

8,780

36,582

6,207

1829.
363 miles
navigable

346,277 31,26067,517
28,179 9^940
585,012 324,848 8J941 'l91 531
1,111 144 98
1,384
4,359 590
2/732
40,081
i,748,'l48
17,665,424 161,521
5,687,810 25,646

1830.
363 miles
navigable.

532,464 36,98275,10:2
34,752 11,'i
714,406237,147

5,724 253862
1,108 185
141
2,414 3,935

3,306
44,965
1,812,918
21,257,490 262,453
6,009,000 2,0,786

1831.
363 miles
navigable.

609,254 31,448
69,75428,437

411,424 183,938 2^413 .677 513839
1,356 74
165
4,0418,5442,460 766
3,608
61,020
1,472,685
31,132,086 691,225
8,586,237 28,819 2,927

1832. 1833.
363 miles 363 miles
navigable, navigable.

634,497j 'r967,813
42,216l 27,919
66,651 1 -62,860
28,810! 29,508
'¦ | ' 15^357
645,340 1,175,423
160,677 302,578

15,072 641 3ti0
617
1,774 169 100
4,0363,994
' 1,450 921
3,839
58,063
1,537,680
31,354,027 851,022
7,341,018 50,453 3,1

8,260
, 730
?- 583
- 928
•2,277 ¦ 222
' 134
9,375 4,402 905
3,797
78,678

1,609,612
40,804,371 1,738,255 9,264,523 55,287 i,"-

1834.
363 miles
navigable.

1,157,059 39,888
70,060 30,502 6,105
1,197,304 402,216 29,486 1,072 556
1,586
2,249 243 199
5,307
• 8,304 174
1,003
5,336
70,372
1,461,051
38,290,991 1,522,637
10,416,705 41,061 5,383

0B
55BSO
>Fa
B
.OB e
I o55

Note.— Where there are blanks opposite articles the quantities have not been ascertained.

Articles ascendingthe Erie andChampMn canals from tide water, from 189* to 1884, both years inclusive.

ARTICLES.

Merchandise,
Household furniture,
Sundries,Gypsum,
Clay and brick,
Cotton Salt,Flour, Beef and pork,
Wheat,
Coal, .

tons, do dodododo
barrels, do
do
bushels, tons,

1824.

27,410 3,720 1,255
7,005

1825.

30,714 861265
1,089 509

1826.

31,437 1,103 575 '
479 492
9,234

1828.

*54,278

166178
8,682

1829.

47,368 654648168155
14,511

1830.

63,929 1,096
1,437 73
88 3
14,113

1831.

77,930 1,292
3,643 688
313 27
12,208

1833.

\ 1834.

99,848 1,338 5,735

328
15,896
65,418 4,236

86,814 1,231;
1,029 828562377
12,09642,707 2,495
43,354 1,102

Number of boats cleared at Albany,
Do do Troy, /

-

-

-

7,239
4,592

6,387
4,358

6,856
5,081

7,673
5,768

8,932 6,798

9,277 6,942

Total number of boats cleared from tide water,
Add same number arrived, -

-

-

-

11,83111,831

10,74510,745

11,937 11,937

13,441
13,441

15,730 15,730

16,219
16,219

Total arrived and cleared,

8,760

13,110

23,662 | -21,490

23,874

26,882

31,460

32,438

Number of lockages at Alexander's lock, west
of Schenectady, on the Erie canal, " -

6,166

10,985

15,1 56

14,579

12,619

14,674

16,284

20,649

22,911

For 1827 and 1832, the returns are deficient. * Includes household furniture, &c.

SBh» SB>
3 1wo a
g a
•2 H

«o

92

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

(G)
Statement of property arriving at Buffalo from the east, on the Eric canal, in each
year, from 1829 to 1834.

ARTICLES.

1829.

1830.

1831.

1832.

1833.

1834.

Mdze. for this State, tons,
do. destined out of this State, do
Furniture & mechanics' tools, do
Foreign hides, . . do
Sundries, ... do
Salt, . . . . bbls.

2,270 4,881 935 470
65,431

2,972 6,061 1,832 389
75,370

4,6209,435
2,849 275
74,064

4,351 8,780
2,918 163
251
61,335

6,451
14,341 4,257 180
536
70,929

6,628
17,401 4,149 860
84,101

Statement of property cleared at Buffalo and passing east, on the Erie canal, from
1829 to 1834, both years inclusive.

ARTICLES.

1829.

1830.

1831.

1832.

1833.

1834.

Flour

barrels,

' 4,335

31,810

62,968

21,932

78,666

79,324

Provisions,

do

4.754

6,675

5,668

5,159

4,273

14,590

Oil,

do

214

802

1,420

44

43

221

Wheat,

bushels,

3,640

149,219

186,148

100,761

114,337

111,798

Ashes,

tons,

1,705

2,713

2,502

2,110

2,118

1,655

Tobacco,

do

32

f2

222

386

535

1,009

Hemp,

do

22

20

70

29

17

5

Pig iron,

do

235

419

409

760

1,167

1,128

Castings,

do

241

422

468

757

689

Household furnit

urc, do

42

58

69

88

134

145

Furs,

do

86

82

96

107

101

154

Lumber,

feet,

311,256

136,499

184,639

251,504

331,140

439,643

Staves,

M.

510

464

568

523

699

2,400

Fish,

barrels,

851

150

276

279

346

Whiskey,

do

149

4,182

3,750

2,208

2,485

1,347

Butter,

tons,

70

174

205

394

449

119

Cheese,

do

68

122

127

74

95

138

Wool,

do

*

, .

66

22

75

73

Deer skins and r

aw hides, do

110
141
Grind-stones,
do
35
39
124
110
139
126
Lead,
do
. .
41
9
1 . .
• •
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.
(H)

93

Statement of property cleared at Whitehall towards tide water, on the Champlain
, canal, from 1823 to 1834.

ARTICLES.

1823.

'. 1828.

1829.

1831.

1833.

1834.

Ashes,

barrels,

370

1,195

478

1,553

Black lead,

pounds,

3,840

10,000

.
22,000
Butter and cheese,
do
,. 27,776
38,527
954,000
i,352,000
1,322,000
1,954 000
Beef and pork,
barrels,
660
1,173
3.865
4,599
6,079
Copperas,
tons,
110
172
539
210
Castings,
do
' 3
7
44
20
59
139
Cotton, manufactured,
do
19
88
Furniture,
do
' 10
242
98
211
.
501
Fur and peltry,
do
58
6
14
15
,17
8J
Glass,
boxes,
3
5,244
6,000
5,833
13,788
18,004
Hoop poles, .
tons,
324
73
620
85
788
Hides,
do
6
26
Iron, nails, &c.
do
153
1^341
1,232
, L803
2,043
' 2,631
Iron, pig.
do
52
"47
- 1
b~"
Iron ore,
do
101
115
291
*830
Marble,
do
44
360
505
394
708
1,167
Manganese, -
Merchandise,
do
50
166
313
304
do
e
110
448
17
Paper and books,
do
. • .
13
12
' 98
129
Sundries,
do
230
' 50
132
128
Starch,
do
t
66
30
Staves and heading,
numbers,
21,000
19,040
' 124^200
107,000
¦- 140,000
Wool,
pounds,
!),660
342,720
254,000
580,000
432,000
252,000.
Sawed lumber,
feet,
22,426,067
68,945,725
48,675,692
51,017,705
70,347.099
77,863,247
Shingles,
M.
2,801)
8,815
9,440
3,346
4,855
' 4,230
Timber,
c'bic ft.
1,179,515
1,460,443
1,046,630
539,704
1,190,908
990,969
Wood,
cords,
,
535
1,097
2,412
4,532
5,066
Whiskey,
bbls.
300
585
504
* Clay, sand, &c. included.
Statement of property arriving at Whitehall from tide water, on the Champlain canal,
from 1829 to 1834.
ARTICLES.
1829.
1830.
1831.
1833.
1834.
Agricultural productions,
pounds,
' 317,722
919,758
152,811
Buffalo robes,
do
16,000
40,000
19,986
4,983
Brick , sa nd, clay, stone, Su
. tons,
357
309
231
323
522
Beef and pork,
barrels,
1,493
4,288
5,158
5,526
Coal,
tons,
40
226
488
423
Cotton,
do
33
59
114
88
110
Flour,
barrels
5,064
*2,886
14,896
66,498
61,247
Furniture, •
tons.
94
63
51
15
58
Hogs,
Hides,
do
298
66
80
do
98
738
132
81
Merchandise,
do
6,661
8,304
8,738
8,205
7,265
Plaster, Nova Scotia,
do
34
137
58]
273
* do Western,
do
48
252
193
-*-. 360
115
Pig iron,
do
15
23
286
113
Salt, foreign,
bushels,
,
4,649
7,345
7,526
do Onondaga
do
138,045
124,941
100,914
105,610
123,337
Wheat,
do
20,406
Tallow,
pounds,
265,320
353,565
310,855
190,215
268,568
For the years previous to 1829, as well as for the year 1833, the returns are defective.
* Tons of beef, pork, and flour.
94

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

In table B, we have included, the Delaware and Hudson, the Morris, and the
Delaware and Raritan canals. They are almost as much the creation of New
York, as those wholly within her limits, having been made with a view to the
commerce of the state and in a great measure by New York capital. For these
reasons we also give a particular description of them.
The following table, shows the quantity of the principal articles cleared on the
several canals, in 1835.

.

Timber

Lumber

Staves

Flour

Wheat

Coarse grain
bushels.

Butter

Beef
pork bbls.

Wool

cubic ft.

feet.

number.

barrels.

bushels.

pounds.

pounds.

Erie,

854,142

39,042,852

19,366,710

933,837

1,773,599

883,120

4,669,076

31,946

1,636,539

Champlain,

1,478,335

113,699,312

210,443

39,539

6,640

60,387

1,028,385

7,404

399,887

Oswego,

348,806

20,019,186

1,957,939

130,621

61,895

11,559

704,156

1,481

70,714

Cayuga a} Seneca,

805,311

9,337,513

526,878

141,386

475,358

141,949

904,226

6,049

242,099

Chemung,

100,868

15,624,593

1,884,207

1,365

18,258

3,793

90,621

4

3,644

Crooked Lake,

731,265

3,386,414

990,414

20,537

76,623

9,580

196,590

1,356

110,564

Total cleared,

4,321,727

201,109,817

34,926,591

1,267,275

2,402,373

1,110,379

7,613,054

48,240

2,463,447

Of these articles,

there arrived at
'«
-. ¦
*
tide water.
1,596,796 185,241,073
the whole
999,125
107,905
916,998
5,9,49,800
36,976
1,731,372
The quantity of merchandise, pigs, castings and furniture, sent from tide water
and of salt, to and from tide water, was, on
Salt
barrels.
176,801
Erie,Champlain, .
Oswego,
Cayuga and Seneca,
Chemung,
Crooked Lake,
19,347
137,215 23,806 11,126 4,782
Merchandise tons.
47,188 9,033
10,548 7,296 1,7991,725
Furniture Pigs & castings
tons.
4,933 176
459 195 55
60
Total left, 373,078
Amount sent to other states, 180,240
Of the salt, 109,728 barrels, were sent to
10,976 barrels, by Whitehall, to Vermont; and
The quantity of merchandise and furniture,
5,500 228
77,589 5,878
28,732 4,679
other states by way of Oswego;
59,538 barrels, by way of Buffalo.
sent to other states; to
Merchandise pounds.
2,763
58,846
333,766 59,831 95,768
1,392,319
13,254,289 3,254, 986
3,320,718
14,239,879 918,915
9,975,459
8,679,509 1,878,216
Furniture pounds.
Virginia, Missouri,Tennessee, Alabama, Upper Canada,
Pennsylvania, Michigan,
Indiana,Illinois, Ohio,
Kentucky, All the above went from Buffal
Via Oswego to other states,
" Whitehall to Vermont,
" " to L. Canada,
Total, .... 57,465,244 9,358,407 -,,
" In addition to the above, considerable quantities of merchandise have been sent
to Pennsylvania through the Chemung and Crooked Lake canals, by way of El
mira and Hammond's Port.
"The increase of merchandise going from Buffalo to other states, comparing 1835
with the preceding year, is 1065 totisjthe increase of merchandise shipped from
Oswego to the upper Lakes is 3170 tons; total increase of merchandise" going to
* Cheese, lbs. 11,644,978. Arrived at tide water, 9,587,072.
18,425 8,470
122,679 128,834198,236 136,403
945,263
3,733,959 57,580
8,468
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. 95
the western states, 4235 tons. This is 816 tons more than the increase stated in
the report of the preceding year.
" There was an increase in the whole amount of merchandise received on the
canal at Buffalo of 5686 tons; the increase on the whole quantity received at Oswe
go by the canal, was 4251 tons. Total increase at Buffalo and Oswego 9937 tons.
"The products from other states were: 11,000,000 feet of lumber, 57,341 gallons
domestic spirits, 101,640 staves, 21,162 bushels coarse grain, 5,224 barrels of
provisions, 648 barrels ashes, 1073 cords wood, 278,735 pounds of wool, 1,582,115
pounds of butter and cheese, &c.,came from Vermont, by way of Whitehall. —
There came from Canada by way of Whitehall 6,222,000 feet of Lumber, and
587,250 cubic feet of timber, besides various other articles.
" There came from Ohio, by way of Buffalo, 86,233 barrels of flour, 98,071 bush
els of wheat, 2,565,272 staves, 14,579 bushels of coarse grain, 6562 barrels of
provisions, 4,410 do. ashes, 70,346 pounds of clover and grass seed, 772,856 lbs. of
flaxseed, 140,911 lbs. of wool, 1,030,632 lbs. of butter, cheese and lard, 3,500,000
lbs. of tobacco, and 152,9-28 lbs. of iron ware, &c.
"In 1835, the quantity of merchandise going from tide water on the Erie and
Champlain canals, was as follows:
Cleared from Albany, ...... 66,615 tons
do. Troy,  34,250 "
do. Schenectady,  5,000 "
 105,865 ,
Household furniture and other articles cleared at the above places 23,045 *
Total tonnage from tide water,  128,910
The quantity of articles of every description coming to tide water,
on both canals, is equal to ------ 753,191 tons
Add ascending tonnage, --.--.. 128,910
Total tonnage ascending and descending, .... 882,101 tons
Increase from last year,
Ascending, ....... 14,302
Descending,  199,366 213,668 tons
The tonnage of the Champlain canal was as follows:
Ascending,  23,296 tons
Descending,  210,751'
Total on Champlain canal, ....... 234,047 tons
Deduct this from the total tonnage of both canals, and it leaves the tonnage of
the Erie canal at 648,054 tons: Being an increase from 1834, on the Erie canal, of
178,515 tons; on the Champlain canal 35,119 tons.
The tonnage coming to tide water is six times as great as that going from tide.
The usual proportion between ascending and descending freight has been estimated
in the ratio of 1 to 5. The descending tonnage has been augmented 127,000 tons
by the increase of lumber alone.
The following is a comparison of the tonnage on the canals in 1826 and 1835,
showing the increase in nine years, viz. 1826. 1835. Increase.
Ascending tonnage, . . . 35,435 128,910 93,475
Descending " ... 302,170 753,191 451,021
337,605 882,101 544,496
The value of products cominp- to market by the canals, is thus given
The products of land (wheat, flour, coarse grain, &c.)- $ 8,170 035
The products of animals (butter, cheese, provisions, wool,&c.) 3,237*390
Other agricultural products, . . . - . . . . 207*513
The products of the forest (timber, lumber, staves, shingles, wood, &c.) 4,77o'oi7
^es'  1.00M30
Iobacoo,»' „  357,514
* urs and peltry,  470,157

96 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
Merchandise  $ 625,755
All other articles,  1,685,635
$ 20,525,446
The total value of all articles coming to tide water in 1834,
was estimated at  14,000,000

Increase, $ 6,525,446
" Estimating the average price of merchandise at $250 per ton, gives an aggre
gate of 26 millions as the value of merchandise going from tide water. Of
this amount, 7 millions in value goes to other states. Extensive regions are sup
plied with merchandise through the canals, which do not send their products to
market by the same channel.
"The trade of the canals might be materially augmented by a reduction of the
toll on some articles below the constitutional minimum. Thus lead might be trans
ported in great quantities from the Galena mines through our canals to New York.
If a reduction could be made in the rates of toll on wood, large quantities could
be brought from lake Champlain. The revenue would be kept good by increased
tonnage, and the owner of the wood and the purchaser of fuel would be mutually
benefitted by the operation.
" The beneficial effects on revenue as well as trade, of cheapening transportation,
may be illustrated by a few examples. Previous to 1827, the toll on tobacco pre
vented its transportation through the Erie canal; in that year the toll was reduced
to the constitutional minimum. For 1828, there are no tables showing the quanti
ty of tobacco coming to market from the west; but in 1829, there came to tide wa
ter 32 tons— in 1830, 62 tons— in 1831, 222 tons— in 1832, 386 tons— in 1833,535
tons— in 1834, 1009 tons— and in 1835, 1750 tons.
^"In 1829, the toll on copperas was reduced to the constitutional minimum, on a
representation that the quantity produced in Vermont, which had previously been
carried to Boston by land, would by such reduction be transported to New York
through the Champlain canal. During the first season after the reduction, 110
tons of copperas were cleared at Whitehall, and this quantity has increased from
year to year, until in 1835, the quantity cleared was 693 tons.
" In 1829, on a petition from the millers of Rochester, the toll on bran and ship
stuff was reduced 50 per cent.; the result of which has been that the season after
the reduction was made, 590 tons came to tide water, and during 1835, 3592 tons
were transported on the canals, being worth in market $ 86,348.
" In the spring of 1833, the Ohio canal was opened from Cleveland to the Ohio
river, and in anticipation of this event, the canal board made a general reduction
in the rates of toll equal to an average of 20 per cent, on all commodities. And
in the summer of 1833, a meeting was held between a committee ofthe Ohio canal
commissioners and the canal board, at which it was agreed to reduce the tolls on
merchandise on the New York and Ohio canals 25 per cent; the reduction to take
effect in 1834. This arrangement was carried into effect by both parties. The re
duction on the New York canals in the two years referred to, on all articles com
ing from or going to the western states, was equal to 35| per cent. These reduc
tions were made with a view of enabling our merchants to send their goods through
the New York and Ohio canals, into the valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi; a
region from which they had been excluded through the route of the Erie canal,
previous to the opening of the Ohio canal. The tables now presented, exhibiting the
quantity of merchandise sent to other states, show the success which has attend
ed these efforts. Of the goods sent to Ohio, large quantities reach Cincinnatti,
Louisville, and other points on the Ohio river, and limited quantities are sent to
Missouri, Tennessee, and Alabama. "^
" During the last three years goods have been sent by the route of the Erie ca
nal to Huntsville, in the state of Alabama. The distance from the city of New ;
York to Huntsville, is as follows, viz:
From New York to Albany, on the river, . . . . 150 milgs
" Albany to Buffalo, by canal,  363
" Buffalo to Cleveland, by Lake, ..... 200
" Cleveland to Portsmouth, by canal, .... 309
" Portsmouth to Cincinatti, by Ohio river, .... 113

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

97

From Cincinnati to mouth of Tennessee river, .... 600 miles
" Up Tennessee river to Florence,  300
" Florence to Huntsville, by land,  75
2010 miles
"Of this distance, 672 miles are canal jnavigation; nn which the transportation
can be essentially cheapened, 1. By a reduction of tolls, and 2. By enlarging
and improving the canals. The improvement of the Erie canal, it is estimated,
will diminish tho cost of transportation on it 50 per cent. And it is quite proba
ble that a reduction of 50 per.cent. in the rates of toll, would produce such an in
crease of business, as not essentially to diminish the revenues of the canals.
" Goods for Nashville, Tennessee, follow the route before described to the mouth
of the Cumberland river, (13 miles above the Tennessee river) and then ascend
the Cumberland river about 200 miles to Nashville. It costs about $ 1 per 100 lbs.
more to transport goods to Nashville and Florence by the Erie canal, than from
New York to the same places coastwise and by New Orleans. The Erie route,
however, is much safer and is performed usually in 10 or 12 days less time than
the other route. These are reasons for giving a preference to the route through
the New York and Ohio canals, whenever they are open, notwithstanding the in
creased charge for transportation.
"The heavy products of the Mississippi and Ohio valleys naturally go down the
rivers to New Orleans; the transportation from Florence to New Orleans, 1200
miles, is only 50 cents per 100 lbs.
"On the route through the New Yoik and Ohio canals, there is a certain and
uninterrupted navigation from about the 15th of April to the close of November.
During the navigation season, business men can calculate upon the time of the ar
rival of their goods or products, through this route, with as much accuracy as upon
any of their ordinary business transactions. This advantage, with timely and
judicious reductions in the rates of toll, will enable our merchants to send great
quantities of merchandise into the valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi; and these
reductions of toll may be made without essentially diminishing the canal revenues.
"A reduction in the rates of toll might be desirable, from its beneficial influence
upon trade, even though the revenues of the state should be diminished by the
operation. The revenue from tolls is a minor interest, when compared with the
20 millions in value of products coming to market, the sale of 20 or 30 millions
of merchandise, and the benefit derived from the transportation of this property
upon the river, the canals and the lakes. Notwithstanding the great reduction
in the rates of toll heretofore made, the aggregate amount of revenue from the ca
nals, for 3 years since the reduction commenced, exceeds the amount received
for 3 years at the old rates, by the sum of more than one million of dollars.
" The following statement shows the amount of tolls received on the Erie and
Champlain canals for each of the 3 years immediately preceding and following
the general reduction in the rates of toll, viz:
In 1830, at the old rates of toll  $ 795,054 52
1831, ',' "  1,194,610 49
1832, " "  1,195,804 23

Total in three seasons,  $3,185,469 24
In 1833, (average reduction of tolls about 20 per cent,) . . $1,422,695 22
In 1834, (further average reduction of 15 per cent,) . . 1,294,956 86
In 1835, (reduction on lumber of 37, and on shingles 100, per ct.) 1,491,952 36
Total in 3 years, at reduced rates,  $4,209,604 44
Total in 3 years, at old rates,  3,185,469 24
Excess in 3 years at reduced rates,  $1,024,135 20
. " In the three last years the beneficial effects of the Ohio canal have been felt
which, with the great increase ofthe trade of the West, from other sources, could
not fail to produce an increase of the canal revenues.
" The tonnage which has been transported upon the canals for the last season of
navigation, at the rates of toll which existed in 1832, would have produced a leVe-

98 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
nue of at least two millions of dollars. It is quite certain, however, that tonnage
has increased with the decrease of tolls; and it is not probable that the business
on the canals, under the old rates of toll, would have increased to such an extent
as to have given a total amount of revenue greater than that which has been col
lected in the last three years. *
" The collector at Little Falls, kept a statement of the number of persons over
12 years of age, passing east or west, in boats other than packets. The statement
thus kept, shows the following result, viz:
Persons passing west on the canal, .... 49,872
" " east " .... 26,591
Total passengers on freight boats, .... 76,463
" The n umber of passengers on board of packet boats passing between Utica and
Schenectady, according to the monthly returns made by those boats, is 40,179 for
the whole season. This shows an aggregate number of persons passing between
Utica and Schenectady on the canal, of 116,642. No similar statement has here
tofore been kept with which this can be compared, and the increase shown.
"The whole number of clearances issued by the collectors on the several canals,
for the seasons of navigation in 1834 and 1835, is as follows viz:

1834.

1835. Increase.

Erie canal,

45,666

49,308—3,643

Champlain,

8,227

8,127—

Oswego,

6,867

7,763— 896

Cayuga and Seneca,

1,891

1,692—

Chemung,

1,247

1,802— 555

Crooked Lake,

896

1,075— 179

Total number of clearances, 64,794 69,767
"The lockages on the Erie canal, as given in the report ofthe Canal Commis
sioners, (commencing at the western termination ofthe canal) are as follow, viz:
Black Rock, (guard lock,)  11,206
No. 79, Lockport  10,925
No. 57, Geddes, 32 miles east of the point, where the Cayuga and Seneca
Chemung and Crooked lake canals intersect the Erie, . . 18,280
No. 56, Syracuse, and immediately east of the Junction of the Oswego
with the Erie canal,  22,258
No. 37, Fort Plain,  24,982
No. 27, Alexanders', west of Schenectady,  25,798
No. 11, Erie canal above the junction,  25,133
" The lockages at No. 11, on the Erie canal above the junction, exceed in num
ber the lockages at Lockport, by 14,208.
The lockages at No. 1, on the Champlain canal are . . . 11,969
Add lockages at No. 11, Erie canal,  25,133
Total number of lockages on both canals, .... 37,602
The clearances issued at Albany and Troy number 18,345. The arrival of boats
cleared would double this number, being 36,690. The difference between this
number and the lockages is more than made up by the cribs of timber which* ar
rive at the Hudson, and for which no clearances are issued at Albany or Troy."
Delaware and Hudson Canal.
25. The Delaware and Hudson canal has been constructed, by virtue of several
acts of the legislature of Pennsylvania, authorizing Maurice Wurts, Esq. to make
an artificial navigation from or near the head ofthe Lackawaxen river, to its mouth
— and of the legislature of New York, 23d April, 1823, incorporating the Dela
ware and Hudson canal company, with power to make a like navigation, from the
Hudson to the Delaware, to connect with that to be made by Mr. Wurts. By an
arrangement between that gentleman and the company, the whole line, in both
states, has been completed, and is now the property of the company. The work
was commenced in 1825, and finished in the autumn of 1829.
The capital of the company is one million and a half, one third of which they
are authorized to employ in banking in the city of New York. The credit ofthe

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. 99
State has also been loaned to the company, in 4^ and 5 per cent, stock, to the
amount of $800,000.
The navigation comprehends the Rondout creek, for about 3 miles, to Eddyville,
to which the tide ascends, and on which small steamboats are used, for towing
the canal boats to and from, the village of Rondout, the depot of the canal, about
one mile from the Hudson, 90 from New York, 60 from Albany, and whence, coal
and other articles are transhipped, and sent to the New York and other markets
by schooners. For towing its trade upon the river the company employ several
steamboats. Commencing at Eddyville, by a lock, and dam, the canal pursues the valley of
the Rondout, and the Sandbend branch, through Ulster, into Sullivan county, sink
ing, near the division line, into the valley of Bashe's kill, which it follows to the
Nevisink, and by that valiey gains the Delaware river, at Port Jarvis; having the
Shawangunk mountain, in all this course, upon the left. Thence, it mounts the
Delaware valley, to the dam, opposite the mouth of the Lackawaxen creek.
Thence, from M'Carty's point, formed by the junction of the creek and river, it
ascends the former, to the forks of the Dyberry, and terminates, at the village of
Honesdale, within three miles of Bethany, the seat of justice of Wayne county.
The length of the canal is 108 miles — width at water line 36 feet — depth 4.
Number of locks 107, each 76 feet long, 9 wide. The boats carry from 28, to 33
tons. Between the Delaware and the Hudson, the locks are of hammered stone;
on the Delaware and Lackawaxen, of dry stone walls with wooden chambers,
which may be conveniently changed or repaired, and which the experience of the
company has proved to be preferable to mason work, where wood is cheap.
miles. feet.
The rise from the tide ofthe Hudson, to the summit, between
the Delaware and Hudson rivers in - - - - 38 is 535
Descent from summit, to the Delaware, at Port Jarvis, - - 26 80
Rise from the Delaware to the mouth of Lackawaxen, - - 18 148
Rise thence to Honesdale,  26 187
108 lockage 950
The work on the Delaware and Lackawaxen, was effectuated with great diffi
culty. The canal, in the whole distance along' these rivers, skirts the water, and
is either excavated from the solid rock on the margin, or occupies the river beds.
Yet the work has every where been finished and maintained in a superior manner.
From Honesdale, the company have constructed a rail road, 16 miles in length,
passing over the Moosic mountain, by Cobb's Gap, on which their coal and other
merchandise are transported, from Carbondale, in Luzerne county. Between the
mines and summit, the transit is effected by horse power on the levels, and sta
tionary steam engines at the. head of five planes, whose inclination is one foot in
twelve. On the summit, .horses are used; and down the mountain upon the
east, the descent ofthe cars is made by aid of horses in some places, and in others,
by their own gravity, as at Mauch Chunk. The road will now pass, between the
first of March, and the first of December, 160,000 tons ; and with some proposed
modifications, 200,000 tons. The summit ofthe road is 912 feet above the Lack
awaxen, and 850 above the coal mines. The latter are about 730 feet above tide.
By their charter, the company are empowered to deal in coal, and that is the prin
cipal business ofthe canal. The quantity transported to tide, since the commence-
ment<of their operations in 1830, has varied according to the demand ; but may be
averaged at about 70,000 tons, per annum.
The New York section of the canal cost, ... $1,424,994
Pennsylvania section, ------- 612,123
Rail Road,  308,011
 2,315,128
The company possess, beside the coal mines, real estate
at Honesdale, Carbondale, Rondout, &c, including mill
sites, cost, ----  60,000
Canal Boats,  90,500
Steamboats and Barges, - - - - - 25,000

100

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

One of the beneficial effects of this great work, is an astonishing improvement
of the country through which it passes. Rondout, Honesdale, Carbondale, and
other villages, have been created by it. The sites of Honesdale and Carbondale
were wildernesses. In 1830, there was but a single house in each. In 1835,'
the former contained a population, of nearly 2,000, and the latter 3,000 souls, fur
nishing cash markets, at sea board prices, for all the products of the adjacent
The toll received in 1834, (coal boats excepted) was - - - $36,946,00.
Distances on the Delaware and Hudson Canal.

Nos. of
Locks.

Miles
from Ed
dyville. :

Miles
from
Hones dale.

Names of PlaceB.

Nos. of
Locks.

Miles
from Ed
dyville.

Miles from
Hones dale.

Names of Places.

No. 1.

1

108

Eddyville,

42

66

jrraham's basin,

1>

107l6ree'nkill,

43

65

VI anerza Smith's

2
106|Hornbeck's bridge,
44
64
Brownville,
2 to 4
3
105 Head of Pond,
45
63
Oak brook aqueduct,
4|
- 104 Hardenburgh'sbasin,
48
62
[ndian spring,
6
51
103 Le Fever's Falls,
47
61
Tunnel hill,
6
102 Rnsendale.
48
60
Westbrookville,
8 and 9
7
101
Laurence's mill,
49
59
Samuel Staunten's,
10 and 11
8
100
Marble quarries.
50
58
Van Inwegin's basin,
12 to 19
9
99
Mechanicsville,
51
57
Z!uddebackville,
20 and 21
10
98
Hasbrouck's basin.
55 to 59
52
56
Nevcrsink aqueduct,
11
97
Philip Hasbrouck's
60
53
55
Piersonville,
12
96
Clove church,
54
54
Sol. Van Etten'sbdg.,
2a
13
95
Alligcrville,
55
53
Canal Store,
2.1
14
94
Jno.S.Depuy's basin,
.56
52
Hornbeck's culvert,
15
93
Enoch Freeland's,
57
51
Bird's nest rock, ,
24
16
92
Stony kill aqueduct,
58
50
Btopgate, pine-woods
17
91
Port Jackson,
59
49
Benj. Cuddeback's,
18
90
David Venoy's,
60
48
Port Jarvis,
19
89
C. P Hornbeck's,
61
47
Stopgate.W. Fall's B
20
88
Mountain brook,
62
46
Sparrow bush brook,
25
21
87
Middleport.
63
45
Honesville,
22
86
Bruyn's basin,
64
44
Bolton,
26
23
85
Port Hixson,
61
65
43
Butler's Falls,
27
24
84
Port Benjamin,
62 and 63
66
42
Mongaup,
25
83
Kierstard's bridge,
67
41
Dickerson's Eddy,
28
26
82
Southwick's brk-yrd,
64
68
40
Stairway brook,
29 and 30
27
81
Terwilliger's feeder,
65
69
39
Vanaukin's bridge,
31 and 32
28
80
Ellenville,
66
70
38
Fish cabin brook,
33
29
79
Cutler's basin,
71
37
Tucker's aqueduct,"
34
30
78
Broadhead brickkiln,
67
72
36
Pond Eddy,
35 and 36
31
77
Jarcd Ritche's,
68
73
35
Van Tuyle's brook,
37 and 38
32
76
Penney's basin,
74
34
Van Tuyle's basin,
39 to 41
33
75
Red bridge,
69 and 70
75
33
Craigsville,
42 to 5]
34
74
Phillipsport,
70
32
Buttermilk Falls,
52 to 54
35
73
Davis's, summit level
71
77
31
Handsome Eddy,
36
72
Beatysburgh,
It
30
David Johnston's, '
37
71
Log house in swamp.
72 and 7:
7!
29
Barrysville.
38
70
South side of swamp,
8(
28
Panther brook,
39
60
Gumare's brook,
8
27
Beaver brook,
40
68
Wtirtsboro'
8
1 26
Slop lock,
41
65
Sneed's basin,
Gr*d Lock
8
1 25
Delaware dam.
Pennsylvania Section.
1 to 6
84
24]
85
23'
7 anil 8
86
22
9 and 10
87
21
11 and 12
88
20
13 and 14
89
19
15
90
18
16
91
17
17
92
16
18
93
15
19 and 20
94
14
21 to 23
95
13
24
96
12
24] IVTth of Lackawaxen
23|Conkling's 00 Little narrows,
Port Howard,
WestfalPs aqueduct,
Rowlandville, Bloominggrove isPd,
IVPth of BTinggrove,
Blue Eddy,
Shim-er's Eddy,
James Wheeling's,
N arr. of L'ck waxen
Punch camp,
25 and 26
97
11
27 and 28
98
10
29 and 30
99
9
100
8
31
101
7
3-2
102
6
33
103
5
34
104
4
105
3
35
106
2
36
107
1
37
108
Poolpit,Tumble dam rock,
Paupack Eddy,,
Jones's Rift,
Newcastle, Brink's Dam,
White mills, ,
Beach flat, '
Beardslee's basin,* ;;*$.
Holbert's basin, <r,;
Leonardstfille, Honesdale. "v
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

101

The Delaware and Raritan Canal.
26. The Delaware and Raritan canal has been constructed by a compariy , incorpo
rated by virtue of an act of the legislature of New Jersey, of 4th Februarys 1830,
with a capital of $1,500,000. That aet provided — that the canal should he. at
least 50 feet wide at the water line, and at least 5 feet deep ; and the feeder 30
feet wide, and 4 feet deep — that, no other canal should be constructed withiii 5
miles of any point of the canal or feeder, without the assent of the company — that,
at the expiration of 30 years from the completion of the canal, the state might,
purchase it at a valuation, not exceeding first cost— that the treasurer of the
company should make quarterly returns of the number of passengers, and tons of
merchandise transported thereon, and pay to the state 8 cents, for each passenger,
and for each ton, except for coal, lumber, lime, wood, ashes, &c, for which two
cents, per ton, only are required — and that no other impost should^ be levied on
the company. , .
By an act of 3d February, 1831, in consideration, that the .c&mpany would make
the canal 75 feet wide on the water line, seven feet deep throughout, and the locks
at least 100 feet in length, by 24 in width, the state extended the time after which
the appraisement should be made, to 50 instead of 30 yearsj and engaged that
neither the state, nor any person, should construct any rail-road across the state,
between tho Belawaiejand Raritan fivers, within five |5iles of any'point of the
canal, until after the expiration of the period allowed for the construction of the
canal ; reserving existing Tights.
By an act, of the 15th February, 1831, the Canal Company and the Cam
den and Amboy Rail Road Company, were united; and under the aet of, 2d
March, 1832, they, in consideration, that no other rail-road should be constructed
Which might compete with that road, covenanted to convey to the state one thou
sand shares of the joint stock, and guaranteed to the state an annual income jgf
$30,000 at least, should not the dividends on stock and the transit duties amount
to that sum; and that they would annually divide the whole of the net profits, ex
cept such surplus fund as might be necessary not exceeding $100,000.
Under these provisions the canal was completed in 1834. It begins at the con
fluence of the Crosswicks creek and the Delaware, at Bordentown, and runs
thence, through the city of Trenton and the valley of the Assunpink, crossing the
creek by a noble stone culvert, to Lawrence's Meadows, whence it passes into the
valley of Stony Brook; thence down the right side thereof, one mile south of
Princeton, to the junction of Stony Brook with the Millstone fiver; thence across
the river by an aqueduct of eight arches, and by the right bank of the river to
the Raritan river ; thence along the right bank of the Raritan to New Brunswick,
where it unites with the tide. It passes through or near Bordentown, Lamber-
ton, Trenton, Princeton, Kingston, Grjiggstown, Millstone, Somerville, and
Boundbrook. Its whole length is 42 miles, within which there are 116 feet
lockage, viz: 58 between Trenton and the Delaware river, overcome by seven
locks ; one at Trenton of seven feet ; one at the State Penitentiary of seven feet ;
three at Lamberton of nine feet each; one below Lamberton of seven feet, and one
at Bordentown of 10 feet, lift. The last, by reason of the badness of the founda
tion, has 'cost an extraordinary portion of time, labour, and money, in its construc
tion. Thg lockage between Trenton and New Brunswick is also 58 feet, and is
overcome by seven locks ; one at Kingston, one at Griggstown, and one at the
mouth of the Millstone, each of eight feet ; two opposite to Boundbrook, seven feet
each ; one two miles below Boundbrook, of eight feet, where a dam has been
constructed across the river to use it as a feeder, and one at New Brunswick,
of twelve feet, lift. At this city, there is also a tide lock sufficiently capacious
to admit a steamboat, and a basin extending the whole front of the town, formed
by an embankment in the river. By turning the river into the canal, a water
power has been gained at Brunswick, equal, it is supposed, -to 400 hundred horse
power. Upon the line of the main canal, there are 17 culverts, some of them
very large; one aqueduct, and 29 pivot bridges. *
The feeder commences at Bull's Island, in the Delaware river, and runs thence
along the left bank of the river to Trenton, where it intersects the canal, a distance
of 23 miles, with an inclination of two inches in the mile. The works, beside the
excavation, consist of a lift lock of 10 feet at Lambertsville ; two guard locks, one
at Bull's Island, and the other at Prallsville ; 15 culverts, and 37 pivot bridges.

102

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

The width of the excavation is throughout 50 feet at the water line ; its depth
six feet ; but, where it could be effected without great expenditure, the width has
been increased to 60 feet, and thus three-fourths of the distance will afford good
sloop navigation. A large basin has been constructed by the company, upon the
feeder near the centre of Trenton, for the accommodation of the city. Cost of
canal $2,500,000. The Morris Canal.
27. The Morris canal, one of the most original and boldest efforts of the age,
was first conceived, by George P. M'Culloch, Esq. of Morristown, New Jersey,
whilst on a fishing party at Hopatcong lake, near the summit of the|Musconetcong
mountain ; and was commenced through his zealous exertions. That lake, 900
feet above the'level of the sea, is the' source ofthe Musconetcong river; and in its
original stale, covered abouf 5 square miles. To dam its outlet, husband the
spring freshets, and thus' to-double its capacity; and by leading its accumulated
waters to the eastern declivity and the valley of the Rockaway river — to pur
sue its western descent across the country to the Delaware opposite to Easton,
were the means he, proposed to open the way to market for the rich minerals, and
the iron manufactures of this mountain region.
In accomplishing this object, resort was had to inclined planes to overcome
the greater elevations, and" to locks for the less. The planes had never before
been used for boats of such magnitude as navigate this canal, nor to operations so
extensive. - ; •
The Morris Canal Company was incorporated, by the legislature of New Jer
sey, 31st December, 1824, with a capital of $1,000,000, and the right to increase
it to $1,500,000 for canal purposes, and to employ in banking $200,000 for every
like sum actually expended on the canal, so that the banking- capital did not ex-'
ceed one million of dollars.
The route was surveyed, and the work executed, under the direction of Major
Ephraim Beach. The cost, originally estimated at $817,000, has exceeded ^two
million's. The length, completed, is about 90 miles, from the Passaic river, at
Newark, to the Delaware, at Phillipsburg; llf miles between Newark, and Jersey
city,'upon the Hudson, opposite to New York, are yet to be completed. The
width ofthe canal is 32 feet at the water line, and 20 at the bottom — depth 4 feet.
The locks are 75 feet long, and 9 wide. It is navigated by boats of 25 tons bur
then, which have, in many cases, proved too weighty for the chains on the in
clined planes. The passage from Phillipsburg to Newark is made in about five
days. The line is divided by the summit into two divisions, the eastern and western.
The first 51/^ miles long ; the second 38^. The annexed tables show, at a
¦view, the number of planes and locks, their location, elevation, grade of the planes,
and lift of the locks. EASTERN DIVISION.

No. of

No. of

Elevation

Inclina

Lift ofthe

Plane-.

Lock.

the plane

LOCATION.

the sec

of plane

tion ofthe

Lock in

. or lock;
tion.
in feet.
plane.
feet.
1
1
Summit.
2
50
1-12
1
2
Drakeville.
4
80
1-10
1
3
Near do.
5
38
1-12
2
1 and 2
do. do.
6
20
1
4
Baker's Mills.
12
52
1-8
1
3
Near do.
13
8
1
5
Above Dover.
15
66
1-9
1
4
do.
16
9
1
5
do.
17
9
2
6 and 7
At do..
19
18
1
6
Rockagiray.
25
52
1-12
1
8
Near do.
29
7
2
9 and 10
Powerville.
34
15
1
11 •
Boonetown.
36 j
10
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

103

'

Eastern Division, continued.

'-'

No. of
No. of
Elevation
Inclina-,
Lift ofthe
Plane.
Lock;
the plane
LOCATION.
the sec
of plane
tion ofthe
Lock in
or lock.
tion.
in feet.
plane.
feet,
7
Boonetown Falls.
37
80
1-10
1
12
Near do.
38
-
18
1
8
Montville.
40
76
1-11
1
9
do.
41
74
1-11
1
«-
10
Near Pompton.
48
56
1-12
1
13
do
42
8 '
11
Bloomfickl.
84
54
¦'i 1-12
1
14
Near do.
86
10
1
15
Above Newark.
95
10
1
12
Newark. - i
96
70
142
3
16,17,18
do.
97
748 &
30
—

— —
12
17
Planes and Locks.
-n
166914
166
WESTERN DIVISION. '•'
No. of
No. of
Elevation
Inclina
, <-*¦¦'; i
L%>fthe
Plane.
Lock.
the plane
LOCATION.
the sec
of plane
tion of'the
Lock in
or lock.
tion.
in feet.
plane.
feet.
1
Great Meadow.
3
58
1-10
'-.,
1 '*'
2
Stanhope.
5
70
1-11
1
1
Near Sayers.
.6
12
^
3
do. do.
6
55
1-12
4
Old Andover.
10
80
1-8
1
2
Guinea Hollow.
16
10
5
Near Anderson.
38
64
1-12
6
Monte Rose.
41
50
1-10
1
3
Near do.
43
10
7
Pobatcong.
47
75
1-10
1
4
Near N. Village.
61
10
8
HukeBers.
63
62
1-11
9
Near Bridleman's
»Brook.
67
100
1-10
10
Nr. Green's mills.
70
44
1-12
1-
5
do. do.
71
9
1 and 2
6 and 7
do. do.
72
18
11
Delaware River.
74
33
1-12
11
691 69
760
69
RECAPITULATION.
Planes. Eastern Division, 12 748
Western Division, 11 691
Locks. Eastern Division,
Western Division.
1439 feet.
17 166
7 69
 
235
24 locks.

1674 feet.
104

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

Of the interesting works on the line of the canal, our limits permit us only to
notice, the aqueduct of stone of a single arch, 80 feet span, 50 feet abows the river,
over the Passaic at the Little Falls, built of beautiful dressed freestone, in the
most substantial and durable manner— and the wooden aqueduct 236 feet long,
supported by nine stone piers, over the Pompton river.
One of the great inducement's to this work, was the transportation,©! Lehigh
coal from the Delaware to the Hudson. But that will now be chiefly effected by
the more commodious Delaware and Raritan canal.
List of Canals, authorised by the State.
Authority has been given by the state to many joint stock companies, for the
construction of canals, and improving navigations—some of which have been exe
cuted; some suspended, and others abandoned. The following table comprises,
we believe, a correct list of these companies.

Hudson River
Canal, &c.
Peconic river
' canal,
Black river,*
Catetunk, Nevesink Na
vigation,
Chitteningo Ontario, Niagara,
NeW York and
Sharon,
Delaware and
Hudson,
Oswego,Orange and
Sussex,
Onondaga,
Granville, Delaware .and
Susquehanna, Harlaem,
Casadaga Na
vigation,
Harlaem river
Navigation,
Geneya harb'r
Black river

Date of
Incdrpora- tion.-
 fr-

From

4 Ap. 1806
8' An'., 1808
5 Ap- 1810
3 Mar. 1815
16 Ap. 1816 '
6 Mar. 1818
31 Mar. 1821
11 Ap. 1823
19 Ap. —
23 Ap. —

9 Ap. 1824
25 Nov. —
18 Ap. 1825
20 Ap. —
13 Ap. 1827

Capital.

Time pre
scribed for
commence ment.

Time for Comple
tion.

16 Ap.

17 Ap. —
20 Mar. 1827 Rome,

Wallabocht, Long Island.
Jefferson co.
Manlius,
Junction, Auburn and
Owasco,
j Sodus,
/ Revived,
Ellicott's creek Nav.
Scottsville,Owasco &Erie
Long Island
Sound harb'r
Rochester, Oswegatchie navigation,
Oneida lake,
Auburn and
Owasco,
Black river.

Ap. -
15 Ap. —
15 Ap. —
15 Ap. 1828
21 Ap. —

19 Mar. 1829
4 Ap. 1835
23Ap'."1829 30 Ap- —
l«May —

16 Ap. 1830 Southold,
26 'Mar.1 1831 Rochester,

Auburn canal
and R. R. 24 Ap. —
Peconic nav. 10 Mar. 1835
Ithaca & Port!
1 Renwick, |8 May 1835

Brooklyn,
Gravesendbay Long Falls,
Limestone ck.
Erie canal,
Owasco lake
Seneca river,

Williamsville. Scottsville, Erie canal,

Turin High
Falls,
Tillory street,
South bay
Sacketts barb
Manlius,Hudson river,
Auburn,
G. Sodus bay,
Tonnawanta creek,
Genesee river
Milan,

25 Ap. —
22 Ap. 1832
30 Mar. —
17 Ap. —

Ogdensburg, Erie canal,
Owasco lake,
RomeorHerk')

Auburn,
Sloop naviga.
Fall creek,

Unlimited

400,000 20.000
200,000 300,000 50,000
100,000

100,000 Unlimited.
200,000

Level of Lake
Ontario,
Black lake,
Oneida lake,
Auburn, St. Lawrence
river,
Erie canal,
Riverhead, Cayuga lake,

5,000
15,000
150,000 50,000 30.000 30,00040,000
100,000900,000 150,000 10,000

3 years— dissolved.
10 years.
5 years— dissolved.
years.
5 years.
Completed. 5 years,
from Novemb. 1835.

Unlimited. 3 years.
2 years.
2 years.
3 years.
3 years.
3 years..
Unlimited.

6 years.
5 years.
4 years.
5 years.
6 years— Completed
Charter renewed
1834— completed-
13 years.
5 years.
Charter extends to
1874.

A description of such of these minor works, as have been executed, will be found
under that of the counties in which they are respectively located.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. 105
RAIL ROADS.
28. Two lines of rail road will, at no distant day, cross the state from east to
west; the one. through the northern, and the other through the southern, section.
The northern line will be composed of sections formed by several independent
companies, and the southern, of the New York and Erie rail road, to be construct
ed by one company.
On the first, the first link consists of the Harlaem rail road, making by a com
pany chartered in 1831, which commenced operations in 1832. The second, will
be formed by the New York and Albany road, commencing at Harlaem, 7 miles
from the city of New York, and passing near the eastern line of the state, on the
route formerly surveyed, for' the Sharon canal, through Westchester, Putnam,
Dutchess, Columbia, and .Rensselaer counties, to the, Hudson river, opposite Al
bany. The report ofthe engineers demonstrates the. practicability of the route, at
a moderate cost, estimated at about two millions, or $12,000 per, mile; and the pro
jectors deem the prospect of profit sufficient to warrant the enterprise; the route
intersecting a district inhabited by an industrious population, and abounding in
iron, marble, lime, &c„ and containing abundant water power for manufactories.
Branches might be made into Connecticut and Massachusetts, whence a large
business might be expected. The estimate of annual income, from these sources,
is $852,000. The stock necessary for the commencement of the work, has not
yet, however, been obtained. ¦
The third link, is made. by the Mohawk and Schenectady roadT 15 miles long,
between Albany and Schenectady, already in full operation. The fourth, 76 miles
long, by the road between Schenectady and Utica, the greater part, of. which is
graded, and the work steadily progressing. The fifth,, of 51 miles, between Utica
and; -Syracuse, over the Long Level; for making which, no company lias yet
been incorporated. The sixth, 22 miles long, between Syracuse and Auburn, by
a company, whose stock has been wholly subscribed. The sixth, between Auburn
and Genesee river, about 65 miles, toward which,, however,, ne) demonstration has
yet been made. The seventh, by the Tonnawandaroad, about 47 miles,. frqm Ro
chester to Batavia, the greater portion of which is under contract, and much of it
completed. The eighth, 40 miles long, between Utica and Buffalo, by companies
formed or forming. , ,, t
These links, when connected, will form a continued rail way of about 460 miles,
of which, about 200, is already in the hands of efficient companies. With this
line, reference to the annexed table, and to the map, will show, many lateral
branches, extending to the south and north; for making which, many companies
have been authorised, and some of which have been made, and others are in pro
gress. These roads, whether proposed, or in progress, are more particularly de
scribed in the articles on the counties, in which they are, respectively, located.
The New York and Erie Rail Road.
The New York and Erie rail road company w^s incorporated by the legisla
ture, on the 24th day of April, 1832, with power, to' construct a rail road, from the
city of New York to Lake Erie — to transport persons and property thereon  to
regulate their own charges for transportation — and to take tolls on any part of the
route, as fast as sections of ten miles shpu.ld.be completed.
The line ofthe route is not fixed by'the. charter, save that it is to be confined to
the southern tier of counties, comhiencingat the city of New York, or at such point
in its vicinity, as shall be most eligible and convenient, and continuing thence, by
way of Owego, to 'the shore, of 'Lake Erie, west ofthe Cattaraugus creek.
The company are allowed fen years, from the date of their charter, within which
to finish one-fourth part ofthe road — fifteen years for one-half — and twenty- years
for the whole; and may commence at any point on its route, which they deem most
eligible, and use a single or double railway. • -
The capital may be extended to ten millions of dollars; but the company may
commence operations upon the subscription of one. There have actually been sab-
scribed $2,382,100. The state, by an act of March, 1835, has loaned its credit to
the company, for three millions of dollars; state stock to be issued therefor as
follows: $600,000 when the company shall have constructed a single rail way
from the Delaware and Hudson canal, to the intersection of the Chenango canal
near Binghampton, a distance of 146 miles; $700,000 when the section from BingI

106 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
hampton to the Allegany liver, 181 miles, shall be completed; $300,000 on
the completion of the section, 79 miles from the Allegany river, to Lake Erie;
$400,000 on completion of the section, from the Hudson river, 77 miles, to the
Hudson and Delaware canal; and $1,000,000, when a double track shall have been
constructed, from the Hudson river to Lake Erie.
The state reserves the right, after the expiration of ten, and within fifteen, years,
from the completion of the road, to take it, with its fixtures, for public use, on pay.
ins the cost thereof, with interest at 14 per cent, per annum.
The route was surveyed in 1834, under the direction of Mr. Benjamin Wright,
appointed by the governor, and by his assistants, Messrs. James Seymour and
Charles Ellet; and the surveys and calculations have been approved by a conven
tion of other eminent engineers, who report, unanimously, that, loads of sixty tons,
gross weight, or, deducting the weight of the cars, forty tons net, may be drawn
in a single train, from the Hudson river to Lake Erie, at an average speed of from
12 to 14 miles the hour — that, with the rate of speed augmented one-half, a loco
motive engine will, nevertheless, suffice to transport 200 passengers, and their
baggage — that, probably, no stationary engine will be required, on any part ofthe
work — and that one, or at most two, auxiliary engines only, will be needed, on
the whole line.
The valleys traversed by the route, distribute it into six great divisions.
1. Hudson, from the west bank of the Hudson river, 24 miles north of Miles.
New York city, to the Deerpark gap of the Shawangunk mountain, 73J
& Delaware,'fiom Deerpark gap, through the valley of the Delaware and its
tributaries, to a summit, 12 miles northwest ef Deposit, Delaware
county,  ...... 115
3. Susquehanna, from that summit, through the valley of the Susquehanna,
&c, to a summit, 13 miles southwest of Hornellsville, Steuben county, 163|
4. Genesee, from the last mentioned summit, over the Genesee valley, to a
summit, 3 miles east of the village of Cuba, Allegany county, - 37
5. Allegany, along the valley of the Allegany river and tributaries, on a
line to the head of an inclined plane, proposed upon the dividing ridge ;
at Lake Erie, - -  83
6. Lake Erie, comprising the short and rapid descent to the lake, and
including the inclined plane, and two branches, one to Portland, 9, and
the other to Dunkirk, 8i, miles, -------- 9
Add the distance to New York, from the point of departure on the Hud
son,  - 24
And the whole will be,  505
The distance from New York to Portland, via Newburg, is 415 miles; but the
route of the rail road round, not over, the hills, gives the increase. A straight,
but far more expensive course might, perhaps, be made, in 350 miles. It is ap
prehended, however, that more minute surveys will enable the engineers to shorten
the route; and, it is now said to be reduced to 460 miles.
The cost of lands for the road, will in all cases he low; the greater part, per
haps, all the ground will be presented to the company, by the landholders on the
route. Commencing on the west bank of the Hudson, the estimate is,
For grading 222£ miles, to Binghampton, at $6,968 per mile, - - $1,551,982
" 260£ miles thence, to Lake Erie, at $4,478 per mile, - 1,165,536
483 miles, average per mile, $5,626, .... 2,717,518
For superstructure, using the iron edge rail for the first 136 miles,
on account of the greater power required to surmount the high
grading here, at $6000 per mile,  816,000
And for the iron plate rail, laid on timber, for the remainder
347 miles, at $3000 the mile, ..... 1,041,000

1,857,000
For a tunnel, 900 yards long, through the Shawangunk mountain, - 100,000
For engineers, &c, and expenses of company, - . - 300,000
Appropriation for vehicles, locomotives, &c. - ... 500,000
" to cover contingences, . 500,000
Making the whole cost of the road, from the tide to the lake, includ- 
ing a single track, locomotive cars, &c. &c. .... 6,000,000

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

107

Requiring a net revenue of $360,000 to produce a return of 6 per cent, upon the
capital — aa amount which the board confidently assert, will be greatly exceeded
by the revenue, upon completion of the road. The net revenue is estimated by a
committee of the Senate, at $922,000.
The ascents, on much the greatest portion of the route, vary, from 5 to 25 feet
per mile; and no wheje exceed 50 feet. The high elevations are on the eastern
divisions. On the western divisions, the radius of curvature will rarely be less
than 2000 feet; on the eastern, it will vary from 600 to 900 feet. Locomotive
power will be emplpyed on the whole line; increasing it at the greater elevations,
except at the inclined plane, upon Lake Erie, where a stationary steam engine may
be required; but hopes are entertained, that even here it will not be necessary.
The steepest grades, adopted on the plan of the work, will be less severe, than
those upon that part of the Baltimore and Ohio rail road, which is now finished,
and in successful operation.
The route, indicated for the road, passes through the counties of Rockland,
Orange, Sullivan, Delaware, Broome, Chenango, Tioga, Steuben, Allegany, Catta
raugus, and Chautauque. The whole route from the Hudson, is exhibited on the
general map, and through the respective counties, upon the county maps.
A circumstance, eminently calculated to ensure the ultimate success of this enter
prise, is the division of the route into several portions, each of which, independently
ofthe others, may become profitable; so that stockholders may receive dividends
on their investments, long before the completion of the whole road. Thus, the
short section of twenty and a half miles, between Owego and Binghampton, con
necting the Chenango canal with the Owego and Ithaca rail road, and the steam
boat navigation of the Susquehanna — that of thirty-five miles, connecting Owego
with Elmira, and there meeting the Chemung canal on the north, and the rail road
from the coal mines of Pennsylvania on the south — and that of one hundred and
ten miles, connecting the Delaware and Hudson canal, with Bettsburg, in Che
nango county, and there uniting with the rail road, in active progress, from the lat
ter place, to Utica — may each, if completed separately, and without reference to
the residue of the line, become sufficiently lucrative to warrant ihe company in en
tering upon its construction, before securing the means of completing the whole
road, from the Hudson to Lake Erie. In this light, therefore, the New York and
Erie rail road ma'y be regarded, not only as one great avenue of communication
between the Atlantic ocean and the western waters, but also, as a connected series
or chain of independent viorks, similar in character to those which are now in pro
gress, or in contemplation, under the direction of separate companies, between
Albany and Buffalo; possessing, however, the very important attribute of being
united under one common Board of Management, and thereby guarding the public
against the irregularities, and vexatious delays, inevitably arising from the want
of perfect union, between the several links ofthe chain.
Other lateral communications are projected; a branch to Delhi, in Delaware
county, will probaby be made — in Steuben county, the route will intersect the rail
road from Rochester to Dansville — in Allegany county, it will cross the contem
plated canal from Rochester to Olean. At the latter place, in Cattaraugus county,
it will, by its connection with the Allegany river, open a direct communication,
from the city of New York, to the valley ofthe Ohio; and, finally, by its termina
tion on Lake Erie, form the most easy and speedy route for travellers, as well as
merchandise, to the country bordering on the great lakes.
The board of directors of the company, believing this important work, to
be the »nly mode of rescuing the interests of the city of New York from the dan
gers impending, from the efforts of Pennsylvania and Maryland, to secure for them
selves the great western trade, and, feeling, that the exigency of the case demands
their best efforts, pledge themselves to the stockholders, and the community, to
spare no exertions, on their part, to carry the enterprise steadily onward to a suc
cessful issue.
Forty miles ofthe route, extending from Deposit, down the Delaware valley, to
the mouth of Callicoon creek, were put under contract in November, 1835, at
prices far below the estimate of the engineer; and ground was actualjy broken
upon section No. 200, in the village of Deposit, on the 9th of that month, at
sunrise. The following is a list of rail road companies incorporated bv the state Drevi
ously to the year 1836. . r»»«

KAIL ROADS.

Date
O 4>
¦2 w
J: P
Titles.
of
From
To
Capital -
2 «
««
*n
Remarks.
Incorpora
.§6
.§•3. S
tion.
t-
s
Mohawk and Hudson
17 A p. 1821!
Schenectady,
Albany,
600(101
15
Completed Do.
Ithaca and Owego,
28 Jan. 1828
Ithaca, *
Qwego,
300,0OC
29
Canandaigua, ^
12>p. —
Canandaigua,
Erie canal,
50,001
S
15
Hudson & Berkshire
21 Ap. —
Hudson,
Massachusetts
20 Ap. 1832
1
state line.
350,00(
3
5
20
26 May 1834
, .
Kaatskill and Ithaca
21 Mar. 1820
Kattskill,
Ithaca,
1,500,00(
5
10
150
Port Byron &. Auburn
17 Ap —
Port By ron,
Auburn,
50,001.
3
5
12
Orange and Sussex,
5 Ap. 1828
Hudson river,
Delawareriver
40
Geneva and Canan
daigua,
21 Ap. 1808
Geneva,
Canandaigua,
140,000
3
5
16
Madison county,
17 A p. 1829 -
Chitteningo,
Cazenovia
70.00C
10
10
Salina & Port vVatson
27 Ap. -
Satin a,1
Port VVatson
Cortland co.
350,001]
3
7
45
Hudson & Pelaware
19 Ap. 1830
21 Ap. 1835
New burg,
Delawareriver
500,000
3
10
40
Canajoharie & Katts
kill,
— —
Canajoharie,
Kattskill,
600,000
3
10
65
Saratoga and Sche
nectady,
16 Feb. 1831
Saratoga spr's
Schenectady,
150,000
2
5
21
Completed
Bath & Crooked lake
24 Mar. —
Bath,
Head of Crook
3 May 1834
cd lake,
40,000
2
3
8
Rochester and Canal
26 Mar..—
Rochester,
Genesee port.
50,000
2
4
13
Completed in part.
TroyTurnpike&R.R
ISAp. —
Troy.
Bennington&c
1,000,000
2
10
25
New York& Harlaem
25 Ap. —
Prince St.
Harlaem,
500,000
2
4
8
lit progress
Albion &Tonawanda
17 Ap. 1832
Albion,
Batavia,
250,000
3
5
18
Auburn canal.
24 Ap. —
Auburn,
Erie Canal,
150,000
3
5
12
Aurora and Buffalo,
14 Ap —
Aurora,
Buffalo,
300,000
3
6
15
Brooklyn & Jamaica,
25 Ap. —
Brooklyn,
Jamaica,
300,000
3
5
12
Progress'g
Buffalo and Erie,
14 Ap. —
Buffalo,
Erie, Penn'a.
650,000
3
10
90
Black river rail road
antl canal,
17 Ap. —
Rome,
Ogdensburg,
000,000
3
13
130
Glmira'and Williams-
port, . :. :¦ i
21 Ap. —
Elmira,
Penn'a. line,
75,000
3
5
20
Da n svillcfc Rochester
22 Mar. —
Dansville,
Rochester,
300,000
3
5
45
Dutchess,
28 Mar. —
Poughkeepsie,
Connecticut,
600,000
3
5
30
Fish House -and Am
sterdam,
26 Ap. —
Fish House,
Amsterdam,
250,000
3
8
18
Lthaca and Geneva,
9Ap. —
[thaca,
Geneva,
800,000
3
5
40
Great Au Sable,
30 Mar. —
29 Ap. 1833
Forks AuSable
Port Kent,
60,000
3
5
18
24
Lake Champlain and
Ogdensburg, --.-!< <
20 Ap. —
LakeChampl'n
Ogdensburg,
3,000,000
3
10 8
120
Maysville & Portland
29 Mar. —
Vlaysville,
Portland, L.E.
15,000
3
8
Vew York & Albany,
17 Ap. —
New York,
Albany,
3,000,000
3
10
150
Vew York & Erie,
24 Ap. —
Vew York,
Lake Erie,
10,000,000
4
20
505
Dtsego rail road,.'
,'6Ap. —
hoopers town,
Colliersville,
300,000
3
5
18
Itensselaor&Saratoga
14 Ap. -
Troy,
Ballston Spa.
300,000
3
5
24
Completed
Saratoga .t Fort Ed
- :J ¦
ward,
17 Ap. —
Saratoga spr's.
Fort Edward,
200,000
3
6
17
Saratoga & Schuyler-
'
ville,
26 Ap. —
Saratoga spr's.
Canajoharie
Schuylerville,
100,000
3
5
9
Schoharie & Otsego,
25 Ap. —
i'
-rail road.
S usque, river,
300,000
3
7
Tonawanda,
24 Ap. —
lochester,
Attica.
500,000
3
5
47
Jtica &. Susquehanna
25 Ap. -iJ
Utica,-
N. Y. and Erie
• / .\
R. R.
1,000,000
3
10
75
barren county.
57 Ap. —
Venn's Falls,
Caldwell,
250,000
3
5
9
^Vater'town & Rome,
Watertown,
Rome,
1,000,000
3
5
81
linghampton & Sus
quehanna,
29 Ap. 1833
Knghampton,
Penn'a line,
150,000
2
4
40
luil'alo & Black Rock,
29 Ap. —
Buffalo; •""¦¦
Hack Rock,
100,000
2
4
3
Completed-
Jtica & Schenectady,
Utica,1- ri ,;
Schenectady,
2,000,000
2
10
76
Progress'g \.
Whitehall & Rutland,
26 Ap —
Whitehall,
Vermont line,
100,000
2
5
8
Auburn & Syracuse,
1 May 1834
An burn, l
Syracuse,
400,000
2
5
22
^i
Buffalo & Niagara F.
3 ft] ay —
Buffalo,
FallsJ. ;!:-
110,000
2
5
22
ProgresSf;
Dastleton and West
Stockbridge,
5 May —
dastleton,
Mass'tts line,
, 300,000
2
5
22
Ithaca and Port Ren-
wick, 16 Ap. —
thaca,
Cayuga lake,
, J 5,000
2
5
2
Long Island, 34 Ap. —
Brooklyn,
Gi ecu port,
i$oq,poo
2
6
86
ITndercon- tract
Lockport & Niagara
Falls, j — -
ockport, ,
Falls,
110,000
, 2
5
20
Do.
Manheim & Salisbury 28 Ap. -
Utica &, f che-:
i ¦¦'
nectady R.R.
Vicholsville,
75,000
2
5
Medina & Darien,
5 May —
Medina,
Alexander and
Buff R.
100, 000
2,
i 5
Saratoga & Washing
ton,
2 May —
-aratoga,
Whitehall,
600,000
2
5
35
Warsaw &. I.e Roy,
5 May —
Warsaw,
Le Roy,
100,000
2
\ 5
18
Kingston turnpike &
rail road,
23 Ap. 1835
vines ton,
fludson river.
20,000
o
5
3
INTERN At IMPROVEMENT. 109
These roads are more particularly described, in treating of the places to which
they specially pertain. (See Index.)
From the preceding table it appears, that, more than 2300 miles of rail road,
have been authorised to be made, by the state. Some of the lines have been, for
the present, suspended or abandoned. But it is morally certain, that the two great
western lines will be made, and made too, we cannot doubt, with great rapidity.
TURNPIKES AND BRIDGES.
29.NewYork is more remarkable for'her efforts to improve this branch of national
economy, than for eminent success. There is, perhaps, no lack of bridges and
roads, in any' district. The state has liberally contributed towards the expense of
opening new roads, and has encouraged, by acts of incorporation, a vast many
associations, for these objects. And by a general law, has provided for the regu
lation of turnpike companies, and the supervision ofroads, made'-by them. Under
special acts of assembly, there have been authorised, mbre than! '500 companies,
for the construction of roads and bridges. Many of these, have been inactive,
whilst the roads constructed by others, have been thrown open a'fid abandoned to
the public. The turnpike roads are rarely made with stone; but are formed of
earth thrown up from the sides, and subject to the changes which the varying
seasons induce upon such roads. There have been, however, some good stone
roads, made upon the plan of McAdam, as in New York, Albany, and Rensselaer'
counties. Stone bridges are also unfrequent. Wood is the material generally
employed. Of such roads and bridges, as merit it, special notice is taken, in our
description of counties.
There are three great turnpikes leading from the North river, westwardly across
the state; and the northern turnpike stretches from Troy into Vermont.
CHAPTER. IVII.
PROVISIONS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES AND
FERRIES.
1. Commissioners of Highways — their Dutiesi . 2.. Duties of Overseers. 3. Persons lia
ble to work on Highways — Assessment of Labour. 4. Duties of Overseers relative to
Labour — Labour or Commutation therefor. 5. Laying out, Altering aTid Discontinuing' '
Roads. 6. Regulations and Penalties concerning the Obstruction of Highways. 7,
Of Erecting, Repairing and Preserving Bridges. 8. General Provisions. 9. Ferries. -
1. The commissioners of highways, in the several towns, have the care and su
perintendence ofthe highways and bridges therein. They direct their repair, regu
late roads already laid out, and alter such as they deem inconvenient — cause such
as are not sufficiently described, and such as have been used 20 years, but not
recorded, to be ascertained, described and recorded in the town clerk's office  ,
divide their towns into so many road districts, as they deem convenient, annually,
if necessary, and always 10 days before the annual town meeting, by writing filed
and recorded by the town clerk. — assign such districts to the inhabitants liable
to work on highways, as they think proper, having regard to proximity of resi
dence — and require the overseers of highways, when necessary, to warn persons
liable, to work thereon with the proper instruments, carriages, cattle, or sleds.
They lay out on actual survey, such new roads as they deem necessary ; and
discontinue such old ones, as, by the oaths of twelve freeholders of their respec
tive towns, appear unnecessary; render to the town auditors at their annual meet
ing for audit, a written account, stating, the labour assessed and performed  the
sums received for fines, commutations, or otherwise; the improvements made on
roads and bridges, during the past year, their condition, and the improvements
necessary, with an estimate of the probable expense beyond what the labour as
sessed in that year will accomplish.
They deliver to the supervisor, a statement of the improvements necessary on
the roads and bridges, with the probable expense, to be laid before the board of
supervisors at their next meeting who cause the amount estimated to be levied as
other town charges, not exceeding in one year g250: but if that sum be insuffi
cient, the commissioners apply in open town meeting for a vote authorising as

110 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
much more; posting notice of the intended application, in at least 5 of the most
public places of the town, at least 4 weeks next preceding the annual town meeting
— specify the amount to be applied for the purpose for which it is to be appropri
ated, and the probable amount to be expended at each place, if more than one —
and exhibiting a statement of their accounts and an estimate of the expenses ne
cessary for the improvement of roads and bridges in such town for the ensuing
year. If the town meeting vote an additional sum for such improvement, or for pay
ment of any balance due, the clerk minutes the Resolution and delivers a copy to
the supervisor, who lays it before the board of supervisors at their next annual
meeting, who direct the specified amount to be collected as other town charges.
They place mile boards or stones, on post roads and such other public roads as
they think proper, with legible inscriptions, and guide-posts with proper inscrip
tions and devices at the intersections, of all post roads, and of such other roads,
as they deem necessary, to be erected :
Direct any overseer of their respective towns to procure, when useful, an iron or
steel shod scraper, or plough, to be paid for, from the commutations and fines, or
when they are insufficient, by assessment on the inhabitants, to be recovered by
the overseer.
They appoint, by warrant, when the overseer refuses to serve, or his office be
comes vacant, another in his stead ; filing forthwith, such warrant, with the town
clerk, who notifies the appointed, as in other cases.
2. The overseers of the highways, in each town — repair and keep in order, the
highways within their proper districts — when required by the commissioners, or
any of them, warn all persons liable to work on the highways — cause noxioHS
weeds on each side of the highways to be destroyed, once before the 1st of July,
and again before the 1st of September, which is deemed highway work — collect
all fines and commutation money, and execute all lawful orders of the commis
sioners. They, once in every month, from the 1st of April, to the 1st of December, cause
the loose stones on the beaten track of the roads to be removed, and the monu
ments erected as the boundaries of highways to be kept up and renewed, so that
the extent of such roads may be publicly known.
They, respectively, when the labour assessed on the inhabitants of any road
district is insufficient to keep the roads in repair, make another assessment on the
actual residents of such district, in the same proportion, not exceeding one third of
the number of days assessed in the same year, by the commissioners, on such in
habitants — and the labour so assessed by an overseer is performed or commuted
for as if assessed by the commissioners.
They maintain and keep in repair the guide posts, ordered, within their respec
tive limits.
If an overseer be employed more days in executing the duties enjoined on him,
than he is assessed to work on the highway, he is paid for the excess, at the rate
of 75 cents per day, to be retained from moneys in his hands for fines, but he may
not commute for the days he is assessed.
Every overseer refusing or neglecting — to warn the people assessed to work on
the highways, when required by the commissioners, or either of them — to collect
moneys arising from fines or commutations — or to perform any duty required by
law or enjoined by the commissioners, for the omission of which a penalty is not
otherwise provided, forfeits 10 dollars, to be recovered by the commissioners and
applied by them in making and improving the roads ofthe town.
If any one, resident in the town, complains that an overseer has refused
or neglected to perform any of the duties specified in the last section, and
give or offer to the commissioners, security for the costs of prosecuting for the
penalty annexed thereto, the commissioners prosecute such overseer for the of
fence; or failing so to do forfeit 10 dollars to be recovered by the complainant.
3. Every owner and occupant of land in the town in which he resides, and
every male inhabitant above the age of 21 years residing in a town, when the as
sessment is made, is assessed to work on the highways.
The commissioners meet within 10 days after they are chosen at the place of
town meeting, on such day as they agree upon, and afterwards, when and where
they deem proper.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. Ill
Each overseer delivers to the town clerk, within 16 days after his election or
appointment, a list subscribed by himself, of the names of all the inhabitants in
his district liable to work on the highways. The real property of non resident
owners, improved or occupied by a servant or agent, is subject to assessment of
highway labour and at the same rate as the real property of resident owners.
The commissioners make a list and statement of the contents of all parcels of
land within their town, owned by non residents. Every such lot is described in
the manner required from assessors, and its value affixed to the description, being
that put thereon, in the last assessment roll of the town ; but if not separately
valued in such roll it is valued in proportion to the valuation affixed to the whole
tract, of which it is part.
The town clerk delivers the list, filed by- the overseers, to the commissioners,
who ascertain, estimate, and assess the highway labour, to be performed in their
town the ensuing year.
In such estimate and assessment — the whole number of days work to be
assessed in each year is ascertained, and is at least three times that of the taxable
inhabitants of the town — every male inhabitant, above 21 years, (ministers of the
gospel, priests, paupers, idiots and lunatics excepted) is assessed, at least one
day — the residue is apportioned upon the real and personal estate of every inhabi
tant, apparent by the last assessment roll, and upon each parcel of land of non resi
dents contained in such lists — if after such apportionment there be a deficiency in
the number of days work to be performed the ensuing year, it is assessed upon
the estates real and personal of the inhabitants, and upon each parcel of land of
which the owners are non residents according to the last assessment roll. The
commissioners affix to the name of each person in the lists furnished by the
overseers and to the description of each parcel in the lists prepared by them, of
non resident lauds, the number of days which such person or tract shall be as
sessed for highway labour, subscribe such lists and file them with the town clerk.
The town clerk makes a copy of each list, which the commissioners subscribe
and cause to be delivered to the respective overseers of the several districts in
which the highway labour is assessed.
The names of persons left out, and of new inhabitants are added, from time to
time, to the several lists, and they are rated by the overseers, as others are rated
by the commissioners on such lists, subject to an appeal to the commissioners.
A non resident owner aggrieved by the assessments ofthe commissioners may,
himself or by agent, within 30 days after such assessment, appeal to any three
judges ofthe common pleas of the county ; who within 20 days thereafter decide
thereon, the owner or agent notifying the commissioners of the time of the meeting
of the judges. Each judge receives two dollars per day, from the party appeal
ing, if the proceedings of the commissioners be affirmed ; but if reversed or modi
fied, favourably to him, to be paid as part of the contingent expenses ofthe town.
The commissioners credit such persons as live on private roads and work the
same, so much on account of their assessments as is necessary to work such road;
or annex such roads to some highway districts.
When the commissioners assess the occupant of land, not owned by him, they
distinguish, in their lists, the amount charged upon the land, from the personal
tax, if any, of the occupant. But when the land is assessed in the name of the
occupant, the owner is not assessed during the same year to work on the high
ways, on account of such land.
When the tenant, for less than 25 years, is assessed to woTk on the highways,
for land, pursuant tq the last preceding section, and actually performs thework
or commutes therefor, he may deduct from the rent, the full amount of such as
sessment, estimating his work at 62j cents, per day ; unless otherwise provided
fur, by agreement, between him and his landlord.
4. The overseers give, at least, 24 hours notice to all residents assessed to work
on the highways, when and where to appear for that purpose, and with what im
plements ; but no person is required to work on any highway, other than in the
district in which he resides, unless he elect to work in some district where he has
land ; when with the approbation of the commissioners, he may apply the work
assessed in respect to such land in the district where it lies.
They notify the agent of every non resident landholder, if such agent; reside in
their town, of the number of days the non resident is, assessed, and when and

112 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
where the labour is to be performed, at least five days previously to the time ap
pointed. If the overseer cannot ascertain that the non resident has such agent, he affixes
a written notice, on the outer door of the house in which the last town meeting
was held, containing a list of the names of such non residents, when known, and
a description of the lands comprised in his list, with the number of days labour
assessed on each tract, and a specification of the time when, and- the place where,
such labour is to be performed — at least 20 days before the time of performance.
Persons liable to work on highways, work the time assessed, or commute, in
whole or in part, at the rate of 62£ cents per day, to be paid to the overseer, to
be expended by him, upon the roads. Persons intending to commute, within 24
hours after notice to appear and work, pay the commutation money, and without
payment the commutation is not complete.
The overseer may require, a team, cart, wagon or plough with a paiir of horses
or oxen and driver, iFrom any person having them, who is assessed three or more
days and has not commuted,, and the person furnishing the same is entitled to a
credit of three days, for one day's service therewith. Persons liable and warned,
may appear in person or by substitute, and work eight hours per day, under pen
alty of a fine of 12| cents for every hour's default, payable by the party assessed,
or if he be idle, or faithless, or hinder others, or fail to commute or appear, he for
feits one dollar. And failing, if required, to furnish team, carriage, man or im
plements, he is finable for wholly omitting, to comply with the requisition, three
dollars; omitting to furnish cart, wagon or plough, or a pair of horses or oxen,
or a man to manage the team, one dollar, per day.
The overseer, within six days after any penalty for refusal or neglect is incur
red by persons assessed and warned to labour, unless satisfactory excuse be ren
dered, complains on oath, to a justice of the town, who summons the delinquent
to appear forthwith, to show cause why he should not be fined; and if upon the
return, such cause be not shown, the justice issues a warrant to the constable to
levy fine and costs, for the use of the highways. The penalty is set off against
the assessment, estimating every dollar collected, as a day's work. The acceptance
of excuse by the overseer, does not-exempt the excused from commuting for or
working the time, for which he is assessed.
.The overseer, on or before the 1st October, annually, delivers to the supervisor,
a list of the lands of non residents, or persons unknown, taxed on his lists, en
which the labour assessed has not been paid, and the amount unpaid; making and
subscribing thereon, oath before a justice, that be has given the requisite notice,
and that the labor has not been performed; under penalty on failure to deliver the
list, or make the affidavit, of five dollars, and the amount of tax unpaid, rated at
62j cents per day, recoverable by the commissioners and applied to the roads.
The supervisor lays such lists before his board, who cause the arrearages of la
bour estimated as above, to be levied on the lands so returned, as the contingent
charges of the county are levied, and directs their payment to the commissioners
to be applied to the roads and bridges in the district, for which the labour was as-

The overseer, on the second Tuesday, next preceding the annual town meeting,
within his official year, renders to a commissioner, an account, on oath, adminis
tered by him in writing, containing the names of all persons assessed to labour,
within his district, of those who have worked, with the number of days work; of
those who have been fined and thesums imposed: of those who have commuted,
and the manner of expending the fines and commutations: a list of lands returned
to the supervisors for nonpayment of taxes, and the amount of tax on each tract
so returned. If it appear by such return, that any person, other than non resi
dents, assessed to work has neglected to work the whole number of days to him
assessed, and has not commuted for, or otherwise satisfied such deficiency, the
commissioners re-assess the deficiency, to the delinquent at the next highway as
sessment and add it to his annual assessment. But the re-assessment does not
exonerate the overseerfrom any penalty, he may have incurred.
Such overseer, then and there, pays to the commissioners all moneys in his
hands to be expended upon the roads, &c. in any manner they may direct. The
overseer failing to render such account, or to pay such moneys, forfeits five dollars,
recoverable with such moneys by the commissioners, to be so applied; and the com-

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT;

113

missioners are required to prosecute for such penalty, in every .instance in: which
no return is made.
5. Any person, assessable for highway labour may apply by writing, to the
commissioners of the proper town, to lay out, alter, or discontinue a road.
When the commissioners, upon application or otherwise, lay out, alter, or dis
continue a road, they cause a survey thereof to be incorporated with their order,
and recorded with the town clerk, who notes the time of record, and posts a copy
thereof on the door of the house where the town meeting is usually held; and the
time limited for appealing from such order is computed from that of the record.
No public or private road may be laid, without consent of the owner, through
any orchard or garden, if the orchard be of four years growth or more, or the gar
den have been cultivated four years or more; nor through any building, fixtures, or
erections for trade or manufactures, yards or enclosures necessary thereto. *
No highway may be laid through enclosed, improved, or cultivated land, with
out consent ofthe owner or occupant, unless certified to be necessary, by the oath
of 12 respectable freeholders of the town; the applicant for such- highway posts
notices at three of the most public places of the town, designating the route, the
tracts through which it is proposed to pass, and the time and place at which the
freeholders will meet to examine the ground,Jsix days before such time.
If 12 such freeholders, not interested in such lands, nor of kin'to the owner, ap
pear, at the time and place designated, they are sworn by a justice of the peace or
any officer authorised to administer oaths, well and truly to examine and certify to
the necessity and propriety of the proposed highway. They examine" the route,
and hear the reasons pro and con, and, if they deetrfit proper, make, subscribe and '
deliver to the commissioners a certificate to that effect.
Before the commissioners determine to lay out such highway, they notify the
occupant of Jhe land through which it is to run, of the time and place at which
they will decide upon the application; delivering-the notice to him or at his dwell
ing, at least three days before the meeting. 'If, after hearing, they resolve to make
the road, they subscribe a certificate, describing it by routes and bounds, courses
and distances, and deposit the same with the town clerk.
The damages, sustained by opening such road, are ascertained by agreement of
the owner and the commissioners, when not exceeding twenty-five dollars; un
less such agreement be made or the owner release his claim, they are assessed as
hereinafter described, before the road is opened, worked, or used. The agreement
and release are filed with the town clerk, and preclude all further claim for damages.
On the application of the commissioners or owners, to two justices of the town,
they issue their warrant to some constable of some other town of the county,
neither interested, nor of kin to any interested, in the land, directing him to sum
mon 12 disinterested freeholders, residing in a town other than that in which the
road is laid, and not of kin to the owner of such land, to assess the damages;
specifying the time and place at which the jury shall meet. Upon appearance of
the jury, the justices draw by lot, six of their names, and the first six, free from
legal exceptions, form the jury of assessment. *
In, all cases of assessment, the assessors view and examine the premises; and
before determination, the freeholders making it, are sworn well and truly to deter
mine and assess the damages.
The Verdict of the jury is received and certified by the justices, summoning
them, and by them delivered to the commissioners, who cause a copy thereof to
be delivered to the supervisor of the proper town to be laid before the board of
the county; who examine into the principles, and the fairness and justice of the
assessment, and increase or reduce the damages, as they deem proper.
The amount of damages, as finally settled by the board, or liquidated as above,
by the commissioners, together with the charges of the commissioners, justices,
surveyors and others making the assessment, are levied in the town, within which
is the highway, and paid to the commissioners thereof, who pay the owner the
sum assessed to him, and the_ charges where due.
When any person is the owner of land, over which a' high way runs, and which
is discontinued, in whole or in part, by reason of another road to be laid out
through his lands, the assessors of damage, calculate the value 'of the road dis
continued, and the benefit to him resulting.from the discontinuance, and deduct such
15

114 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
value from the damages they assess for opening the new road, and thereupon the
owner may enclose so much of the discontinued road as belongs to him.
When the commissioners of one town disagree with those of another, of the same
county ,relating to the lay ing out a new road or altering an old one,extending into both
towns; or when the commissioners of a town in one county, disagree with those
of a town in another county, relative to the making or altering a road extending
into both counties, the commissioners of both, meet together at request of either
disagreeing commissioners, and determine on the subject of disagreement.
When a highway is required on the line between two towns, it is laid out by
two or more commissioners of each, upon the line or as near thereto as the conve
nience of the ground admits, varying upon either side, accordingly; andtthe com
missioners divide the road into two or more districts, so that the labour and.-ex-
perfie of opening, working and repairing it through each district, may be equalised,
and allot an equal number of such districts to each of the towns; and each such
district is deemed as wholly belonging to the town to which it is allotted, and the
highway, with the partition and allotment, is recorded in the office of the town
clerk, of each such towns.
When application is made to the commissioners*"for a private road, they convene
a jury of twelve, as above directed, of the town where the land lies through which
the proposed road is to run, to meet on a day certain, of which notice is given to
the owner or occupant, of such land. The jury sworn as above directed, view the
lands, and, determining in favour of the road, make a certificate as aforesaid and the
commissioners lay it out and cause a record thereof to be made in the town clerk's
office. The damages to the owner of land are ascertained as in case of a public
highway, and paid by the applicant.
Such private road is for the use of the applicant, but may not be converted to
any other purpose than a road; nor may the owner of theland over which it is laid
use the road, unless he have signified his intention to the assessors of damages,
before their ascertainment.
Public roads are not less, and private ones not more, than three rods wide.
When application is made for the discontinuance of an old road, as useless and
unnecessary, the commissioners summon a jury as above described, to consider oa
a day certain, such application: who, being duly sworn well and truly to examine
and certify the propriety of the discontinuance, view the road, and, deeming it use
less and unnecessary, make and subscribe the proper certificate to the commis
sioners, who thereupon decide upon the application.
The commissioners file all applications, certificates, and other papers relating to
the laying out, altering, or discontinuing of any road, as soon as they have decided
thereon, in the office of the town clerk.
Any one aggrieved by the determination of the commissioners, relative to the
making, altering, or discontinuing a road, may, within 60 days thereafter, appeal
to any three judges of the court of common pleas of the county; but neither his
appeal nor a decision thereon concludes or affects the appeals of others made in
due season. The appeal is in writing, addressed to the judge, and signed by the
appellant; stating the ground, and whether it is brought to reverse entirely the de
termination of the commissioners, or only a part, specifying such part.
Where the appeal is from the determination against an application for laying
out, altering, or continuing a road, the judges notify the commissioners, by whom
it was made: Where from a determination in favour of such application, the no
tice is to the commissioners, and to one or more of the applicants for the road— in
all cases, the notice specifics the time and place, at which' the judges will hear the
appeal, and is served, at least, eight days before the time, by delivery to, or at
the dwelling of, one of the commissioners— and when served upon an applicant, is
in the same manner.
The judges hear the proofs and allegations of the parties; and have power to
issue process to compel the attendance of witnesses, and to adjourn from time to
time. Their decision, or that of any two, conclusive in the premises, is reduced
to writing, signed by them, and filed and recorded with the town clerk. Each
judge receives two dollars per day, from the appellant, when the determination of
the commissioners is affirmed; otherwise from the county.
Where the appeal is from the refusal of the commissioners " to lay out 'a road,
and their decision is reversed? the judges layout or alter the road applied for,

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. 115
proceeding in the same manner as directed for the commissioners; and the road is
opened by the commissioners as if laid out by themselves.
*1( the office of one of such judges become vacant pending the appeal, the others
associate with them another of the judges of the same court.
No road fixed by the decision of such judges can be discontinued or altered, so
long as they, or either of them, continue in commission, except by their order, or
the order of such as continue in commission, joined with such others as shall be
necessary to make three — the additional judge or judges are selected by the ap
plicant for discontinuance or alteration. If none of such judges continue in com
mission, such application is to three of the judges of the same court, not interested
in the road. No such application is acted on by the judges, unless accompanied
by a certificate of approval from the proper commissioners; and before decision
thereon they view the road. Their compensation, as above, is paid by the appli
cant. • ,4,.
When the commissioners have laid out a highway through enclosed, cultivated,
or improved land, and their determination is not appealed from, they give the own
er or occupant of such land, 60 days notice, in writing, to remove his fences; and
if h,e fail, cause them to be removed, and the road to be opened and worked. If
the determination have been appealed from, such notice is given after the decision
of the judges thereon, shall have been filed with the town clerk.
Every public highway laid out, and not opened and worked, within six years,
ceases to be a road for any purpose.
•. All public highways in use in the year 1829, theretofore laid out and allowed by
law, of which a record has been made in the office of town or county clerk; and
all roads not recorded, which have, or shall have, been used as public highways,
for twenty years or more, are deemed public highways; alterable according to law.
And the commissioners are required to order the overseers, to open all roads to
the width of two rods, at least, which they judge to have been used as public high
ways for 20 years.
The commissioners may givawritten consent, to associations or individuals, con
structing a rail road, crossing any public road or highway, to use and cross such
road, not impairing its usefulness.
6.Whoever obstructs any highway, or fills up or obstructs any ditch for draining
water therefrom, forfeits five dollars.
Where a highway is encroached on by fences, erected by an occupant of the
land, through or by which it passes, the commissioners may, by order in writing,
direct them to be removed, so that the road may be of the breadth originally in
tended — giving notice, in writing, to the occupant to remove them within 60 days,
and specifying in the order and notice, the proper breadth of the road, the extent
of the encroachment, and its locations. The occupant notified, failing to remove
them, forfeits 50 cents, for each day's delay, after that time.
If such occupant deny the encroachment, the commissioners apply to a justice,
for a precept, to any constable of the town, to summon twelve freeholders, to meet
at a designated time and place, not less than four days after the issuing thereof, to
inquire into the premises; and the constable gives three days notice to the com
missioners, and occupant, of the time and place of meeting. The jury sworn by
the justice, well and truly to inquire whether any, and bywhom, such encroachment
has been made, hear the witnesses, also so sworn, and the proofs and allegations
adduced. If the jury find the encroachment, they subscribe a certificate, stating its parti
culars, and by whom made, to be filed with the town clerk. The occupant, whe
ther the encroachment be by him or his predecessor, removes such fences within
60 days after the filing of such certificate, under the penalty last above provided,
and pays the cost of inquest; for which, if not paid within 10 days, the justice
may issue his warrant. .-
. The jury, finding no encroachment, so certify; and also ascertain and certify the
damages, which the then occupant shall have sustained by the proceeding; which,
with the costs, are paid by the commissioners, and charged against the town.
But no person may be required so to remove any fence, except between the
first of April, and the first of November, in any year.
If any tree fall, or be felled, from any inclosed land, into the highway, any per
son may notify the occupant of the Jand to remove it, within two days. If it re-

116 GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
main, after that time, the occupant forfeits 50 cents, for every day thereafter, until
it be removed.
If any person cut down a tree, on land not occupied by him, so that it fall into a
highway, river, or stream, unless by the order and consent of the occupant, he
forfeits to such occupant, one dollar for every tree so felled, and the like sum, for
every day the same remains in the highway, river, or stream. ^
Whoever cuts, or causes to be cut, any tree, so that it fall into a river, or stream,
declared a public highway, and does not remove it therefrom, within.24 hours
thereafter, forfeits 5 dollars. *
No gates are allowed on- any public highway, other than such as run through
lands liable to be overflowed by the waters of the adjacent rivers or streams, in
such manner as to remove the fences thereon; and such gates are to be erected and
kept in "repair by the overseers, at the charge of the occupant of the land for whose
benefit they may be erected. If more than one be erected, and the land between
the gates, at the extremities thereof, be occupied by more than one person, bene
fited thereby, the charge of erecting, and repair, is borne by all such occupants, in
proportion to the extent of land, which each occupies, adjoining the highway, be
tween such gates.
The overseer of every road district, in which such gates are, on or before the
1st Of November, annually, makes out, on oath, and files with the town clerk, a
statement ofthe charges incurred in erecting, or repair, thereof, with the name of
the person bound to defray the charge, or if more than one, an apportionment be
tween such persons, stating the amount payable by each. And within teifrdays
after filing, demands from him or them the sum due; and on failure of payment,
within six days after demand, complains to a justice, when like proceedings are
had, for recovery thereof, as is for fines, on failure to work on highways.
The commissioners file an account of such gates in the town clerk's office;
and if any person open such gate, and do not immediately after having passed,
close it, or wilfully, or unnecessarily, ride over any of the grounds adjoining the
road on which such gates are, he forfeits to the party injured, treble damages.
7. If the board of supervisors of a county deem that any one of its towns would
be unreasonably burthened by erecting, or repairing a necessary bridge or bridges
therein, they cause the whole, or such part of the requisite sum, not exceeding
$1000, in one year, to be levied upon the county, and to be paid to the commis
sioners ofthe town in which it is to be expended.
In case the commissioners of any town be dissatisfied, with the determination
ofthe board of supervisors, touching such allowance, it may be revised by the
court of common pleas, whose order thereon, is observed by the board.
The commissioners of each town may put up and maintain, in conspicuous
places, at each end of any bridge, maintained at the public charge, the length of
whose chord is not less than 25 feet, a notice, in large letters, with the following
words: " one dollar fine, for riding or driving on this bridge, faster than a walk,"
and such sum is recoverable from any one who disregards the prohibition.
Whoever injures a bridge, maintained at the public charge, forfeits for every
offence, treble damages.
8. Two commissioners of highways, of any town, may make any order in exe
cution of the powers given by law, provided it appear in the order filed by , them,
that all such commissioners met, and deliberated, on the subject embraced "in it, or
were notified to attend a meeting ofthe commissioners, for the purpose of delibe
rating thereon.
All trees standing or lying on any land, over which a highway may be laid, are
for the proper use of the owner or occupant of such land, except such as may be
requisite to make or repair the highways, or bridges, thereon.
The owner of land adjoining a highway, not less than three rods wide, may set
out trees on the side thereof contiguous to his land, in regular rows, at least six
feet from each other: whoever destroys or injures any such tree, is liable in damages
to the owner.
Whoeverdestroys, removes, injures, ordefaces any mile board or stone,or injures or
defaces any description affixed to a guide post, on any highway, forfeits for each
offence, ten dollars, and is guilty of misdemeanour, and on conviction, finable, not
exceeding 50 dollars, or subject to imprisonment, not exceeding three months, at
the discretion of the court.

Internal improvement. 117
Whoever injures a highway, by obstructing or diverting any creek, watercourse,
or sluice, or by drawing logs or timber, on the surface of any road or bridge, or by
any other act, forfeits treble damages.
All penalties or forfeitures given by law, relative to roads, not otherwise, spe
cially, provided for, are recoverable, by the commissioners of highways of the
town, in which the offence is committed, to be applied to road and bridge purposes
therein. 9.The court of common pleas, in each county, grants license for ferries therein, to
as many suitable persons as they deem proper, for a term fixed by the court, not
exceeding three years — only to the owner of the land, through which the highway
passes, unless he neglect to apply for license, after notice. The application of
any other must be accompanied with proof, that the applicant, at least eight
days before the sitting of the court, gave notice thereof to such owner.
Every applicant, before license is granted, enters into a recognizance, filed with
the county clerk, in the sum of one hundred dollars, faithfully to attend such ferry
with so many proper boats, implements, and hands, as may be necessary, during
the several hours, and. at such several rates, as the court may from time to time
direct. Every license is recorded by the clerk, and an attested copy is given to
the grantee; and, if the waters, over which the ferry is, divide two counties, a
license obtained in either, is good. The grantee,violating his recognizance, is guilty
of misdemeanour, and punishable by fine, not exceeding twenty-five dollars, for
each offence, and the estreatment of the recognizance, for the use of the state.
If any person, except in the counties of Orange, Rockland, Westchester, and the
counties ofthe first Senate district, use any ferry for profit or hire, unless licensed,
he is guilty of misdemeanour, and liable to be fined, for the use of the county, not
exceeding $25, for each offence; and if committed on waters dividing two coun
ties, may be prosecuted in either; but in such case, the fine may not exceed $12 50
for each offence. *.¦¦'.--,

BOOK II.
COMPREHENDING A POLITICAL VIEW OF THE STATE.

CHAPTER I.
POLITICAL POWER— DISTRIBUTION— OF THE LEGISLATIVE POWER.
1. Political Power derived from the People — Laws divided into Supreme and Subordi-
nate 2. Territorial Divisions for Political objects. 3. Measures for Distributing Power
according to Population — Census. 4. Restrictions imposed by the People, on their
Representatives. 5. Division of the Political Power into three branches. 6.-Legislative
Power — Senate — Assembly — Provisions relating to both Houses — Provisions relating
to Applications to the Legislature — Forms of Legislation — Action of the Governor in
Legislation — Preservation of the Laws — Officers of the Legislature — Compensation of
Members and Officers — Restriction as to Holding Office, on Members of the Legis
lature. 1. The State of New York is a body politic, constituted by the people within
its geographical bounds, over whom no authority can be exercised, which is not
derived from them. " 1
For the maintenance of social order, and consequent promotion of individual
happiness, the people have established supreme and subordinate laws; the former
made irrevocable, except' by their assent specially given; the latter, mutable by
their agents, in the Congress of the United States, and in the State General As
sembly. The Supreme Law consists, of the Constitution and Laws of the United States,
and the Constitution of this State.
In becoming a member of the United States, this state, in common with the
others, decreed that, " The Constitution,and the Laws of the United States, which
shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made,
under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and
the Judges in every state, shall be bound thereby, any thing in the constitution or
laws of any state, to the contrary notwithstanding." (Art.' 6.)
The constitution of the state can be altered, only in the following manner: any
amendment, thereto, may be proposed in the senate or assembly, and if agreed to,
by a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses, is entered on their
journals, with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and referred to the legislature, next
to be chosen; and published for three months, previous to such choice; and, if in
such legislature, the proposed\amendment be approved by two-thirds ofthe mem
bers elected to each house, such legislature submits the amendment to the people,
in such manner, and at such time, as it shall prescribe; and if the people ratify the
amendment, by a majority ofthe electors qualified to vote for members ofthe le
gislature, voting thereon, it becomes part of the constitution.
For the more convenient administration of the government, the state is distri
buted into counties, senatorial districts, and congressional districts.
The counties are,
Albany, Erie, Monroe, Queens, Tioga,
Allegany, Essex, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Tompkins,
Broome, Franklin, New York, Richmond, Ulster,
Cattaraugus, Genesee, * Niagara, Rockland, Warren,
Cayuga, Greene, > Oneida, Saratoga, " Washington,
Chautauque, Hamilton, . . Oonondaga, Schenectady, Wayne,
Chenango, Herkimer, Ontario, Schoharie, Westchester,
Clinton, Jefferson, ^ Orange, Seneca, Yates. — —56.
Columbia, Kings, Orleans, St. Lawrence,
Cortland, Lewis, Oswego, Steuben,
Delaware, Livingston, Otsego, Suffolk,
Dutchess, Madison, Putnam, Sullivan,

TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS.

119

There are eight senatorial districts; the bounds of which, being about to be mo
dified, in consequence of the census -of 1835, will be given in the Appendix. ^
There are thirty-three congressional districts, arranged as follows, each electing
the number of members to congress, respectively attached,

IstDistS Suffolk,
£ Queens,
r Rockland,
< Richmond,
(_ Kings,
New York,
c Putnam,
£ Westchester,
Dutchess, Orange, r Ulster,
| Sullivan,
c Columbia,
< Greene,
C Schoharie,
Rensselaer, Albany, c Saratoga,
I Schenectady,
Washington

2d 3d4th 5th 6th7th 8th9th 10th Uth 12th

13th

Uth 15th
16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22d 23d

C Warren
< Essex,
C Clinton,
5 St.Lawrence.
C Franklin,
- S Montgomery
c Hamilton,
C Lewis,
L Herkimer,
S Oneida,
C Oswego,
Jefferson, Otsego, C Delaware,
i, Broome,
Chenango, r Cortland,
< Tompkins,
(.Tioga,
O

1.

24th 25th26th 27th 28th 29th 30th 31st 32d. 33d

Madison,Cayuga,:'-^: c Wayne,
\ Seneca,
Ontario, Steuben, C Yates,
I Monroe,
Genesee, f Allegany,
£ Livingston,
C Cattaraugus,
(_ Chautauque,
Erie, i Niagara, Orleans.

2. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1.

nond
The counties,°ordinarily,"are subdivided into cities, towns, and villages.
The cities are,— -1. New York, also, a county,
2. Albany, Albany county, 6. Utica, Oneida county,
3. Troy, Rensselaer, " 7. Buffalo, Erie, "
4. Hudson, Columbia, " 8. Rochester,Monroe, "
5. Schenectady, Sohenectadjr, 9. Brooklyn, Kings. "
Cities are again subdivided into wards.
The number of towns in each county varies with its size and population. The
whole number, on the 1st of January, 1836, was 788.
Villages are parts of towns, and are either incorporated, or unincorporated. In
corporated villages, are boroughs, having charters, granted by the legislature,
similar in some respects, to cities; and are commonly governed by a president and
trustees, generally five in number, annually elected by the inhabitants resident
within the corporate bounds. On the 1st of January, 1836, there were 123 incor
porated villages within the state.
¦, Unincorporated villages, are congregated dwellings, and their number cannot
readily be ascertained, until it is determined, what consitutes a village. We have
placed on the maps, almost every collection of houses which has a name. The
number probably exceeds one thousand.
Notice of applications to the legislature, for the erection of a new county, the
incorporation of a city or village, or alteration of the bounds of either, must be
published, according to law, and a survey and map ofthe subject, verified by oath
of the surveyor, be laid before the legislature, to be filed, if any law be made rela
tive thereto, with the surveyor general.
No town is divided or altered, nor any new town erected, without application to
the legislature, by the inhabitants thereof, or some of the towns- from which the
new one is to be formed; notice of which, subscribed by at least five residents and
freeholders, is affixed upon the outer door of the house, where the next meeting is
to be holden, ten days before such^ meeting, in each town, and a copy is rgad at
each town meeting, by the clerk,, immediately before the election of towft- officers.
The application must be accompanied by a map, as .above directed.
3.That, representation may be duly maintained- upon the ratiaof papulation, an
enumeration ofthe inhabitants ofthe state' is made, decennially, from the year
1825. To that end, the secretary of states before the 1st of May, of such tenth
year, transmits to the respective county clerks, ^duplicate forms, provided by law,
for each ward or town of the respective counties;' The common councils ofthe
cities, and the supervisors, town clerks, and assessors of the towns, before the first
Monday of July, appoint a marshal in the respective wards and, towns, to whom
the county clerk distributes such forms, before the 15th day of July. *

120 POLITICAL VIEW-
Whereupon, the marshal proceeds to enumerate the inhabitants pf his ward, or
town, by obtaining from the head of each family — the number, males and females
therein— of males subject to militia duty — aliens — paupers — persons of colour not
taxed — persons of jeolour taxed, and entitled to vote — married females under the
age of 45 years — unmarried females, between 16 and 45 — and under 16 years —
the/ number of marriages — births, males, females— deaths, males, females-sthe
number of persons, deaf and dumb, or blind, idiots and lunatics, distinguishing
their sex, ages, and circumstances, in each family,( including in his return of such
family, every person whose usual place of abode is therein — and in the number of
persons, in his district, such as may be casually absent.)
The marshal, also, obtains and returns the following statistical information — the
number of acres of improved land — of neat cattle — of sheep — of hogs— owned by
each family; the number — of yards of fulled, or nnfulled, cloth — of linen, cotton,
or other cloths — made, in the domestic way, by each family, during the preceding
year; the number of grist, saw, oil, fulling, clover and paper, mills — of carding
machines — of cotton, woollen, glass, rope, chain cable, oil cloth, dyeing and printing
factories — of iron works, trip hammers, distilleries, asheries, tanneries, and brew
eries — and the value of raw materials used, and of the articles manufactured, in
each. The return of the marshal, on oath, is made to the clerk of the county, before
the first of December; who, before the second Tuesday of January, following,
transmits to the secretary of state, an abstract thereof, containing the sum total, in
each ward and town of his county, of the particulars above required., and the sum
total of each, of such particulars.
The secretary of state reports, to the legislature, a general account of the enu
meration, specifying the result in the several towns, wards, cities, and counties,
with a recapitulation of the whole.
The accounts ofthe marshals, for their services, are audited, collected, and paid,
as part of the contingent expense of the county.
The head, or member of a family, above the age of 21 years, refusing, to the
marshal, the information above reqnired, or reporting falsely, is liable to the pe
nalty of $25, recoverable by the commissioners, for the use of common schools,
in the respective towns. RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE.
4. The people have asserted their rights and circumscribed the power of their
representatives, by the following declarations.
No authority, not granted by them, can, on any pretence, be exercised over them.
No tax, duty, aid or imposition, unless by law of the United States, can be
levied upon them, without their assent by their representatives in Senate and As
sembly; nor can any citizen be compelled to contribute to any gift, loan, tax or
other like charge, not so imposed.
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the
right of the people to keep and' bear arms, cannot be infringed.
No citizen can be constrained to arm, to go out of the state, or to find soldiers,
without the assent of the people by their representatives; or in cases especially
provided for by the constitution of the United States.
Inhabitants of the state, of any religious denomination, conscientiously scrupu
lous of bearing arms, shall be excused therefrom, on paying to the state, an equiva
lent in money; to be estimated according to the expense in time and money, of an
ordinary able bodied militia man, and collected by law. (Const. Art. 7.)
No soldier can, in time of peace, be quartered in any house, without consent of
the owner; nor, in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. (3 Amend.
Con. IT. S.)
No member pf this state can be disfranchised, or deprived of any rights or pri
vileges secured to any citizen thereof, unless by law of the land or the judgment
of his peers. (Const. Art. 7.) '
The trial by jury, in all cases in which it has heretofore been used, remains
inviolate for ever; and no new court can be instituted, which shall not proceed by
the course of the common law; except such courts of equity, as tbe legislature,
by the constitution' may establish. (Ibid.)
The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession, and worship, without

LEGISLATIVE POWER. 121
discrimination or preference, is forever to be allowed in this state, to all mankind;
but the liberty of conscience, so secured, shall not excuse acts of licentiousness,
nor justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of the state. (Ibid.)
The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus cannot be suspended, unless, when,
in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it. (Ibid.)
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects,
against unreasonable searches and seizures, ought not to be violated; and no war
rants can issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and
particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or -things to be
seized. (4 Am. Con. U. S.)
No person can be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime (ex
cept in cases of impeachment, and in cases of the militia when in actual service,
and of the land and naval forces, in time of war, or which the state may keep with
the consent of Congress, in time of peace; and in cases of petit larceny, under
the regulation of the legislature) unless, on presentment or indictment of a grand
jury; and in every trial on impeachment or indictment, the party accused is al
lowed counsel as in civil actions, or he may appearand defend, in person. (Con.
Art. 7.)
No person is subject, for the same offence, to be twice put in jeopardy of life or
limb; nor to be compelled in any criminal case to witness against himself; nor to be
deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor can private
property be taken for public use, without just compensation. (Ibid.)
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused has a right to a speedy and public trial,
by an impartial jury; to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to
be confronted with the witnesses against him; and to have compulsory process for
obtaining witnesses in his favour. (6 Am. Con. U. S.)
Neither justice nor right should be sold, nor denied, nor deferred; and writs and
process ought to be granted freely and without delay to all requiring them, on
payment of the fees established by law.
No citizen should be fined or amerced without reasonable cause; and the fine or
amercement, should be always apportioned to the nature of the offence.
Excessive bail should not be required, nor excessive fines imposed; nor cruel
nor unusual punishments inflicted. (8 Am. Con. U. S.)
All elections should be free; and no person by force of arms, malice, menace
or otherwise, should presume to disturb or hinder any citizen in the free exercise
of the right of suffrage.
It is thVright of the citizen to petition the governor or either house of the le
gislature; /and all commitments and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal.
Every citizen may freely speak, write, and publish his sentiments, on all sub
jects, being responsible for the abuse of that right; and no law can be passed to
restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. (Cons. Art. 7.)
In all prosecutions or indictments for libels, the truth may be given in evidence,
to the jury; and if it-appear to them, that the matter charged as libellous is true,
and was published for good motives and for justifiable ends, the party shall be ac
quitted; and the jury may determine the law and the fact. (Ibid.)
No lottery may be authorised in the state, and the legislature is required to pre
vent the sale of lottery tickets therein.
5. To guard against the abuses which are inevitable, where the whole political
power, is in the same hands, the people have distributed it, into three departments,
denominated the Legislative, Judicial and Executive.
LEGISLATIVE POWER.
6. The Legislative Power, is vested in a Senate and Assembly, and a Governor.
The Senate, consists of 32 freeholders; four from each Senatorial district, cho
sen for four years; who, at their first meeting after the adoption of the present
constitution, (10th Nov. 1821.) were divided by lot, into four classes, containing
eight each; the first class, to serve one; the second, two; the third, three; and the
fourth, four, years; so that, one Senator, might be subsequently, annually, elected,
from each district.
At the first session after each decennial enumeration, the senatorial districts are
so altered by the legislature, that each shall contain, as nearly as may be, an
equal number of inhabitants, excluding aliens, paupers and persons of colour, not
16

122 POLITICAL VIEW.
taxed; each district being formed of contiguons territory, in which there is no
fraction of a county, and continuing unalterable, until the return of another enu
meration. The Lt. Governor presides in the senate, having a casting voice, only, therein;
when he does not attend, or when he acts as Governor, the senate elects a tempo
rary president.
The Assembly consists, permanently, of 128 members, annually chosen; ap
portioned among the several counties, upon the principle adopted in case of the
senators, at the same time, and for the same term. Every county established at
the adoption of the constitution, and separately organised, is entitled to one mem
ber; and no new county may be erected, unless its population entitle it to a mem
ber. (Cons.)
The legislature assembles at the capitol, in Albany, on the 1st Tuesday of Janu
ary, annually, unless a different day be appointed by law. (Cons.)
A majority of each house constitutes a quorum for business. Each determines
the rules of its proceedings, judges of the qualifications of its members, and chooses
its own officers, except in case of the president of the senate, as above mentioned.
Each keeps a journal of its proceedings, publishes such parts as do not require
secrecy, and sits with open doors, except when the public welfare forbids. Neither
adjourns, without the consent ofthe other, for more than two days. (Ibid.)
Every member of the legislature is privileged from arrest or civil process, (un
less in suit against him for any forfeiture, misdemeanour, or breach of trust, in an
office or place of public trust,) during his attendance at the session of his house —
for 14 days previous to such session — whilst going to or returning from such ses
sion, not exceeding 16 days — and whilst absent with leave of the house. , Officers
of either house are also privileged from arrest, on civil process while in actual at
tendance on the house.
For any speech in either house, a member may not be questioned elsewhere.
Each house may expel any member, and punish its members and officers for
disorderly behaviour, by imprisonment; but no member may be expelled, until a
report of a committee, upon the facts alleged, as the ground of expulsion, shall
have been made. Each house may punish, by imprisonment, contempts against
it; but that power is now confined to the following offences: arrest of a member or
officer of the house in violation of his privilege: disorderly conduct in the im
mediate view and presence of the house, tending directly to interrupt its proceed
ings: publishing any false, and malicious report, of the proceedings ofthe house,
or of the conduct of a member, in his legislative capacity: refusing to attend,
or be examined as a witness, before the house, or committee, or before any person
authorised to take testimony in legislative proceedings; giving, or offering a
bribe to a member, or attempting by menace, or other corrupt means, to control a
member in his vote, or to prevent him from voting. Imprisonment, in such cases,
does not extend beyond the session of the legislature, inflicting it.
The assembly, a majority of its members elected, convening, may impeach all
civil officers, for malconduct in office, and high crimes, and misdemeanours. (Cons)
The clerks of the senate, and assembly, respectively give bond, with security,
approved by the comptroller, in the penal sum of $5000, conditioned for the faith
ful performance of duty, and application of funds coming officially to their hands;
they prepare for the state printer indices of their journals, and for which, they are
respectively allowed $ 50, and, when a concurrent resolution passes the legisla
ture, the clerk of the house in which it originated, furnishes a certified copy to the
secretary of state to be published with the laws, when the secretary deems it ne
cessary. Persons applying — to divide, or alter the bounds of, any county, city, or village;
to erect a new county; to incorporate a new city, or village; to remove any court
house — or for the imposition of a tax for making, or improving a road — or for any
other local county purpose, where the inhabitants are proposed to be taxed — must
give notice of their intention, by advertisement, published, at least six weeks,
successively, immediately before the application, or the first day ofthe session at
which it is to be made, in a newspaper of the county, or of each of the counties,
where the objects of such application are to be effected, and also, in case of ap
plication for the imposition of any such tax, in the state paper.
Every association applying for an act of incorporation, or being incorporated,
asking an alteration, amendment, or extension of its charter, gives like notice in

LEGISLATIVE POWER. 123
the state paper, and in a paper printed in the county where such corporation is, or
is to be. If the application be for incorporation, the notice specifies the amount
of capital proposed; if for alteration of charter, it states, specifically, the proposed
alteration. The notice of other applications, declares their nature and objects.
When there is no newspaper printed in the proper county, the notice may be pub
lished in the nearest place where such paper is printed.
Any bill may originate in either house, and all bills passed by one may be
amended by the other. (Cons. Art. 1.)
The assent of two thirds ofthe members of the legislature is requisite to every
bill, appropriating public moneys^ or property for local or private purposes, or
creating, continuing, altering, or renewing any body politic or corporate. Such
assent must be certified by the presiding officer of the house. (Cons. Art. 7.)
Every bill, so passed, before tt becomes a law, is presented to the governor,
who, if he approve, signs it; but if not, returns it with his objections to the house
in which it originated ; and such house, entering his objections, at large, on
its journal, reconsiders it. If, then, two thirds of the members present pass it, it
is sent with the objections to the other house, where it js likewise reconsidered,
and, if approved by two thirds of the members tljere present, becomes a law. In
all such cases, the votes of both houses are determined by yeas and nays, and en
tered on their respective journals. (Cons. Art. 1.)
If a bill be not returned by the governor within ten days,'after it is presented to
him, it becomes a law, as if he had signed it, unless the legislature, by adjourn
ment, prevent its return ; in which case, it is not a law. (Ibid.)
_. The secretary of state deposits in his office all bills, enacted into laws, certify
ing, thereon, the day, month, and year of their enactment ; and such certificate is
conclusive of the facts therein stated. Every law, unless otherwise prescribed
therein, commences and takes effect throughout the commonwealth, on the 20th
day after its passage, so certified. The secretary forthwith delivers * certified
copy of such law (other than acts of incorporation) and of his indorsement, to
the state printer for publication.
The officers of the legislature, are the lieutenant'governor, speaker of the senate;
a speaker of the assembly chosen from its own body ; a clerk, sergeant at arms,
doorkeeper, and] so many assistant doorkeepers and other subordinate officers, for
each house, as it may deem necessary.
A member of the legislature receives three dollars, the maximum allowedjby the
constitution, for every day of attendance and the like sum for every 20 miles of
the distance from his residence to the capitol, estimated by the most usual route,
and computed both for coming and going ; and so much for every day, he may be
detained on the road, or from his seat, by indisposition. He is paid, on the war
rant of the comptroller, upon the certificate of the presiding officer of the house to
which he belongs. No increase of compensation may take effect during the year,
in which it shall be made. (Cons. Art. 1.)
The clerk ofthe senate has an annual salary of $1200; the clerk ofthe assem
bly $1800 ; from which they compensate their respective assistants and clerks.
From funds advanced to them, they provide for the contingent expenses of their
respective houses, under the direction of the comptroller to whom they account.
The sergeant at arms and the doorkeeper of eaeh house, and the assistsnt door
keeper of the assembly, receive the same compensation as members of the legisla
ture for each day's attendance ; other officers, such sums as the respective houses
may allow.
No member of the legislature can receive any civil appointment from the gover
nor or senate, or from the legislature, during the time for which he has been
elected. (Cons.) Nor can a member elect be appointed by the governor to any
office during the term, for which he is elected ; but this prohibition does not
extend to those officers whose appointment is, by the constitution, ve'sted in the
governor. No person, being a member of congress or holding a judicial or military office
under the United States, can hold a seat in the legislature. If a member of the
legislature be elected to congress, or be appointed to any office, civil or military,
under the United States, his acceptance vacates bis seat in the legislature. (Cons.)
And he is deemed to have accepted the membership of congress, unless, within
10 days after the commencement of the term of service in the legislature, he no
tify, in writing, the secretary of state, of his determination not to accept.

124 POLITICAL VIEW.
CHAPTER II.
OF THE EXECUTIVE POWER.— AND ELECTIONS.
1. Qualifications for Governor, &c. 2. Election of. 3. Powers and Duties — Devolve
on Lieutenant Governor, when — upon President of the Senate, when. '4. Com
pensation. 5. Subordinate Executive Officers — how Appointed. 6. Secretary of Stata
— Deputy — Duties. 7. Comptroller, his Duties — Deputies — Compensation. 8. Trea.
surer— his Duties — Deputy — Compensation. 9. Attorney General — Duties-^Cpm-
pensation. 10. Surveyor General— Duties — Compensation. 11. State Printer— Duties
— Compensation. 12. Duties, common to two or more of the Executive Officers. 13.
List of Administrative Officers. 14. General Provisions respecting the Qualifications
and Appointment of Officers and Term of Office. 15 Of Elections, other than for
Militia and Town Officers— Qualifications of Voters— General and Special Elections-
Election Districts— Election Officers— Notices. 16. Manner of Conducting Elections
 Reception of Votes — Canvass by the Inspectors — Final Canvass — Duties of the Sec
retary of State, after Final Canvass — Representatives in Congress — Electors of Presi-
dent and Vice President — Senators in Congress — Penalties for Breach of Election
Laws. THE EXECUTIVE POWER IS SUPREME OR SUBORDINATE.
1. The supreme executive, power is vested in a governor, who holds his office
for two years; a lieutenant governor is chosen at the same time and for the same
term. The governor must be a native citizen of the United States, a freeholder,
and have attained the age of thirty five years, and have been five years resident
within the state, unless he have been absent duriug that time, on public business
ofthe United States, or of this state. (Cons.)
2. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected at the times and places of
choosing members of the legislature. The persons respectively having the highest
number of votes for such offices are elected, but if two or more have an equal
and highest number, therefor, the two houses of the legislature, by joint ballot,
choose one of them, for such office, respectively. (Ibid.)
3. The governor is general and commander in chief of the militia, and admiral
of the navy, of the 6tate. He, convenes the legislature (or senate only) on extra
ordinary occasions — communicates, by message, to the legislature, at every ses
sion, the condition of the state, and recommends to them such matters as he deems
expedient — transacts all necessary business with the officers of government, civil
and military — expedites all measures directed by the legislature, and takes care
that the laws be faithfully executed — receives, at stated times, for his services, a
compensation which can neither be increased nor diminished during the 'term for
which he has been elected. (Ibid.)
He may grant reprieves and pardons after conviction, for all offences, except
treason and cases of impeachment. Upon convictions for treason, he may suspend
the execution of the sentence, until the case be reported to the legislature at its
next meeting, when it either pardons, or directs the execution of the criminal, or
grants farther reprieve. (Ibid.)
In case of the impeachment, removal from office, death, resignation, or absence
from the state, of the governor, his powers and duties devolve on the lieutenant
governor, for the residue ofthe term, or until the governor, absent, or impeached,
return or be acquitted. But when the governor, with the consent of the legisla
ture, is out ofthe state, in time of war, at the head of a military force thereof, he
continues commander in chief of all the military force ofthe state. (Ibid.)
If, during a vacancy of the office of governor, the lieutenant governor be im
peached, displaced, die, or be absent from the state, the president of the senate acts
as governor until the vacancy be filled, or the disability cease. (Ibid.)
The governor nominates, and, with consent of the senate, appoints— all major
generals, brigade inspectors, and chief of the staff departments, except the adjutant
general and commissary general— all judicial officers (except justices of the peace)
— and masters and examiners in chancery lo hold office for three years, unless
sooner removed by the senate on his recommendation.
He has the custody of the great and privy seals, of which descriptions in writing
are deposited and recorded in the secretary's office.

EXECUTIVE POWER. 125
r He may, at his discretion, deliver over to justice, any person within the
state, charged with having committed, without the United States, any crime,
except treason, which, by the laws of this state, if committed therein, is punisha
ble by death, or imprisonment in the state prison, upon the requisition of the go
vernment, within whose jurisdiction the crime is charged to have been committed,
and upon such evidence of guilt of the accused, as would have justified his com
mitment for trial, had the crime charged been committed within the state. The
expense of apprehension and delivery, is payable by those to whom the accused is
delivered. On notice of suit, for the recovery of lands holden under warranty ofthe state,
he requires the attorney general to make defence thereto, and employs, at discre
tion, other counsel, to assist him, in such suits, or other suits, prosecuted or de
fended by the attorney general, in behalf of the state; and the fees, and other ex
penses, allowed by him, are payable to the attorney general, and such assistant,
from the treasury.
He transmits, free of expense, to the executive of each state, three copies of the
acts of the legislature, requesting a like communication, to him, of the laws of
the several states; depositing one copy of such laws received, in the state library;
and one in each chamber of the legislature. If one copy only be received, it is
deposited in the slate library. The expense of performing this, duty, is paid from
the treasury.
4.The governor receives an annual salary of $4000 — is allowed for house rent,
$800 — and, for postage, and other contingent expenses, $750. His private secre
tary receives $600 per annum; and the doorkeeper of the executive chamber, when
on duty, $3 per day.
The lieutenant governor has no fixed salary; but receives, for every day's at
tendance, as president of the senate, president of 1 lie court for trial of impeach
ments, and the correction of errors, or,. as commissioner ofthe canal fund, or land
office, six dollars per day. But is not entitled to compensation, as such commis
sioner, for attending any meeting of the canal board, or land office, held during the
session ofthe senate, or of the court. He is allowed the like compensation for
every 20 miles travelling to, and from, the place of meeting, in the discharge of
such duties.
5. The subordinate executive power, is confided to two classes of officers, the
one denominated " executive," and the other, " administrative."
The secretary of state, comptroller, attorney general, surveyor general, trea
surer, state printer, a private secretary for the governor, and a doorkeeper of the
executive chamber, are styled " executive officers."
The first four are thus appointed: the senate and assembly, each, openly nomi
nate one person for the office to be filled; after which, the houses meet together;
if the nominations agree, the nominee is appointed; if they do not, the appointment
is made by joint ballot, of the senators and members of assembly. Such appoint
ments are made triennially, from the first Monday in February, 1823, or as often
as vacancies occur, for three years, unless the appointees be removed, by concur
rent resolution of the two houses. The treasurer, is appointed in the same man
ner, annually. (Const.)
The nomination for each, of such officers, is made on the first Monday of Fe
bruary, in each year, during which his term of office shall expire. If a vacancy ig
to be filled, the two houses, by concurrent resolution, fix the day for the nomina
tion. If the nominations agree, the president of the senate proclaims the agree
ment. Copies ofthe resolutions .of the two houses, by which such nominations
are made, are certified by the respective presiding officers, attested^ by their clerks,
and delivered to the appointee, as evidence of his appointment. If the officer be
chosen by ballot, the result is certified by the presiding officers, of the two houses,
attested by the clerks, and so delivered to the person chosen.
The state printer is appointed by law, and holds his office during the pleasure
of the legislature. The private secretary of the governor, and the doorkeeper of
the executive chamber, hold office, during his pleasure.
Of the Secretary of State.
6. The secretary has custody of all books and papers, in his office; all convey
ances, mortgages excepted, belonging to the state, are there deposited. He records

126 POLITICAL VIEW.
the depositions of resident aliens, desirous to take and hold real estate. Copies of re
cords, and papers, in his office, certified by him, under his official seal, are receivable
in evidence, as the originals. He attends every session of the legislature, to receive
bills, which may have become laws. Immediately after each session, he causes
the original laws passed thereat, with the certified copies of concurrent resolutions
delivered to him, to be bound in a volume, having on the back, the title thereof,
and the year, in which the same was passed.
He deposites in his office, one copy of the laws, printed by the state printer,
having compared it with the originals, and noted, at the end of each act, t{ie errors
and omissions ofthe printed copy, and, hav.ing'caused the title, and session, to be
put upon the back.
He distributes the printed laws and journals of each session, immediately after
publication, to the clerk of the senate, for the use of the senate, 8 — to the clerk
ofthe assembly, for the use of the house, 20 — to the governor, lt. governor, mem
bers of the legislature, chancellor, justices of the supreme court, circuit judges,
comptroller, treasurer, surveyor general, attorney genera], librarian of -the state
library, commissary general, adjutant general, and the several county clerks, one
copy — to town clerks, district attorneys, and supervisors' clerks, one copy of the
laws, without the journals: Four copies, to the secretary of state of the United
States — to the Atheneum of Philadelphia, and that of Boston, a copy of the laws—
to the Atheneums of New York and Albany, and the Historical Society of New
York, a copy of the laws and journals.
He distributes the acts of congress, received at his office, in tbe same manner
as the laws of the state. When a new county, or town, is erected, he transmits
to its clerk, a complete set of the laws; being authorised to purchase the number
necessary for this, and other legal objects. He transmits, at the expense of the
state, to the county clerk, the requisite number of laws, and journals, for his
county, including those for members of the legislature, and other officers. He de
livers to such clerksj entitled thereto, the copies of reports, published by the state
reporter, deposited in his office for that purpose; and to clerks of newly erected
counties, a complete set of the reports ofthe supreme court, for the use of the
county courts — to every county clerk, annually, before the second Tuesday of May,
a copy of the report for the preceding year, received from the agents of the several
state prisons; and before the 10th of May, a certified list, of the names of licensed
hawkers, pedlers, or petty chapmen.
A deputy secretary of state, performs the duties of the principal, except as com
missioner ofthe land office, ofthe canal fund, state canvasser, sealer of weights and
measures, and superintendent of common schools.
The secretary receives, for his services in that department, and, as superintend
ent of public schools, $1,750. The deputy secretary, and as clerk to the com
missioners of the land office, has $1,500; and $1000, are allowed for clerk hire, in
the secretary's office. Of the Comptroller.
7. The comptroller superintends the fiscal concerns of the state — exhibits to
the legislature, annually, a complete statement of the funds, revenues, and public
expenditures, during the preceding year; with a detailed estimate, specifying each
object of expenditure, and distinguishing between such as are provided for by
permanent or temporary appropriations, and such as require to be|provided for by
laws, and showing the means of defraying them— suggests plans for the improve
ment and management, of the revenue-— keeps and states all accounts in which the
state is interested — examines and settles the accounts of all debtors of the state
certifying the amount to the treasurer — directs and superintends the collection of
all moneys due to the state — examines and liquidates all claims upon the state,
payment for which is provided by law — and when payment is not sufficiently pro
vided for, reports thereon to the legislature — requires all persons receiving state
moneys or securities, or having charge of state property of which an account is
kept in his office, to settle their accounts ; and may examine the accountant, upon
oath, touching the matter of his account.
He draws warrants, designating, therein, under what law, for all moneys paid
from the treasury — countersigns and enters all checks, drawn by, and all receipts
for money paid to, the treasurer ; which receipts are not evidence of payment un-

EXECUTIVE POWER. 127
less so countersigned. He draws in favour of the treasurer, for the dividends on
state stock in banks, or other companies, as they become due — procures from the
banks, where the treasurer deposits, monthly statements of his account — keeps an
account between the state and the treasurer. On the first Tuesday of every month
or oftener, examines the debts and" credits in the bank books of the treasury, and
reports any unexplained irregularity or deficiency, forthwith to the governor.
He, from time to time, examines the securities on which money may be due to
the state, inquires into their sufficiency, and may require, in addition to the in
terest, payment of so much of the principal, as may be necessary for the security
of the state.
He transmits, annually, to the auctioneers copies of the laws relating to auc
tions ; and reports, annually, to the legislature the returns of auctioneers.
He may make, in the name of the state, when necessary to discharge legal de
mands on the treasury, temporary loans, at interest not exceeding six per cent.
per annum, from corporations or individuals within the state, or from the bank
fund, issuing certificates "of stock therefor to the state treasurer, in part for the
fund, at interest of 4J per cent, redeemable at pleasure, drawing his warrant for
and charging the treasurer, with the same, repaying such loans when the treasury
is in condition so to do, and reporting his proceedings, therein, to the legislature.
He votes in person or by proxy, in behalf of the state* at all elections of direc
tors of banks, or other corporations or joint stock companies, at which the state is
entitled to vote.
He may, at the expense of the state, publish in one or more of the newspapers
thereof such laws of the state relating to the payment of moneys due it, or, to the
duties of public officers, as he deems necessary;
Where money, other than for taxes or bonds and mortgages, is paid, by mis
take, into the treasury, he draws his warrant therefor, on the treasurer, in favor of
the person having paid it. ~A11 leases and securities for money to the state are
kept in his office.
Certificates for stock of any kind owned by the state, are deposited by him, for
safe keeping, in such banks as he may select.
The comptroller, at discretion, may notify any person, or his representatives,
having received public moneys unaccounted for, to account at a period not less
than 60, nor more than 90, days from date of notice — such notice to be served by
the sheriff of the county in which the party to be notified resides, by a copy de
livered to him or at his residence, 40 days before the time fixed for accounting.
Of such delivery, the sheriff's return is conclusive. If the party fail to account,
within the time designated, the comptroller states an account with him charging
interest thereon, at 7 per cent, from the service of the notice, and delivers a cer
tified copy, for prosecution, to the attorney general ; which copy is sufficient foun
dation for an action. The defendant is liable for costs, in any event, of the suit.j
If the party account, without or upon notification, the comptroller if satisfied,
liquidates and settles, such account ; but if the proper vouchers be wanting or in
sufficient, he requires the party to remedy the defect, within a period not less
than 60, nor more than 90 days ; and, on failure, settles the account upon the
vouchers produced — transmits a copy to the party ; and if a balance appear to be
due the state, and be not paid to the treasurer, within 90 days, delivers a copy to
the attorney general for prosecution; which, as in the preceding case, is sufficient
basis for suit,?in which the defendant is also eventually liable for costs.
Where several are liable to account, the comptroller may settle with one or
more without prejudice to suit against the remainder. Nor do the foregoing pro
visions impair any legal remedy, for recovery of debts due the state.
Upon application, the comptroller opens accounts, against the purchaser of any
subdivision of a lot of land bought ofthe state, for a proportionate part of moneys
due the state upon such subdivision, and thereafter gives credit for payments
thereon as the payor may require. So, he may pass prior payments, to the credit
of such subdivision proved to have been intended to be paid thereon, by or for
the use of the claimant, whether expressed or not in the receipt : the principal
however due, is not reduced, unless the payment exceed the interest, calculated
to the day when such subdivision' is to be paid off in a new account to be opened
therefor. If separate receipts have been given by the treasurer, for payment claimed for

128 POLITICAL VIEW.
account of such subdivision, the receipts are delivered up to the comptroller and
filed in his office.
When a mortgage to the state is paid, the treasurer's receipt countersigned by
the comptroller, for the whole amount, discharges the mortgage, and warrants the
secretary of state, or county clerk, in whose office it may have been registered, to
minute the payment on the margin ofthe registry: and so in case of payment for
any subdivision, of a lot so mortgaged, the payment discharges such subdivision
from the mortgage. If the subdivision-so paid be of a lot purchased from, but not
granted by, the state, the comptroller certifies that such subdivision has been paid
off; whether a separate account have or have not been opened therefor;
Every person claiming the benefit ofthe foregoing provisions for opening a]sep-
arate account, or for discharging a mortgage upon a subdivision of a lot of land,
produces a map and Teturn of survey ofthe whole lot, showing his part, with sat
isfactory proof that the residue is sufficient security for the balance due thereon.
At the written request of the owner and actual possessor of land mortgaged to
the state, the comptroller may, in his discretion, assign the mortgage with the
bond accompanying it, to the nominee of such owner, paying into the -treasury
the amount of principal and interest thereof.
The comptroller may, with assent of the attorney general, if in their opinion the
interest of the state be not thereby prejudiced, release any portion of real estate,
from the lien of a judgment thereon, in favor ofthe state.
With the advice of the governor, he may, from time to time, dispose of any
bank stock belonging to the state, and apply the proceeds to the credit of the
treasury, or invest them in stock.
All papers relating to the canals, whether pertaining, exclusively, to the duty,
ofthe comptroller, ofthe commissioners of the canal fund, or of the canal board,
are deposited in the comptroller's office— and copies, thereof, and extracts from the
minutes of sueh commissioners, and board certified by the comptroller are evi-
dennce equally as the originals.
When there is not, in that treasury, money belonging to the general fund, suffi
cient for the purposes of the government, the comptroller is required to take it
from the common school, or literature fund, and to assign to the proper fund an
equal amount of securities from the general fund — and in case of assignment to
the literature fund, to notify the chancellor, or secretary of the Regents of the
university, and of assignment to the school fund, to notify the superintendent of
common schools, without whose consent, respectively endorsed on the security,
such assignment is not made. The interest accrued and unpaid upon such secu
rity is added to the principal.
If there be not money in the treasury belonging to either of the general, school,
or literature funds, and money be needed for the purposes of the government,
the comptroller is required to notify the commissioners of the canal fund thereof,
who shall redeem with money of the Erie and Champlain canals, the stock of
such canals held by the literature and common school funds, and when all such
stock shall be redeemed, the commissioners shall purchase, at par, the stock of
the Cayuga and Seneca, ofthe Oswego, and of the Hudson and Delaware canals,
held by either the literature or common school funds in the order here mentioned,
and in such portions as the general fund may require. And the stock so par-
chased is held by the commissioners for the Erie and Champlain canals.
The fiscal year in the comptroller's, as jin the treasurer's, offic'e, begins on the
first day of October, annually, and ends on the 30th September, next succeeding.
The comptroller has an annual salary of $2500 ; and each of the deputy
comptrollers, of $1500. There are allowed for clerk hire in his department,
$6000 per annum.
I There are ,two deputy comptrollers appointed by the comptroller. The first
performs the duty ofthe comptroller, except in drawing warrants on the treasury,
auditing public accounts, or as commissioner of the land office, of the canal fund,
and as state canvasser. The second may perform any duties of the comptroller
in relation to the canal fund, except as commissioner of the fund ; and is clerk
of the commissioners of that fund, and of the canal board.

EXECUTIVE POWER. 129
The Treasurer.
8. The treasurer receives all moneys paid into the state treasury. -
Within ten days, after notice of his election, and before entering upon the exe
cution of his office, he gives bond to the state, with not less than four sufficient
sureties, approved by the president of the senate, and speaker ofthe assembly, in
the sum. of $50,000 — to be deposited in the office of the secretary of state, condi
tioned for the faithful discharge of his duties, until a new appointment be made,
and a new bond given-^-to be discharged and cancelled, after such new appoint
ment, and new bond given, upon .filing in the office of the secretary of state, a cer
tificate of the committee, examining and. settling his accounts of the preceding
year, that such accounts are' regularly stated and balanced, and the balance, in
moneys, securities, and other effects, is in the treasury, or deposited according to
law. The treasurer pays all warrants drawn by the comptroller, and on such war
rants only: He exhibits to the legislature, annually, an exact statement of the
balance in the treasury, with a summary of his receipts, and payments, during.
the preceding year:
He deposits the public moneys, those ofthe canal fund excepted, within three
days after receipt, in such banks, ofthe city of Albany, as he and the comptroller
may deem secure, and will pay the highest interest thereon. Moneys directed by
law, to be deposited in the Manhattan bank, to his credit, are drawn for as re
quired; but may be transferred by the comptroller, trom time to time, to such
banks in Albany, or continued in the Manhattan bank, if it pay such interest
thereon, as may be paid by such Albany banks.
Moneys so deposited are .placed to account of the treasurer, who keeps a bank
book,, in which they, with the moneys drawn, are entered, and which he exhibits,
monthly, to the comptroller, or oftener, if required. The banks transmit, to the
comptroller, monthly statements of the treasurer's account; and pay money only
on the checks of the treasurer, countersigned by the comptroller.
The accounts of the treasury are annually closed, on the 30th of September,
and are examined in December, annually, by a committee, of not less" than three,
nor more than five persons, appointed by the legislature, at the previous session.
After examination of accounts, and vouchers, such committee, or major part, cer
tifies to the legislature, at the next session — the amount received and paid — the
amount paid upon the comptroller's warrants — the amount received by the then
treasurer, when he entered upon office — and the 'balance in the treasury, on the
last day of the preceding November. The" committee,-also, compares the comp
troller's warrants, of the preceding year, with the laws under which they purport
to be drawn, and certifies whether- the comptroller had power so to draw, speci
fying the cases, if any, in which, in their opinion, he may have drawn without
power, with their reasons. Each member of the committee receives $3 per day,
for his services.
The treasurer appoints a deputy, for whose conduct he is responsible, and who
performs any of the duties of the treasurer, except signing checks, and the duty
of commissioner of the land office, commissioner of the canal fund, and state can
vasser. The treasurer receives, annually, $1,500, and his deputy, $1,300.
The Attorney General.
9. The attorney general prosecutes and defends all actions, in whose event the
state is interested. In such actions, heHs entitled to the costs, adjudged to the
state, or the party representing it, and pays the taxable, fees of sheriff, clerks, and
witnesses; but when they cannot be had from the opposing party, the amount,
audited by the comptroller, is paid him from the treasury, to be repaid, if after
ward collected from such party.
On request of the comptroller, or surveyor-general, he prepares drafts for con
tracts, and other instruments,for the use of the state.
When required by the governor, or a justice of the supreme court, he attends
the courts of oyer and terminer, to conduct the prosecution by the state, and is en
titled to his expenses, and reasonable compensation for services, from the trea
sury, on the governor's certificate.
17

130 POLITICAL VIEW.
On request of the governor, secretary of state, comptroller, treasurer, or sur
veyor general, he prosecutes every person charged by either, with an indictable
offence, in violation of laws, which such officer is specially required to execute,
or in relation to his department.
He causes to be tried, all persons indicted for corrupting, or attempting to cor
rupt, any member ofthe legislature, qualified or elect, or any commissioner df the
land .office; and all persons indicted for offences against the laws, for prevention of
duelling; attending in person to these duties.
Without his consent, no action of ejectment may be commenced in the name of
the state, for the benefit of an individual; such consent is given, only upon security,
from the party desirous to prosecute, for the payment of costs, in case of a deter
mination ofthe suit, in favour ofthe defendant — to be approved by a clerk ofthe
supreme court, and filed in his office.
The attorney general pays into the state treasury, all moneys received by him,
for debts due, or penalties forfeited, to the state, immediately upon receipt thereof.
He registers, in proper books, provided by the state, all actions prosecuted or de
fended by him, on behalf -of the state, and all proceedings in relation thereto, and
delivers such register tor his successor.
He may not_act as attorney, in any private suit, unless the state be interested in
the event thereof.
He may, ascertaining that lands mortgaged to the state, are incumbered by prior
judgments or mortgages, with the advice and consent of the comptroller, discharge
such incumbrances, taking an assignment thereof, to the -state, and receiving the
necessary money therefor, from the treasury.
When lands mortgaged to the state, or purchased for it, on foreclosure of a
mortgage, are sold by virtue of judgment prior to such mortgage, he, with the ad
vice and consent of the comptroller, may redeem such lands, as' judgment creditors
may redeem, by law.
When directed by the commissioners of the land office, he causes partition to be
made of such tracts of land as are held in joint tenancy, or tenancy in common, in
which the state is interested.
When an officer or agent of the state, by his own name, or name of office, is
party to any contract, in which the state is the real party in interest, action for
breach, in name of the state, may be brought, as if the state were the nominal
party, but only by the attorney general.
The attorney general receives a salary of $1000, and fees for collecting debts,
and special services, and is allowed $600, for clerk hire.
The Surveyor General.
10. The surveyor general superintends the surveys, and sales, of lands belong
ing to the state, pursuant to law, and the requisition of the commissioners of the
land office. He preserves, in his office, a map of the state; and from time to time,
delineates thereon, the bounds of counties, and towns, erected or altered. If the
bounds of a town, be so described in the act, erecting or altering it, that they can
not be delineated, without special survey, he directs the supervisor -of such town,
to cause such survey to be made, and transmitted to his office; and on failure, no
tifies the attorney general thereof, that he may prosecute the delinquent, for the
penalty imposed by law, to be applied to the making a map of such town. '.-
In case of dispute between officers of two or more towns, respecting the bounds
of either, he hears the parties, and determines the dispute, directing a survey, when
necessary. His determination, filed in the office of the secretary of state, is con
clusive — subject to the action of the legislature^
He accounts, from time to time, with the comptroller, for all moneys received
by him, in behalf ofthe state, or from the treasury.
He receives an annual salary of $800, and is allowed for clerk hire, $600 per
annum. The State Printer.
1 1 .The state printer prints, during each session of the legislature, 339 copies pf the
journals of each house — delivers to the clerks of each, in sheets, for the use pf their
respective houses, 12 copies; and the remainder, in boards, with the indices, and
appendices, furnished by such clerks, to the secretary of state, so soon as may Be,

EXECUTIVE POWER. - 131
after the close of each session — prints, and delivers to such clerk, for the use of the
members of the legislature, during" the session, 250 copies of every document, &c,
ordered by either house, and extra copies, when directed — executes all printing re
quired by lav?, or concurrent resolution of the senate and assembly to be done for the
state, or for either of the above named executive officers; unless special provision be
made therefor, by law — prints, in Albany, at his discretion, a daily, weekly, or semi-
weekly, newspaper, deemed the State- Paper, when referred to in the laws — pub
lishes, forthwith, therein, every certified copy of a law, furnished for that purpose,
by the secretary of state; supplying to the' secretary, a proof for revision and cor
rection. Laws so published, may be read in evidence in the courts, and elsewhere, until
three months after the close of the session, at which they were enacted.
He publishes, in such paper, all notices and advertisement's, required by law to
be published therein — prints, in octavo volumes, so many copies of the laws of
each session, with concurrent resolutions, and indices, to be delivered to the
secretary of state, as the secretary may direct, furnishing proof sheets to him, for
revision and correction — delivers the same to the secretary, within one month,
after the close ofthe session.' The laws may be read in evidence, from such vo-
lumes„in all courts, and elsewhere.
His compensation for services to the state, is fixed by law, and his accounts
therefor, audited by the comptroller, are paid from the treasury. In other cases,
his compensation, paid by the person requiring the service, is, also, ascertained by
law. Provisions relating to two or more Executive Officers,
12. The governor, secretary of state, comptroller, deputy comptroller, treasurer,
attorney general, or surveyor general may administer oaths, in all matters belong
ing to their respective offices.
The comptroller, attorney general, surveyor general, or any two of them, may,
from time to time, extinguish all legal claims on lands sold, or granted for valua
ble consideration, under the authority ofthe state. The moneys required therefOT,
in no case exceeding the principal with interest at 6 per cent, for which the lands
were sold by the state, to be paid from the treasury.
When apparent to such officers, or any two of them," that sales for lands for ar-' •
rears of quit rents, have been improperly made, or cannot for any reason be effec
tual, they, or any two, may subscribe a certificate of the fact, with their reasons,
and file it in the office of the comptroller. And the comptroller, thereon, cancels
such sales on his books, refunds to the purchaser, or his representative the con
sideration money paid, with 6 per cent, interest, from the time of payment, until
vacation of the sale, not exceeding six years in the whole.
Such repayment, and moneys refunded, for payments erroneously made into the
treasury, on account of quit rents; are paid in moieties respectively from the
school, and literary funds.
The attorney general, and comptroller, or either, may acknowledge satisfaction,
of a judgment in favor of the state when settled, or discharged by payment, orle-
fislative provision; and the' clerk of -the court, in which such judgment was
ocketed, on filing a satisfaction piece so acknowledged, enters satisfaction of
record. ' Surplus moneys received on sales of land for moneys due the state, are refunded
by the comptroller; on satisfactory proof of the right of the applicant to receive
them. . '- -
Where lands are purchased by the attorney general, for the state, on foreclosure
of mortgage, and are sold by. the commissioners of the land office, for more than
the amount bid by the attorney general, the comptroller gives credit to the mortga
gor on his bond, for the amount of such sale, deducting costs, charges, and expen
ses of sale: and if such land be sold for more than is due the state, or the mortga
gor, pay into the treasury the balance on his'mortgage, after purchase by the at
torney general, and on the sale thereof by such commissioners, there be an excess
above the amount due the state, and the costs, and charges of foreclosure, pur
chase, and sale, the comptroller refunds to the mortgagor,, or his representative,
such excess; in case of interfering claims to such surplus, referring them to the
attorney general, whose decision, as to the rights of the claimants is final, and
conclusive as to any claim against the state.

132 POLITICAL VIEW.
The secretary of state, comptroller, treasurer,, attorney general, and surveyor
general, attend the legislature during its session, to report on matters referred to
them by it, or either house. ,
The secretary of state, comptroller, and surveyor general, on the 1st of January,
April, July, and October, annually, file, with the treasurer, an account, in writing,
of all fees by them respectively received during the preceding quarter, and pay
the amount into the treasury.
The seals of office respectively used by the comptroller, secretary of state, and
adjutant general, are as effectual, when impressed upon paper, as if impressed on
wax. Copies of papers filed in the office of the comptroller, and surveyor general,
certified, by the proper officer, are evidence in like manner as the original.
The offices of the secretary of state, comptroller, treasurer, attorney general,
and surveyor general, are kept in the state hall, at Albany.
Administrative Officers.
13. In the class of administrative officers are included —
5 Canal commissioners, three of whom are acting commissioners.
2 Canal appraisers, and so many superintendents of canal repairs as the canal
board shall, from time to time, appoint.
A mayor for each of the cities of the state.
Loan officers, under the act of 14th April, 1792, for each county.
Commissioners of loans, under act of 11th April, 1808, for each county.
Loan officers for the county of Putnam. .
County treasurer for each county except New York.
5 Inspectors of the state prison at Auburn.
5 Inspectors of the state prison at Mount Pleasant.
8 Superintendents of salt springs — one in the county of Onondaga, and one at
Montezuma. 1 Inspector of salt, in the county of Onondaga.
3 Harbour masters, for the port of New York.
So many wardens, and, branch pilots for the same port, as the governor, and
senate may appoint.
54 Auctioneers, for tbe city of New York, four for the city arid county of Alba
ny, and one or more for every other city, village, or county, where deemed neces
sary by the appointing power.
An inspector of flour, and meal, for each of the cities of Albany, and New
York, and one or more such inspectors in every other city, or county where deem
ed necessary, by the appointing power.
Ah inspector of beef, in the city of New York; not more than 10 inspectors of
beef and pork for the city, and county of New York; and one, or more such, in
spectors in every other county, where deemed necessary.
One inspector of pot and pearl ashes for said city, and county, and not more
than two such inspectors in every other county, -where necessary.
Not less than 7, nor more than 10 inspectors of lumber, for said city, and coun
ty; nor less than two, nor more than six, for the city of Albany; not more than six
for Troy; one for the city of Hudson, and so many in other parts of the state as
may be deemed necessary.
An inspector general of staves, and heading for the city, and county of New
York, and one for the city, ajid county of Albany.
Not less than 8, nor more than 10 cullers of staves, and heading for the city,
and county of New York; not less than four, nor more than six, for the city, and
county of Albany; two, or more for the city of Hudson; and so many in other
parts of the state, as may be necessary.
Seven inspectors of sole leather for New York; 2 for Albany; 2 for Troy 1 for
Hudson, and 1 for Schenectady; 1 for Brooklyn; 1 for Catskill; 1 forSagg Ha'rbpur;
1 for Lansingbnrg; 1 for Waterford ; 1 for Utica; 1 for Ithaca; 1 for Auburnj ffor Ro
chester; 1 for Newburg; 1 for Batavia; 1 for the counties of Lewis, Onondaga, Herki
mer, Montgomery, Madison, Ulster, Oneida, Jefferson, respectively; 2 for the
county of Ontario, one of whom, to reside in Geneva; and so many for the other
counties, or villages as may be necessary.
One inspector of flaxseed, for New York.
An inspector of leaf tobacco, for New York, annually.

EXECUTIVE POWER.

133

Pour inspectors of fish, for New York; 2 for Jefferson county; 1 for each of the
towns of Richland, and Orwell, in Oswego1 county; and one or more in the other
counties, as may be deemed necessary.
An inspector of'fish, or liver oil, for each of the cities of New York, Albany,
and Troy.
An inspector general of distilled spirits, and not less than three, nor more than
five,, other inspectors, for the city of New York; and one, for each other county,
where necessary.
An inspector of hops, for each of the cities of New York, Albany, Troy, Utica,
and Buffalo; and for each of the villages of Oswego, Ithaca, and Whitehall.
One weigher at the quarantine ground, on Staten Island.
A health officer! resident physician, and health commissioner, for New York.
A health officer, for the city of Albany, and one for the city of Hudson.
So many directors of. incorporated banks, as the state may be authorised to ap
point. - Fifteen wreck masters in Suffolk; 12 in Queens; 3 in Kings; 2 in Richmond,
and 2 in Westchester counties.
A county sealer in each eounty, an assistant state sealer in the city of Albany,
the sealer for the county of Oneida, to be deemed assistant state sealer.
Two Inspectors of weights and measures, in the city of New York, appointa-
ble, and removable at pleasure by the common council.
Not less than three, nor more than five, commissioners to inspect turnpike roads,
in each county, in which there is such road, whose act of incorporation contains
no provision for the appointment of special inspectors.
An agent for the Onondaga tribe of Indians; five or more superintendents; and
not less than three, nor more than 5 superintendents for the Brothertown Indians.
An attorney for the Oneida.Indians."
A receiver for the profits of the state pier, at Sagg Harbour. -
The common council, of each city, except New York, biennially from 1st Jan
uary, 1830, determine, and limit the number of commissioners of deeds, and no
taries public, to be next appointed in their respective cities; transmitting to the
governor, under the corporate seal, and attested by the mayor, a copy of such de
termination. One inspector of green hides, and calf skins, in the cities of New York, Alba
ny, Troy, Hudson, Schenectady, Rochester, and in. each of the villages, of Cats-
kill, Lansingburg and Waterford.
A measurer general, and not less than ten, nor more than twenty, measurers of
grain, for the city of New York.
A weigher, and measurer for the town of Greenbush, in Rensselaer county; two
measurers of grain, and one of wood, for the village of Port Schuyler, and one,
measurer of wood, and stone, for the village of West Troy.
A measurer of stone, in the city of Albany.
A weigher general, and not less than twenty, nor more than thirty, weighers of
merchandise, in the city of New York.
Not exceeding four inspectors, and measurers of wood, and lumber, in each of
the counties of Montgomery, Saratoga, Albany, Clinton, Essex, and Greene,
holding office for three years, unless vacated by death, or otherwise.
As many inspectors of unslacked lime, as the governor may deem necessary, in
the county of Greene.
Commissioners for loaning money, under the- act of 11th April, 1808; loan offi
cers of Putnam county, harbour masters, wardens, and pilots, ofthe city of New
York; inspectors of flour, leather, beef, and pork, distilled spirits, lumber, flaxseed,
pot and pearl ashes, green hides; inspector generals, and cullers of staves and
heading; weigher at the quarantine, weigher and measurer. at Greenbush; mea
surer general, and measurers of grain; and weigher general, and weighers, in
the city of New York; measurers of grain, wood, and stone, at Port Schuyler;
health officer, resident physician, and health commissioner, of the city of New
York; agent of the Onondaga Indians; superintendent of the Brothertown
Indians; attorney of the Oneida Indians; are appointed for two years — measurers
of wood, &c, and measurers of stone, at Albany, are appointed for three years;
superintendents of salt springs, and inspectors of salt, inspector of leaf tobacco,
auctioneers, and bank directors, for one year; inspectors of lime, until others are
nominated; and are all appointed by the governor and senate.

134 POLITICAL VIEW.
Inspectors of hops, fish, oil, turnpikes, and health officers of Albany and Hud
son; peace-makers of the Brothertown Indians; and receiver at the state pier,
Sagg Harbour, are appointed by the governor, for two years.
The resident physician, health commissioner, and health officer of New York,
must be licensed physicians. Either may be removed by the governor, during the
recess of the senate; and temporary vacancies, may be filled by the board of
health, until the cause be removed, or the sense of the governor, or governor and
senate, be declared.
Every administrative officer is confined in the execution of his duties, to the pre
cinct for which he is appointed, unless otherwise provided by law.
General provisions, respecting the qualifications and appointment of officers, _and the
-*. term of their offices.
14. Every civil officer must be a citizen of the state. No minister of the gos
pel is, under any pretence, capable of holding any civil, or military, office, within
the state, that he may not be diverted from the great duties of his function. (Const.
Art. 7.) ;
No person elected to the common council, of a. city can, during the term for
which he is elected, be appointed to any office of profit, in the gift of the council;
but this -provision doesnot extend to officers, whose appointment , is, by the con
stitution, in such council. " .
Officers elected by the people, unless to supply vacancies, enter on office, on the
first of January, succeeding their election. Officers, the mode of whose appoint
ment is not prescribed by the constitution or law.s, are nominated and appointed
by the governor, with consent ofthe senate.
Assistants, deputies, and other subordinate officers, whose' appointment is not
specially provided for, are appointed by their principals, respectively; where the
number of subordinates is not fixed by law, it is discretionary with the principals;
and, where not otherwise provided, the deputy has the power, and performs the
duty, ofthe principal,, during his absence, or vacancy in office.
Offices, whose duration is not prescribed by the law or constitution, are holden
during the pleasure of the appointor.
Officers duly appointed, except the chancellor, justices of the supreme court, and
circuit judges, who have entered- upon office, continue therein, though the term
have expired, until a successor be qualified; so, of the sheriffs, and clerks of coun
ties, and the register, and clerk, of New York.
Nominations by the governor, to the senate, are in writing; and except, of a
chancellor, chief justice, or justice of the supreme court, designate the district,
for which the officer is intended, and his, residence. Notice of the concurrence of
the senate, in any appointment to civil office, or recommendation of removal, is
immediately given, by the clerk, to the secretary of state, and governor. The no
tice to the former/ certified by the president and clerk of the senate, and, to the lat
ter, by the clerk only.
So, when an officer, whose nomination is with the governor, is removed by a
joint resolution of the two houses, the clerk of that house, in which the resolution
originated, immediately notifies the governor thereof.
The commissions of all civil officers, appointed by thegovernor and senate, or
by the governor, are signed by the governor, recorded, and attested by the secre
tary of state, under the state seal. The secretary sends the commission, or su
persedeas of office, to the clerk of the county wherein the person appointed, or
superseded, resides; or, when the governor shall so direct, sends a special mes
senger to the appointee, or person superseded, or to the county clerk, with the
commission, or supersedeas; and when so directed, publishes notice of such su
persedeas, for two weeks, in the state paper, which is sufficient" notice, within the
law. The certificates of the board of canvassers, is evidence of the election of persons,
therein declared to have been elected.
A duplicate certificate of the appoihtment of commissioners of deeds, in towns,
signed by the first judge, and the chairman of the board .of supervisors, is deli
vered to each commissioner, and is his commission.
The commissions, of all other officers, where not specially provided for, are
signed by the presiding officer of the board, or by the person making the appoint
ment.

EXECUTIVE POWER. 135
Every officer, before entering on duty, swears or affirms, that he will support,
the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of the state of New
York, and will faithfully discharge' the duties of the office, to the best of his
ability. - - .
Such oath, when not otherwise directed by law, is taken, subscribed, and depo
sited, in the proper office, within fifteen days after the officer is notified of his ap
pointment, or within fifteen days .after the commencement of his term of office.
The oath may be taken and subscribed, except where otherwise provided, before
the chancellor, justice of the supreme court, circuit judge, secretary of state, attor
ney general, lieutenant governor, president of the senate, speaker of assembly,
judge of any county court, mayor, or recorder, of any city, clerk of any county, or
city, or of any court of record.
Justices of the peace, and commissioners of deeds, make oath before the clerk
of their proper county.
The oath, duly certified by the officer before whom it is taken, is deposited,
within the time required by law — that of the governor, -lieutenant governor,
chancellor, justices of the supreme court, comptroller, secretary of state, attorney
general; members and officers ,of the legislature; canal commissioners, and all
other executive, and administrative officers, whose authority-is not limited to any
particular district, except otherwise directed — in the office of the secretary of
state: That of circuit judges, in the office of. the clerk of the county in which they,
respectively, reside:
That of counsellors, solicitors-, and attorneys, taken before the court of which
they, respectively, are officers, in the office of the clerk, or register, of such court:
That ef registers, and clerks, in chancery, and clerks of courts of equity, and
common law, in their respective offices:'
That of supreme court commissioners, notaries public, superintendents of canal
repairs, and collectors of canal tolls; of all judicial, executive, and administrative
offices, for any county, or city, and of all officers, whose duties are local, or whose
residence in a particular district; is prescribed by law, in the office of the clerk of
the county in which they, respectively, reside.
Resignation of office is made by the governor, lieutenant governor, and the exe
cutive officers, to the legislature; by members ofthe legislature, to the presiding
officers of the respective houses, to be transmitted to the secretary of state; by
appointees of the governor, with, or without consent of the senate; and by the
sheriffs, county clerks, and the register of New York, to the governor; by dis
trict attorneys, to the appointing couTt; by justices of the peace, to, the supervisors;
by commissioners of deed, for towns, to the first judge of the county; by other
officers, to- the power appointing them.
Offices are vacated by death, resignation, supersedeas, removal from the state,
or from the district in which the duties are to be discharged, conviction of an infa
mous crime, or offence violating the oath of office; failure to take, in due time, the
official oath, or give, or renew, the official bond; .or the decision of a competent
tribunal, avoiding the election; or appeintment, of incumbents.
If any officer be convicted of an infamous crime, or of an offence violating his
official oath, or his tenure be declared void, the court convicting, or deciding, noti
fies -the governor thereof, stating the cause of the conviction, or decision; who im
mediately' gives notice ofthe vacancy, to the appointing authority, or that required
to order an election. If an officer die, or remove from his district, the clerk of the
county in which he resided, notifies the governor of the vacaney.
Officers appointed by the governor, for a definite time, or to fill vacancies, are
removable by him; the treasurer, or other collector, or receiver, of public moneys
appointed by the legislature, the governor and senate, or governor, unless- otherwise
provided by law, may be removed by the governor, on report of the comptroller
that such officer has, wilfully, violated his duty. The governor may, also, remove
every officer, on whose official bond, judgment is obtained foT breach of its con
dition. Officers appointed by the governor and senate, except the chancellor, justices of
the supreme court, and circuit judges, are removable by the senate, on the recom
mendation of the governor.
The governor fills all vacancies happening during the recess of the senate in

136 POLITICAL VIEW.
offices, to which he, with the senate, appoint, except the offices of chancellor, jus
tice, of the supreme court, circuit judge, judge of county courts, and recorders of
cities, by commissions, expiring twenty days from the commencement .of the
next meeting of the senate: vacancies during the. recess of the legislature, in offices
filled by it, are supplied by the governor, until the meeting of the legislature.
The governor may remove a sheriff, coroner, county clerk, the register, or clerk,
of New York, at any time, previously communicating to him, the charge against
him, and giving opportunity for defence; and may direct the district attorney of
the proper county, to conduct an inquiry into the truth of such charge, examining
the witnesses before a judge pf the county court, giving at least, 8 days notice,
of time 'and place, to the accused.
In such case, the attendance of witnesses may be enforced, by the prosecution, or
defence, as in other cases; and their testimony, on oath, subscribed by them, is
certified by the judge, and transmitted by the district attorney, to the governor..
If a vacancy, by death, or otherwise, occur in the office of sheriff, or county
clerk, the clerk and register of New York, the governor fills the vacancy, until
supplied by election. J
Due provision is made by law, for compelling public officers to deliver official
books, and papers, to their successors.
OF ELECTIONS, OTHER THAN FOR MILITIA AND TOWN OFFICERS.
15. Every male citizen 21 years of age, inhabiting the state one year next pre
ceding any election, and resident for the last six months in the county where he
may offer his vote, may vote in the town or ward where he actually resides, and
not elsewhere, for all officers elective by the people.
But no man of colour can vote, unless he have been three years a citizen of the
state, and for one year next preceding the election at which he offers his vote,
shall have been seised of a freehold estate pf the clear value of $250, have been
actually rated, and paid a tax thereon.
Nor can any person vote who has been convicted, within the state, of an infa
mous crime ; unless pardoned, and by the terms of pardon, restored to the rights
of a citizen.
General elections, are such as are holden at the same time, in every county, for,
the election of all or some of the following officers; governor, lieutenant governor,
senators, members of assembly, sheriffs, clerks of counties, register and clerk of
New York, coroners, justices of the- peace, representatives in congress, and elec
tors of president and vice president.
Special elections are such as are held only in a particular district or county,
when no general election is holden, for the choice of one or more of the officers
proper to be chosen at a general election.
General elections are holden on the first Monday of November, annually, and
are continued for three succeeding days; special elections, at the time and place,
legally notified, not within forty days previously to a general election, and for
two days only.
Special elections are holden — when an officer, other than a governor, lieutenant
governor, or presidential elector, proper to be chosen at a general election, shall
not have been chosen by reason of two or more candidates, for the same office,
having an equal 'number of votes and are ordered by the board of canvassers
having power to determine on the election of such officers — when the right of
office of a member of the legislature, sheriff, county, clerk, elerk or register of
New York, shall cease before commencement of his term of, service — when a
vacancy, depriving a county of its entire representation, occurs in the office of a
member of assembly, after the last day of December in any year, and before the
first day of February, following.
If a special election be not holden as required by law, the vacancy is supplied
at the next general election.
Vacancies in the office ,of representative in congress, senator, justice of the
peace, sheriff, county clerk, clerk or register of New York, are supplied, at the
general election, next thereafter; but if the term of service ofthe officer expire at
the end of the year, during which the vacancy occurs, the vacancy is not filled,
but the usual election is had for a new officer to hold during the constitutional
term.

ELECTIONS. 137
If a vacancy, proper to be supplied at a general election, be not supplied at the
general election next succeeding it, a special election is holden. Special elections,
other than ordered by the board of canvassers are directed by the governor by
proclamation. Elections, in the cities are by wards, and the respective common councils, an
nually, appoint on or before the second Monday of October, from the electors,
three inspectors for the elections, general and special, to_ be holden during the
year, any two of whom may act; but in case of death or inability of eitlier,'ano-
ther is chosen. In other parts of the state, elections are by towns, and the super
visor, assessor, and town clerk, are the inspectors.
The secretary of state, biennially, between the first of July, and the first of
September, next preceding the expiration of the term of office of the governor,
and lieutenant governor, last chosen, notifies the sheriff, clerk, or first judge of
each county, that at the next general election, a governor and lieutenant governor,
are to be elected. And, also, specifies the names of the senators for the district
to which the county belongs, whose terms of service expire on the last day of-
December, thereafter. If a vacancy exist, in a county, proper to be supplied at
the ensuing general election, he specifies the cause, the name of the officer, in
whose office it has occurred, and the time when his term expires ; and if the va
cancy be in a district, such notice is given to the- sheriff, clerk, or first judge of
each county, therein.
The secretary, when a special election is ordered -by the governor, in a county,
sends a copy of the proclamation to the sheriff, clerk, or first judge of the county,
and when ordered in a district, to one of such officers in each county therein. The
notices of the secretary and proclamations of the governor are published in the
state paper, once in each week from the date, until the election.
When a special election becomes necessary, in case of equality of votes, the
proper board of canvassers, without delay, notify the sheriff, clerk, or first judge
of each county, in the district, or ofthe county only, as the case may require; spe
cifying the officer to be chosen and the day of election ; the latter not to be less
than 30, nor more than 40 days from the date of the notice.
The notice of such election, ordered by the state canvassers is signed by the
secretary of state, if ordered by the county commissioners, by the chairman and
clerk of the board. But no notice of an election nor copy of the governor's pro
clamation's, in any case, directed to the clerk of a county, unless the office
of sheriff be vacant; nor to the first judge, unless the office ofthe sheriff and clerk,
both be vacant.
The sheriff, clerk, or first judge of a county, so notified, gives immediate notice,
in writing, to an inspector in each town or ward, publishes such notice in all the
newspapers printed in the county, if none, in a newspaper in an adjoining county,
once a week, from the date of the notice until the election.
Sucrt inspector notifies, immediately, his fellows, fixing time and place for the
meeting ofthe board of inspectors : and the board gives, at least eight days notice
ofthe election, to the electors; by posting it in at least 5 ofthe most public places
ofthe town or ward, specifying the officers to be chosen, the hour of opening, ad
journing, and closing the poll on each day; stating, if the election be a general one,
whether any of the officers to be chosen, are to supply vacancies and the names
of the'late incumbents of the vacant offices. If the notice be by the inspectors
of a town, it also states the number of the justices of the peace, then to be chosen
in each town, and the names and unexpired terms of service of those in whose
offices any vacancy then to be supplied has occurred.
Manner of conducting Elections.
16. The inspectors or a majority of them meeting at the proper time and place,
form a board for presiding at and conducting tbeelection, of which, the supervisor,
if one, presides; if not one, or he be absent, they select a chairman from their
number, who administers to his fellows the oath of office, and takes like oath ad
ministered by an inspector. If a majority be not present at one, or more of the
days of election, those attending may appoint so many electors of the town or
ward, to act as inspectors, as may be necessary to form a board, who, taking the
proper oath, act until the majority ofthe inspectors do attend.
This board appoints two clerks of the polls, who, also, take the oath of office,
18

138 POLITICAL VIEW.
administered by the chairman. The poll is then opened and proclamation thereof
made ; and proclamation is also made of the adjournment, opening, and closing of
the poll, on each day. The poll is kept open during the day only, between the
rising and the setting of the sun : and may not be opened before, nor kept open,
after, the hour notified.
In the city of New York, the poll is opened at, or before 9 o'clock, A. M. of
each day ; and kept open until the setting ofthe sun.
At each opening, in the forenoon, the inspectors give notice, at what hour, on
that day, and for how long, the poll will be adjourned ; if an adjournment there
be; and at what hour the poll will be closed for that day.
The electors vote by ballot ; so folded as to conceal the contents, delivering it,
to one. of the inspectors, in presence of the board. The ballot, a paper ticket,
written or printed, or partly both, contains the names ofthe persons for whom the
elector votes; designating the office to which each so named is intended by him
to be chosen : but no ballot may contain more names, as designated to any office,
than there are persons to be chosen at such election, to fill such office.
On the outer side of the ballot, appears one of the following words ; " state,"
"congress," " county," "justices;" but no ballot found in the proper box is re
jected for want of such endorsement. That endorsed " state," contains the names
of candidates for the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, and senator, or
either of them ; that endorsed " congress," the names of candidates for congress,
and elector of president and vice president, any, or either of them : that endorsed
"county," the names ofthe candidates for the assembly and the county officers to
be filled, any or either of them; and that endorsed "justices," the names of can
didates for the office of justice ofthe peace, in the town, in which the election is
held. If, at a general election, there be one or more vacancies to be filled, in the office
of senator, or of justice of the peace, and a senator or justice is also to be elected
for four years, it is not necessary to designate on the ballot, for which term the
candidate is selected ; that is afterwards determined by lot, without regard to any
designation. If, at such election for representatives in congress, any person named
in the ballot be designed to fill a vacancy in the office of such representative, the
ballot designates the congress for which each person is intended.
If a person offering to vote, be challenged as unqualified, by an inspector
(whose duty it is to challenge every one whom he shall know or suspect, not to be
qualified) or by a voter, the board of inspectors declare to the challenged, the quali
fications of an elector. If he claim to be qualified and the challenge be not with
drawn, an inspector tenders to him the oath comprising a statement of the quali
fications ; varying it as the applicant may be, white or coloured ; and on his re
fusal to take the oath, his vote is rejected.
If one be challenged as convicted of an infamous crime, he is not required to an
swer any question relative to the alledged conviction ; nor is any proof of such
conviction receivable, other than a duly authenticated record thereof; but, if such
convict vote, unless pardoned and restored to the rights of a citizgn, he is guilty
of a misdemeanour and on conviction may he imprisoned in the county gaol for
six months.
At each general election the inspectors keep a " state box," a " county box,"
and a "justices' box;" and if representatives in congress or electors of president
and vice president, are lo be chosen, a "congress box;" and at a special election,
so many of such boxes only as are requisite for depositing therein, the proper
ballots. Each box is locked before the opening of the poll, and the keys deliv
ered to an inspector designated by the board, and may not be opened during the
election — except, as herein after mentioned. The ballots are deposited through
a hole made for the purpose.
Each clerk keeps a poll list, on whic/h is registered the names of the voters,
and the vote given for the respective boxes. At each adjournment, the clerks, in
presence ofthe inspectors, compare their lists, compute and set down the number
of votes for each box, and correct all mistakes, until the lists correspond in all
respects. The boxes are then opened, the lists placed therein, the boxes again
locked, the opening in the lids covered by the seal of one of the inspectors, and
the keys delivered to one and the boxes to another of the inspectors, to be safely
kept, the latter unopened until redelivered to the board, at the next opening ofthe

ELECTIONS. ] 39
poll: when the seals are broken, the boxes opened, the lists taken out, and the
boxes again locked ; and toties quoties, until the poll be finally closed.
The board of inspectors are authorised to maintain order and to enforce the obe
dience to their lawful commands during the election and the canvass and estimate
of the votes after the closing of the poll ; and may, by an order in writing, commit
to prison, for a period not exceeding 30 days, any person refusing to obey such
commands or by disorderly conduct, intheir presence or hearing, interrupting, or'
disturbing their proceedings: such order is executed by the sheriff or constable, if
present, otherwise, by any person deputed, in writing, by the board.
Canvass ofthe Votes by Inspectors.
The poll being finally closed, the inspectors proceed to-canvass the votes, or ad
journ the canvass to some convenient hour of the next day. If it be adjourned the
like precautions are taken relative to the lists and boxes, as at an adjournment of
the poll. The canvass is public, and must be completed on the day subsequent to
the .poll, or sooner; except in New York where three days are allowed.
The canvass commences by comparison of the poll lists from the commencement
and correction of mistakes therein, until they agree ; the ballots are taken from
the respective boxes and counted, unopened ; except so far as to ascertain that
each is single; those appearing double, are destroyed — ballots, properly endorsed,
found in a box different from that designated by the endorsement, are counted, as
if found in the proper box. If the ballots exceed in number that of the votes in
the correspondent columns of the poll lists, they are replaced in the box; and one
of the inspectors, publicly, draws out and destroys so many ballots, unopened, as
shall be equal to the excess.
The ballots, and numbers on the poll lists being made to agree, the canvass and
estimate proceed; a statement ofthe result is drawn up in writing, certified to be
correct, and subscribed by the inspectors; containing in words, at full length, the
whole number of votes given for each office, the names of the persons for whom
they were given, for such office, and the number of votes so given, to each person:
and is given to one of the inspectors, appointed, by the board, to attend the county
canvass. A duplicate so signed, at the same time, is immediately given to the
town clerk, to be filed by him. The poll lists, and ballots, except such of the lat
ter as shall have been rejected by the inspectors as imperfect, are then destroyed,
and the board is dissolved.
A copy of all ballots rejected as defective, with the originals attached, is deliv
ered to the town clerk, and filed in his office.
Of the Final Canvass.
The inspectors, in each county, to whom the original statements of the canvass,
in the towns and wards are confided, or the major part of them, form the county
board of canvassers, meeting at the office of the county clerk, on the Tuesday,
next following the election, before 1 o'clock, A. M.; choosing one of their num
ber as chairman; having for secretary, tire clerk, or in his absence, his deputy;
and taking the constitutionaloath, administered to the members by the chairman,
and to hiin, by the s.ecretary.
From the original statements of the town, or ward canvass, the board estimates
the votes of the county, and makes such statements thereof, as the nature of the
election requires; a separate statement, containing the whole number of votes giv
en in the county, for governor, It. governor, senator, and representatives in con
gress, any, or either of them; the names ofthe persons to whom such votes were
given, and the number of votes for each — a similar statement of the votes, for elec
tors of president, and vice president — another of the votes, for members of assem
bly, and county officers, any, or either of them; and for each town, of the county,
in which justices of the peace, have been, voted for, a separate, and similar state
ment of such votes, in the town, designating it by its name. In all which, the whole
number of votes given, the names of the candidates, and the number of votes giv
en to each, are written out, in words, at full length.
Each statement, with a copy certified, as correct, by the signatures of the chair
man, and secretary, is filed of record, in the office of the county clerk.
Upon the statements of votes given for members of assembly, county officers,
and justices of the peace, the board determine who, by the greatest number of

140 POLITICAL VIEW.
votes, have been elected. If the county be, of itself, a congressional district, the
board also determines, and in like manner, upon the statement of votes given for
electors of president, and vice president, what persons have been duly elected. A
certificate of each determination annexed to the statement, attested as above is filed
with the clerk, and published in one, or more newspapers of the county.
If votes have been received, for the office of elector of president, and vice presi
dent, and the county be not, of itself a congressional district, the board deliver to
the county clerk, a second copy of the statement of such votes, to be presented by
him, to the board of district canvassers.
If any inspector, appointed for the county canvass, be nnable to attend, on the
day of meeting, he causes to be delivered, by that day, at the office of the county
clerk, the original statement of the votes, of his town or ward. If, on that day,
a majority of the canvassers do not attend, or the statements of the votes from
every town, and ward be not produced, the canvassers, present, adjourn to some
convenient hour of the next day; at which the canvassers attending, though less
than a majority of the whole, organise as a board, and upon the statements, or
certified copies, estimate, state, and certify the votes of the county.
The county clerk delivers to the board, the statements of votes, at the next
preceding election, received at his office — if the board do not organise on the day
appointed, by reason of deficient returns, he obtains the necessary statements, or
certified copies thereof for the board, at their next meeting — records all the state
ments, and certificates delivered to the canvassers, in an appropriate book — makes,
signs, and seals, with the seal of his office, three copies of the statements, and
certificates of the votes, for governor, lt. governor, senators, and representatives iii
congress, or either of them, and if his county be a congressional district, of the
votes, for electors of president, and vice president, and sends, by mail, one, to the
governor, another to the secretary of state, and a third, to the comptroller, on, or
before the third Monday in November, annually, after a general election, and with
in ten days after a special election; prepares as many certified copies, of each
certificate, of the determination of the board, as there are persons declared to be
elected therein, and delivers one, to each person elected; and transmits to the
secretary of state, within 30 days after a general election, a list of the persons
elected to the assembly, and of the persons declared at such canvass, to be elected,
sheriff, clerk, coroners, and justices of the peace, in his county.
The accounts of clerks of counties, for election services, and expenses, are au
dited, and paid as other contingent county charges.
The secretary of state files, and records, in an appropriate book, such certificates
received from the county clerk; and obtaining from the governor, and comptroller,
every such statement received by them, records therefrom, one for each county,
from which no similar statement has been received by himself.
If from any county, from which such statement is due, none be obtained by him,
on, or before the last day of November, next after the general election, nor within
twenty days after a special election, he 'despatches a special messenger, for such
statement from the county clerk; who, immediately, on demand ofthe messenger,
makes out, and delivers it to him, to be borne to the,secretary, filed and re
corded. The secretary appoints a meeting of the state canvassers, at his office, or that
of the treasurer, or comptroller, on or before the 15th December, after each gene
ral election, and within 40 days after a special election; and if a majority of those
officers fail to attend, on the day appointed, notifies the mayor, and recorder, of
the city of Albany, that their attendance is required.
The secreatry of state, comptroller, surveyor general, attorney general, and
treasurer, are the state canvassers; three of whom, form a board. If a quorum
fail to attend, the mayor, and recorder, of Albany, convened by the secretary,
without delay, with the others, constitute the board.
The board, upon the certified statements of elections received by the secretary,
make a statement of the whole number of votes given, for the office of governor,
and lt. governor, or either of them; another statement of the votes, for senator, and
a third, of the votes, for representatives in congress, each of which, showing the
names of the persons to whom such votes have been given, for either of such of
fices, and the whole number of votes for each; distinguishing the several districts,

ELECTIONS. 141
and counties in which they were given: certifying such statements to be correct,
and subscribing them with their proper names.
Upon such statements, the board determine, and declare, who have been duly
elected; and make, and subscribe, on each, respectively, a certificate of such de
termination, and deliver it to the secretary.
If a canvasser dissent, he states, in writing at large, his reasons; If the pro
ceedings of the board appear to any one of its members illegal, or irregular, he
protests against them, in writing, setting forth distinctly, the grounds of such
protest; and such dissenter, or protestor, delivers his dissent, or protest, signed
with his proper name, to the secretary.
The board may adjourn from day to day, for a term not exceeding five days.
The secretary of state records the certified statements, and determinations made
by the state canvassers, and the dissent, or protest of a canvasser: delivers, with
out delay, under the seal of his office, a copy of such determination, to each per
son thereby declared to be elected, and to the governor: causes a copy of such
statements, and determinations, to be printed, in the state paper, and in one, or
more of the newspapers, in each senate district; for which a senator shall have
been chosen: prepares a general certificate, under the seal of the state, addressed to
the house of representatives of the United States, ofthe due election of the persons
chosen, as representatives of the states, in congress, and transmits it to the. house
of representatives: stating, in such certificate, who has been elected to supply a
vacancy. He also records, the names of the justices of the peace elected, arranging them
in alphabetical order, in their respective counties — and the names of the sheriffs,
coroners, and clerks, elected in the respective counties.
Representatives in Congress.
The representatives in congress are chosen, in the several congress districts, hi*
ennially, from the year 1826. If such representative resign, he notifies the secre
tary of state; and if a vacancy occur by death, the clerk of the county, in which
the representative resided at the time of his election, transmits a notice thereof to
the secretary. Electors of President and Vice President.
On the first Monday of November, and the two succeeding days, preceding the
time for the choice of president and vice president of the United States, there
are elected, by general ticket, as many electors of president, and vice president,
as this state is entitled to appoint; each voter in this state has a right to vote for
the whole numbe-: and the several persons, to the number required to be chosen,
having the highest number of votes, are deemed electors.
The board of inspectors of each town, provides an " electoral box," in which
the ballots for electors, endorsed " electors," are deposited.
The clerk of each county makes three certified copies of the statement of votes
given for electors in his county, immediately after recording the same, and forth
with transmits, by mail, one of such copies to the governor, another to the secre
tary of state, and delivers the other as directed, by Act 15th April, 1829.
Due provision is made by that act, for collecting and transmitting the certified co
pies of the statements, of electoral votes, to the secretary of state, in due season
for the action of the state canvassers, by proper messengers.
The board of state canvassers meet at the office of the secretary of state, on the
Wednesday next after the third Monday of November, after every such election,
or sooner if certified copies of the statements of votes, have been received from
all the counties, to canvass the votes given for electors of president, and vice
president; and in case all such copies have not been received on that day, the
board adjourns from day to day, until they are received, not exceeding five days.
The state canvassers proceed in making a statement of the votes, and determin
ing, and certifying the persons elected, in the manner prescribed by law in rela
tion to the election of state officers.
The secretary of state, without delay, causes a copy, under the seal of his of
fice, of the certified determination of the board of state canvassers, to be deliver
ed to each of the persons therein declared to be elected; and for that purpose em
ploys such, and so many messengers as he deems necessary.

142 POLITICAL VIEW.
The electors of president, and vice president convene at the Capitol, on the day
preceding the the first Wednesday, in December, after the election; and such as
are assembled at 4 o'clock, in the afternoon of that day, immediately, thereafter,
fill by ballot, and plurality of votes, all vacancies in the electoral college; and
elect, a president, and secretary, from themselves.
The secretary of state prepares three lists of the electors, signed by the gover
nor, having the seal of the state affixed, and delivers them to the president of the
college, on, or before the first Wednesday in December.
On that day, at the Capitol, the electors vote, by ballot, for president and vice-
president; one of whom, at least, may not be an inhabitant ofthe state; naming,
in separate ballots, the person voted for as president, and vice-president, respec
tively. They make distinct lists of all persons voted for as president, and all
persons voted for as vice-president, which they sign, and certify, and after annex
ing thereto, one of the lists received from the secretary of state, seal up; certify
ing, thereon, that lists of the votes of the state, for president and vice-president,
are contained therein.
The electors, or a majority of them, by writing, appoint a person to take charge
of, and deliver, such sealed lists to the president of the senate, at the seat of go
vernment ofthe United States, before the first Wednesday of January, next ensu
ing; or if there be no such president, at the seat of government, then into the office
ofthe secretary of state of the United States. The electors, also, forthwith send
by mail, to such president of the senate, at the seat of government, and deliver to
the judge of the United States, for the northern district of the state, similar lists,
so signed, annexed, sealed, and certified.
The electors receive, for their attendance and travelling expenses, the same com
pensation as is, at the time, allowed to members of the legislature.
Election of Senators in Congress.
On the first Tuesday of February, next preceding the end ofthe term for which
any such senator was elected, if the legislature be in session, and if not, within
ten days after a quorum of both houses shall be assembled, an election is holden
for such senator; and, when the seat of such senator is vacated, before the expira
tion of his term, an election is holden, within ten days after the legislature have
notice ofthe vacancy, at the place where it shall be then sitting.
At such election, the senate and assembly, each, openly nominate a candidate;
and immediately meeting, if they agree in their nominations, the nominee is elect
ed; but if they disagree, the election is made by joint ballot.
Copies of the resolutions ofthe senate and assembly, testifying the choice, signed
by the presiding officers, are delivered to the person elected, as evidence of his
election. Penalties for Breach of Election Laws.
An elector, challenged as unqualified, guilty of wilful and corrupt false swear
ing, or affirming, in any oath, or" affirmation, prescribed by such laws, is guilty of
perjury; and. every one, wilfully and corruptly, procuring him so to swear, or
affirm, is guilty of subornation of perjury, and punishable, as directed by law,
for such offences.
If an officer, on whom any duty is enjoined by the election laws, wilfully neg
lect, or corruptly execute, it,
Or, if any person by bribery, menace, or other corrupt means, directly, or indi
rectly, attempt to influence, or deter, an elector in giving his vote, at any election,
held under such laws, he is guilty of a misdemeanor,punishable by fine not exceed
ing $500, or imprisonment, not exceeding one year.
If any officer, or other person, order any of the militia to appear, or exercise, on
any day during any election, or within five days previous thereto, except in cases
of invasion, or insurrection, he forfeits $500.
If any ofthe messengers intrusted with the district votes, destroy the certificates
intrusted to their care, or wilfully do any act that shall defeat the due delivery of
them, he is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison, at hard labour, for a
term not less than three, nor exceeding five, years.

STATE FUNDS. 143
If any officer, or messenger, on whom any duty is enjoined relative to the elec
toral election, be guilty of wilful neglect, or of any corrupt conduct, he is guilty
of a misdemeanor, punishable by fine, not exceeding five hundred dollars, or im
prisonment, not exceeding one year.

CHAPTER III.
OF THE FUNDS, REVENUE, PROPERTY AND EXPENDITURE, OF THE
STATE.
1. The General Fund. 2. Canal Fund. 3. Literature Fund. 4. Common School Fund.
5. Public Lands. 6. Public Buildings. 7. State Library. 8. Canals — Canal Commis
sioners — Canal Board. 9. Salt Springs — Management of. 10. Interest of the State
in Mines.
The public property of the state, consists of the general fund, canal fund, lite
rature fund, common school fund, certain lands not included in the last fund,
public buildings, state library, canals, and salt springs.
THE GENERAL FUND.
l.The general fund consisted of the accumulations of moneys, invested in stocks,
and of the public lands, as a capital, and to it belonged the revenues, derivable
from taxes, on sales by auction, and on the manufacture of salt, and in a word, all
receipts into the public treasury. From it, however, have been established, the
literature, common school, and canal funds; being specific appropriations, of capi
tal, and revenue, to the objects indicated by these titles.
In 1800, the capital of the general fund, independent of lands, amounted to
$3,750,712 12. Since that period, the whole capital has been expended, and the
state involved in debt, of about a million, to meet its current expenses. About
the year 1825, the legislature deemed it sound policy to expend its hoards, and to
resort to direct taxation, for the support of government, when necessary; probably,
on the principle, that the possession of a fund, for the ordinary expenses of the
government, caused indifference to appropriations, which would not exist, were
they, in all cases, to be sustained by taxation. Resort to taxation had, therefore,
become necessary, to meet the current demands upon the treasury, and pay the in
terest on the debt of the state, and a tax of one mill, upon the dollar, of the
assessed value of real and personal estate, was proposed in 1836, estimated to pro
duce $500,000.
On the 1st of January, 1836, the established sources of revenue to the general
fund, consisted:
1. Of license duties, on hawkers, pedlers, and petty chapmen, produc
ing per annum, about - -  $1,500
2.Fees paid into the offices of the secretary of state, comptroller, and sur
veyor general,  "  1,260
3. Auction and salt duties, restored by alteration of the constitution, to the
general fund, estimated to produce annually, -.'... 350,000
4. After the year 1837, from canal tolls, (reserved) annually, - - 300,000
5. Tax on foreign insurance companies, .... _ 2,500
6. Sales of lands not transferred to school fund.
In 1S36, there were receivable for this fund, payments on sales for lands, $40,000
and from miscellaneous sources, $12,000.
These sources were estimated to yield $378,078, including a portion only, of
the auction and salt duties.
The ordinary charges on this fund in 1836, were:
Salaries of the officers of government, including office expenses, - - $60 000
Compensation of members and officers ofthe legislature, including ex
penses of both houses,  85,0CO

144 POLITICAL VIEW.
Compensation of members of the court for the correction of errors, and
expenses, ......-.--- 14,000
Annuities to Indians, including all expenses relating to Indian affairs, - 20,000
Apprehension of criminals, and incidental expenses of government by the
executive, ....-....-- 2,000
Interest on state debt,  47,000
Brigade inspectors, .......... 4,000
Commissary's department, --------- 8,000
Courts martial and courts of inquiry, .--...- 1,000
Miscellaneous expenses, including advances for the state hall, - - 40,000
Printing,  20,000
Support and instruction of indigent deaf and dumb, .... 19,000
Do. do. indigent blind, ..-.-- 2,000
New York eye infirmary, 3d and last instalment, ----- 1,000
Deficiency in the Oswego canal fund, ...... 20,000
Do. in the Cayuga and Seneca canal fund, ----- 4,800
Do. in the Chemung do.  27,800
Do. in the Crooked lake, do. - - - - 9,000

$384,600
CANAL FUND.
2. By the act of 1817, instituting the canal system, this fund was established;
and, as confirmed by the constitution, consisted: 1. Of lands granted by the state,
or others, for constructing the canals; 2. Tolls, and commutation moneys, on the
state navigable communications, as established in 1821; 3. Duties on salt, as esta
blished 15th April, 1817; 4. Duties on auction sales, as fixed by the same act, ex
cepting (he annual sum of $33,500, previously appropriated to the hospital, econo
mical school, and orphan asylum; 5. All moneys received from the sale, or use,
of the surplus waters of the canals; 6. Tax on steamboat passengers; 7. Penalties,
or damages received under the canal laws; 8. And the canals themselves.
By the constitution, neither the rates of tolls, the auction or salt duties, nor the
revenue from steamboat passengers, could be reduced, or diverted from this fund,
before the payment ofthe canal debt, contracted for the Erie andChamplain canals.
But, as this event became certain and proximate, the prohibition was modified, as
to salt, in 1833, and the duty reduced, one-half. The tolls have been reduced,
upon an average, 35 1 per cent, below those of 1832; and the tax on steamboat
passengers was relinquished, in 1824.
We have stated, at page 75, the contributions of individuals, companies, and
the state, in lands, to this fund. Canal Fund.
The fund is under the management of a board of commissioners, consisting
of the lieutenant governor, comptroller, attorney general, surveyor general,
secretary and treasurer, a majority of whom with the comptroller make a
quorum for business, But, the charge of lands pertaining to the fund belongs to
the commissioners of the land office.
The commissioners of the canal fund, are authorised : — To manage the fund to
the best advantage — to recommend to the legislature, from time to time, measures
for its improvement, and to report its state at the opening of each legislative ses
sion : to advance to superintendents of canal repairs, the sum requisite for the ex
ecution of their duties, not exceeding, at one time, five thousand dollars. To
apply, the surplus revenues of the fund, after payment of interest on canal debt,
to the purchase of the canal stock, when it may be advantageously purchased ;
and to cancel the certificates thereof; But, when such purchase cannot be made,
to invest such revenues in the stocks of the United States, or of the cities of New
York, or Albany, or in any stocks for the payment of which the-faith of the state
may be pledged, and so to reinvest the interest thereon; and when authorised to
borrow money, to give certain notice for the reception of proposals of loan.
They are empowered, to allow all claims for moneys p,aid by canal commis
sioners or their agent, or superintendent, or toll collector, for judgments against
them or either of them, for any act done under the canal laws or for costs and ex-

STATE FUNDS. 145
penses in suits instituted by them under such laws ; and to direct the attorney
general, or employ other counsel, to defend the interest of the state in all suits,
arising under laws, respecting the canals, or from the appraisement of damages
thereon. They may deposit the moneys of the fund with any safe incorporated moneyed
institutions of the state, and make such contracts therewith for the interest on,
and duration of, the deposits as they deem promotive of the interest of the fund.
Moneys expended in the construction or improvement of the canals, or by
the commissioners under the above provisions, or by such commissioners, canal
commissioners, or agents employed on canals pursuant to law ; together with.
the compensation to such officers, including salaries of canal commissioners, and
the compensation of clerks in the comptroller's offices for services on the ac
counts and revenues of the canals, are charges on the canal fund.
We have given a tabular view of the operation of this fund, at page 86.
The cash in hand belonging to the fund and appropriated to the payment of
the canal debt amounted on the 30th of September, 1835, to $3,406,709 72, which
were invested in the manner shown in the annexed table ; the larger portion being
loaned temporarily to banks.
Nature of In vestment. Amount. Annual interest.
Loan to the city of Albany, 5 per cent. - - 75,000 00 3,750 00
Slate stock, viz :
Cayuga and Seneca canal, 5 per cent. - 87,000 00 4,350 00
Crooked Lake canal, " - 6,652 95 332 64
Delaware and Hudson canal, " - 53,075 64 2,653 73
Oswego canal, " - - 27,106 00 1,355 30
Nevesink navigation company, " - - 10,000 00 500 00
Loans and deposites, viz :
Loaned at 60 days' notice, 5 per cent. - - 841,000 00 42,050 00
" " 4i " - - 1,515,284 38 83j337 79
Deposites at sight, 44 " - - 736,636 88 33,103 65
" » 3| " - - 55,954 87 1,958 42

$3,406,709 72 $173,39.0 53

Total invested at 5 per cen,t. $1,099,833 59
" « 4i " 2,250,921 26
« « 3| " 55,954 87
 $3,406,709 72
From 1826 to 1835 inclusive, the fund was increased by interest to the amount
of $667,354 06.
The following table shows the amount of the outstanding canal stock, 30th of
September, 1835, and how holden.
Amount held by Amount held in Amount In Id in
Description of Stock. foreigners. the State of N. Y. other States. Total.
6 per cents of 1837, $519,767 23 $359,500 92 $25,099 60 $904,367 75
5 per cents of 1837, 617,800 48 155,781 57 6,296 07 779,878 12
6 per cents of 1845, 567,123 60 148,649 85 7,650 00 723,423 45
5 per cents of 1845, 1,660,37153 268,717 97 12,876 03 1,941,965 53
•$3,365,062 84 $932,650 31 $51,921 70 $4,349,634 85
LITERATURE FUND.
3. The foundation of the literature fund may properly be ascribed to the act,.
"For the encouragement of Literature," passed the 3d of April, I801-, by which
four lotteries were granted, for raising $25000 each ; one half to be placed in the
hands of the Regents of the University for distribution among the academies, and
the other to be paid into the treasury to be applied to common schools, as the le
gislature should direct. Various accretions were made to the fund previous to
April, 1827 — when the legislature appropriated to it, $150,000, and directed the
whole interest to be apportioned among the incorporated academies and seminaries
without regard to the sex of the students.
19

100 shares,
579 " at $28 -
23 " at 20 -

- $6,000 00
- 117,720 87
- 16,212 00
460 00

2,499 " at 50 -

- 124,950 00

146 POLITICAL VIEW.
Money belonging to the capital of the fund, is invested by the comptroller in snch
public stocks, or loans of the state, as the Regents of the University deem most
advantageous. Twelve thousand dollars ofthe revenue are annually distributed, by the regents,
to the academies and schools subject to their visitation, to be, exclusively, ex
pended by the trustees towards paying the salaries of tutors. Any portion ofthe
excess, of the fund, over that sum, may, in the discretion of the regents, be as
signed to any academy or school, subject to their visitation, under such rules and
regulations as they may prescribe, for the purchase of text books, maps, and
globes, or philosophical or chemical apparatus, not exceeding $250 in any one
year ; provided the trustees of such academy or school raise and apply an equal
sum to the same object. Or, if the regents deem it expedient they may appro
priate such excess to such academies, or a portion of them, to be expended in
educating, teachers of common schools, in such manner and under such regula
tions as the regents may prescribe. (Acts o/1834.)
In January 1836, the principal of this fund consisted of the following stocks.
Albany Insurance Company, -
State, . - - - -
New York State Bank, -
Canal Bank of Albany, -
Merchants' Bank, - - - $265,343 87
The revenue of the fund in 1836, was estimated as follows.
Interest on State Stock,  $5,886 00
Dividend on New York State Bank Stock,  1,400 00
do. Canal Bank Stock,  45 00
do. Merchants' Bank Stock, 6 per cent, - - - - 8,122 00
Interest on Albany Insurance Company Stock, .... 600 00
$16,053 00
The management of the fund is with the comptroller, to whom under the act
of the 25th of January, 1832, the regents transferred all the property pertaining to
it. He audits and settles their accounts for incidental expenses ; and they annu
ally deliver to him a schedule of the distribution of the income of the fund, im
mediately after it is made, designating the several institutions entitled to a parti
cipation, and the amount awarded to each, and he draws his warrant on the trea
surer in favor of each, for the sum awarded and directs the manner in which it
shall be receipted and drawn from the treasury.
COMMON SCHOOL FUND, AND ITS DISTRIBUTION.
4. The common school fund consists — of the proceeds of all lands belonging to
the state, in the year 1823, except such parts as may have been, or may be, appro
priated te public use, cr ceded te the United States; and of moneys derived from
that, and other sources. These, by the constitution, form a perpetual fund, the
interest of which is to be inviolably applied to the support of common schools
throughout the state.
In January, 1836, this fund consisted ofthe following items:
Bonds for lands sold,  $1,098,577 86
Do. for loans from capital,  176,644 48
Balance on loan of 1786,  2,815 12
Do. do. 1792,  - - 179,571 17
Do. do. 1808,  260,120 93
Stock in the Merchants' bank, 1,101 shares, a $50, - - - 55,050 00
Do. Manhattan Co. 1,000 do. ... 50,000 00
Money in the treasury — balance of receipts from capital, - - 52,412 15
Productive capital,  $1,875,191 71

STATE FUNDS.

147

The revenue estimated for 1835, was $108,400. But the actual receipts
amounted to $134,006 40, being $22,000 more than 6 per cent., upon the entire ca
pital of the fund. The excess arose, chiefly, from arrearages of interest on the
bonds and mortgages belonging to the fund.
There is annually distributed, as the revenue of the common school fund, and
according to the apportionment of the superintendent, then in force, the sum of
one hundred thousand tlollars, denominated " school moneys;" and as often as
the revenue is increased by the sum of ten thousand dollars, such sum is added to
the distribution. And, whenever the revenue of this fund is insufficient to pay the
annual appropriation of $100,000, the deficiency is supplied from the general
fund. The moneys so distributable, are paid on the warrant of the comptroller, on the
1st of February, annually, to the treasurers of the several counties, and to the
chamberlain ofthe city of New York.
The accretions in the treasury, of money belonging to the capital of the school
fund, are invested, by the comptroller, in such public stocks ofthe state, of the
United States, or of the cities of New York and Albany, as the comptroller and
superintendent deem most advantageous; and the commissioners ofthe canal fund,
and public agents, authorised to borrow moneys, and issue certificates of stock,
are required to receive investments of the school fund, upon the most favourable
terms to the fund, upon which money is borrowed at the time of investment. The
certificates of stock, for such investment, are taken in the name of the comp
troller, in trust for the school fund, which trust is specially expressed in every cer
tificate. The care and disposition of lands belonging to the fund, are confided to the
commissioners of the land office.
By the act of 1835, the comptroller was required to transfer to the common school
fund, all bonds and mortgages, then belonging to the general fund, the literature
fund, the Erie and Champlain canal fund, and to the Oswego canal fund; and
annually, at the end of the fiscal year, such as should be thereafter received, on
account of such funds — transferring from the school fund, an equivalent in stocks,
to those funds, respectively. Pursuant to this requisition, there were assigned,
bonds and mortgages to the school fund, $461,183 52.
For a history of this fund, see infra, " Public Instruction."
The following table exhibits the capital of the school fund, according to the
annual reports of the comptroller, from the foundation of the fund in 1805-6, to
1836; also, the annual interest or revenue derived from the fund; the amount an
nually apportioned from the state treasury, and the increase and decrease of the
capital each year, for 30 years.

SCHOOL FUND.

Capital.

Annual revenue

Sum annually paid

Increase of capital

or interest.

from state treasury.

from year to year.

1806

58,757 24

Not stated.

[No distribution

1807
183,162 96
ii
to be made,until the
124,405 72
1808
307,164 56
i.
revenue amounted
124,001 60
1809
390,637 15
24,115 46
to $50,000.]
83,472 59 .,
1810
428,177 91
26,480 77
-
37,540 76
1811
483,326 29
36,427 64
-
55,148 38-;
1812
558,464 69
45,216 95
-
75,138 40
1813
636,758 07
47,612 16
-
78,293 38 "
1814
822,064 94
57,248 39
-
185,306 87
1815
861,457 89
57,539 88
-
39,392 95
1816
934,015 13
64,053 01
60,000 00
72,557 24
1817
982,242 26
69,555 29
60,000 00
48,227 13
148

POLITICAL VIEW.
school fund — continued.

Capital.

Annual revenue

Sum annually paid

Increase of capital

or income.

from state treasury.

from year to year.

1818

971,361 31

68,770 00

60,000 00

*

1819

1,103,949 09

70,556 04

60,000 00

132,587 78

1820

1,229,076 00

78,944 56

70,000 00

125,126 91

1821

1,215,526 00

77,144 56

80,000 00

t

1822

1,152,630 57

77,417 86

80,000 00

X

1823

1,155,827 40

72,515 09

80,000 00

3,196 83

1824

1,172,913 28

75,315 05

80,000 00

17,085 88

1825

1,288,309 47

81,815 41

80,000 00

115,396 19

1826

1,319,886 46

86,429 93

80,000 00

31,576 99

1827

1,353,477 64

81,381 90

100,000 00

33,591 18

1828

1,611,096 80

89,034 96

100,000 00

257,619 16

1829

1,684,628 80

94,626 25

100,000 00

73,532 00

1830

1,661,081 24

100,678 60

100,000 00

§

1831

1,696,743 66

80,043 86

100,000 00

35,662 42

1832

1,704,159 40

93,755 31

100,080 00

7,415 74

1833

1,735,175 28

109,117 77

100,080 00

31,015 88

1834

1,754,046 84

104,390 78

100,080 00

18,871 56

1835

1,791,321 77

134,006 40

100,080 00

37,274 93

1836

1,875,191 71

83,869 94
$1,600,320 OQ
$1,927,308 41
*
Loss,
10,880 95
t
ii
13,550 00
t
ii
62,895 43
§
ii
23,547 56
110,873 94
$1,816,434 47
The sums placed in the column of "revenue or interest," in the foregoing table,
are generally estimates, prior to the year 1825; from 1825 to 1835 inclusive, the
sums actually received into the treasury, on account of revenue, are given. The
deficiencies in the annual revenue of the school fund to meet the apportionment
have been paid from the general fund, and are as follows:
1819,  $13,500 00
1820,  7,000 00
1822,  9,309 81
1823,  8,000 00
1824,  9,000 00
1825,  2,630 26
1827,  18,618 10
1828,  10,965 04
1829,  5,373 75
1830,  19,956 14
$104,353 10
The total amount paid from the general fund, to make up deficiencies in the re
venue ofthe school fund, for the annual distribution to the schools, is $104,353 10.
Of this sum, $22,000 has been refunded, in compliance with laws of 1820 and
1823. The loss to the general fund, by contributions to the school fund revenue,
after deducting the latter sum, is $81,853 10.
Or THE PUBLIC LANDS.
5. We had hoped to procure from the surveyor general's office, an abstract, show
ing the manner in which the public title to all the lands granted by the state, has
been divested. But the means for such a statement were unattainable.
PUBLIC LANDS.

149

We may remark, however, that, during the colonial government, lands were fre
quently granted in large tracts, for light considerations; and patents therefor, cov
ered much of the counties on the Hudson and extended over the southeastern,
and the northern parts of the state. Portions of these tracts still remain in the
families of the original grantees: as in the case of the Van Renssetar, and Liv
ingston estates; others have been sold in larger, or smaller tracts; and, perhaps,
not an acre belongs to the heir of the patentee. On the larger estates, leaseholds,
by various tenures, and generally long terms, have been established, in Columbia,
Ulster, Albany, Renssela:r, Greene, Delaware, and other counties. In the north
ern counties, we are not instructed that this species of tenure is found: and we
believe it is not common in the West, unless in Livingston county, where it pre
vails to some extent. The effect of this tenure is generally deemed adverse to
the improvement of the country, and the leaseholder and freeholder are distin
guished and contrasted, by tbe appearance of their farms, especially of their
dwellings, and out houses.
The royal grants, were generally subject to quit rents, small in amount, and
sometimes payable in kind, which have been almost wholly commuted, or extin
guished by sales, under the state authority.
The royal rights, upon the revolution, devolved upon the state. In 1787, the
tenure of lands granted by it was declared to be allodial, and fees and their inci
dents were formally abolished. The land office was soon after established, and
the lands of the state were generally sold, from time to time, to the highest bidder.
In 1782, the legislature appropriated a tract, bounded on the north, by Lake On
tario, Oswego river, Oneida river and lake; east, by Madison, and Chenango coun
ties; south, by Broome, and Tioga; west, by the Seneca lake and in part by the
preemption line, (or the east boundary of the land subsequently conveyed to Mas
sachusetts,) for the use of the troops of this state, who had served in the revolu
tionary armies; upon condition, that, the Indian title could be extinguished. The
Six Nations by treaty, in 1788 and 1789, conveyed their interest to the state, and
the survey of the tract was made in the latter year, dividing it into 28 townships,
each containing 100 lots, of 600 acres — and forming an area of 1,680,000 acres —
comprehending, the counties of Onondaga, Cortlandt, Tompkins, Cayuga, Sene
ca and part of Oswego and Wayne.
In 1786, under the impression, that the Indian title to the above described tract
could not be speedily obtained, the legislature appropriated another tract, to the
same object, situated in Clinton, Franklin and Essex counties; comprising 12
townships of 12 miles square, equal to 768,000 acres. But, on .the relinquish
ment ofthe Indian title, the first tract was apportioned among the grantees.
Under her broad charter, stretching from sea to sea, Massachusetts claimed a
large interest in the territory of New York. Her right had been prefened against
the Dutch authorities, and had been reiterated during the existence of the
royal authority. The claim, after much controversy, was finally settled, by com
missioners on 16th December, 1786. In consideration, that Massachusetts con
firmed to New York, her political jurisdiction over the limits of the state and all
other the lands within them, New York ceded to her, " the right of pre-emption
ofthe soil, from the native Indians," to all the lands in the state, lying west of a
line, running due north, from the 82nd mile stone, on the north boundary of Penn
sylvania, to the British possessions in Canada, excepting a tract, of one mile
in width, along Niagara river." This line proves to be the meridian of the city
of Washington.
This great tract comprehends, a small portion of Tioga, nearly all of Steuben,
Yates, Ontario, Wayne, Monroe, Livingston, Allegany, Genesee, Orleans, Niaga
ra, Erie, Cattaraugus and Chautauque, 13 counties — equal to about seven millions
of acres: nearly one fourth of the area of the state, and including much of the
best land in it.
For the same consideration, a second tract was also conveyed to Massachusetts,
consisting of 10 townships, of 6 miles square — equal to 230,400 acres, lying be
tween (he Owego, and Chemung rivers, now chiefly in Chenango county. The
right of Massachusetts, to this tract was, soon after, sold to Samuel Brown and
59 associates, for £ 1000.
In 1787, that state sold the larger tract to Messrs. Oliver Phelps and Nathan
iel Gorham, for one million of dollars, payable in consolidated securities, at par. —

150 POLITICAL VIEW.
Having soon after extinguished the Indian title to a portion of this territory, these
gentlemen surveyed that portion into tracts, denominated ranges, and subdivided
the ranges into other tracts denominated townsbips — commencing the number of
ranges and townships, at the 82d mile stone, in the southeast corner of the pur
chase, and numbering the ranges westwardly from 1 to 7 and the towns northward
ly, from 1 to 14. (See "Ontario county.") This system of survey has been main
tained by their successors and adopted by the General Government. Mr. Phelps
opened a land office, in Canandaigua, in 1789, and sold large parcels to specula
tors and actual settlers. On the 8th November, 1790, Phelps and Gorham sold
nearly the whole of the residue of the survey, 1,204,000 acres, to Robert Morris,
of Philadelphia, for eight pence the acre, who Tesold it to Sir William Pulteney,
Still, being unable to fulfil their contract with the state of Massachusetts,
Phelps and Gorham compromised and surrendered that part of the land, to
which the Indian title was unextinguished; in consideration whereof, the state re
linquished two thirds of the contract price.
In 1796, Robert Morris purchased from the state, this portion also — extinguish
ed the Indian title — sold off several tracts of fifty thousand and one hundred
thousand acres, upon the east side and along the Genesee river and mortgaged
the residue to Wilhelm Willink of Amsterdam and 11 associates, called the
Holland Land Company. This company, by foreclosure of the mortgage, ac
quired full title to the land; surveyed it; and in 1801, opened their first land of
fice, at Batavia. Having sold a large proportion of the country, they, in 1835, con
veyed the residue of the wild lands, to several companies, who have undertaken
to retail them.
The Holland purchase was bounded on the east, by a transit meridian line,
due north, from lat. 42°, embracing the two western ranges of the county of Al
legany, and with an offset, west, of 2{ miles, extending north, to Lake Ontario,
on the west line of Murray town, Orleans county — two fifths of Allegany county;
the greater portion of Genesee, and Orleans counties; and, all of Niagara, Erie,
Chautauque and Cattaraugus, with the exception ofthe reservation already men
tioned along the Niagara river. ~
The Pulteney purchase was bounded north, by Lake Ontario; east, by the pre
emption line; south, by Pennsylvania; west, by a transit meridian line, due north,
from lat. 42°, to the Genesee river, at the mouth of the Canaseraga creek, of Steu
ben county, thence by that river, to the south line of the town of Caledonia; thence
west, 12 miles, and thence northeast, by the east line of the triangle tract, 12
miles west of the Genesee river, to Lake Ontario — comprehending nearly all of
Steuben, and Ontario, the east range of townships of Allegany, the east range of
Orleans, and the greater part of Livingston, and Monroe, counties.
In consequence of the mode of survey, all doubt and difficulty have been avoided
in titles to the Massachusetts lands.
When granting their interest in the Massachusetts lands and in other parts of
the state, the Indians made certain reservations, most of which they still hold.
Thus, they possessed the Caneadea,. Gardeau, and Big Tree reservations on the
Genesee river; the Toneivanta, Tuscarora, and Buffalo creek reservations, in Gene
see, Niagara, and Erie counties; the Catlauraugus Reservation, on the creek di
viding Chautauque, from Erie county; the Allegany reservation, upon the Alle
gany river, commencing 20 miles below Olean, and running into Pennsylvania; the
Oneida reservation, in Oneida county; the Onondaga reservation in Onondaga
county; and the St. Regis reservation,' oa.rt\y in Upper Canada, and partly in
Franklin county.
From this view of the lands of the state, it is perceived that she retained, com
paratively, a small portion of the soil, within her limits; and the interest which
she acquired by the revolution, was confined to districts in the central counties,
on the Mohawk river, and in the counties north of the river and east of the Sene
ca lake. And even here, there were large tracts, as those granted to McComb,
and others, held by individuals.
In accordance with the policy which has prevailed, universally among the Eu
ropean powers colonising North America, the constitution of the state provides,
that " no purchase, or contract for the sale of land in this state, since 14th Oct.
1775, or thereafter made of or with the Indians ofthe state, shall be valid, unless
made under the authority and with the consent of the legislature.

PUBLIC LANDS. 151
The general care and superintendence of all lands of the state, the superintend
ence whereof is not vested in some other office or board, belong to the commis
sioners of the land office; consisting, of the lt. governor, speaker of assembly,
secretary of state, attorney general, surveyor general, comptroller and treasurer.
The deputy secretary of state is clerk to the board; and its books, papers, and
documents, are kept in the secretary's office.
The commissioners or a majority of them, or any three of them, if the survey
or general be one, are empowered to direct the granting of unappropriated lands;
to lease from time to time, not exceeding one year, and until they can be disposed
of according to law, all such lands as have improvements upon them, and are to
be appropriated to immediate use. To direct repayment of original purchase mo
neys, with interest at 6 per cent, to purchasers of lands, to which the title of the
state shall fail; to order, from time to time, the surveyor general to cause actual
surveys to be made of unappropriated lands; to direct him, to sell unappropriated
lands at auction, from time to time, not more than 20000 acres at any one auction,
and each lot separately; prescribing the minimum price and terms, time, and place
of sale, designating the newspapers, in which notice of sale shall be published:
to establish rules for preventing frauds, in cases of lost certificate of sale, and of
pre-emptive rights: to fix the time for the performance of the conditions of grants,
by the grantees: to prescribe the form of letters patent for lands, making therein an
exception and reservation to the state, of all gold, and silver mines:
To require the sheriff of any county in which are public lands not patented, or
Indian lands, to report to them and to the proper district attorney, all trespasses
committed thereon, by cutting, and carrying away timber; for which trespasses,
such attorney prosecutes: to grant lands under the waters of navigable rivers, or
lakes, for the promotion of commerce, to the proprietors of adjacent lands only:
to dispose of lands conveyed to the state, for the benefit of the canal fund; and
appoint agents to prosecute trespassers, on such lands.
The secretary of state convenes the commissioners, for transaction of business,
so often as may be necessary. At such meetings, the lieutenat governor presides,
or in his absence, a chairman chosen by the members present. Their expenses,
in discharge of their duties, are audited by the comptroller, and paid from the
treasury. Due provision is made by law, for the survey, appraisement and sale of unap
propriated lands; for the protection of such lands and the payment of charges;
and for the foreclosure of mortgages given by purchasers.
The system for the management of the public lands is simple and efficient.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS, &C.
6. The public buildings and erections consist of the capitol at Albany, under
the care of the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the assembly, secretary of
state, attorney general, and comptroller; the state hall, under the care ofthe comp
troller, secretary of state, and surveyor general; the arsenals and magazines, and
appurtenances, at Staten Island, city of New York, New York Island, Albany,
Whitehall, Plattshurg, Elizabethtown, Malone, Russell, Watertown, Onondaga,
Canandaigua, and Batavia, under the care of the commissary general; the state pri
sons, at Mount Pleasant and Auburn; the marine hospital and dependencies, at Staten
Island, in charge of the commissioners of health, of the city of New York; the
state pier at the port of Sagg Harbour, under the care of the receiver of the profits
thereof. STATE LIBRARY.
7. The state library is under the care of trustees, consisting of the governor,
lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and comptroller.
For its gradual enlargement, one thousand dollars per annum, are appropriated
from the treasury, and three hundred, from the profits arising from the surplus of
the common fund, appertaining to the court of chancery; or so much thereof, as
may remain, after payment of the contingent expenses of the court.
The trustees report, annually, to the legislature, the manner of their expendi
ture of such moneys, with a catalogue of the books, maps, &c; appoint the libra
rian, prescribe regulations for the government of the library; permitting mem
bers of the legislature to take out books, under certain restrictions, but prohibiting
any other person to take out any books, &c. for any purpose whatever.

152 POLITICAL VIEW.
Before granting members of the legislature a certificate of attendance, the pre
siding officers ofthe respective houses must be satisfied, that they have returned
all books belonging to the library, and settled all fines for injuries thereto.
The books are kept in two rooms; one containing those relating to law; and the
other, the miscellaneous, historical, political, and scientific works. In 1835, there
were of the former, 2,749 volumes, comprising a full collection of American re
ports, and elementary treatises, and nearly all tbe English reports and legal trea
tises, except such as are of a very early, or very recent period; of the latter, 2,306,
including selected standard works on American history, politics, and legislation,
with such foreign publications of general interest, as are not usually found in the
libraries of associations or individuals. CANALS.
8. A complete manuscript map, and field notes of each canal now, or hereafter
constructed, and of the lands belonging to the state, adjacent thereto, or connected
therewith, on which the boundaries of every parcel, to which the state has a sepa
rate title, is designated, and the names of former owners, and date of each title,
entered, is filed in the office of the comptroller. A copy of each such map, with
the field books and notes of survey or of such part thereof as the canal board di
rect, is filed in the clerk's office of every county intersected by the canal, to which
the map relates. A transcript from the original or a copy duly certified, is pre
sumptive evidence in all judicial or legal proceedings.
The general care and superintendence of the canals are vested in thp board pf
canal commissioners. Each acting commissioner, before entering on his duty,
gives bond to the state, in $20,000, with two substantial freeholders as sureties,
conditioned for the faithful discharge of his office, whenever and as often, as he
may be required by law or concurrent resolutions of the senate and assembly, or
by the comptroller; such bond to be approved by the comptroller and filed in his
office, and lo be renewed whenever demanded by him, or the commissioners ofthe
canal fund; and the refusal to renew is a breach of its-condition.
The board annually choose one of their number president; and from time to time,
another as secretary, who keeps and preserves regular minutes of their proceedings.
The president convenes the board at pleasure and at the request, in writing, of a
commissioner. A majority forms a quorum for business.
The board employs all necessary agents, and determines their compensation;
makes and repairs, all canals and appurtenances authorised by law,; and to that
end, takes possession of all lands and waters deemed requisite and proceeds in the
manner specially directed by law; enacts rules and regulations, for the size and
structure of boats and other floats, imposing penalties for breach thereof, not ex
ceeding $25 for each offence; files such regulations with the comptroller, whose
certificate is due proof thereof; distributes copies of such regulations, to the super
intendents of repairs, collectors of tolls, and lock keepers, to be kept in their offices
for public inspection; and assigns to each acting commissioner, in special charge,
the line, or portion of the line of one or more of the canals; accounts with the
comptroller, on or before the 15th of January, annually, for all moneys received by
them, and each of them, from the canal fund; reports, within twenty days from
the commencement of each annual session, to the legislature, the condition ofthe
canals, the improvements and repairs made during the past year or contemplated
to be made, the amount of moneys, during the same period, received and expended
by them and each of them; and recommends such measures, in relation to the
canals, as they deem the public interest to require.
No canal commissioner, as such, is allowed to have in his hands, at any one
time, more than $10,000; and every sum advanced to, or received by him, is
deemed to be in his hands, until its application is properly accounted for with the
comptroller. But under special circumstances, he may draw upon the commis
sioners of the canal fund, in favour of a contractor, for any sum payable by his
contract. Each acting commissioner examines frequently, and carefully, into the state of
the works committed to his charge; makes ordinary repairs; superintends extra
ordinary repairs and improvements, ordered by the board; makes by himself, or a
superintendent of repairs, all contracts for materials or labour; inquires into the

CANALS.

153

official conduct, of superintendents, and all other subordinate agents; for the per
formance of which duties, special provision is made by law.
There arp two officers called "canal appraisers," appointed by the governor and
senate, who, with an acting canal commissioner, are appraisers of damages and
benefits caused to individuals in the making, improvement, or management of the
canals, for which due provision is specially made by law. No appraiser may act
in ahy case, in which lie is interested. - -' ¦
The acting canal commissioners have an annual salary ot $2000; the other
commissioners and members of the canal board, are compensated at the same rate,
for the time they are on duty. Canal Board.
The Canal Board consists of the canal commissioners, and .commissioners of
the, canal fend; who are empowered to appoint so many superintendents of
repairs, and collectors of tolls, as maybe necessary— to supply vacancies in those
pffices^.tp,remove incumbents at pleasure, and to determine, their compensation,
not exceeding $1000 per. annum, to any superintendent; to fix the rate of tolls;
prescribe rules for. their collection, and impose forfeitures, not exceeding $25
for one offence, for' the breach thereof; to remit absolutely, or conditionally, any
forfeiture incurred by violation of the, provisions relating to the canal, or ofthe
ru'l,es-and regulations established by them or the canal commissioners; to direct
rep'airs or improvements, on the canals proposed by the canal commissioners,
when, the estimate does not exceed $30,000; and, when exceeding that gum, to
report, the plan and estimate, with their opinion thereon, to the legislature.— to sell,
for a term of years, the surplus waters of the canals — to make extra allowance to
any contractor, for work on the canals, pursuant to the restrictions of the Law— and
generally, to make such rules and regulations, for the management of the canals,
as may be made by the commis'sioners of the canal fund, or by the canal board.
The comptroller may remove any collector, and fill the vacancy* until the next
meeting of the board.
Due provision is made by law, for securing to owners of water privileges, their
rights, for compensating injuries done thereto, for securing to the state, remunera
tions for all increase of such privileges, created by its operations, in connecjion
with the canals; and for the sale, and use, of all surplus waters obtained by the
canals. Proper regulations and penalties are established, concerning the naviga
tion, collection of tolls, and for the protection and maintenance of the canals. .
-The superintendents of repairs and collectors of tolls, respectively, before en
tering on their official duties, execute, and file with the comptroller, a bond in such
penalty and form, as the-canal board directs, and with such sureties, as the. comp
troller approves, conditioned for the faithful discharge of their duties. - .
Each superintendent, under direction of the canal commissioners, keeps in re
pair, such sections of the canals and appurtenances, as are committed to his
charge; makes the necessary contracts therefor and expends all moneys placed in
his hands, by the commissioners of the canal fund or canal commissioners: each
is under the direction of the canal commissioners a>nd especially, of the acting
commissioner, eharged with Jhe line on which he is employed; each, once in 60
days, renders, for audit, to the comptroller, his account, examined, approved, and
certified by the proper canal commissioner; or if he omit so to do, or his account
be not satisfactory, the comptroller notifies the commissioners of the canal fund
thereof, and-no further advances are made himrbut he is immediately removed
from office. Either of the acting canal commissioners may remove any of the
superintendents, and fill the vacancy until the next meeting of the canal board.
No person owning hydraulic works, dependent upon the canals for water, or em
ployed in, or connected with such works, or engaged in transporting property on
the canals, or owning, or being -interested in any boat navigating them, can be em
ployed as superintendent, collector, weigbmaster or-other agent upon the canals.
» No canal commissioner or member of the canal board, can own, or be interest
ed in any hydraulic works, dependent upon the canals for water, or own, or .be
interested in any line of boats, regularly navigating the canal.
Collectors of tolls, their clerks, not exceeding two, superintendents of repairs,
lock tenders, inspectors of boats, and weighmasters, are exempted from military
20

154 political View.
duty, and jury service, while actuallyengaged in their employments on the canals,
while the same are navigable. •
Each collector of tolls keeps accounts of all tolls received, in the. form pre
scribed by the comptroller, and deposits the original books thereof, with silch
clearances and other papers, as he may require, in the comptroller's office, on or
before the 10th July, annually; transmits abstracts from such books, showing the
amount of tolls received each day, to the comptroller, ibur times in each month,
on such days, as he may direct: deposits moneys receivedfrom tolls to the credit
of the state treasurer, at least, once in two weeks, in such banks, as the canal
board may designate; and such banks, transmit to the comptroller, by mail, a
monthly account of such deposits; under penalty in case of neglect, or comptroller's
doubts of their solvency, that he employ. other banks until the further order ofthe
canal board: and .refund tolls erroneously paid, or which equitably ought to be
refunded under regulations prescribed by the comptroller.
Summary proceedings are authorised under the direction of the comptroller, to
compel payment of tolls received by such collectors.
Where any canal is completed, the canal board declares the fact,'by an order,
and from that time, all the powers and authority of the canal'*commissioners, in
relation to its construction ceases. OF SALT SPRINGS.
9. See page 50 for a description of the springs.
The salt springs, and lands contiguous thereto, convenient for their use, by the
constitution, remain the property of the.state; the legislature cannot sell, or dis
pose of them, nor any part of them. %
The care ofthe Onondaga salt springs is vested in a superintendent and in
spector. The superintendent, within 30 days after notice of his appointment, and before
entering on his duties, gives bond, in the sum of $30,000 to the state, with not
less than five sureties approved by the comptroller, to be filed in the comptroller's^
office,-conditiqned for the faithful performance of his duties; until anew appoint
ment be made, and a new bond be given.
He appoints such deputies as he deems necessary, by writing, filed in the -
office of the clerk of Onondaga county for whose conduct he is responsible;
one of whom, at least, must reside in each of the villages of Salina, Geddes, Syr
racuse, and Liverpool; they take the constitutional oath of office, and give bond,
as often, and in such sum, and with such sureties, as their principal may direct,
for the faithful discharge of duty, to be filed with the clerk of Onondaga county. ,
The inspector, also, gives bondVto ihe state, in the sum of $ 2000, with sureties
approved by the superintendent, conditioned as above, and filed with the comp
troller. He attends, personally, to the duties of his office, and appoints the neces
sary deputies, at least one in the above named villages, for whom he is responsi
ble. The superintendent, and inspector make rules and regulations concerning-^the
manufacture, and inspection of salt, and the collection of duties thereon; thedistri-
bution of the salt water; the daily examination and report by the inspector and
his deputies, of the operation, and extent of the salt manufactures, to ascertain the
actual quantity of salt made at each manufactory; and the lading of salt in. bulk»v
on board boats, to be transported on the Erie canal: they prescribe penalties, not.
exceeding ten dollars, in cases not prescribed by law,;f55r the violation of such
rules; report to the legislature,»on, or before the 15th Jan. annually, the state of
the manufacture, and ofthe public works; and recommend such further provisions as
they deem necessary to aid the manufacture of salt, and facilitate the collection of
the revenue, k-
For the performance of their joint duties, they meet at the principal office of ..the
superintendent, on the first Monday of each month; and in case of disagreement,
invoke the arbitration of the first judge, of the county of Onondaga, who receives
for his services, two dollars, for every day's attendance.
Each keeps an office, in each of the above named villages, open from sunrise
to sunset, daily, Sunday and the 4th of July excepted, for all persons to examine
their books of entry. Each, and their respective deputies, are required;- to" prose
cute for all penalties imposed by law, in case of offences coming to their knowl-

SALT SPRINGS. 155
edge, and for all trespasses on the state la-fids, in the town of Salina. ., None of
such officers can be concerned in the manufacture or sale of salt, or have any in
terest in any salt manufactory, in such town.
The superintendent and inspector, respectively, are liable to indictment and
punishment, as for a misdemeanor, for any wilful neglect of duty, or for any mal
practice, in the discharge of the duties of their office.
, The, superintendent has charge of all the salt water, and all the state property
in the town of Salina; he is empowered and required to remove wrongful pos
sessors of such lands; to bring suit, by his name of office, for all penalties, and
forfeitures for injury thereto; to lease any buildings or lands reserved for the
manufacture of coarse salt; to receive all moneys payable for rents, duties, fines,
or penalties relating to state lands, at Salina; to pay all accounts audited, and al
lowed by the inspector; to deposit all balances in his hands, monthly, in bank, to
the credit of the treasurer; to transmit, monthly to the comptroller, a certificate of
such deposit, an account of the gross amount of duties collected, of payments
made, andjof his commissions, with the proper vouchers; also quarterly accounts
in the form prescribed by the comptroller, and the original, or copy of his book of
entrijig! showing the quantity of salt inspected — undftr penalty of having his bond
put in suit; to provide the necessary blanks, and books for himself, and the in
spector; to print and post, a list of penalties imposed by the laws and regulations
relative.tb his. charge; to use the water from the canal, under Certain restrictions,
for pumping the salt water; lo erect additional pumps, reservoirs, and machinery
the better to supply the manufactories; to take lands and salt springs, though leas
ed, for such purposes, paying due compensation therefor.
The inspector keeps on file, in each of his offices, and those of the superinten
dent, a descriptive list ofthe salt manufactories, on which such manufactories are
numbered; by himself, or deputies, visits daily, Sundays excepted", each manufac
tory, to ascertain whether there be therein, any salt of bad, quality, and which
should not pass inspection; and ordering its dissolution; or destroying it, and the
.vessel in which it is contained, in case of disobedience, or absence of the person
in charge. But no inspector can receive duties on salt, or perform any service re
lative to the receipt of public moneys, in the town of Salina.
The superintendent has a commission of 2 per cent, on all sums received by
him, not exceeding, in one year, $ 100,000; one per cent, on all sums above that
amount, from which he pays his deputies^lerks, and assistants.
The inspector, receives monthly, from We superintendent, 3 mills per bushel,
for all salt inspected.
The manufacturer-pays for the salt water, two mills on each bushel of salt, for
securing the collection of which, each factory is subject to a daily tax of four
mills, per gallon, on' the capacity of thes first ten kettles set in each block, three
mills, per gallon, on the next two, and two mills per gallon on the remaining two
kettles, for the time 'such kettles are used in making salt. This tax is daily
charged and credit given for the duties received -on the salt inspected, and the ac
count footed monthly ; and any balance due may be summarily collected.
Due provision is made — for determining the amount of salt made— for assuring
its purity— for a full supply and economical use of water — for the proper location
of fine and course salt manufactories— for the incorporation of companies with
capitals not exceeding $50,000 to prosecute the manufacture — and generally to
promote its extension.
The superintendent and inspector, their deputies, and all persons employed in
attendance upon any works for the manufacture of coarse salt, are exempted from
militia and jury service.
A superintendent is appointed for the salt springs at Montezuma, who in like,
manner, as the superintendent at Salina, gives bond, but in the sum of $3000
only. He possesses all the powers, and performs all the duties in relation to the
manufacture of salt at Montezuma, which belong jointly or severally to the super
intendent and inspector of the Onondaga Salt Springs in relation to the manufac
ture of salt in that county; ^pd the legal provisions for the latter are applicable to
the former. , * *• ' '
He, receives for his services-fcud in lieu of all other fees, seven and a half per
cent, upon all moneys collected for salt manufactured at Montezuma.

156 POLITICAL VIEW.
OE THE INTEREST OF THE STATE IN MINES.
10. The state ''has reserved the property of all gold and silver mines; of all
mines of other metals on lands owned by persons not citizens of any ofthe United
States ; of all mines upon lands owned by a citizen of any of the United States,
the ore of which upon an average shall contain less than two equal third parts, in
-'value, of copper, tin, iron and lead or either. v
But, all mines other than of gold and silver, upon lands owned by a citizen, the
ore of which upon an average shall contain two equal third parts or more in value,
of copper, tin, iron and lead or either, belong to the owner ofthe land.
The discoverer of a mine of gold or silver within the state and his representa
tives are exempted from paying to the state, any part of the ore, produce, or profit of
such mine for the term of 21 years from the time of giving notice thereof as here
inafter mentioned. But he may not work the same until he gi^e notice, in writing,.
to the secretary of state, describing, particularly, its nature and situation, to be
registered by the secretary. After such term, the discoverer or his representa
tives has preference in any contract with the state, for working such mine.
These provisions do not affect prior grants by the legislature; nor give any one
a right to enter on or break up the lands of any person or of the state; or tb'work
any mine on such lands, without the consent, in writing, of the owner; or the com
missioners ofthe land office, when the lands belong to the state.
It may be well to remark' here that, no unequivocal trace has been discovered
in this state of productive mines of gold and silver. Yet much infatuation has
prevailed in relation to them, much time has been wasted, and much money fruit
lessly expended. Since 1789, eighty one notices of discovery have been given to
the secretary, and most of them within the last 15 years.
CHAPTER IV.
POWERS, DUTIES, AND PRIVILEGES OF TOWNS— REGULATIONS RELA-
TIVE TO ESTRAYS AND FENCES.
1. Rights of Towns as Bodies Corporate. 2. Effects of the Division of a Town. 3. Of
Annual and Special Town Meetings. 4. Mode of Conducting them. 5. Election of
Town Officers. 6. Qualifications of Town Officers — Tenure of Office. 7. Vacancies
— How Filled. 8. Duties of Supervisors. 9. Duties of Town Clerk. 10. Estrays. 11.
Of Fences, and Fence Viewers. 12. Auditors of Accounts. 13. Compensation of
Officers. 14. Legal Proceedings by or against Towns. 15. Miscellaneous Provisions.
*
1. Each town, as a body corporate, has capacity — to sue and be sued; to pur
chase and hold lands within its limits for the use of the inhabitants; to make such
contracts and hold such personal property as may be necessary for the exercise of
its corporate or administrative powers; to dispose of its corporate property, as
may be deemed conducive to the interests of the inhabitants; all other corporate
powers must be specially given by law, or be necessary for the exercise of those
above enumerated.
Proceedings by or against it, in a corporate capacity, are in its name; but con
veyances of land within its limits made in any manner, for the benefit of its inhab
itants, have the same effect as if made to it by name.
When a town seized of lands, other than gospel and school lots, is divided into
two or more towns, the supervisors and overseers ofthe poor ofthe several towns
constituted by the division meet, as soon as may be, after the first town meeting,
subsequently held in such towns ; and have power to make such agreement, con
cerning the disposition of such lands and the apportionment of. the proceeds as
they think equitable and to take all measures and execute all conveyances neces
sary to carry it into effect. %
2. When such town is altered in its limits, bynan^xing part of its territory to
another town or towns, the supervisors and overseers of the town, from which
such territory is taken, and of the town, or towns, to which the same is annexed,
proceed in the manner and have the power, above provided.

OF TOWNS. 157
If no agreement for the disposition of such lands be so made within six months
ifter such division or alteration, the supervisors and overseers of each town in ,
which any portion of the lands lies, sell and convey such part as is included
(vilhin their limits, and the proceeds are apportioned between the several towns
interested therein, by the supervisors and overseers of all the towns accordingto
the amount of taxable property in the town divided or altered, as the same existed
immediately before such division or alteration, ascertained by the last assessment
list; but any burial ground becomes the property of the town in which it may be,
after the division.
When a town possessed of personal estate U so divided or altered, such estate
including moneys in the hands of town officers is apportioned between the towns
interested therein, by the supervisors and overseerB according to the rule above
prescribed. A meeting ofthe supervisors and overseers of two or more towns, to carry into
effect the foregoing provisions, may be called by either of the supervisors, giving
at least three days notice, in writing, to all the other officers, ofthe time and place
of meeting.
Debts pwing by a town so divided or altered are apportioned as the personal
property. 3. The qualified voters, annually, assemble, in their respective towns, at such
place as they at their annual town meetings from lime to time appoint, on some
Tuesday, between the first Tuesday in February, and the first Tuesday in May,
both inclusive each year; and the time when fixed may not be altered within three
years. When from any cause the time of holding the annual town meeting has not
been fixed as required by law, the next annual town meeting is held on the same
day, ofthe same week, ofthe same month, as the last, and, if no place have been
fixed, at the place of the last.
There are chosen, at the annual town meeting in each town, one supervisor, one
town clerk, not less than three, nor more HHire assessors, one collector, two
overseers ofthe poor, three commissioners- ofliighways, three commissioners and
three inspectors of common schools, not more than five constahles, one town sealer
of weights and measures, as many overseers of highways as there are road dis
tricts in the town, except in the counties of Suffolk, Queens,. Kings and Rich
mond; and so many pound masters, as thg electors may determine.
The assessors and commissioners of Ijighways are the fence viewers of their
town. The electors have power at such meeting, to determine what numbej" of
assessors, constables and pound masters shall be chosen for the ensuing year; to
elect such town officers as are to be' chosen; to direct such sum to be raised for
the support of common schools for the ensuing year, as they may deem necessary
not exceeding the amount required by law; to direct the institution or defence
of suits at law or in equity, in which the town is party; and to raise money, there
for: to take measures and give directions for the exercise of their corporate power;
to make such provisions and allow such rewards for the destruction of noxious
weeds, as they may deem necessary and to raise money therefor; lo establish
and maintain pounds, at such places within the town as may be convenient; to
establish the compensation of the fence viewers, commissioners and inspectors of
common schools and collector for the last, not more than five nor less than three
per cent; to make, from time to time, providential regulations, for improving
lands owned by the town in its corporate capacity, maintaining and amending
the partition of other fences thereof, protecting the Tarids from trespass, and di
recting the time and manner of using them; to make like rules for ascertaining
the sufficiency of all fences in the town; determining the times and manner in
which cattle, horses, or sheep may go at large on highways; and for impounding
animals; to impose such penalties on offenders against regulations established by
the town, excepting such as relate to the keeping and maintaining of fences, as
they may think proper, not exceeding twelve dollars and fifty cents for each of-
ence, and to apply them, when recovered, as they may think most coriducive to
the interest of the town.
The electors of each town bound to support its own poor, may at such meeting,
direct such sum to be raised therefor, in the ensuing year, as may be .necessary;

158 POLITICAL VIEW.
and may raise any money to defray any charges against the overseers of the poor.
Special town meetings are held to supply vacancies in the cases hereinafter men
tioned; and whenever twelve or more persons eligible to the office of supervisor,
by application, in writing, signed by them and addressed to the town clerk, re
quire it, for raising money for the support of common schools, or of the poor,
when a proposition to that effect shall not have been acted upon at the annual
town meeting; for the purpose of deliberating on the institution or defence of suits
or raising moneys therefor; and special town meetings can act on no other subjects.
No previous notice is given of the annual town meeting; but the town clerk, at.
least eight days before any, special town meeiing, causes notices thereof, under-'
his hand, to be posted at four or more of the most public places in the town, sp&v
cifyingthe time, place, and purpose, ofthe meeting. Every order and regulation.^,.
made by any town meeting, remains in force until altered or repealed; no civil**
process may be served in the town, on any elector, on any day during which the
town meeting shall be held.
4. The justices of the peace of each town, attend every town meeting therein;
and such of them as are present preside thereat and have like authority to pre
serve order, to enforce obedience, and to commit for disorderly conduct, as the
board of inspectors at a general election. If there be no justice present, the elec
tors choose a president, who has the like powers.
The town clerk is clerk of the meeting, and minutes its proceedings, entering
at length, every order and all regulations made thereat. If he be absent, the
electors choose a substitute.
Town meetings are open only, between the rising and setting of the sun, and
may be held two days successively, but not longer.
All questions, upon motions made, are determined by the majority of the elec
tors voting; and the presiding officers ascertain and declare the result.
If any person offering to voteibe challenged as unqualified, the presiding officers,
proceed thereupon, as at general elections; and no person, whose vote shall have
been received upon such challensrsjiriay be again challenged upon any other ques
tion arising at the same town meeting.
The minutes ofthe proceedings, subscribed by the clerk and the officers presid
ing, are filed in the office ofthe town clerk, within two days after the meeting.
5. Before the electors proceed, to elect any town officer, proclamation is made of
the opening of the poll; and proclamation is,.in like manner, made of each adjourn-^
merit and ofthe opening and closing of the poll, until the election be ended.
The supervisor, town clerk, assessor, "collector, overseers of the poor, commis-
missioners of highways, commissioners and inspectors of common schools, and
constables, are chosen by ballot. All other town officers, either by ballot, by ayes
and noes, or by the rising, or the dividing of the electors, as the meeting may de
termine. When the electors vote by ballot, all the officers voted for are named in one
ballot, delivered to the presiding officer, so folded as to conceal the contents — the
name of the voter is entered on a poll list kept by the clerk, and the presiding
officers deposit the ballots in a box constructed, kept, and disposed of, as nearly asj/p
may be, in the manner prescribed for the general election.
At the close of the election by ballot, the presiding officers publicly canvass the
votes, without adjournment or interruption, until the same be completed; and the
proceedings thereon are similar to those at a general election. A statement ofthe
result is entered at length, by the clerk, in the minutes, and publicly read to the
meeting, and such Teading*is deemed notice of the result to every person whose
name shall have been entered on the poll list as a voter.
The clerk, withing ten days, thereafter, transmits to each person elected, whose
name has not been so entered, a notice of his election.
6. No person is eligible to any office, unless an eleetor ofthe town.
No loan officer, under the act of the 4th of March, 1792, entitled, "An act for
loaning moneys belonging to this state," is eligihle to the office of supervisor.
Every supervisor, town clerk, assessor, overseer of the poor, commissioner of
highways, or town sealer, before he enters on office and within ten days after no
tice of his election or appointment, takes and subscribes before some justice of
the peace or commissioner of deeds, the constitutional oath of office, administered
and certified without reward. A certificate, stating the day and year when it was

OF TOWNS. 159
takeu, is delivered to the Juror, who, within eight days thereafter, causes it to be
filed in the office of the town clerk. The neglect to take and subscribe such oath,
and to file such certificate is deemed a refusal to serve.
The overseer of highways, commissioner, or inspector of common schools* or
pound master, before entering on office, and within ten days after notice of his elec
tion or appointment, files in the office of the town clerk, in writing, his acceptance
of office; and on failing so to do is deemed to have refused.
The collector, before entering on office and withiii eight days after notice ofthe
amount of taxes to be collected by him, executes to the supervisor and lodges with
him, a bond, with one or more sureties to be approved by the supervisor, in double
the amount of such taxes, conditioned for the*faithful execution of his office. The
supervisor, within six days thereafter, files such bond, with his approbation in
dorsed thereon with the county clerk, who makes an entry in the manner in which
judgments are entered of record; and such bond is a lien on the real estate held
jointly or severally, by the collector or his sureties, within the county, at the time
of the filing thereof, and so continues till its condition, with all costs and charges
accruing by the prosecution thereof, be fully satisfied.
The' constable, before entering on office and within eight days after notice of
his election or appointment, takes and subscribes the oath of office, executes in
the presence ofthe supervisor or town clerk, with one or more sureties, approved
by him, an instrument in writing, by which he and his sureties jointly and seve
rally, agree to pay to every person who may be entitled thereto, such sum of mo
ney as the constable may become liable for, on account of any execution which
shall be delivered to him for collection.
The supervisor or town clerk indorses on such instrument, his approbation of
the sureties, and files it with the town clerk; and a copy thereof, certified by the
clerk, is presumptive evidence ofthe execution.
All actions against a constable or his sureties thereupon must be prosecuted
within two years after the expiration of the year for which the constable has been
elected. The neglect ofthe collector or constable to give such security, and take such
oath, within the time limited, is deemed a refusal to serve.
Any person chosen or appointed to the office of supervisor, town clerk, assessor,
commissioner of highways or overseer of the poor, refusing to serve, forfeits to
the town, fifty dollars; and if chosen or appointed to the office of commissioner
or inspector of common schools, overseer of highways, p*ound master, or town
sealer, and so refusing to serve, he forfeits ten dollars. No quaker, or reputed
quaker, chosen or appointed to the office of assessor, is liable to such penalty, if
he affirm, within three days, after notice of his election or appointment, that ho
has conscientious scruples about executing the duties of the office.
Such affirmation is made before some justice of the town, who, without reward,
certifies in writing, the day and year when it was taken; and the affirmant, within
eight days thereafter, files it with the town'clerk.
Any town officer, required to take the oath of office, entering office before hav-
ing.taken it, forfeits to the town the sum of fifty dollars. - f
7. If a town neglect, at its annual town meeting, to choose its proper town offi
cers or either of them, any three justices of the town, by warrant under their
hands and seals, may appoint such officers, to hold their respective offices, until
others are chosen or appointed, and to have the same powers, and be subject to the
same duties and penalties, as if duly chosen by the electors. Such justices cause
such warrant to be forthwith filed in the office of the town clerk, who immedi
ately gives notice to the appointee.
Any three justices of the peace of a town may, for sufficient cause, accept the
resignation of any town officer, giving notice thereof to the town clerk.
If any personr.chosen or appointed to the office of supervisor, assessor, commis
sioner of highways, or overseer of the poor, refuse to serve, die, or remove out of
the town or become incapable of serving before the next annual1 town meeting, the
town clerk, within eight days after the happening of the vacancy, calls a special
town meeting, for the purpose of supplying it.
If the electors do not, within fifteen days after such vacancy, supply it by an
election, at town meeting, it is supplied by the justices in the manner above pro
vided.

160 POLITICAL VIEW.
Vacancies in all town offices, except those of supervisor, assessor, commissioner
of highways, overseer of the poor, collector or overseer of highways, are sup
plied by the justices, in the manner above provided.
When a vacancy occurs in any town office, 'which the justices of the peace are
authorised to fill, and there are less than three justices in the town, that number
may be made up from the justices of an adjoining town, and they have the same
powers as if they were all justices of the town in Which the vacancy occurred.
8. The supervisor receives and pays over all moneys for defraying town
charges, except for the support of highways and bridges, common schools and
the poor. He keeps an account thereof, in a book provided at the expense ofthe
town, and to be delivered to his successor.
He prosecutes in the name of his town or otherwise, as may be necessary, for
all penalties of fifty dollars or under, given by law to the town or fof its use, and
for which no other officer is specially directedto prosecute.
On the Tuesday preceding the annual town meeting, he accounts with the jus
tices ofthe peace and town clerk, for the disbursement of all such moneys; who
enter a certificate in his book of accounts, showing their state at the date:
He attends the annual meeting ofthe board of supervisors and every adjourned
or special meeting, of which he shall have notice:
He lays all accounts against the town, before the board and such copies of en
tries concerning moneys voted to be raised in his town, as are delivered to him by
the town clerk.
When required by the surveyor general to cause a survey lo be made of the
bounds of his town, he, within sixty days thereafter, transmits it to the surveyor
general, under penalty of .fifty dpllars;the expense is defrayed by the several towns
whose bounds, either wholly, or in part are described thereby and is apportioned
by the board of supervisors.
The town clerk has the custody of the records, books, and papers of the town,
and files all certificates of oaths and other papers, required by law to be filed in
his office; transcribes in the book of records the minutes of every town meeting,
and every order of direction, rule and regulation, made therein; delivers 'to the su
pervisor, before the annual meeting ofthe board, in each year, certified copies of
all entries of votes for raising money, made since the last meeting of the board
and recorded in the town book.
9. The town clerks, immediately after the qualifying of any constables in their
respective towns, return to the clerks of their respective counties the names of
such constables. The clerk wilfully omitting to make such return is guilty of a
misdemeanour and on conviction is«liable to a fine, not exceeding ten dollars.
Copies of all papers duly filed in the office of the town clerk, including those
filed with him as clerk of the commissioners of common schools and transcripts
from the book of records certified by him are evidence in all courts, as the origi
nals. 10. Whenever any person has any strayed horse upon his enclosed land, or be
tween the first of November and the first of April, any strayed cattle or sheep, he
within ten days after the coming thereof delivers to the clerk of the town within
which such lands lie, a note containing his name and place of abode, the age,
colour and marks, natural and artificial of such stray — under penalty of forfeiting
the benefit of the law relating to strays.
The elerk enters the notice in a book given for gratuitous inspection, receiving
six cents each for all neat cattle and horses and three cents for each sheep, to be
paid by the person delivering the note.
Such person is entitled to receive therefor, nine cents' each, for all neat cattle
and horses and three cents for each sheep described therein; and may detain the
strays, until the owner pay such fees with those to the clerk and reasonable
charges for keeping the strays; such charges being ascertained by one of the fence
viewers of the town selected by the claimants in case he and the owner cannot

Each fence viewer is entitled to receive six cents for every mile he travels from
his house to the place where the strays are kept, and twenty-five for a certificate
of the charges as ascertained by him, to be paid by the owner ofthe strays.
Every person delivering such note and keeping such strays, if they be not
sooner claimed and redeemed, between the first and the twentieth of May, gives

OF TOWNS. 161
notice to one of the fence viewers, who ascertains the reasonable charges of keep
ing such strays and gives a certificate to the person applying therefor; and is enti
tled to the fees above provided, to be paid by the person applying for the certificate.
If no owner claim such stray on or before the first of May next, after making
such entry, or if he refuse or neglect to pay the sums eharged thereon, the holder
may sell the stray by public auction to the highest bidder, giving at least twenty
days previous notice of the time and place, by advertisement posted at three of
the most public places in the town.
Out of the'proceeds of sale, he retains for his own use the sums charged^n such
strays and like charges for sale as are allowed on sales under executions issued
out of justices' courts; and pays the residue on demand, to the owner of the strays.
If the owner demand not such residue within one year after sale, he is for ever
precluded from recovering it; and it is paid to the supervisor for the use of the
town and his receipt is a legal discharge to the keeper of such strays. But, if
such keeper do not, within thirty days after the expiration of the year, pay snch
residue to the supervisor, he forfeits to the town double the sum witti such residue.
Cjties are considered towns for the purposes of the above provisions.
II. Where two or more persons have lands adjoining, each makes and maintains
a just proportion ofthe division fence, except the owner or owners of either ofthe
adjoining lands, choose to let such land lie open.
Where a person encloses his land he refunds to the owner of the adjoining land
a just proportion of the value at that time of any division fence, made by him, or
builds his proportion thereof.
The value of the fence and the proportion thereof and the proportion of the di
vision fence to he built, are determined by any two fence viewers ofthe town.
Disputes between owners of adjoining lands, concerning the proportion offence
to be maintained or made by either, are settled by any two such viewers. In cases
of reference to them, each party choosing one; and if either neglect, after eight
days' notice, to make such choice the other may select both.
The viewers examine the premises and hear the parties. In case of disagree
ment, they select another fence viewer to act with them, and the decision of any
two is final, upon the parties and all holding under them.
The decision reduced to writing and containing a description of the fence and
the proportion to be maintained by each is forthwith filed in tbe office of the town
clerk. If any one liable to contribute to the erection or reparation of a division fence,
neglect or refuse to make and maintain his proportion or keep it in repair, he is
liable to pay to the party injured, damages to be ascertained and appraised by
any two fence viewers, and recovered with costs of suit. The appraisement is
reduced to writing, and signed by those making it.
If such neglect or refusal be continued, for one month, after request in writing
to make or repair such fence, the party injured may make or repair it at the ex
pense of the party neglecting or refusing, to be recovered from him, with costs of
suit. If any person, having made his proportion of a division fence, be disposed to
remove his fence, and suffer his land to lie open, he may, at any time between
the first of November and the first of April, but at no other time, give ten days'
notice to the owner or occupant of the adjoining land of his intention to apply to
the fence viewers for permission to remove his fence; and if, at the time specified,
any two of such fence viewers, so selected, determine that such fence may with
propriety be removed, he may then remove it.
If the fence be removed without such notice and permission, the party remov
ing is liable to the party injured for all damages he may sustain .thereby, with
costs of suit.
Whenever a division fence be injured or destroyed by floods, or other casualty,
the person bound to make and-repair it or any part thereof makes or repairs the
same, or his just proportion within ten days after he is thereunto required, by any
person interested therein. Such requisition being in writing and signed by the
party making it.
If such person refuse or neglect so to do, for the space of ten days after request,
the party injured may make or repair the same at the expense of the party refusing
or neglecting, to be recovered from him with costs of suit.
21

162 POLITICAL VIEW.
Witnesses may be examined by the fence viewers on all questions submitted to
them and either may issue subpoenas for, and administer oaths to, witnesses.
Whenever the electors of any town have made a regulation prescribing a suffi
cient fence in the town, any person, who thereafter neglects to keep a fence ac
cording to such regulation, is precluded from recovering compensation in any man
ner for damages done by any beast lawfully going at large on the highways, that
may enter on his lands not fenced in conformity to such regulation or for entering
through any defective fence.
The sufficiency of a fence in any suit is presumed until the contrary be estab
lished. 12. In each town, the supervisor and town clerk with the justices, or any two
of them, constitute a board of auditors to examine the accounts of the overseers of
the poor, the commissioners of common schools and the commissioners of high
ways; meeting annually on the Tuesday preceding the annual town meeting.
The accounts so audited are delivered, with the certificate of the auditors, to the
town clerk to be kept on file for the inspection of the inhabitants and are produced
by the clerk, at the next annual town meeting, and read by him, if required by tbe
meeting. The justices of the town, or a majority of them, and the town clerk, on the Tues
day preceding the annual town meeting, examine and audit the accounts of the
supervisor; and such accounts are also filed by the town clerk.
In the counties of Dutchess, Erie, Rensselaer, Allegany, Monroe, Schoharie, and
Sullivan, the board audits all claims payable by the respective towns; meeting
for that purpose on the last Saturday, preceding the annual meeting of the board
of supervisors.
The majority ofthe board of auditors certify in duplicate, the name of the per
son making and the nature of the demand, and the amount allowed — one such
certificate is filed by the town clerk, and the other delivered to the supervisor for
the board of supervisors at the annual town meeting. The board of supervisors
levy the amount stated therein as other town charges.
13. Assessors and inspectors of the election and clerks of the poll, receive a
compensation of one dollar and twenty-five cents a day.
Commissioners of highways, and overseers of the poor one dollar a day. The
town clerk has such compensation for his services, including those performed as
clerk ofthe commissioners of common schools, as the board of supervisors allow.
The pound masters have for taking into pound and discharging therefrom every
horse, ass or mule, and all neat cattle, twelve and a half cents each; for every
sheep or Iamb, three cents; and for every hog, six cents.
14. Whenever a cause of action exists between towns, or a town and an indi
vidual, or corporation, such proceedings are had either at law, or in equity for the
settling the controversy, and it is conducted in like manner, and the judgment
or decree therein has the like effect, as in other suits.
The town sues or is sued by its name, except where town officers are authorised
by law to sue in their name of offi-ce for its benefit.
In legal proceedings against towns, by name, the process is served on the super
visor, who attends to the defence, and lays before the electors, at the first town
meeting, a statement thereof for their direction.
On the trial, the electors and inhabitants of the town are competent witnesses
and jurors, except in suits by and against towns, when no inhabitant of either
town may be a juror.
A proper action in favor of a town may be prosecuted before a justice of the
peace; but no action to recover a penalty given to a town before any justice re
siding in the town for the benefit of which the same is prosecuted; but such actionB
may be brought before any one of the justices of the peace residing in any other
town in the same county.
Whenever an action is brought to recover a penalty for trespass, committed
on the lands of a town, if it appear on trial, that the injury exceeded twelve dol
lars and fifty cents, the amount of the actual damage with costs of suit are recov
erable in such action, instead of any penalty for trespass imposed by the town
me?"ng; a"d such recovery is a bar to every other suit for the same trespass.
Whenever by a decision in any suit brought to settle any controversy, in rela
tion to town commons or other lauds, the common property of a town, or for the
partition thereof, the rights of any town are settled and confirmed, the court in

OF COUNTIES. 163
which such proceedings are had, partitions such lands, according to the right as
decided. In all suits by cr against towns or town officers, in their name of office, costs
are recoverable as between individuals. Judgments recovered against a town or
a town officer, in such actions, are town charges.
15. Pounds erected by order of the annual town meeting, are kept under the
care of a pound master appointed for the purpose. The inhabitants of any town
may at any town meeting discontinue any pound.
The following are deemed town charges : the compensation of town officers,
for services to the town; the contingent expenses necessarily incurred for the use
of the town; the moneys authorised to be raised by town meeting, for any town
purpose; and every sum directed by law to be raised for any town purpose.
Accounts for the compensation of town officers, and the contingent expenses of
towns (except for moneys received and disbursed, settled by the board of town
auditors) are presented to the board of supervisors of the county.
Every supervisor, town clerk, commissioner of highways, or of common schools
and overseers of the poor is required, after entering on office, to demand ofj his
predecessor all account books and papers belonging to his office.
Every person going out of office, whenever thereto required, pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, delivers, upon oath, all the records, books and papers in his
possession or under his control, belonging to the office held by him, and such oath
may be administered by the officer to whom such delivery is made. Every su
pervisor, commissioner of highways, or of common schools, and overseer of the
poor, on going out of office, pays over to his successor the moneys remaining in
his hands, as ascertained by the auditors of town accounts.
Upon the death of any officer above enumerated, his successor makes such de
mand of the executors or administrators, who deliver, upon the like oath, all re
cords, books and papers in their possession or under their control belonging to
the office held by their testator or intestate.
If any such officer or his executor or administrator refuse or neglect, when law
fully required, to deliver such records, books, or papers, he forfeits to the town,
the sum of two hundred* and fifty dollars; and it is the duty of the successor to
compel the delivery thereof in the manner prescribed by law.
CHAPTER V.
OF COUNTIES AND COUNTY OFFICERS.
1. Corporate Powers of Counties. 2. Board of Supervisors — Time and Place of Meeting
---Powers and Duties 3. County Treasurer. 4. County Clerk. 5. Sheriffs and Coro
ners. 6. Surrogates. 7. District Attorney. 8, Legalproceedings for, or against Coun
ties. 9. Miscellaneous, and Special Provisions.
1. Each county has corporate powers, similar to those of towns. Proceedings
by, or against it, are in the name of the board of supervisors: but conveyances of
lands within the county limits, in any manner, for the use of the inhabitants, are
as effective as if made to the board. The corporate powers are exercised only by
the board in pursuance of a resolution by it adopted.
The real and personal estate of a county divided or altered by annexing part of
its territory to another, is apportioned between the counties interested; the real
estate pertaining to the counties in which it respectively lies; and the personal,
with the debts due from the county, being equitably distributed by the supervisors
and treasurers of such counties.
2. The supervisors of the several cities and towns, in each county, meet, annu
ally, for business as a board, and hold special meetings when convenient; and have
power to adjourn from time to time. The time and place of the annual meetings,
where not designated by law, are on the first Tuesday in October, at the county
courthouse. The board has power — to make orders concerning its corporate property, as it
may deem expedient — to examine, and allow all accounts against the county, and
the respective towns; raising money to defray them — and to perform all other du
ties enjoined on supervisors by law.

164 POLITICAL VIEW.
A majority constitutes a quorum for business, and all questions are determined
by the majority present; the board sits with open doors, and all persons may at
tend their meetings; the members at each annual meeting, choose one of their
number chairman, who presides in all meetings, during the year. In his absence,
they choose a temporary chairman; the chairman may administer an oath to any
person, concerning matters submitted to the board or connected with its duties.
The board, as often as necessary, appoints a clerk, who holds his office during
its pleasure, and who records its proceedings; making regular entries of resolutions,
or decisions on all questions concerning the raising, or payment of moneys, re
cording the vote of each supervisor on any' question, if required by any member
present; and preserves, and files all accounts acted upon by the board. He re
ceives a compensation, fixed by the board, and paid by the county.
The books, records, and accounts of the board are deposited with him, and are
open, without charge, to the examination of all persons.
The clerk designates upon every account, upon which any sum is audited and
allowed by the board, the amount so audited and allowed, und the charges for
which the same was allowed; and also delivers to any person, who may demand
it, a certified copy of any account on file, in his office, on receiving six cents, for
every folio of 128 words.
The several boards of supervisors, as often as necessary, cause the courthouse,
and jail of their respective counties, to be duly repaired, but may not expend more
than five hundred dollars thereon, in any one year.
They also prepare, within the jail or elsewhere, so many solitary cells, for the
reception of convicts, who may be sentenced to punishment therein, as the court
of common pleas of the county may direct.
Each member of the board is allowed a compensation of two dollars for every
day's attendance.
If any supervisor fail to perform any of his duties, he, for every offence, for
feits two hundred and fifty dollars.
The mayor, recorder and aldermen of the city of New York are the supervi
sors of the city and county of New York.
3. The county treasurer, within ten days after his appointment, and before en
tering on office, gives a bond to the supervisors, with two or more sufficient sure
ties, to be approved by the board, and in such sum as they direct, conditioned,
that he shall faithfully execute the duties of his office, and pay, according to law,
all moneys which shall come to his hands, as treasurer, and render a just, and true
account thereof, to the board of supervisors or to the comptroller of the state,
when required. Such bond, with the approbation of the board of supervisors en
dorsed thereon by their clerk, is filed in the office of the county clerk.
The county treasurer receives all moneys of the county, from whatever source
derived; and all moneys of the state, by law directed to be paid to him; apply
ing them as required by law; and keeping a true account thereof, in books pro
vided at the expense of the county.
He, on or before the first of March, in each year, transmits to the comptroller,
a statement of all moneys received by him, during the preceding year, for penal
ties belonging to the state; and pays to the state treasurer the amount; deducting
his compensation, in the same manner, as state taxes are directed to be paid.
At the annual meeting ofthe board of supervisors, or at such other time as they
direct, he exhibits to them all his books, accounts, and vouchers, to be audited,
and allowed.
Upon the death, resignation or removal from office of the county treasurer, all
tbe books, papers, and records, belonging to his office, are delivered to his suc
cessor, upon his oath, or in case of death, upon the oath of his executors, or ad
ministrators — if he, or they, refuse, or neglect so to do, when lawfully required, he
or they, forfeit, for the use of the county, twelve hundred and fifty dollars.
He has a commission of one per cent, on every dollar he receives and pays;
one half for -receiving and the other for paying.
Whenever the condition of his bond is forfeited, to the knowledge of the board
of supervisors, and whenever such board is required so to do, by the comptroller,
such bond is put in suit, and all moneys recovered, are applied to the use of the
county, unless they, or part thereof, have been received for the use of the state, in
which case they are paid to the state treasurer.

OF COUNTIES. 165
The chamberlain of the city and county of New York, is the treasurer there
of; and the foregoing provisions apply to him, when not inconsistent with speeial
laws. ,
4. The clerk of each County, has custody of all books, records, deeds, parch
ments, maps, and papers in his office.
He, at the expense of the county, provides proper books for the record of deeds,
mortgages or other conveyances, and all other papers and documents required by.
law to be recorded in his office; and files all papers and documents directed to be
filed therein.
He appoints a deputy to hold office, during his pleasure, and fills vacancies, as
they occur, by writing under his hand and seal, recorded in his office; and such
deputy, before entering on office, takes the constitutional oath.
Whenever the clerk is absent from the county, or by reason of sickness or other
cause is incapable of performing his duties, the deputy may perform them, except
that, of deciding upon the sufficiency of the sureties of any officer: and whenever
the office of clerk becomes vacant, the deputy performs all the duties, is entitled
to all the emoluments, and subject to all the penalties appertaining to the office of
clerk, until a new clerk be elected or appointed, and duly sworn.
Whenever any commission or supersedeas is received at the clerk's office, he,
forthwith, at the expense of the state, gives notice thereof, to every person named
therein: Whenever any person appointed to any office, who is required by law to exe
cute a bond, previous to entering on his duties, or to renew such bond, neglects
so to do, in the manner, and within the time required by law, the clerk gives notice
to the governor of such neglect.
He, on or before the fifteenth of January, in each year, gives information to the
governor ofiall persons appointed to office in his county, who, during the previous
year, have taken the oath of office, or given the bond required by law; and of all
persons, required to take such oath, or give such bond, who have neglected so to
do;4and also of all vacancies in such county, in civil offices. He reports, also, to
the district attorney all omissions of town officers to make and transmit returns
or certificates required to be made to him, that the penalty may be enforced upon
the delinquent.
He, on or before the first of January, in each year, reports, to the comptroller,
the names of all the religious societies that have been incorporated in his county,
during the preceding year.
The compensation of the clerk for services, and expenses in performing the du
ties prescribed in the three preceding sections, and his fees for recording mortga
ges to the people of the state, are audited by the comptroller, and paid from the
treasury. Copies of all papers, duly filed in the clerk's office, and transcripts from the
books of records kept therein, certified by the clerk, with the seal of his office af
fixed, are evidence in all courts as the originals.
In cases in which the clerk is authorised to judge of the competency of sureties
offered by a person oppointed to office, if there be a vacancy in the office of county
clerk or he be absent from the county, or be incapable of performing the duties
of his office, any two judge? of the county courts, of whom the first judge shall be
one (unless there be a vacancy in his office, or he be absent, or incapable, as afore
said) decide upon the competency of such sureties, and for that purpose admin
ister any oath, and make any examination that may be required.
5. The sheriff, within twenty days after he receives notice of his election, and
before he enters upon office, executes with sureties, who are freeholders, a joint,
and several bond, to the state, conditioned, that he shall well and faithfully in all
things execute his office.
The bond, given by the sheriff to the city and county of New York, is in the
penal sum of twenty thousand dollars, with two sureties; and that by the sheriff
of every other county, in the penal sum of ten thousand dollars, with two or more
sureties. Such bond is filed in the clerk's office of the proper county, and he, at the time
of filing it, administers an oath to each of the sureties therein named, that he is a
freeholder within the state, and worth, if in the city, and county of New York,
the sum of twenty thousand dollars; and if in any other county, such sum as shall

166 POLITICAL VIEW.
be proportionate to the number of sureties bound in such bond, and to the amount
required in such county, over and above all debts whatever, owing by him; which
oath is endorsed on the bond, and subscribed by each of the sureties, in the pre
sence of the clerk; who, notwithstanding, judges of, and determines the compe
tency of the sureties.
The sheriff, within twenty days after the first Monday of January, in each year,
subsequent to that in which he shall have entered on the duties of his office, re
news the security required to be given by him, before entering on office.
He appoints an under sheriff, to hold during his pleasure.
When a vacancy occurs in the office of sheriff, the under sheriff executes the
office, until a sheriff be elected or appointed, and duly qualified; and any default,
or misfeasance in office, of such under sheriff, in the mean time, as before, is
deemed a breach of the condition of the bond given by the sheriff, who appointed
him; and also, a breach of the condition of the bond executed by such under she
riff, to the sheriff by whom he was appointed.
The sheriff may appoint such and so many deputies, as he may think proper,
and persons may be deputed by any sheriff or under sheriff, by an instrument
in writing, to do particular acts.
Every appointment of an under sheriff or deputy sheriff, is by writing, under
the hand and seal of the sheriff, and is filed and recorded in the office of the clerk
of the county; and every under sheriff, or deputy sheriff, before he enters on office,
takes the constitutional oath of office.
The sheriff of the city and county of New York has the custody of the jail in
that city, used for the confinement of persons committed on civil process only, and
of the prisoners therein; and the sheriff of every other city and county, has the cus
tody of the jails and the prisons thereof, and the prisoners therein. The sheriffs,
respectively, may appoint keepers of such jails, for whose acts they are severally
responsible. When a sheriff is required by any statutory provisionjto perform any service in
behalf ofthe state, not made chargeable to his county, or to some officer or other
person, his account therefor is audited by the comptroller and paid out of the trea
sury. Whenever the sheriff of any county is committed to the custody of another, or to
the custody of any coroner or coroners, on execution or attachment, founded on
nonpayment of moneys received by him, by virtue of his office, and remains com
mitted for the space of thirty days successively, the facts are represented to the
governor, by the officer in whose custody such sheriff may be, that he may be re
moved from office.
When a vacancy occurs in the office of sheriff, and there is no under sheriff in
office, or the office of such under sheriff becomes vacant, or he is incapable of exe
cuting it, before another sheriff be elected or appointed, and qualified, and there is
more than one coroner of such county then in office, the first judge of the county
forthwith designates one of the coroners, to execute the office of sheriff, until a
sheriff be elected or appointed, and qualified. Such designation is byinstrument
in writing, signed by the judge, and filed in the office of the clerk of the county,
who immediately gives notice thereof to the coroner.
Such coroner, within six days after such notice, executes a joint and several
bond to the state, in the amount, and with the same number of sureties, approved
in the same manner, and subject to the same regulations, as the security required
by law, from the sheriff; and thereafter, executes the office of sheriff, until a she
riff be appointed and qualified.
If such coroner do not, within the time above specified, give security, the first
judge designates, in like manner, another coroner of the county, to assume the
office of sheriff; and in case it be necessary, the judge makes successive designa
tions, until all the coroners ofthe county have been designated. And all the pro
visions in the two last sections apply to every such designation, and to the coroner
named therein.
When such vacancies occur in the office of sheriff and under sheriff, if there be
but one coroner in office, he executes the office of sheriff, until a sheriff be duly
qualified; but, before he enters on office, and within ten days after the vacancy in
the office of under sheriff, he executes such bonds, with such sureties as are Te-

OF COUNTIES. 167
quired by law, from the sheriff of such county; such bond being subject, in all
respects, to the same regulations as the security required from the sheriff.
If such coroner solely in office, on the happening of such vacancies, fail to exe
cute such bond within such time, or if all the coroners, when more than one are
in office, in such vacancies, successively fail to execute such bonds within the time
required, the first judge, in the manner above directed, appoints some suitable
person to execute the office of sheriff, until a sheriff be duly qualified.
Such appointee, within six days after notice of his appointment, and before he
enters on office, gives the security required by law of the sheriff, subject to the
same regulations; and thereafter executes the office of sheriff, until a sheriff be
duly qualified.
Until some coroner designated, or some person appointed by the first judge,
have given the security above prescribed, or until a sheriff be duly qualified, the
coroner or coroners of the county, executes the office of sheriff.
Whneever any under sheriff, coroner, or other person, executes the office of she
riff, he is subject to all the duties, liabilities and penalties, imposed by law upon
a sheriff. 6. The surrogate, within twenty days after notice of his appointment, executes
to the people of the state, with two or more sureties, being freeholders, a joint and
several bond, conditioned for the faithful performance of his duty, and for the ap
plication and payment of all moneys and effects that may come officially into his
hands; the surrogate of the city and county of New York, in the penal sum of
$10,000, and every other surrogate, in the sum of $5,000.
The clerk ofthe proper county judges of the sufficiency of the sureties, and if
satisfied by the oath of the sureties or otherwise, that they are sufficient, endorses
on the bond, a certificate of approval, and files such bond in his office, there to
remain of record.
7. The district attorney attends the courts of oyer and terminer and jail delivery,
and general sessions, in the county for which he is appointed, and conducts all
prosecutions for crimes and offences cognizable therein.
If he fail to attend, the court substitutes some attorney, or counsellor at law,
during the session, who is entitled to the same compensation, the district attorney
would have been for like services, and his account is audited and paid in the same
manner. The district attorney prosecutes for all penalties and forfeitures, exceeding fifty
dollars, incurred in his county, and for which no other officer is by law, specially
directed to prosecute.
Every district attorney receiving moneys for fines, recognizances, forfeitures, or
penalties, delivers to the person paying them, duplicate receipts; one of which is
filed by such person in the office of the county treasurer.
On or before the first Tuesday of October, in each year, he files in the office of
the county treasurer, an account in writing, verified by oath, of all moneys re
ceived by him, by virtue of his office, during the preceding year, and pays over
such moneys to the county treasurer; and if he fail to render such account, and
pay over such moneys, the county treasurer causes a suit to be instituted for the
recovery thereof, for the benefit of the county.
The district attorney ofthe city and county of New York, receives for his ser
vices an annual salary, not less than $2,500, and not more than $3,500, to be fixed
and paid by the common council; and the district attorneys of all other counties,
are paid by their respective counties, upon their accounts duly taxed by some pro
per officer ofthe supreme court, according to the rates allowed by law.
8. In case of controversy, in which a county is party, like proceedings are had,
and costs paid, in law or equity, as in suits between individuals and corporations.
The county sues and is sued, in the name of the board of supervisors, except
where a county officer is authorised to sue in his name of office. Iu legal pro
ceedings against the board, process is served on the chairman or clerk, who, when
su.it is commenced, lays before the board, at its next meeting, a full statement
thereof, for their direction in defence.
On the trial of such actions, the inhabitants may be witnesses and jurors; and
proper actions may be brought by the county before justices of the peace. Judg
ments against the county, are county charges-
9. Town and county officers, and others, presenting to the board of supervisors

168 POLITICAL VIEW.
accounts for services to be audited and allowed, before the claim is passed upon,
exhibit a true statement, in writing, of the nature of the service performed; and
where a specific compensation is not provided by law, the claimant also exhibits
in writing, a just and true statement of the time actually and necessarily, devoted
to the performance of the service.
The following are county charges: compensation of the supervisors, their clerk,
and the county treasurer; fees of the district attorney, and expenses necessarily
incurred by him in criminal cases; accounts of the criers of courts, for their attend
ance in criminal cases; compensation of sheriffs for the commitment and discharge
of prisoners on criminal process; compensation to constables, for attending courts
of record; and to them and other officers, for executing process on persons chaiwed
with criminal offences; for services and expenses in conveying criminals tfi jail;
for the service of subpoenas issued by any district attorney; and for other services
in relation to criminal proceedings, for which no specific compensation is pre
scribed by law; the support of persons charged with, or convicted of crimes, and
committed to the jails of the county; sums required by law to be paid to prose
cutors and witnesses in criminal cases; accounts of the coroners, for such services
as are not chargeable to the persons employing them; moneys expended by any
county officer, in executing his office, where no specific compensation for services,
is provided by law; accounts of the county clerks, for services and expenses in
curred under the law relating to elections; charges for services by any justice ofthe
peace, under the poor laws, and for examination of felons, not otherwise provided
for by law; the maintenance of county poor houses and of the poor; bounties al
lowed by law for the destruction of wolves and other noxious animals; repairs of
court houses and jails; the contingent expenses necessarily incurred for the use of
a county; and every other sum directed by law to be raised for any county pur
pose, under the direction of a board of supervisors.
The moneys necessary to defray county charges, are levied on tbe taxable pro
perty in the several towns; and, to enable the treasurer to pay contingent ex
penses, the supervisors annually cause such sum to be raised, in advance, as they
deem necessary.
' Neither_the supervisor, nor county treasurer, can hold the office of overseer of
the poor.
The offices of sheriffs, clerks of counties, coroners, district attorneys, marshals
of cities, clerk of the court of oyer and terminer, in New York, register and clerk
of police, and assistant justices of that city, are so far local, as to require the resi
dence of the officer in the city, or county, in which his duties are to be executed.
CHAPTER. VI.
TAXATION.
1. Property Liable to Taxation. 2. Where Assessed. 3. Manner of Assessment 4.
Equalisation of Assessments. 5. Mode of Collection. 6. Duties of County Treasurer,
Comptroller, and other officers. 7. Sales for Taxes, Conveyance, and Redemption of
Lands Sold. 8. Tax of Incorporated Companies. 9. Miscellaneous provisions of a
General Nature. 10. Tax on Debts Due to Nonresidents. 11. Table of Taxable
Property in the State. 12. Table of Incorporated Companies Liable to Taxation. 13.
Brief History of Taxation in the State.
1. All lands, including therein, buildings and other erections, trees and under
wood growing, mines, minerals, quarries and fossils, owned by individuals, or
corporations, and all personal estate comprehending, household furniture, moneys,
goods, chatties, debts due from solvent debtors, public stocks, and stocks in tno-
nied cerporations, and such portions of the capital of incorporated companies lia
ble to taxation on their capital, as shall not be vested in real estate, and all debts
owing by inhabitants of the state, to persons not residing therein for the purchase
of real estate, or secured by mortgage on such estate, are deemed personal estate
within the town and county where the debtor resides — are liable to taxation, sub
ject to the following exemptions;

TAXATION. 169
All property exempted under the constitution of this state, or of the United
States — lands of this state, or of the United States; buildings, for the use of a col
lege, incorporated academy, or other seminary of learning, or for public worship;
school houses, courthouses and jails; and the lots, on which are such buildings,
and the furniture of each; every -poor house, alms house, house of industry, house
of a company incorporated for the reformation of offenders and all property con
nected therewith; the property of every public library; stock owned by the state,
or by literary or charitable institutions; personal estate of every incorporated
company not made liable by the 4th title, chap. 13, of the revised laws; the per
sonal property of every minister of the gospel; the real estate of such minister
occupied by him; such real and personal estate, not exceeding in value, 1500 dol
lars; and all property exempted from execution.
Lands sold' by the state, not conveyed, are liable, as if conveyed.
The holder of stock, in an incorporated company, liable to taxation on its capi
tal, is not taxable as an individual, for such stock.
2. Every person is assessed in the town, or ward where he resides, when the
assessment is made, for lands, owned by him therein, and occupied by him, or
wholly unoccupied: and if occupied by another they may be assessed in the name
of the owner, or occupant — for all personal estate, owned by him, including all
such estate possessed by him' as trustee, guardian, executor, or administrator, and
property held under such trust, is not assessable against any other person.
A lot of land divided by a town line, if occupied, is assessed, in the town, or
ward in which the occupant, resides; if unoccupied, each part is assessed in the
town, or ward, in which it lies, whether the line of division be a town line only,
or also, a county line.
The real estate of an incorporated company, taxable, is assessed, in the town,
or ward, in which it lies;^|he personal estate of such company, liable to taxation,
on its capital, in the town, or ward, where the principal office of the corporation
is, or if there be no such office, in the town or ward where the operations of the
corporation are conducted. Companies owning toll bridges are assessed where the
toll is collected; or if the tolls of a bridge, turnpike road.or canal company are
taken in several precincts, the company is assessed in that, where the officer paying
the last preceding dividend resides.
3. The assessors divide their precincts, into convenient districts, not exceed
ing their number; annually, between the first days of May, and July, they ascer
tain the names of the taxable inhabitants, and the taxable property therein; making
an assessment roll of four columns, setting down in the first, such names; in the
second, the quantity of land taxed to each; in the third, the full value of such
land; and in the fourth, the full value of the taxable personal property, debts
owing by the taxable deducted.
A trustee, guardian, executor, or administrator, is assessed in his representative
character, and his assessment carried out separately from his individual assess
ment, for the full value of the estate he holds, deducting debts due from such es
tate. Lands of nonresidents are designated in the assessment rolls, in a separate part
thereof, and if the land assessed, be a tract subdivided into lots, or parts thereof,
it is designated by its distinguishing name; but if it have no such name, or the
name be unknown, its boundaries are given; if the subdivisions be ascertainable,
the assessors put down, in a first column, the unoccupied lots, owned by nonresi
dents, by their numbers alone, proceeding from the lowest, in numerical order to
the highest; in a second column, opposite to each number, the quantity of taxable
land therein; in a third, opposite to the quantity, the value thereof. If the quan
tity be a full lot, it is designated by its number alone; if part of a lot, by its
bounds, or other mode.
If the land assessed be a tract not subdivided, or its subdivisions be not ascer
tainable, the assessors enter upon the roll its name, or boundaries, with a certifi
cate that it is not subdivided, or that the subdivisions are not ascertainable, as the
case may be, giving its quantity, and value as above directed. If the whole tract
be assessable, the description by its name, or boundaries suffices; but if a part
only, be liable to taxation, the part not liable, is particularly described.
If part of such tract be occupied by a resident, it is excepted from the whole
tract, and is assessed as other occupied lands, and if the assessors cannot otherwise
22

170

POLITICAL VIEW.

designate such part, the town supervisor, upon notice from them, causes a survey
thereof to be made, and one map to be delivered to the comptroller, and another to
the assessors. Upon completion.'of the assessment, the assessors file such map
with the town clerk, for future use. The expense of the survey and maps is
paid by the county treasurer, and charged by the supervisors to the tax on the
tract, distinguishing it from the ordinary tax.
The assessors may require the supervisor to survey any tract, or lot of nonresi
dent lands, divided by a town line, and the expense of the survey is chargeable
on the town.
Any person having real, or personal estate liable to taxation, held in his own
right, or as guardian, trustee, executor, or administrator, may, before the assessors
have completed their assessments, make affidavit, before the assessors, or one of
them, to be filed with the town clerk, that the value of such real estate, or of such
personal estate, deducting his debts, and his stock in incorporated companies lia
ble to taxation on their capital, does not exceed a sum specified in such affidavit,
whereupon the assessors value such real, or personal estate, or both at such sum,
or sums.
" Estates whose values are not so ascertained by affidavit, are valued, by the as
sessors as they would appraise them in payment of a just debt, due from a sol
vent debtor, unless where the law may give a different rule.
The assessors complete the assessment roll by the 1st of September, annually,
leave a fair copy with one of their number, and cause notices thereof to be put up
at three, or more public places of their precinct; stating, that the roll is comple
ted, is left with a designated assessor, at a specific place, where it may be exam
ined by the inhabitants during 20 days, and that the assessors will meet, on a giv
en day thereafter, at a specific place, to review their assessments, on the applica
tion of any person aggrieved.
If, at such time, and place, any one, not having previously made affidavit of the
value of his property, object to the assessment, the assessors, upon his affidavit,
reduce the assessment to the sum specified therein: or if such person can otherj
wise satisfy a majority of the assessors, that such assessment is erroneous, they
alter it without such affidavit.
If any person possess taxable personal property as agent, and disclose the fact
with the name, and residence of the owner, and it appear that the owner is liable
to be taxed, the assessors do not include such estate in the assessment of the pos
sessor. The affidavits above specified, are made before the assessors, or one of
them, and are filed with the town clerk.
4. When the assessments are thus completed, the assessors, or a majority of
them, sign the roll, and attach thereto a certificate, in form given by the law, that
they have duly made the same, and on, or before the 1st of October, annually, de
liver it, in New York, to the clerk of the city, and elsewhere to the supervisor of
the proper ward, or town, to be delivered to the board of supervisors at their next
meeting. In executing their duties, the assessors use the forms, and pursue the instruc
tions given by the comptroller. If an assessor refuse, or neglect to perform his
duties, he forfeits to the people, fifty dollars: if from any cause he omit his duty,
the other assessors, or one of them perform it, and certify to the supervisors, with
the assessment roll, the name of the delinquent, and cause of delinquency.
The supervisors, at their annual meeting, examine the assessment rolls to as
certain whether the valuation of one precinct, bears a just relation to that of the
others; and increase or diminish the aggregate valuations of real estate, in any
precinct, by adding, or deducting such sum upon the hundred, as may be necessa
ry, but do not reduce the aggregate valuation of all the precincts, below the aggre
gate valuation thereof made by the assessors.
The supervisors, also, alter the descriptions of lands of non residents, to render
them conformable to law; and if they cannot be made so, expunge such descrip
tions and the assessments thereon from the rolls. They estimate and set down in
a fifth column upon the assessment rolls opposite to the valuations of estates, the
respective sums in dollars and cents, rejecting fractions of cents, to be paid as a
tax thereon: They set down the aggregate values of the real and personal estates
as corrected by them in the several precincts, and cause their clerk to transmit to
the comptroller by mail, a certificate pf such aggregate valuations, showing sepa-

..-„ TAXATION. 171
lately, such amounts pf real and personal estate in each town or ward: They
cause the corrected roll or a copy to be delivered to the supervisor of each pre
cinct, who delivers it to the clerk of the city or town, for the use thereof, and a copy
of the roll of each town or ward, to be delivered to the collector thereof, on or
before the 15th December, annually, with a warrant under their hands and seals,
commanding him to collect the tax registered therein.
Such warrant directs the collector, after deducting his legal compensation, to
pay, from the moneys collected, to the commissioners of common schools, the
sum raised for the support of such schools — To the commissioners of highway^
the amount raised for highways and bridges — To the overseers of the poor, ofthe
town, if there be no county poor house, the sum raised for the support of the poor;
To the supervisor of the town, the money raised for other town expenses; — and to
the treasurer of the county, the residue. If the warrant be to a collector of a
ward, it directs him to pay all the money collected, compensation deducted, to the
county treasurer; and in all cases, the warrant authorises the collector, when any
taxable fails to pay his tax, to levy it, by distress and sale of his goods and chat
tels, and requires payment, of such taxes, from the collector, on or before the first
.of February next, ensuing.
The supervisors having delivered such rolls and warrants to the collectors, im
mediately transmit to the county treasurer, a statement, of the names of the collec
tors — the amounts they are to collect — the purposes for which collected — and the
persons to whom, and the time when, the same are to be paid; and the treasu
rers charge the collector therewith.
Where the laws direct moneys assessed for local purposes, to be paid to any
other person than above named, the warrant is varied accordingly.
5. Upon receipt of the tax list and warrant, the collector demands of the taxa
ble, at his usual residence if within the town or ward, the amount charged against
him; and on failure of payment, levies the same by distress and sale at auction
of the goods and chattels in possession of the taxable wherever found within the
district; and no claim of property therein avails to prevent sale.
Notice ofthe time and place of sale and of the property to be sold, is given by
the collector, at least six days previously, by advertisements, posted in at least
three public places in the town. If the sale produce more than the tax, the sur
plus is paid to the taxable, unless it be claimed by another, as his property; then
to such claimant, the taxable admitting the claim; liut, if the taxable contest the
claim, the surplus is paid te the supervisor to be detained untilthe right be deter
mined by law.
If the taxable remove from the town or ward in which he is assessed, before his
tax be collected; or any person fail to pay any" tax assessed in any ward or town,
upon his estate situate out of the ward or town in which he resides, and within
the county, the collector of suih ward or town may levy such tax of the goods
and chattels of the taxable in any ward within a city, or of any town within the
county, to which such taxable may have removed, or within which he shall reside.
The collector is required, within one week after the time set in his warrant for
payment, to pay to the several officers the sums respectively assigned them therein;
retaining his compensation, taking from such officers duplicate receipts therefor,
and filing one receipt with the county treasurer, thereby obtaining credit on his
books for its amount; no other evidence of such payment being acceptable by the
treasurer. Taxes raised in any one year upon a town more than sufficient for the town,
state and county charges, are paid to the county treasurer, to reduce tne tax of
the town for the succeeding year.
_ The collector receives the tax on part of a lot, the payer furnishing a specifica
tion of such part; and if the tax on the remainder be unpaid, he enters such specifi
cation in his return to the treasurer, that, the part on which the tax is paid, may
be known. If such part be an undivided share, the payor gives the name of the
owner that it may be excepted, in sale of remainder for tax, and be entered by the'
collector in his account of arrears of taxes.
The collector reports to the county treasurer, such taxes as he is unable to col
lect, and upon his oath before the treasurer or in his absence before a justice of
the peace, that such taxes are unpaid, and that upon diligent inquiry he could not

172 POLITICAL VIEW.
find goods and chattels in possession of the payer whereon to levy, he is credited
by the treasurer therewith.
A vacancy in the office of collector, is filled by the supervisor and two justices
ofthe town; the first giving immediate notice thereof to the county treasurer. The
appointee gives security, is subject to the same duties and penalties, and has the
same powers and compensation as his predecessor. But such appointment, does
not exonerate the former collector or his sureties from their liability.
If a warrant have been issued by the supervisors prior to the appointment to
such vacancy, such warrant if obtainable is delivered to the appointee, and gives
him like powers as if issued to himself; but if not obtainable a new one is issued
to him, and the supervisor may extend the time for collection of taxes 30 days,
giving notice thereof to the county treasurer.
If the collector fail to pay to the officers named in his warrant, the sums respec
tively required, or either of them, or fail to account for tbe same as unpaid, the
county treasurer, within 20 days, after the time within which such payments
should have been made, issues a warrant, under his hand and seal, to the sheriff
commanding him to levy such sums of the goods and lands of the collector to
pay them to the treasurer, and return the warrant within 40 days from its date.
But such warrant is not issued for moneys payable to town officers, unless on
oath of such officers of failure of the collector to pay or account therefor. The
moneys so levied by the sheriff are paid by the treasurer to the officers, respec
tively to whom they were due; but if insufficient for all, the county treasurer is
first paid.
In case of deficiency the sheriff makes his return according to the fact, and cer
tifies that the collector has not within his county, any goods or chattels, lands or
tenements, from .which such moneys could be levied ; whereupon, notice is given
by the treasurer to the proper supervisor of the amount remaining due from the
collector; who, forthwith, puts the collector's bond in suit, to recover such amount
to be applied as it should have been by the collector.
If the sheriff neglect to return the warrant, or to pay the money levied thereon
in due time, or make a return other than above required, the county treasurer col-
Jects the whole sum directed to be levied by the warrant, by attachment. If he
fail therein, he certifies to the comptroller, that he has issued the warrant, stating
its contents, that the sheriff has neglected to return it, or to pay. the money levied
thereon, and that he has pursued the attachment without effect. Whereupon the
comptroller gives notice thereof to the attorney general, who prosecutes the sheriff
and his sureties for the sum due on such warrant, to be paid to the state treasurer
and by him, on the comptroller's warrant, to the county treasurer.
When the collector settles the amount of taxes collectable by him, the county
treasurer, upon his request, or that of his sureties gives a satisfaction piece, ac
knowledged before some person empowered to take acknowledgments ofthe satis
faction of judgments in courts of record; upon the production of which, the county
clerk enters satisfaction of record upon the collector's bond.
6. The county treasurer disburses the county funds, for county uses as the
board of supervisors direct. He pays the state tax, if any, on or before the first
of March, annually, in the mode provided by law. He receives from the collector
an account of unpaid taxes assessed on lands of nonresidents, certifies that he has
compared such account with the assessment roll, and that it is correct; and after
crediting the collector with the amount, he, before the first of April next ensuing,
transmits the account with the collector's affidavit and such certificate to the.
comptroller. If the taxes on land assessed to a resident, be unpaid by reason, of the removal
of the occupant before collection of the tax, or default of goods of the occupant,
the supervisor of the town adds a description thereof to the assessment roll ofthe
next year, and charges the uncollected tax of the preceding year; and the same
proceedings are had, as if the tax were laid in the year in which the description is
perfected. The owner of lands may pay his lax to the county treasurer, before his annual
return of arrears lo the comptroller. The treasurer gives his receipt therefor, and
makes return of it to the comptroller.
If there be a state tax, the comptroller charges the county treasurer, with the

TAXATION. 173
proportion payable by the county, crediting him with his own fees and the fees of
the collectors; but fees are not allowed to either, on taxes credited upon non resi
dent property returned. Arrears of taxes upon such property, upon transmission
by the county treasurer to the comptroller, are allowed by bim, rejecting taxes
on lands imperfectly described.
If the arrears so credited to the treasurer exceed the state tax, the comptrol
ler causes the surplus, deducting any balance due from the county on account of
taxes previously rejected by him, to be paid from the state treasury to the connty
treasurer, and such arrears are collected for the benefit of the state. If there be
no state tax, the whole of such arrears, deducting such balance, are paid to the
county treasurer.
The comptroller states the accounts of the several county treasurers on the 1st
of May, annually, and if part of a state tax be unpaid by any such_ treasurer, the
comptroller transmits to him by mail, a copy of such account, requiring payment
within 30 days; and on neglect to pay, unless satisfied that such treasurer, has
not received such balance, having taken proper steps to collect it, he delivers
such account to the attorney general, for immediate prosecution, with interest
thereon. And the comptroller may also, in his discretion, -direct the supervisors of
the county, to institute suit on the bond of such treasurer and his sureties. Such
action, at the instance of the comptroller, may be discontinued by him, on pay- '
ment, by defendants, ofthe balance due, with interest and costs, before judgment
be obtained thereon.
The comptroller, also, on or before the first Tuesday of October, annually, fur
nishes the board of supervisors of the several counties, from which returns of ar
rears of taxes have been received at his office, with statements of the sums paid
from the state treasury, to their respective county treasurers, on account of such
arrears, during the preceding year. And on or before the 1st of September, annu
ally, transmits by mail, to the respective county treasurers, a transcript of the taxes
of such year, in any town of a county, which have been rejected by him for any
cause, stating such cause.
If, after transmission of such annual transcript, the comptroller discover that
any taxes credited to a county on his books, have been assessed on lands so im
perfectly described, that the same cannot be certainly located, he charges such
taxes to the treasurer ofthe county in which such lands lie, with interest from the
1st of March, of the year following that in which the taxes were laid, to the 1st of
February next after the discovery of such imperfect description.
The comptroller, also, transmits by mail, a transcript of the return of such taxes,
with such interest, to the proper county treasurer, who delivers the same to the
supervisor of the town in which such taxes are assessed, who lays it before the
board of supervisors at their next meeting. If the towns upon which such taxes
were originally assessed, &c. have been divided since such assessment, the treas
urer delivers such transcript to the board of supervisors, at their next meeting.
When the comptroller rejects a tax in the first instance, or charges it to a county
¦ to which it has been credited, on account of imperfect description of lands, the su
pervisor ofthe proper town, if in his power, adds to the next assessment roll, an
accurate description of such lands; and the board of supervisors charge them with
the taxes and interest in arrear, stating the tax of each year separately, and directs
the collection thereof; and such taxes and interest are considered as the taxes of
the year in which the descriptions are perfected.
If an accurate description of such lands have not been so added by the super
visor, to the assessment roll of his town, the board of supervisors cause such ar
rears, with the interest thereon, to be levied on the valuations of the estates of
such town, apparent by the assessment roll, and direct the collection with the
other taxes of the same year.
If the towns in which such taxes were originally assessed, have been divided
since such assessment, such taxes and interest are apportioned equally by the
board of supervisors, among the towns within the limits of such original towns.
When apparent to the comptroller, that a tax returned as unpaid, was previously
to such return, paid to the collector or county treasurer, the comptroller cancels
the tax upon his books; and if it have been paid into the treasury, causes it to be
repaid to the payor, transmitting an account thereof to the supervisors of the pro
per county, who cause such tax, with interest thereon, to be collected of the col-

174 POLITICAL VIEW.
lector or county treasurer, making the erroneous return, and to be paid into the
state treasury.
- If taxes on land be unpaid on the 1st of August, following the year in which
they were assessed, they are subject to interest at ten per cent, per annum, until
paid to the treasurer, or the land be sold according to law.
The comptroller gives at any time, upon requisition, a certificate of the amount
of tax, interest and charges, due on any parcel of land, and the treasurer accepts
such amount, receipting therefor upon the certificate, and the receipt countersigned
by the comptroller, is entered in the books of- his office. So, when a gross sum
is assessed upon a tract of land, any person claiming a part thereof, may pay the
treasurer, his proportionate part ofthe tax, interest, and charges, upon such certi
ficate, and the remainder is a lien upon the residue of the land only. And if the
tract be subdivided, the person paying the tax upon a subdivision, gives lo the
comptroller, if required, a map ofthe subdivisions.
Any person may pay the tax of any one year, with interest and charges, without
paying the tax of any other year; and if the tract be returned as containing more
than its true quantity, the amount overcharged is deducted; or if the tax have been
paid according to the return, it is refunded from the treasury, on proof to the comp
troller ofthe quantity actually contained in the tract, before sale. If the whole
amount of tax, in case of such overcharge, have been paid to the county treasurer,
by the state, the comptroller charges the amount refunded, to the treasurer of the
proper county, and transmits an account thereof to him; who delivers it to the
supervisors, at their then next meeting, and they cause such amount to be added
to the proportion of the county charges to be raised in the town in which the tax
was laid.
7. If the tax charged on land returned to the comptroller, with interest, remain
unpaid for two years from the 1st of May following the year in which it was
assessed, the comptroller proceeds to sell such lands. To this end,
He makes a list of sueh lands, and transmits to each county treasurer, so many
printed copies thereof, as suffices to furnish him with at least five copies, and each
town clerk, of his county, with two copies; employing, when necessary, special
messengers for this purpose, who require of such treasurer, a written acknow
ledgement ofthe receipt thereof, to be delivered by such messengers to the comp
troller, at least 18 weeks before the commencement ofthe sales. The compensa
tion of the agents not exceediug the postage upon such copies, if transmitted by
mail, is fixed by the comptroller, and paid from the treasury. The expense of
printing, and transmitting such lists, and publishing notices of sale, is chargeable
on such lands, and apportionable among the several tracts, in the ratio that the tax
on each bears to the aggregate amount of such taxes.
The county treasurer retains five of such copies, permitting all persons to exa
mine them, and causes the remainder to be delivered to the town clerks; his ex
pense therein, is audited and paid as contingent expenses ofthe county.
The town clerk receiving such copies, gives notice at the opening of every town
meeting for the election of town officers, that such lists are deposited in his office,
open to gratuitous inspection.
Having transmitted such lists to the county treasurers, the comptroller publishes
once a week, for 17 weeks successively, in at least two newspapers in each sena
torial district, a notice that such lists have been transmitted, and that so much of
the lands, as may be necessary to discharge the taxes, interest, and charges, will
on a day named, and on the succeeding days, be sold at public auction, at the ca
pital in the city of Albany. Each printer of such notice, within 20 days after the
last publication thereof, transmits to the comptroller, an affidavit of due publica
tion, made by some one cognizant of the fact.
Preparatory to such sale, the comptroller may require from the board of super
visors of any county, maps of such lands returned from the county, who furnish the
same, if obtainable, at the expense of the county; if not, they furnish such descrip
tions as they can obtain, stating the quantity of each subdivision, if a tract be di
vided. On the day mentioned, the comptroller commences the sale, which he continues
from day today, until so much of each parcel is sold, as suffices to pay the taxes,
&c, thereon. The purchaser pays the amount of his bid to the treasurer, within
forty-eight hours after sale; and on failure, the comptroller delivers his account to

TAXATION. 175
the attorney general, for suit. Upon payment, the comptroller gives the purchaser
a written certificate, describing the lands, the sum paid, and the time for executing
a deed. The owner, or other person, may redeem within two years after the last day of
sale, paying to the treasurer, for use of the purchaser, such sum, with interest at
10 per cent, per annum, from the date of the certificate.
The claimant — of an undivided part of a tract — of an undivided share of any
tract, from which an undivided part has been sold — of a specific part of a tract —
or of a specific part of a tract, of which an undivided part has been sold, may redeem,
by paying such proportion of the purchase money, as he claims of the land.
The claimant of a specify* part of a tract, out of which a specific part belonging
to another, has been sold for taxes charged on the whole tract, may exonerate
himself from liability to contribute to the owner ofthe part sold, by paying into
the treasury, within the time allowed for redemption, his proportion of purchase
money and interest, which operate as a redemption of his proportion of the land.
In the cases of partial redemption above mentioned, the quantity of land sold is
reduced in proportion to'the amount paid, and the comptroller conveys accord
ingly. If the lands of A. be sold for taxes, assessed conjointly with those of B., and
B. do not, pay his due proportion, under the provision above made, A. may re
deem, on payment of the purchase money and interest, and may recover from B.,
a just proportion thereof, upon suit brought, after the expiration of the time allowed
for redemption. And if A, do not redeem, and the land be conveyed by the
comptroller, A. may recover from B., such proportion of the value of the land, as
he should have paid of the tax, interest, and charges, for which the land was sold.
Six months before the expiration of the two years, the comptroller pnblishes, at
least once a week, for six weeks successively, in all the newspapers ofthe state,
a notice, that unless the lands sold be redeemed, by a certain day, they will be
conveyed to the purchaser; and he prepares a separate notice for each county in
which there are lands sold for taxes, and unredeemed, specifying every parcel un
redeemed, and the amount necessary for redemption, calculated to the last day on
which redemption can be made.
He transmits such notices, by mail, at the expense of tbe state, to the respective
county treasurers, who cause them to be published, in the body, not in a supple
ment, of one of the county newspapers, once a week, for six weeks successively,
at the expense of the board of supervisors; keeping the original notice in his office,
for gratuitous examination. If a newspaper be not published in the county, the
treasurer affixes one copy ofthe notice, to the door ofthe court house, and delivers
another to the county clerk, who suspends it for such examination, in some con
spicuous place in his office.
If such lands be not redeemed in such two years, the comptroller, at the expi
ration thereof, conveys them to the purchaser in fee, by deed under his hand and
seal, witnessed by the deputy comptroller, surveyor general, or treasurer, in the
name ofthe people of the state, subject to any claims which the. state may have
thereon for taxes, or other liens, and such conveyance is conclusive evidence that
the sale was regular, according to law.
The comptroller bids in for the state, at the sale, the lots for which there is
no bid, subject to redemption as in other cases; and makes certificates of such
sales describing the lands, and the time when the state will be entitled to a deed,
and if the lands be not' redeemed, executes, a release to the state therefor, which
becomes absolute, in the time, and on performance of the like conditions, as in
case of individuals.
If land sold for taxes and conveyed, be at the time of conveyance in the actual
occupancy of any person, the grantee or his derivative, serves a written notice on
the occupant, or leaves it at his dwelling with any person of suitable age and dis.
cretion belonging to his family— within one year from the expiration of the time
of redemption, stating the sale aud conveyance, the grantee— the consideration
money with the addition of thirty seven and a half per cent, thereon, with the
price of comptroller's deed — and that unless the same be paid into the treasury
for the benefit of the grantee, within six months from the time of filing in the
comptroller's office the evidence of the service of such notice, the conveyance will
become absolute and bar the occupant and all others to the title thereto, and within

176 POLITICAL VIEW.
one month after service of such notice the person serving it, files in the office of
the comptroller a copy thereof with proof of service as herein after required.
Within such six months, and at any time before service of such notice, such
occupant or other person may redeem, by paying such consideration money and
additions into the treasury, and the receipt of the treasurer, countersigned by the
comptroller with his certificate, stating the payment and the land intended to be
redeemed, is evidence of the redemption; but in the latter case the receipt states
that the redemption was made without notice.
In case of such occupancy, the grantee or his derivative, to complete his title,
files with the comptroller the affidavit of some person certified as credible by the
officer taking it, that such notice was duly served stating the mode of service: and
if the comptroller be satisfied, that such notice was duly served, and if the re
demption have not been made, he certifies the facts and the conveyance, thereupon,
becomes absolute.
If the comptrpller discover before conveyance of any such lands; that the sale
for any cause is ineffectual to give title, he does not convey, but refunds the pur
chase money and interest, which, if the error originated with the county or town
officers, is charged to the proper county, levied by the supervisors and repaid to the
state treasury. If the invalidity of the sale be discovered after conveyance, the
comptroller refunds to the purchaser, and charges the proper county with the
amount of the tax, and interest at 7 per cent., to be levied and paid as above pro
vided. The expenses of sales for taxes, including lists and notices and transmission of
copies of lists, are charged on the lands out of which sales are made; and an equit
able part thereof is added to the taxes, interest and other charges on each parcel.
The moneys received from such sales and interest and expenses are paid into the
state treasury, and the accounts for expenses are audited by the comptroller and
paid from the treasury. +¦
8. All stock corporations deriving income or profit from capital, are taxable, for
such capital, in the following manner.
The president or other proper officer of the company on or before July first, an
nually, delivers upon oath, to tbe assessors of the town or ward in which the com
pany is liable to be taxed as above provided, and to the comptroller, a written
statement specifying — the real estSte, if any, of the company, where situate, and
price paid therefor — the capital stock paid or secured to be paid in, excepting
therefrom the sums paid for real estate, the stock held by the state, and by any
incorporated literary or charitable institution — and the town or ward in which is
the principal office of such company, or if there be no such office, the town or
ward in which its operations are conducted or in which it is liable to be taxed.
If such statements be not so furnished within thirty days after the time specified
the company forfeits to the state, for each omission, $250, recoverable, at the in
stance of tbe comptroller, by the attorney general. But, if such company when
prosecuted, pay the costs of prosecution, furnish such statement, and satisfy the
comptroller that the omission was not wilful he may discontinue suit.
The assessors enter such companies and their property and the property of all
other incorporated companies liable to taxation, on their assessment rolls — insert
ing, in the first column, the name of the company, and under it the capital stock
paid, or secured to be paid, the amount paid for its real estate, wherever situate,
and the amount of its stock, if any, belonging to the state and to incorporate lite
rary and charitable institutions; in the second, the quantity of its real estate
within the town or ward; in the third, the value of such estate estimated as in
other cases; 4in the fourth, the capital stock of every incorporated company, (man
ufacturing, turnpike, and marine insurance companies excepted) paid or secured to
be paid; deducting the sums paid for its real estate, wherever situate, and the stock
if any belonging to the state or to incorporated literary and charitable institutions.
The assessors, also, insert in such fourth column, the cash value ofthe stock of
all manufacturing and turnpike corporations, as contained by sales thereof, or
otherwise, deducting the items above specified, which value, with the value of the
real estate of such corporations constitute the amount, on which the tax of such
corporations is levied. The provisions for ascertaining the value of taxable pro
perty, are applicable to all taxable corporations, and the required affidavit is made
by the president, secretary, or other proper officer.
But if such officer show satisfactorily, to the board of supervisors, at their an-

TAXATION. 177
nual meeting, within two days from the commencement thereof, by affidavit, to be
filed with their clerk, that such company receives no profits or income, it is ex
empted from taxation, and its name is stricken from the assessment roll. But, the
assessment of every stock corpoiation, authorised to make dividends upon its cap
ital, from which no such affidavit is received, is conclusive evidence, that such
corporation is liable to taxation and duly assessed.
The capital stock of such company taxable is assessed and taxed, as other
real and personal estate, unless the company be entitled to, and do, commute
therefor; when no tax is imposed, thereon, by the supervisors.
Companies employed wholly or principally in manufacturing, and marine insu
rance, companies, whose net annual income does not exceed five per cent, on the
capital paid or secured to be paid, may commute for taxes, by paying to the pro
per county treasurer, five per cent, upon the net income of. the preceding year.
Any turnpike, bridge or canal company, whose net annual income exceeds not
five per cent, on such capital, is exempted from taxation.
To entitle the company lo such exemption, the president or secretary, or some
two of its officers make affidavit to be delivered to the assessors, at the time of
making the assessments, stating the capital stock paid or secured to be paid, the
income and profits and total expenditures ofthe preceding year.
The president or other proper officer of the company, electing to commute, makes
affidavit of the amount of such net income, and files it with the clerk of the su
pervisors, at their annual meeting within two days from the commencement
thereof, with the receipt of the county treasurer for the proper commutation,
whereupon the supervisors omit to tax the property ofthe company.
The amount of taxes on taxable incorporated companies, not commuting is set
down by the supervisors in the fifth column of the corrected assessment roll and
forms part of the moneys collectable by the collector.
The supervisors transmit to the comptroller, with the aggregate valuations, of
the estates in their county— a statement — ofthe several taxable corporations of their
county — of the amount of capital stock of each, paid or secured to be paid — of the
amount of the real and personal property of each as put down by the assessors or
by them — and the amount of taxes assessed on each: and where there is no such
company in their county, certify the fact to the comptroller.
The collector demands the tax on incorporated companies from the president or
other proper officer, and if not paid proceeds to collect the same, as in other cases,
subject to like penalties for non-payment of the moneys collected by him; and his
receipt is evidence of the payment of such tax.
Such tax is paid from the funds of the company and is rateably deducted from
the dividends of the stockholders whose stock is taxed, or is charged upon such
stock, if no dividends be afterwards declared.
If the collector cannot collect such tax, he returns it to the county treasurer,
making affidavit before him, or other proper officer, that he has demanded the
same of the president or proper officer, who refused payment, or that he had not
been able to make such demand, and that the company had no personal property
on which he could levy the tax. The county treasurer certifies such facts to the
comptroller, who credits him with the amount of such tax, as in cases of tax on
lands of non residents; and furnishes, the attorney general with the name of such
company and the amount due from it; who thereupon files a bill in chancery
against it for the discevery and sequestration of its property; and may also sue
for the same with costs in any court of record.
The chancellor, on filing the bill or the answer, orders such part ofthe property
of the company to be sequestered, as may be necessary to pay such taxes and costs
of suit; arid may also, at his discretion enjoin such company, and its officers from
further proceedings under its act of incorporation and direct such other proceed
ings as he deems necessary to compel such payment.
9. The clerks of the cities, and of the several towns, before the first of October,
annually, certify to the supervisors the names of the respective assessors and col
lectors. The supervisors, at every annual meeting transmit to the comptroller, the
names and abodes of the respective town clerks and assessors, who have failed to
perform their duties relating to taxes; whereupon he gives notice to the district
23

178 POLITICAL VIEW.
attorneys of the proper counties, that, they may prosecute the delinquents for the
penalties incurred by them.
The bond, mortgage, note, contract, or other demand belonging to a non resi
dent of the state, sent or deposited here for collection, is exemptj from taxation,
and the agent of the owner may have it deducted from his assessment, making
affidavit, before the assessors when reviewing their assessment, that such pro
perty belongs to such owner; specifying therein his name and residence.
The occupant or tenant of any real estate paying the tax thereon, when another
ought to pay such tax or part thereof, may recover by action or retain from tthe
rent, the amount which such person should have paid.
Losses sustained — by the default of a collector are chargeable upon his proper
town or ward: by the default of a treasurer, upon his proper county: and the se
veral boards of supervisors add such losses to the next year's taxes of the town or
county. If, having received imperfect descriptions of the lands of non residents, the comp
troller apprehend that imperfect returns may again be made, he may give notice
to the board of supervisors of the proper county, at their annual meeting, specify
ing the towns, the returns from which may require correction. Whereupon, the
supervisors direct the assessors and collector of the proper town, to meet, therein,
at a designated place, within 30 days of the expiration of the time when the col
lectors make their returns to the county treasurers.
The collectors then, and there, specify to the assessors, the nonresident proper
ty, and the assessors arrange the same according to law, and examine the descrip
tions thereof, correcting the same conformably to the instructions of the comptroll
er; and the collectcr returns the lots so arranged, and described, to the coumy trea
surer. The certificate or conveyance of the comptroller, made pursuant to the laws
relative to taxes, may be recorded with like manner and effect, as a deed duly ac
knowledged. Sales of land for road taxes are conducted in the manner, and the owners may
redeem within the time, and on the same conditions, as herein before described.
-The comptroller may, at discretion, transmit forms of assessment rolls and re
turns of unpaid taxes, to the county treasurers, with instructions for enforcing the
uniform and proper execution' of the laws relating to taxes; and such as are in
tended for the assessors are distributed by the treasurers, among the respective
town clerks, to be delivered to the assessors; and the treasurer, also, transmits a
copy thereof to each assessor in any city of his county.
The comptroller, when necessary, prints at the expense ofthe state, such num
ber (of the laws relating to taxes) as suffices to furnish one to each county trea
surer, supervisor, town clerk, assessor, and collector, in the state; and transmits a
sufficient number to each county treasurer, for his county; who sends at the coun
ty expense to each town clerk therein, five copies, to be distributed among the of
ficers entitled thereto; and delivers one copy to each assessor, and collector in
every city, in his county.
Any officer concerned in the execution of the laws relating to taxation, wilfully
neglecting or refusing to perform the duties assigned to him, is guilty of a mis
demeanour, and may, on conviction, lie fined or imprisoned, or both, at the discre
tion of the court.
Every oity not divided into wards, for the purpose of choosing supervisors and
assessors, is deemed a town under the laws relative to taxation.
10. The assessors, before the 1st of June, in each year, ascertain the debts of
the description above mentioned, owing by the inhabitants of the several towns,
and wards, to nonresidents of the state, and in a preparatory assessment roll, state
such property in four separate columns;
In the first, the names of the creditors to whom such debts are owing: in the
second, the names of their agents, and their residence: in the third, the amount of
every such debt owing to such creditor: in the fourth, the names of the debtors,
and the town, and county of their residence.
To that end, the assessors are permitted, without charge, to inspect the books
kept by the clerk of the county, or in the city of New York, in which mortgages,
or contracts for the sale of land are recorded; and to inspect all unrecorded mort-

TAXATION. 179
gao-es, and contracts left with the clerk, or register, and to take such extracts as
they deem necessary.
The assessor may administer an oath to any person, to make true answer touch
ing the premises; except where a list of debts has been furnished by the agent of
any nonresident creditor, according to law.
When the assessors have completed their preparatory rolls, and on, or before, the
1st of July in each year, they deliver a certified copy to the treasurer of their
county. _ ....
If there reside in any county, an agent of any nonresident, having such debts
owing to him, he, on or before the first of June in each year, furnishes to the
county treasurer, an accurate list of such debts as were owing, on the first day of
January preceding, to his principal by any inhabitants pf this state, arranging such
list according to the town and county of the residence of the debtor; specifying
therein, the name of each debtor, the town,~ahd county in which he resides, and
the amount owing by him; certified by the oath of such agent, before any commis
sioner of deeds, or justice of the peace.
Such agent failing to furnish such list, forfeits five hundred dollars to the use of
the county in which he resides; to be sued for, by the treasurer, and recovered up
on proof that the principal had such debts owing to him, by the inhabitants of this
state, known to the agent.
The county treasurer, on receipt of the statements of the assessor, immediately,
makes out from them, and the lists received by him, from the agents of nonresi
dents, a list of the debts owing to nonresidents, by inhabitants of any other coun
ty than that of such treasurer, for each county in which any such debtor resides.
Such lists certified by such treasurer, to be correct abstracts from the statements,
and lists furnished to him, are transmitted on, or before, the fifteenth day of July,
in each year, by mail, to the county treasurer, of such other county.
Every county treasurer receiving such abstracts prepares therefrom, and from
the preparatory .assessment rolls furnished by the assessors of his county and the
lists furnished by the agents of nonresidents, a list of all debts owing to nonresi
dents, by the inhabitants of any town of his county, for each town in which such
debtors resided Such lists, certified by the treasurer, to be correct abstracts from
the document furnished to him, are transmitted on, or before, the tenth day of Au
gust in each year, to the assessor of the respective towns.
From such lists the assessors correct, and complete their assessment rolls; en
tering the debts pwing to nonresidents, by any inhabitants of their town, or ward
under the name of the respective nonresident creditors, and the amount owing by
each debtor, in a separate line.
At the meeting of the assessors to correct their rolls, any creditor named there
in, or his agent, may by affidavit, or other proof, show, that error exists therein,
or that a part of any debt therein stated is desperate; and the assessors alter the
rolls according to tbe fact3; but no reduction of any debt, is made at the instance
of any nonresident creditor, whose agent hasnot furnished thelist required of him.
The assessment rolls completed, are laid before the board of supervisors, who
proceed as prescribed by law, to assess the taxes to be raised for town and county
purposes. It" the treasurer or assessor do not receive in due season, such list or state
ment, he applies to the treasurer or assessor whose duty it was to furnish it, for a
duplicate, who is required to supply it; and if such duplicate be obtained after the
assessment rolls are completed by the assessors and delivered to the supervisor,
the supervisor may correct such rolls according to the fact, contained in the dupli
cate before Jthe taxes are assessed.
The tax on any debt due to a nonresident, may be paid by the debtor and set off
against the claim of the creditor.
If not paid by the debtor, the collector levies it by distress and sale of the goods
and chattels of the nonresident creditor within his town.
When it appears by the return of the collector to a county treasurer, that any
such tax remains unpaid, the treasurer issues his warrant to the sheriff of any
county in the state, where any real or personal estate of such nonresident may be
found, commanding him, to levy thereon the amount as specified in a schedule an
nexed to the warrant, together with one dollar for issuing such warrant and to

180 POLITICAL VIEW.
return the money collected by virtue thereof, except the sheriff's fees, by-a day
specified, not less than sixty days from the date of the warrant.
The taxes upon several debts to the same nonresident are included in one war
rant; and the taxes upon several debts owing to different nonresidents may be in
cluded in the same warrant; and in the latter case, the sheriff levies the sum spe
cified in the schedule annexed, upon property of the nonresidents, respectively,
with fifty cents, upon each, for the expense of the warrant.
The warrant is a lien upon the real and personal estate of the nonresidents
against whom it is issued, from the time an actual levy is made; and the sheriff
proceeds, in all respects, as in executions issued by a county clerk upon judgments
rendered by a justice of the peace, and the same fees are collected in the same man
ner; and he, on misfeasance or nonfeasance may be proceeded against in the su
preme court, as on execution therefrom.
If the warrant be returned unsatisfied, in twhole or in part, the county trea
surer under direction of the board of supervisors may file a bill in his name of
office, in chancery, whatever may be the amount so remaining unsatisfied, against
such nonresident and his' agents and others having the care or possession of any
property of such nonresident, for discovery and sequestration.
On filing the bill, or on the answer or upon such bill being taken as confessed
or the allegation established, the court orders such property of the nonresident to
be sequestered, as may be necessary, for satisfying such taxes with the costs; and
directs such other proceedings as may be necessary to compel payment.
The treasurers of several counties may, under direction of their respective
boards of supervisors, unite in one bill, against the same party for the collection
of such taxes.
Where nonresidents, parties to any such bill, have a known agent residing in the
state, for the sale of their land or receiving the purchase money, the court of
chancery may order that the service of the subpoena upon such agent shall entitle
the claimant to an order for the principal to appear and answer.
The expenses of county treasurers and such compensation as their board of
supervisors allow for their services in the premises are county charges; and the
expenses for the services of assessors are town charges.
Whenever it appears to the assessors of any town, by the oath of any inhabi
tant of this state, or other proof, that, any debts due to such inhabitant, by a resi
dent in any other state, are actually taxed in such state within twelve months pre
ceding, such assessors deduct the amount of such debts from the personal estate
of such inhabitants.
The 1st table, A, annexed, shows the total value of taxable estate, real and per
sonal in each county; and the 2d, B,the value of the real and personal estate of
corporations liable to taxation.

TAXATION. (A)

181

11. — Statement of the aggregate valuations of Real and Personal estate, in the several
counties of this State: Also, the number of acres of land assessed in each county, the
amount of Town and County expenses, and the rate of taxation on each dollar of
the assessed valuation, for 1835.

'nj
a
V
COUNTIES.
fr. -o ad
si ai « toM
"3 ao DO
8
0 3
>
B 3
O U .
'I
aao o
§ = s
3 o
o £
is DlV
s
EM o V3
OVB
!<3
os
bjo£gs
B" B OS
B B
oB
« c id
P5 — o
«!
>
fe>
<
«s
<
<!
m'g. fr.
Albany,
397,351
$9,050 ,370
$4,440,536
$34,419
$13,525,325
$41,000 07
$47,398 72
6.100
Alleghany,
¦ 758,380
2,414.359
100,989
216,603
2,731,951
12,147 22
12,228 87
Broome,
401,404
1,752,6^7
268,515
21,467
2,042,009
7,146 99
4.035 70
5.640
Cattaraugus,
788,305
1,439,725
29,968
124,345
1,594,038
9,834 22
11,849 73
14.200
Cayuga,
414,678
3,516,028
927,146
4.443,174
17,706 42
5,980 65
Chautauque,
650,620
2,948,159
208^78
550,245
3,707,282
15,086 70
11,659 70
8.000
Chenango,
248,561
3,299,660
515,392
3,815,392
6,854 73
8,440 18
4.450
Clinton,
596,800
1,359,950
1 68,150
1,4*8,100
8,060 55
5,525 38
15.000
Columbia,
399,500
8,469.876
1,806,094
10,275,970
t
Cortland,
299,000
2,014,093
298,507
2,312,600
5,451 80
5,205 36
4.800
Delaware,
847,692
2,858,990
303,387
' 37,673
3,200,050
6,004 03
6,763 75
4.360
Dutchess,
485,257
13,787,484
4,005,183
17,792,667
28,783 09
10,852 92
2.300
Erie,
560,566
5,938,400
2,640,187
'232,040
8,810,627
23,772 57
18,088 28
8.610
Essex,
744,002
1,383,602
167,986
1,551,585
7,175 43
5,567 86
8.860
Franklin,
977,388
862,000
59,709
2,600
924,309
5,999 96
6,326 30
14.500
Genesee,
625,280
8,839,263
647,678
549,688
10,036,629
20,420 36
13,576 09
Greene,
359,586
2,719,831
607,117
3,326,948
12,626 73
6,504 76
6.360
Herkimer,
877,000
4,301,801
859,826
5,161,627
12,469 07
Jefferson,
720,574
4,279,100
533,964
'l28,283
4,941.347
12,353 22
12,736 35
5.080
Kings.
26,954
28,020,644
3,920,288
31,940,932
28,280 00
39,090 93
1.500
Lewis,
718,265
1,402,793
188,529
1,591,322
3,«93 72
5,902 78
7.917
Livingston,
316,251
4,865,524
521,915
206,020
5,593,459
8,708 55
7,676 47
3.000
Madison,
377,309
4,392,497
601,745
4,994,242
11,018 69
7 414 83
3.690
Monroe,
392,982
8,965,694
1,213,630
'211,421
10,390,745
24,163 10
13,596 88
4.220
Montgomery,New York,
1,227,712
3,578,807
674,899
6,252
4,259,958 19,289 66
13,023 00
14,000
143,732,425
74,991,278
.
218,723,703 t
Niagara,
308,662
4,733,924
211,810
307,475
5,253,2091 10,123 60
6,122 96
4.118
Oneida,
704,740
9,176,167
1,926,901
19,901
11,122,969 22,930 00
15,143 38
4.340
Onondaga,
455,100
9,427,938
1,162,036
20,716
10,610,690 23,094 00
18,609 55
4.012
Ontario,
395,111
11,386,629
1,784,401
32,251
13,203,281 17,850 00
10,035 70
1.810
Orange,
525,042
8,567.133
1,661,436
10,2-28,569 20,000 00
11,282 66
3.200
Orleans,
238,154
4,178,166
259,658
246,696
4,684,520 9,283 70
6,534 16
3.900
Oswego,
580,978
4,308,000
432,020
15,196
4,755,216 12,775 25
12,852 68
5.530
Otsego,
589,302
4,788.285
1,009,714
47,718
5,845,717 10,967 11
8,659 62
3.500
Putnam,
135,352
1,970,901
364335
2,335,736 3,150 00
1,961 54
2.297
Queens,
137,178
6,531,85C
2,438,65C
.
8,970,500 5,897 30
6,601 67
1.700
Rensselaer,
400,10t
7,070,53"
3,350,957
10,42I,494! 32,000 00
8,909 39
Richmond,
28,075
800,78;
95,91?
896,700 2.053 00
1,914 03
4.380
Rockland,
96,416
1,504,21'
354,287
1,858,501
2,840 59
4,682 53
4.600
Saratoga,
502,07"
5,405,46!
970,665
6,376,130
12,800 00
7,814 72
3.750
Schenectady
119,494
l,815,62f
578,225
t
2,393,845
8,650 00
5,671 21
5.900
Schoharie,
353,27!
1,990,00(
188,34*
.
2,178,300
4,365 61
4,564 98
Seneca,
197,551
3,631,041
732,995
13,971
4,377,012
6,531 03
11,149 46
2.750
*St. L'rence
l,738,50t
2,483,42f
79,546
2,562,972 t
Steuben,
897.00C
2,839.18t
263,018
264,234
3,366,433
13,553 97
11,446 08
8.091
Suffolk,
379,73C
4,14],12f
927,725
.
5,068,841
3,379 22
7,890 93
2.000
Sullivan,
587.00C
1,196,13(
58,894
1,255,03C
4,651 80
4,127 84
7.000
Tioga,
625,111
2,678,381
454,696
111,688
3,244,76!
7,410 83
7,256 94
5.200
Tompkins,
371,400
3.002.45C
612,34!
.
3,614,79!
7,753 96
2,207 54
2.940
Ulster,
645,369
4,457,24C
611,131
.
5,068,37!
16,100 00
13,219 10
5.630
Warren,
513.29C
889,39?
43,455
8,914
941,76'
4,713 83
3,342 49
8.700
Washington
486,08;
4,974,34;
886,981
2,02E
5,863,35'
I 14,633 38
9,265 94
4.105
Wayne,
375,57(
3,393,46:
234,00!
376.05C
4,003,51.
8,000 00
7,668 26
Westchester
280.43S
7,768,97!
2,324,69:
.
10,093,67!
! 15,026 08
7,967 73
2.200
Yates,
204,10"
2,005,92!
284,394
.
2,339,44!
9,500 00
4,000 75
6.116
26,995,631
1 403,309,81
! 124,620,82.'
3,787,89;
531,718,531
657,680 80
499,407 26
5.123
* Estimate.
t No return.
Note— Thia table ia compiled partly, ftom actual returns made in 1835-6, by the county clerks
partly from returns of preceding years, and from estimate ; and in some cases, the area is eiven
from the returns to the census of 1825. The amount of non-resident debts, is in many instances
included in the return of personal estate, is a much larger sum than appeara by the table and ia
principally due for land. '
182

POLITICAL VIEW.
(B)

12. — Assessed values of Real and Personal Estate, of Corporations liable to tax, in
the several Counties, in 1834.

No. of

Real Estate.

Total amount of] Capital exempt

COUNTIES.

Compa nies.

stock and real
estate.

Albany,

14

i 982,254 7J

! 3,627,290 00 63,183 00

Broome,

c
8,650 0C
118,000 0(
)
Cayuga,
4
49,221 8C
553,850 0(
7,500 00
Chautauque,
]
6,098 86
100,000 OC
Chenango,
S
29,544 0C
200,000 OC
Columbia,
e
20,160 00
549,000 0C
Dutchess,
10
15,762 12
794,500 00
Delaware,
a
3,000 00
Essex,
3
22,779 28
311,000 00
Erie,
5
1,379 40
658,575 00
Greene,
8
25,152 39
297,422 89
Herkimer,
2
16,100 84
225,000 00
Jefferson,
6
13,902 00
437,792 00
Kings,
7
19,633 58
782,600 00
Livingston,
I
2,000 00
100,000 00
Monroe,
3
77,428 44
620,000 00
250 00
Montgomery,
4
125,980 00
Madison,
2
6,850 40
121,600 00
New York,
60
1,749,692 39
33,938,850 00
488,975 00
Niagara,
1
8,000 00
100,000 00
Oswego,
7
19,940 00
348,999 50
Oneida,
9
82,080 91
1,347,000 00
720 00
Ontario,
2
55,285 19
900,000 00
Orange,
9
76,059 17
873,955 65
Onondaga,
5
6,742 61
427,000 00
Orleans,
1
,
200,000 00
Otsego,
8
40,541 93
454,955 00
Putnam,
2
12,500 00
11,987 50
Queens,
-
6
11,246 72
226,960 00
Rensselaer,
17
126,674 79
1,883,821 83
11,500 00
Rockland,
1
147,485 00
1,613 00
Saratoga,
7
31,887 00
542,018 59
St. Lawrence, .
2
6,603 21
145,000 00
Schenectady, .
5
52,139 35
477,130 00
60,400 00
Seneca,
1
,
200,000 00
Sullivan,
1
.
14,550 00
Schoharie,
4
52,352 00
Tioga,
3
.
213,218 37
Tompkins,
1
9,606 30
200,000 00
Ulster,
6
126,119 86
255,724 48
Washington,
3
1,700 00
110,674 00
Wayne,
2
6,844 95
102,500 00
Westchester, .
3
8,249 32
245,000 00
Yates,
1
6,811 25
100,000 00
251
$3,882,857 78
$52,998,919 81
$632,528 00
Deduct amount exempt
e, .
632,528 00
T
>tal taxabl
$52,366,391 81
TAXATION. 183
13. The following is a brief historical outline of taxation in this state, for state
purposes. "At the first session ofthe legislature under the old constitution, in 1778, a tax
of three pence upon the pound was levied upon real property, and one penny half
penny upon personal property; and £ 50,in addition, upon each person who by his
trade or occupation had gained £ 1000, during the year preceding the assessment.
" In 1779, a tax was laid of one shilling on the pound of improved lands, and
six pence upon the pound of personal estate, to be received, if paid within a cer
tain time, in the depreciated continental currency. In the same year, an act was
passed requiring the several counties to furnish shoes and stockings for the army,
amounting collectively to 2,500 pairs of stockings and 2,100 pairs of shoes. The
inhabitants were also required to surrender for the use of the army, one-eighth of
the wheat and peas held by them respectively, beyond the quantity necessary for
their own use, and to deliver the same according to the direction of the commis
sary general, at any place within twelve miles of the owner's residence, and to re
ceive certificates therefor at the rate of $ 16 a bushel for wheat, which certificates
were receivable in payment for taxes.
" In 1780, an act was passed to raise five millions of dollars, by two assesments.
In making these assessments, the supervisors and justices were allowed 12 dol
lars per day, and in the same year the members of the legislature were allowed
24 dollars per.day. To aid the Congress of the United States in taking out of
circulation the continental bills, a further tax of seven millions five hundred thou
sand dollars was laid, to be paid at the rate of one Spanish milled dollar for each
forty dollars of the assessment. In the same year, an act was passed by Congress
for a new emission of bills of credit, each state having its quota assigned to it for
redemption. The act of congress attributes the depreciation of the continental
money to the fact, that "the bills were wanting specific funds to rest on for their
redemption," The legislature, therefore, to preserve the credit of the new emis>"
sion, passed an act pledging certain forfeited estates, for the redemption of this
state's quota of the bills of credit issued in 1780; and the act also pledged the le
gislature to levy taxes and to receive in payment of such taxes, only gold and sil
ver, or the bills for the redeniption of which the pledge was given. In addition to
all this, the act contained the following clause: " And that the legislature will make
reasonable provision for redeeming a proportional part of the quotas ofthe said new
bills, of such other states as may, by the events of war, be rendered incapable tore-
deem their respective quotas." In October, 1780, a tax of one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars was laid, to be paid in gold or silver, or the new bills of credit.
" In 1783, an act was passed to raise forty-two thousand one hundred pounds in
specie. In 1784, one hundred thousand pounds were levied upon the southern
counties, and paid into the treasury, to equalise the burthens which had been borne
by the middle, northern and western counties, and from which the southern coun
ties had been exempted. In 1786, a tax of fifty thousand pounds was laid upon
the state generally."
Taxes were also laid in 1787 and 1788, requiring, as did the preceding acts, a
specific quota from each county.
"In 1799, a mill tax was levied, producing $ 90,718 19, from which $ 49,622 50
were distributed to the common schools; this tax was continued in 1800 and 1801.
In 1814, to meet the expenses of the war, a tax of 2 mills on the dollar, was im
posed for the years 1815 and 1816, and was continued in 1817, with the view of
reimbursing the treasury, for the direct tax paid to the United States. In 1818,
the tax was reduced to one mill, at which it continued until 1824, when it was re
duced to half a mill; and in 1826, was repealed. Since that period no state tax
has been levied."

184 POLITICAL VIEW.
CHAPTER VII.
OF THE MILITIA.
1. How constituted — Exempts. 2. Appointment to, and tenure of office — Adjutant Gene
ral—Compensation — Commissary General — Compensation — Commissioned and Staff
Officers — Non-commissioned Officers — Elections, by whom ordered — Resignations,
how made. 3. Organisation, Uniform, and Discipline. 4. Organisation of the Staff
Department. 5. Of Bands of Music. 6. Parades and Rendezvous. 7. Military Estab
lishment, extent of. 8. Ordnance, Arms, &c. amount of.
1. The militia is an arm ofthe executive power, consisting of — all able bodied,
free white male resident citizens, between the ages of 18 and 45, not exempted
from duty.
The laws of the United States exempt certain of their officers, and the laws of
this state exempt, the lieutenant governor, members of the legislature, and its
officers, during its meeting, and fourteen days before and after; the secretary of
state, attorney general, comptroller, treasurer, surveyor general, their deputies, and
clerks;- the chancellor, register, and assistant register of chancery; judges, clerks
of the supreme, circuit, county and mayor's courts; surrogate aud sheriff; minis
ters and preachers of the gospel, teachers in colleges, and teachers actually em
ployed in academies and common schools; officers in the army of the United States;
officers who have served in the militia of any one ofthe United States, or of this
state, for four years; but not the latter, unless by resignation duly accepted, or
other lawful manner, they be honourably discharged from their commissions:
Every non-commissioned officer, musician and private of every uniform com
pany, who, having uniformed and equipped himself, and served in such company,
or having removed from its beat, or upon the disbandment thereof, in any other
such company, making together such time as the whole service shall make fifteen
years, after enrolment; except in cases of insurrection or invasion:
Persons actually employed by the year or season, on board any vessel, or in the
merchant service, or coasting trade of this state; all firemen attached to supply
engines, and all other firemen belonging to any company, in any city or village,
not exceeding twenty-four in number, attached to a fire engine, unless in cases
otherwise provided; except in cases of war, insurrection, and invasion:
Every person actually employed by the year, month or season, in any blooming
furnace, or glass factory — except in cases of insurrection or invasion:
Persons conscientiously scrupulous against bearing arms, on paying annually,
four dollars.
2. The gdvernor, commander in chief, with the consent of the senate appoints
all major generals, brigade inspectors, chiefs of the staff departments, except the
adjutant and commissary generals.
He appoints, without such consent, the adjutant general, his own aids, and military
secretary. The adjutant general, when certified of the concurrence of the senate
in the governor's nomination to a military office, records and issues the commis
sion. The commissary general is appointed by the legislature in the same manner as
executive officers and holds his office for three years, unless removed by concur
rent resolution. He does not enter upon office until he has taken the constitutional
oath. His resignation is tendered to the legislature and filed with the secretary
of state.
Company officers are chosen by their respective companies;" field officers of re
giments and separate battalions, by the commissioned officers of the respective
regiments and separate battalions; brigadier generals by the field officers of their
respective brigades.
Staff officers are appointed by the commanding officers of their respective divi
sions, brigades, regiments, or separate battalions.
Commissioned officers are commissioned by the governor; are irremovable, un
less by the senate on his recommendation, or by the decision of a court martial,
pursuant to law.
Serjeant majors, quarter master Serjeants, drum majors, fife and trumpet majors,

MILITIA. 185
by the commanding officer of the regiment, or separate battalion, to which they
belong, by warrant under his hand, and during his pleasure.
When the office of brigadier general is vacant, the commander in chief orders an
election, designating a major general, or other proper officer, to preside thereat;
who notifies-the proper electors of the time and place, pursuant to law.
When a field office is vacant, the commanding officer of the brigade gives like
notice to the commi'ssioned officers of the proper regiment, or separate battalion, of
the time and place of the election to fill the vacancy.
When a company commissioned office is vacant, the commanding officer ofthe
proper regiment or separate battalion gives like notice of the time and place of
election.
ft The commanding officer of the respective brigades transmits the names of persons
elected or appointed and accepting office therein, to the commander in chief, that
commissions may be issued.
Persons aggrieved by proceedings at an election for commissioned officers may
appeal, if for a brigadier general, to the commander in chief; and in other cases,
to the commanding officer of the proper brigade; who determines on the legality
ofthe election, and if illegal, orders another without delay. An appeal lies from
the commander of brigade to the commander in chief, who orders a new election,
if necessary.
The commander in chief makes such rules touching elections and appeals, as he
deems proper to give full effect to the provisions of the constitution and laws.
Every commissioned officer, before entering on duty, takes and subscribes the
constitutional oath, before a judge of some court of record, county clerk, commis
sioner of affidavits, or some general, or field officer, who has previously taken it;
who endorses a certificate of the oath upon the commission. The oath is admi
nistered and endorsed without fee.
A company or troop may at any meeting elect a non-commissioned officer to fill
a vacancy; the commanding officer presiding and certifying the name of the elected
to the commander ofthe regiment or separate battalion, to which he belongs; who
decides on the legality ofthe election, and issues the warrant.
Commandants of companies or troops call a special meeting thereof, when
necessary, for an election of non-commissioned officers.
A majority ofthe voters present is necessary for a choice of brigadier general;
in other cases a plurality suffices.
The commanding officers of brigades, respectively, accept the resignations of
their commissioned officers; but the resignation of a captain and subaltern must
be first approved by the commander of the proper regiment; on accepting any re
signation, he notifies the commander of such regiment thereof; and in case of a
subaltern, also, the commandant of his company.
The commander in chief accepts snch resignations as the commander of brigade
may not accept; and may receive the resignation of any officer, which the com
mander of brigade refuses; and on acceptance, orders an election to fill the va
cancy. Every officer removing from the bounds of his command, unless it be in a city,
or being absent therefrom twelve months, without leave from his commanding
officer, vacates his office; and a new election is holden without delay.
By the constitution the legislature is empowered, in case the mode of election
and appointment ofthe militia officers therein directed, be not found conducive to
the improvement ofthe militia, to abolish it, and provide by law for their appoint
ment and removal, if two-thirds of the members present in each house, shall con
cur therein.
3.The militia are distributed in divisions,brigades, regiments, battalions, squad
rons, troops, and companies, which, subject to the laws of the United States, the
commander in chief may arrange, alter, divide, annex, and consolidate. He may
transform any part ofthe cavalry to light artillery armed and equipped as cavalry
and liable to duty as such, or as light artillery, as he may direct.
The commander of each brigade, with approbation of the commander of his di
vision, may divide, annex, or alter the bounds of his regiments or separate bat
talions; and in alterations, the part containing the major part ofthe companies of
any regiment, retains its name, number, and rank. Such alterations are commu
nicated to the commander in chief and remain until he shall otherwise direct.
24

186 POLITICAL VIEW.
Officers rendered supernumerary by any consolidation or alteration of, regiments,
&c, are deemed to have resigned, unless they notify the commander of the brigade
of their intention to retain rank, within 30 days after publication of such change
in general orders. Supernumeraries equip themselves and attend the parades and
drills of the officers and non commissioned officers.
When 40 militia form a troop of cavalry or company of riflemen, grenadiers,
light infantry, artillery or light artillery, and with the consent of the commander of
the'proper brigade apply to the commander in chief to be organised as snch,he may
so organise them, commissioning the officers designated by a majority of the ap
plicants. But no artillery company is thus organised, unless the commissary ge
neral have a proper piece of artillery and its equipage to deliver them.
Every such troop or company, not having at any annual review, at least, 40
privates mounted, or armed and equipped, is reported immediately by the inspector
to the commander of brigade; and the inspector requires proof that such number
belong to it, and such commander disbands the company reported as deficient,
unless he believe that, it will have 40 such privates at the next succeeding inspec
tion. But if, at the next inspection, it have not, absent and present, such num
ber, it is without delay disbanded.
Companies of riflemen, not formed into separate battalions or regiments are
deemed part of the regiments or separate battalions of infantry, in whose bounds
they are. Regiments and separate battalions of riflemen, cavalry, artillery or
light artillery not formed into brigades are considered part of the brigade of in
fantry, in whose bounds the commandants, respectively, reside.
No non commissioned officer of any such troop or company may leave it to
serve as a fireman; nor enlist in any other, without the written assent ofthe com
mandant of that, to which he belongs, unless he have removed from its beat.
The commandant of every uniform corps returns, without delay, all persons
enlisted therein and duly equipped, to the commandants of infantry companies
within whose beats such persons respectively reside, specifying the date of enlist
ment; that they may be stricken from the infantry rolls, upon which they are re
tained unless named in such return, and are liable to duty in the infantry, though
so enlisted.
The commandant of such corps, discharging an able bodied man, gives notice
thereof, in writing to the commandant, of the infantry company in whose beat
such man resides.
The provisions of the two last paragraphs do not extend to the city and county
of New York.
No person under 21 years of age, may enlist in a uniform corps, without the
consent of his parent, guardian, master or mistress.
The uniform of the infantry is that established by the United States, that of
other corps, for which provision is not made by the laws, such as the commander
in chief may direct.
The discipline and exercise conform to that of the army of the United States.
4. The commander in chief may have three aids, with the rank of colonel and
a military secretary with rank of major; each major general, two aids with the
rank of major; each brigadier, one, with the rank of captain.
The adjutant general ranks as brigadier: in his department, there is, to each di
vision, an inspector, with rank of colonel; to each brigade, an inspector, serving
also as brigade major, and ranking as major; to each regiment and separate bat
talion, an adjutant with rank of lieutenant. He has a compensation of §1000 per
annum, and is allowed a clerk with salary of §400.
The quartermaster general also ranks as brigadier; in his department, are, to
each division, a quartermaster, ranking as lieutenant colonel; to each brigade, a
quartermaster, with rank of captain; to each regiment and separate battalion, a
quartermaster, with rank of lieutenant.
The paymaster general has the rank of colonel; in his department, the paymas
ter of division ranks as major; of brigade, as captain; and of a regiment or sepa
rate battalion, as lieutenant.
The commissary general ranks as brigadier. He appoints so many military
storekeepers for the arsenals, magazines, fortifications, and military stores, as he
deems necessary, not exceeding one for each arsenal, and one for the fortifications,
at Fort Richmond, on Staten Island. His pay is §700 per annum, houserent, &c.
In the hospital department, there are, a surgeon general ranking as colonel; to

MILITIA.

187

each division, a hospital surgeon, as lieutenant colonel; to each brigade a hospital
surgeon, as major; to each regiment a surgeon, as captain; and to each regiment
and separate battalion, a surgeon's mate, as lieutenant; such rank, however, does
not entitle the officer to promotion in the line, nor regulate his pay or rations in
service. There are to each regiment and separate battalion, one chaplain, two sergeant
standard bearers, Serjeant major quartermaster Serjeant, drum major, ana fife
major, and of light artillery or cavalry, a trumpet major.
The judge advocate general has rank as brigadier; in his department, there is
to each division and brigade a like officer; the former ranking as colonel, the latter
as major.
The chief of each staff department, under direction of the commander in chief,
commands his subordinates; from time to time issues orders and instructions for
their government: and prepares and transmits all blank forms of returns, warrants,
precepts and proceedings necessary, therein.
5. The commander of each regiment or separate battalion organises a band of
musicians, not exceeding 16; and by warrant appoints the leader, to whose orders
they are subject, under the command of such officer; who may require the whole
or any part of the band to appear at any meeting of officers for military purposes
and at the review and inspection of the regiment or battalion, and may disband it
at pleasure.
6. The militia rendezvous, by companies, in their respective beats, on the 1st
Monday of September, annually, at 9 o'clock A. M. for improvement in martial ex
ercise: by regiments or separate battalions, once a year, between the 1st of Sep
tember, and 15th of October, as the commandant of brigade directs, for inspection
review and exersise; at such other times and places, by regiment, battalions,
companies or troops, as may be directed by the proper authority, calling into ser
vice the whole or any part.
Uniform corps also so rendezvous, by companies, one other day, in each year,
when and where their respective commandants direct.
Every non commissioned officer, musician or private, for non appearance when
duly warned at a company parade, forfeits two dollars; at a regimental or battalion
parade or rendezvous of officers', not less than three nor more than six dollars;
and at a place of rendezvous when called into actual service not exceeding twelve,
nor less than one month's pay: and every commissioned officer under the rank of
colonel not more than 25, nor less than 2 dollars.
Due provision is made for additional parade of officers — and for such uniformed
companies — for calling out the militia in case of insurrection or invasion — for the
establishment and conduct of courts of inquiry and^courts martial — for levying fines
for non attendance at parade and for breach of other official duties — for the collec
tion and application of fines and commutation money, &c. &c.
And special provisions are enacted, relative to the infantry of the city and
county of New York — to the first and sixth brigades of New York state artillery,
and the first brigade of light artillery — and also in relation to portions of the(militia
in other parts of the state.
7. The military establishment of New York consists of the commander in
chief, and his staff, including the adjutant general, commissary general, judge ad
vocate general, quartermaster general, surgeon 'general, paymaster general, three
aids du camp, and {military secretary; and by the returns of the adjutant general
for 1836, of

'  rn" " '

Divis

Bri

Regi

Squad

Battal

Compa

Total.

ions.

gades.

ments.

rons.

ions.

nies.

Horse Artillery, ...

2

4

1

2

24

1,174

Cavalry, -

3

7

29

2

114
7,317
Artillery, -
4
10
38
3
195
11,698
Artillery attached to Infantry
permanently, or for inspection,
50
3,108
Infantry, ....
30
60
269?
6
2208")
Light Infantry, ...
85
£
168,786
Riflemen, ....
2
5
22
1463
192,083
188 POLITICAL VIEW.
The first division of cavalry has 4 brigades; the 2d and 3d, two brigades each.
The number of regiments in the brigades, varies from two to seven.
The first and th.'id divisions of artillery have each three brigades, and the second
and fourth two brigades.
Each division of infantry, and 1st division of riflemen, has two brigades; the
2d division of riflemen, 3 brigades. The number of regiments to a brigade, varies
from two to eight.
The division staff consists of, a major general, inspectors, quartermaster,
judge advocate, paymaster, two aids du camp, and one hospital surgeon.
The brigade staff, of the brigadier general and the like subordinate officers, as
in the division, except that there is but one aid du camp.
Of regiments, the field officers are, 1 colonel, 1 lt. colonel, and 1 major; the
staff, has 1 adjutant, quartermaster, paymaster, surgeon, surgeon's mate, chaplain,
sergeant major, quartermaster sergeant; in the cavalry, a trumpet major; and in
the artillery, infantry, and riflemen, a drum major, fife major, and leader of the
band of music.
To each company there are, 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 ensign, 4 sergeants, 4
corporals, 1 drummer, and 1 fifer or bugler.
8. Notice of the ordnance, arms, &c. will be found in the appendix.
CHAPTER VIII.
PROVISIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.
l.Quarantine and Local Provisions. 2. Historical notice of Legislative Provisions relating
to the Practice of Medicine. 3. County Medical Societies — How formed — State Medi
cal Society — Powers of tbe County and State Societies, in Granting Diplomas. 4.
Qualification of Practitioner of Medicine. 5. Supervision of County Medical Societies
over theirMembers. 6. Medical Colleges. 7. Number of Physicians.
1. Due provisions have been made by law for the preservation of the public
health. Most of them are, from their nature local, embracing the quarantine
system, applying to the sea ports of the state and districts in their vicinage, and
are therefore omitted; whilst those of a general character are here noticed. These
relate chiefly to the practice of medicine; against the abuse of which, legislative
care has frequently been directed. Under the act of 1832, certain general provi
sions were enacted, with a view to protection against the ravages of the Asiatic
cholera, which have been continued from year to year, but which, we believe, ex
pired in April, 1836.
2. The practice of physic and surgery, in the city of New York, was first regu
lated June 10th, 1760; and afterwards, by an act of March, 1792. On the 23d of
March, 1797, the first general regulation was adopted, authorising the chancellor,
a judge ofthe supreme court or common pleas, or master in chancery, to license
physicians, or surgeons, upon evidence of their having studied two years, &c, and
the act of 1792 was repealed. The act of 1797 was amended in 1801, and 1803.
In April, 1806, an act established medical societies in the state, and a general state
medical society, and repealed the former act; and this act was adopted in the act
of the 10th of April, 1813, the basis of the present system of regulations for me
dical practice.
3. The qualified physicians and surgeons, not less than five in number, in the
several counties wherein no medical societies were then incorporated, were em
powered to elect a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer to hold office
one year, and until others were elected; and thus to constitute bodies corporate
and politic, by the name of the " Medical Society" of the counties in which they
were respectively established. And the incorporation of such societies as then
existed was recognised and confirmed.
The medical society ofthe state of New York was reincorporated, and consists of
one member from each of the county societies, elected by ballot at their annual
meeting, and a delegate from each medical college — to meet at the time and place
appointed by the society — and being not less than fifteen in number, to choose by
ballot, like officers as in the county societies, to serve for a like period.
¦ All these societies were further empowered, respectively, to fix their anniversary

PUBLIC HEALTH. 189
meetings; the county societies recording with the county clerk a copy of the pro
ceedings of the first meeting; and the state society lodging a copy of such its pro
ceedings, with the secretary of state. They may change the time of annual meet-
ingas they deem convenient.
The members ofthe state society, from each of the four great districts, were con
tinued in four classes, and one class from each district directed to go out of office
annually — and the secretary, when the seat of a member became vacant, to notify
the proper county society, that the vacancies may be supplied at the next meeting;
upon the increase of its members, the society is empowered, at any annual meet
ing, to alter and vary the classes in such manner, that one-fourth of the members
from each of the great districts, as near as may be, shall annually go out of
office. The county society is empowered to examine all students who present them
selves  to give diplomas under the hand of the president and seal ofthe society,
authorising the graduate to practice physic or surgery, or both — to appoint at their
annual meeting, not less than three, nor more than five, censors for one year, and
until others are chosen, to examine such-students and report to the president.
And if any student be aggrieved by the decision of such society he may offer him
self for examination to the state society, which may grant him a diploma. That
society annually elects not more than twelve, nor less than six, censors, any three
of whom form a quorum for the examination of students.
The student, receiving a diploma from the state society, pays ten, and from the
county societies five, dollars, to the respective presidents.
These societies have the usual corporate powers; the state society may hold real
and personal property, not exceeding five thousand, and the county societies res
pectively, such property not exceeding one thousand dollars in value. Each so
ciety may impose upon its members the payment of a sum not exceeding three
dollars, and upon each practising physician and surgeon in the county, a sum not
exceeding one dollar a year, for procuring a medical library and apparatus, and
the encouragement of useful discoveries in chemistry, botany, &c.
The state medical society may elect, by ballot, at their annual meeting, emi
nent and respectable physicians and surgeons, residing in any part ofthe state,
not exceeding two in any one year, as permanent members — receiving no compen
sation for their attendance from the funds of the society.
4. No person may practise physic or surgery in this state, unless he be above
the age of 21 years, have a license or diploma, from one of the incorporated medi
cal societies of the state, or the degree of doctor of medicine from the regents of
the university, or from Geneva college, or have been authorised to practice by the
laws of some other state or country, and have a diploma from some incorporated
college of medicine therein; have filed a copy thereof with the clerk of the county
where he resides, and exhibited to the medical society of that county satisfactory
evidence that he has regularly studied physic and surgery, according to the requi
sition of the laws.
No diploma granted by any authority out of the state, to. one who has pursued
his studies in any medical school within the state, not incorporated and organised
under its laws, confers upon him the right to practice within the state.
No student is admitted to examination by any medical society, until he have
studied for the term of four years, with some physician or surgeon j duly authdrised
to practice. But if, after the age of 16 years, he have pursued any of the studies
usual in the colleges of the .state, the period during which he has pursued such
studies, may be deducted from such term; and if he have, after such age, attended
a complete course of all lectures delivered in an incorporated medical college of
the state, or elsewhere, one year may be deducted from the term.
The physician with whom a student commences his studies, files a certificate
wilh the president of the county medical society, to which he belongs, certifying
that he has commenced his studies; and the term begins from the day on which
the certificate is filed; and if the terra be intended for less than four years, upon
either ofthe above grounds, the president, on satisfactory proof that the reduction
should be allowed, annexes to the certificate an order specifying the period and
directs the length of the term. '
No person receives from the regents of the university a diploma of doctor of
medicine, unless he have pursued the study of medical science, at least three

190 POLITICAL VIEW.
years, after the age of sixteen, with some physician and surgeon legally qualified,
ancTafter such age, have attended two complete courses of all the lectures deli
vered in an incorporated medical college, and the last in the college by which he
is recommended for his degree.
No student is admitted to examination by any county medical society, except
of the county in which he pursued his medical studies for four months immedi
ately preceding his examination; but if, during that -period, he have attended the
lectures in either ofthe incorporated medical colleges of the state,- he may be ex
amined and licensed, either by the medical society of the county in which is such
college, or by that of the county in which he resided previously to such attend
ance. No person having been examined and rejected by the censors of any county
medical society, is admitted to examination before the censors of any other county
society; but he may appeal from the decision of his examiners, to the medical
society of the state. Nor may any person, who, upon an original examination or
an appeal, has been rejected by the censors of the state medical society, be ad
mitted to examination before any county medical society.
Any person not authorised, who for reward, practises physic or surgery, is inca
pable of recovering, by suit, any debt arising from such practice; and on convic
tion, for each offence, forfeits a sum not exceeding §25, recoverable, with costs,
before a justice of the county in which the penalty is incurred, by any one who
will prosecute therefor, for the use of the poor. But this provision does not pre
vent any one from applying for the benefit of any sick person, any roots, barks, or
herbs, the growth or produce ofthe United States.
5. The president of every county medical society is directed to require, by no
tice in writing, every physician and surgeon within the county, not already ad
mitted, within sixty days after service of such notice, to become a member; the
service of such notice is made personally, on the party; and if he fail to become a
member within such time, or within such further time as may be allowed by the
president, under the regulations of the society, his license is forfeited, and he is
subjected to the provisions and penalties applicable to unlicensed physicians, until
upon special application, he be admitted.
If against any member of such society, there be preferred specific charges of
gross ignorance or misconduct in his profession, or of immoral conduct, a special
meeting is convoked, by ten days' previous notice in one or more newspapers of the
county, to consider the accusation. If at such meeting, two-thirds of tbe members
present, deem the charges well founded, the president, without delay, delivers a
certified copy of the charges and vote thereon, to the district attorney, notifying
the accused thereof — who forthwith is suspended from the practice of his profes
sion, until the final disposition ofthe charges.
The district attorney serves a copy of the charges, without delay, on the ac
cused, and notifies him at least 14 days before the hearing, ofthe time and place
at which the judges ofthe court of common pleas will meet, for hearing and de
termining them; and he prosecutes the charges, and compels the attendance of
such witnesses, as the president ofthe society, and the accused, may require.
The judges, if on hearing the case they or a majority, be satisfied of the truth of
the charges, make an order expelling the accused from the society and declaring
him incapable of practice, within the state, or suspend him from practice within
a limited period; if they deem the charges unfounded, the accused is restored to
his rights as a practising physician and surgeon.
6. Among the appliances for the restoration and preservation of the public
health, established or aided by the state, we may advert to the college of physi
cians and surgeons, in the city of New York, and the college of physicians and
surgeons of the western district, at Fairfield, in Herkimer county, both under the
jurisdiction ofthe regents ofthe university; the marine hospital, at Staten Island,
established by the state 14th April, 1820;* the New York city hospital, richly
* The marine hospital is maintained by the contribution of $1 50, from the master of
every vessel from a foreign port,for himself and each cabin passenger,and for each steerage
passenger, mate, sailor, or mariner, one dollar; and from the master of each coasting ves
sel, for each person on board, 25 cents — coasters from New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode
Island, pay for one voyage only in each month. The fund thus raised, is amply sufficient to
maintain the establishment.

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

191

endowed by state munificence, and its dependency, the lunatic asylum at Blooming*
dale, founded on an annuity granted by the state, of §10,000 per annum, until the
year 1857.*
7. The number of practising physicians and surgeons in the state in 1835, was
2,659, distributed in the following manner:
Counties.
Albany, Allegany, -
Broome,Cattaraugus, Cayuga,Chautauque, Chenango, -
Clinton,Cortland,Delaware,Dutchess, Erie,
Essex,Franklin,
Genesee, Greene,
Herkimer,Jefferson,Kings,

No.

Counties.

77

Lewis,

32

Livingston,

14

Madison,

16

Monroe,

57

Montgomery,

56

New York,

53

Niagara,

16

Oneida,

21

Onondaga,

32

Ontario,

69

Orange,

37

Orleans,

21

Oswego,

22

Otsego,

59

Putnam,

30

Queens,

45

Rensselaer,

64

Richmond, •

30

Rockland,

No.

Counties.

JVo.

16

Saratoga,

54

44

Scheneetady,

15

62

Schoharie,

30

84

Seneca,

25

45

St. Lawrence,

50

530

Steuben,

30

35

Suffolk,

25

95

Sullivan,

11

80

Tioga,

44

61

Tompkins, -

49

48

Ulster,

36

28

Warren,

16

31

Washington, -

75

52

Wayne,

46

16

Westchester, -

34

28

Yates,

32

57



7

Total, -

. 2,659

8

CHAPTER IX.

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
1. Efforts of the Dutch Administration. 2. Of the British Administration. 3. Early
Efforts of the State Government — Columbia College — University. 4. Foundation of
the State Common Schools — Common School Fund — Progress ofthe System. 5. The
University — how Constituted — its Powers and Duties. 6. University of the City of
New York. 7. Colleges — Constitution — Powers and Duties — Theological Seminaries.
8. Academies — Lancasterian Schools — Academies for Instruction to Teachers. 9. Ta
ble of the Academies under the Supervision of the Regents. 10. Superintendent of
Common Schools. 11. Distribution of School Moneys. 12. Commissioners — their Du
ties. 13. Duty of Inspectors. 14. School Districts — Officers. 15. School Tax — how
Apportioned — how Collected. 16. System of Common Schools in the City of New
York. 17. Public School Society — its Labours. 18. Education of the Deaf and Dumb
 and Blind. 19. Condition of the Common Schools in the Slate, in 1836. 20. Tabu
lar view of their Progress from 1816. 21. Expenditure ofthe State, for Education. 22.
General Remarks on the State System of Education. 23. Religious Instruction an
Essential Part of Public Education. 24. Principal Religious Denominations in the
State. 25. Presbyterian. 26. Methodist. 27. Baptist. 28. Episcopalian. 29. Dutch
Reformed. 30. Univcrsalists. 31. Roman Catholics. 32. Lutherans. 33. Quakers,
34. Summary of Churches — Ministers and Members of the Principal Religious Sects,
35. View ofthe Cost of Religious Instruction. 36. Newspapers in the State. 37. Re
vised Laws.
1. New York, in common with almost every state of the Union, may boast that,
immediately upon its settlement, upon the first relaxation of the labour indispen
sable to existence — its founders, gave earnest attention to the means of education.
And how could it be otherwise? The truth of the aphorism, that " knowledge is
power" was felt, not less in the creation, than in the government of states; and as
the leaders of the primitive colonists were always of the enterprising classes of
.ii
? The legislature in lS36,establishcd a hospital for the insane poor — a class of unfortunates
unhappily very numerous in the state. This asylum will be commensurate with the public
want, and will be conducted under all the light which science and humanity have shed upon
die treatment of mental diseases.

192 POLITICAL VIEW.
their age, so they were among the educated and intelligent; and consequently duly
appreciated, the profits and the luxury of letters. And whether the motive of
colonisation were planting, commerce, avoidance of persecution or pursuit of am
bition, religion and education, were its adjuncts.
So early as 1619, the Dutch had founded a church. In 1650, we find a notice
on the records, of a schoolmaster having been sent from Holland; in 1652, of a
public school being established in New Amsterdam; in 1658, of a Latin school,
opened under the charge ofthe Rev. Mr. Drusius; and in 1659, of the> appointment
of Alexander Carolus Curtius as Latin schoolmaster. This progress shows, that,
efforts for intellectual cultivation, commensurate with the means of the inhabi
tants were making by the Dutch, which would doubtless have expanded, with
the growth of population, wealth and security.
2. Under the sanction of the English government, in 1687, a Latin school was
opened in the city; but the teacher being supposed a Jesuit, was not encouraged.
In the interior, however, there was a lamentable deficiency of means for elementary
instruction; and the jealousy of the Stuarts prohibited teachers from England,
without license from the bishop of London, or a school to be kept by any person.
without permission of the governor. The attempts of the latter to enforce this
prohibition, were always odious to, and were sometimes resisted by, the people.
The first legislative enactment relative to education, was of the 27lh November,
1702, providing for the establishment of a grammar school, and appropriating £50
per annum, for the maintenance of a teacher, during seven years, lt was not re
newed, in consequence of the misapplication of the fund, probably by the profli
gate Cornbury. The next act, 1732, was passed " to encourage a public school in
the city and county of New York, for teaching Latin, Greek, and mathematics;"
and established a free school for five years under the charge of Mr. Malcom; as
signing for its support £40 annually. For this consideration, twenty scholars were
to be taught; ten from New York and two from Albany, selected by the city corpo
rations, and one from each of the eight other counties chosen by the courts of
general sessions. The act was suffered to expire, but the school was continued
and was the germ of Columbia College.
Between 1746, and 1756, several acts authorised the raising of moneys by lot
tery for founding a college in New York; and one in the latter year made appro
priations to that object. Under a charter of 31st October, 1754, King's College
was opened. No other provision for education appears to have been made by
the colonial legislature.
3. But, upon the restoration of peace and establishment of the state government,
public feeling was immediately awakened to this most interesting subject. An
act of 1st May, 1784, substituted, the name of " Columbia," for that of " King's"
college; and established the governmental corporation, " The University of New
York." *
The Regents of the University judiciously nourished the holy flame which had
been lighted. In 1789, when provision was made for disposing of the public do
main in the northern and western parts of the state, lands were specially set apart
in the several townships, for the promotion of literature and the support of com
mon schools and religious institutions. These known as " gospel and school lots,"
with other tracts for like purposes, are under the superintendence of trustees,
chosen annually by the electors of the respective towns, who direct tbe applica
tion of the funds; and though long unproductive, a large revenue is now derived
from them.
In 1790, the regents were authorised to apply the proceeds of certain lands lo
the advancement of science and literature, in the institutions under their care.
The income from this appropriation was increased in 1792, by a grant of £1500,
per annum, for five years. The fund was employed in the tuition of indigent
young men, the maintenance of teachers, and the purchase of philosophical appa
ratus and scientific books, then procurable from Europe only. At the same time,
much attention was given to elevate the standard of education, and the Regents
were soon enabled to congratulate the legislature on the improvement and pros
perity of these institutions.
4. But their efforts did not terminate here. In their report for the year 1793,
they suggested " the numerous advantages which would accrue from the institu
tion of schools, in various parts of the state, for instructing children, in the

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 193
lower branches of education." They renewed their instances in the following
year, declaring that " the many infant settlements, annually forming in the state,
chiefly composed of families in very indigent circumstances, and placed -in the
most unfavorable situations, for instruction, appeared to call loudly for legislative
aid in behalf of their rising offspring.". During the session of 1794, the legislature
gave some consideration to the subject; but making no provision for. it, the regents
reiterated their suggestions in 1795; and with the aid of an executive recommen
dation from Governor George Clinjoti, accomplished the great object of founding
the system of common schools. *
The act of 9th April, 1795, appropriated, from the annual revenues ofthe state,
§20,000, annually, for five years, for encouraging and maintaining schools in the
several cities and towns, to be distributed much in theinanner now in use; and
required the cities and towns, respectively, -to raise a sum equal to one half of that
appropriated to each. The acts of 1792, and 1795 expired, but were supplied
by one of 1801, for "the encouragement of literature," granting four lotteries for
raising §25,000, each; one half to be paid to the regents of the university, and the
other to the state treasury, to be applied for the encouragement of common schools,
as the legislature should direct. This was the germ, of the literature and common
school funds.
In 1805, the net proceeds of 500,000 acres of the public lands and 3000 shares
of bank stock were applied, to the common school fund, to accumulate, until the
interest should amount to §50,000 annually; after which the interest was to be
distributed as the legislature should direct. •¦
In 1811, initiatory measures were taken to organise the school system; apian
was reported in 1812; and the first distribution of ..money under the act of 1805
was made in 1816. In 1819, the legislature appropriated to the fund one half
the amount receivable for quit rents, the loans/ of 1790 and 1800, the stocks held
by the state in the Merchants' hank, the net proceeds of lands escheating to the
state in the military tract, and the fees of the clerks of the supreme court. In
1824, a reservation in certain lottery grants amounting to $40,000 was added. In
1826, §100,000 were ordered to be annually distributed, for the support of the
schools; and as the fund, then produced §85,000, only, the general fund, supplied
the balance. ' To relieve thaf fund, further appropriations were made in 1827, to
the capital of the school fund, oi $133,616, from the state loan of 1786, and fropa
bank stocks held by the state; and in the same year §50,000, the premium dn the
loan of the state credit to the Delaware and Hudson canal, and $91,349, the pro
ceeds of lots sold at Oswego, were added to it.
By the constitution, the proceeds of all lands belonging to the state, except
such as may be reserved or appropriated- to public use or ceded to the United-
States, belong to the fund. In 1830, these lands consisted of 869,178 acres, valued
at half a million of dollars. We have stated the present condition of the fund at
page 147. Of lhe_ University.
The university is incorporated by the name of " The Regents of the University
ofthe State of New York," under nineteen regents, appointed by the legislature,
removable by joint resolution, and the governor, and lt. governor, who are mem
bers, ex officio. Vacancies are supplied, in the manner state officers, are ap
pointed. - ' • ¦ ^
The officers are, a chancellor, vice chancellor, treasurer, and secretary, chosen
by the members, hy ballot and plurality of votes; holding office during the plea
sure of the board! The chancellor, or in his absence, the vice chancellor, and, in
the absence of both, the senior regent in the order of appointment, presides — bavr
ing a casting vote. Eight members form a quorum for business; but any number
present, may adjourn not exceeding ten days at a time. Annual meetings are
holden on the 2d Thursday of January; at the senate chamber in the capital; other
meetings, except adjourned ones, when and wheTe the presiding officer appoints^
upon the written application of three members and publication of the order in the
state gazette, at least ten days prior to the meeting.
The regents are required', by themselves or committees, to visit and inspect the
colleges and academies, and to report annually to the legislature, their condition
system of education, and discipline; to demand from each, an annual return, on or
25

194 POLITICAL VIEW.
before the first of February, on dath of the principal instructor, or one of the trus
tees, containing* l.'The names, ages, and time of instruction of each pupil, during
the preceding year. 2. A statement of the course of studies pursued, and books
used by him,up to the time of report, with the books he may have studied in whole
orin part, and if in' part, what portion. 3. An estimate of the value of the library
and scientific apparatus belonging to the seminary. 4. The names ofthe instruc
tors, and amount of their compensation. 5. An account of the funds, income,
and debts of the seminary, and of its application of the moneys last received from
the regents: To report, annually, on or before the 1st of March, to the legisla
ture, an abstract of all such returns, embracing a, general view ofthe particulars
stated therein; and also to state their distribution during the preceding year, ofthe
income of the literary fund, the names ofthe seminaries sharing such distribution,
and the amount received by each: To prescribe the forms of returns required from
the seminaries, and to print such forms with their instructions, from time to time,
by the state printer, at the expense of the state.
• The regents are empowered, to make ordinances for the accomplishment of their
trust: to confer, by diploma, such degrees above that of master of arts, as are
usually granted by any college or university in Europe: to fill any vacancy in the
office of principal of an academy or president of a college, left unfilled by the trus
tees, for the space of a year, unless satisfactory cause of delay be shown; tbe ap
pointee to continue in office during the pleasure of the regents, with the -power,
emoluments and privileges enjoyed by his immediate predecessor; or if there
were none, with such salary as the regents may direct, payable by the seminary: to
control the income of the literary fund; annually assigning one-eighth part thereof
to each senate district; distributing it among the incorporated seminaries of learn
ing, colleges excluded, subject to their visitation, in proportion to the number of
pupils in each seminary, who for four months during the preceding year, have pur
sued classical studies, the higher branches of English education, or both. By
classical studies, it is understood, that the pupil shall have read in latin, at least
the first book of the jEneid; and by English studies, that he shall have acquired
such knowledge of arithmetic and of English grammar and geography, as is be
yond that usually obtained in common schools.
Regents of the University.
Governor and lieutenant governor, (ex officio.) . appointed.
Stephen Van Rensselaer, LL.D. (Chancellor of the board,) Albany, March 16, 1819.
Elisha Jenkins, - - Hudson, Feb. 11, 1807.
Samuel Young, ------ Ballston Spa, Jan. 28, 1817.
James Thompson, - - - - Saratoga co. Feb. 7, 1822.
James King, - - - Albany, Feb. 14, 1823.
Peter Wendell, M.D. , - - Albany, Do.
John Greig, - - - Canandaigua, Jan. ] 2, 1825.
Jesse' Buel, - - Albany, Jan. 26, 1226.
Gulian C. Verplank, . - New York, Do.
Gerrit Y. Lansing, - ... Albany, March31,1829.
John Keyes Paige, Albany Do.
John Sudani, . - Kingston, ^ Do.
John A. Dix, - - - - Albany, April 23, 1831.
William Campbell. - - Cherry Valley, Feb. 5, 1833.
Erastus Corning, - - Albany, Do.
Prosper M. Wetmore, - - - New York, April 4, 1833.
John L. Graham, - - New York, April, 1834.
James McKown, - •  Albany, ' Do.
Amasa J. Parker,' - - - - - Delhi, Jan. 21, 1835.
Gideon Hawley, (Secretary,) - - Albany, March 25, 1814.
There is in the city of NewYork, an institution denominated " TheUniversity of
the City of New York," incorporated April 18, 1831, authorised tohold estates not
exceeding an annual income of §2.0,000; and subject to the visitation of the regents
of the state university ,as the colleges of the state. Tliisinstitution is managed by a
council, composed of 32 share holders and the mayor, and 4 members of the com
mon council ofthe city, for the-time being. The members, the mayor excepted, are
elected by the stockholders, with the restriction, that no one religious sect shall

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

195

ever have a majority of the board. The council fills vacancies occurring previous
to an annual election; appoints its own officers and all the officers of the univer
sity; establishes ordinances and by-laws, not contravening the lawa or constitution
of this state or of the United States, and expels any of its members for violation
thereof. One-fourth, of the members elected by the stockholders go eut of office
annually, but are re-eligjble. If the shareholders fail to make an annual election,
the council supplies vacancies; shareholders to the amount of §100, held in their
own rio-ht or as proxy, have one vote for each §100 so held. The university is
empowered to continue the receipt of subscriptions, giving to future subscribers
like privilege. Eleven members form a quorum, except for the conveyance of real
estate or appointment to office, When the affirmative vote of 17 is required. Per
sons of every religious denomination are eligible to all offices. It grants such lite
rary honours, degrees and diplomas, as are usually granted by any university or
other seminary of learning in the United States, not inconsistent with the laws of
the state.
The building which it has erected is one of the most splendid ornaments of the
metropolis. The institution was opened in 1832, and the number of students in
1835, was 270.
The plan of the institution comprises instruction not only in the branches of
education usually taught in our colleges, but in the whole range of general science,
and of the useful and liberal arts. In conformity with this plan, the following
departments have already been established:
Sacred literature; Oriental language, literature and antiquities; Latin and Greek
languages, literature and antiquities; intellectual and moral philosophy, and belles
letlres; mathematics; natural philosophy, mechanics and astronomy; archi
tecture, civil engineering and drawing; chemistry and botany; geology and mine
ralogy; history, chronology, geography and statistics; literature of the art of de
sign; modern languages. -
These departments are organised into annual classes, under the respective pro
fessors; and students, upon' examination, may be admitted to any one or more of
them, at the option of their parents or guardians, subject, however, to the approba
tion ofthe chancellor and professors, as to the number and variety ofthe studies to
be pursued. The scheme of study is always so arranged as to enable every stu
dent to attend to as many branches as his time and powers will permit.
The price of tuition is eighty dollars per annum, to students who pursue the
whole course. Those who pursue particular branches, pay twenty dollars per annum
for each branch pursued. .
The annual commencement takes place on the third Wednesday of July? from
which time there is a vacation till the first Monday in October. Besides this, there
is a recess of two weeks, commencing on the 25th of December.
Of Colleges.
7. A chartered college is a corporation, whose trustees meet upon their adjourn-
ment.and when summoned by theirchairman, or in his absence, by the senior trus
tee, at the request of other three trustees, notice of the time and place of such meet
ing being given in a newspaper printed in the county in which the college is
situated, atleastsixdays before the meeting; and each trustee resiJent in the county
being previously notified in writing. Seniority among the trustees is determined by
the order of their names in the charter, and after the extinction ofthe first set, by
priority of election. The trustees may not exceed 24, nor be less than 10 in num
ber. A majority forms a quorum for business.
The trustees, with usual corporate powers, may elect by ballot, theirchairman,
annually — supply vacancies occasioned by death, removal from the state, or other
wise, by a majority of voters present — vacate the seat of a trustee absenting him
self from five successive meetings of the board — take and hold property producing;
an income not exceeding §25,000 annually — sell, mortgage, or otherwise dispose
of such property for the benefit of the college — direct the course of study and dis
cipline — appoint a president to hold office during good behaviour; and professors
trustees, and other officers, who, unless employed under special contract hold
office during the pleasure ofthe trustees — remove or suspend- officers employed
under special contract, on complaint, in writing, by a trustee, of misbehaviour in
office, incapacity, or immoral conduct — grant literary honours  fix the salaries of
officers — and make ordinances to give effect to their powers. The diploma

196 POLITICAL VIEW.
granted by them, entitles the possessor to all the immunities bestowed by similar
diplomas granted by any university, college or seminary of learning in the United
States. There are five literary colleges under the jurisdiction of the regents; the New
York University; Columbia, at the city of New York; Union, at Schenectady; Ha
milton, near Clinton, Oneida county; and Geneva, at Geneva, Ontario county; and
two medical colleges, " The College of Physicians and Surgeons in the city of New
York," and " The College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Western District,"
located at Fairfield, Herkimer county. All of which are particularly noticed in
the description ofthe places at which they respectively are.
In the autumn of 1835, a college was founded at the city of Buffalo, by a muni
ficent subscription of. the citizens. Eight professorships were established by do
nations from individuals, and a charter was obtained in 1836, from the legislature.
(See Erie county. )
There are also, in the state, five theological seminaries: " The General Theologi
cal Seminary'pf the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States," located in the
city of New York; " The Theological Seminary" established by Presbyterians, at
Auburn, Cayuga county; "Hamilton Literary and Theological Seminary," at the
village of Hamilton, Madison county, established by Baptists; " The Lutheran
Theological Seminary," at Hartwicke, Otsego county; and " The Methodist Semi
nary afthe Genesee and Oneida Conferences," at Cazenovia, Madison county.
Of Academies.
8. So many ofthe founders and benefactors of an academy, as have contributed
more than, one-half in value of the property collected forks use, may apply to the
regents for incorporation, naming the first trustees and the corporation. If the re
gents approve, the application and, approval are filed in the secretary of state's
office; and thenceforth the property of the academy is vested in the trustees, for its
benefit. The trustees, not exceeding 24 nor less than 12 in number, by such name, form
a corporation, of which 7 members make a quorum for business.
They may adjourn from time to time — elect by ballot a president, to hold office
for 1 year, and until another be chosen — fill vacancies, by a majority of voters pre
sent — take and hold property, whose yearly revenue shall not exceed four thou
sand dollars — and have in relation to their estate, teachers, &c. like powers as
colleges; but are not authorised to grant diplomas.
Where the number of trustees exceeds 12, it may be reduced at an annual meet
ing, to that number, by the abolition of the offices of those who omit to attend such
meeting, and who have omitted to attend two other legal meetings after notice.-
The trustees meet upon their own adjournment and as often as summoned by
their president or senior trustee, actually exercising his office and residing within
three miles of the academy, upon the request, in writing, of any other three trus
tees, at the time and place named by him, not less than five, nor more than twelve
days from the time of the request — previous notice being affixed on the door of
the academy within two days after its appointment. At every meeting, adjourned
or special, the president, or senior trustee present, presides. Seniority is deter
mined by the order of nomination in the written application to the regents — or,
the first trustees being extinct, by priority of election. If a trustee fail to attend
two successive meetings of the board after personal notice, without satisfactory ex
cuse, his fellows may declare his office vacant.
No religious qualification may be required of any officeT of an incorporated col
lege or academy, as a condition for admission to any privilege therein. No
professor or tutor may be a trustee of the institution he serves; nor any president
of a college or principal of an academy, being a trustee, have a voice relative to
his compensation; nor may he, or any other trustee of a college or academy be a
regent of the university. If a trustee be appointed regent, or a regent be ap
pointed trustee, he may elect in which office he will serve and give notice thereof
to the appointors, within 60 days from the appointment — otherwise the appoint
ment is void. .-
The founders and benefactors of a school on the system of Lancaster or Bell, or
other system approved by the regents, or so many of such benefactors as have
contributed more than half the property of the school, may have it incorporated
by the regents, in like manner and with like powers as an academy, and so made

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

197

subject to their control and visitation; and such incorporated school or other select
school may,be made a district school, by agreement with the trustees of one or
more common school districts, and the consent of a majority of the taxable inhabi
tants of such district or districts expressed at a meeting called for the purpose.
The application by the founders to the regents, is by writing under their hands,
designating the first trustees and the name by which the corporation is to be
called. The approbation of the regents.is by an, instrument under their common
seal; and the request and approval are recorded in the office of the clerk of the
county in which the school is established.
Beside those subject to the regents of the university, 64 in number, many of
which are specially incorporated by the state, there are thirty seven institutions so
incorporated; generally, with the privilege to be adopted by the university and
admitted to a participation in the literature fund, on compliance with the requi
site conditions. Our notice of all these institutions is more or less special under
the description ofthe places in which they are severally located. ,
Under the wise and liberal provisions of the act of 2d May, 1834, authorising
the regents to distribute the excess of the annual revenue of the literature fund
over $12,000, to all or a portion of the academies subject to their visitation, to be
expended in educating teachers of common schools, the board has ordained, that,
a department for the education of teachers of common schools be established,
in some one of the academies of each senatorial district in the manner set
forth in' a report of a committee of the board, in January, 1835: — And for the
first organisation of their departments and supply of proper instruments and books,
they appropriated the sum of §4000, [in proportion to the wants of the several
institutions; and the sum of $3,200 for their annual support.
Until otherwise directed these departments are established in the following
academies: For the 1st District, Erasmus Hall, Academy, King's county.
, 2 " Montgomery, " Orange county.
3 " Kinderkook, " Columbia county.
4 •" St." Lawrence, " St. Lawrence county.
5 " Fairfield, " , Herkimer county.
6 " Oxford, " Chenango county.
7 " Canandaigua, " Ontario county
8 " - Middlebury, " Genesee county.
Each is required, in addition to the ordinary annual report, to present a full and
detailed statement ofthe progress and condition of the department, according to a
form prepared by the secretary of the university.
The subjects of study directed by the boardtare 1. The English language. 2.
Writing and drawing. 3. Arithmetic, mental and written, and book keeping. 4.
Geography and general history combined. 5. The history of the United States.
6. Geometry, trigonomery, mensuration and surveying. 7. Natural philosophy
and the elements of astronomy. 8. Chemistry and mineralogy. 9. The consti
tution of the United States, and the constitution of the state of New York. 10.
Select parts of the revised statutes and the duties of public officers. 11. Moral
and intellectual philosophy. 12. The principles of teaching.
The great and almost only defect in the system of popular instruction is the
want of competent teachers.. Its removal is indispensable, to render the system
adequate to the demands of the age, and to carry it out to the great results it is
capable of producing.
From the limitation of their funds this end could be attained by the regents only
by selecting a limited number of academies, in such situations that some one
should be within reach of every county of the'state.
The beneficial results of these measures, extended as they must be upon the
character and capacity of teachers, and by inevitable consequence,'upon the charac
ter and capacity of their pupils, cannot be doubted. Every day's experience will
prove their utility. The profession of the' teacher, always honourable, will be
more justly appreciated and more suitably rewarded; for his pupils, conscious of
the advantages they have received from his instructions, will seek to perpetuate
and extend them for the benefit of their posterity. .
The annexed table shows the names, number and condition of the academies
subject to the regents in the respective districts.

9

NAMES AND LOCATION.

Number of stu
dents.

Students
claimed to
have pursu
ed classical
or the higher
studies.

Students, ad-
admitted .by
regents to
have pursu
ed such stu
dies.

Moneys re
ceived from
the. litera
ture fund.

Permanent Funds.

No. of
books in
library.

Ke venue.

Debts due
from.

No. of
teach- ers.

Compen. sation
ofteach- ers.

5

A cade- Other
my lot real
& build- estate
ing.

Philoso phical
appara tus and
library.

Other
personal
property

Tuition money 1834.

Incomefromper-manent funds.

1st.

Clinton, East Hamp., Suff. Co.
Erasmus Hall, Queen's Co.
*N. Y. Institution Deaf and Dumb, N. Y.
Osterbay, Osterbay, Queen's Co.
Union Hall, Jamaica, Do.

4695
137 48
96

21 61
137 3968

2161
137 3968

$96 65
280 70
630 35
179 40
312 SO

2,0008,850 . .
3,0006,700 . .

400
1,850 100
600

1,325 260

316
1,089
none 450

$506
1,830 480
3,104

none 332 8

none 658

1
4 )
6

506
2,350
'- 640
2,210
5,706

'422

326

326

$1,500 00

20,550 . .

- 2,950

1,585

1,855

4,920

340

65F

12

24,

Delaware, Delhi, Delaware Co.
Dutchess Co. Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Co.
Parmer's Hall, Goshen, Orange Co. '
Kingston, Kingston, Ulster Co.
Montgomery, Montgomery, Orange Co.
Wt Pleasant, M't Pleasant, W 'Chester Co.
Newburg, Newburg, Orange Co.
North Salem, North Salem, w 'Chester Co.
Redhook, Redhook, Dutchess Co. .

48
114 3460 63
147 72 3536

- 9
&, 18
23 445164 16
32

9
64 18
23 44 5164 15
22

$43 53
309 65
87 Oi
111 27
212 91
246 97
309 65
72 57
106- 37

1,275
4,000 1,000
3,500
5,500
15,000 5,000 1,6001,500

none 300
none 200
none

720 50
150
400525 8
800
250 300

5,505
none none 100
none 59
183

none 191
350 683
none 500200 170

$2,113 450620
1,3481,042 924 180
438
$7,115

none nonenone ' 430
200
none 11

142
none
none 302
6,000 400
none 4

13 1
3 54422

2,213 450
1,3351,070
1,458 924 330
676

609

311

310

$1,500 00

38,375

500

3,203

5,847

1,994

641

6,848

25

8,456

3d.

Albany, Albany City,
Albany Female, Albany City. .
Albany Female Sem., Albany City.
Hudson, Hudson City. -
Jefferson, Jefferson, Schoharie Co.
Kinderhook, Kinderhook, Columbia Co.
Lahsingburgh, L'ng burgh, Renssalaer Co.
Schenectady, Schenectady City.

226 318 130 61507521
182

137
S31 97 75
21 69 17
101

137231 97
65 2169 17
100

$278 80
470 08
197 45
132 30
42 89
140 49
34 66
203 50

90,00031,300 7,000 3,000
4,000 1,500
3,100

1,600
5,000 800
none 200

1,6001.350 200 100 32
575
270

19,900 1,400 500
. 50
none 100
4,000

318967 42 14
393

4.5137,059 1,850 730
490
1,225 559
2.224

1,507 i5
nonenone

700
18,400 1,200 500 65
195

8
12 6 1
3
' 2 1
13

5,5504,910 1.965
'490 1,225 500

1.083

748

737

$1,500 00

139,000

7,600

'4,127

25,950

1,734

19,250

1,552

21,060 46

14,640

4th.

Washington, Cambridge, Wa'ington Co.
Canajoharie, Canajoharie, M'gomeryCo.
Franklin, Malone, Franklin Co.
Gooverneur H. School, G'f , SfcL'rence Co.
Granville,. N. Granville. Washington Co.

41
57 455761

22443546 19

2244 3346 18

$98 51
197 02
147 77
205 95
80 60

1,0001,500
1.500
3,500
2,000

1,350
nonenone
nonenone

216 2530
none 75

910 50
115
none

147
none' none 50

407
639739651400

90
- none 281
none

410 43
126
500 46

" 1
223
2

472
,719 802 651
400

4th.

Johnstown, Johnstdwir; Montgomery Co

19

18

18

80 60

1,500

none

100

1,311

60

274

92

43

2 3

36250n
1,300

Pittsburgh. Plattsburgh, Clinton Co.

42

26

25

111 S3

1,500

25

none

500

none

108

gt. Lawrence,- Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co
96
65
65
291 05
4,000
' 814
650
'2,107 135
1,044
'117
2,248
3
Washington, Salem, Washington Co.
67
65
64
. 286 57
5,500
150
200
760
1,200
2
5,106
1 487
340
335
, $1,500 00
22,000
2,064
1,271
4,493
589
5,414
580
4,734
,20
5th.
Bridgewater, Bridgewater, Oneida Co
53
37
31
$56 52
1,500 . .
100
50 10
607
300
3
680385
Clinton Gr. School, Clinton, Oneida Co.
25
17
17
31 00
2,000
none
none
none
none
250
none
none
1
Fairfield, Fairfield, Herkimer, Co.
77
65
65
118 50
7,000
1,000
1 624
900
2
1,010
Hamilton, Hamilton, Madison, Co.
83
110
109
198 65
4,500
400
3,752i . .
2,000
250
3,500
7
1,700
Lowville, Lowville, Lewis Co.
71
38
38
69 26
5,000
none
130
1,950; 120
902
13b
1,000
3
1,013
Oneida Institute, Whites'oro, Oneida Co.
82
109
109
198 48
15,000
400
500
5,000; 800
2,564
8,500
;
3,300
Rensselaer, Oswego, Mexico, Oswego Co.
47
58
58
105 73
600
700
25
1,600; none
525
50
60(
s
613
Sem. of O. & G. Conferences, Madison Co.
263
175
175
319 00
16,000
400
5.00C
500
1,800
none
5,50(
r,
3,275
Union, Bellville, Jefferson Co.
50
46
46
83 85
6,000
150
197
500
none
1,300
\
546
Utica, Utica City. '
120
107
107
195 06
10,000
700
100
66:
. .
1,172
35
:
1,400 825
Whitesboro, Whitesboro, Oneida Co.
85
79
68
123 95
1,500 . .
800
- 471
300
5
956
841
833
$1,500 00
69,100 1,800
2,805
17,835 2,251
12,020
20,200
37
12,646
6th. Cherry Valley, Cherry V'ley, Otsego Co.
69
57
50
$207 20
2,500 . .
400
231
531
4
'3,200
Cortland, Homer, Cortland Co.
146
134
133
551 05
3.000
none
400
3,742
none
1,904
262
none
c
Franklin. Plattsburgh. Steuben Co.
49
44
182 33
2.000
-none
1,251
4,045
640
242
250
none
1
1,200 697
Hartwick, Hartwick, Otsego Co.
37
35
35
145 03
5,000
600
1,000
17,515
350
1,134
s
Ilhaca, Ithaca, Tompkins Co.
48
13
13
53 87
5.000
2,000
none
4,261
none
397
443
2,600
Oxford, Oxford, Chenango Co.
82
55
55
227 92
2,600
•none
131
3,088
1,190
182
79
1,053
Owego, Owego, Tioga Co.
89
32
33
132 60
3,500
1,920
200
80
1,000
none
490
i
471
375
363
$1,500 00
23,600
4,521
3,382
32",960
640
5,614
2,271
3,169
23
5,150
7th. Auburn. Auburn. Cayuga Co. "
85
63
63
$309 55
4,000
2,000
none
none
" 525
78
none
3
1,073
1,609
Canandaigua, Canandaigua, Ontario Co.
125
60
60
199 55
10.000
838
650
17,579
250
1,525
1,059
39
4
Cayuga, Aurora, Cayuga jCo.
39
36
36
119 71
1,500
250
566
2,641
300
340
185
none
1
771
Onondaga Onondaga Hollow, O'daga Co.
40
17
17
56 52
4,500
none
200
3,150
100
500
220
none
28
Ontario F. Sem. Canandaigua, O'tario Co.
127
87
87
289 35
12,000
150
4,935
300
5,000
1,020
Ovid, Ovid, Seneca Co. : '
88
34
34
113 08
4,000
none
33
4,421
none
.907
309
606
'4
Palmyra H. School, Palmyra, WayneCo.
99
81
81
369 45
- 2,000
. ,
350
none
1,781
none
none
i
2,561 461
1,874
s-
Pompey, Pompey, Onondaga Co.
28
11
11
36 58
3,500
none
200
8,692
none
131
519
1,762
1
~
Vates-Co. Penn Yan, Yates Co.
150
62
63
206 21
4,500
none
none
none
none
1,701
none
3,500
6
781
451
451
$1,500 00
46,000
3,238
1,999
36,483
650
12,345
2,670
10,897
36
9,428
8th. Fredonia. Fredonia. Chautauaue Co.
• 81
74
74
$279 62
1,000 none
400
1,0001
200
795
none
none
3
1,250
Lewiston,' Lewiston, Niagara.
57
54
54
204 02
3,500
none
428
7,500
32
1,183
500
340
4
1,615
Livingston Co. H. School, G'ei , L'ton Co.
37
30
30
75 60
11,000
400
300
200
1,000
none
1
9^75
Middlebury, Middlebury, Genesee Co. -
107
64
64
241 82
5,000
none
400
4,371
883
' 250
none
3
1.300
2,012
Rochester H. School. .Rochester City.
Springville, Sprlngville, Erie Co.
160
139
136
513 78
7,500
400
600
2,228
3,500
5
45
49
49
185 16
3,300
none
30
206
none
705
741
2
700
487
400
397
$1,500 00
21,300
2,058
13,977
432
6,794
750
4,581
18
7,852
300 POLITICAL VIEW.
, Of Common Schools.
10. The secretary of state, as superintendent of common schools, is required to
report, annually, to the. legislature — the condition of the schools — plans for their
better organisation and for the improvement and management of the common
school fund — estimates and accounts of expenditures of school moneys — and such
matters relating to his office and to the commoiL-schools, as he may deem proper
to communicate.
In every year, immediately following that in which a census of the population
has been taken by the state or United States, he apportions the school moneys
amongst the several counties, and the share of each county amongst its towns and
cities, in the ratio of their population respectively, as compared with the popula
tion of the whole state according to the last preceding census. If an increase of
school moneys for distribution arise in any one year, than that immediately follow
ing a census, he apportions it according to the ratio then in force.
If the census be so defective in respect to any county, city or town, that the
apportionment cannot be made by it; he ascertains otherwise, the facts upon which
the ratip depends and apportions accordingly.
When, by the division of a town or the erection of a new town in a county, the
apportionment becomes unequal, as between two or more towns of such^ounly, he
makes a new apportionment of the moneys next to be distributed.
He certifies each apportionment to the comptroller, and gives immediate notice
thereof to the clerk of each county, stating the amount apportioned to his county,
and to each town and city therein, and the time when it will be payable to the
county treasurer, and in the case ofthe city of New York, to .the chamberlain.
He prepares suitable forms and regulations for making reports and conducting
proceedings relating-to common. schools with instructions for the better organisa
tion of the schools, to be transmitted to the proper officers. ,
He distjibutes so many copies of the first six articles of the title " Common
Schools," of the laws, with such forms, regulations and instructions, among the
school districts, as he deems proper.
The several institutions for the deaf and dumb in the state, are subject to his vi
sitation. He inquires from time to time into their expenditures and systems of in
struction; inspects the schools, lodgings, and accommodations of the pupils; as
certains, by comparison with other similar institutions, whether any improvements
in instruction and discipline may be made, and for. that purpose appoints, from
time to time, suitable persons to visit the schools; suggests to the-directors of such
institutions, and to the legislature, such improvements; and reports, annually, to the
legislature, on all the matters above enumerated.
11. The sum annually distributed by the state to common school's, is paid on the
1st of February, on the warrant of the comptroller, to the treasurers of the several
counties, and chamberlain ofthe city of New York.
Such treasurer gives notice in writing, to one or more of the commissioners of
common schools of each town, city, or county, ofthe amount apportioned to each,
holding it subject to their orders. If they do Hot apply, or there be no such com
missioner 'appointed, before the next receipt of such moneys, he retains the
amount to be added to such moneys for distribution therewith.
When the county clerk receives from the superintendent notice of the apportion
ment, he files, and transmits a certified copy to the county treasurer, and clerk of
the board of supervisors, to be laid by the latter before the supervisors, at their
next meeting; who add to the town tax next to be raised, a sum equal to that ap
portioned to the town, to be levied with, the fees of the collector, as other taxes;
requiring the collector to pay such sum to one or more of the commissioners. But
if there be no commissioners in the town, when the money is collected, the col
lector pays it to the county treasurer,, to be by him apportioned among the several
cities and towns ofthe county, in manner prescribed in the preceding paragraph.
12. There are chosen at the annual town meetings, three commissioners and
three inspectors of common schools.- The commissioners are a corporation, so far
as to hold property for the use of common schools in their respective towns.
They divide their town into convenient school districts, and regulate and alter
them according to law; set off by itself, any neighbourhood in their town, adjacent
to any other state in the union, where usual or convenient for such neighbourhood
to send children to school in such state; describe and number the districts, and

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 201
report them, in writing, to the town clerk; apply for and receive from the county
treasurer, all money apportioned, and from the collector of the town, all money
raised, for the use of common schools.
They apportion such money on the 1st Tuesday of April, annually, among the se
veral school districts, according to the number of children above five and under six
teen years of age in each, as the same appears from the last annual reports of their
respective trustees; and if they receive such money and all the reports from the
school districts, before such day, they apportion such money within ten days
thereafter. They sue for and collect, by their name of office, all penalties and forfeitures
accruing to common schools, and distribute them as above provided.
When convenient, the commissioners of two or more adjoining towns, form one
district of such towns, and alter and regulate the same. But no alteration of a
school district, made without the consent of its trustees, is effective, until three
months after notice in writing has been given by the commissioners to one or
more ofthe trustees.
No money may be apportioned to any district, &c, from which no sufficient an
nual report has been received for the year ending on the last day of December,
immediately preceding the apportionment; nor may money be apportioned to any
district, unless apparent by such report, that a school has been kept therein, for at
least three months ofthe year, ending at the date of the report, and that all money
received from the commissioners during such year, has been applied to the com
pensation of a qualified teacher; nor may such money be apportioned to a separate
neighbourhood, unless it so appear that, the. money received from the commis
sioners, during such year, was faithfully applied to the payment for instruction of
the children resident in such neighbourhood.
If, after such annual reports and before the apportionment, a district be altered
or formed in the town, so as to render the apportionment, founded solely on such
reports, unjust, as between two or more districts of the town; or if a district have
been formed at such time previous to the 1st day of January, as not to have al
lowed a reasonable time to have kept a school therein for the term of three months,
such district having been formed out of one or more districts in which a school has
been kept for three months by a competent teacher during the year preceding the
first of January; the apportionment is made according to the number of children
in each district, over 5 and under 16 years of age.
Money apportioned to a district, &c, remaining in the hands of the commission
ers, one year after the apportionment, by neglect or refusal of the trustees to re
ceive it, is added to the money next thereafter to be apportioned.
If the money received by the commissioners cannot be apportioned for 2 years
after their reception, by reason of noncompliance of all the districts in their town
with the provisions of the laws, it is to be returned to the county treasurer, to
be distributed together and in the same manner, with the money next thereafter
received by him for the use of common schools.
The commissioners are further required, between the 1st of July and 1st of Au
gust, annually, to transmit to the county clerk in writing, a report, dated on the
1st of July, in the year of its transmission, stating— the number of districts, &c,
within their town — the districts, &c. from which reports have been received within
the time limited for that purpose — the time school has been kept — what portion
of that time by qualified teachers — the amount of public money received — the
number of children taught, and the number over 5 and under 16 years of age — the
amount of money received by the commissioners during the year preceding their
report and succeeding their last report; distinguishing the amounts received from
the county treasurer, from the town collector, and from any other and from what
source — and the manner in which such money has been expended; whether any,
and what is unexpended, and for what cause, in each.
On failure of the commissioners to make, timely, such report, the county clerk
gives immediate notice to the clerk of the proper town; and they, severally, for
feit ten dollars, for the use of the common schools of their town; and the school
money apportioned to it for the ensuing year, may be withheld by the superin
tendent, and be distributed among the other towns of the same county, from which
reports shall have been received. The commissioners, also, forfeit to their town
the amount, with interest, of moneys so lost, and are jointly and severally liable
36

202 POLITICAL VIEW.
therefor, to be recovered by the supervisor, In the name of the town, and to be dis
tributed by him, as it would have been by the commissioners if received from the
county treasurer.
The commissioners keep a ju9t account of the school money received and ex
pended, during their term of office, and lay it before the town auditors at their an
nual meeting; render, within fifteen days after the termination of their respective
offices, to their successors, such account of such money by them, respectively,
received, before the time of rendering such account, and of the manner of expending
it, to be filed with the county clerk; and pay over immediately to such succes
sors, the balance.
If such balance or part thereof have been appropriated by the commissioners
to a particular school district, and remain in their hands for its use, a statement
thereof is made, andthe balance paid to such successors, is applied accordingly.
Commissioners failing to render such account, to pay over suf.h balance, or deli
ver such statement of appropriation, forfeit one hundred dollars, to be recovered
by their successors and distributed as other school money; such successors may
recover at law any unpaid balance in the hands of any previous commissioner, or
of his representatives.
The town clerk is clerk to the commissioners; keeps all reports made, and all
books and papers belonging, to them; prepares their reports, estimates and appor
tionments of school money and records their proceedings; files all communica
tions directed to him by the superintendent; transmits to the county clerk, reports
made to him by the commissioners; convenes the commissioners upon notification
from the county clerk, that they have not made their annual report, for the purpose
of making such report; and, generally, performs such official duties as may be re
quired of him by the commissioners.
13. The commissioners, with other inspectors elected in the town, (three,) are
the inspectors ofthe common schools.
They, or any three of them, at a meeting convened for that purpose, examine
any candidate for teaching common schools; ascertain his moral character, learn
ing and ability, and, if satisfied thereof, so certify to him, in form prescribed by
the superintendent; and they may annul such certificate, signed by them or their
predecessors, giving ten days' notice in writing, to the teacher, and the trustees of
the district, and may at any time, re-examine the qualifications of any teacher.
But the annulling such certificate does not disqualify the teacher, until his name,
and time of revocation, be filed in the office of the 'town clerk.
Where a district consists of part of two or more towns, or a school house is on a
division line, the inspectors of either town, examine and certify the qualifications
of a teacher, and may revoke his certificate.
The inspectors visit, at least once a year, the common schools of their town;
examine into their condition and the progress of the scholars, and advise and direct
the trustees and teachers, as to the government and course of studies. They
may assign specific districts to each inspector, which it is his special duty to visit
and inspect.
14. When the commissioners form a school district, they, within twenty days
thereafter, deliver a descriptive notice thereof, appointing a time and place for the
first meeting, to a taxable inhabitant; who, six days before the time of meeting, noti
fies every other inhabitant qualified to vote thereat, of the time and place by reading
the notice to him, or leaving a copy at his abode, under the penalty of five dollars
for nonperformance. If such notice be not given, or the inhabitants fail to form a
district meeting pursuant thereto, or if such district be so formed, and be after
wards dissolved, so that no authority exist to convoke a special meeting, as herein
after directed, the notice is renewed by the commissioners, and served as above
prescribed. A voter at the district meeting, must be a freeholder of the town, or have been
assessed in the current or preceding year, to pay taxes therein; or possess personal
property, beside that exempt from execution, to the value of fifty dollars, liable
to taxation; and persons not qualified, voting at the meeting, incur a penalty of ten
dollars for each offence.
The majority of qualified inhabitants, iu district meeting, may, by a majority of
votes, appoint a moderator — adjourn from time to time — choose a district clerk,
three trustees, and a district collector, to serve until the next annual meeting, and

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 203
until others be chosen, as occasion may require — designate the site for the district
school house — impose taxes for procuring the site, the school house, for repairs,
and for fuel and appendages — and repeal or modify their proceedings.
An annual meeting is holden in each district, at a time and place fixed at the
first meeting, or at the preceding annual meeting; and a special meeting, when
called by the trustees. The legality ot such meetings is not affected by the want
of notice to all the qualified voters, unless the omission be wilful and fraudulent.
No tax voted by a district meeting for building, hiring, or purchasing a school
house, may exceed four hundred dollars, unless the commissioners of the proper
town certify that a larger sum should be raised, specifying the sum.
If the commissioners of one town require, in writing, the attendance of the com
missioners of any other town or towns, for the purpose of altering a district formed
from such towns, and a major part of those notified fail to attend, those attending,
by a majority of votes, may call a special meeting to decide on the proposed alte
ration, whose decision extends only to the dissolution of the district.
When a school house has been built or purchased, the site cannot be changed,
nor the building removed, whilst the district is unaltered; nor when altered, un
less by consent, in writing, of the commissioners of the town or towns within
which it is situated.
When a new district is formed, from one or more districts, having a school
house or other property, the commissioners determine the amount due, to the new
district, from the district of which it is, in whole or in part, formed, as its propor
tion ofthe value, according to the taxable property of the inhabitants of the res
pective parts of the old district; deducting from the valuation, the debts due from
the former district. Such proportion to be levied, with the fees of collection, by
the trustees of the district, retaining the school house or other property, upon its
taxable inhabitants, as if authorised by such district for building a school house, to
be paid to the trustees of the new district, and to be credited to the inhabitants
taken from the former district, in reduction of any tax imposed for erecting a school
house. If any district office be vacated, by the death, refusal to serve, removal from the
district, or incapacity of the officer, and the vacancy be not supplied by a district
meeting within one month thereafter, the commissioners may appoint any person
resident in the district, to fill the vacancy.
Every person duly chosen or appointed to a district office, refusing without suffi
cient cause, to serve therein, forfeits five dollars; or not refusing, but neglecting to
perform the duties of office, forfeits ten dollars. But such person may, for suffi
cient cause, resign his office to three justices ofthe peace of his town, whose ac
ceptance bars the recovery of such penalties. The justices give notice of the
resignation to the clerk, or a trustee ofthe district, to which the officer resigning
belongs. The clerk of a school district records its proceedings, with copies of all reports
by the trustees to the commissioners; notifies the qualified inhabitants ofthe time
and place for any special meeting called by the trustees, at least five days before
such meeting, in the manner above prescribed; and affixes a notice, in writino-,
ofthe time and place for an adjourned meeting, when adjourned for a longer time
than one month, in at least four of the most public places of his district, at least
five days before the^time of meeting; gives like notice of every annual meeting;
preserves all records, books, and papers belonging to his office, and delivers them
to his successor, in the manner and under the penalties provided in relation to the
town clerk. (See p. 160.)
The trustees form a corporation for holding property conveyed to them for the
use ofthe schools in their district; they call special meetings of the taxable inha
bitants when necessary; give notice of all meetings, as above prescribed, when
there is no clerk, or he is absent or incapable of acting; make out » list within
one month after the tax shall have been voted, of every district tax, containing the
names ofthe inhabitants and amount payable by each; annex to such list a warrant
to the district collector, for the collection of such t<x, with five per cent, thereon
for his fees; purchase or lease a site for the school; build, hire, or purchase, keep
in repair and furnish the school house with fuel and appendages, out of the dis
trict fund; have the custody of the school house, employ teachers and pay their
wages from the funds assigned by the commissioners, so far as they suffice, and

204 POLITICAL VIEW.
collect the residue, not collected by the teachers, from persons liable therefor; di
vide the public money, when authorised by their district, into portions, not less
than four; applying one to each quarter or term during which the school shall be
kept, toward the payment of the teachers' wages; exempt indigent persons from
the payment of such wages; and file certificates of such exemptions with the dis
trict clerk; determine, by the school lists of the teachers, the number of days for,
and the amount which each person not exempt, is liable to pay for instruction;
deliver a rate bill, with a warrant for collection annexed, to the collector, contain
ing the name of each person so liable, with the amount for which he is liable, add
ing 5 per cent, for collection; which warrant the collector executes, as other war
rants directed to him by them.
When the site of a school house in any district is legally changed, the trustees
may sell and convey the former site with the buildings thereon, upon such terms
as they deem proper, and appropriate the proceeds to the payment of expenses in
curred in procuring a new site, and in removing or erecting buildings thereon, so
far as shall be necessary.
The taxable inhabitants of each district, in district meeting, may tax the district
not exceeding twenty dollars for the first year, for the purchase of a district library
of such books as they may direct, and a further sum for a book-case; the intention
to propose such tax being stated in the notice for such meeting; and when so
assembled in any subsequent year, may lay a tax not exceeding ten dollars, in any
one year, for making additions thereto. The clerk of the district, or other person
appointed by the meeting, is librarian, under such regulations as the inhabitants
may adopt for his government. Taxes so imposed are collected as the tax for
building a school house.
15. In the tax list, the trustees apportion the tax upon the rateable inhabitants,
according to the valuations of their taxable property within the district; but where
such property is owned by one inhabitant and possessed by another, only one of
them is taxed therefor.
Every person holding real property within the district, improving and occupy
ing it by his agent, is deemed a taxable inhabitant, though a non-resident. If a
non-resident owner of such property, cultivated and improved, but not occupied by
an agent, be not taxable therefor in an adjoining district, he is taxable as if he
were an inhabitant of the district, but only for such portion of his property as is
actually cleared and cultivated.
The valuation of taxable property is ascertained, from the last assessment roll
of the town; and no reduction is made therefrom, unless claim be made of the
trustees before the tax list be made out. Where reduction is claimed and the
valuation cannot be ascertained from the assessment roll, the trustees ascertain the
value from the best evidence in their pfjwer.
If a taxable of any district, having been within four years set off from any other
district, by.'the commissioners, without his consent, and within that time, he have
paid in such other district, a tax for building a school house, he is exempt from
taxation for building a school house in the district where he resides.
A tenant of real estate, at will, for three years, or a less period, paying a tax
for school purposes, may charge the owner therewith, unless he have otherwise
contracted. Where the fuel for the school is not provided by taxation, each person sending
a child to school, furnishes his proportion; indigent persons, excused by the trus
tees, excepted. If any one liable to provide fuel fail, after notice from the trus
tees, they supply his proportion, charging him with the amount, adding it to his
rate for instruction and collecting it therewith, or by suit in their own names with
costs. The warrant for collecting sehool money, under the hands andjseals ofthe trus
tees or a majority of them, commands the collector to collect the same, with fees,
and in default of payment, on demand, to levy the amount on the goods and chattels
of the delinquent, as on a warrant from the board of supervisors to collectors of
towns, and to make return ofthe warrant within thirty days after its delivery. If
payment be not made to the collector within that time, the warrant may be re
newed; and if a delinquent be non-resident, and there be no goods whereon to levy,
the trustees may collect the monevs by suit.
If the moneys apportioned to a'district by the commissioners be not paid, the

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 205
trustees may recover the same with interest, from the commissioners withhold
ing it.
The trustees, yearly, between the first of January and first of March, transmit
in writing to the commissioners, through the town clerk, a report dated first of
January of the current year, signed and certified by a majority of the trustees
making it. Specifying the time a school has been kept in their district during the
year, and what portion thereof it has been kept by qualified teachers — the amount
and mode of expenditure of the money" received from the commissioners — the
number of children taught, during such year — the number of children in the dis
trict on the last day of the previous December, over five and under sixteen years
of age, (Indian children excepted) — the names of their parents or others with
whom they reside, and the number of children residing with each.
A qualified teacher is one holding a certificate of qualification, dated within one
year, from the inspectors ofthe town in which he is employed.
Where a school district consists of two or more adjoining towns, the trustees
make such report for each town, respectively, and where a neighbourhood is set
off by itself, the inhabitants, annually.Jchoose a trustee, who makes such report, at
the time above specified. A trustee signing a false report with intent of causing
the commissioners to apportion to his district, an undue proportion of school mo
ney, forfeits twenty-five dollars, and is guilty of a misdemeanour.
The trustees, on the expiration of their offices, render to their successors and to
a district meeting, an account, in writing, of the money received by them, with
the manner of its expenditure, to be filed by the district clerk; and pay over,
whatever balance there may be, to their successors; under penalty, forfailure to
render such account or pay such balance, of twenty-five dollars to he recovered by
their successors and applied to the use of the district. Such successors, for the
recovery of such balance, have the same remedies as are above given to the com
missioners against their predecessors. The trustees also deliver to their suc
cessors all securities taken from the collector.
The collector receives 5 per cent, on all money collected and paid over by him.
He pays to the trustees all such moneys, within the time limited for the return of
his warrant, taking their receipt therefor. Before receiving his warrant, he exe
cutes a bond to the trustees, when required by them, with sureties approved by
them, in double the amount of taxes to be collected, conditioned for the faithful
performance of his duties: if he fail to execute such bond, within ten days after
requisition, his office is vacated and the trustees appoint another resident to his
place. If money be lost to his district by neglect of the collector to collect it
within the time limited in his warrant, he becomes liable therefor.
The trustees may recover by suit, in their name of office, all forfeitures and
balances held by a collector, with interest.
Any person aggrieved — by the decision of a school district-meeting — by the
commissioners, in forming or altering, or refusing to form or alter a school dis
trict, or refusing to pay school money, to a district — by the trustees paying or re
fusing to pay a teacher, or refusing to admit a scholar gratuitously to any school,
or concerning any matter relating to common schools, may appeal to the super
intendent, whose decision is final.
The county clerk, betweeu the 1st of August andjthe 1st of October, annually,
transmits to the superintendent a written report, containing the number of towns
in his county, distinguishing those from which the necessary reports have been
received from the commissioners, with a certified copy of such reports, under
penalty of forfeiting 100 dollars to the school fund ofthe state, to be recovered by
the superintendent; and in case the commissioners of any town fail to make their
annual report, gives notice thereof to the clerk ofthe town, who immediately con
venes them for the purpose of making such report.
The trustees of the Lancaster school in the City of Albany, the corporation of
the City of Hudson, and the trustees of Schenectady Lancaster school report an
nually to the superintendent, in the form he prescribes, the condition of the
schools for whose benefit the school moneys have been applied within their re
spective precincts.
Where no special provision is made, the general regulations and penalties of
the laws relating to common schools, apply to the several cities, villages and
towns, and to their several commissioners and inspectors of common schools and
the officers of school districts.

206 POLITICAL VIEW.
Under the act of 27th of April, 1829, the inhabitants of any town, in a county
where the distinction between county and town paupers is abolished, may appro
priate all or part of the money remaining in the hands of the overseers, after such
abolition to such objects as they deem proper; and if to the school fund, the money
is denominated " the common school fund" of the town, and is under the care of
the commissioners of common schools — the annual interest is applied to the sup
port of such schools — the fund may be vested in loans secured by bond and mort
gage on real estate of double the value of the amount loaned, exclusive of build
ings, &.c.
The superintendents of the county poor houses, by act of 25th of April, 1831,
are required to cause all paupers over five and under sixteen years, to be educated
as the children in common schools, at least one-fourth part of the time they re
main in the poor houses. But the trustees ofthe school districts, do not include,
in their annual returns, the names of children supported at the poor house.
Provisions for Schools in the City of New York.
16. When the clerk of the City of New York receives notice from the superin
tendent of common schools of the amount of money apportioned to the city for
common'schools, he immediately lays it before the common council. The cor
poration raises by tax a sum equal to that specified in the notice, and, in addition,
four-eightieths of one per cent, ofthe value of the real and personal estate, as the
contingent charges of the city are levied; and on or before the first of May, an
nually, deposits such money, with the sum received from the school fund, in one
ofthe incorporated banks ofthe city, to the credit of the commissioners of school
money, subject only to the drafts of the commissioners, drawn payable to the or
ders of the treasurers of the respective societies or schools entitled thereto, or
some person duly authorised by their trustees.
The corporation, triennially, from January, 1825, appoints from each ward, one
commissioner of school money, who holds office for three years, and until others
are appointed; and who, before entering upon their duties, takes the oath of office
prescribed by the constitution. Vacancies are supplied by the corporation, and
the appointee holds office for the residue of the term for which his predecessor
was appointed. No trustee or other officer of a society or school entitled to a
share ofthe school money, maybe such commissioner.
The corporation, triennially, by ordinance designates the societies or schools
entitled to a share, and prescribes the rules under which it is received, pub
lishing the ordinance in two or more of the public newspapers of the city.
The trustees of every such society or school, on or before the 15th of May, an
nually, reports in writing, under their corporate seal, signed by the presiding
officer and secretary to such commissioners, stating — the average number of
scholars over four and under sixteen years of age, taught gratis in their school
during the preceding year, ascertaining such number by adding to the number on
register at the commencement of each quarter the number admitted during the
quarter — the average number actually attending such school during the year, as
certained by the teachers keeping an exact account of the number present at each
half day, adding the same together, and dividing the whole number by the number
of school times in the year; which average is.sworn or affirmed to by the teachers
, — the times which such schools have been kept open during the year — the
amount of moneys last received from the commissioners, the purposes for and the
manner in which the same has been expended — and a particular account of the
state of such school, its property and affairs.
The commissioners of school money are required — to call for such reports, by
advertisement in two or more city newspapers, for at least two weeks preceding
the 15th of May, annually — to apportion and pay, on or bafore the 1st of June,
annually, the money deposited to their credit, to such designated societies or
schools as have complied with the above requisitions — to visit and examine such
societies and schools, biennially, to inspect their registers and other books, and to
require such other proof, on oath or otherwise, as they may think proper, relative
to the report of the trustees, or the number of scholars, the appropriation of money
and all other matters connected with the interests of the schools — to report to the
corporation and superintendent, on or before the 1st of December, annually, the

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 207
matters contained In the reports of such societies and schools for the year pre
ceding the 1st of May of the current year, and such other matters as they may
deem promotive of the interests of such schools, and to file, at the same time, a
copy of such report, in the office of the city clerk.
The apportionment of money to each school is made according to the average
number of children, above four and under 16 years, who have attended therein
during the preceding year; but no school is entitled to a portion that has not been
kept open nine months during the year. And every such society or school ne
glecting, after requisition of the commissioners, to produce satisfactory proof be
fore the first of June, annually, relative to the matter of any report of its trustees,
forfeits its share of school money for the year, which remains with the commis
sioners for distribution as part of the school money of the succeeding year.
Such society or school aggrieved by any decision of the commissioners may
appeal to the superintendentwhose decision is final.
Under these provisions, the common council of the city have designated the
following institutions as participants of the common school fund; which, in 1835
received the proportions of money and instructed the number of pupils annexed to
their titles.

To the trustees of the Public School Society, for
the average attendance of
Manumission Society, ....
Greenwich Orphan Asylum Society,
Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum, - - .
Trustees of the Institution for instructing the Blind,
Trustees of the Yorkville School, -
Trustees of the Harlaem Schools,
Trustees ofthe Manhattanville School, -
Trustees of the Hamilton school,
Mechanics' Society, ....
Total distribution, ...
The " Public School Society" received more than eight-tenths of the whole
sum, and its highly meritorious labours claim a full exposition, which we give
from a memoir prepared by Mr. Lindley Murray, its secretary, December 12, 1833.
17. The "Free school society" was formed by many ofthe principal citizens of New
York, in the winter of 1804-5, and incorporated the 9th of April, 1805, to provide
for " the education of poor children, not belonging to, nor provided for, by any
religious society." The first school was opened on the 19th of May, 1806.
One of the trustees, Benjamin D. Perkins, acquainted with the system of Lan
caster, then recently introduced in England, obtained for it the approbation of the
board; and the new school became the first Lancasterian or monitorial school in
the United States. In April, 1807, it was removed to a building appropriated
to its use by the corporation, upon condition that the society would educate fifty
ofthe children from the poor house; and before the close of the year, the number
of pupils was one hundred and fifty.
In 1808, on the application of the trustees, the corporation leased to them the lot
at the corner of Chatham street and Tryon row, valued at $10,000, for so long a
time as it should be used for the purpose of common school education; and granted
them the old arsenal and $1,500 to aid in defraying the expenses of erecting anew
building; and the additional sum requisite was procured by donations from the
citizens. Into this building, which continues to be distinguished as No. 1, the
school was removed in December, 1809.
The charter of the society has been several times modified by the legislature.
By an act of 1826, its title was changed to " The Public School Society of New
York," and it was required "to provide, so far as its means might extend, for the
education of all children in the city of New York, not otherwise provided for,
whether such children be, or be not, the proper objects of gratuitous education."

Scholars.

Amount.

Scholars

on register.

6,655

$77,485 51

11,265

699

8,241 21

1,608

164

1,933 56

164

136

1,603 44

139

i, 9

106 11

15

71

837 09

64

123

1,450 17

180

59

695 61

83

15

176 85

24

34

400^6

46

7,965

$93,930 41

13,588

208 POLITICAL VIEW.
Previous to the year 1828, the means of the society were derived from the com
mon school fund. Involvedjin a heavy debt, which had gradually accumulated, and
unable to extend their operations, though fully satisfied that a vast field of useful
ness was unoccupied, the trustees resolved upon an appeal to their fellow citizens,
which proved eminently successful. From four to five thousand of the most wealthy
and consequently the tax paying portion of the inhabitants, united in a memorial to
the city corporation, and to the legislature, requesting that an annual tax of ^
of one per cent, might be levied, on all the assessed property of the city, to be ex
clusively applied to common school education. The common council, also, me
morialised the legislature; and the act of 1829 imposed a tax of ^ of one per
cent. Further representations induced the act of 1831, which authorised addi
tional J-g to be raised.
Under these acts, and the provisions of the general school laws, there are now
distributed for common school tuition in the city of New York, from
The common school fund,  $ 10,576 56
City equivalent,  10,576 57
Special city sciiool tax, ------ 72,651 00
93,814 13

Thus supported, the public schools are open to children of all classes, and their
benefits are not the boon of charity, but demandable of common right. There are
now 16 edifices in different parts ofthe city, devoted to this object.
These buildings are plain, substantial structures of brick, generally three stories
high, including the basement commonly above ground.
Irr addition to these schools, the society have opened 23 primary schools for
white, and 8 for coloured children, in hired rooms, conducted on the infant school
system. In the large buildings, there are separate rooms for boys and girls; and in 7 of
them, are primary schools. The former are conducted on the monitorial plan, and
have each a teacher, an assistant teacher, and two salaried monitors. The course
of instruction for boys comprehends arithmetic, geography, grammar, composi
tion, declamation, bookkeeping, elements of history, astronomy, algebra, geome
try and trigonometry. In the course for girls, declamation, algebra, geometry and
trigonometry are omitted, and needle work added.
The board of trustees of the society may consist of 100 members; the present
number is about 80; divided into sections, one of which is attached to each of the
15 buildings, and has the superintendence of the schools therein, and of the pri
mary schools in its vicinity; reporting, quarterly, to the board. An executive com
mittee, annually appointed, of which the chairman of each section is ex officio a
member, has (under the board) the general supervision of all the schools and inte
rests of the institution.
The salaries paid to teachers, assistant teachers and monitors, amounted in
1835, to $42,569 51. Deaf and Dumb.
18. We have seen, that the institutions in the state for the education of the deaf
and dumb, are under the charge ofthe superintendent of common schools, and are
thus made part of the state system of instruction. They are also, to a great extent,
supported by funds supplied by the commonwealth.
The first step toward the erection of an institution for the deaf and dumb in
America, was taken in April, 1815. The Bev. T. H. Gallaudet, in that year, with
the assistance of M. Laurent Clerc, laid the foundation of the American Asylum,
at Hartford. This institution has produced pupils highly distinguished, among
whom is Mr. Harvey P. Peet, the principal of the New York institution.
There are now in the state, two institutions for this very meritorious charity;
one in the city of New York, and the other at Canajoharie, Montgomery county.
The first movements toward the establishment of that in the city of New York,
were in 1816, in consequence of a letter written by a dumb person in Bordeaux,
offering to come to this country to found a school. More than sixty deaf mutes
were discovered in the city alone, and the public sympathy having been strongly
excited, an act of incorporation was obtained for an association for their relief, in

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 209
April, 1817, under which a school was opened in the spring of 1818. Unhappily,
it was the early error of this institution to employ teachers inadequate to the ob
ject, and whose labours were so unsatisfactory as to shake the confidence of its
friends and ultimately of the legislature, in the capacity of its conductors.
In the year 1830,jiowever, a radical reformation was effected, by the introduc
tion of Mr. Vaysse, from Paris, and Mr. Peet, who brought to the institution the
system of instruction used in Paris and at Hartford.
The legislature, in April, 1819, appropriated to the institution $10,000, with
provision that no part should be applied to the purchase of land or erection of
buildings, and required an annual report of its proceedings — by the act ofthe 3d
of April, 1821, $2,500— by the act of the 1 6th of April, 1822, they provided that
every indigent deaf mute, between 10 and 25 years of age, whose parent or next
friend may be resident in the state, should, until provision were made by law for
his instruction elsewhere, be received in this institution, for board and tuition, until
each senate district should have sent four pupils — and adopted the indigent pupils
then in the institution — limited the number of pupils to 32, and the term of in
struction to three years— required the directors, annually, to give notice in each
senate district ofthe number of vacancies — prescribed the manner of obtaining ad
mission for such mutes, by application to the overseers of the town of his resi
dence, with their certificate of the inability wholly, or partially, of his friends, to
support him — directing that he should be, wholly or in part, as the case should
require, maintained from the fund appropriated for the indigent deaf and dumb —
appropriated $150 annually for the maintenance of each such pupils, or so much
thereof as might be requisite in each case — empowered the supervisors in each dis
trict to send to the institution other than the allotted number of pupils upon like
terms, the expense being borne by the proper town — and limited the act to four
years. By the act ofthe 15th of April, 1825, the act of 1822 was extended for 5 years
from the 1st of May, 1826, and tho directors of the institution permitted, in case
vacancies should not be filled from the proper districts, to receive pupils from other
districts; and the term of tuition was extended to foUT years.
By. the act of 23d March, 1827, $10,000 were appropriated for the erection of
an asylum in the city of New York or village of Brooklyn, on condition that the
managers of the institution raised the same sum; and the institution was placed
under the supervision of the superintendent of common schools. The ground on
which- the asylum is built, one acre, was given by the corporation of the city; -and
under another act of this year, half the proceeds of licenses to venders of
lottery tickets, were granted to the institution; which amounted to $6,000 per an
num. But this source of revefiue ceased with the lotteries, on the 31st of De
cember, 1833.
The act of the 15th of April, 1830, provided for the education of three additional
pupils from each district, for 5 years, at the expense of the state, at a cost not ex
ceeding $130 per annum, to be called state pupils; and gave to the institution a
distributive share of the literature fund, in proportion to the whole number of pupils
during the preceding year; requiring the directors to report the number to the
regents in the month of January, annually — and extended the acts of 1822 and
1825, for 5 years from May 1, 1831. By the act of the 18th of April, 1831, the
number of pupils was further increased by three, from each district,. upon the
terms of the act of 1825. "••
By the act of the 23d of April, 1832, the overseers of the poor, are required to
furnish the superintendent of common schools, with a list of the deaf and. dumb in
their respective towns, with the "particulars of their condition— and the superin
tendent selects therefrom, the state pupils according to the existing laws, and
makes such regulations in relation to the admission of pupils, at stated periods, as
to remove tbe inconvenience of having pupils of the sam? class entering the school
at different times. The notice given by him under this act, is substituted -for that
required by the act of 1822.
The act of the 6th of April, 1833, further increased the ntimber of state pupils by
five from each district, for 5 years from the 1st of October following, at $130 per
annum. And lastly, the act of the 3d of April, 1834, appropriated $5,000 per annum to
the institution for 5 years.
27

210 POLITICAL VIEW.
Under these acts, provision is now made for the education of 120 deaf and dumb
pupils at the public expense; ninety-six of these are in the New York institution,
at the charge of $130 per annum each=$12,480; so that the expenditure of the
state upon this institution, is $17,480 per annum. Twenty-four are at Canajoharie,
at a charge of $80 per annum=$l,920. The whole amount paid by the state an
nually, is $19,400.
On the 1st of January, 1835, the whole number of pupils in the New York asy
lum, was 140, eleven of whom were supported by the city of New York, a portion
by the state of New Jersey, and the balance by their friends; and at the central
asylum 31=167. The superintendent finds much difficulty in keeping up the
complement of the state. The overseers are negligent in their returns, and parents,
actuated either by affection for their unfortunate offspring, ignorance ofthe kind
treatment they receive, or the value of their services at home, part with them re
luctantly. The institution is under the direction of the society, by which it was founded,
and which still contributes pecuniary means for its support.
The New York city institution is located in the 12th ward, upon a gentle emi
nence 31 miles distant from the City Hall; and is surrounded by a plat of 10 acres
9 of which are leased from the corporation, and are employed part in cultivation,
and part as grounds for the recreation of the pupils. It is wholly without the
dense portion of the city and has the advantages of country air and isolation.
The main building is 110 feet long, 60 broad, and five stories high, surmounted
by an observatory commanding an extensive and beautiful prospect. The depart
ments for the respective sexes are at the opposite ends of the building and consti
tute, in fact, distinct communities. The government is that of a well ordered
family, with closer and more constant supervision and less dependence upon ge
neral rules, than would prevail were the pupils supplied with all the senses. Work
shops are established, in which the males are taught some useful mechanical art;
and the females are instructed in needle work, and the duties of domestic economy.
The first and great object of instruction here is to impart a knowledge of alpha
betic language by means of signs. When this is attained, all that is peculiar to the
education ofthe mute is completed. Some attempts have been made to teach ar
ticulation, but this forms no settled part, we believe, ofthe system.
Generally, it is proposed to give the pupils what is called a common education,
only. Yet lectures are delivered at regular intervals, without interference with
the'ordinary business of the schools, on select portions of the political, civil
and social relations of man, universal history, chemistry, universal geography,
natural history, the origin, progress and present state of the useful and ornamental
arts, biography and bookkeeping.
The terms for the education of pupils are $130 per annum — and when clothing
is provided by the institution, $30 more — payable semi-annually in advance.
This amount covers all charges for board, tuition, books, tools, medical attend
ance, &c. There is a vacation between the 15th August and 1st October; durin'g
which the pupil may remain at the institution and no deduction of price is made
for his absence.
By existing laws, the supervisors of counties have power to provide for the edu
cation of as many deaf mutes as shall equal in number the members of assembly
to which their counties are respectively entitled. This power is exercised by the
counties of New York, Dutchess and Montgomery, and it is proposed that the ex
ercise of the power should be made imperative on, instead of discretionary with,
the boards of supervisors.
The provision now made by the state for the education of the deaf and dumb
within her borders is ample, as_will be apparent'from the following views exhib
ited by the superintendent of common schools in a report for 1836.
" By the recent enumeration of the inhabitants of the state, it appears, that
there are within it 1,066 deaf mutes of all ages. Of this number, including those
in the two institutions, there are 530 between ten and twenty-five years of age; and
it may be safely estimated, that of the latter about 230 have been educated, leav
ing about 300 who are ofthe proper age for instruction. Many are not fit subjects
of instruction, for want of mental capacity; some have parents in good circum
stances; and the parents of others will not be persuaded to part with them."
" By a geometrical rule drawn from the proportion existing between the whole

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 211
number of deaf and dumb persons, of all ages in the kingdom of Prussia and those
of the age of ten years — a rule, which has been applied to computations relative
to the same class in othes countries — the ratio of those of the age of ten years to
the whole number is 1 to 29/inr3fl-. According to this rule, the whole number of
deaf and dumb persons in this state, who annually reach the age of ten years, is
36 and a fraction. The term of instruction in our institutions is five years, and
the number of deaf mutes who annnally attain the age of ten years, (none being ad
mitted under that age) being multiplied by the number of years, during which
they are instructed, will give 180; and this would seem to be the whole number
who should be actually receiving instruction in order to provide for the education
of all. The number now receiving instruction in the two institutions isil71. But
it is to be considered, that some who are sent to the institutions are withdrawn on
account of their inability to profit by instruction; some die, and others are not al
lowed by their parents to complete the entire course: so that, in fact, the whole
number actually receiving instruction is renewed in about four years. It is also
to be considered that our laws make provision for the education of indigent deaf
mutes only; and that in many cases their parents absolutely refuse to part with
them. Of the mutes selected in 1834 to fill vacancies iii both institutions, 28 de
clined, so that 67 selections were made before 39 vacancies, the whole number
occurring during the year, were filled. As the whole number of state pupils at '
both institutions is 120, about 30 selections must be annually made to fill vacan
cies. " Of the whole number of deaf mules who annually attain the age of ten years, it
cannot be safely calculated that more than two thirds can be procured to fill
vacancies in the institutions. If, therefore, 24 deaf mutes ofthe age of ten years
are all that can be annually supplied to fill vacancies in the list of state pupils, and
if , there are 30 vacancies, annually, it is obvious, that selections must be made
from those, who are above the age often years. Indeed, a large number of those,
who have been selected during the last two years, were, at the time of selection,
much above that age; but this class is limited in number, as none above the age
of 25 years are deemed fit subjects of instruction."
The Central society for the instructiqn' of the deaf and dumb, at Canajoharie,
was incorporated by act of 19th April, 1823, to continue until 1840— which appro
priated $1000, part to aid in the erection of a building and the balance to be ap
plied to the support of indigent deaf mutes, between the ages of nine and twenty
seven years, for a term not exceeding three years. The act of 15th April, 1825,
gave a sum not exceeding $800, to the institution and permitted it to receive two
pupils from each senatorial district, at the yearly charge of (he state of $80 each,
in the manner prescribed for the New York institution. The aet of 15th qf April,
1830, increased the number of pupils to be supported by the state to one more
from each district.
Under these acts the term of instruction here is for 4 years only. The institu
tion is maintained chiefly by the allowance for state pupils, and as the period fixed
for such allowance expires in 1836, it will probably be withdrawn and the pupils
transferred to New York: it being deemed most advantageous to have the whole
number of state pupils in one institution. With this view a proposition has been
made to the legislature for uniting the institutions and locating them at Utica or
other central position..
By act of the 21st.ApriI, 1831, " The New York Institution for the Blind," a
private charity established by subscription in the city of of New York was incor
porated, for the purpose of instructing children who are born or may become '
blind — to continue until the year 1852 — with power to hold real and personal
estate not exceeding $10,000 annual value.
By act of 6th of May, 1834, the state provided that, the institution should re
ceive from each senate district four indigent blind persons between 8 and 25 years
of age, in like manner and at like expense to the state as is provided for the indi
gent deaf and dumb — and that such pupils during a term not exceeding five years,
besides literary education, should be instructed in some trade.
Under this act the treasury paid in 1835, $2000 for the support of state pupils.
19. The whole number of organised counties in the state is 55: of the towns
and wards 842. The annual reports of the commissioners of schools of all the
towns, and the reports of the clerks of all the counties are made as required by
law. The annexed table contains a condensed view of these reports; a more dfe
tailed one is given in the tables appended to the respective counties.

112

POLITICAL VIEW.

COUNTIES.

05
¦2 CO -
a ° QJ
°.5d
fr,

.5 ™
01 u
S3
5 8
-~ be
•a a
o a
ss
•§=¦K2

S3 ^
o £
., a
o •
S5

tt, *.
ja P.
*. <u
a§
6%
g« o,jabum
«cS o
5J3

- 6^ S3
O ^-1
3.5 §¦¦3O Ci CD
9 M
3 a)
§&

¦ GO
S3
§ j .
o.« a
S <u P.

No. ofchildren
taught in the school
districts which
have madere turns.

as
§!
£ o
2 CO
¦3 <u
O qj KJ
o-S £

Amount ofpublicmo ney
distributed to the districtsby the com missioners
in
April, 1835.

Albany, fe
Allegany, "

14

156

154

9

7021 71

11528 32

11888

15231

6850 12

28

263

254

6

3695 95

6938 36

12181

10572

3692 77

Broome,

11

135

126

7

2116 95

3835 91

6173

5693

2193 18

Cattaraugus,

23

202

178

6

2665 85

4464 88

8370

7151

2S29 86

Cayuga,

22

264

261

8

7389 23

9877 58

15309

15453

7613 20

Chautauque,

24

306

2S1

7

5047 05

9245 59

15413

13307

5415 03

Chenango,

19

291

278

7

5835 73

7548 50

13499

11870

5!l02 CH

Clinton,

8

113

108

6

3142 74

3114 18

5673

6213

3172 33

Columbia,

19

188

187

9

3891 65

11882 86,

9157

10670

3848 51

Cortland,

11

168

165

7

3577 24

4480 8C

8562

7315

.,3539 24

Delaware,

18

256

243

7

3493 61

7201 62

11491

9988

3493 70

Dutchess, Eric,

18

206

196

9

5371 34

14887 23

9827

12504

5508 CO

22

239

226

7

4841 66

9841 91

14285

14791

4829 87

Essex,

15

146

131

6

2203 82

3861 40

6301

5825

2444 74

Franklin,

12

95

90

6

1860 40

2100 61

4051

3811

1877 19

Genesee,

24

344

336

8

6340 75

15319 47

20353

17775

6579 18

Greene,

11

152

148

8

3387 87

7043 89

7750

8238

3661 67

Herkimer,

18

196

191

8

3969 16

8398 95

10992

10604

3918 16

Jefferson,

19

312

299

' 7

6392 59

11632 88.

17160

15789

6506 74

Kings.

14

20

18

12

1421 84

4043 73

1466

5562

2137 50

Lewis,

11

116

112

7

1865 68

3097 83

4952

4812

1872 56

Livingston,

12

167

163

8

3870 44

7926 99

' 9200

9258

3794 70

Madison,

13

222

219

7

5370 26

7490 89

12688

11389

5601 83

Monroe,

21

242

235

9

6731 08

15394 41

16420

16514

6261 95

Montgomery, New York,

20

226

202

8

4672 27

11533 18

12352

14145

4684 05

15

78

78

12

93827 18

14721

938-J7 18

Niagara,

n

136

117

7

2539 57

5839 15

1654

7176

2579 59

Oneida,

29

360

350

8

8233 28

12666 03

19793

24376

8282 32

Onondaga,

18

304

299

8

9300 46

11419 87

17859

17733

9214 74

Ontario,

14

" 218

206

8

4644 45

12011 81

11780

11867

4812 37

Orange,

14

188

178

9

4828 50

14524 77

10935

13158

4770 70

Orleans,

8

122

118

8

2764 24

6231 49

7688

6844

2754 73

Oswego,

20

226

206

7

4368 52

5411 09

10347

10317

3998 94

Otsego,

22

322

320

7

5586 31

10671 77

17172

15278

5288 35

Putnam,

5

68

64

8

1337 17

3855 28

3083

3514

1323 43

Queens,

6

77

64

10

2481 02

7647 49

3244

6102

2529 73

Rensselaer,

19

192

184

8

5110 35

10063 78

11078

13824

5187 91

Richmond,

4

18

18

10

758 20

2112 26

971

2191

758 20

Rockland,

4

34

32

10

958 34

3745 52

1627

2514

1004 08

Saratoga,

20

207

199

8

4172 42

10280 47
2002 3T

11096

11128

4107 92

Schenectady,

7

54

53

8

895 48

2736

3165

956 91

Schoharie,

10

'162

159

8

2877 32

6626 83

8047

9141

2935 28

Seneca,

10

110

110

8

4099 39

5955 08

6818

7017

4260 63

St. L'rence,

24

310

292

6

7020 60

4 6381 98

12802

12848

6885 63

Steuben,

24

289

263

6

4649 93

8012 83

13808

12327

4848 08

Suffolk,

9

131

124

9

2759 00

9283 01

7521

7763

2784 59

Sullivan,

9

88

80

7

1909 38

2580 26

3358

3807

1966 05

Tioga,

19

226

201

7

3663 70

6013 59

9763

9727

3823 97

Tompkins,

10

214

209

8

7001 11

6609 01

12649

12225

7679 34

Ulster,

14

164

157

8

3892 58

9055 90

8511

11422

3882-28

Warren,

9

105

93

5

1296 70

2068 08

3637

3436

1293 68

Washington,

17

254

242

7

4569 27

9991 92

12732

11759

4465 91

Wayne,

15

205

201

8

4529 61

8957 66

12547

12013

4488 74

Westchester,

21

142

135

10

3896 39

12653 93

7001

9693

3858 79

Yates,

8

103

103

8

2033 86

4513 54

5910

6240

2150 43

842

10132

9676

8

312181 20

419878 69

541401

543085

314749 36

It appears by the preceding table, that there were 10,132 organised school dis
tricts in the state; from 9676 of which, annual reports were made to the com
missioners of common schools; in all of which, schools have been kept during the
year 1834, an average period of 8 months. The whole number of childreh:pver
5 and under 16 years of age in the districts reporting on the last day of December,
1834, was 543,085; and the whole number of children who had attended school
during the year 1834, was 541,401.
During the year 1834, 267 new districts were added, In 1831, there were 659
districts; in 1832, 583; in 1833, 473; and in 1834, only 456, which made no reports.

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

213

The actual annual expense of the common school system may be stated as fol-
lows. Interest at 6 per cent on $2,165,200, invested in school-houses, - $129,912 00
Annual expense of books for 541,401 scholars, at 50 cents each, - 270,700 00
Fuel for 10,132 school-houses, at $10 each, - - - - - 101,320 00
Public money as appears by the returns,  312,181 20
Amount paid for teachers' wages, besides public money, as appears
by the returns,  ¦ 419,878 69

1,233,991 89

In this amount, the expense of repairing school-houses is not included.
20. The following table gives a comparative view of the progress of the
mon schools from 1816 to 1836, inclusive.
- i >

com-

ft) c
¦s-
II. m
¦5 5 a
« E a?
>>o~* t, D. -'

aso «
Is A
<w **
OA to
c-S 2

Whole
No. of
school districts
inthe said towns.

• at m
«a
'C 3
HI
•g-gs w > «
o'gS

Amount of
public
mo ney
received
in said towns.

Amount paid
for teach ers'
wages
in. the
dis tricts, over
and
above public
money.

*- co
ca g
i- o 3
S 2 »
5.s a

No.of children
between 5 and
15 or
16 years
of age,residing
in those districts.

Proportion of
the1\ o. ofchildren
taught
to the
No. of
children
re ported
between
the ages
of
5 and
15 or
16 years.

1816

333

2755

2631

$55720 98

140106

176449

14 to 15

1817

355

3713

2873

64834 88

170385

198440

6 to 7

1818

374

3264

3228

73235 42

183253

218959

5 to 6

1819

402

4614

3844

93010 54

210316
235871
8 to 9
1820
515
5763
5118
117151 07
• , i
271877
302703
9 to 10
1821
545
6332
5489
146418 08
304559
317633
24 to 25
1823
611
6659
5882
157195 04
332979
339259
43 to 43
1823
649
7051
6255
173420 60
351173
357029
44 to 45
1824
656
7382
6705
182320 25
377034
373208
94 to 93
1825
698
7642
6876
182741 61
402940
383500
101 to 96
1826
700
7773
7117
182790 09
425586
395586
100 to 93
1827
721
8114
7550
185720 46
431601
411256
21 to 20
1828
742
829*
7806
222995 77
441856
419216
96 to 91
1829
757
8609
8164
232343 21
468205
449113
25 to 24
1830
773
88*
8292
214840 14
$297048 44
480041
46t257
40 to 41
1831
785
9063
8631
238641 36
346807 20
499424
497503
250 to 249
1832
703
9339
8841
244998 85
374001 54
507105
509967
165 to 166
1833
811
9600
8941
305582 78
358320 17
494959
508878
36 to 37
1834
820
9690
9107
307733 08
369696 36
512475
522618
50 to 51
1835
835
9?65
9392
316153 93
J98137 04
V*TO878 69
531240
534002
1836
842
I 10132
9676
312181 20
541401
543085
21. In the following schedule of appropriations made by the state, for the pur
poses of education, much is doubtless omitted, and there may be some errors; but
it U a useful approximation to the facts.
Productive capital of the literature fund, (1836,)
Annual distributions, from 1790 to 1816, -
Productive capital of the common school fund, -
Capital in lands, (estimate,) ------
Annual distributions from 1816 to 1836, - - - -
Grants to Columbia College from 1792 to 1819,
" Union College from 1795, - - - -
Hamiltom College from 1812, - - - -
College of Physicians and Surgeons, city of New York, from
College of Physicians and Surgeons ofthe western district,
Grants to academies in lands estimated at, -
" " in money, ------
Local school fund, (principal,) ------
Income for 15 years, average $12,000,
1807,
$265,342 87
180,000 00
1,875,191 71
500,000 00
1,600,320 00
92,375 00
332,135 00
90,000 00
71,100 00
20,000 00
22,260 00
27,268 00
300,000 00
180,000 00
214 POLITICAL VIEW.
AfiDropriations to deaf and dumb asylums, prior to 1819, from public
w treasury, -"--..  50,537 00
Do. - do. from lottery licenses for 7 years, - - 42,000 00
Do. - do. from 1829 to 1836, 6 years, - - - 57,000 00
Appropriated from the public treasury, - - - - 5,705,519 58
To this summary we add the amounts paid by the people since the commence
ment of the distribution of the proceeds of the common school fund, from 1816 to
1836. .
Vested in school houses,  $2,165;200
Raised by tax and distributed,  2,410,530
4,575,730
Brought forward, amount paid from the treasury, - 5,705,519
Amount expended in the state for literary purposes, from 1790 to
1836,  $10,281,249

22. From the preceding view it is obvious, that all the literary institutions, col
leges, academies, and common schools, form a system, whose parts are in grada
tion and serviceable connection with each other.
The academies have been in effect, without receiving from the state(until lately,)
any direct pecuniary aid for the purpose, nurseries for common school teachers.
The great body of those, who have devoted themselves to teaching,, have been pre
pared at the academies. The instructors in the academies have in their turn been
educated at the colleges. Thus, all the incorporated literary institutions minister
to the improvement ofthe common schools, on which the great mass ofthe peoplel
are dependent for education. The higher institutions, therefore, so far from being
regarded with jealousy and envy, as has, unfortunately, in some instances, beenl
the case with the uninformed, should be cherished by all as the sources of thel
greatest intellectual advantages.
The administration of the common school system, in all matters enjoined by
statute upon those charged with its supervision and management, has attained as
great a degree of regularity as practicable. The matter of the annual report ofthe
superintendent, is furnished through the agency of 30,000 individuals; and of all
the school districts in the state, nineteen out of twenty make their reports in the
manner required by law.
The system of common school instruction, so far as it relates to the number of
those on whom its benefits are conferred, admits of little change for the better. In
this respect, the system shrinks not from comparison with any other. When con
sidered under all its aspects, and particularly with reference to the training of
teachers, the Prussian is, perhaps, superior to all others. - But in regard .to the
number it embraces, it is inferior to that of New York. The number of scholars
in the public schools of Prussia is one in every 6.22 of the population; while in
this state it is one in every 3.99. .-;
This great result has been produced by the force of opinion, stimulated by a
very small pecuniary assistance. In Prussia, the system has been extended over
the whole population by the force of law, presenting the noble example of an ab
solute government, employing its powers to exalt the intellectual character of its
subjects. We have said, that this result has been produced by the force of opinion; and
this is apparent from the fact, that the formation of school districts is the volun
tary act of the people. They adopt or reject at pleasure the bounty of the state, and
assume or refuse at will the burden of the necessary self taxation to obtain it. It is
possible, if the whole burden lay upon the public treasury and the administration
was altogether with a few responsible officers, that the standard of qualification for
teachers would be somewhat higher. But this is not certain, for a paucity of pro
per teachers existing, the standard must be reduced to the qualifications of those
that are attainable. , And it is evident, that if the administration was taken from
the people, that they would cease to feel that interest in the system which is best
adapted to render it most effectual.

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 215
We have seen, that the annual expense of the common schools is more Aan
$1,200,000, of which the public treasury pays less than one-twelfth part. The
rest is furnished by the vote 0/ the people. In taxing themselves, the people may
be, and undoubtedly are, sometimes swayed by ill-judged parsimony; but, addi
tional light, the fruit of experience, slowly perhaps, yet certainly, expanding, will
remove this error; and they will become convinced, that knowledge, like every
other useful commodity, is to be appreciated according to its quantity and quality,
and that inferior teachers, like inferior agricultural implements, are not cheaper
at a low price, than better ones at a higher priced
It has been objected, that the principle upon which the school tax is levied, ope
rates unequally. That the man of property who does not use the school, is com
pelled to contribute largely to its support. But it may be replied, that he has a
deep interest in their existence, in the moral and intellectual improvement which
they induce, without which the tenure of his possessions would be precarious. He
has also an interest, in rendering them competent to give to his children the rudi
ments of education, and to lift themto a grade irf'which they may become, directly,
in the purpose of their creation, beneficial to him. On the other hand, complaint
has beeji made, that the burden falls unequally upon the poorer classes — that a man
worth $1,000, sending four children to school, pays 4 times as much of the teachers'
wages, as he who, worth $10,000,. sends only one child to school. But it may be
answered, that he pays only in proportion to the benefit he receives, that the com
pensation of teachers is but a part ofthe expense, and that property is taxed largely
for other objects.
It is almost needless at the present day to expatiate on the great advantages of
education, and of this system which offers them to all who are willing to participate
in them. InUhe language of Mr. Secretary Dix, however, we may observe, that the
system of common schools "is, emphatically, an institution for the people, and to
them has been allotted a large share in its administration. On the zeal with which
fcheir task is performed, and on the degree of importance, which they attach to its
fclevation to a grade commensurate with its high objects, must depend, to a very
Considerable extent, the rank they hold in the political system under which they
live, and the part they may take in giving a direction to its movements. If in any
country knowledge is power, it is here. The influence of all others is feeble in
comparison with it. With us, there is no system of entails, or rule of primogeni
ture, to perpetuate wealth or family distinctions. Wealth may, indeed, give its
possessor some advantages in society; but on that theatre of exertion, where the
political condition of men and communities is determined for good or for evil, it is
of no account. In this field the contest must be decided by intellectual force; and
those whose destinies are involved in the issue, should take care that they are not
deficient in the preparation necessary to maintain their ground against the combi
nations of more practised and less virtuous competitors. On the partof the people,
contests for great principles are always deemed to involve, directly or indirectly,
their unalienable rights. With what effect can those rights be vindicated without
a sufficient degree of information to see how they are in danger of being impaired?
How else shall the people, amid contending appeals to their understandings and
interests, be able to distinguish the true from the false! It is in the common
schools alone that the knowledge indispensable to their safety can be acquired;
for in them a vast majority of the entire population receive all their education.
There are few social institutions, which have not at some period in the history of
mankind, been made subservient to the purposes of usurpation and tyranny. Schools
of a'popular character are in less danger than any other of being perverted to such
a use; they have never been made, nor from their nature is it easy to make them,
an engine for the dissemination of principles tending to dissolve the bonds of so
ciety, or to subvert the great maxims of human liberty. Literary institutions, less
popular in their organisation may be more easily made the instruments of such
abuse. The supervision to which they are subjected is more restricted, and their
accountability is not always so direct. But if the common schools are in no danger
of being approached fpr sinister objects, there is another which it is equally im
portant to avert. There is danger that they will never answer the ends of their
institution, if the teachers — the body of men who are relied on to infuse into them
the moral and intellectual improvement, which constitutes the yital principle of the

216 POLITICAL VIEW.
whole system— are not fully adequate to the task. Will not those who are the
mo"st deeply interested in elevating the standard of education, adopt the only mea
sure by which the object can be accomplished? Will they not bring to this subject
the practical good sense by which they are distinguished, and see in this, as in all
other cases, that even the ends of economy are best answered by employing those
who are mose skilled in their art? The value of the common school system is
universally acknowledged and felt in this state. In this respect public opinion
needs no impulse. But it is no more than just to say, that the importance of a
higher standard of education, is not so generally or correctly appreciated. Opinion
has, however, made some advances in thi-i particular; and a confident belief is en
tertained that the liberal provisions of. the legislature for the preparation of
teachers, will meet with such a reception from an enlightened people, as to reme
dy effectually the only material defect in our common school system, and leave
nothing to be desired in relation to it, excepting that it may be permanent in its
duration." 23. As a part and certainly not an inferior partof the means of public instruction,
should be ranked the labours of the professors of religion. These, although not
directed or regulated by the state, receive from it all the protection that is requi
site, in the constitutional guarantee of "the free exercise and enjoyment of reli
gious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference. Religion,
therefore, stripped of all power, which the pride of opinion and intolerance of op
position might induce its professors to abuse, has yet all the influence which rea=
son and morality give, over men seeking to promote their happiness. It is che
rished as the great agent of moral improvement, and it is every where one of the
wants, most sensibly felt, after the means of subsistence has been obtained.
The numerous religious associations and teachers maintained in this and other
states, by the voluntary contributions ofthe people, have wholly refuted the calum
ny, forged and inculcated by the advocates for the union of church and state, that
the people would not, of themselves, supply the means for public worship and
religious instruction. The denial of this disposition to the people, arises fromj
ignorance ofthe nature of popular governments. The right which man possesses
of. pursuing his happiness is not more certain, than is his pursuit, when the means
are known and attainable. He makes laws to protect his person, his property, his
social and civil relations, and while religion teaches and enforces sound and prac
tical morality, more effective in the preservation of these blessings, than the sanc
tion of statutory law, it is impossible, that he should refuse her aid.
In Europe, letters.and science were long the exclusive care of the clergy. And
in this country the order has ever been devoted to them. In all the higher semi
naries for education in the state,professors' chairs are filled by clergymen; they are
found, too, most commonly in the select, and not unfrequently in the com
mon, schools. But, it is not in the clergy alone, this regard for. education exists.
It forms an essential element ofthe influence and respectability "of every religious
sect; and consequently each vies with the other in the extent of its exertions and
expenses in the promotion of this noble object. The Presbyterians, Methodists,
Episcopalians, Baptists, Dutch Reformed, Lutherans, Quakers, and Calholics,all
have institutions, not only for teaching their peculiar tenets, but also for general
instruction. And it is from the professors of religion of every denomination, that
most liberal aids for the extension of literature are obtained. Preachers. are every
where with us the' apostles of law, order and decorum; and their labours to fit
their flocks for happiness in a future world, are eminently successful in increasing
their enjoyments in the present. In no country, therefore, is religion more univer
sal, more sincere or more beneficial, than in this.
24. The principal religious denominations in New York are, Presbyterians in
cluding Congregationalists — Methodists — Baptists — Episcopalians — Dutch Re
formed — Universalists — Quakers — Catholics — Lutherans.
There are several less considerable sects, as Christians, Shakers, Moravians,
Jews, &c. Presbyterian Church.
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church has under its care twenty-
three Synods, comprising one hundred and eighteen Presbyteries, and of these
there are in New York,

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

217

I. The Synod of Albany, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Londonderry, 2.
Newburyport, 3. Champlain, 4. Troy, 5. Albany, 6. Columbia.
II. The Synod of Utica, containing the Presbyteries of 1. St. Lawrence, 2,
Watertown, 3. Oswego, 4. Oneida, 5, Otsego.
III. The Synod of Geneva, containing the Presbyteries of I. Geneva, 2. Che
nango, 3. Onondaga, 4. Cayuga, 5. Tioga, 6. Cortland, 7- Bath, 8. Delaware.
IV. The Synod of Genesee, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Genesee, 2. On
tario, 3. Rochester, 4. Niagara, 5. Buffalo, 6. Angelica.
V. The Synod of New York, containing the Presbyteries of 1. New York, 2.
New York Second, 3. New York Third, 4. Hudson, 5. North River, 6. Bedford,
7. Long Island, 8. Long Island Second.
Summary View ofthe Presbyterian Church in New York for 1834.

NAMES OF
PRESBYTERIES.

QD
s
'3

i <n
(g aSo
3

m
to
¦a 6

5o
Q a

aoa
"£,
tt o
1

ta
S H «
O w
- J 2

'§ 1
O S »
MH to
09 d
s «

Theological
Semi nary
Funds raised.

OS
1hH

Champlain,

17

3

19

2257

186

$ 539 50

$ 29 70

$ 60 00

Albany,

34

3

36

6332

276

3881 12

157 08

$ 176 00

2590 41

Troy,

28

X

29

4317

180

965 00

120 60

450 00

1202 25

Columbia,

27

3

18

2175

157

Watertown,
16
1
24
2744
239
782 67
39 14
291 13
St Lawrence,
10
1
10
933
84
227 00
7 50
213 00
Oswego,
13
23
2129
128
444 69
11 45
172 37
Oneida,
48
7
40
5364
177
2570 34
38 50
890 05
Otsego,
11
1
18
2140
195
955 89
19 75
243 00
Chenango,
14
22
2268
133
1675 77
15 04
208 61
Delaware,
8
15
1938
118
948 30
180 67
Cortland,
12
1
16
2045
102
551 28
34 83
1 210 69
Onondaga,
17
4
26
2864
144
837 92
4 00
| 500 45
Cayuga,
31
15
31
4296
193
2412 27
60 12
52 00, 813 37
Tioga,
19
1
18
1703
156
379 26
25 68
98 50
Geneva,
37
1
38
4378
355
6878 62
87 72
345 00 3237 70
Bath,
22
36
2617
211
1028 78
27 06
235 50
Angelica,
10
19
1322
126
64 19
21 76
22 00
Ontario,
23
1
23
1710
127
658 97
20 00
355 03
Rochester,
25
2
25
3742
441
2744 81
37 66
510 06
Genesee,
22
1
26
1670
102
605 68
51 00
591 89
Niagara,
13
1
18
1317
Buffalo,
33
43
3259
309
1014 47
30 00
1000 00
333 00
Hudson,
23
2
26
3409
126
1049 00
22 47
210 50
North River,
14
2
19
2634
99
636 07
21 42
369 16
Bedford,
10
1
16
1125
31
639 59
23 00
10 00
284 90
Long Island,
13
12
1357
53
529 00
20 04
26 50
Long Island 2d.
9
1
11
1065
120
156 39
23 74
32 77
New York,
24
5
13 4506
235
7206 88
118 50
710 80
5294 34
New York, 2d.
8
4 1083
109
3086 87
142 00
611 00
New York, 3d.
33
6
21 5708
548
12570 37
206 74
4275 28
S24| 64
695 1 86,207
5,460
56,040 80
1,416 70
2,843 80|23,764 13
Notk. The Presbyteries of Londonderry and Newburyport not being in the state, though
belonging to the Synod of Albany, are omitted from the table.
The Presbyterians have a theological seminary at Auburn, (See' Auburn,) and
have founded the Oneida Institute of Science and Industry, at Whitesborough;
and they publish several religious journals in the. City of New York and also in
other parts of the state.
26. The Methodist Episcopal church in the United States is constitnted under
one General Conference, meeting every four years at such time and place as the
28
218

POLITICAL VIEW.

conference prescribes — composed of one member for every seven members of.an
annual conference, and has power to make rules and regulations for the govern
ment of the church.
The United States is divided into twenty-two annual conferences, composed of
the travelling preachers, meeting at such times as the bishops appoint, and at the
places designated by the respective conferences.
The annual conferences are divided into districts, circuits and stations.
Of late years, this denomination of Christians has given great attention to edu
cation and the diffusion of knowledge through the press. Its " Book Concern,"
in the City of New York, was a very extensive establishment for literary purposes.
"The Christian Intelligencer," printed there, has a circulation greater^ we believe,
than any other periodical in the United States. This establishment was unhappily
destroyed by fire in February, 1836.
The State of New York was in 1835 embraced by four conferences, designated
as New York, Troy, Oneida and Genesee; but which also comprehended portions
of the States of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine and Pennsylvania.
The New York Conference contained —

a ™ o
1"

aSj

as .
a-=oo
D

Amt. raised
for sup.preachers their widows andorphans.

New York District,

19

9885

150

New Haven, "

28

5797

78

Rhinebeck, "

11

4255

113

Newburg, "
Hudson River, "
1115
86 15
3976 5843
7652
469 26
29,756
2,283 16
Troy Conference:
Troy District,
4584
Saratoga "
Middlebury do.
16
20
5440 5121
18 15
Plattsburg "
18 69
4001
5
64
19,146
1,233 90
Oneida Conference:
Oneida District,
17
4511
118
Chenango "
13
5028
6
Cayuga "
Oswego "
Black River do.
17
1312
45694376 3610
30 35
Potsdam "
14
3137
2
Susquehanna "
Berkshire "
1419
119
43494604
72
173
34,184
Genesee Conference:
Ontario District,
13
2833
22
Rochester "
12
3348
20
Genesee "
13
4593
3
Buffalo "
15
4405
18
Seneca Lake "
12
3633
19
Dansville "
10
3371
2
75
22,183
84
1,324 55
O B
<- O
. '<z>
a
a a
&l
fig. -.a
<
| S^
fa . n V
Arc — SZ
rt. s. a,
4,877 69 121 94 179 12 I
2,548 44 41 64 132 4
2,803 79 53 14 177 16
Total,
349 105,269 790 4,841 61 13,-329 92 303 24 622 35
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

219

It is understood that the number of churches much exceeds the number of
clergymen. One minister frequently does the duty of several churches.
The Episcopal Methodists have founded in the state three seminaries for educa
tion; an academy at White Plains, Westchester county; the Genesee Wesleyan
Seminary, Lima, Livingston county, and the Oneida Conference Seminary, Caze-
novia, Madison county; for-a description of which see the counties in which
they are respectively located.
27. The Baptist churches are severally independent, yet are formed into asso
ciations for fellowship, but which have no other than an advisory power over their
constituents. There are thirty-five of such associations in the state, entitled as
follows; to which belong twenty-two churches not within the state.

ASSOCIATIONS. j

(0 « 1
1

S 1
2
"5§

T3 •
-HS3 a a
B5-

Total, en. mem.
or commu nicants.

ASSOCIATIONS.

-a o>-
s

V03
'a

'a .
p.-1
S «
ffl— '

,
Total, ch. mem.
or commu nicants.

Berkshire,

17

13

97

1111

Oneida,

26

25

232

2730

Black River,

22

13

30

1650

Onondaga,

20

15

250

2128

Cayuga,

15

14

77

1637

Ontario,

19

16

44

1652

Chautauque,

38

34

135

2535

Oswt-go,

12

9

58

1315

Chenango,Cortland,

22

19

216

2326

Otsego,

27

22

133

2441

23

18

37

3200

Hensseraerville,

13

9

19

1064

Dutchess,

6

5

37

499

Saratoga,

20

19

292

2988

Essex,

.9

4

39

844

Seneca,

20

12

202

2133

Franklin,

23

15

36

1966

St. Lawrence,

26

15

122

1840

Genesee,

24

27

390

2802

Stephentown,

16

11

1700

Genesee River,

20

13

75

1664

Steuben,

26

18

67

1681

Holland Purchase,

39

33

153

2939

Union,

16

8

28

1158

Hudson River,

39

40

610

5264

Warwick,

15

8

7

896

Lake George,

13

4

41

1006

Washington Union,

17

12

212

2643

Lexington,

9

5

10

919

Worcester,

12

, 10

53

926

Livingston, Madison,

9

5

7
200

483
2806

Deduct for chs. out o!
the state but includ

17
21
708
556
4505
69204
Monroe,
23
24
172
2744
ed in the above eon
22
20
153
2021
New York
35
33
287 74
3735 1769
Niagara,
20
17
686
536 | 4352
671
The Seventh Day Baptists, have in Rensselaer county, 2 churches; Sehenectady
1; Oneida 1; Jefferson 1; Madison 4; Genesee 1; Cortland 2; Chenango 4; Cat
taraugus 1; Allegany 10; total 25 churches and 2,926 members.
The Free Will Baptists have a yearly meeting in the state called " The Holland
Purchase Yearly Meeting," subordinate to which are the following quarterly
meetings: Churches. 1613 13 8
12
19 4
13
17 8
Genesee, Erie, Benton, -
Ontario,
Chautauque, Monroe, Pen field,
Cattaraugus, Chemung,
Allegany,
Preachers.
Members
12
634
8
509
10
449
7
221
9
400
10
S08
6
264
9
421
12
384
6
160
123
89
4258
28. The Protestant Episcopal, from 1693 until the revolution, was the established
church of the colony; at times, supported by contributions levied under the autho
rity of law. The corporation of Trinity Church was during that period richly en
dowed, and its property has since grown greatly in value; enabling it to contrbute
efficiently to the erection and establishemnt of many other associations.
In the establishment ofthe American Episcopal church, the state of New York
became a diocese: and in the year 1835, contained 194 clergymen, viz. the bi
shop, 163 presbyters; and 30 deacons; 214 parishes, in which during the preceding
year there were 6082 baptisms; 9738 communicants; 1951 marriages; 3294 funerals-
7616 Sunday scholars; and 639 Sunday school teachers.
the <
The following contributions for religious and literary purposes, were made bv
e church of New York during the three years preceding 1835.
years preceding 1835.
$8,778 70

26,037 71

727 71

8,500 52

5,361 01

2,361 16

13,128 20

991 32

72,886 33

220 POLITICAL VIEW.
To the General Theological Seminary, .....
To the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, -
To the General Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union,
To the Episcopal Fund, --------
To the Education Branch of the Education and Missionary Society,
To the General Fund of the same, ------
To the Missionary Branch of the same, ------
To the Diocesan Fund, ---------

The institutions maintained, exclusively, by the diocese of the state, ares The
New York Protestant Episcopal Education and Missionary Society," and " New
York Protestant Episcopal Press."
The education and missionary society of the diocese has done much to realise
the expectations of its founders and friends, and its importance is highly appreci
ated. Many young men have been aided by the education bfanch, and 61 mis
sionaries receive a large part of their support from this society; twenty-six churches
have been organised and received into union with the convention, and forty new
church edifices have been consecrated, and a number are in the progress of erec
tion. The missions in the city of New York are confided to the " New York Pro
testant Episcopal City Mission Society," which has established successfully, 3
missions; and 3 free Episcopal churches for the poor have been provided.
The General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal church in the
United States, was founded in 1817, and located in the city of New Yorkinl822.
It has a large property upoTi the Ninth and Tenth avenues, where have been erect
ed two spacious buildings for the accommodation of students.
The funds ofthe seminary, exclusive of real estate, amounted in June 1835, in
cluding g20,646 73, given for scholarships, to ®46,517 39. Since its foundation
it has received from the friends of the church in various parts of the Union, the
sum of $171,024 79; and in 1835, a professorship was munificently endowed by
Peter G. Stuyvesant, by a donation of $25,000.
The seminary has — a professor, — of the nature, ministry,and polity of the church
— of biblical learning and interpretation of the Scriptures — of systematic divinity —
of Oriental and Greek literature — of ecclesiastical history. Number of students
since the foundation 250 — alumni 90 — students in 1835, 63 — average annual ex
pense of a student, including board, washing, fuel and lights, $80 50 — room rent
free. Library 4,071 vols.
29. The Dutch settlers brought with them the faith ofthe Reformed Church as
established in Holland. It is supposed, that a building for public worship was
erected so early as 1619; another was raised within the fort at New Amsterdam,
in 1642,; and in 1647 Gov. Keiff contracted, as church warden, with D. W. Og-
den to build a church of stone 72 feet by 52, for 2500 guilders; and.Governor Stuy
vesant previous to 1664, built one at his own expense upon his farm on Manhattan
Island; and several houses for public worship had been erected on Long Island,
at Esopus, at Albany, and probably elsewhere. The ministers being supplied by
the classis of Amsterdam, the churches became subordinate to it, and the synod
of North Holland.
The faith, as recognised by the synod of Dortrecht, was proclaimed as the reli
gion of the state; and to preach or hear any other, was punishable by heavy fines,
imprisonment, and banishment, which were inflicted by Gov. Stuyvesant, upon a
Lutheran clergyman, and in several cases upon Quakers, much to the dissatis
faction of his masters, the Dutch West India Company; who directed, that all
persons should be allowed the free exercise of religion within their own houses.
The supremacy, of course, ceased with the Dutch power, and was soon after the
conquest transferred to the Episcopal church of England.
The inconvenience of a foreign and remote judicatory, induced the colonial
churches, in 1738, to adopt the project of a Coetus or assembly, subordinate to the
Classis, which after long delay, was sanctioned by the latter. The first meeting
ofthe Coetus was held in New York, Sept. 1747; but as its authority was only
advisory, its inefficiency soon became manifest, and the desire of an independent

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

221

classis began to prevail. Measures for this end engendered a warm and bitter
controversy, which divided and distracted the church for more than 15 years. The
ministers of foreign birth, were generally zealously opposed to the change, and with
their adherents, assumed the name of Conferentise: whilst the adverse party bore
that of Coetus. The parties were nearly balanced, and their conflicts were pro
ductive of frequent scenes of a very painful character.
A new source of contention, at this time, arose. The English language had be
come so prevalent, among the Dutch inhabitants, that many of the rising genera
tion were unable to profit by a ministry in the Dutch language; and they required
to be taught in a tongue they could comprehend. After an ardent conflict, the Rev.
Mr. Laidlie was, in 1764, settled in New York, as an English preacher.
In 1770, the Coetus party commenced measures for forming a theological and
literary school, and obtained from the governor of New Jersey a charter for Queens
College. (Rutgers.) This step seemed to inflame the passions of the parties to
an inextinguishable excess, and to make re-union desperate.
But Mr. John W. Livingston, a young man, who went to Holland in 1766, to
study theology, returned in 1770, with a plan of pacification, approved by the
Classis of Amsterdam; which eventuated in the independence of the American
churches, in 1772 — since which period they have enjoyed perpetual harmony and
general prosperity.
The church has at different periods had the services of distinguished men. The
names of Hardenburg, Frelinghuysen, Laidlie, Westerlo, Livingston, and others
of kindred spirit, are embalmed in her affections. She has a theological college
at New Brunswick connected with Rutgers Literary College — and an ample fund
is provided for the education of poor, pious young men for the ministry. The
Christian Intelligencer, a weekly journal devoted to religious subjects, is pub
lished by an association of the church in New York.
With perhaps less enterprise than some of her sister denominations, this church
has maintained uniform adherence to its faith, and consistent practice. In the work
of evangelising the world, she takes a cheerful, liberal and active part. A number
of her sons have devoted themselves to the missions to the heathen.
The church is limited principally to New York and East New Jersey, with a
few congregations in Pennsylvania. It is under the government of a General Sy
nod, two particular Synods, and seventeen Classis, in which the Presbyterian forms
are maintained. She has about 170 ministers, and 220 congregations.
The condition of the church in this state, appears from the following abstracts
of the reports of the several classis made to the general synod in June, 1835.

CLASSIS.

a
a

H o ?.

a tn
§ =
-a a
3 o

' CLASSIS.

a
J3

si
%".s

o

O

o

O

O

New York,

12

4,555

2,089

Schenectady,

- 10

3,515

South New York,

6

3,980

1,302

Schoharie,

- 10

4,508

Long Island,

11

5,082

768

Cayuga, -

- 14

4,099

Poughkeepsie, -

11

3,955

1,196

Orange,

- 10

4,130

Albany,

11

5,059

830

Greene,

- 7

3,465

Rensselaer,

10

3,951

927





Ulster,

15

9,772

1,633

159
64,801
Washington,
Montgomery,
U
3,035 6,645
890
21
784
fa 831
1,3401,348 824
1,053
15,816
Many ofthe churches are unsupplied with pastors and have made no returns;
and from others the returns are imperfect.
Ofthe Associate Reformed, there are 23 churches in the state.
30. The polity of the denomination of Universalists consists of churches and so
cieties formed of any number of believers in a vicinage, each sovereign and inde
pendent — governing itself — selecting and discharging its officers and ministers.
The discipline among the societies is church discipline, conducted accordino- to the
rules laid down in the New Testament. But for social purposes and the promo
tion of harmony, the churches are united in associations. These are governed by a
council composed, in general, of two or more delegates from each society, elected
annually, and of the ministering brethren residing within the bounds of the asso
ciation.
222 POLITICAL VIEW.
When associations become numerous, in one or more states, they unite in con
ventions consisting of lay and clerical delegates; and from these conventions is
formed, by delegation, " The General Universalist Convention of the United
States." This denomination publishes in the state of New York, weekly, the following
periodicals; the Evangelical Magazine and Gospel Advocate, at Utica; the Herald
of Truth, at Geneva; New York Christian Messenger and Philadelphia Univer
salist, at New York; and the Christian Visitant, at Utica, semi-monthly.
It has a state convention and 15 associations, respectively known as the Genesee,
Cayuga, Black River, Chenango, Hudson River, Central, Mohawk River, Nia
gara, Chautauque, New York, St. Lawrence, Otsego, Allegany, Ontario, and Steu
ben — and as reported by the Universalist Register and Almanac for 1836, 116
preachers, 185 societies, and 78 churches. But we are assured that the number
of societies is not less then 300.
31. The Roman Catholic diocese of New York embraces a part ofthe state of
New Jersey. The Church is rapidly increasing in numbers, and many new
edifices for worship are being, or about to be, erected. There are in the diocese,
fifty-one congregations, having forty-one churches, including a fine cathedral in the
city of New York — 35 clergymen with the bishop. The foundation of a college
and theological seminary has been laid on the North river, Rockland county — and
there are seven female asylums or schools under the care of the Sisters of Charity,
four of which are in New York, one in Brooklyn, one in Albany, and one inUtica.
The largest and most important, in Prince street, New York, maintains and edu
cates 160 children; whilst another on the Sixth avenue, has 80 under its charge.
32. The Lutherans have a synod in New York, and 28 congregations supplied
with pastors. In 1835, there were 3,001 members entitled to communion. Of
these congregations, there were in the city of New York 4; in Dutchess 2; in
Columbia 6; in Albany 1; in Montgomery 2; in Monroe 1; at Buffalo 2.
33. The Society of Friends form a numerous body of Christians, whose exem
plary morals are as universally acknowledged as they are known. The first
monthly and executive meeting of the connection was founded in the province
whilst under the Dutch administration, about the year 1662, and suffered severe
persecution, under the civil authority — some of its members being fined, impri
soned and banished. The first yearly meeting was constituted by that of New
England, of which it was part, in 1695, and was originally, and for many years
holden at the house of John Bowne, at Flushing, Long Island, whence it was
removed to the city of New York.
Previous to the year 1828, this yearly meeting had in subordination 12 quarterly
meetings, 47 monthly meetings, and 180 congregations, dispersed over this state,
Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Canada. In [that year, the well
known schism, produced by the ministry of Elias Hicks, shook the society to its
foundation, and rent into two parts, the yearly meetings of Philadelphia, Mary
land, Ohio, Indiana, and New York. The parties received the names of Orthodox
and Hicksite, which, however, they respectively disclaim, and both assert the
right to be called " Friends." Soon after the separation, an enumeration was
made by the Orthodox party, which gave to them 9,100, and to the Hickites 10,700
members in the New York yearly meeting. The correctness of the census was,
however, disputed by the latter who claim to be far more numerous. Both parties
claim the property ofthe society, and the right is yet undetermined by law; an
appeal having been made from the only judgment which has been given touching
the question.
The Orthodox Friends have now, 12 quarterly meetings, viz. Westbury, Pur
chase, Nine Partners, Cornwall, Stanford, Easton, Harrisburg, Saratoga, Duanes-
burg, Shrewsbury, Scipio, and Farmington.
There are two yearly meetings; that of New York comprehends all the quar
terly meetings except Scipio and Farmington, which belong to the Genesee yearly
meeting. The New York Yearly Meeting convenes in New York city, on the Second day
after the fourth First day of Fifth month. The Genesee yearly meeting at Farm
ington, on the Second day after the second First day in the Sixth month.
We have not been able to procure in season for this work, a statistical report of
the Hicksite section of " Friends" in New York. We estimate the whole num-

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

223

ber of Friends, including both parties, in this staje at 20,000; and as the division
was made in almost every monthly meeting, the number of congregations of each
party may be about equal; and excluding those congregations which belong to the
several yearly meetings, but which are not within the state, there may be 150 of
each party, making an aggregate of 300 congregations.
34. From the preceding data we form the following summary:

Churches.- Ministers. Members.

695

688

86,207

675

675

106,039

686

536

67,183

25

20

2,926

89

123

4,258

214

163

37,000

159

159

64,801

23

23

8,000

200

116

25,000

300

300

20,000

51

35

12,000

18

18

3,001

100

100
2,956

10,000

3,235

446,435

Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists,
Seventh-day Baptists,
Freewill Baptists,
Prot. Episcopalians,
Dutch Reformed,
Associate Reformed,
Universalists, -
Quakers,
Roman Catholics,
Lutherans, -
Other denominations,

35. This table is imperfect, and partly conjectural. The number of the
Methodist congregations is obtained from the number of preachers belonging
to the conferences in the state, excluding the churches in districts belonging
to such conferences, yet without the state. The number of the members or
attendants upon the Episcopal worship is given at about four for each com
municant reported in the minutes of the general convention for 1835. The
Quakers have no paid clergy, but every meeting has its exhorter, expounder, or
spiritual guide, its minister; and frequently more than one. The numbeis of
the members of the " Associate Reformed," " Universalists," " Catholics," and
other denominations are by estimate. It is believed, however, that the general re
sults of the table approximate the truth, and furnish data sufficiently accurate to
compare the state of religion in New York with that pf the countries of Europe.
We have then, 3,235 churches or congregations, nearly all of whom have houses
for public worship, and there are also many such houses known as " Free Churches,"
built by the inhabitants for the use of every denomination of Christians disposed
to render them religious service. Of the 2,956 ministers, there are, perhaps, not
more than 2,400 who are exclusively devoted to the religious office, and who re
ceive compensation in any form. Stating the population of the state in round
numbers at two millions, we have one church for every 618 inhabitants.— one mi
nister or teacher for every 675; and- if we take the number of ministers at 2,400,
counting those only who may receive compensation for their services, we have one
for every 875 inhabitants.
Now this proportion of churches and clergy to the population, is much greater
than in- most European countries.
In France, the average number of churches aud pastors is 1 for every 1,150 inhab.
In Scotland, 1 for every  1,500
In Spain and Portugal, 1 church for every 1000, and 1 pastor for every 703
In the established church in England and Wales, the proportion be
tween the number of churches and ministers is much greater than
in any other country we believe; being one place of worship for
every 500 hearers, and one clergyman for every - 333 hearers
But among the Dissenters of England and Wales, the proportion is
less, being 1 place of worship and 1 clergyman to every - - 750 memb.
This comparison might be extended further, advantageously to the state. But
enough has been done to show that the people provide in this country as abun
dantly for their spiritual wants, as they are provided for in most monarchical go
vernments.

224

POLITICAL VIEW.

There is great difficulty in ascertaining the cost of religious instruction in this,
country, in the absence of all accessible records. An approximation may, however
be made by estimate.
If we take 2,400 as the number of salaried clergy, and estimate the cost
of their services at the cost of their maintenance, we cannot charge
less than $300 for each; some receive less doubtless, and like the cu
rates in E uropean churches have scarcely the means to live; yet others
in our cities and large villages have salaries adequate, not only for
comfort, but for luxury. This would give for the maintenance ofthe
clergy in the state, per annum,  $720,000
If we add upon each member of a church for all church expenses, and
repairs, for tracts, missions, theological instruction, &c. one dollar
per annum; we have from the preceding estimate of members, - 446,435
If we suppose the number of church edifices to be equal to the number
of ministers, we have 2400 churches. Many of these are plain struc
tures, costing little; but there are others, which have cost each many
thousands of dollars. Set the cost of each at, $1,500, and we have
a capital of $3,600,000 vested in religious houses, the interest on
which, at 6 per cent, is ----.... 216,000
Making an annual charge in the state for religious instruction of $1,382,435
equal to 70 cents for each inhabitant.
The established church of England and Wales is supposed to contain 6 millions
of members. Its income is rated at .£7,600,000, equal to $5 69 annual charge
upon each member, exclusive of capital invested in religious appliances.
The dissenting church of England is maintained at far less cost; being stated at
£65 only for a clergyman, or at $288 60 each; and is somewhat less than 50 cents
on each member; but this includes no charges for aught else connected with the
maintenance of religion. In the dissenting church of Scotland, the charge is still
lower, being about 40 cents on each member.
It is thus apparent, that the sum voluntarily paid by the people here for religi
ous instruction is, at the least, equal to that voluntarily paid by the inhabitants of
England. 36. Among the means for public instruction, we must not overlook the news
paper press. There were published in the state in 1835,-260 newspapers, besides
several magazines. There was one, at least, published in every county except
Franklin and Putnam. The number of daily papers was 25 — 15' in New York
city; 1 in Brooklyn; 3 in Albany; 2 in Buffalo; 1 in Rochester; and 3 in Troy.
In the city of New York there were 65 papers, exclusive of the magazines, viz:
15 daily, 11 semi-weekly, 51 weekly, 3 semi-monthly, and 5 monthly. The whole
number of copies of 10 large papers was 17,000 daily.
Independent ofthe political and commercial importanc of these journals, they
merit the highest encouragement as the medium of useful information relative to
religion, science, arts, and general letters.
37. Nor should we, in this review of the means of public instruction, overlook
the efforts ofthe state to make the laws patent and intelligible to all her citizens. In
all states, especially in all free states, the lapse of time and the progress of im- '
provement, render the laws voluminous; and the exigency of occasions ibr enact
ment, and the consequent carelessness of amendment, make them involved and
complex. To avoid the great evils of doubt and uncertainty, careful pruning and
methodical arrangement, become indispensable. Next to the making of laws, for
the public weal, their promulgation, in intelligible and accessible form, is the duty
ofthe legislature. A duty however, which had been hitherto greatly arid griev
ously neglected. In the wilderness of common and statutory law, the citizen is
wholly unable to grope his way without a guide; and in the many net-like mazes,
a sure and trustworthy guide is rarely to be found; for there is no unerring clue to
lead through the labyrinth of supplement- upon supplement, amendment ' upon
amendment, repeals destroying, and repeals reviving, rules for action. And were
it possible to passihrough all these lets and hindrances to the sense of the legis
lature, another obstacle existed, in the masses of verbiage which served but to
obscure and bury that sense.
Among the moderns, Frederic the II. of Prussia has the merit of being the first

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 225
reformer of this abuse of legislation. But Napoleon claims a higher praise, from
the simplicity and extent of his codification; and the benefit which he thus con
ferred upon his subjects, compensated in some degree for the evils which his in
sane ambition brought upon Europe. When philosophic history shall review his
life, the Code Napoleon will be among the acts which will preserve his memory
from universal execration.
The State of New York was the first of the Americau Union to codify her pub
lic statutes, and thus to render a knowledge of them attainable by the great
mass of the community. This great work was commenced in 1825 and completed
in 1830. It has arranged in consecutive and dependent order the Jaws relating to the
general administration of public affairs; classing appropriately those which govern
the legislative, executive, and judicial departments — the laws which constitute
and direct the polity of counties, cities and towns — which provide for the imposi
tion and collection of taxes— which protect the public health— which establish
and sustain the system of public instruction— which regulate trade in the few
cases where restraint was deemed necessary — which give general rules for
incorporations — which establish the computation of time, weights and measures,
and the money of account — Which provide support for the indigent and protection
against tho evils.of idleness and intemperance — which proscribe and punish cer
tain immoral and disorderly practices — and which define and punish crimes.
This code comprehends also the chief laws relating— to the tenure and aliena
tion of property real and personal — and to the domestic relations of husband and
wife, parent and child, guardian and ward, master and servant.
The work has accomplished much, yet much has been omitted which it should
have embraced. Of omissions, we regard with regret, the definitions ofthe powers
of the chancery and the chief common law courts. The powers of these courts are
in no way to be gathered from the laws of the state. It would seem a self evident
proposition that, the judiciary power of every independent state should depend
upon the laws ofthe state alone; yet in New York, that power is expressly refer
red to the laws of a foreign nation, and the citizen is governed in many of his most
interesting concerns, by laws which he cannot ascertain without great difficulty,
and in making which he has had no participation, unless their adoption in moss be
so considered.
If we ask of a citizen of New York what are the powers of the court of chan
cery, and of the supreme court, he must reply in the language of the code, " The
powers and jurisdiction of the court of chancery are co-extensive with the powers
and jurisdiction of the court of chancery of England," and that the supreme
court possesses " the powers and exercises the jurisdiction which belonged to
the supreme court of the colony of New York" — except where the powers of
either court have been modified by the constitution and laws of this state. If he
be further asked whence came, and what were the powers of, the supreme court of
the colony? He must answer, that ihe court was created by the ordinances ofthe
colonial governors giving it the power of the Court of King's Bench in England.
To the laws of England then the citizen of the independent state of New York
is still compelled to look for the powers of tribunals which dispose of his pro
perty, his liberty, and his life.. An incongruity like this should not exist." The
powers of the judiciary should be as clearly and as distinctly determined by the
law of the land, as those of the legislature, or those of the executive officers.
We are aware that these colonial vestiges are to be found in almost every state of
the Union; but we apprehend, that the time is not far remote, when they will be
thoroughly rooted out by the extension of the code over the regions of the com
mon law, and the rejection of all rules of conduct, not specially and expressly
sanctioned by the laws of the state.
We repeat,, that the revised laws have accomplished much, by instructing the
citizen in his duties to the state and to his fellows. The knowledge which he thus
attains makes him a wiser, a better, and an abler man. The code has become an
exemplar which other states are rejoiced to adopt, and the progress of New York
in this noblest of works of public instruction, is viewed with all the interest it
merits. 29

226 POLITICAL VIEW.
CHAPTER X.
REGULATIONS OF TRADE.
1. Auctions. 2. Inspection of Flour. 3. Beef and Pork. 4. Pot and Pearl Ashes.
5. Fish. 6. Fish or Liver Oil. 7. Lumber and Shingles. 8. Staves and Heading.
9. Flaxseed. 10. Leather. 11. Green Hides. 12. Hops. 13. Distilled Spirits. 14. Leaf
Tobacco. 15. General provisions relative to Inspections. 16. Regulations relative to
the package of Butter, Lard, and Hay. 17. Hawkers and Pedlars. 18. Taverns and
Groceries. 19. Brokers, Stockjobbing, and Pawn-brokers.
SECT. I.  AUCTIONS.
1. Duties on Goods sold. 2. Goods, how sold. 3. Exempt from Duty. 4. Sales, by
whom made. 5. Bonds of Auctioneers. 6. Auctioneer not to hold Appointment
from another State. 7. Sales, where held and by whom made: Commissions.
8. Account of Auctioneer, how stated. 9. Duties, when payable. 10. Penalty for
Fraud, c^c. 11. Commission of Auctioneer expires, when. 12. Damaged Goods,
how sold,.&c. 13. Table of Auction Duties. •
l._ All personal property exposed to sale by public auction (with certain excep
tions) is subject every time it is struck off, to duties at the following rates, paya
ble by the person making the sale: —
Wines and ardent spirits, foreign or domestic, two per cent.; goods from any
place beyond the Cape of Good Hope, sold in packages, bales, trunks, or casks,
as imported, one per cent. All other goods one and a half per cent.
2. Goods sold at auction are struck off to the highest bidder, and are subject to
duty whether the auctioneer or other person be that bidder; and all articles, except
as hereinafter excepted, sold by an auctioneer, his copartner, clerk, or by any per
son in any way connected in auction business or sales with an auctioneer in com
mission, whether at auction or private sale, are subject to duty.
3. The following goods are exempted from auction duties: — Ships and vessels;
utensils of husbandry, horses, neat cattle, hogs and sheep; articles of the growth,
produce, or manufacture of the state, except distilled spirits; fabrics of cotton,
wool, hemp, and flax, manufactured within the jurisdiction of the United States.
Goods otherwise liable are exempt, when belonging to the United States or this
state; when sold by the authority of a court, or when seized by a public officer on
account of any forfeiture or penalty, or under a distress for rent; the effects of a
deceased person snld by executors or administrators, or by a person authorised
by a surrogate; the effects of a bankrupt or insolvent, sold by his assignees, ap
pointed pursuant to law, or by a general assignment for the benefit of all his cre
ditors; goods damaged at sea, and sold within twenty days after being landed, for
the owners or insurers.
4. Sales at public auction in the city of New York, not under the authority of
the United States, and in other parts ofthe state where the duties are payable, are
made,*by a qualified auctioneer, his copartner, or clerk; but where no duties are pay
able, except in the city of New York, Albany, and Brooklyn, such sales may be
made by any citizen. Any person attempting to sell contrary to these provisions,
is guilty of a misdemeanour, punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both; the
fine not to exceed $500, nor the imprisonment three months.
The auctioneer, in case of inability to attend, by reason of sickness, duty as
a fireman, military orders, necessary attendance in a court of justice, or temporary
absence, from the place to which he is appointed, may employ a copartner or
clerk to perform his duties; such copartner or clerk previously taking an oath,
to be filed with the proper county clerk, faithfully to perform his duties; which
oath also contains a true statement of the connection between him and the auc
tioneer. 5. No auctioneer can execute his office until he have given bond to the state,
with two sufficient freehold sureties, in the sum of $5000, conditioned for the
faithful performance of his office, and payment of the duties imposed by law and
accruing on his sales. Such bond, given by an auctioneer in a city, is taken and
approved by the mayor or recorder; by an auctioneer in a county, by any judge of

REGULATIONS OP TRADE. 227
the county court. The officer taking the bond indorses thereon his approbation,
and the day it was taken, and without delay transmits notice thereof to the comp
troller, stating the names of the auctioneer and his sureties, and the day of exe
cution and approval; and the bond is within ten days thereafter delivered by the
auctioneer to the comptroller. The auctioneer selling by public auction, without
having given such security, forfeits §125 for each article exposed by him to sale.
6. Any auctioneer, accepting an appointment as an auctioneer from another
Btate, or being concerned as principal or partner, in the sale of goods or effects in
any other state by auction, or receiving benefit on account of such sale, is guilty
of misdemeanour; and on conviction forfeits his appointment, and is incapable
thereafter of acting as auctioneer in this state.
7. No auctioneer of any city may, at any time, have more than one house or store
for his auctions, which, before emeripg on office, he designates, with the name
of his partner or partners, by writing filed with the city clerk; nor can he expose
to auction dutiable goods at any other place, than that so designated, except goods
in original packages as imported, household furniture and bulky articles usually
sold in warehouses in the public streets, or on the wharves — under penalty of
being deemed guilty of misdemeanour, and fine not exceeding $250 for each
offence. The common council of each city may designate places therein, for sales by
auction of horses, carriages, and household furniture.
Every auctioneer, in the city of New York is required to give, under his own
proper name, previous notice in one or more of the newspapers printed therein, of
every auction sale made by him; and in case he be connected with any person or
firm, his name, in all cases, precedes, separately and individually, the name of
such person in the title ofthe firm under which he transacts business.
Every auctioneer, copartner, or clerk, and every other person in such city, who
advertises a sale by auction in any other manner, or is concerned in^any'sale by
auction not so advertised, forfeits $500, and is liable to imprisonment at the dis
cretion ofthe court, not exceeding six months.
No auctioneer can demand or receive a higher compensation for his services
than 2^ per cent, on amount of sales, public or private, unless by a previous agree
ment, in writing, between him and the owner; under penalty of $250, payable to
the person from whom he demands or receives an unlawful compensation, and
liability to refund the moneys so illegally received. Nor may he, or any other
person, on the day and at the place where his auction is held, sell at private sale,
any goods liable to auction duties, under penalty of forfeiting a sum equal to the
price for which such goods may be sold.
When goods are sold at auction and the bargain not immediately executed, by
the payment of the price or delivery of the goods, the auctioneer entgrs in a sale
book a memorandum specifying the nature, quantity and price of the goods, terms
of sale, and the names of the purchaser and of the person on whose account the
sale is made.
8. Every auctioneer who has given bond, makes out a quarterly account, dated
on the 1st of April, July, October and January in ihe year for which he is ap
pointed, stating minutely and particularly, 1. The sums for which any goods have
been sold at every auction held for or by him, from the time of entering into such
bond, of- the date of his last quarterly account. 2. The days on which such sales
were made and the amount of each day's sale, designating the sale made by him
self or in his presence, and those made in his absence by a partner or clerk, spe
cifying the causes of such absence. 3. The amount of all private sales by himself
or his partners, on commission, and the days on which they were made; and 4.
the amount of duties chargeable on all sales public and private, stated in the ac
count. Such account within 20 days after its date, if by an auctioneer of a city, is exhi
bited to the mayor or recorder, if by one in a county, to a judge of the county
court, and is verified by the auctioneer by oath, in form specially provided by law,
reduced to writing, indorsed on the account and subscribed by the party making it:
and every partner of such auctioneer, his clerk or other person, in any way con
nected in business with him, who shall have made any sale contained in such
account, makes and subscribes an oath, so indorsed, that he believes the account
rendered just and true in every particular.

228 POLITICAL VIEW.
Every partner or clerk, who make6 any sale on behalf of an auctioneer, in the
account rendered, sets his name or initials opposite to each sale made by him,
mentioned therein; and makes an affidavit annexed thereto, that the sales so noted
are all that are liable to auction duties, public or private, made by him within the
time mentioned in the account; and that the account is just and true; that such
sales were made by him in the absence of such auctioneer, who was unable to
attend from the causes specified; and that in all acts performed by him, in behalf
of such auctioneer during such time he had endeavoured. to conform to the true
intent and meaning of the laws regulating sales by auction.
9. Within 10 days after exhibiting his account, the auctioneer pays the duties
accrued on the sales stated therein, with the addition of 2J per cent, on the amount
of such duties, and immediately after payment transmits the account and affidavits
to the comptroller, to be filed in his office. Such payment by an auctioneer, other
than in the city of New York, is made to the state treasurer; and in that city to
such bank as may be designated by the comptroller, entitled to the state deposits,
taking the receipt of the proper officer of the bank, and transmitting it to the comp
troller, who certifies it to the treasurer, and charges him with the amount.
If within the period limited for his account the auctioneer have made no sales
public or private, subject to auction duties, he subscribes an affidavit thereof .be
fore the officer to whom his account might have been exhibited, and transmits
a copy thereof, with such affidavits certified by such officer, to the comptroller
within the time the account is required.
The auctioneer, his partner or clerk, or any person in any way connected in
business with him, failing to perform any act or duty required relative to render
ing the quarterly account, forfeits for each offence $750; and the comptroller pub
lishes such failure in the state papers, and from the time of publication the delin
quent forfeits his appointment.
Sales by public auction, in the city of New York, by an auctioneer, are made
between sunrise and sunset, except of books or prints; goods in the original pack
age, as imported, according to a printed catalogue, of which samples have been
opened and exposed to public inspection, at least one day previous to sale; under
penalty of being deemed guilty of misdemeanour, and on conviction forfeiting his
appointment. 10. Persons guilty of any fraud or deceit in the execution ofthe law relative to
sales at auction, are guilty of a misdemeanour, and forfeit. treble damages. For
feitures imposed by such laws, not otherwise specially appropriated, are prosecuted
by the district attorney ofthe county in which the offence is committed, or by the
attorney general, when the comptroller deems it necessary, to whom the comp
troller notifies every such forfeiture; and when recovered, the attorney's compensa
tion, settled by the comptroller, being deducted, it is paid to the treasurer of such
county for the use of the poor.
11. The commissions of auctioneers in the city of New York expire on the 1st
of February, annually.
12. Goods damaged at sea and sold for the benefit of the owners or insurers,
are sold in the city of New York under the direction of the wardens of the port,
and in other cities or counties bypersons appointed to inspect damaged goods.
One or more, not exceeding three, inspectors of damaged goods when necessary,
are appointed in the cities of Albany, Troy and Hudson, by the mayor or recorder;
and in every other county of the state by any judge of the county court to whom
application is made.

REGULATIONS OF TRADE.

229

13. Statement of Sales at Auction in the state of New York, from 1810 to 1834
inclusive; from returns made by the Auctioneers to the Comptroller.

Years., /Amount of duties.

Amount of sales

Amount of sales

Total Sales.

1

dutiable.

not dutiable.

^

1810

$126,404 62

$5,602,662 59

$510,760 28

6,113,422 87

1811

110,220 76

4,393,987 51

342,155 24

4,736,142 75

1812

124,236 92

5,203,566 67

425,451 30

5,629,017 97

1813

156,181 05

6,001,162 40

1,051,646 40

7,052,808 80

*1814

86,067 76

3,527,155 88

387,631 12

3,914,787 00

1815

182,936 57

12,124,054 76

1,037,695 01

13,161,749 77

1816

171,907 40

11,349,826 07

765,889 76

12,115,715 83

1817

191,123 38

12,472,446 92

726,165 73

13,198,612 65

1818

176,032 24

11,873,658 42

1,614,418 83

13,488,077 25

1819

141,570 96

9,538,202 51

1,727,356 31

11,265,558 82

1820

153,999 86

10,182,967 00

1,833,229 75

12,016,196 75

1821

154,543 92

10,525,791 05

1,819,484 72'

12,345,275 77

1822

180,761 68

12,340,127 54

1,798,880 88

14,139,008 42

1823

208,254 01

13,754,821 57

3,117,128.86

16,871,950 43

1824

226,218 13

15,716,432 88

3,587,586 48

19,304,019 36

1825

285,037 62

19,713,686 67

4,530,600 69

24,244,287 36

1826

242,810 06

16,328,198 52

4,722,154 73

21,05t),353 25

1827

247,808 24

' 16,401,643 68

3,063,576 64

19,465,220 32

1828

257,180 40

17,449,544 64

8,590,116 29

26,039,660 93

j-1829

242,552 54

16,536,906 60

"8,685,802 29

25,222,708 89

1830

218.513 66

15,465,405 99

10,300,705 79

25,766,111 78

1831

256,474 85

17,464,641 44

10,234,333 45

27,698,974 "89

1832

216,515 18

14,154,596 42

11,729,(579 98

2"5;884,276 40

1833

238,719 45

21,985,506 40

12,406,813 95

34,392.320 35

1834

193,470 19

13,403,152 26

13,291,524 37

27,694,676 63

Total

$4,797,841 45

314,510,096 39

108,300,788 85

422,810,935 24

SECT. II.  INSPECTION OF FLOTJR AND MEAL.
1. Flour not to be shipped without inspection. 2. Flour for export, how packed,
branded, inspected. 3. Penalty for attempting to export uninspected flour. Power
of inspector in such case. 4. Penally in case of deficient quantity — for exporting
" light" flour — to alter a counterfeit brand — to sell mixed flour. 5. Inspector, not
to deal in flour — certificate of inspection — assistants. In New York to exercise
power, where.
1. No wheat or rye flour, Indian or buckwheat meal, may be shipped for expor
tation, (unless by the river Susquehanna, the lakes, or river St. Lawrence; or flour
and meal brought from another state by the canals and inspected and branded ac
cording to the laws of such state) which has not been inspected and branded
according to law.
Flour and meal purchased for exportation is inspected at the place of exporta
tion; if shipped between the 1st of May and 1st of October, is reinspected when
shipped, unless inspected 30 days previously to shipment.
2. Flour and meal manufactured for exportation, are packed in casks of seasoned
oak, or other sufficient timber, and hooped with at least ten hoops, three of which
on each chime properly nailed. The casks are of two sizes only; one contains 196
lbs., with staves 27 inches long, head 16A inches in diameter: the other con
tains 98 lbs ; staves 22 inches long, head 14 inches diameter, or stave 27 inches
long, and heads not more than 12 inches in diameter. But Indian meal may also
be packed in hogsheads containing 800 pounds.
» The returns of the sales for 1814, having been mislaid at the Comptroller's office, the
amounts are stated by estimating the average of the four preceding years in proportion to
the duties paid, whioh are exaetly correct as stated.
t The amount of real estate sold in 1829, (included in the above not dutiable,) was
$8,181,800 62.

230 POLITICAL VIEW.
The casks are made as straight as may be, and their tare, weight of contents, and
initial of the Christian name, and the surname of the manufacturer in full, are
branded or painted on one head; except hogsheads of Indian meal, on which the
weight only is put.
Casks of wheat flourare branded according to quality, " Extra Superfine," "Su
perfine," "Fine," "Fine Middlings," "Middlings," or "Ship Stuff;" of rye,
"Superfine Rye Flour," or "Fine Rye Flour; of Indian, "Indian Meal;" and of
buckwheat, " B. Meal."
When thus packed and branded, application is made to an inspector, whose duty
is, 1. To ascertain the weight of all casks he may suspect to be falsely tared. 2.
To alter and correct the brands when they do not designate the real quality. 3.
To weigh such casks as he suspects do not contain the full weight, and to brand
those falling short, " Light." 4. To brand such as contain flour or meal unfit for
exportation, "Bad." 5. And to brand thereon, legibly, the initial of his Chris
tian name, and his surname in full, with the name ofthe county where the inspec
tion is made. But he brands no casks of Indian meal, unless of corn properly
kiln dried, ground fine and bolted.
If required,,he delivers to the owner all flour or meal taken from the casks with
his auger, under penalty of $25 to such owner, and costs of suit.
Flour or meal not manufactured within the state, offered for sale in New York,
unless damaged and sold as such at auction, is previously inspected, as flour in
tended for exportation.
3. The shipping or attempt to ship for exportation, flour or meal not duly in
spected, is punishable by the forfeiture thereof; and the actual exportation, by tbe
penalty of five dollars for every cask.
The inspector is empowered to enter any vessel between sunrise and sunset, to
search for flour and meal, suspected to have heen illegally shipped; and whoever
obstructs him, is guilty of misdemeanour punishable by fine and imprisonment, or
both, at the discretion of the court. He may seize flour or meal illegally shipped
or attempted to be shipped, and sell it by auction, giving at least five days' notice,
in some newspaper of his county, ofthe time and place of sale, and pay the pro
ceeds, deducting 10 per cent, for his services, to the use of the poor in the county
or place where the seizure is made.
4. Every rlerson knowingly offering for sale casks of flour or meal, upon which
the tare is undermarked, or the quantity less than is branded thereon, forfeits five
dollars for each cask; one half to the person injured and prosecuting, with such
other damages as he may sustain, and the other to the use of the poor of the city
or town where the recovery is had.
The manufacturer undermarking the tare of a cask, or putting therein a deficient
quantity, forfeits five dollars for each cask, recoverable and distributable as above
mentioned. But the penalty is not incurred when the light weight is caused by
accident, unknown to the manufacturer and happening after package.
The exporter of flour or meal in casks marked "light," forfeits five dollars for
each cask; and the purchaser for exportation failing to have thesame duly inspect
ed, at the place of exportation, forfeits the like sum, though inspected previously
to purchase.
To alter or counterfeit any brand marks, state or private, made according to law,
is punishable by forfeiture of $100 for each cask; and the putting of flour or meal
into an empty cask branded by an inspector, and offering it for sale therein, without
first cutting out the brands, by forfeiture of five dollars. Knowingly to offer for
sale, flour containing a mixture of Indian meal or other matter, or unsound, is
visited with a penalty of five dollars; for payment of which the flour may be seized
and sold by the inspector.
Every person having charge of a vessel, who transports into the city of New
York any Indian meal upon deck, forfeits 20 cents for every barrel, and 80 cents
for every hogshead.
5. No inspector may purchase or sell any flour or meal except for his private
use, or be directly or indirectly concerned in such purchase, under penalty of $500
for each offence; nor be connected in trade with any flour manufacturer or mer
chant, or any other in the purchase or sale thereof, under forfeiture of his office and
incapacity to act as inspector under any of the inspection laws of the state.
The inspector inthe city of N.York, when required, certifies the quality and con-

M

REGULATIONS OF TRADE. 231
dition of the flour inspected by him; specifying the extent of apparent damage, the
cause, whether by exposure or injury in transportation, or in consequence of origi
nal package, and the brands or other marks on the casks, and the name of the con
signee; and is entitled to 10 cents for every folio of 100 words contained in the
certificate. The certificate is presented to the clerk ofthe city, who, satisfied that
it is genuine and signed by the inspector, indorses his own certificate to that effect,
under his hand and .seal of office; and so verified, the certificate is presumptive evi
dence of the facts therein, in any court of the state.
The inspector of flour in the cities of New York, Albany and Troy, respectively,
appoints so many assistants as he deems necessary, removable at pleasure, for
whom he is responsible.
The inspector for New York executes his office in any county immediately ad
joining; and appoints a deputy for the county of Kings, on whose inspection, flour
and meal manufactured for inspection therein, may be exported from any port of
the state.
Every inspector is entitled to receive, for inspecting, boring, branding, and plug
ging every hogshead 3 cents; every barrel or half barrel 1 cent in the city of New
York, and 2 cents elsewhere. For weighing and ascertaining the light weight, or
under tare of any hogshead 30 cents; of a barrel or half barrel 6 cents.
The inspector in his report to the legislature, gives a detailed statement on oath
of his disbursements, stating the amount paid, to whom paid, when, and for what
purpose. There are, we believe, inspectors of flour only in the cities of New York and
Albany; at least we find reports only from them to the legislature. These reports
are of little service in determining the quantity of flour made in the state, since
they do not discriminate between flour and meal inspected, and re-inspected, or
uninspected. There were inspected in 1833.
In New York, 1,039,860 barrels of flour and meal, valued at $5,763,080 06
In Albany, 125,822 " " -" " 697,454 62
1834.
In New York, 1,315,478 " " " » 6,685,619 89
In Albany, 133,130 " " " " 660,535 63
SECT. III.  OF BEEF AND POKE.
1. Not to be Exported without Inspection — Exception — Penalty. 2. Inspectors to
give Bond. 3. Barrels how made. 4. Qualities of Meat, how Selected and Packed.
5. Penalty for improper Exposure or Mixing Meats — Slaughtering Cattle — Selling
Branded Barrels. 6. Inspection Reports.
1. No beef or pork may be exported or shipped for exportation, unless previ
ously inspected, pickled and branded by a duly qualified inspector according to
law; except, that to the Canadas by way of the lakes or river St. Lawrence°and
that brought into this state from any of the United States, and packed and branded
agreeably to the laws of the state whence brought; and except beef put up by a
licensed butcher in barrels, half barrels, tubs or kegs for ship stores, or in kegs or
tubs for exportation if put up by the butcher killing the same, with his name and
the weight contained branded on the head of each such package.
He who ships or attempts to ship beef or pork contrary to the foregoing provi
sions, forfeits 15 dollars for every barrel and half barrel.
2. Each inspector, before entering on office, gives bond with one or more sure
ties to the state, approved by, and filed with, the clerk of his county, in the sum
of $2000, conditioned for the faithful performance of his duties; and provides suffi
cient store or yard for such beef and pork as may be brought for inspection, in
some convenient place, without charge, if the inspected beef or pork be removed
within three days after notice given to the owner or agent of repackage.
Barrels in which beef or pork is repacked are of seasoned white oak or white
ash, free from every defect, measuring 17J- inches between the chines, and 28 in
ches long; hooped with 12 hickory, white oak or other substantial hoops, and if
ash staves, with 14 hoops at least; the heads not less than three-fourths of an inch
thick, and staves on each edge and at the bilge, not less than half an inch thick 

232 POLITICAL VIEW.
the hoops well set and driven — branded on the bilge, with-at least the initials
ofthe cooper's name. The half barrels in proportion to and of like materials as
the barrels, and containing not less than 15 nor more than 16 gallons. The barrel
contains 200, and the half barrel 100 lbs.
When repacked in and exported from Suffolk, Kings, or Queens counties, the
barrels may be as nearly straight as possible, of seasoned red oak of the growth
of such counties respectively, free from sap or other defect, and otherwise made as
above directed, and may be exported from the city of New York without re-exa
mination. If beef or pork be repacked, it is pickled with saturated brine, and
when in larger casks than above prescribed, is condemned, or the. casks are filled
up by the inspector with good meat, at the election and expense of the owner.
The inspector examines and sorts all beef and pork he inspects, and brands none
not well fatted, and packed in proper casks.
4. Three qualities of pork are branded; the first consists of the sides of fat hogs,
exclusively, and is branded "Mess Pork;" the second, of which there is in a bar
rel, not more than three shoulders, having the legs cut off at the knee joint, nor
more than 24 lbs. of heads without ears, and the snouts cut off to the opening of
the jaws, and the brains and bloody gristle taken away, and the remainder made
lip of side, neck and tail pieces, is branded " Prime Pork." The third, of which
there is not in a barrel more than thirty pounds of head, and four shoulders, and
the remainder being merchantable pork, is branded " Cargo Pork." This pork so
repacked is cut from the back bone to the belly in pieces about five inches wide,
weighing not less than four pounds; otherwise the barrels are not branded as mer
chantable. For every barrel branded there is required 16 quarts of salt, equal in weight to
Turks Island salt, and a strong new pickle; but if pork be inspected and branded
when fresh, not less than 24 quarts of such salt, exclusive of such pickle is re
quisite. Thin, soft, rusty, meazly or tainted pork is never branded, but the inspector
marks the head of the barrel with paint, and his name, which designates its true
character; and the altering his mark or brand, or adding thereto, contrary to law, is
punishable for every barrel so altered or shipped, or attempted to be shipped, by a
fine of 10 dollars, to the use ofthe person suing therefor.
No beef is repacked for exportation unless of fat cattle, not under three years
old, in pieces as square as may be, not exceeding 12 nor under 4 lbs. weight. Such
beef is divided into 4 sorts: " Extra Mess;" consisting ofthe most choice pieces'
of the fattest cattle, weighing not less than 600 lbs. exclusive of hide and tallow.
" Mess Beef," of the choice pieces of large and fat cattle, without hocks, shanks,
clods or necks, and may contain two choice rounds not exceeding 10 lbs. each.
"Prime Beef," of pieces of good fat cattle, containing in a barrel not more than
one half neck, two shanks with the hocks cut off the hind legs at the smallest place
above the joint. " Cargo Beef," of such cattle, with a proportion of good pieces,
not more than one half of a neck, three shanks with the hocks cut off as above, in
a barrel, and to be otherwise merchantable. And these names are respectively
branded upon casks containing the respective qualities, by the inspector.
Into every barrel of beef inspected and repacked, there is put not less than 20
quarts of salt, 4 oz. of saltpetre, and a new strong pickle. All bloody and neck
pieces offered for inspection, before put up are properly cleansed.
On the head of each cask of merchantable beef or pork, are branded the weight
of its contents, with the initial of the Christian name and the surname at full
length ofthe inspector, or both at full length, with the words " New York City,"
if inspected therein; and the name of the county and the words " State of New
York," if inspected in any other county.
Beef killed according to the rites of the Jews, is so packed and branded, and
additionally, with the brand of that society, and may also be put up in ten and five
gallon kegs.
Certificates of inspection and condition of beef and pork are given, as in case of
flour, in the city of New York. (See page 230.)
The inspector is entitled to 15 cents for each barrel, 10 cents for each half, re
packed and inspected, 10 cents for flagging, pegging, nailing, salting and pickling;
3 cents for eaoh hoop put on; payable before the inspected cask is taken from his
storage.

REGULATIONS OF TRADE. 233
No inspector tnay be concerned in the purchase of cattle or hogs, with intention
to pack them for sale, or in any manner partake of the profit or loss of any beef or
pork, when intended for packing, under penalty of $500 for each offence; nor may
he Inspect or brand any cask out Cf his prdper district; nor in any case lend or
hire his brands, under penalty of $25 for each barrel so inspected or branded.
The storage of the inspector of the city of New York must be on the margin of
the East or North River; and he may not inspect or repack at any other place, un
der penalty of $15 for every barrel. Any person other than an inspector, branding
such cask, forfeits a like sum.
No dealer in beef or pork, may suffer it, after inspection, to be exposed to the
heat of the sun, or inclement weather, longer than 12 hours, under penalty of five
dollars for each offence.
Any person intermixing, taking out, or shifting beef or pork of casks inspected,
or putting into such cask other beef or pork, for sale or exportation, or altering or
changing the brand or mark of the inspector, forfeits $25 for each cask.
Every person slaughtering cattle or hogs to be barrelled for inspection, contrary
to law, forfeits $25 dollars for every head.
Any person selling or disposing of empty barrels, or the heads of barrels, that
have contained beef or pork, without having first obliterated the inspector's brands
or marks, forfeits- five dollars for each barrel or head, to the use ofthe person
suing therefor. Inspection Returns.

1833.

1834.

Beef.
Pork.
Value.
Beef.
Pork.
Value.
Bbls.
Bbls.
Bbls.
Bbls.
New York city,
13,499
49,491
$695,420
10,767
76,737
$950,002
Cayuga Co.,
191
18
1,359
Greene,
4,789
3,792
21,687
Monroe,
6
354
3,996
80
1,236
10,808
Troy City,
826
2,943
61,454
1,547
1,153
27,134
Lansingburg,
4,955
875
49,180
3,950
29
14,936
Oneida Co.,
617
884
15,942
680
900
13,611
Madison Co.,
1,625
18,126
1,832
17,901
Onondaga,
399
1,166
16,129
1,756
1,599
26,429
Seneca,
-
9
361
3,300
Tompkins,
340
4,291
228
2,774
Wayne,
574
' 5,416
40
1,342
13,293
West Chester,
59
324
4,046
7
199
2,596
25,150 58,576 874,000 22,913 85.644 1,105,830
SECT. IV.  OF POT AND PEARL ASIIES.
1. Ashes not to be shipped, unless inspected — exceptions. 2. Quality of Casks, how
inspected. 3. Inspector may seize uninspected Ashes — when — penalty for illegal ex
port. 4. Certain Infractions of the Law — how punished. 5. Fees of Inspector.
6. Inspector's Report.
1. No ashes may be shipped for exportation, except to the Canadas, or by the
Susquehanna or Allegany rivers, unless duly inspected, under penalty of forfeit
ure to the state. Ashes so inspected on the Hudson river, above the city of New
York, or on the Erie canal, may be exported from the place of inspection, or sold
in and exported from the city of New York without re-inspection.
2. Ashes subject to inspection are put into casks of seasoned white oak, or
white ash, hooped for the distance of at least 10 inches from each end — staves
not more than 31 nor less than 30 inches long— head of a potash barrel not more
than 20 nor less than 19 — of a pearl ash barrel not more than 23 nor less than 21
inches diameter.
The inspector empties casks brought for inspection, determines the quality of
the ashes, and repacks those of each quality in separate casks; brands on one
head, in plain letters and figures on each, according to quality, " first sort," " se
cond sort," " third sort," with the words, as may be, " potash," or " pearlash;"
his name, the year, and place of inspection; weight, including tare, and the tare
30
234 POLITICAL VJEW.
under it; collects the crustings and scrapings of casks of potash, unfit for inspec
tion having the same brand, weighs and puts them into a suitable cask, which he
delivers to the owner, with a weigh note thereof on the back of the copy of the
inspection bill, designating the quantity taken from each lot, separately marked;
brands the word "condemned" on every cask containing ashes fraudnlently adul
terated with stone, sand, lime, or other substance: delivers to the owner, an in
voice signed by him of the ashes inspected, containing the weight of each cask,
and of the tare, distinguishing the quality as above directed; of which he keeps a
record; enters in his book another invoice having the original private marks and
numbers, and the scrapings and crustings in each lot, the quality, weight, and
tare of each barrel, specifying the extent of damage and the apparent cause, whether
by exposure, or injury in transportation, or in consequence of the original putting
up, and delivers, if required, a true copy to the owner.
If he enter on any invoice, Weigh note, or bill of inspection, any cask before it
has been emptied, and the cask weighed, he is guilty of misdemeanour, and sub
ject to a fine of five dollars for each cask entered.
The weigh note, or copy signed or certified by the inspector, on which is in
dorsed the certificate ofthe county clerk, under his hand and seal of office, stating
that at the date of such note or copy, the subscriber was au inspector, and that the
handwriting appears to be his, is presumptive evidence ofthe facts therein.
The inspector repairs casks unfit for shipping, if it may be done at an expense
not exceeding 75 cents each; otherwise substitutes new casks, at cost not exceed
ing $1 25, payable by the owner, of the ashes; noting casks so furnished in the
weigh note and copy and specifying therein, the original marks and numbers of
the cask, for which a new one is substituted, and entering in his book, and on the
margin of the weigh note, the original marks and numbers of every cask so re
paired, and the cost of repair.
He keeps all casks of ashes delivered for inspection, while in his possession,
under tight roof, secure from the weather, under penalty af $10 to the owner for
each cask, besides actual damages.
3. He is empowered and required to enter any vessel within his district, which
he suspects to have ashes shipped for exportation contrary to law, and to seize
such ashes, remove them to his store for inspection, and to deliver a weigh note
thereof to an auctioneer of his district, who advertises and sells them, paying
net proceeds to the inspector; who, deducting his fees, and 10 per cent, for his
services, pays the balance to the state treasurer.
The owner, consignee, and master of a vessel, receiving on board for exporta
tion, contrary to law, any cask of ashes not duly inspected and branded, forfeits
$15 for each cask.
Every inspector buying or selling, directly or indirectly, any pot or pearl
ashes, is guilty of misdemeanour, punishable by fine not exceeding $500, and in
capacity to hold office of honour or profit within the state.
4. No ashes, nor scrapings, nor crustings, may be bought or sold in the city of
New York, unless by retail, in any other manner than by the weigh note of the
inspector, under penalty of $100 for each offence.
Whoever counterfeits any brand marks of an inspector, or impresses on any
cask of ashes brand marks known to be counterfeit, forfeits $500; and whoever
empties any cask of such ashes branded by an inspector, without cutting out the
brand marks, in order to put therein any ashes for sale or exportation, forfeits for
each offence $200.
The inspector who dates an invoice, weigh note, or bill of inspection, different
from the time when the article was actually inspected, or delivers either without
date, forfeits his office, and is liable to a fine of $500.
The inspectors in the cities of New York and. Albany appoint such assistants
as they deem necessary, who take the constitutional oath before acting, and for
whom the principal is responsible. In Albany, no ashes required to be inspected
may be inspected by any other than the lawful inspectors; and another assuming
those duties forfeits $50 for each offence, recoverable by any one suing therefor.
5. The inspector, on delivery of the copy of the inspection bill and weigh note of
scrapings^ is entitled, for every hundred pounds of ashes inspected and put into due
condition, ten cents, one half payable by the buyer, and the other by the seller; for
every hoop furnished for defective cask, 4 cents, and every head 14 cents, to be

REGULATIONS OF TRADE. 235
paid by the seller; but no charge on a single cask may exceed 75 cents; for pro
curing certificate of county clerk, when required, 25 cents; and for all ashes con
demned as adulterated, the same fees as if they had proved good, payable by the
person offering them for inspection. He is also allowed the actual expense for
putting in good shipping condition, after inspection, all casks inspected by him,
payable by the buyer; and may charge storage at the usual rates, on casks remain
ing in his possession 10 days after inspection, and weigh note.made out.
6. The only reports of inspection are from the cities of New York and Albany,
which we give for 1833-4. 1833. 1834.
Casks. Lbs. , - Value. Casks. Lbs. Value.
New York, 40,947 18,692,945 $825,383 37,380 17,115,164 $697,509 06
Scrapings, 188,361

' 18,692,945
Albany, 843 315,071 $13,488 731 343,799 $12,720
SECT. V.  OF FISH.
No pickled, or dry salted fish, may be exported to a foreign market, in barrels
or half barrels, unless duly inspected and branded. Every such cask is made of
well seasoned white, red, black, or rock oak, white ash, or white pine; has 12
good hoops, is perfectly tight, the stave of the barrel 28 inches long, distance be
tween the chimes not less than 26 "inches; diameter of head from stave to stave,
16i inches; ofthe half barrel, staves 24 inches long, head, diameter 13 inches.
Every person putting up fish for exportation,-puts a bushel of salt to each bar
rel, brands it with the name of the fish, and the initials of his name, and the
name of the place where put up.
The inspector provides sufficient and convenient stores and yards, without
charge for storage, if the fish be removed within three days after inspection.
He opens one head ofthe cask, and if the fish be sound and merchantable, with
sufficient salt, brands his name and place of residence on the head; but if unsound
destroys it. If the cask be not full, or do not contain sufficient salt, he fills it
with sound and merchantable fish, or adds the salt necessary. If part be sound and
part unsound, he separates the sound from the unsound, and repacks, fills up,
salts, inspects, and brands as above.
Every barrel of salmon, or salmon trout, contains 200 pounds weight, and half
barrel TOO pounds, and on one of the heads the weight is branded by the-inspec-
tor. Shad is packed in casks of the same size and quality as beef and pork, and
is repacked, inspected, and branded as salmon.
Fish duly inspected in the counties of Suffolk, Queens, and Kings, may be
shipped and exported from the city of New York, without re-examination.
Every person, with intent to defeat the law, intermixing, taking out, or shifting
any fish, in any cask inspected, or putting therein other fish for sale or exporta
tion, or defacing or changing the mark or brand of the inspector, forfeits $25.
Every person, who contrary to law exports to any foreign port, or offers to sell for
exportation, fish not duly inspected, forfeits a sum equal to the full value of such
fishf -
The inspector receives for every barrel of pickled fish, inspected and repacked,
37j cents; half barrel 19 cents; each cask inspected and not repacked, and for
every cask of salted fish inspected, 12| cents: for every tierce of salmon inspected
50 cents, and for every keg 12^ cents; and like fees for fish condemned by him.
He is allowed also reasonable compensation fw his expenses and trouble in coop
erage and other services, and his compensation and fees are a lien on fish in
spected. The foregoing provisions do not extend to fish packed in foreign countries, and
imported into this state, or packed in any other state agreeably to law.
The only report of the inspection of fish is from New York city for 1834, liv
ing 5430 barrels mackerel, salmon, herring-, cod fish, &c. repacked and inspected

236 POLITICAL VIEW.
SECT. VI. — OF FISH OR LIVER OIL.
No liver oil may be bought, sold, bartered, shipped, exported, or conveyed from
the cities of New York, Albany, Troy, or Brooklyn, the villages of Lansingburg
or Waterford, unless inspected, guaged, or branded according to law.
The inspector guages and inspects such oil, when required, and searches within
his district for such oil, to inspect it; brands on each cask, guaged and inspected,
the whole number of gallons, the quantity of water, of sediment, and of pure oil
therein; with his name and district. He subscribes and delivers to the owner, a cer
tificate, exhibiting, in separate columns, the quantity of each of the above ingre
dients in the parcel above inspected. The powers of the inspector for the city of
New York extend to Brooklyn, and those of Troy to Lansingburg and Waterford.
Each inspector, for performance of his duty, receives 20 cents per barrel from the
owner, who may charge half to the purchaser.
Persons holding such oil, put it in convenient position for inspection, when re
quired by the inspector.
To counterfeit or alter the brand of the inspector; to mix or in any manner to
adulterate such oil, after branding; to buy, sell or barter oil subject to inspection
not inspected, in any inspection district; to convey or cause to be conveyed from
such district, oil not inspected; or to empty any cask, and not immediately to ef
face the inspector's brands, is subject to a penalty of $25 for each offence.
Oils other than liver are not subject to inspection.
Inspection reports seem to be made only from New York city. In 1833, 1,655
barrels are returned; value, $17,791 25; and in 1834, 2,247 barrels— $24,155 25.
SECT. VII. — OF LUMBER AND SHINGLES.
No timber, plank, boards, scantling or cypress shingles, may be exported by
sea, to any port out of the territory of the United States, which have not been duly
inspected according to law, under penalty, in case of lumber, of forfeiting $2 50
per M. superficial feet; and in case of cypress shingles, not inspected and not
measuring at least twenty-two inches in length, three and a half in breadth,
and three-eights thick, the sum of two dollars for each thousand.
The inspectors measure the entire contents, without deduction of raft, timber
and spars, except where by agreement they are required both to measure and in
spect, when no other deduction is made than the quantity of unsound timber
therein: they render to their employers bills of the lumber inspected, stating the
number of feet, and whether measured, only, or measured and inspected; and if
inspected, they make four qualities, when necessary.
They mark, with a marking-iron, on all timber inspected, mahogany, red cedar
and live oak excepted, the number of feet therein, cubic or superficial; expressing
in their bills the number of feet in mahogany, red cedar and live oak, severally
annexed to the number of each log; and raft timber is numbered and bills made in
like manner.
When employed to inspect mahogany logs or square timber, they set forth in
the bill of measurement, with the number and contents in feet, the length, width
and thickness, of each log or piece.
Any person, not an inspector, measuring and inspecting lumber or cypress.shin-
gles, where an inspector is appointed, forfeits to the inspectors in such place, re
coverable in the name of either, the sum of ten dollars. But the inspectors in
Troy, may inspect at Gibbonsville or West Troy, and those at Albany, in Bath or
Greenbush. No inspector employs a deputy; nor may he buy or sell lumber or cypress
shingles, except for his own use, under penalty of being deemed guilty of mis
demeanour, and on conviction, of forfeiting his office.
The inspector is allowed, for each ton of 40 cubic feet of raft timber, measured
and inspected, 8 cents; if measured only, 5 cents; for every thousand feet, super
ficial measure, of boards and plank, if inspected, 37J cents; if measured only, 25
cents; for every thousand feet, inch measure, of beams and scantling, 25 cents;
for every thousand feet, superficial measure, of mahogany, one dollar; for every

REGULATIONS OF TRADE.

237

thousand cypress shingles inspected, 18 cents; and where, from the character of
the lumber, the fees cannot be thus estimated, such compensation as the employer
may consent to pay, the inspector-making known to him the fees as above"allowed.
Shingles may be inspected by inspectors of lumber, or by inspectors specially
appointed. Each bundle inspected is branded across the butts or sides, No. 1, No. 2, No.
3, No. 4; or with the letter R or O, with the name of the inspector and the place
where inspected. No.l is at least 18 inches long, 4 wide, half an inch thick at
butt, straight rifted and full breasted; No. 2, same length, A- of an inch thick at
butt, 4 wide, rifted and breasted as No. 1; No. 3, 17 inches long, average 4 wide,
| of an inch thick at butt, straight rifted and holding their width three-fourths of
the way to the thin end, and well shaved; No. 4, 15 inches in length, average 4
inches wide, and none less than 3 inches, § of an inch thick at butt, straight rifted,
holding their width three-fourths of the way to the thin end and well shaved; all
of good stuff, free from imperfections, cut square across the butts, and packed in
sufficient bands of hard wood and well secured by wedges.
Refuse shingles are branded R, and are such as will not pass in either of the
foregoing classes; shingles not worth half the price of No. 1, are branded O.
The owner is required to place shingles for inspection so that they may be
conveniently examined by the inspector. No quality passes inspection, unless so
packed as to contain by admeasurement, either one quarter, one half, or three quar
ters of a thousand, in each square bundle. Shingles inspected according to the
foregoing provisions, are not subject to re-inspection.
The inspector receives for inspecting and branding, 12§ cents per M., one half
from the buyer and one half from the seller; but in no case may the inspector be
the purchaser.
Any inspector, his deputy or assistants, guilty of fraud or neglect in inspection,
or branding or marking shingles not inspected, forfeits one dollar for each bundle,
recoverable by the person injured.
We give the returns of lumber inspected and measured, as made to the legisla
ture in 1834 and 1835.

1833.
New York, -
Albany City,
Troy, - -

1834.
New York, -
Albany City,
Troy, - -

Returns [of Inspection.
Inland feet. Value.
19,964,536 $438,346
15,544,796 217,627
13,312,040 180,973

48,821,372 Inland feet.
18,746,06416,520,682 9,123,208
44,389,944

836,946 Value.
$372,923 234,158 150,385
757,466

Mahogany ft.
1,491,933

Mahogany ft.
1,815,494

Value.
$419,365

Value.
$506,287

SECT. VIII.  OF STAVES AND HEADING.
No staves or heading may be exported by sea to any port out of the United
States, unless inspected, and culled and merchantable, and of the following de
scription: Butt, pipe and barrelstaves, of white oak; long butts, 5 feet 6 inches; short
butts, 4 feet 6 inches long; both at least 5 inches broad when dressed, clear of
sap, 2 inches thick on the thinnest edge, and not more than 21 inches thick any
where; regularly split, with the grain of the wood free from twist, and otherwise
good and sufficient: Pipe staves, 4 feet 6 inches in length, to work 3 inches
broad when dressed, clear of sap, £ of an inch thick on the thin edge, regularly
split with the grain of the wood, having not more fhan six worm holes and other
wise sufficient: Barrel staves, 2 feet 8 inches in length, to work 3| inches broad

238 . POLITICAL VIEW.
when dressed, clear of sap, £ of an inch thick on the thin edge, regularly split,
having not more than four worm holes and otherwise sufficient:
Hogshead staves may be of white, red or rock oak; 3 feet 6 inches long, £ of an
inch thick on the thin edge; white oak staves to work 3 inches broad when
dressed, clear of sap, regularly split, having not more than four worm holes and
otherwise sufficient. Red or -rock oak staves, 3j inches broad, including sap, or
3 inches clear of sap:
Hogshead heading, of white oak, 2 "feet 8 inches long, not less than 5 inches
broad, clear of sap, f of a foot for middle pieces, and not less than £ of an inch
thick on the thin edge, regularly split with the grain and otherwise sufficient.
Each inspector general, within his proper district, superintends the cullers of
staves and heading, and may remove any one who fails in his duty; giving notice
to the governor of any vacancy in the office of culler, under his superintendence.
The cullers in the cities and counties of New York and Albany make returns to
them, respectively, monthly of the staves and headings culled, specifying the dif
ferent times and the names of the persons for whom they were culled.
The inspectors general have the sole power to determine disputes in their dis
tricts respecting the culling; but in counties where there is no such officer, such
disputes between buyer and seller are submitted to two persons, one chosen hy
each, who with the culler determines thereon, conclusively.
Each inspector general receives on every thousand merchantable staves and
heading, culled in his district, 10 cents, payable one half by the buyer, and one
half by the seller, and the same for such as are rejected as unmerchantable, from
the proprietor.
The cullers in the cities and counties of New York and Albany, receive for
every thousand pipe staves, 60 cents; hogshead staves and heading, 50 cents; barrel
staves, 40 cents; long butt staves, $1 20; short butt staves, $1; payable half by
the buyer and half by the seller; and the same prices for unmerchantable staves
.and heading from the proprietor; in all cases computing ten hundred and no more
to the thousand.
The cullers, elsewhere, have for each thousand pipe staves, 50 cents; hogshead
staves and heading, 37£ cents; barrel staves, 25 cents; long butt staves, $1 25;
short butt staves, $1; payable in moieties respectively by the buyer and seller:
and the same prices for unmerchantable staves and heading, payable by the pro
prietor; in all cases computing twelve hundred to the thousand.
The inspector general of the City of New York, is empowered and required to
search vessels within his district,- which he may suspect to have on board, for ex
portation, staves or heading not culled according to law, or unmerchantable; to
seize and reland such; and such as he finds sawed into two Or more parts, which
are forfeited, and are sold by him, and the net proceeds paid to the chamberlain of
New York for the use of the poor of the city.
Every culler, in the said city, is required, when suspecting that unculled or
condemned staves or heading, are shipped for exportation to a foreign market,
within his limits, to apply to a justice, and to make oath of his suspicion and its
causes; such justice, deeming the suspicion well founded, issues his warrant to
the culler, authorising him to enter any vessel within the limits of the county, to
search and discover such staves and heading; if discovered, the culler may seize,
reland and detain them, until the owner have paid the expense of search and re-
landing. The shipper for exportation of staves and heading, contrary to law, forfeits $5
for every thousand; and the master of the vessel forfeits $2 50 for every thousand
he shall receive on boaid to be exported, contrary to law.
No inspector general or culler, in the city and county of New York, or city and
county of Albany, may buy or sell for himself or others, any staves or heading,
under penalty of $50 for each offence; unless he be a cooper actually carrying on
business, when he may buy for his trade.
Each inspector general furnishes to every culler under his superintendence, a
copy of the laws regulating the culling of staves; and makes an annual report to
the governor, to be laid before the legislature, stating the number of the respective
kinds of staves and heading that have been culled during the year in his district;
and whether any, and if any, what.amendments should be made to the laws regu
lating the culling within such districts.

REGULATIONS OF TRADE. 239
Reports of Inspection for >
1833. 1834.
New York, - 7,388,696 $266,986 10,812,032 $356,639
Albany, - - 1,387,061 37,396 1,438,167 41,856
Value estimated at New York prices.
SECT. IX.  OF FLAXSEED.
No flaxseed may be shipped for exportation to any foreign market, from the
city and county of New York, unless duly inspected and branded. Flaxseed in
tended for export, may be put into casks of two sizes; one containing not less
than seven, and the other not more than three and a half bushels. Each cask,
.when its contents have been cleaned, is marked or branded with the initial of the
Christian, and the full surname of the cleaner, and the name of the city or county
where cleaned.
Every person who lades, or attempts to lade, any vessel with flaxseed, not duly
inspected,, for- the purpose of export from the city of New York to any foreign
place, forfeits, for each cask, $10.
The inspector examines such casks, opening, at least, one in twenty he inspects,
and as many more as he deems proper — to ascertain, by measurement, whether
they have the proper contents, and the quality thereof, by boring; brands every
cask found correct, with the initial of his Christian, and his full.surname, and the
name of the city where inspected, on .the quarter, in a legible manner — and on
each, according to quality, the word " first," " second," or " third."
He may employ deputies, for whose acts he is responsible; and every person
not authorised, who exercises the duties of an inspector, forfeits lo the inspector
$100 for each offenee.
No inspector or tleputy may be engaged or interested in buying, selling or
cleaning flaxseed, either for his own account or that of others, under penalty, for .
each offence, of $500.
The inspector receives, for inspection of each cask of seven bushels, 5 cents; of
three and a half bushels, 3 cents; payable by him who offers it for inspection,
who may charge half thereof to the buyer. And if the inspector find, by measure
ment, that a cask does not contain the proper quantity, he is entitled to 50 cents
for inspection, from the offerer, in addition to his fees.
Flaxseed inspected in New York:— In 1833, 16,182 tierces; value, $242,730.
In 1834, 19,863 tierces; value, $307,884 25.
SECT. X. — OF LEATHER.
Each inspector inspects sole leather offered him within his district, and also in
any city, town or village of his county, or adjoining county, if there be no in
spector appointed therein; weighing every side, and impressing thereon, in words
at full length, his own surname, and the name of the place for which he is in
spector—the words, "best," "good," "damaged," "bad," according to qua
lity, with the weight, either in figures or words, at length.
He makes such deduction, as he deems reasonahle, from the actual weight of
the side not perfectly dry; and if it afterwards dry, so as to weigh 5 per cent, less
than the weight marked, he makes good to the vendor the excessive deduction;
but he is not compellable to inspect any sole leather not perfectly dry.
Such inspector, in the city of New York,, receives two cents, and in other
places four cents, for each side, he weighs, inspects, and seals; payable by the
seller, who may charge the purchaser with one half.
In the counties of Onondaga, Herkimer, Ulster, Oneida, Jefferson, Madison,
Seneca, Steuben, Montgomery, Ontario, Genesee, and Erie, no manufacturer of, or
dealer in, sole leather, is required .to have such leather inspected previously to
sale; but in every other place in which an inspector is appointable, no sole leather
may be sold, unless duly inspected, under penalty, in the seller, of five dollars for
each side.

240 POLITICAL VIEW.
Inspection of Sole Leather.

1833.

1834.
Sides.
Lbs."
Value.
Sides.
Lbs.
Value.
N. York city,
834,912
12,118,103
$1,831,083
843,006
12,617,588
$1,867,193
Albany,
39,250
589,250
88,387
32,331
484,965
72,745
Troy,
21,620
323,502
54,876
10,187
153,805
23,080
Tompkins,
4,723
70,415
13,656
5,090
70,746
12,266
Monroe,
8,004 '
122,208
22,629
5,692
58,351
10,038
Cayuga,
749
112,350
16,852
4,064
60,960
11,170
Genesee,
147
2,243
422
St. Lawrence,
15,846
2,945
Chenango,
884
13,260
1,989
Yates,
1,487
22,305
3,345
909,405 13,353,917 $2,030,850 902,741 13,481,980 $2,001,826
In 1832, the leather dealers of New York city estimated the value of sole
leather, annually, at $2,277,900, including the product of 84 large tanneries, and
excluding the smaller ones dispersed over the state — and the value of upper
leather, calfskins, goat skins, and sheep skins manufactured, at $1, 180,750. The
increase of the manufacture of sole leather in this state, has been more than 500
per cent, since 1817, and near 300 per cent, since 1827. The consumption of sole
leather, in the United States, was estimated at thirty-two millions of pounds an
nually; and, it is almost certain from the above table, that this state supplies
nearly half the sum — for large quantities are used without inspection.
The census of 1835 gives to the state 412 tanneries, whose product is valued at
$5,598,626. SECT. XI.  OF GREEN HIDES.
An inspector of green hides and calf skins is appointed for each of the cities of
New York, Albany, Troy, Hudson, Schenectady, and Rochester; and the villages
of Catskill, Lansingburg, and Waterford, with power extending one mile from
such villages and cities, except New York; and in all cases the appointment is
for two years. He takes the constitutional oath, and gives bond, in New York
city in $5000, in Rochester, $1000, and elsewhere $500, conditioned for the
faithful discharge of his duties. He inspects daily the green skins offered there
for, ascertains whether they are injured by holes or cuts in skinning, or by the
adherence of parts of bones, skin, or filth. He stamps legibly on the butt of each
skin, the weight thereof, and the letter G, 1,2, 3, and progressively other num
bers, in proportion as the hide is free from injury, or is injured.
Skins free from injury are stamped "G;" those injured five cents, "l;"ten
cents, "2;" 15 cents, "3;" increasing the stamp one for every additional five
cents of injury it may have sustained; and the injury so indicated is deducted from
the value when good and merchantable. The purchasers respectively notify the
inspectors where hides are collected for inspection.
Each inspector, except in Rochester, appoints three deputies, who take the oath
prescribed; one of whom, in the city of New York, is an experienced licensed
butcher. The inspector receives for inspecting each hide 40 cents, and for each
calf skin 2 cents; except in the city of New York, where he receives for each hide
41, and for each calf skin li.
The purchaser of hides and sliins labels each with the name of the butcher
from whom he purchases, until after inspection, and account taken; and the remo
val, obliteration, or destruction of the label, with intent to defraud the seller or
others, is a misdemeanour, punishable by fine and imprisonment at the discretion
ofthe court.
If any butcher, or other person, where inspectors are authorised, sell or dispose
of such hides or skins, liable to inspection, with intent to evade inspection; or, if
any one purchase them not inspected, and do not within 48 hours cause them to
be inspected, he forfeits double the value of each, recoverable by any one prose
cuting.
REGULATIONS OF TRADE.

241

The inspectors ofthe cities of New York and Rochester report, on oath, to the
legislature, on tho 1st of January, annually, the number of hides and skins inspected
during the preceding year, the amount received for fees, and the amount paid
deputies and assistants.
Green hides inspected in New York citv in 1833: — Hides, 43,862 ; calf skins,
32,961; value, $232,317. In 1834, 43,935 hides; 32,478 calf skins; value,
$221,321. At Troy, in 1833, 3646 hides; 1077 skins ; value, $13,412. In 1835,
in Albany, 5400 hides, and 320 skins.
SECT. XII.  OF HOPS.
No hops may be exported without having been inspected, under penalty of for
feiture. Hops inspected in Albany may be exported thence, or be sold in, or ex
ported from, the city of New York, without re-inspection. Hops intended for ex
port are packed in bags of not more than 400 pounds, nor less than 150 pounds,
and submitted to inspection ten days after they are bagged— legibly marked, with
the initial of the Christian and the full surname of him who puts them up, and
before removal from the place where put up— under penalty of five dollars for
each bag removed before being thus marked.
Each inspector provides proper storage for the hops brought for his inspection —
examines such only as have been ten days bagged— sorts them according to
quality, and marks them, respectively, "first," "second," "third" sorts, or
"refuse;" with the name, date, and place of inspection, in letters at full length—
and the total weight of the bag and contents — delivering to the owner a weigh
note, stating the quality and weight — marks the word " condemned" on each
bag fraudulently mixed with improper substances.
He may enter any vessel within his district to search for hops, shipped or
shipping, contrary to-law; seize, and sell them by auction, paying proceeds, after
deduction of expenses and ten per cent, for services, to the use of the poor of his
district. He receives 10 cents for every 100 pounds he inspests, payable half by
the buyer, and half by the seller, and the same for hops condemned, from the per
son offering them for inspection.
Whoever offers for sale, or sells, condemned hops for other than condemned,
forfeits twenty-five dollars for every bag. Whoever mixes with hops any foreign
or improper substance, or in any manner adulterates their quality, is guilty of
misdemeanour, punishable by fine or imprisonment, at discretion of the court.
Whoever counterfeits, on any bag, the marks of the inspector, or empties any bag
so marked, for the purpose of putting therein other hops for sale or exportation,
without first erasing such marks, forfeits one hundred dollars for each offence.
Every master of a vessel receiving on board, for export, any bag of hops not
duly inspected, forfeits ten dollars for each.
The inspector for the city of New York reports inspected for 1833, 2842 bales—
552,190 pounds— $121,481. For 1834, 4265 bales— 810,350 pounds— $128,845.
The price in the former year is given at 22, and in the latter at 16 cents, per pound.
The inspection includes eastern hops, which exceed, by a third, the western,
brought to the market. SECT. XIII. — OF DISTILLED SPIRITS.
No spirits distilled within the United States, and exceeding the quantity of 20
gallons, may be sold in the city of New York unless inspected, and the casks
branded according to law, under penalty of forfeiture for every gallon, the value
thereof. The standard of domestic distilled spirits is thus fixed; spirits, at the tempera
ture of 60° Fahrenheit, whose specific gravity shall be 9335, compared to the gra
vity of pure distilled water estimated at 10000, is deemed first proof; and the
strength below or above first proof is calculated decimally, or by the per centage
in reference to the above standard, and is denoted as so many per cent, below or
above first proof, as the actual difference in strength may be.
The inspector general keeps an office for reception of orders for inspection, in a
convenient part ofthe city, and on his requisition, the inspectors proceed without
delay, to prove the strength of such spirits by a hydrometer, graduated accordino-
31

242 POLITICAL VIEW.
to law; lo guage the casks and contents; to mark with a marking iron, legibly,
upon each cask the number of gallons it contains, the deficiency, the proof, if first
proof; if not first proof, the per centage above or below first proof, and the initial
letter of his surname; to deliver to the owner a certificate, exhibiting in separate
columns the whole contents ofthe cask, the deficiency, the proof and the number
of estimated gallons at first proof, making proper deductions or additions where
the same is below or above first proof.
Such inspectors are under tbe superintendence of the inspector general, follow
his instructions in relation to their duties, report as often as once a month, under
oath, the number of barrels, tierces and hogsheads inspected and guaged by them,
respectively, and for whom; the number of gallons they contain, with the whole
amount of fees received by them respectively, to the time of return. He appor
tions to them the business equitably. He determines finally, all disputes between
the owner and inspector, relative to inspection or guaging.
No inspector general or inspector may be concerned in purchasing or selling
domestic spirits, except for his private use; nor connected in trade with any dis
tiller or manufacturer of distilled spirits, or be agent for any person in the pur
chase or sale thereof, under the penalty of $500 and forfeiture of office. The in
spector general is required to report to the governor, the name of any inspector
who acts inconsistently with the trust reposed in him; and the governor may dis
place him, and fill the vacancy until the pleasure ofthe senate be known.
Any person adulterating distilled spirits, or spirits in a state of distillation, with
poisonous or unhealthy substances, or selling them knowing them to be so adulte
rated, is guilty of a misdemeanour, punishable by fine not exceeding $1000, and
imprisonment not exceeding four years, in the discretion of the court. Any person
fraudulently putting any thing into a cask of distilled spirits, branded by an in
spector, for the purpose of altering the real or apparent proof, or the bead or nature
of the spirits, or who, without first obliterating the marks of the inspector, puts into
such cask when emptied, in whole or in part, any other spirituous liquor whatever,
or who sells or in any manner disposes of such cask when emptied, without effac
ing the marks ofthe inspector, is guilty of misdemeanour, punishable by fine and
imprisonment. The inspector of distilled spirits in the city of New York, receives from the
person offering spirits for inspection — for proving, guaging, taking outs, or differ
ences, marking, starting and replacing bungs, and certificate, seven cents for each
barrel or tierce, and nine cents for each hogshead; for proving only, three cents
per eask; guaging and taking outs, for each barrel or tierce three cents, and hogs
head five cents; for taking outs only one cent per cask. And in every other county
like fees, with the addition of 50 per eent..
The inspector general has one-fourth of the fees receivable by the inspectors,
payable on their making their returns to him; and for omission of payment, or the
truth in their" return, they forfeit their offices.
The inspector general for the city of New York, returns for
1833. 1334.
46,230 barrels inspected. 39,664 barrels
8,023 hhds. do. 5,134 hhds.
10,034 casks proved. 5,452 casks proved.
322 casks wantage.
64,609 50,250

4,201,054 gallons. 9,659,465 gallons.
It will be perceived that the return of gallons for one or the other year, is erro
neous, and we think it grossly so for both. In 1833 we have 64,609 casks; if all
were hhds. they would give a less number of gallons than is stated; but of
these casks 46,230 were barrels. We cannot suppose that any excess of proof
reduced to first proof will make this difference. If such be the errors of 1833,
how much greater are those for 1834, where the return in gallons is more than
doubled, and the number of casks greatly reduced?
The inspector for Albany, for 1833, reports 4,536 barrels— 91 hhds.=208,690
gallons.

REGULATIONS OF TRADE. 243
SECT. XIV. — OF LEAF TOBACCO.
The inspector of tobacco in New York, appoints one or more deputies, who
with him, before entering on duty, take the oath prescribed by the constitution.
When required, he in person or by deputy, inspects leaf tobaccoin casks, at any
warehouse or wharf; breaking up each cask in three places, in the centre, and at
the distance of not less than ten inches from the ends, and oftener, if he deems it
necessary to the proper examination ofthe quality — draws from each place a sam
ple of not less than four heads, which he labels and marks, with the corresponding
number and mark put on the cask, of which sample one-half is left with the owner
or consignee, and the other retained by the inspector, for examination by all who
desire it, until the tobacco be exported or sold for consumption — ascertains the
actual tare of each cask, causes it to be coopered and weighed, and marks legibly
with a marking iron, on each head the gross weight and tare, the name in full of
the inspector, with the month and year of inspection, together with the quality of
the tobacco — and delivers to the owner or consignee, a weigh bill, designating the
number, weight and quality of each cask inspected, and the date thereof.
He designates four qualities of leaf tobacco; First, Second, Third, Refuse or
Damaged; one of which he makes all tobacco submitted to inspection and the
samples. He receives for his services fifty cents for each cask, and the actual cost of
cooperage and labour.
To forge, alter, or counterfeit, or to attempt either, the marks or numbers put on
any cask by inspection, or fraudulently to change or repack any tobacco inspected,
from one cask to another, with intent to defraud, or impose one quality for another,
or fraudulently, with intent to deceive, to remove any stave or heading so marked-,
or to forge, change or al ter any such weigh note, or marks and numbers attached by
the inspector to such samples, is a misdemeanour, punishable by fine or impri
sonment, or both,' at the discretion of the court.
The inspector or deputy, falsely or fraudulently marking any tobacco, or deliver
ing false or fraudulent weigh bills, is guilty of misdemeanour, and punishable as
above. If an inspector unreasonably refuste or neglect to perform his office, he is
liable to treble damages, recoverable by the party aggrieved.
Inspected in 1834; 5,909 hhds. valued at $547,113.
SECT. XV.  GKNERAL PROVISIONS RELATIVE TO INSPECTIONS.
In case of articles inspected, stored with an inspector, not claimed by the owner
within one year from the time of inspection, the inspector delivers to an auctioneer
ofthe proper district, an invoice ofthe quantity and quality, specifying the brands
and marks thereon, and the name and residence of the owner, and person deliverino-
the same for inspection. The auctioneer sells such articles at public auction, ad°
vertising the sale in the state paper, and in a paper printed in the city or county of
his residence, stating time and place of sale, and the particulars of such invoice.
If before sale tbe owner do not claim the articles and pay the fees and charges,
the sale is completed, and the auctioneer renders an account thereof to the comp
troller, and pays the proceeds to the state treasurer, for the use of the owner, de
ducting his and the inspector's charges, the latter of which are paid by the auc
tioneer. Each inspector transmits annually, on the 1st of January, on oath, to the comp
troller, a duplicate invoice of such articles, and note of the amount received by him
from the auctioneer. The report of an' inspector of ashes is accompanied by oath
that he has delivered to some auctioneer, (giving name,) such invoice of all the un
claimed ashes delivered to him for inspection, which had been in his hands one
year or more, and that he has duly accounted with the owner or agent, -for all the
ashes delivered to his care'for inspection, and that he has not by himself or others
made any invoice, weigh note or bill of inspection, of a later date than the time'
when such ashes were duly inspected, and that the same were emptied from the
casks, and duly examined at the date of every such invoice, &c.
And though no such invoice may have been delivered to any auctioneer, during
the preceding year such inspector transmits to the comptroller, on such day an ai>

244 POLITICAL VIEW.
fidavit, stating that there have been no articles subject to inspection, stored with
him, remaining unclaimed, within one year from the time they were inspected.
The inspector, failing to make such report or affidavit, is guilty of misdemean
our, punishable by fine not exceeding $2,500, ami imprisonment not exceeding one
year, and the comptroller directs the proper district attorney to prosecute for the
offence. Every inspector required to make inspection, if not then engaged in duty, pro
ceeds without delay, and for every three hours unnecessary delay, forfeits to the
injured, three dollars in addition to the damages he may sustain.
*j Every inspector guilty of fraud, malpractice, or connivance in discharging his
duties, or who offers fee or reward to any one, in order to obtain the profits of in
specting, is guilty of a misdemeanour punishable by fine and imprisonment.
Every person counterfeiting, or fraudulently altering or defacing the brands or
other marks of an inspector, is guilty of like' offence punishable in the same man
ner; the fine not to exceed $2,000, nor the imprisonment three years.
Every person counterfeiting, or fraudulently altering or defacing the brands,
or'other marks put on any hogshead, barrel, half barrel, containing flour, meal,
beef, pork, pot or pearl ashes, fish, fish oil, liver oil, or distilled spirits, by the
owner, is guilty of misdemeanour, punishable by fine not exceeding $500, or by
imprisonment not exceeding one year.
Penalties imposed by the laws relating to inspection, not specially appropriated,
except incurred by inspectors, are prosecuted for by the proper inspector ; and
when recovered, deducting such sum not exceeding one half, as may be allowed
him, by the proper court, are paid to the chamberlain or treasurer of the city or
county in which the offence was committed, for the use of the poor. .Such penal
ties incurred by an inspector, are prosecuted for by the district attorney of the
county in which the inspector resides and when recovered, deducting counsel fee,
allowed by the court, are paid in like manner.
Every inspector under such laws, annually, on or before the IstFebruary, reports
to the legislature, the quantity, the quality, and value of the produce, provisions, or
merchandise, inspected by him during the year, ending on the 1st January next
preceding, with the amount of fees and emoluments derived from his office ;
with- such information possessed by him as may tend to the improvement of the
quality, or increase the quantity of the articles subject" to his inspection. Under
penalty for failure, for each offence of $200, recoverable by the attorney general,
in the name and to the use of the people of the States.
We may remark that these returns appear very irregularly upon the journals of
the Assembly.
SECT, XVI-  REGULATIONS RELATIVE TO THE PACKAGE OF BUTTER,
LARD, AND HAT.
The firkin in which butter or lard is packed, for sale, has the true weight there.
of stamped or marked in a legible and durable manner, on one of the staves or
heads, with the initials of the packer, which is, on every sale, deemed the tare.
The offering for sale of any firkin of butter or lard not so marked, is punishable
by a fine of three dollars; and the putting any false mark on such firkin, or selling,
or offering to sell any butter or lard in any firkin known to be falsely marked, by
a fine of five dollars. Such fines to be applied to the use of the city, town, or
village, in which the offence is committed, and recoverable in the name of any of
ficer appointed thereby to sue therefor.
Every person putting up and pressing any bundle of hay for market, marks or
brands in a legible manner the initials of his Christian, and his full surname, and
the name of the town in which he resides, on some board or wood attached. to the
bundle ; and may not put or conceal in any such bundle, any wet or damaged hay,
or other materials or hay of inferior quality to that which plainly appears on the
outside, under penalty of prosecution by the person aggrieved ; and if the court,
before whom the suit is brought, be satisfied that any of the preceding provisions
has been violated, it renders judgment of one dollar for the plaintiff, with such da
mages as he has suffered thereby, and costs : but if the court be satisfied that no
such violation has been committed, the costs are awarded against the plaintiff.
Such hay may be sold with or without inspection or deduction for tare, and by

REGULATIONS OF TRADE.

245

the weights, as marked, or any other standard weight, -as agreed between buyer
and seller.
No person may receive any fees or compensation for inspecting pressed or other
hay where he is the purchaser, for himself, or as agent for any other person.
SECT. XVII.  REGULATION OF HAWKERS AND PEDLERS.
Any person disposed to the employment of a pedler of foreign wares obtains
from the secretary of state, a license, for which he pays, if travelling on foot,
$50; if with one horse, or other beast, or boat, $80; if with a vehicle drawn
by more than one beast, $ 100. The license is renewable annually on the 1st of
April. The penalty for trading and travelling without license, or contrary to its terms,
is $25, to the use of" the poor of the town in which the offence is committed"; and
for refusing to produce the license to any citizen demanding it, $10 to the
poor of the town where the demand is made; and in default of payment, on con
viction, committal to prison for one month. The offender may be apprehended by
any citizen, and conveyed before a justice of the town or county in which he is
taken, by whom, on due conviction, the penalty of $25, with costs not exceeding
five dollars, is collected by warrant, levied on the goods of the offender.
In case of prosecution for either penalty, no costs can be recovered by the de
fendant, if before suit he refuses to produce his license or disclose his name ; nor
in such case can he maintain suit, against the prosecutor or others, for their acts in
prosecuting, apprehending, or trying him. Suit for penalty, however, must be
brought within 60 days after the offence.
SECT. XVIII.  REGULATIONS OF TAVERNS AND GROCERIES.
The supervisors and justices of the peace of the several towns, are commis
sioners of excise; three of them, the supervisor, and two justices, form a board,
or three justices, if the office of supervisor be vacant: — if there be not two justi
ces in the town, two of a neighbouring town may be associated with the super
visor. The board meets on the 1st Monday of May, annually, and on such other
days, and at such places, as -the supervisor, or if his office be vacant, the justices
appoint. They keep a book of minutes, entering every grant of a license, with the sum
required to be paid therefor, verified by their signatures, and filed with the town
clerk, within five days. They grant licenses to keepers of inns and taverns, resi
dents of their towns, to sell strong and spirituous liquors and wines to be drank
in their houses respectively ; and to grocers to sell such ,liquors and wines, in
quantities less than five gallons, but not to be drank in their houses, shops, or ap
purtenances, and fix the sum, to be paid by each applicant, not less than five, nor
more than thirty dollars.
They receive, collectively, a fee of 75 cents for each license, and on payment of
the duty and fee on each, issue license to be in force, unless revoked, until the
day after the 1st Monday in May, in the succeeding year. A tavern license is not
granted unless the commissioners are satisfied that the applicant is of good moral
character, of sufficient ability, and has the necessary accommodations to entertain
travellers, and that a tavern is necessary at the place where he resides, or proposes
to keep it — all which is expressed in the license. Nor is such license granted
until the applicant give bond to the state, in the sum of $ 125, with surety approved
by the commissioners, conditioned that during the time he shall keep an inn, he
will not suffer it to be disorderly, nor permit any cock,fighting, gaming, or playing
with cards or dice, nor keep any billiard or other gaming table.
Every innkeeper is required to keep in his house at least two good spare beds
and bedding for his guests, to provide sufficient stabling, fodder and grain, for
at least four horses, or other cattle, for the accommodation of travellers, under
penalty of forfeiture to the use of the poor, five dollars; to put up within thirty
days after obtaining license, and to maintain during its term, a proper sign, on
or adjacent to the front of his house, with his name thereon, indicating in some
way, that he keeps a tavern, under penalty for every month's neglect, of one dollar
and twenty-five cents; and whoever not having such license puts up such sign,
shall forfeit $ 1 25 for every day such sign shall be kept up.

246 POLITICAL VIEW.
No innholder may trust any person, other than his lodgers or travellers, for li
quors or tavern expenses, more than one dollar and twenty-five cents, nor recover
the same by any suit; all securities for such debts are void, and the taker, with in
tent to evade the law, forfeits double the sum intended to be secured.
The grocery license contains a declaration, that it does not authorise the sale of
liquors or wine; to be drank in the' house or appurtenances ofthe grantee, nor may
it be granted until the applicant have given bond as above required, conditioned,
that during the term of his license he will not suffer his grocery to become disor
derly, nor sell, or suffer to be sold, strong liquors or wines, to he drank in his house,
&c, nor'suffer such liquor, &c, to be so drank.
The fee of the commissioner for drawing either of such bonds does not exceed
twenty-five cents.
Whoever sells strong liquors or wines in quantity less than five gallons, with
out license, or sells them to.be drank in his house, &c, without license, forfeits
25 dollars. No person licensed to sell such liquors may sell to any apprentice or
servant, knowingly, without the consent of his master, nor to a minor under 14
years of age, without consent of his parent or guardian, under penalty of five dol
lars, to be recovered by the master, parent or guardian, respectively; nor may he,
or any other person, take from an apprentice, servant or minor, any clothing, mo
ney, goods, or things in action, in payment of liquors sold, or in pawn, or pledge,
to secure such payment, under penalty of three times the value of articles so re
ceived, to the parent, master, or guardian, to he recoveredwith such articles.
Penalties, given by the foregoing provisions, except in cases specially.provided
for, are recoverable by the overseers of the poor of the town where the offence is
committed. Bonds taken pursuant thereto, are filed within five days after execu
tion with the clerk of the proper town, city, or village ; and when the condition
is broken, the supervisor, mayor, or trustees, prosecute and recover the penalty for
the use ofthe poor. When conviction is had for such penalty or breach, the court
convicting transmits a statement thereof, and of the offence, to the next court of
general sessions of the county.; by whom the license may, and if the conviction
be for a second or other offence, must be revoked. All offences against the fore
going provisions are misdemeanours, punishable by fine and imprisonment.
Such provisions do not extend to the city of New York, nor impair the powers
of any corporation of any other city, town or village, authorised to grant such li
censes, nor do they extend to the sale of liquors or wines on board vessels navi
gating any waters within the state. But when any such vessel remains at any
place for a longer time than one hour, no such liquors may be sold on board, in
quantity less than five gallons, whilst remaining after such hour, under penalty of
$ 25, for each offence, recoverable by the overseers of the poor.
The property of boarders at taverns and boarding houses is not liable to distress
for rent; but the officer distraining is not responsible unless notified of the claim
by the boarder.
SECT. XIX.  REGULATIONS CONCERNING BROKERS, STOCK JOBBING, AND
PAWNBROKERS.
No person may directly or indirectly receive more than 50 cents for a brokao-e,
or procuring the loan or forbearance of $ 100 for one year; nor more than 38 cents
for making or renewing a bond, bill, note, or security given for such loan or for
bearance, or for any counter bond, bill, note, or security relating thereto.
Whoever pays or deposits money, property, or thing in action over such rate, or
his representatives may within one year thereafter recover the same ofthe person,
or his representatives, receiving it — and if suit be not so brought, in o-ood faith,
or be discontinued, or wilfully delayed, the overseer of the poor, of the proper
precinct, may, within one year after said neglect, &c, recover the same for the use
of the poor.
Every person so liable to be sued is compellable to answer, upon oath, any bill
preferred in chancery for discovery ofthe thing so received, and to return it. But
upon such discovery and return, and payment of costs of suit, the defendant is
released from any other punishment he may have incurred by reason of such re
ceipt. All contracts, for the sale of stocks of the United States, any separate state,

REGULATION OF TIME, WEIGHTS, &C. 247
bank, or company incorporated by law of the United States, or individual state,
are void, unless the vendor at the time of contract, be in actual possession of the
certificate, or otherwise entitled in his own right, or by some one so entitled, to
sell such stock; — All wagers concerning the price, present or future, of such
stocks, are also void ; and any person paying a premium, or difference, in pursu
ance of such contract or wager, or his representatives may recover it by suit.
The business of pawn broking, or receiving goods in pledge for loans at interest
above the usual legal rate, may be carried on. only in cities where the corporation
is empowered to license it.
If any person make oath before a justice, that he has cause to suspect that pro
perty of his has been embezzled and pledged with a pawn broker, a search war
rant may issue, as in case of larceny. ' Property so seized is delivered to claimant,
on his executing, within 24 hours, a bond, with surety approved by the justice,
to the broker, conditioned that claimant will, on demand, pay such damages as may
be recovered in any suit, brought within 30 days, by the broker ; otherwise the
property is restored to the broker. — '<»^@©«..— ,
CHAPTER XI.
REGULATION OF TIME, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, AND MONEY OF
ACCOUNT.
1. Computation of Time. 2. Measures of Length and Surface. 3. Standard of Weight.
4. Measures of Capacity for Liquid and Dry Commodities. 5. The Bushel. 6. Con
tracts according to Standards. 7. Standards how kept — Duties of Sealers. 8. Mea
surer General, his Duties. 9. His Returns.^ 10. Weigher General— Duties and Fees.
11. Public Accounts, in what Money kept.
1. Time is computed according to the Gregorian or new style; and the first day
of January in every year, aecording thereto, since the year 1752, and which shall
hereafter happen, is to be reckoned the first day ofthe year.
Due provision is made by law, for preserving this mode of reckoning in the
same regular course, in all future time.
The term "year" or "years," in all statutes, contracts, public or private,
means for each year, 365 lays; a half year, 182 days; a quarter, 91 days. The
added day of a leap year and the day immediately preceding, occurring in any
period so computed, are reckoned together as one day. The term month, unless
otherwise expressed, means a calendar month.
2. The standard measure of length -and surface, whence all other measures of
extension, lineal, superficial or solid are derived, is the yard, as used in the state
on the 4th of July, 1776.
The yard bears to the pendulum, at Columbia College in the City of New
York, vibrating seconds, in a vacuum at the temperature of melting ice, the propor
tion of one million, to one million eighty-six thousand one hundred and forty-one. '
The standard, thus defined, is measured in a straight line between two points,
engraven on golden disks, inserted into a straight brass rod; and; if lost is to be
restored according to the proportions above mentioned, under direction of the se
cretary of the treasury, as state sealer of weights and measures.
The yard is divided into three equal parts, called feet; the foot into twelve equal
parts, called inches; and for the measure of commodities usually sold by the yard,
may be divided into halves, quarters, eighths or sixteenths.
The rod, pole or perch, contains 51 yards; the furlong, 220; and the mile 1760
yards. The acre, for land, is measured, horizontally;, is equal to a rectangle 16 perches
in length, and 10 in breadth, containing 160 square perches or 4840 square yards-
640 acres are contained in a square mile.
3. The unit or standard of weight, is the pound, of such magnitude, that the
weight of a cubic foot of distilled water, at its maximum density, weio-hed in a
vacuum with brass weights, is equal to 621 such pounds; it is made of brass and
in case of loss, is restored according to these proportions, under the direction of

248 POLITICAL VIEW.
the secretary of state. The pound is divided into sixteen parts called ounces, of
which parts each cubic foot of distilled water, weighs one thousand.
4. The unit or standard of measures of capacity, for liquids and dry com
modities, not measured by heaped measure, from which all other measures of
capacity are derived, is the gallon. There are two kinds of gallons, one for
liquids, and one for all other substances not measured by heaped measure, de
nominated, respectively, the gallon for liquid and the gallon for dry measures.
They are vessels containing, at the mean pressure of the atmosphere at the level
of the sea, the first, eight pounds, the second ten pounds of distilled water at its
maximum density. They are made of brass, and in case of loss, are restored by
these proportions, by the secretary.
All other measures of capacity for liquids are derived from the liquid gallon by
continual division, by the number two, constituting half gallons, quarts, pints, half
pints and gills; for substances other than "liquids, from the dry gallon, by con
tinued multiplication, by the number two, in the ascending scale, constituting
pecks, half bushels and bushels; and by continual division, by the same number,
in the descending scale, constituting half gallons, quarts, pints, half pints and
gills. The standard measure for bran and shorts, is 40 quarts to the bushel. The
vessel used is round, with an even bottom, 13^ inches in diameter in the clear, at
top, and 15j at the bottom, and of sufficient depth to contain that quantity, when
stricken with a round straight stick of uniform diameter.
5. The bushel contains, at the mean pressure of the atmosphere at the level of
the sea, 80 pounds distilled water, at its maximum density, and is the standard
measure of capacity for coal, ashes, marl, manure, Indian corn in the ear, fruit and
roots of every kind, and all other commodities commonly sold by heaped measure; is
made round, with a plane and even bottom, of the following diameters at top, mea
sured from outside to outside: the bushel, 19£ inches; the half bushel, 15£ inches,
and the peck, 121 inches. Commodities sold by heaped measure are heaped in
form of a cone, the outside of the measure being the extremity of the base, and
the summit being as high as the articles measured will permit.
6. All contracts relating to weight and measure, are according to the standards
thus ascertained; but the laws, on this subject, do. not prevent the sales of liquors
and wines, paying duties to the United States, by the measures of capacity used
in the custom houses while in the original vessels in which they were imported.
7. The original standards are deposited in the office ofthe state sealer, and kept
with special care, for ascertaining all -weights and measures throughout the state.
Copies made by his direction are deposited by him in the offices of the clerks of
the supreme court at New York, Albany, and Utica, and are preserved with like
care; and also such copies in the offices of the state sealers, the sealer of the city
and county of New York, and the several county sealers who are severally re
sponsible for their preservation, and who cause them to be compared, once in
every five years, with the copies in the offices of the clerks of the supreme court;
and like copies are transmitted to the several county sealers to be furnished to the
town sealers, at the expense of the counties. Upon each copy the state sealer
causes to be impressed the letters N. Y., with such other device as he may direct
for each county; and the device is recorded in the secretary's office and a copy
delivered to the respective county sealers.
The several county sealers, appointed by the supervisors, during their pleasure,
except in the City of New York, furnish the town sealers with copies of the
standards at the expense of the town; on which the county sealers, in addition
to the state and county device, impress such other device as the board of supervi
sors direct, for the several towns; which town device is recorded in the clerk's
office of the county. The town sealers compare such copies, once in every three
years, with those in the office ofthe county sealer.
The assistant state sealers, and the county and town-sealers, compare all weights
and measures brought them with the standard copies, and when found or made to
conform therewith, seal and mark them.
Each sealer receives for sealing and marking, every beam, 121 cents; for every
measure of extension, at the rate of 12j per yard, not exceeding 50 cents for any
one measure; for every weight, 3 cents; for liquid or dry measure, of a gallon or
more, 121 cents; less than a gallon, 3 cents; and a reasonable compensation for
adjusting such weights and measures to the standards.

REGULATION OF TIME, WEIGHTS, &C. 249
In case of the death, resignation, removal from office or from the district, of the
assistant state sealers or of those in the respective counties and towns, due provi
sion is made for transferring the standard copies to their successors.
Any person using weights, measures or beams, not conformable to the standards,
whereby the purchaser of any commodity may be defrauded, is liable to an action
by such purchaser, and to treble damages with costs of suit.
No surveyor may give evidence in any cause respecting the survey of lands,
unless, when required, he make oath that the chain used by him was conformable
to the standard established by law when the survey was made.
The hundred weight consists of one hundred pounds avoirdupois, and twenty
hundreds make a ton.
When wheat, rye or Indian corn, is sold by the bushel without special agree
ment as to measurement or weight, the bushel consists pf 60 pounds of wheat,
and 56 of rye or Indian corn.
In the counties of Kings," Queens and Richmond, fourteen bushels, heaped mea
sure, make a load.
The several measurers of grain receive for measuring the several articles com
monly sold by the bushel, one half cent per bushel, payable one half by the buyer
and one half by the seller.
The common council of New York may assign a particular district to each of
the inspectors, and to each sealer, of weights and measures, and confine them in
the performance of their duties, to such district respectively.
Measurement of Grain, Sec.
8. The measurer general, of the City: of New York, keeps an office for the re
ception of orders, and the measurers attend at his requisition, without delay at
the place where grain is deposited.
In case of dispute between the purchaser and seller of grain, or between either
and the measurer, the decision thereon, of the measurer general, is final; unless it
relate to the quality of the grain, when if buyer or seller be dissatisfied with his
decision, they or either, may appeal to three indifferent persons; one chosen by
each party, and the third by the two so chosen, whose award is conclusive.
No other than measurers duly appointed, in that city, may measure, for reward,
grain therein, under penalty of $25; nor may the measurer general or measurers pur
chase grain, except for their own use, nor be concerned in trade with any person deal
ing in grain, or act as agent for such dealer, under penalty of $250; recoverable by
any person suing therefor. In case of recovery for the penalty of $25, the court in
dorses on the execution the cause, and if no goods be found to satisfy it, the de
fendant is committed to jail, and is there detained for a period not exceeding 60
days, without benefit of the liberties.
The measurer general superintends the measurers, apportions the business
among them equitably, gives them instructions which they are bound to obey; and
they monthly make separate returns to him ofthe number of bushels, of the dif
ferent kinds of grain measured by them respectively, with the average price as
near as practicable, from what place shipped, and if exported, to what place: he
may suspend from office any measurer who, in his opinion, acts inconsistently
with his trust; and report his name and the reasons for suspension, to the governor,
who may remove such measurer from office and fill the vacancy, until the°pleasure
of the senate be known: he, annually, in the month of January, transmits to the
legislature a report ofthe number of bushels measured, under his superintendence
in each month, during the year, ending 31st of December preceding such report;
the average price; from what place shipped; and if exported, to what place; to
gether with the amount of fees received by himself and each measurer. He may
appoint special measurers when necessary, but only for each special occasion.
When a measurer attends to perform duty, the person delivering grain causes
the measures to be filled and removed according to the directions of the mea
surer general.
Each measurer receives for his services, at the rate of 75 cents for every hun
dred bushels; payable, one-half by the buyer and the other half by the seller. The
measurer general receives for his services and expenses, six cents on every hun-
32

250

POLITICAL VIEW.

dred bushels measured under his superintendence; and the measurers when mak
ing their returns to him, as above provided, pay him such sum, and for default in
such payment, or for any wilfully false or incorrect, return, the measurer general
or measurer, guilty thereof, forfeits his office.
From the measurer's returns we give the quantities ofthe several kinds of grain
imported to, and exported from, New York.

^

Imported in 1835.

Counties,

&c.

Wheat.

Rye.

Corn.

Oats.

Westchester,

.

211

265
4,567
Dutchess,
-
17,145
42,968!
190,092
587,838
Orange,
-
-
23,712
19,987!
6,630
Ulster,
-
746
21,554
15,317
19,071
Greene,
-
398
-7,808
2,603!
95,728!
Columbia,
-
7,366
53,998£
95,211
359,971
Albany,
-
12,427
41,293
22,944
140,881!
Rensselaer, -
-
2,981
161,104-1
87,556!
68,5551 6,473!
Saratoga,
-
925
19,722
9,081!
Montgomery,
-
1,558
937|
5,249!
50,973
Oneida,
-
-
1,907
5,874
Seneca,
-
1,5791
3,175
2,864
Cayuga,
-
5,374^
602
3,528!
834
Steuben,
-
918
Herkimer,
-
-
2,140
Tompkins,
-
1,148
1,979
5,236!
Clinton,
.
-
629
East Camp, -
-
-
138
2,828!
Westward, -
-
-
552
1,206
Staten Island,
-
1,556
3,432!
Long Island,
-
21,0101
347
33,048!
1,455
New Jersey,
-
3,409
1,5279
153,265
13,305!
Connecticut,
-
-
199
8,535
59,294
Delaware,
-
2,177
3,425
56,411!
11,473
Pennsylvania,
-
9,680
23,256
70,077
24,536!
Virginia, . -
-
12,3401
82,318!
22,646!
District of Columbia,
-
3,267
250
Maryland,
-
2,7581
5,097
131,232!
29,407!
North Carolina,
-
33,7871
54,794!
7,071
Illinois,
-
1,401
New Orleans,
-
8,964|
9,921!
Massachusetts,
.
-
376
50
Nova Scotia,
-
-
1,765!
Carthagena,
-
-
714
Liverpool,
•
10,100
Store, -
-
29,779
334
5,6421
13,049
Other places,
-
2,197
677!
4,472!
7,175
Ohio, -
-
1,269
182,797
423,085^
1,080,990
1,550,352
Recapitulation.
Wheat,
.
.
182,797 t
mshels.
Rye,
-
.
.
423,085
Corn,
1,080,990
Oats,
-
-
.
1,550,352
113,564
Total
, 3,350,788
REGULATION OF TIME, WEIGHTS, &C.

251

Exportedin 1834.

Wheat. Rye.

Corn.

Oats.

Barley. Malt.

9,652

15,212 11,708

1,882

19,997 28,215
41.372 16,125 482
2,088
2,282 2,189
1,610 34,771
356,125 42,035
147,119
7,832 538
19,105 261
1,984
1,453
4,028
4,083
3.467
45,257 9,799
3,191
53,367
200 755
;
25,569 57,395 1,700 1,950
5,711
1,022
20,828
6,565
135
1,000 1,985
1,851 4,667
3,590 538
2,477
9,617 2,000
1,000
1,687 674
822
425
Of Weighers, Uc
Exported to
St. Johns, N. B. -
Madeira, - - -
Staten Island,
Connecticut,Hampden, Bermuda, - - -
Massachusetts, -
Maine, - - -
New Jersey,
Nova Scotia,
Pennsylvania, West Indies,
Rhode Island,
Yonkers, - - -
Fishkill, -
Lisbon,Delaware, -
New Hampshire,
Turks Island,
Maryland, -
South America, -
Bengal, Mobile,District of Columbia,
Denmark, -
New Orleans,
Campeachy,
10. The weigher general for the city of N.York keeps an office, superintends the
weighers as the measurer general, in the manner above noticed. His decision on
disputes between purchaser and seller, or between either and the weigher respect
ing the weight of any merchandise is final. He may suspend a weigher from office
as the measurer general may do, with like consequences. He and the weighers are
forbidden to be concerned in trade with, or act as agent for, any person dealing in
merchandise sold by weight, or to purchase such merchandise, except for their
own use, under penalty of $500, payable one-half to the prosecutor and the other
half to the state.
The weigher, where it can be done, marks on the merchandise weighed, in le
gible and durable figures the weights, and makes duplicate returns thereof, to the
weigher general immediately after weighing, which are entered by him in a book
open at all times during the day, to the inspection of any person who may have had
articles weighed. Such returns are signed by the weigher, and one countersigned
by the weigher general, to be delivered to him for whom the merchandise was
weighed, and the other,is kept on file in the office.
No other than such weigrhers may weigh for reward, any merchandise within
the city, except such as is intended for the consumption of the city. And whoever
for hire or reward, employs or pays any other person than such weigher, for weigh
ing merchandise not intended for Such consumption, is liable to a penalty of $100,
for each offence, recoverable with costs by any person suing therefor. But this
provision does not prevent any person from weighing his own merchandise or that
in his possession, or consigned to him, either himself or by any person in his em
ploy, who is not a commissioned weighmaster; nor any public officer appointed
by the state, from weighing such goods as may be necessary in the legal discharge
of his duties; or affect weighers of anthracite or mineral coal.
The weighmasters appointed by the common council of New York report
monthly on oath, to the weigher general, the various kinds of merchandise weigh-
252 POLITICAL VIEW.
ed by them, with the amount of fees received therefor, under penalty of $25 for
every omission, reuoverable as above specified.
The weigher general in the month of January, annually, reports to the legisla
ture, a specific account of the quantity, with a description of the packages in which
it was contained, of each and every kind of merchandise weighed under his super
intendence during the year ending with the 31st of December preceding such re
port, together with the amount of fees received by himself, and by each weigher
respectively. The weighers receive for weighing:
Almonds, gums, ginseng, hemp, flax, hides, nails, rods, bolts, and Cts.
spikes of copper, - - - - - - - - 100 lbs. 4
Anchors, anvils, cambooces, and stills, ----- " " 15
Barilla (if loose) and pipe clay, ------ ""3
Barilla (if in bales)  " " 8
Cables other than chain, - -  " " 20
Cables of chain, rigging, old junk, and sassafras root, - - " " 10
Cassia in mats, --------- ""8
Cassia in boxes, --------- box 6
Corks, corkwood, rattans, loose deer skins, moss, oakum, pel
tries, and wool, - - - - - - - - - - 100 lbs. \2\
Cinnamon, cloves, nutmegs, loose twine, Brasilleto wood, cord
wood, and cannon, -------- "«6
Loose cheese, ......... i« «« g
Cheese in casks, -------.. cask 6
Iron castings, ......... loo lbs. 2
Old copper, brass, lead, loose scrap iron, hollow ware, mace,
ivory, verdigris, and whalebone, - - - - - ""10
Camphor, grindstones, zinc, brass, and copper, in sheets or cases, " " 3
Candles and cheese in boxes, butter and lard in kegs, tobacco in
bales or ceroons, for each box, keg, bale, or ceroon, - - 4
Currants in kegs, and bread and flour in barrels, for each keg or
barrel, .......... 6
Cotton, if twenty-five bales, or under, for each bale, - - 10
If over twenty-five bales, for each bale, ----- 8
Fish, if loose, --------- 8
In casks, 2 cents for each 1CK) lbs. - ----- 2
Figs, in drums or boxes, raisins and other fruits, iron, wire, hams,
and bacon, ---------- 100 lbs. 5
Indigo and cochineal in boxes, 121 cts. each box, in ceroons, 10
cts. each ceroon,
Nicaragua wood, --------- 100 lbs. 4
Pepper, pimento, and coffee in bags, ----- « « 3
Rice, in tierces, ten cents for each tierce, in half tierces, 6 cents
for each half tierce.
Brazil sugar, in boxes, -------- 100 6
Teas, in whole chests, 121 cts. for each chest, in quarter or half
chests, 4 cents for each quarter or half chest.
Tobacco in hogsheads, for each, ------ hhd. 25
Hempen yarn, in rolls, -------- roll 20
On all articles not above enumerated, for each, ... 100 2
But if the fees for weighing unenumerated articles, at any one place, do not ex
ceed five dollars, the weigher receives one cent, in addition to the two cents for
each hundred pounds.
He receives for his fees, in like proportion, for a greater or less quantity, but
if the amount received at any one place be not one dollar, he has one dollar for
his services, if he have conveyed his scales and weights to the places.
His fees are payable; one half by the purchaser, and the other, by the seller ;
but the employer is, in all cases, liable for payment in the first instance.
The weigher general receives for his expenses and services, 5 per cent, on the
amount of fees received by the weighers, appointed under the act of 1st May,
1835, and the weigher who fraudulently attempts to deprive him thereof, forfeits
his office. If the weigher general, or weigher, ask, or receive, greater compensa-

INTERNAL POLICE. 253
tion than his legal fees, or make any return required by law, wilfully incorrect and
false, he forfeits his office. MONET OF ACCOUNT.
The accounts in the treasury, public offices, and courts of justice, are kept in
the money of account of the United States, in dollars, cents, and mills.
CHAPTER XII.
CERTAIN REGULATIONS OF INTERNAL POLICE.
1. Navigation of Rivers and Lakes — Steamboats — Passengers to and from — Provisions for
their Safety — Obstruction of Navigation by Netts, &e. 2. Regulation of Fisheries —
Use of Poisonous Berries forbidden— Mode of Fishing at Certain Places — Rights of
the State in Hudson River — Powers of Courts to Regulate Fisheries— Fishery in Lake
Ontario. 3. Regulations in case of Wrecks. 4. Law of the Road and Stages. 5. Firing
of Woods. 6. Embezzlement of Timber. 7. Preservation of Game. 8. Protection
against Dogs. 9. Destruction of Noxious Animals.
OF NAVIGATION BY STEAMBOATS, &C.
1. Steamboats meeting, pass to the starboard or right side, so as to pass each
other safely.
When a passenger is to be landed from a steamboat not so near the shore that
he can pass from the boat to the shore, he is not suffered to go into a small boat for the
purpose of being landed, until such small boat be immediately afloat and wholly dis
engaged from the steamboat, except by a painter; while getting into the small boat,
and from the steamboat, the engine of the steamboat is stopped ; and also when
taken on board a small boat, belonging to a steamboat, while such small boat is
at the shore, and until the passenger be on board the steamboat; except when the
motion of the engine is necessary to give sufficient force to carry the small boat to
the shore; or to keep the steamboat in proper direction, and to prevent her from
drifting, or being driven on shore.
Passengers may be landed in a small boat, by means of a line, and boats on the
shore, with passengers, may be drawn to a steamboat, by means of a line, hauled
in by hand ; but in no case may the line be attached to, or hauled in, by the ma
chinery of the steamboat.
In every small boat, while landing or receiving a passenger, there is kept a pair
of suitable oars ; and in the night, a signal is given, from the small boat, at the
shore, by horn or trumpet, to apprise those having charge of the steamboat, that
the small boat having landed, or received her passengers, is ready to leave the
shore. When a steamboat is going in the same direction with another steamboat ahead,
the stern boat may not approach or pass the other, within the distance of twenty
yards ; nor may the boat ahead be so navigated, as unnecessarily to bring it with
in twenty yards of that following. And when any steamboat navigates in the night
she shows two sufficient lights ; one exposed near her bows, and the other near
her 6tern ; the last, at least 20 feet above her deck.
The violation of either of the foregoing provisions, subjects the master to the
forfeiture of $250 for every offence, recoverable by the district attorney of any
county bordering on the waters on which it may be committed, to whom notice may
be first given thereof, for the use of such county. J
The owners of every steamboat are responsible for the conduct of the masters ¦
and are liable for any penalty incurred by them, when it cannot be collected bv
law from them. *
If a line used for the purpose of landing or receiving passengers be attached in
any way, to the machinery of a steamboat, or the small boat be hauled in by means
of such machinery, the master is guilty of misdemeanour, punishable by fine not
exceeding $250, or imprisonment for not more than three months, or both at tho
discretion of the court. ' lne

254 POLITICAL VIEW.
When any vessel navigating that part ofthe Hudson river north of the battery,
at New York, or navigating Lake Champlain, is at anchor in the night, the master
causes her peak to be lowered, and a sufficient light to be shown in some part of
her rigging, at least 20 feet above deck, and from her topsail, under the penalty of
$ 50, recoverable for the use of the poor of the town in which the offence may be
committed, and for which, if it cannot be recovered from the master, the owner is
liable, as above provided.
The master of every steamboat is required to keep a copy of the foregoing pro
visions posted in a conspicuous place in his boat, under penalty of $25 dollars per
month, for the time of such neglect, recoverable by the district attorney, as above
directed. No person may use any set-nets, wires, hoop-nets, or fikes, in the channel of
the Hudson River, at any place between the city of New York and the state dam, at
Fort Edward, nor cause to be placed, any hedge, stake, stone, post, pole, anchor,
or other fixture, for any purpose whatever, in the channel, within such points; nor
during the months of March, April, or May, in any of the waters of the state, at
or below the city of New York, place such net, &c, or such hedge, &c, to extend
into the channel, or greater distance from the shore than 20 rods, from ordinary low
water mark, under penalty of $250, to the use of the poor, recoverable, as above
directed, by the proper district attorney. But these provisions do not affect any
special legal regulations, concerning the placing of nets or obstructions in the wa
ters adjacent to Staten Island, and to the town of New Utrecht.
No person may use any pike net, &c, nor place any hedge, &c, in any part of
the Hudson River, out of the channel between the city of New York and the
state dam at Fort Edward, other than such as are permitted for the purpose of
catching fish as prescribed by law, under penalty of $25, for the use of the poor,
and liability to indictment for misdemeanour, punishable by fine, not exceeding five
dollars, or by imprisonment in a county jail, not exceeding thirty days, or by both.
OF FISHERIES.
2. No person may, for the purpose of taking or destroying fish, cast into any
waters of the state, any cocolus indicus, mixed or unmixed with other substance,
uuder penalty of $25 for each offence; nor, between the 26th October and 1st of
February, take salmon, under penalty of $10; nor, during the same period, fish in
any manner, at or below the city of New York, after sunset of the Saturday of
each week, until the rising of the sun on the Monday following; nor fish with
nets, in any waters of the state, between 12 o'clock of Saturday, and 12 o'clock at
night of Sunday following, under penalty of $25 for each offence; but the offender
is not liable to other penalty.
During the months of March, April, or May, no person may use any drift net,
at or below the city of New York; nor fish, in any manner, on Saratoga or Fort
-Miller Falls, except on Monday, Friday, and Saturday, of each week, under pe
nalty of $25.
No person may spear pike in the Hudson river, between Fort Miller dam and
the village of Waterford, under penalty of $10.
Hoop nets, fikes, or set nets, may be used on the flats, and along the flats and
shores, between the city of New York and the state dam at Fort Edward, not ex
ceeding four feet in length, and two in diameter, but may not be used in the chan
nel, nor in any place occupied previously to 11th April, 1815, for drawing seines;
and such stakes, &c, as may be necessary to the use of such hoop nets, &c, may
be set in any part of the river, save the channel, between these places, not ob
structing or endangering the navigation.
The penalties above imposed aTe recoverable by the overseers of the town in
which the offence happens, for the use of its poor; and nothing in the foregoing
provisions affects any special regulations concerning the fisheries in the waters
adjacent to Staten Island. —
No person, between the 1st October and 1st December, may take salmon trout,
by means of spears, in First Lake, in the town of West Brunswick, Herkimer
county, nor in the lakes east thereof, known as Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth,
Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth lakes; nor in Moose lake, lying south of First lake;
nor expose to sale, between the 1st October and the 1st February, in the counties

INTERNAL POLICE.

255

of Oneida and Lewis, salmon trout so taken — under penalty of $10 for each of
fence, recoverable by the overseers of the poor of any town in Herkimer, Oneida,
or Lewis counties, where the offender may be found, by action commenced within
one year after the offence, for the use of the poor of the town or county, as the
case may be. '
This state has the exclusive right of regulating the fisheries between the shore
of Staten Island, and the middle of the adjacent waters, not obstructing the navi
gation. The several courts of common pleas are empowered to regulate the fishing in
any of the streams, ponds, or lakes, in their respective counties; to make such
order for the preservation of fish therein as they deem proper; from time to time
to remove any restrictions imposed by law, except that of taking fish on Sunday;
and to prescribe penalties for the violation of such regulations, not exceeding $25
for each offence. But no such regulation remains in force longer than three years,
and may be annulled or modified at discretion of such courts.
No such regulation is made, modified, or annulled, except on application of at
least six freeholders of the town or" towns in which the water is situated. Before
such application, a notice signed by the applicants setting forth the object and the
time when it is to be made, is posted on the outer door of the court house, at least
three weeks previously, and published for three weeks successively in a newspa
per of the county, or, if there be none therein, in the newspaper printed nearest
to the water mentioned in the notice — of which notice due proof is made to the
court. The order of the court is duly entered in its minutes, and a certified copy
immediately posted by the clerk on the door of the court house, for six Mondays
successively after making it, and also published three weeks successively in a
newspaper as above directed. The costs incident to the application are paid by
the applicants.
Any person may fish with a net in the waters of Lake Ontario, in the town of
Richland, Oswego county, except in the months of September and October, during
which he may not fish with seine or net in such waters, within the distance of
150 rods of the mouth or Salmon river in that town, under penalty of $25, and
the forfeiture of the seine or net to any person prosecuting to conviction.
OF WRECKS.
3. No vessel or goods, cast by the sea upon land, belong to the state; but are'
recoverable by the owner, on payment of salvage and expenses.
The sheriffs, coroners, and wreckmasters of the county in which wrecked pro
perty may be found, are required, when no owner appears, for its preservation to
take possession thereof, in whose hands soever it may be, in the name of the
state, and to cause it to be appraised — if perishable, to apply to the first judge by
petition, supported by affidavits of the facts, for an order of sale — to sell it at pub
lic auction, as specified in the order, and to pay proceeds, deducting expenses al
lowed by the judge, to the county treasurer.
If, within a year after such property has been saved, any one establish his
claim thereto satisfactorily to the judge, he orders the delivery thereof to claimant,
on payment of reasonable salvage and expenses — the claimant giving bond to the
state, in double the value of the property, to be filed with the county clerk, with
sureties approved by the judge, conditioned for the payment of all damages which
may be recovered against such claimant or his representatives, within two years
thereafter, by any person establishing a title thereto. If the bond be forfeited, the
judge, upon application supported by due proof of the person entitled to damages,
orders its prosecution for his benefit, and at his risk and expense.
The rejection by a judge of a claim for wrecked property, does not preclude
the claimant from maintaining suit for the recovery thereof, or its proceeds, against
the officers in whose hands it may be; but if the plaintiff prevail, the costs of de
fendant are deducted, with the salvage and expenses, from the damages reco
vered. A written claim for salvage is presented by the proper officer on whom any
order is made for delivery of wrecked property or its proceeds. If the owner dis
allow the claim, it is adjusted as hereinafter provided, and on payment or tender

256

POLITICAL VIEW.

of such salvage and expenses, such officer delivers up the property pursuant to the
terms of the order.
Wreckmasters are required to give all possible aid to vessels stranded on the
coasts of their respective counties, and to persons on board, and to use their ut
most endeavours to save and preserve such vessels and their cargoes, and all
goods which may be cast by the sea upon the land, and thereto may employ such
and so many persons as they deem proper — all magistrates, constables, and citi--
zens, being required to aid them. Sheriffs, coroners, and wreckmasters, and their
assistants, are entitled to reasonable salvage and expenses out of the property
saved, and the proper officer may detain it until they are paid. The salvage may
in no case exceed half the value of the property saved; and every agreement, or
der, or adjustment for more, is void.
If the salvage and expenses be not settled by the parties, the owner or his rep
resentatives may apply to one of the judges of the county, court in which the pro
perty may be, for the appointment of appraisers, who, by order under his hand
and seal, nominates three disinterested freeholders, nonresident in the town where
the property shall have been saved, to adjust and settle such damages and ex
penses. The appraisers swear faithfully and impartially to perform their duties; have
power to compel the attendance of witnesses, and to administer oaths to them;
and their decision, or that of two of them, as to the amount of salvage and ex
penses, and the distribution thereof among claimants, is final and conclusive.
Their fees and expenses are payable by the applicant', and chargeable on the pro
perty saved; each appraiser being entitled to two dollars for every day's attend
ance, and a sum not exceeding one dollar for his daily expenses.
If, within a year after such property shall have been saved, no claimant have
appeared; or if, within three months after claim preferred, the salvage and ex
penses have not been paid, or a suit for the recovery of the property have not
been commenced, the officer in whose custody it is sells it by public auction;
giving at least two weeks' notice in one or more newspapers printed in the city of
New York, specifying property, time and place of sale, and pays the proceeds,
deducting salvage and expenses, into the state treasury for the benefit of those
interested. But the salvage and expenses are not deducted, unless the amount
have been duly settled by the order of the first judge ofthe proper county, a copy
of which, and of the evidence supporting it, is transmitted by the judge to the
comptroller. These provisions apply to the proceeds of wrecked property, in re
lation to the time and manner of settling salvage and expenses. The balance of
such proceeds, after deduction of salvage and expenses, are paid by the county
treasurer into the state treasury.
The officer into whose hands wrecked property may corne, immediately pub
lishes notice thereof, directed to all parties interested, for at least four weeks, suc
cessively, in one or more papers printed in the city of New York, containing a
minute, with the marks and brands of every parcel, its condition, the name, if
known, ofthe vessel from which it was taken, ofthe master and supercargo, and
the place and state of the vessel — the expense of which is chargeable on the pro
perty. The officer who detains wrecked property, or its proceeds, after payment or
tender ofthe salvage and expenses, or who is guilty of fraud, embezzlement, or
extortion, or in any manner violates the law relating to wrecks, is guilty of misde
meanour, and forfeits treble damages to the injured party.
Every person taking away goods from a stranded vessel or wrecked goods, or
having such and not delivering them to the sheriff, coroner, or wreokmaster of his
county within 48 hours after they come to his possession, forfeits treble the value
to the owner or consignee, and is guilty of misdemeanour, punishable by fine or
imprisonment, or both, at the discretion of the court. And he who defaces or ob
literates the marks on such property or in any manner disguises its appearance,
with intent to prevent the owner from discovering its identity; or who destroys or
suppresses any invoice, bill of lading or other document, tending to show the own
ership, is guilty of misdemeanour, punishable by fine not exceeding two thousand
dollars, and imprisonment not exceeding three years.
The judges, sheriffs, justices, coroners, constables and wreckmasters, are re
quired to present all offences and offenders against the foregoing provisions coming

INTERNAL POLICE. 257
to their knowledge within their respective counties, to the grand jury, at the next
court of general sessions. LAW OP THE ROAD.
4. Travellers with carriages on private and public roads are required, on meet
ing, seasonably to turn to the right of the centre, so that such carriages may pass
without interference, under penalty of five dollars for every offence to the injured
party. The owners of stages for passengers are prohibited to employ drivers addicted to
the excessive use of spirituous liquors, under penalty of five dollars per day, for
the use ofthe poor ofthe county in which such owner resides, to be recovered by
the district attorney thereof — and if a driver, while actually employed in driving a
stage, be so intoxicated as to endanger the safety of the passengers, the owner, on
written notice and on oath from a passenger, is required to discharge such driver;
and if lie retain or have him in service within six months thereafter, forfeits at the
rate of five dollars per day, to be so sued for and applied.
No person driving a carriage, with or without passengers, may run his horses
upon any occasion, under penalty of being deemed guilty of misdemeanour, and
punishable by fine not exceeding 100 dollars, or imprisonment not exceeding 60
days, at the discretion of the court; nor may the driver of any carriage conveying
passengers for hire, leave the horses while passengers remain therein, without
making the horses fast or leaving the lines in the hands of some person, under pe
nalty of twenty dollars to the poor, to be recovered by action to be commenced
within six months, and for which execution may immediately issue.
The owners of every carriage for the conveyance of passengers are jointly and
severally liable to the party injured in all cases, for injury done wilfully or negli
gently, or otherwise, by any person in their employ while driving it, to any person
or the property of any person, in the same manner as the driver is liable.
The term carriage, in the foregoing provisions, includes every vehicle used for
the transportation of passengers or goods; but such provisions do not interfere
with nor affect any law concerning hackney coaches, in the cities, nor with the
laws or ordinances of any city licensing or regulating such coaches.
FIRING OF WOODS.
5. Every person negligently firing his own woods, or suffering a fire in his own
wood or fallow land to extend beyond his land, forfeits treble damages to the
party injured, and is guilty of misdemeanour, punishable by fine or imprisonment,
or both, at the discretion of the court; the fine not exceeding $1000, nor the im
prisonment one year.
When the woods in any town are on fire, the justices of the peace, the super
visor and the commissioners of highways, respectively, may require such and so
many ofthe inhabitants, liable to work on the highways residing in the vicinity of
the fire, as they deem necessary to assist in extinguishing it, or in stopping its
progress. Any person failing to comply with such order, forfeits $50, to be applied
by such officers as a reward to those whom they deem entitled thereto, for supe
rior exertions in the premises; and such person is also guilty of a misdemeanour,
punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both — the fine not to exceed $100, nor the
imprisonment 60 days. EMBEZZLEMENT OF TIMBER.
6. When any logs, timber, boards or plank may drift on any island or shore, the
owner may take them, paying or tendering to the owner or possessor ofthe land
the damages which he may sustain by reason thereof, or may accrue in the remo
val. If the parties cannot agree on the amount, either may apply to any two of
the fence viewers of the place in which the timber is found, whose determination
at the expense of the owner of the lumber, is conclusive. The fence viewers may
compel the attendance of, and administer oaj,hs to, witnesses.
If the owner do not,, within three months from the drifting, take it away, the
owner or possessor of the land delivers to the town or city clerk, a note in writing
signed by him, describing such lumber with the quantity and marks, and the place
where it is lodged, which is filed by the clerk for the inspection of any person.
OO

258 POLITICAL VIEW.
The person delivering the note may retain the lumber until the owner appear and
pay the damages, if any, settled as above direcled.
If within six months after filing such notice, no claimant of the lumber appear,
the owner or possessor of the land gives notice thereof, in writing, to such clerk,
who causes it to be sold by public auction, after 2.0 days' notice, posted in at least
three of the most public places of the town or city, receiving such fees as are al
lowed on executions issued from justices' courts. The produce of the sale is ap
plied to the payment of such fees — to the payment ofthe damages sustained by the
owner or possessor of the land — and the surplus paid to the county treasurer, to
the use of the poor. But before payment of damages, they are assessed by two
fence viewers, and a specification signed by them, is filed in the office of the
clerk. Any person altering or defacing the mark upon lumber floating in any waters,
or lying on the banks or shores, or islands, or at any saw mill where the same
may have drifted, or violating any of the above provisions, for every offence for
feits to the owner $25, and is guilty of misdemeanour, punishable by imprison
ment at the discretion of the court, not exceeding six months.
Whoever converts to his own use, without consent of the owner, any floating or
drifted lumber, for each offence forfeits to the owner treble damages.
Every person putting logs or timber into the Hudson river or its branches, north
west of Baker's Falls, selects some mark different from any previously recorded,
and puts it in some conspicuous place upon each log or stick, and causes his mark
to be recorded by the town clerk of Queensbury, to be kept in a book subject to
the inspection of any person; or neglecting to enter such mark, is debarred from
the benefits arising from the due entry thereof. The assignee of such timber is
subject to like regulations and restrictions.
The clerk of the town of Queensbury receives 25 cents for entering such mark;
ana a copy of his entry certified by him, is presumptive evidence in the courts,
that the lumber having such mark is the property of him by whom the mark was
selected and recorded.
No person, not authorised as hereinafter directed, may stop, take up or draw
to, or lodge on the shore of the Hudson river, any floating lumber, &c. without
consent of the owner, under penalty for each offence of $10, recoverable by the
overseers of the poor of the place where the offence may be committed.
The common council of the city of Albany may from time to time, appoint one
or more persons resident therein, to take possession of such lumber for the owner,
in case he does not reside in the city, have no agent there, or be unknown; such
persons to execute their duties, and receive such compensation, as the council
may direct; but in case of dispute, the compensation "is settled by any two fence
viewers of the city.
If the owner of such lumber do not, within three months after it have been in
possession of such persons, take it away, they deliver to the city clerk a descrip
tion thereof in manner above prescribed; and in case no claimant appear within
six months after filing such note, the common council directs sale to be made by
the clerk, who gives notice in the manner and is entitled to the compensation above
provided. The proceeds are applied, first to the payment of the charges of sale,
and the compensation of those by whom the lumber was taken up; and the residue
paid to the chamberlain of the city for the use of the owner, on satisfactory proof
of ownership made to the common council, whose rejection of the claim is conclu
sive, unless suit be commenced by the claimant within six months after rejection,
against the chamberlain.
If no person claim within twelve months after payment to the chamberlain; or
if such claim be rejected and no suit be brought as above provided, or recovery be
not had against the chamberlain, the moneys remain for the use of the city.
The foregoing provisions do not extend to drift wood.
PRESERVATION OF GAME.
7. No person may kill any wild buck, doe or fawn, during the months of Janu
ary, February, March, April, May, June, or July; and any person exposing to sale
any green deer skin, or fresh venison, or having the same in his custody during
such months, is deemed guilty of violating this provision, unless he prove that the
animal of which such skin or flesh was part, was killed by some other person.

INTERNAL POLICE. 259
On complaint to a justice of the violation of the above provision, and that a
green skin or deer's flesh is concealed, he being satisfied that there is reasonable
cause of suspicion, issues his warrant to the constable, -authorising search in the
day time, of any house, &c, where it is suspected to be concealed. The person
killing such animal out of season, or concealing any deer skin or fresh venison,
forfeits for each offence $12 50.
No person may hunt, pursue or destroy any such animal with blood hound or
beagle, except in the county of Suffolk; nor with any kind of dog in the towns of
Blenheim and Fulton, in the county of Schoharie, under like penalty.
No person may set any trap, or spear of iron or other metal, or sharp stick, either
in or out of any pit for the purpose of catching deer, nor watch in the night
for the purpose of shooting deer, within thirty rods of any highway, under penalty
of $25.
No person may kill heath hens within the county of Queens, between the first
day of January and the first Wednesday in October; nor in the county of Suffolk
between the first of January and the second Wednesday in September; nor kill
quails or partridges in the counties of Queens, Kings, Suffolk, New York, West-
Chester, Dutchess, Richmond, Rockland, or Putnam, between the fifth of January
and the 25th of September; nor in the county of Albany between the 1st of March
and 1st of October; nor woodcock in any such counties between the 1st of Febru
ary and 1st of July; nor kill pheasants in the county of Albany between the 1st of
March and 1st of October — under penalty for killing a heath hen $25; a partridge
$5; a quail, woodcock or pheasant 50 cents.
Every person exposing to sale the above species of game in such counties, res
pectively, or having such game in his possession in either, during the time when
the killing thereof is forbidden, is deemed guilty of the offence of killing.
No person may kill any muskrat, at any other place than along the line of some
canal, or artificial dam or embankment, between the 1st of May and 1st of Novem
ber, under the penalty of $1 for each.
The foregoing provisions for the preservation of game are extended to the coun
ties of Rockland and Putnam. The penalties prescribed therein are recoverable
in the name of the overseer of the poor of the town where the offence was com
mitted, for the use of the poor, in an action to be commenced within three months
after commission of the offence. PROTECTION AGAINST DOGS.
8. In all the counties, there is annually levied, upon every bitch of three months
old and upwards, two ; upon every additional one, five; upon two dogs, oftsix
months old and upwards, other than bitches, one ; upon every such dog more than
two, three, dollars ; — kept by any person, or family; in the counties pf Wasst-
chester, Richmond, Rockland, Columbia, Dutchess, Allegany and Cattaraugus,
upon every dog or bitch six months old or upwards, kept by one person oi fami
ly, 50 cents; and for every additional one, as above. The assessors enter into their
lists the name of the persons keeping dogs subject to tax, the number of such
dogs and the amount of tax payable by each person. The owner or possessor
failing to render to the assessor, when required, a description in writing of every.
dog owned or possessed by him, forfeits five dollars.
The assessors, within the time required for the complement of their assessment
rolls, make a duplicate of such lists containing the names of such owners, &c.,
of such dogs, with the amount payable by each person, and a direction to the col
lector to levy and pay the same to the county treasurer, retaining five per cent..
commissions thereon, at the time, and in the manner, for collecting of county
taxes. The moneys so collected form a fund for the satisfaction of damages arising in
any year from dogs killing sheep in such county, and the residue, after satisfying
such damages, is for the support of the poor of the town in which it was collected,
or for such other purpose as the inhabitants of the town, at annual town i meeting
may direct.
The owner, &c, of any dog killing or wounding any sheep, is liable for the va
lue, without notice, or knowledge by him, that his dog was mischievous or prone
to kill sheep.

260 POLITICAL VIEW.
The owner of sheep, killed or injured by a dog, may apply to any two fence view
ers ofthe town, who inquire therein, view" the sheep, examine witnesses in relation
thereto on oath, and if satisfied that they were killed or injured in no other way
than by dogs, certify the fact, the number of sheep killed or hurt, the damages
sustained by the owner, and the value of such sheep. Such certificate is presump
tive evidence of the facts therein contained, in suit, by the injured party against
the owner of the dog, if it appear on trial that he was notified of the intended ap
plication to the viewers.
If the party injured cannot discover the owner of the dog, or fail to recover
against him the value of the sheep killed, he may apply to the supervisor and on
producing the certificate of the viewers, and his own affidavit, that he has not
been able to discover, br has failed to recover his damages against such owner, the
supervisor lays the same before the board of supervisors at their next meeting;
who, satisfied of the facts, give their order on the county treasurer, for the amount
apparent on the certificate, payable from the above mentioned fund only.
If, after receiving such amount, the owner of such sheep, recover from the own
er, &c, of the dog, the whole or any part of such value, he repays to the county
treasurer the.sum received from him; and, in case of refusal, the supervisors bring
suit therefor, in the name of the county treasurer, and pay the amount recovered
into the county treasury.
Any person may kill a dog which he sees chasing, worrying, or wounding sheep,
unless done by permission of the owner of the sheep or his servant.
The owner of any dog, notified of any injury done by such dog to any sheep,
or of his dog having chased or wounded sheep, is required within 48 hours there
after to cause him to be killed, under penalty of $ 2 50 for neglect, and the further
sum of $1 .25 for every 48 hours thereafter, until he be killed, unless it satisfacto
rily appear to the court trying such cause, that it was not in the power of such
owner to kill the dog.
If a dog attack any one peaceably travelling on the highway, or horse in a car
riage, or on which any person may be mounted, and complaint be made to a jus
tice, he, if satisfied with the truth thereof, and that such dog is dangerous, orders
the owner to kill him immediately; who, if failing so to do within 48 hours after
the order, forfeits $ 2 50, and the further sum of $ 1 25, for every subsequent 48
hours until the dog be killed.
Upon complaint to the supervisor of any town of any penalties incurred by the
foregoing provisions, he is required to commence and diligently to prosecute suit
therefor, and to pay the amount recovered to the county treasurer, to be added to
the fund above mentioned.
Every person possessing, or suffering a dog to remain about his house for 20
days previous to the assessment of a tax, or to any injury to sheep, or attack made
by a dog, is deemed the owner for all the above provisions.
In Orange county, these provisions have been modified by the act of 26th April,
1831, directing, that, no tax on dogs be collected in any town, unless by a plu
rality of votes at its annual town meeting, it be so determined: That in such case,
the assessors of the town make out the list as above directed, that the collectors of
the tax be allowed the same time for collection as for county taxes; that.the tax
be credited by the county treasurer to the town paying it, and appropriated exclu
sively to the payment of damages sustained by the owners of sheep in such town,
and when insufficient in any year, to apportion among the sufferers rateably: and
that if the whole, or part, remain in the hands of the treasurer, for one year, the
supervisor and a majority of the justices of the town, may draw upon the county
treasurer for the amount, in favour of the commissioners of the highways, who
apply it to the improvement of roads and bridges in such town.
DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS.
9. Every inhabitant killing a full grown wolf, in any county, is entitled to a
bounty of ten dollars, and for a wolf's whelp five dollars — taking such wolf, or
whelp, or the head, with the skin and ears entire thereon, to a justice of the town
in which the animal was taken, who, with one of the assessors, overseers of the
P00J> 0I commissioners of highways, decide on the application.
The claimant of the bounty states on oath the time when, and place where, the

INCORPORATIONS. 261
animal was taken and killed, and submits to- such further examination in relation
thereto, as such officers may require; and his statement reduced to the form of affi
davit is subscribed by- him. It appearing to such officers that the animal was
taken and killed within the state by the applicant, and if a whelp, that the mother
was not taken, before she brought it forth, they cut off and burn the ears and scalp
of the animal, and deliver to the applicant a certificate of the facts, with his affida
vit annexed— the justice numbering" regularly, all the certificates issued by him
during each year, and marking the number and year on each.
Such certificate, with the affidavit, within five days of its date, is delivered to the
supervisor of the town where it was made, or in his absence, left at his dwelling.
If he doubt the correctness of either, he may require, from the claimant, further
evidence, and retain the papers until it be given. If he become satisfied of their
correctness, he lays them before the board of supervisors, and if they also be so
satisfied, they award the bounty to the claimant, and file the certificate and affida
vit with the county clerk.
Duplicate certificates of all the bounties allowed by the board at any meeting,
are certified by the chairman and clerk, and delivered to the county treasurer, who,
thereupon, pays to the claimants, out of any moneys in the treasury, the bounties
respectively allowed — and charges to the state treasurer one half thereof, trans
mitting an account to the comptroller, with one of the duplicate certificates
received from the board, and a certified copy of the original certificates and affida
vits, filed with the clerk of the board. The comptroller, if he deem that such ac
count, or any part thereof, should not be allowed, may suspend in whole or in
part, the payment of such account, until satisfied by affidavit or otherwise of its
justice; if not so satisfied he rejects the suspended portion, finally and conclusive
ly. But, every sum audited and allowed by him, not exceeding such moiety, is
paid from the state treasury to the county treasurer.
The boards of supervisors of the several counties of Allegany, Broome, Catta
raugus, Clinton, Delaware, Essex, Greene, Jefferson, Herkimer, Oneida, St. Law
rence, Steuben, Sullivan, and Ulster, may, at the expense of their respective coun
ties, award such further bounties for the destruction of wolves and their whelps, and
such bounties for the destruction of panthers, as they deem proper, not exceeding
$10 for each grown wolf, and five for each whelp and panther. The same proof being
required as in other eases, and the bounty allowed paid from the county treasury.
Any justice, or other officer, wilfully giving any false certificate, in the premises,
is guilty of misdemeanour, and punishable by fine not exceeding $1,000, and im
prisonment not exceeding two years.
CHAPTER XIII.
INCORPORATIONS.
1. Advantages of Incorporations. 2, Library and Religious Societies — how Incorporated.
3. Manufacturing Companies — how Incorporated. 4. Quasi Incorporations or Limited
Partnerships, how Formed — Nature of. 5. Turnpike Companies. 6. Moneyed Corpo
rations — what Restrictions on — Surplus Profits, how Ascertained — Assignments to, or
by, how Made — Annual Statements to be Rendered by — Circulation of Small Notes by,
Prohibited — Notes of Banking Corporations, where Payable — Whole Capital Stock of
Banks to be Paid in. 7. Safety Fund — How Constituted and Applied. 8. Proceedings
in Chancery Relative to Insolvent Banks and Charges on the Fund. 9. Bank Com
missioners — how Appointed — their Duties. 10. Circulation of Banks Limited. 11.
Liabilities of Stockholders. 12. Statements to be Furnished by Banks. 13. Interest
Receivable by Banks. 14. Capital to be Paid in — may be Reduced when. 15. Bills
Payable on Demand. 16. Loans of Bank Fund, how made. 17. Penalty for Defacing
Bank Notes. 18. Unclaimed Balances in Banks to be Published. 19. Premiums on Ex.
change Prohibited to Banks in Certain Cases — Other Prohibitions. 20. Banking not
Authorised by Law Prohibited. 21. Bank Notes Payable in Lawful Money — are Pro
missory Notes. 22. Insurances Foreign Prohibited — Duty on Insurances by Companies
not Authorised by the State. 23. Savings Ranks, Objects of, Number of. 24. New
York Life Insurance and Trust Company. 25. Number of Insurance Companies in
the State. 26. General Powers &c. of Corporations — Liabilities of Stockholders when

262 POLITICAL VIEW.
Company Insolvent and Capital not Paid in — Corporations to Organise, when— Mana
gers are Trustees upon Dissolution — Books open for Inspection previous to Election —
Penalty on Directors for Diminishing Capital, Stock, &c — Amount of Debts which a
Corporation may Owe — Corporation Refusing Payment of its Debts may not Assign
Property. 27. Banking System of New York, Remarks on — Object and Effects ofthe
Safety Fund— Condition,of the Safety Fund — Banks Subject to the Safety Fund Law-
Banks not so Subject — State ofthe Banks in 1835 — in 1836.
1. It has been justly remarked, that the rapid improvement in commerce, arts,
manufactures, roads and canals, which has nobly contrasted Great Britain with
her continental neighbours, is due to the influence of her joint stock companies.
And it must be acknowledged, that a more efficient aid to courageous enterprise,
could scarce be imagined. The system offers a sufficient inducement to capi
talists; and permits men of small fortunes to participate with those of large ones in
the profits; divides the risk and renders the burden tolerable in case of failure;
whilst it gives to the company the talent and interested activity of many partners.
In New York this agent has been more cherished and used, perhaps, than in Great
Britain. It has been carried into almost every walk of business, by special acts
of the legislature, and been permanently adopted as the policy of the state, in re
lation to the foundation of libraries, the erection of churches, and the establish
ment of a large class of manufactures.
2. Libraries and religious societies may be incorporated at the will of their mem
bers, simply by giving form to the declaration of that will, and recording it with
the county clerk in the manner directed by law. Such societies, thenceforth, have
the perpetuity and integrity of corporations, and are permitted to hold real and
personal estate, limited, with regard to libraries, to $500 per annum; and with re
gard to churches, unless in case of special exception, to $3,000 per annum.
3. The law has also provided that any five or more persons desirous to form a
company for manufacturing woollen, cotton or linen goods; making glass; making
from ore, bar iron, anchors, mill iron, steel, nail rods, hoop iron and ironmongery;
sheet copper, sheet lead, shot, white lead and red lead; making wares or articles
from clay or earth; pins; malt liquors; extracting lead from ore; manufacturing mo
rocco and other leather; mayjmake, sign and acknowledge, before a justice of the
supreme court, of the common pleas, or master in chancery, and file with'the se
cretary of state a certificate, stating the corporate name, the objects, capital stock,
number of shares, number and names of trustees for the first year, and the names
of the town and county in which, the company is to operate; whereupon they be
come a corporation for 20 years, with the necessary powers to conduct their affairs
as prescribed by law, and with a capital not to exceed $100,000; and in case of a
company for the manufacture of leather, $60,000.
Under this act there are a vast number of successful establishments in operation
throughout the state. The 'policy was entered upon with dread [and misgiving;
and the first act, passed in 1811, was limitedto five years; but, working well, it
was renewed from time to time, and finally made perpetual in 1821.
LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS.
4. In the same wise liberality was founded the quasi corporations, under the
form and name of limited partnerships, for the transaction of mercantile, mechani
cal, or manufacturing business, banking excepted, between two or more persons;
uniting one or more persons called general partners, jointly and severally re
sponsible as in ordinary cases; ' with one or more special partners, contributing
in cash a specific sum as capital to the common stock and who are liable for the
debts of the partnerships only to the amount of capital so furnished; the general
partners only, transacting business, and signing for, and binding the partnership.
TURNPIKE COMPANIES.
5. Turnpike companies are incorporated by special act of the legislature: but per
manent provisions are enacted, for the organisation of such companies by the col
lection of subscriptions — election of directors, and ascertaining their powers — for
dissolving the corporation when inefficient, or when compensated for making the
road— for constructing the road and appraisement of damages; for establishing tolls

INCORPORATIONS. 263
and their collection; for the Inspection of such roads in each county, and throwing
open the gates when the road is out of repair.
GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO MONEYED CORPORATIONS.
6. Moneyed corporations include corporations having banking powers or power
to make loans upon pledges or deposits, or to make insurances.
The directors of such corporations are prohibited to make dividends except from
surplus profits; to pay in any manner to the stockholders any part ofthe capital,
or to reduce it without consent of the legislature; to discount or receive any evi
dence of debt, in payment of any instalment of capital, or tr provide means for
such payment; to receive or discount any such evidence, to enable a stockholder
to withdraw any money paid on his stock; to purchase its own stock, except with
surplus profits; to receive such stock in payment of any debt due the corporation,
except in special cases; to receive from any other stock corporation in exchange
for the shares of stock or other evidences of debt, of their own company any share
of the stock, or other evidences of debt of such other corporation; having banking
powers, to make loans or discounts, so that the whole amount of loans shall ex
ceed three times the capital stock paid in; or to make loans or discounts to direc
tors, or upon paper upon which such directors or any of them shall be responsible,
to an amount exceeding in the aggregate one-third of the capital stock actually
paid in; but no security taken for such loan or discount is holden invalid; in the
calculation of profits previous to a dividend, to include interest then unpaid, al
though due, on debts owing to the company.
To ascertain the surplus profits from which alone dividends are made, there are
charged in the account of profit and loss and deducted from profits, all the ex
penses incurred in the management of the affairs of the company — the interest paid
or due on debts owing from it — all losses sustained, in which are included all
debts to the company not prosecuted, and on which no interest has been paid for
more than one year; or on which judgments have been recovered, but have remain
ed unsatisfied, and without receipt of interest during that period.
When the losses exceed the undivided profits then realised, they are charged as
reduction of capital; and no dividend may thereafter be made on stock, until the
deficit be made good, either by recovery of the losses charged, or by subsequently
accruing profits. If from any such losses, the whole amount of loans and dis
counts made by a banking corporation, exceed three times the amount to which
its capital paid in, is or ought to be reduced, the directors are required to call in,
without delay, so much of such loans as will reduce the whole amount within
the limits above prescribed.
So if shares of its stock be pledged to any moneyed corporation, and the debt
thereby intended to be secured be not paid when due, the directors within sixty
days thereafter sell such shares; and if within that period they be not sold, and
the debt remain unsatisfied, the shares are charged at the amount actually paid
thereon, as reduction ofthe capital, and no dividends thereafter are made until the
deficit be restored by subsequent profits.
No transfer of effects for the use of such corporation is valid, unless made to the
corporation directly, and by name; except in cases of assignment for the benefit of
creditors in which such corporation may be included, or a conveyance of the effects
of a debtor under the laws of this or any other state or country.
No transfer not authorised by previous resolution of the board may be made by
such corporation of its effects, exceeding one thousand dollars; but this prohibition
does not apply to promissory notes or other evidences of debt issued by the officers,
in transaction of its ordinary business, nor to payments in money or bank bills
made by them; nor to render void any conveyance or transfer in the hands of a
purchaser for a valuable consideration and without notice.
No such transfer, payment, judgment suffered, lien created, or security given by
such corporation when insolvent, or in contemplation of insolvency, with intent to
give preference to any particular creditor over other creditors. of the company, is
valid; and every person receiving by such means any effects of the corporation, is
bound to account therefor to its creditors or stockholders, or their trustees.
The director concerned in violating any of the preceding provisions, is personally
liable to the creditors and stockholders, respectively, of the corporation, to the
full extent of any loss they may respectively sustain thereby.

264 POLITICAL VIEW.
Every moneyed incorporation created subsequently to the year 1897, is required
on the 1st of January, annually, to transmit to the comptroller a statement, on the
oaths of its president and cashier, treasurer or secretary, containing, the amount
of capital paid in, or invested pursuant to charter, and the amount of stock then
possessed; the value of its real estate, specifying the portion occupied by the com
pany for its business; the shares of stock held, whether absolutely or as collateral
security, specifying each kind and description of stock, the number and value of
the shares of each; the debts owing to the corporation, specifying such as are owing
from other moneyed corporations, the names of such corporations and the amount
due from each; the amount secured by bond and mortgage or judgment; the amount
which according to law should be included in the computation of losses, on the
total amount of such debts collectable; the amount of debts owing by the corpora
tion, specifying those payable on demand, and such as are due to other moneyed
corporations, their names, and the amount due to each; the amount of claims
against the incorporation not acknowledged by it as debts; the amount for which
it is bound as surety, or may be liable for on contingencies, whether on policies of
insurance or otherwise; and if the statement he from a banking corporation, the
amount of its bills in circulation, its loans and discounts, and specie an hand.
Each statement subsequent to the first contains, the amount of losses, specify
ing whether charged on its capital or profits since the last preceding statement, and
of its dividends declared and made during the same period; the average amount for
each month during the preceding year, of the debts due to and from the corpora
tion; and if the statement be from a banking company, the amount, on the 1st of
July of the same year, of its notes or bills in circulation, of its loans and discounts,
and of its specie on hand.
The corporation neglecting to transmit such statement, for one month beyond the
time when it should be made, may be proceeded against and dissolved as an in
solvent corporation.
The comptroller enters every such statement in a book open to public inspec
tion. If it appear to him from such statement, that the provisions of its charter or
of the law have been violated by any corporation, or that there is reason to appre
hend that any corporation is or will become insolvent, he reports the facts, with
his opinion, without delay to the legislature.
He prepares forms for such statements, and transmits a copy with his instruc
tions to each corporation bound to furnish them.
No corporation or other person may pay or circulate after the 1st of September,
1836, any bill or note, or other evidence of debt, purporting to be issued by 'any
body corporate, of a denomination less than five dollars, nor of a denomination
between 5 and 10 dollars, under penalty of forfeiture for each offence, of five times
the nominal value of such bill, recoverable for the use of any person suing there
for; nor may any corporation having banking powers issue or put in circulation,
such notes or evidences of debt prohibited, under penalty of forfeiture of $100 for
each, so recoverable, and of an injunction from chancery, restraining such corpo
ration from the exercise of corporate rights and from receiving any debts, and from
paying any of its moneys or effects until further order of the court.
Persons purchasing or taking at a discount, any bill or note of a banking corpo
ration not chartered by the state, or issued by private bankers, individuals, or asso
ciations carrying on banking business in any state, country or province, of a deno
mination, the circulation of which is above prohibited, in addition to the forfeiture
last but one mentioned, forfeit $50, to be recovered in Hke manner; and any incor
porated company, in the state, receiving such bill or note, on conviction forfeits its
charter. Notes of banking corporations within the state are payable at their respective
banking houses.
No banking corporation, its officers or servants, may directly or indirectly, be
interested in the purchase of any evidence of debt issued by it, for a less sum than
appears due on the face thereof, under penalty of forfeiture of three times the no
minal amount of such note, recoverable by any person suing therefor. Nor may
any such officer, or any person interested in the management of the concerns of
such corporation, loan upon any evidence of debt, which he knows to have been
offered for discount to the directors or any officer thereof, and to have been refused,

INCORPORATIONS. 265
under penalty of forfeiting twice the amount of such loan, recoverable in like
manner. No moneyed corporation may commence business until its president and cashier
or treasurer or secretary, or its two principal officers by whatever name described,
have made and subscribed an affidavit, that the whole capital stock or so much as
is required by the charter to be paid or secured before the commencement of its
operations, has been actually paid or secured to be paid; under penalty of the for
feiture of its charter, if such affidavit be not filed within one year from the granting
of the charter.
Due and special provision is made by law regulating the election of directors of
moneyed and other corporations. SAFETY FUND.
7. Every bauking corporation created since April 2, 1829, or whose charter may
be thereafter renewed or extended, is required on or before the 1st of January, an
nually, to pay to the state treasurer a sum equal to one-half of one per cent, on its
capital stock paid in, after excepting therefrom that part of it held by the state,
and for that rate for the time it has been in operation, if less than one year; or may,
with consent of the comptroller, at any time before the expiration of the period
limited for payment by the safety fund act, pay into the treasury the full amount
of three per cen^. on its capital required by that law.
At the time of such payment, the corporation delivers to the state- treasurer, a
statement signed and sworn to by its president and cashier, of the actual amount
of its capital stock paid in, designating the amount owned by the state.
Such payments continue until such incorporation shall have paid three per cent.
upon its capital, which forms a perpetual fund, by the name of " The Bank Fund,"
to be applied to the payment of such debts .(exclusive of the capital stock) of any
ofthe said corporations, which shall become insolvent, as remain unpaid after ap
plying its own property..
The comptroller and treasurer of the state keep proper accounts of the fund, and
the former, from time to time, reports its condition to the legislature.
The fund is the property of the contributing corporations, in proportion to their
contributions; but the comptroller, from time to time, invests all moneys belonging
thereto, in the manner provided for the school fund, or in such stocks or loans as
he and the bank commissioners deem proper, except to corporations subject to the
safety fund act, but not until three months after the annual contributions of the
banks are paid: And may sell stocks in which such funds may have been invested,
when necessary to meet any charges on the fund.
The income of the fund, after deducting the salaries of the bank commissioners,
is annually paid by the comptroller to the contributing corporations, in proportion
to their contributions (excepting such corporations as shall become insolvent, dis
solved, or whose charters shall expire.)
Whenever the fund is reduced by paying the debts of an insolvent bank, below
the sum above provided, every bank then existing, or thereafter created, on or be
fore the 1st of January in every year thereafter, pays to the state treasurer such
sum designated by the comptroller, not exceeding a-sum equal to one-half of one
per cent, on its capital stock, until the fund shall be restored to the amount speci
fied, when such payments are suspended until the fund is again diminished by
other insolvencies.
8. The court of chancery, immediately after a final dividend of the effects of an
insolvent corporation shallhave been made amongst its creditors, enters an order
on its minutes, setting forth, 1. The total amount of debts against such corporation,
ascertained by the court, including lawful interest thereon. 2. The net amount
derived from its property, and. applied under the direction of the court, towards
satisfying its debts. 3. The total amount then necessary to pay off such debts;
Such order also directs the receiver appointed to take charge of the effects of the
corporation, to receive from the comptroller a sum necessary to pay its debts.
Upon such receiver's filing with the comptroller a copy of such order, he draws
his warrant in favour ofthe receiver, on the treasurer, for the sum (not exceeding
the bank fund) necessary to pay the debts, to be paid by the receiver to the cre
ditors ofthe Corporation.
34

266 * POLITICAL VIEW.
If, when the copy ofthe order is filed, the fund is deficient, the receiver is paid
the necessary balance out of the first moneys paid to the treasurer from the banks.
The moneys so paid out ofthe treasury are a charge on the bank fund.
Whenever the charter of a bank expires, such bank receives its share of the
bank fund, proportional to its contribution, after deducting its proportion of the
charges. No creditor of any insolvent corporation receives, by virtue of the act, interest
on his debt, after the time the order specified above is made, nor anterior to the
presentation of his demand to the receiver.
9. Three bank commissioners are appointed, who visit every bank subject to
the act once at least in every four months, and examine its affairs; and if three
banks subject to the act require it, the commissioners or one of them, visits any
bank oftener.
The commissioners or either of them, may examine on oath the officers, servants
and agents of any bank.
If they discover any bank to be insolvent, or to have violated any law, they
apply to the court of chancery for an injunction against it.
They report to the legislature in the month of January, each year, the manner
in which they have discharged their duties, with any information they may deem
useful. The governor and senate appoint one of the bank commissioners; the oth' rs are
appointed by the banks subject to the act, as follows: each bank in the f.rst, se
cond and third senate districts, chooses one delegate, who, at a meeting held at 4
o'clock, P. M. of a day designated by the governor, at the City Hall, in the city
of N.York,choose one commissioner by ballot, by a majority of all the votes given;
each delegate is entitled to one vote, for every five thousand dollars ofthe capital
stock paid in, of the bank he represents, A certificate of every such choice is filed
with the secretary of state. The banks in the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth
senate districts, meet in the village of Auburn, and choose in the same manner one
commissioner. Vacancies of commissioners are filled in the same manner.
The commissioners hold their offices for two years, removable by the governor
for misconduct or neglect of duty. Before entering on office, they take the consti
tutional oath, to be filed with the secretary of state. They are not to disclose the
names of the debtors of any bank nor any information obtained in the way of their
office, except when legally required. Each receives the annual salary of $2000,
payable quarterly, out ofthe bank fund.
10. No such bank may issue or have in circulation, at any time, an amount of
notes or bills put in circulation as money, exceeding twice its capital stock paid in
and possessed; nor may its loans and discounts at any time exceed twice and a
half the amount of such stock.
Any such bank violating the last provision or neglecting to make any payment
required by the act, for three months after the prescribed time, and after being no
tified by the comptroller, or suspending the payment of its bills in specie for ninety
days, or refusing to permit an examination of its affairs by the commissioners, may
be dissolved as an insolvent corporation.
The officer making false statements or false entries in the books of such corpora
tion, or exhibiting false papers, with intent to deceive the commissioners, is guilty
of felony, and subject to imprisonment for not less than 3 nor more than 10 years"
11. The personal liability of the stockholders of an insolvent corporation, pro
vided for above does not apply to any corporation subject to this act, but the pro
visions relative to the liability of directors so apply.
12. The statements required above are made by the banks subject to the safety
fund act, to the secretary of state, sealed and directed to the commissioners, on or
before the 20th of January, annually; and the powers given to the comptroller re
lating thereto, do not extend to such corporations.
No stockholder of any bank may be a commissioner under the act; and the bank
commissioners may not be any wise concerned in any bank stock in this state.
13. Every bank subject to the act may receive legal interest on all loans or
discounts by them made; but on notes, which shall be mature in sixty-three days
from the time of discount, they only receive six per cent, per anuum, in advance.
14. Every such bank, before making any loans or discounts, has all its capital paid
in, satisfactorily proved by oath to the commissioners; every bank whose charter
is extended, pays in its stock and proves the fact as above in one year from such

INCORPORATIONS. 267
extension; such latter bank may reduce its capital stock to a sum not below the
amount actually paid in at the renewal of their charters; the reduction to be Certi
fied by the bank to the comptroller, within a year from their renewal.
15. No such bank issues any bill or note not payable on demand without interest.
16. Loans of the bank fund when on real estate, must be on estates unincum
bered, and worth double the value ofthe loan of which value the building forms no
part, unless insured against fire by the mortgagor, in such company as the comp
troller and bank commissioners direct; and in case of depreciation of the estates
or stock, or the security taken becomes doubtful, the comptroller and commis
sioners call in the loans or require additional security, and sell such stock, rein
vesting the moneys. Premiums paid on the purchase of stocks are preferred
charges on the fund, and premiums on stocks sold are income payable to the cor-
porations entitled thereto.
17. The mutilation or defacing of a note or other evidence of debt issued by an
incorporated bank, with intent to render it unfit to be reissued, is punishable by a
fine of $50 to the corporation injured.
18. Every incorporated bank is required to publish annually, for six successive
weeks in a newspaper of its proper county, and in the state paper, a statement, to
be also reported to the legislature within ten days after the commencement of each
session, verified by the oath ofthe cashier or president, ofthe deposits and ofthe
dividends on its stock, which at the dale of the statement shall have been un
claimed for two years, setting forth the time and amount of the deposit, the name
and residence if known, ofthe depositor; the time and amount ofthe dividend, the
name of the stockholder, and the number of shares of stock upon which it was de
clared. The savings banks are required to make, publish and report,, in like manner, a
statement of the names of all persons who have made deposits, and have not,
within two years preceding such statement, either drawn out any part of the de
posit or interest thereon, with the name of the depositor, his residence, occupa
tion, time and amount of deposit, and amount of interest due thereon.
The expenses of advertising, in all cases, are deducted in due proportion from
the sums unclaimed.
19. No moneyed corporation may receive the premium of exchange on any draft
made by it, used in the payment of any bill, note or other demand due to, or dis
counted by it, or be interested in the premiums on drafts, drawn or sold by any
other corporation, or by any individual; nor be interested in the fees of any notary
public; nor may. any officer or clerk of such corporation, being a notary" public,
receive more than fifty cents for protesting and giving the requisite notices upon
any note, bill of exchange, check or draft, payable at the office of such corpora
tion, nor may such corporation, its officers or clerks, receive any sum for a notice
upon any note, &c, not duly protested; nor may a notary receive any fees for
protesting or giving notice on any note, &c, in which any moneyed corporation is
interested, of which he may be a stockholder.
Nor may any moneyed corporation place in the hands of any person, directly or
indirectly, any money or bank notes for loaning, or discounting paper, or under
any pretence of discounting, or engaging that such corporation shall discount any
note or draft if presented at its counter.
No cashier or director of such banking corporation may hold the office of direc
tor in any other moneyed corporation, holding its charter under the safety fund
system. The bank commissioners are required to examine, under oath, the officers of all
banks subject to their supervision, as to any offence against the provisions of the
last three paragraphs, and to report to the legislature the names of such corpora
tions offending, or who shall adopt or pursue any course of business with the in
tention of receiving more than the legal rate of discount; and may apply to the
chancellor for an injunction, pursuant to the 18th section of the safety fund actj
against such corporation violating such provisions or adopting or pursuing such
course of business.
20. No person unauthorised by law, may subscribe to, or become a member of,
or be in any way interested in, any association for the purpose of receiving depo
sits, making discounts or issuing notes or other evidences of debt, to be loaned or
put in circulation as money; nor subscribe to, or be in any way interested in, any

268 POLITICAL VIEW.
bank or fund for the like purposes, or either of them, under penalty of one thou
sand dollars.
No incorporated company, unauthorised by law, may employ any part of its
effects, or be in any way interested in, any fund employed for receiving deposits,
making discounts or issuing notes or other evidences of debt, to be loaned or put
into circulation as money. Any director, or other agent or officer, of such com
pany, violating this provision, forfeits one thousand dollars.
All notes and other securities for the payment of money or delivery of property,
given to any such association, to secure the payment of money loaned or discount
ed by any incorporated company or its officers, contrary to the above provisions,
are void.
No person, association, or body corporate, unauthorised by law, may keep any
office for receiving deposits, or discounting notes or bills, or issuing evidences of
debt, to be loaned or put in circulation as money; nor issue any bills or promis
sory notes or other evidences of debt as private bankers, for the purpose of loaning
them or putting them in circulation as money, unless specially authorised by law,
under penalty of one thousand dollars.
21. No person may pay or receive in payment, or in any way circulate or at
tempt to circulate, any bank bill, or any promissory note, bill, check, draft or
other evidence of debt, issued by any banking company, made payable otherwise
than in lawful money of the Uuited States, under penalty of forfeiting the nominal
value thereof to any person who will sue therefor in the name of the overseers of
the poor of the town where the offence is committed, with their consent and under
their direction, in an action to be commenced within sixty days after the commis
sion of the offence.
All bills, notes, or other instruments issued by any banking company, purport-
ing to be receivable in payment of debts due to it, are deemed promissory notes
for the payment, on demand, ofthe sum expressed therein; and such sum is reco
verable by the holder or bearer of the instrument, as if it were a promissory note.
22. No person or association in any foreign country, nor incorporation estab
lished in any foreign country, nor any person in their behalf, may make any con
tract of insurance, or by way of insurance, against loss or injury by fire, upon any
house, building, or goods, situated or being in this state, or against marine loss
es, or for lending money on respondentia or bottomry, under penalty of one
thousand dollars, for the use of the poor of the county where such illegal contract
is made.
There is to be paid into the treasury on the first day of February, annually, by
the agent for any individual or association — not incorporated or authorised by this
state to effect insurances against losses by fire, although incorporated for that pur
pose by any other state — the sum of ten per cent, upon the amount of all pre
miums, which, during the year ending on the preceding first day of September,
have been received by him or have been agreed to be paid, for any insurances
to be effected or procured by him against loss or injury by fire, or against marine
risks. No such agent may effect, or agree to effect, any such insurances, until he have
executed and delivered to the comptroller a bond to the state, in the penal sum of
one thousand dollars, with such sureties as the comptroller shall approve, with
condition that he will annually render to the comptroller, on the first day of
February, a just and true account of all premiums, which during the year ending
on the first day of September preceding such report, have been received by him
or for him, or agreed to be paid for any such insurance, effected by him or agreed,
to be effected, or which shall have been procured by him from any individual or
association not so authorised; and that he will annually, on the first day of Febru
ary, pay into the treasury such duty — under penalty of five hundred dollars.
SAVINGS BANKS.
23. These institutions, founded in the wisest views of charity, enabling the
poor to preserve and make profit of their gains, have been much extended in this
state. The object of their foundation is to receive and vest in government or other
securities, such small sums of money as may be saved from the earnings of

INCORPORATIONS.

269

tradesmen, mechanics and labourers, minors, servants and others, thereby- afford
ing the twofold advantages of security and interest.
To this end trustees are usually named in the incorporating act, who are em
powered — to fill all vacancies that may occur — to hold real and personal estate,
necessary for the institution, to an amount limited by charter — to use the funds for
the above objects — to receive all sums that may be offered in deposit, in such
amounts and on such terms as they may direct, for the purpose of investment, re
gulating the rate of interest to be allowed them, so that they shall receive a ratea
ble proportion of all the profits of the bank, after deduction of expenses — to
be repaid to the depositor when required, at such times and with such interest as
the trustees prescribe — to make by-laws for the regulation of elections, the ap
pointment and conduct of officers, &c. The trustees and officers are prohibited
to borrow or use the funds except for current expenses, and the trustees to receive
compensation for their services; and are required to report, annually, to the legis
lature. Savings Banks, 1835.
T . , Amount in Interest on Total amt.
Incorporated. Depoait_ L<mns_ on deposit.

Bank for Savings in
the city of N. York,
Seaman's Bank for
Savings,
Greenwich,Bowery,Brooklyn, Poughkeepsie, Albany,
Troy, Rochester, Ontario, Utica,
Canandaigua, Schenectady,

No. of
dep'rs,

2 Mar. 1819, $3,085,738 1,070,616 3,085,738 22,594

Jan. 31, 1829,
24th April, 1833,
1st May, 1834,
7th April, 1827,
16th April, 1831,
24th March, 1820,
23d April, 1823,
21st April, 1831,
20lh April, 1830,
27th March, 1821,
20th April, 1830,
29th April, 1834,

84,103
120,158 65,531
130,337 5,946
206,793 135,999 53,40340,070 40,000

1036

882

Not in operation.
No returns.

$3,948,068

THE NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE AND TRUST COMPANY,
24. Is a moneyed corporation of a mixed character: It was incorporated 9th of
March, 1830, with power to make insurance on lives — grant and purchase annui
ties — make other contingent contracts involving the interest of money and the
duration of life — receive moneys in trust, to accumulate at a rate of interest stipu
lated between the parties not exceeding the legal rate — to accept and execute all
trusts committed to them by the court of chancery or surrogate or other person —
to be guardian under the appointment of chancery or surrogate of an infant whose
estate may exceed $100 per annum. The capital is one million, divided into
shares of $100; and is required to be invested in bonds and mortgages on unin
cumbered real estate, of double the value charged thereon, within the state, and at
least one half out of the Iiniits of the city and county of New York. The cor
porate powers are exercised by a board of trustees, named in the charter, supply
ing its own vacancies, from persons openly nominated at a meeting ofthe trustees,
one month before the election, and whose name has been published for three suc
cessive weeks in one or more ofthe newspapers of the City of New York, and in
the state paper.
No loan may be made directly or indirectly to any trustee; but he may secure
his shares of stock by his own bond and mortgage. The trustees have a discre
tionary power to invest the premiums and profits received by them in trust, in
public stocks or in real or personal securities; but may not hold stock in any pri
vate incorporated company beyond $25,000. They annually exhibit to the chan
cellor a statement of their affairs which he may refer for investigation to a master
of his court, with instructions to report his opinion in relation to the ability and
integrity with which its affairs are conducted; the prudence and safety of its in
vestments; the security offered to those by whom its engagements are held, and

270

POLITICAL VIEW.

the advantage derived by the public from its operations — the expense of the in
vestigation to be defrayed by the company, and a copy of the statement to be sent
by the president to the comptroller.
The condition of this company appears from the statement of January 1835.
Capital on bond and mortgage in the city, at
6 per cent.  $66,324 00
In the country at 6 per cent. ... 32,700 57
do do 7 du ... 900,975 43

Loaned on bond and mortgage in the city at
6 per cent. ....
do do at 7 per cent,
In the country at 6 per cent, - • -
do do 7 do ...
Loaned on bonds at 6 per cent.
do do 7 do -
Bills receivable at 5 per cent.
do do 5} do -
do do 6 do -- -
do do 6| do -
do do 7 do -
Loans on stock, for a period at 6 per cent.
do do at 7 do
do on demand at 5 do
do do 6 do -
do do 7 do -
Albany City stock, ....
Insurance bond and mortgage account, -
Annuity purchased, ....
Real estate, ....
Cash due from country banks, &c.
Balance in bank, ....

Capital, ...
Deposites in trust, at 3 per cent.

do

do

4 do

do

do

4i do

do

do

5 do

Chancery

do

5 do

Special

do

6. do

Trust of accumulation at 4 per cent.
do do at 4J do
do do at 5 do
Guardianship account,
Receivership, do
Life Insurance, -
Annuities granted, ...
Interest received on bills receivable,
Unclaimed dividends,*
Surplus funds, -
Profit and loss, ....

$244,103 08
298.421 71
2,500
2,232,566 15
$19,033 33
60,153 34
$61,500 00
168,604 72
839,037 11
36,176 05
32,688 21
$18,000 00
32,500 00
330,480 00
178,900 02
31,392 00
$30,600 00
855 76
1,289 80
42,861 85
65,538 60
28,169 46

$49,978 22
145,247 85
1,413,078 09
1,493,079 77
1,132,886 49
6,000 00
$7,478 66
69,486 26
127,052 81
$17,666 56
2,498 18
66.513 15
15,776 64
20,552 22

$1,000,000 00

2,777,590 94

79,186 67

1,729,278 11

169,315 47
$5,755,371 19
1,000,000 00

4,240,270 42

204,017 73

123,006 75
3,481 00
118,595 29
66,000 00
$5,755,371 19

INCORPORATIONS .

271

25. There were, in 1835, in operation in the state, the following insurance compa
nies: IN THE CITY OP NEW YORK — MARINE INSURANCE. Capital.
$500,000 350,000 500,000
500,000
350,000
250,000 300,000
400,000
300,000 300,000

Inc.

Name.

1798

New York,

1810

Ocean,

1815

American,

1818

Union,

1824

Atlantic,

1815

Neptune,

1825

New York State,

1831

Jackson,

1832

Commercial, .

1833

Washington, .

FIRE INSURANCE

Inc.

Name.

1798

Mutual,

1801

Washington, .

1808

Eagle,

1814

Globe,,

1818

Merchants,

1818

Franklin,

1821

Manhattan,

1819

Fulton,

1822

Farmers F. & Loan, .

1822

North River, .

1823

Equitable,

1823

Phoenix,

1824

New York Contributionship,

1824

Jefferson,

1824

United States,

1823

./Etna,

1829

Traders',

1826

Firemen's,

1825

Howard,

1832

American,

1832

New York,

1833

City,

1833

New York Bowery,

1833

Guardian,

1833

East River,

1834

Greenwich,

$3,750,000 Capital.
$500,000 500,000 500,000
1,000,000 500,000
250,000250,000500,000
500,000 350,000
300,000250,000300,000250,000500,000
400,000250,000 300,000
300,000 200,000200,000300,000
300,000 300,000250,000200,000
$9,450,000

INSURANCE COMPANIES, EXCLUSIVE OF THOSE IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

Name.
Albany Insurance Company,
Merchants' do. do.
Firemen's do. do.
Troy do. do.
Renssalaer& Saratoga do.
Clinton do.
Schoharie Mutual Insurance Company,
Saratoga Co. do.
Brooklyn Fire Insurance Company,
Long Island do.
Firemen's do.

Location.

Capital.

Albany, do'. do.
Troy, do. do.
Schoharie, Saratoga Springs,
Brooklyn, do. do.

$300,000 250,000
150,000 200,000 101,731
500,000

150,000
200,000 150,000

Expir. of
Charter. 18511845 1861
185118541854
1851
Unlimited. 1845
18631863

272

POLITICAL VIEW.

Name.

Location.

Capital.

Expir. of
Charter.

L. Island Farmers' Fire Insurance Co.

Hempstead,

50,000

1863

Oneida

do.

Utica,

250,000

1855

Western Fire

do.

Canandaigua,

250,000

1845

Ontario

do.

Geneva,

250,000

1846

Auburn

do.

Auburn,

150,000

1846

Poughkeepsie

do.

Poughkeepsie,

100,000

1846

Orange Fire

do.

Newburgh,

400,000

1839

Monroe Fire

do.

Rochester,

250,000

1846

Buffalo Fire & Marine

do.

Buffalo,

100,000

1860

Washington Co.

do.

Granville,

50,000

Unlimited.

Washington Co. Mutual

do.

Granville Corn.

1854

Syracuse

do.

Syracuse,

100,000

1863

North Western

do.

Oswego,

150,000

1857

Total

4,101,741

From a list made by the comptroller in 1833, there appears to have been incor
porated, between that year and 1791, about 1000 companies. Some hundreds have
been erected since 1833. The number liable to taxation in 1834, was 251; to
which many have been since added. Many of the turnpike, manufacturing, and
other companies, are not liable to taxation, by reason of the smallness of their di
vidends; and a great number of the corporations have become extinct.
GENERAL POWERS, PRIVILEGES AND LIABILITIES OF CORPORATIONS.
26. Every corporation has power — to have succession by its corporate name for
the period limited in its charter; and when none is limited, perpetually; to sue and
be sued in any court; to make, use and alter at pleasure, a common seal; td hold,
purchase and convey real and personal estate for the purposes of the corporation,
not exceeding the amount limited in its charter; to appoint and compensate ne
cessary subordinate officers and agents; to make by-laws, not inconsistent with
law, for the management of its property, regulation of its affairs and transfer of
its stock — and no others, except necessary to the exercise of the powers so enu
merated, unless expressly given by its charter.
Corporations not expre.ssly incorporated for banking purposes, have no power of
discounting notes or other evidences of debt, receiving deposits, buying gold and
silver bullion, or foreign coins; buying and selling bills of exchange, or of issuing
bills, notes or other evidences of debt, upon loan or for circulation as money.
Where the whole capital stock of a corporation is not paid in, and the capital
. paid is insufficient to satisfy its creditors, each stockholder is liable to pay on each
share held by him, the sum necessary to complete the amount of the share, or such
proportion, as may be requisite to satisfy the debts of the company.
When the corporate powers are directed by charter to be exercised by any par
ticular body, or number of persons, a majority thereof, if not otherwise provided
by charter, forms a board for business, whose decision by a majority duly assem
bled as a board, is valid as a corporate act.
Corporations created since the 3d of December, 1827, by the legislature, who
do not organise and commence business within one year from the date of incorpo
ration, lose their corporate powers; and the charter of every such corporation is
subject to alteration, suspension and repeal, in the discretion of the legislature.
Upon the dissolution of any corporation, unless others are appointed by the le
gislature, or court of competent authority, the directors or managers of the corpo
ration are the trustees of its creditors, with full power to settle its affairs, collect
and pay outstanding debts, and divide among the stockholders the effects remain
ing after payment of the debts and expenses; such trustees may sue for and recover
the debts and effects of the corporation, by the name of trustees thereof, describing
it by its corporate name, and are jointly and severally responsible to the creditors
and stockholders to the extent of effects that come to their hands.
The transfer books and books containing the names ofthe stockholders of any
incorporated company, are open to the examination of every stockholder 30 days
previous to an election of directors, under penalty on the officer in charge of them,

273
of $250 for such refusal, one half to the use of the state and the other to the person
suing therefor. .j
The directors of all incorporated companies are forbidden— to make dividends
except from surplus profits— to divide, withdraw or in any way pay to the stock
holders, any part ofthe capital stock, or to reduce the capital, without consent of
the legislature— to discount or receive any note or other evidence of debt, in pay
ment of any instalment due on its stock; or with intent of enabling any stock
holder to withdraw any part of the money paid by him on his stock, under penalty
upon the directors who do not cause their dissent therefrom to be entered at large
upon the minutes, at the time, or who were not absent, of liability in their indivi
dual and private capacities jointly and severally to the corporations, and its cre^
ditors, in the event of its dissolution, to the full amount of its capital so divided,
withdrawn, paid out or reduced,, and of the notes and other evidences of debt so
discounted, with interest on the respective sums from the time the liability accrued,
without bar from the statute of limitations to any suit therefor. Bui; this provision
does not prevent a distribution ofthe capital stock ofthe company after payment
of its debts, upon the dissolution or expiration ofthe charter ofthe company.
The total amount of debts which an incorporated company may owe, above the
actual deposits with it, may not exceed three times the amount of capital paid, in;
and in case of excess, the directors under whose administiation this may happen,
except they enter their dissent therefrom or' were absent when it happened, are lia
ble as in the last paragraph specified.
When an incorporated company refuses payment of its notes or other evidences
of its debts, such company is forbidden to assign its property to any officer or
stockholder thereof, directly or indirectly for the payment of any debt, or make an
assignment in contemplation of its insolvency; and when a corporation remains
insolvent for one year or fails to redeem its notes, &c, or for, one year suspends
its business, it is deemed to have surrendered its rights and is dissolved.
The provisions ofthe last four paragraphs do not apply to any incorporated or
religious society, to any moneyed corporation whose charter was granted, renewed
or extended, after the "1st of January, 1828, and subject to the provisions of the 2d
title of the chapter of the revised laws on corporations.
BANKING SYSTEM OF SEW YORK.
27. The banking operations of New York have inevitably great influence upon the
business of the whole country. Fora season", it had the greatest capital of any state
in. the Union, thus employed. But the incorporation of the Bank of the United
States by Pennsylvania,, has given to her a nominal bank capital of more than
fifty-two millions; we say nominal, because much of the capital of that bank will
probably be used in the other states. The system for surveillance and regulation
of the banks of this state £s;a novelty in political economy, and cannot be regarded
but with deep interest, by every state, as an effort to provide against the evils
which have seemed to be hitherto concomitant with chartered mon^ed institutions.
Banks, as offices of discount arid" deposit, conducting their business. by the me
dium of exchange, otherwise established in the country, might, perhaps, be safely
permitted here as in other countries, under the guidance of their interests alone.
But, creating as they do, a large portion of the circulating medium of the state,
they so far become political agents vested with a branch erf the state sovereignty,
whose actions'the 'state should intimately know, and ha\/e the power to control,
by general and fixed principles.
<)J([o.ney and credit are commodities whose value, like that of all others, depends on
demand and supply. When the supply is equal to, or greater than the demand,
money is cheap, and all other commodities dear; when the demand is greater than
the supply, money beeomes dear, and other commodities cheap. It is obvious,
therefore, that the power which can enlarge or contract the circulation of money,
hs*s an influence, good or evil, overall the business relations, and thereby, over all
tbe relations of the community. It may promote enterprise to extravagant and
dangerons extent, by large issues of paper, and corresponding bank credits; and
may suddenly mar that enterprise by withdrawal of its support, compelling the
sacrifice of the labours and capitals of those it has stimulated. . -
This is an abuse to which banking companies of. honest intentions are%oWI.
But where good faith ia wanting, there are other abuses which are productive of
35 *

274 POLITICAL VIEW.
great publio injury; such as trading on fictitious capital—overtrading", so as to put
the real:capital at risk, for the sake of enormous profits— distributing the capital in
annualdividend's, with the view of raising the value of -the stock in the market; and
taking advantage ofthe rise — making large issues of notes, and loaning to directors,
who do not. contemplate to pay — abuses tending toj and almost always endingin,
the insolvency of the companies and loss to all who are holders of their notes.
Enormous abuses of all these classes had occurred, and the records ofthe criminal
courts were filled-with their memorials.
-To provide against these evils was much to be desired. .It was impossible,
perhaps, to prevent a contraction and expansion of the currency, because thatirnust,
in a measure, depend- on the vicissitudes of .trade, over which the. banks may have
no control: but, by confining the issues of banks within certain limits, it was prac
ticable to. prevent them from making those vicissitudes for their peculiar advan
tage. An opportunity; was presented of applying a remedy about the year 1829tJ
when most of the state bank charters were about to expire, and when the safety
fund- system was adopted.
We have given above the provisions of the law, and will only observe here, that
the prominent and distinguishing features of the system are — that the whole capital
must be actually and bona fide paid in— that the bank issues be restricted to twice
the amount of its capital, and loans and discounts to twice and an half of , that
amount — the provision of a fund for indemnifying the creditors of any insolvent
bank; and a strict supervision over the action ofthe bank, by visitors, who inspect
its concerns thrice every year; and who, by their annual expositions, make bank
concerns, formerly as secret as Eleusinian mysteries, now as patent as the public
press, and bring them incessantly before that most vigilant tribunal, publio
opinion. These objects have nothing surely of a party character, but are of a nature
universally beneficial. Yet the system has been branded as one of party origin,
invented to extend and perpetuate party influence. It has shared the fate of almost
every othei public measure; and has been, we think, judged upon party prejudices,
and not by its merits. It is possibly subject to abuse by a dominant party in the
state; yet it must be confessed, that the means by which it may be applied to party
purposes are not very obvious.
To render the bank the slave of a party, the commissioners who inspect must
be desperate partisans, sacrificing integrity and character to party objects; and the
bank must have violated the laws, and be subjected to the commissioners by dread
of chancery procedure a»d public exposure. But the commissioners are not the
delegates of a party. One only is-chosen by the state, the others are selected by
the banks themselves. And as every bank connected with the system has a com
mon interest in the solvency and just management of each, so all have an interest
in checking improper-proceedings, and closing an institution whose course leads
to insolvency. With the experience of six years, and the utmost vigilance of
party investigation, no such abuse has been detected, and there is no reason to
apprehend it.
The dbjfects obtained by the system seem to be such only as were sought by its
creation.. The whole capital Of the banks has been paid in — its withdrawal, by
the directors is prevented — the extension of their circulation by notes or credits
is confined within safe limits; a knowledge _of their operations is accessible to all
interested, and a fund has been provided to remedy the evils of insolvency, which
may be occasioned by accident or deep and carefully concealed design.
The success which has attended it would seem to us to give to this state. an
addition to the merit of leading the way to internal improvements, of founding an
admirable system of public instruction, and of prison discipline, the praise of avert
ing the most dreaded dangers of moneyed corporations.
The present'condition of the state banks will appear from the annexed tables:
and we say the least of it, when we remark, that it is as sound as that of the banks
in any other state in the Union. The true principles of banking are becoming
every year better understood, and more generally applied. The operations of banks
are more confined to aiding the commercial exchanges of the country, arid when
engaged in facilitating the labours of the .agriculturist, the manufacturer, and
the builder, scarce depart from their proper object; since with us, farms, laboratories,

INCORPORATIONS .

275

and houses, are' almost as much the subject of daily exchange as property, usu
ally denominated personal.
The Bank Fund, in January 1836, amounted to upwards of $530,000, and pro
duced a dividend to the banks whichcontributed to it, of 2^ per cents
The following banks are subject to the Bank Fund Law.

Names.
Bank of America,
Mechanics' Bank,
Phenix Bank,
Merchants'*Baiik,Bank of New York,
Union Bank, •
National Bank,.
Merchants' Exchange Bank,
City $i|iik, ...
Leatjjgjr/IManufaeturers' Bank,
Se-venth^Ward Bank,
Butchers' and Drovers' Bank,
^Mnercial Bank, -
La'Fayette -Bank,
Tradesmen's Bank, -
Mechanics' and Trader's Bank,
Greenwich" Bank,

Brooklyn Bank, ...
Westchester County Bank,
Bank of Newburgh,
Highland Bank, ...
Orange County Bank,
Bank of Poughkeepsie,
Ulster County Bank,
Catskill Bank,
Tanners' Bank, ...
Hudson River Bank,
Bank of Albany,
Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank,
New York State Bank,
Crnal Bank, ....
Albany City Bank, - - -
Bank of Troy,
Farmers' Bank, ...
Merchants' and Mechanics' Bank,
Troy City Bank,
Lansinghurgh Bank,
Bank of Whitehall,
Essex County Bank,
Saratoga County' "Bank,
Mohawk Bank, - - -
Schenectady County Bank,
Montgomery County Bank,
Central Bank, ...
Otsego County Bank,
Herkimer County Bank, -
Broome County Bank,
Bank of Chenango, - - -
Madison County Bank, •!-
Bank of Utica and Branch,
Bank of Rome, - *¦
Lewis County Bank, v -
Sackett's Harbour Bank,

Location.
New _York. City,
do.do.
do. do.
.- * do.
do.do... -
do.do.do.do. do.do.do.do.. do.

Capital employed.
$2^001,2.00 2,000,000 1,500,000
. - 1,490,000lfOOO.OOO1,000,000 750,000
- - 750,000720,000600,000
. 500,000
,500,000 500,000500,000 400,000200,000 200,000

Brooklyn,Fe*ekskill,
Newburgh, do. .- 7 , -
Goshen, .- - -
Poughkeepsie, ..-
Kingston, Catskill,
.- do. -
Hudson, -
Albany, - - -
do.. do. -
.. do. - "-
do, ...
Troy, - - -
do. ...
do.
do. .,-.,-,• -'i'r.-
Lansingburgh, -
Whitehall,
Keeseville,Waterford,
Schenectady, do. -
Johnstown,
Cherry .Valley,
Cooperstown, Little Falls,
Binghamton,
Norwich, Cazenovia, - - ¦ r ¦•
Utica and Canandaigua,
Rome, - - -
Martinsburgh, - - .- -
Sackett's Harbour, -

14,611,200 200,000200,000 140,000
200,000 105,660100,000
100,000 150,000 100,000
150,000
240,000442,000369,600
300,000
500,000
440,000
278,000
300,000300,000 120,000100,000
100,000100,000165,000150,000
100,000120,000
100,000
200,000 -
100,000
120,000
100,000
600,000100,000
100,000
200,000

276

POLITICAL VIEW.

Names.
Jefferson County Bank,
Ogdensburgh Bank, - -
Bank of Oswego,
Bank of Salina,
Onondaga Bank,
Bank of Auburn,
Cayuga' County Bank,
Seneca County Bank,
Bank of Geneva,
Bank of Ithaca,
Yates ffbunty Bank,
Chemung Canal Bank,
Steuben County Bank,
Wayne County Bank,
Ontario Bank and Branch,
Livingston County Bank,
Bank of Monroe,
Bank of Orleans,
Bank of Genesee, . -
Lockport Bank,
Bank of Buffalo,
Commercial Bank, -
Chautauque County Bank,

Manhattan Company, ...
Dry Dock Company, ...
Fulton Bank, .....
North River Bank, ....
Delaware and Hudson Canal Company,
Chemical Manufacturing Company, -
Long Island Bank, ....
Dutchess County Bank, ...
Commercial Bank, ....
Bank of Rochester, ....

Location.

Capital employed.

Watertown,

-

80,000

Ogdensburgh,

-

100,000

Oswego, -

-

150,000

Salina,

-

150,000

Syracuse,

-

150,000

Auburn,

-

200,000

do.

-

250,000

Waterloo,

-

200,000

Geneva,

-

400,000

Ithaca,

r~...

200,000

Perm Yan,

-

100,000

Elmira,

-

200,000

Bath,

.

150,000

Palmyra,

.

100,000

Canandaigua -

ind Utica,

500,000

Geneseo, -

.

100,000

Rochester,

.

300,000

Albion,

.

200,000

Batavia, -

.

100,000

Lockport,

-

100,000

Buffalo, -

-

200,000

do.

-

400,000

Jamestown,

-

100,000

$26,231,460

ct to the Law.

Expiration

Capital."

of charter.

New York,

$2,050,000

unlimited.

do.

200,000

do.

do.

600,000

1844

do.

500,000

1842

do.

500,000

1844

do.

400,000

1844

Brooklyn, .

300,000

1840

Poughkeepsie, 150,000

1845

Albany,

300,000

1845

Rochester,

250,000

1840

Total, $5,250,000

In January, 1835, there were in the State, exclusive ofthe Branches ofthe United
States Bank, 86 banks, whose aggregate capitals amounted - $31,481,460
Circulation - 16,732,014
Specie - - 7,345,195
The circulation consisted of bills of the following denominations:
One dollar bills, .... $1,085,535 1,169,330 1,476,037
4,643,422 2,702,651 784,280 622,125961,200 204,000 436,100

Two ThreeFive
Ten Twenty Fifty One hundred dollar bills,
Five hundred "
One thousand

Over $5, but particular denomination unknown, 2,646,274
Total circulation, $16,732,014
yju actof March 31» 1835, the circulation of all bills under five dollars,
ceased by the first of September, 1836; amounting to a reduction ofthe paper cur-

INCORPORATIONS.

277

rency,.,ln that respect, In eighteen months, of the sum of $3,720,902. No bank
was incorporated in 1835.
On January 1, 1836, the condition of all the banks of the state is thus gifen by
the bank commissioners.
Aggregate Statement of all the Banks ofthe State of New York, on the 1st Jan. 1836.
RESOURCES.

Loans and discounts,
Real estate, ....
Stocks, ....
Over drafts,
Suspense account,
Expenses and personal estate
Bank fund, ....
Specie, ....
Notes of other solvent banks,
Checks and other cash items,
Due from other banks and corporations,

Seventy-seven Safety Fund
Banks.
59,663,924 1,329,411 427,442 230,662 1*23,738
. 442,696
4,974,856
.- 8,186,5731,055,077
13,893,369

Nine Banks not
subject to the
Bank Fund law.
12,805,358 482,514
375,717

126,167 20,965
1,249*790,2,051,001 222,809
2,097,799

Total.
72,469,282 1J811.936 803,159
, 230,66,2 126,167144,703
442,696
6,224,646
10,237,574 1,277*886
15,991,168

$109,759,868

LIABILITIES.

Capital paid in and possessed,
26,531,461
4,750,000
31,281,461
Bank notes in circulation,
18,955,818
2,172,109
21,127,927
Profits, ....
. v .4,132,000
. C«- 159,638
500,803
4,632,803
Deposites to apply on debts,
• a '.
159,638
Dividends unpaid,
s • "¦ 405,876
51,719
457,595
Due Canal Fund,
3,088,347
357,406
3,445,753
Loans on time, . . .
463,500
• .
463,500
Deposites, United States,
6,049,699
3,241,840
9,291,539
Deposites, individual, . . , .
14,110,692
5,005,478
19,116,170
Due other banks and corporations,
16,430,717
3,352,765
19,783,482
$109,759,868
CHAPTER XIV.
JUDICIARY.
1. Judiciary Power, in what Courts Vested. 2. Laws in Force. 3. Certain Judicial Of
ficers — Appointment to, and Tenure of, Office. 4. Judicial Officers Elected by the Peo
ple. 5. Court;for thejTrial of Impeachments, and Correction of Errors. 6. Court of-
Chancery. 7. Supremfe and Circuit Courts* 8. Courts of Common Pleas and General
Sessions. 9. Superior. Court of the City of New York. 10. Mayor's Courts of Cities.
11. Surrogate's Courts. 12. Courts Of Special Sessions of. the Peace. 13. Special Jus
tices' Courts. 14. Courts of Justices of the Peace. 15. General Provisions relating to
Courts of Law. 16. Commissioners of Deeds. 17. Counsellors, Solicitors, and Attor
neys — Numberbf. 18. Trialby Jury— Mode of Forming Juryr^-Special Jury. 19. Ar
bitrations and References.
1. The judiciary power is vested in, 1- The court for trial of impeachments and
correction of errors. 2. The court of charirery. 3. The supreme court. 4. The
circuit court. 5. The courts of common pleas. 6. Superior court of the city of
New York. 7. Mayor's courts of cities. 8. Surrogate's courts. 9. Courts of
special sessions of the peace. 10. Special courts in the several cities. 11. Jus
tices courts. v . , .
^ Such equity powers may be vested in the circuit judges, or in the county courts,
278 POLITICAL VIEW.
or in such other subordinate courts', as the legislature may direct — subject t& the
appellate jurisdiction of the chancellor.
2. By the:Constitution, article 7, section 13, such parts of the common law, and of
the acts of the colonial legislature, as formed the law of the colony on the J9th
April, 1775, and the resolutions of the congress of the colony, and of the conven
tion of the state in force on fhe:20th April, 177*7, not since altered, expired or re
pealed, and such acts of the state legislature as w^re in force on the adoption of
the pre^fet constitution, continue the law of the state, subject to the power ofthe
legislature— unless repugnant to the constitution.
3. The chancellor, the justices ofthe supreme court, the circuit judges, the
judges of county courts, the recorders of cities, masters and examiners iii chance
ry, andthe chief justice and associate judges of the superior court;Of law, iii and
for the city and county of New York, are nominated and appointed by the gover
nor with the consent of the senate.
The chancellor, the justices of the supreme court, and the circuit judges, hold
their offices during good behaviour, or until they respectively attain the age of
sixty years; but may be removed by a joint resolution of the two houses of the
legislature, concurred in by two-thirds of all the members elected to the assembly,
and a majority of all the members elected to the senate.
Neither the chancellor, justice of the supreme court, nor circuit judge, holds
any other office or public trust; and all votes given to either, for an elective office,
by the legislature or the people, are void.
Judges of county courts, recorders of cities, the first judge of the eourt of com
mon pleas in the city of New York, the chief justice and associate judges of the
superior court of law in Said city, hold office for five years; but may be removed
by the senate, on the recommendation of the governor, for causes stated in the re
commendation. If tbe office of first judge in any county become vacant, the governor, in his
nomination to the senate, of a person to supply the vacancy, designates him as
first judge.
Masters and examiners in chancery hold office for three years; but may be
sooner removed by the senate, on the recommendation of the governor. But no
person may be such master who is not of the degree of counsellor ofthe supreme
court, or of solicitor or counsellor in chancery.
Surrogates, supreme court commissioners, commissioners of deeds in the several
cities, notaries public, justices of the marine court in the city of New York, jus
tices of the justices' court in the cities of Albany and Hudson, and all other jus
tices in cities, except those of whom the constitution directs the mode of appoint
ment, are appointed by the governor and senate.
The justices of the marine court in the city of New York, hold office for five
years; all the justices mentioned in the preceding section, and surrogates, for four
years; the other officers, as named, for two years.
No person may* be a supreme court commissioner, unless he is a counsellor at
law of the supreme court. _
The marshals of the cities of Hudson and Troy, are appointed by the governor,
with the consent of the senate, for three years.
The clerk of the court of oyer and terminer and general sessions of the peace in
the city of New York, is appointed by, and holds office during the pleasure of, the
court. Clerks of courts, whose appointment is not otherwise provided for, are appoint
ed by the courts respectively. The clerk of the mayor's court of the city of Hud
son, is clerk of the city.
District attorneys are appointed by the judges of the respective county courts;
" and such attorney must be counsellor of the supreme court; but if there be no such
counsellor residing in the county, willing to accept the office, an attorney at law
may be appointed. They hold office for three years, but may be sooner removed
by the court.
The register and assistant-register in chancery, are appointed by the chancellor,
and hold office during his pleasure. '
The state reporter is appointed by the lieutenant-governor, the chaticellqr and
chief justice, and holds his office during their -pleasure. The reporter in chancery
is appointed by, and holds his" office during the pleasure of, the chancellor.

JUDICIARY.

279

. A tpporter must be a counsellor at law or in 'chancery, of at least five years
standing. . »
Counsellors, solicitors and attorneys, are appointed and licensed by the several
courts of law and equity.
T?ney may be removed or suspended by the several courts in which they are ap
pointed; but subject thereto they hold office^djiring life. *
No cleTk, deputy clerk, register, assistant-register, or deputy register of any
court, during his continuance ih office, practises in such court as a counsellor, so
licitor or attorney.
No sheriff, under-sheriff, d'eputy-sheriff, sheriff's clerk, or coroner, during his
continuance in, office, practices as counsellor, solicitor or attorney, in any court of
law or equity,, *
All officers' of. courts, other than those above mentioned, are appointed by the
courts of which they are respectively officers, and hold their offices during the
pleasure of the court appointing them. *<j-
Commissioners of deeds in each town are appointed by the judges of the county
courts and the board of supervisors.
f , No supervisor may be a commissioner. They hold office for four years, but may
be removed by the judges ot the county courts.
The special and assistant justices, and their clerks, in the city o'f New York,
are appointed by the common council; hold office for four years, and are removable
by the county court as justices of the peace in the towns.
4. There are four justices of the peace in each towii, divided into four classes,
one of whom is annually elected. Each holds office for four years, except when
elected to fill a vacancy, or on the erection of a new town, and may be removed
by the judges of the county court.
When a new town is erected, an election for justices therein is held at the next
general election, thereafter, unless a special election be directed by law.
If there be one or more justices then residing in the new town, they hold their
offices according to their respective classes; and only so many are chosen as are
necessary to complete the number of four.
If by the erection of a new town or the annexing of a part of one town to ano
ther, there be more than four justices residing in any town, they notwithstanding
hold office in the town in which they reside. But on the expiration of the term
of office of two or more in the same class, only one person is elected to fill the va
cancy. Whenever, by the erection of a new town ot the annexing of part of one town
to another any town is deprived of one or more justices, by their residence heing
within the part set off, the inhabitants of such town, at the next general election,
supply the vacancy in the classes to which such justices belong: and if two or
more justices be elected, the same proceedings are had, to determine their respec
tive classes.
Whenever there are two or more justices chosen at any election, one or more of
whom is to supply a vacancy, and one for the regular term, the class to which each
justice shall belong, and the term for which he shall serve,, is determined by
lot. ' ¦
Sheriffs and clerks of counties, and the register and clerk of the city of New
York, are chosen by the electors once in every three years, and as often as vacan
cies occur. '
Sheriffs hold no other office, and are ineligible to the same office, for the next
three years, after the termination of their offices.
One coroner in the city of New York, and four in every other county are elect
ed in the same manner and at the same general election as sheriffs, hold their offi
ces for the same term, and are removable in like manner.
The sheriffs, clerks and coroners first chosen in every county hereafter erected,
are elected at the general election next succeeding the erection of the county, or at
such other time as the legislature directs.
COURT FOR TRIAL OF IMPEACHMENT AND CORRECTION OF ERROBS.
5. The court for trial of impeachments and correction of errors, consists of the

280 POLITICAL VIEW.
president of the Senate, the Senators, chancellor, and Justices of the supreme
court. — Con. Art. 1.
The major 'part of the, members, competent to vote on the question pending,
constitute the court; but no decision is made without the concurrence of at least
ten such members. fc.<
When an appeal from chancery is heard, the chancellor informs the court ofthe
reasons for his decree, but has no voice in the final sentence. When a writ of er
ror is brought, on judgment of the supreme court, the justices of that court as
sign the reasons" for their judgment, but have no voice in its affirmance or reversal.
When any interlocutory or other question arises oh an appeal, not affecting the
merits ofthe cause, or any point decided in the court of chancery, the chancellor
may vote thereon as other members of the, court; and, when any such question
arises on a writ of error not affecting the merits of the cause, or any matter decided
in, the supreme court, the justices of that court vote thereon as members.
Sessions of the court are held at the capitol, in the city of Albany, at such
times as the court directs, and may be held in any one year in the city of New
York, in the capitol ait Albany, or at the academy in Utica, as the court may, from
time to time, order; and when so held, during such recess, the president of the
senate and the senators receive the same compensation, for travelling and attend
ance, as for attending meetings of the senate.
The writs and process of the court are signed by the clerk, and tested in the
name of the president of the senate. The court may from time to time appoint
such subordinate officers as may be necessary for the convenient transactibn of
business. The clerk receives the same daily compensation for his attendance at any term
held during the recess of the legislature as is allowed to the members of the
senate; and the other officers of the court receive the same for their attendance as
on the senate. - But such daily compensation is not made to any ofthe officers for
attendance on the court during the meeting of the legislature.
Impeachments are delivered by the assembly to the president of the senate, who
summons the court, which forthwith causes the person impeached to appear and
answer the charge exhibited against him. Upon appearance, he is entitled to a
copy of the impeachment, and a reasonable time to answer; and, on trial, is al
lowed counsel as in civil actions.
When issue is joined, the court appoints time and place for the trial; when and
where, before the commencement of the trial, the clerk administers to the presi
dent of the senate, and the president to each of the members of the court, an
oath or affirmation, truly and impartially to try and determine the charge according
to evidence.
No person can be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the mem
bers of the court then present; and if two-thirds do not assent, the impeached is
acquitted. Upon conviction, judgment may be given, that the impeached be removed from
office, 6r disqualified to hold any office of honour, trust or profit, -under this state,
or both; but no other judgment can be pronounced.
Every officer impeached is suspended from the exercise of his office, until ac
quittal. If the president of the senate be impeached, notice thereof is immediately
given to the senate by the assembly, that another president may be chosen.
Every person convicted on an impeachment, is, nevertheless, liable to an in
dictment and punishment, according to law.
The court has full power to correct and redress all errors in the chancery or su
preme court; to examine all errors assigned or found in arty record brought from
the supreme court, or in any process or proceeding touching the same; and may
reverse or affirm the judgment, as the law may require.
The transcript of the record, with the judgment of the court for the correction
of errors thereon, is remitted to the supreme court, where such further proceedings
are had as may be necessary to carry such judgment into effect.
Upon any order or decree of the court of chancery, brought by appeal to this
court, it examines all errors assigned or found, and may reverse, affirm or alter it,
and make such other order or decree as justice requires.

JUDICIARY. 281
When such appeal has been determined,' the proceedings, with the decree of this
court, are remitted to the court of chancery, where such further proceedings are
had as may be necessary to carry such judgment, &c, into effect.
COURT OF CHANCER*".
6. The powers of the court of chancery are vested in the chancellor and vice
chancellors. There is an officer of the court residing in the city of New York, called the
vice chancellor of the first circuit. He is of the degree. of counsellor ofthe court
of chancery; is appointed in the same manner, and holds office by the same tenure
as the circuit judges; and has an annual salary of two thousand dollars. He ex
ercises the jurisdiction and performs the duties belonging to circuit judges as
vice chancellors.
Every circuit judge, within the limits of his circuit, is a vice chancellor, and
concurrently with the chancellor, and exclusively of any other circuit judge, has
all the original jurisdiction and powers vested in the chancellor, in all causes and
matters in equity, and in all matters of which the cognisance is vested in the
chancellor by statute, in the following cases: where they have arisen within his
circuit; or where the matter in controversy is within the circuit; or where the de
fendants, or either of them, reside within such limits; subject to the appellative ju
risdiction of the chancellor.
.yThe vice chancellor may not discharge, reverse, or alter any act of the chancel
lor, nor entertain any appeal from, or review or rehearing of, any order or decree of
the vice-chancellor of any other circuit, or of any inferior court authorised to enter
tain proceedings in equity; or of any surrogate, except in cases where an appeal to
a circuit judge is expressly given by law; and except where a cause or matter has
been expressly referred to such vice-chancellor for his decision thereon by the
chancellor. In all cases, other than those in which the vice-chancellor is vested with the
powers of the chancellor, proceedings are before the chancellor; but the hearing
and decision of any motion or cause set down for hearing before him, may be re
ferred by his order to any vice-chancellor, subject to the appellative jurisdiction of
the chancellor.
The exclusive power of taxing costs in the court of chancery belongs to the vice-
chancellor, and to such masters of the court as the chancellor from time to time
appoints. The vice-chancellor executes such other powers and duties in relation to any
matter pending in the court as the chancellor from time to time directs; subject, in
all cases, to his appellate jurisdiction.
When the chancellor is party to a suit in chancery, or interested in its event,
the bill is addressed to, and filed before, some one of the vice-chancellors; who
proceeds thereon as a court of chancery, and possesses all the powers of such
court, in relation to the matter of such bill; and appeals from any order or decree
of such vice-chancellor, are made immediately to the court for the correction of
errors, as if made by the chancellor.
The register of the court of chancery is clerk of the court held by the vice-
chancellor of the third circuit; and the assistant register, of the court held by the
vice-chancellor in the first circuit. Each appoints a deputy, who may attend in
his place in the vice chancellor's courts, and whenever the office of the principal
is vacant, performs the duties thereof. The clerks of the court of chancery resid
ing in the second and fifth circuits, attend every court held by the vice-chancel
lors respectively. In each of the other circuits a clerk of tbe court is .appointed,
who attends every court held by the vice chancellors, and keeps an office where
the vice-chancellor directs.
The register and assistant register of the court of chancery, before entering on
their duties, each executes a bond to the state, in the penalty of twenty thousand
dollars, with two sufficient sureties, to be approved by the chancellor, conditioned
for the faithful performance of their duties respectively. A similar bond, in the
penalty of ten thousand dollars, with sureties approved by the vice-chancellor- of
the circuit, is executed by the clerks of the court of chancery, before entering on
the duties of office, to be filed in the office ofthe comptroller, and, if forfeited, the
36

282 POLITICAL VIEW.
chancellor directs it to be prosecuted, and the moneys recovered are applied,
under his direction, for the indemnity of persons aggrieved, in proportion to the
amount of their respective losses.
The register and assistant register, severally, have the custody of all the mi
nutes, books, records, and papers, in their respective offices. All money brought
into the court of chancery, for or by any suitor, and paid to the register or assist
ant, or clerk, as the case may be, is deposited in such banks, and the accounts are
kept with the banks in such manner as the court directs.
On the death or removal from office or resignation of the register or assistant
register, or clerk of the court, all stock, mortgages and other securities, then vest
ed in him, and all money deposited in bank to his credit, are carried to the account
of his successor.
The sergeants of the court attend its sittings in the place for which they are
respectively appointed, and perform such services as the chancellor, from time to
time, requires.
The sheriffs of the respective counties are officers of the court, for the purpose
of executing its process, and may be punished for disobedience or default therein,
in the manner prescribed by law.
The sheriff ofthe county in which any stated term is held by the chancellor, or
by any vice-chancellor, upon pain of being fined at the discretion of the court,
gives his attendance during its sittings, in such manner as the court directs; and
executes all the powers and duties of a sergeant-at-arms; and may execute the
lawful orders and process of the court in any county of the state. "¦"
All proper expenses for the administration of the court, the safe keeping of its
records and papers, and other purposes, are paid out of tbje income of the general
fund of the court; the register, assistant register, or clerk, making such expendi
tures, reports to the comptroller, on or before the first day of January, for each
year, the amount and purposes thereof.
The powers and jurisdiction of the court of chancery are co-extensive with
those of the court of chancery in England, with the exceptions, additions and
limitations created and imposed by the constitution and laws of this state.
The court may dismiss every suit concerning property, where the matter in dis
pute, exclusive of costs, does not exceed the value of one hundred dollars, with
costs to the defendants.
The stated terms ofthe court are appointed by the chancellor, and may be al
tered by him, from time to time, as the public convenience may require; but two
terms, at least, are held in the city of Albany, and two in the city of New York,
every year.
Every stated term is held eight days, at least, and longer if necessary.
The vice-chancellors of the several circuits hold four stated terms, in each year,
at such times and in such counties, in their circuits, as they respectively appoint,
at the usual places of holding courts therein; and when so appointed, the terms
remain unaltered for two years. They may also hold so many special terms, and
at such times and places as they deem proper.
A stated or special term may be held by a vice-chancellor at the same time that
any such term is held by the chancellor.
The chancellor, by general rules, prescribes the time and manner in which pro
ceedings may be had, and causes brought to a hearing before the vice-chancel
lors, pursuant to law; and the casesin which a rehearing may be granted by them.
Whenever a vice-chancellor is unable to attend any stated term in his circuit, or
is interested in the event of any cause to be heard, or has been solicitor or coun
sel in such cause, any other vice-chancellor may hold the court, or may hear and
decide such cause; or such term maybe held by the chancellor.
The officers of the court of chancery are the register, residing and keeping his
office in the city of Albany — the assistant register, residing and keeping his office
in the city of New York — a clerk at the village of Poughkeepsie, and another at
Utica — a sergeant at Albany, and another at New York. Five masters and two
examiners, in New York, and not more than three masters, and three examiners in
every other county, and an additional master in each county, except New York,
which, at the census of 1825, contained 35,000 inhabitants — so many commission
ers to take affidavits as the chancellor, from time to time, appoints — the chancery
reporter — and a clerk ofthe court of equity in each circuit.

JUDICIARY.

283

The chancellor has an annual salary of $2500, and is allowed $600 for clerk
hire; the Reporter, $500 per annum. The other officers are compensated by
fees. The masters in chancery give bond, with sureties approved by the chance\Jor
or vice-chancellor, conditioned for the faithful performance of official duties — in
the city of New York in $10,000 — in other counties, $5000 — under penalty of for
feiture of office.
The clerks appoint deputies, who perform the duties of office in the absence of
the principal, and in case of vacancy. -,
SUPREME COURT.
7. The supreme court has the jurisdiction which belonged to the supreme court
ofthe colony of New York, modified and increased by the constitution and laws
of the state.
Trials at bar are rarely had in this court. All issues of fact, in the chancery or
surrogate's conrts sent to it for trial, and the issues joined in the court, are tried at
the circuit court, or sittings of the supreme court in the proper county, unless the
supreme court in caseB of great difficulty, order the trial at bar. It is the proper
business of the judges of the supreme court, to hear and decide the cases brought
before it from the circuit courts, by case stated or bill of exceptions, as well as all
writs of error and certiorari to inferior courts in civil and criminal cases, and ques
tions upon demurrer. These cases entered on the calendar, constitute the enume
rated business, and the special motions arising in the progress of causes, and mo
tions for writs of mandamus, prohibition, and certiorari, &c, the non-enumerated
business of the court.
The court holds a term in January and October, in each year, at the capitol in
Albany, a term in May in the city of New York, and a term in July in the city of
Utica; continuing until and including the fifth Saturday after the commencement
of the term. If neither of the justices attend on the first day of the term, the clerk
has power to adjourn the court from day to day, until one appears.
There are four clerks, who respectively hold their offices at Albany, NewYork,
Utica and Geneva; each has power to appoint a deputy.
There is a commissioner, who performs the duties of a justice ofthe supreme
court at chambers, denominated "Supreme Court Commissioner," residing in a
designated part of the state. There are forty-four such commissioners, besides
recorders of cities and judges of the county courts, being of the degree of coun
sellor in the supreme court, and the judges of the superior court of law in the city
of New York. There are so many commissioners to take affidavits to be read in
the supreme court, as the justices may appoint.
The compensation of the judges of the supreme court is $2,500 each, per an
num; of the reporter, who is also the reporter of the court of errors $500, with the
privilege of publishing the reports. He is termed the " State Reporter."
The state is divided into eight circuits, corresponding with the eight senate dis
tricts in extent of territory and the numbers by which they are known — subject to
alteration by the legislature.
Each circuit judge has the power of a justice ofthe supreme court at chambers,
and in the trial of issues joined in the supreme court, and in the courts of oyer and
terminer and jail delivery. ...» -
There are holden in each year, at least two circuit courts and courts of oyer and
terminer and jail delivery in each county; and in the city of New York, four.
Each judge within a month before the 1st of January, biennially from 1831, ap-
Soints the times and places of holding such courts withiii his circuit for two years.
'he courts are holden for so many days as the judge deems necessary.
They have power — to try such issues and take such inquests, by default or
otherwise, as are to be tried or taken therein; to record nonsuits and defaults; to
return all proceedings had before them into the supreme court or into the court di
recting them.
Each justice ofthe supreme court, and each ofthe circuit judges, may hold any
circuit court, and preside in any court of oyer and terminer in the state, for the
whole or any part of the time for which such court continues.
In case of vacancy in office or disability of a judge of any circuit, the judges of

284 POLITICAL VIEW.
the supreme court designate some other circuit Judge to hold the court, or one of
such judges holds it.
When the circuit court appointed for any county fails, the chief justice, or if he
be absent or his office vacant, the senior judge of the supreme court appoints the
time and place, and assigns one of the justices of the supreme court or a circuit
judge, to hold it.
Either of the justices ofthe supreme court may in the May term, or during any
vacation, try all issues triable in the circuit court of the city of New York, sitting
as many days as he deems necessary.
Courts -of oyer and terminer may be held at the time and place of any circuit
court; in the city of New York, by one or more of the justices of the supreme
court, circuit judges, first judge of the common pleas of the city, with the mayor,
recorder and aldermen of the city, or any two of them; in the other counties, by a
justice ofthe supreme court, or circuit judge with at least two ofthe judges of the
respective county courts. In the counties of Albany, Columbia and Rensselaer,
and Schenectady, the mayor, recorder and aldermen of the respective cities therein
or any two of them, may sit with, or instead ofthe county judges.
The court of oyer and terminer has power — to inquire by jury, of all crimes and
misdemeanours triable in the county— to hear and determine them; and to deliver
the jails of all prisoners therein — to try all indictments found in the court of gene
ral sessions, sent by the sessions to and received by such court — to send all indict
ments found in the court of oyer and terminer, triable in the sessions, to the ses
sions for trial.
The governor, with consent of the senate, may issue commissions of oyer and
terminer, as often as occasion requires, naming a justice of the supreme court or
circuit judge, as one ofthe commissioners, without whom no proceedings may be
had under the commission. The commission specifies the time and place at which
the court is to be held, and is recorded as the commissions of civil officers.
When necessary, by reason of the number of prisoners, or the importance of the
offences charged in any county, the judge of the circuit in which the county is,
may appoint a special court of oyer and terminer.
Writs and processes ofthe oyer and terminer are tested in the name of the cir
cuit judge, or, in case of vacancy in his office, in the name of the chief justice of
the supreme court. Such courts may direct their writs into any county.
The clerks of the several counties, ex officio, are clerks ofthe circuit courts and
court of oyer and terminer within their respective counties. The clerk of the su
preme court residing in the city of New York is clerk of the sittings and circuit
courts therein.
The circuit judges have each a compensation of $1,600 per annum, besides fees
in eertain cases.
The commissioners of the supreme court are compensated by fees regulated by
law. COURTS OF COMMON PLEAS AND GENERAL SESSIONS.
8. There is a court of common pleas and general sessions in each county, with
the jurisdiction which belonged to such courts in the colony* as enlarged and mo
dified by the constitution and laws of the state. Such court has power — to hear
and determine all local and transitory actions; all appeals from justices' courts
given by law; to grant new trials; to exercise jurisdiction according to law, over
the persons and estates of habitual drunkards; and such other powers as may be
conferred by law.
It consists of the first judge and four other judges, who, or any three of whom,
may hold the court, except in the county of New York. If a quorum do not at
tend to hold a court of general sessions, one or more justices of the peace of the
county may be associated with the attending judge or judges. But no court is held
without the presence of one judge, and in no case may consist of more than five
persons. The court of general sessions has power — to inquire of all crimes and misde
meanours triable in the county; to hear, determine and punish according to law,
such as are not punishable with death, or imprisonment in the state prison for
life; to hear and determine all appeals from any order of justices of the peace un
der the laws respecting the support of bastards; to examine into the circumstances

JUDICIARY. 285
of persons committed to prison as parents of bastards, and to discharge them, in
the cases provided by law; to hear and determine complaints respecting masters,
apprentices and servants; to review the convictions of disorderly persons actually
imprisoned, and to execute the powers conferred by law in relation to them; to
continue or discharge the recognizances and bonds of persons bound to keep the
peace or to be of good behaviour, or both, and to inquire into and determine the
complaints on which the same were founded; to compel relatives of poor persons,
and committees ofthe estates of lunatics, to support them; to exercise the powers
conferred by law, in relation to the estates of persons absconding and leaving their
families chargeable to the public; to let to bail persons indicted in the court for any
crime or misdemeanour triable therein; to discharge persons who shall have re
mained in prison without being indicted, or without being tried, in the cases pre
scribed by law; and to execute such other powers and duties as may be conferred
upon it.
In appeals to the sessions wherein a town in the county is interested, no judge or
justice ofthe peace being an inhabitant of such town, sits upon the hearing.
The terms of the common pleas and sessions may be continued from the com
mencement thereof, until and including the second Saturday thereafter; hut no pro
cess, except subpoenas and attachments, is tested or made returnable in the second
week of the said terms.
The first judge ofthe county courts ofthe city and county of New York, and the
mayor, recorder and aldermen of the city are judges of the court of common pleas
thereof; and the court may also beheld by the first judge, the mayor, or recorder,
either alone, or with one or more ofthe other judges; but it is the special duty of
the first judge to hold it. The clerk of the city is by virtue of office, clerk of the
court. The first judge, the mayor, recorder and aldermen of the city, or any three of
them, of whom the first judge, mayor or recorder shall always be one, holds courts
of general sessions for the city; and it is the special duty of the recorder to hold
them. Such court has the powers of general sessions for other counties, and in addi
tion thereto, when the first judge presides, may hear, try and determine any in
dictment for any crime punishable by imprisonment for life; and the same power
when the mayor or recorder presiding is of the degree of counsellor in the su
preme court, of at least three years' standing.
Two of the aldermen of the city attend as judges of the court, when required
by the mayor or recorder; and the common council provide compensation for their
attendance. The court of common pleas for the county of Albany, is held by the first judn-e
ofthe county court, either alone, or with one or more ofthe other judges; and it la
his special duty to hold the court.
But no district attorney of the county is appointed or removed, nor any justice
ofthe peace removed, unless the court at the time, consist of at least three judges
of the county courts.
The judges of the county courts receive for every day's actual attendance,
each $2, payable by the county treasurer, on the certificate of the county clerk, and'
fees regulated by law.
9. The superior court of the city of New York, consists of a chief justice and
two associates, appointed by the governor and senate, who hold office for 5 years,
subject to removal as judges of the county courts. It holds monthly terms; has
jurisdiction over all local and transitory actions; and may be held by either ofthe
judges for the trial of causes, and hearing non-enumerated motions; but all cases
and points reserved at trial, &c. are submitted to a majority of the judges. They
are allowed by law, not less than two nor more than four thousand dollars each
from the city treasury; and when the salary is fixed, it may not be diminished
during the official term. The present salary is $2,500 each.
MAYOR'S COURTS OF CITIES.

286 POLITICAL VIEW.
cal and transitory actions, and the clerks of Albany and Rensselaer counties, re
spectively, are clerks of the mayor's courts therein; but the court of Hudson has
cognizance of actions arising within the city only; and the clerk of the city of
Hudson is clerk of the court.
Any alderman of the respective cities sits as judge of the court, and in case of
sickness or absence of the mayor and recorder, or vacancies in their offices, three
aldermen hold the court.
The mayor's court of the city of Albany has the same jurisdiction over crimes
and misdemeanours, arising within the city, as the court of general sessions; and
when the recorder is of the degree of counsellor, of at least three years standing,
in the supreme court, has cognizance of crimes punishable by imprisonment for
life. It is the special duty of the recorder to hold the criminal court, and two al
dermen are associated with him. This court may try all indictments found and
sent to it by the general sessions; and may send to the sessions, for trial, all in
dictments found in the mayor's court for offences triable at the sessions.
surrogate's courts.
11. Every surrogate holds a court within the limits of his county; with power to
take the proof of wills of real and personal estate, as prescribed by law; to grant
letters testamentary and of administration; to direct and control the conduct, and
settle the accounts of executors and administrators; to enforce the payment of
debts and legacies, and the distribution of the estates of intestates; to order the
sale and disposition of the real estates of decedants; to administer justice in all
matters relating to affairs of decedants, according to the provisions of the statutes;
to appoint and remove guardians for minors, controul their conduct, and settle their
accounts; to cause the admeasurement of dower; all which powers are to be ex
ercised according to the statutes, and not otherwise.
The courts are open at all times, and particularly on Mondays.
The surrogate has power to issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and
production of papers relating to a cause pending in his court; to punish disobedi
ence to such subpoena, and witnesses refusing to testify, as in courts of record;
to issue citations to parties, and in cases prescribed by law, to compel their ap
pearance; to enforce all lawful orders, process and decrees, by attachment against
the persons of those who disobey them; to exemplify, under his official seal, all
transcripts of records, &c, which are evidence in all courts; to preserve order in
his court during judicial proceedings, by punishing contempts, as courts of record.
He keeps one book for the record of wills; another, for the record of letters tes
tamentary and administration; a third, for the entry of the accounts of executors
and administrators, settled before him; a fourth, for the entry of all minutes and
other proceedings, by or before him, relative to the estates of decedants, with all
orders and decrees made by him, and minutes of all citations, subpcenas, attach
ments, and other process issued by him in relation to the granting or revocation of
letters testamentary, or of administration; a fifth, for recording the appointment of
guardians for infants, the revocation of such appointment, and the accounts ren
dered by guardians, at full length; and a sixth, for entry of all proceedings relat
ing to dower. He attaches to each book an index, and the books are open to all
persons paying the legal fees.
No surrogate may be counsel, solicitor, or attorney, for or against any executor,
administrator, guardian or minor, in any civil action over whom or whose accounts
he can have jurisdiction. COURTS OF SPECIAL SESSIONS OF THE PEACE.
12. Such courts may be held in and for the city and county of New York by
any three judges of the common pleas of whom the first judge, the mayor or re
corder, is always one, at such times as the common council may direct, and the
council, from time to time, designates aldermen to assist in the court; and such
courts for the several counties are held by three justices of the peace, or two such
justices and one judge of the county court, in cases and for the purposes provided
by law.
The court in New York is commonly holden by the recorder and two aldermen,

JUDICIARY. 287
an the 1st Friday after the adjournment of the general sessions, and on the Tues
days and Fridays thereafter, until the next meeting of the general sessions.
SPECIAL JUSTICES' COURTS.
13. The justices of the " Marine Court of the City of New York," hold a court
known by that title. Each of the assistant justices of that city holds a court
within the ward for which he is appointed. There are justices' courts in the cities
of Albany, Hudson and Troy, having the jurisdiction, and held at the times and
places, specially provided by law.
COURTS HELD BY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
14. Every justice of the peace, elected in any town, or appointed for any city in
which especial ceurts are not established, holds a court, and is generally vested
with the necessary powers possessed by courts of record.
He has jurisdiction of actions of debt, covenant and assumpsit; of trespass,
and trespass on the case for injuries to person or property, and for any penalty
where the claim does not exceed $50; of all actions commenced by attachment of
property, as provided by law, where the claim does not exceed $ 100; and may
enter judgment on confession of defendant, for an amount not exceeding $250.
Where a bond is, with penalty, exceeding $ 50, with condition for the payment of
a sum not exceeding that amount, or for the payment of several sums by instal
ments, the aggregate of which does not exceed $50, an action of covenant lies
on the condition, in his court; and a recovery for either instalment does not bar
suit, for others.
But no justice has cognizance of any action where the state is named as party,
except suits for penalties not exceeding $50; nor where the title of land comes in
question; nor for assault, battery, false imprisonment, slander, or malicious prose
cution; nor of matters of account where the sum total of the accounts of both
parties exceeds $400; nor against executors, administrators, or corporations.
If a justice of the peace become a tavern keeper, in fact, his jurisdiction ceases;
but he may issue execution upon judgment rendered before his disqualification.
No justice of the peace, being a member of the senate or assembly, or a judge of
a county court, is required to take cognizance of an action; but may act at his dis
cretion. Every such action is brought before a justice of the town, wherein either the
plaintiffs, or one of them, or the defendants, or any of them, reside; or before a
justice of another town, in the same county, next adjoining the residence of
plaintiff or defendant. But if the defendant abscond from his residence, the ac
tion may be brought before a justice of the town in which he or his property
may be; and if the plaintiffs be all non-residents of the county, then before a jus
tice of the town in which the plaintiffs or defendants may be.
The justice determines the cause, unless, before the investigation of its merits,
either party demand a trial by jury; in which case, a jury is summoned by the
justice, not exceeding twelve, from whom six, or any less number which the par
ties can agree upon, are taken for the trial, and judgment is rendered according to
their verdict, and execution may be issued at the time and in the manner pre
scribed by law.
Where judgment is rendered for more than $25, a transcript, filed with the
clerk of the county, makes it a lien upon the real estate of the defendant.
A stay of execution may be had for 30 or 90 days after rendition of judgment,
if defendant be a freeholder, or be an inhabitant of- the county having a family, or
gives bond with surety for payment, as prescribed by law.
But no person may be arrested or imprisoned on any civil process issuing out
of any court of law, or on any execution from a court of equity, in any suit or
proceeding instituted for the recovery of any money due upon any judgment or de
cree founded upon contract, or due upon any contract, express or implied, or for
the recovery of any damages for the non performance of any contract, except in
certain cases specially provided by law.
The following property, when owned by any person being a householder, is ex
empt from levy and sale, under any execution:
1. All spinning-wheels, weaving-looms and stoves, for use by the family.

288 POLITICAL VIEW.
2. The family bible, family pictures and school books, and books not exceed
ing in value fifty dollars,, used as part of the family library.
3. A seat or pew in any place of public worship.
4. Sheep to the number of ten, with their fleeces, and the yarn or cloth manu
factured therefrom; one cow, two swine, the necessary food for them; all necessa
ry pork, beef, fish, flour and vegetables, actually provided for family use, and
necessary fuel for the use of the family for sixty days.
5. All necessary wearing apparel, beds, bedsteads and bedding, for such person
and his family; arms and accoutrements, required by law to be kept by such person;
necessary cooking utensils, one table, six chairs, six knives and forks, six plates,
six teacups and saucers, one sugar-dish, one milk-pot, one tea-pot and six spoons,
one crane and its appendages, one pair of andirons, and a shovel and tongs.
6. The tools and implements of any mechanic, necessary to the carrying on of
his trade; not exceeding twenty-five dollars in value.
In cases of judgments before a justice of the peace, not exceeding $ 25 exclu
sive of costs, and in all cases where issue was not joined before the justice, either
party aggrieved by the judgment, may remove it, by writ of certiorari, to the com
mon pleas of the county; and where the judgment exceeds $ 25 exclusive of costs,
appeal lies to the common pleas, where the judgment was rendered upon an issue
of law; and where rendered upon an issue of fact, whether the defendant was
present at the trial or not.
Justices have power to punish for contempts in cases and in the manner spe
cially prescribed by law. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
15. The sittings of every court are public.
No judge can sit, in any case in which he is a party or is interested, or in which
he would be excluded from being a juror by reason of consanguinity or affinity
to either party; nor can he decide or participate in the decision of any case ar
gued in the court when he was not sitting therein as judge. Nor may the judge
of an appellate court, or court to which a writ of certiorari or error is returnable,
participate in the decision of any case determined by him as judge of any other
court. No judge can practise or act, or have a partner practising, as counsellor, solicitor
or attorney, nor be interested in the costs in any suit in the court of which he is
judge, except in suits in which he is a party or interested.
No judge, commissioner, or or other judicial officer, may demand or receive any
fees or other compensation for giving advice in any matter pending before him, or
which he has reason to believe will be brought before him for decision; or for
drafting or preparing any papers or other proceedings relating to such matter, ex
cept in cases where fees are expressly given by law to him for services performed.
Every person of full age and sound mind, may appear by attorney or solicitor,
as the case may require, in every action or plea by or against him, in any court,
or, at his election, prosecute or defend in person. But this provision does not ex
tend to proceedings in criminal cases; nor may any person appear on the record,
in any civil cause, in person, whilst he has an attorney or solicitor in such case.
COMMISSIONERS OF DEEDS.
16. There are not less than two, nor more than four, commissioners of deeds in
each town in the state, and in the city of New York 36, who, as well as the judges
of the county courts, have power, to take proof and acknowledgment of convey
ances of real estate, and the discharge of mortgages; to take acknowledgment of
bail, and satisfaction of judgments, in any action in the supreme court and in the
common pleas; and the commissioners, in cities, take such acknowledgment of
bail and satisfaction in the mayor's courts of the respective cities for which they
are appointed. COUNSELLORS, SOLICITORS AND ATTORNEYS.
17. The number of the counsellors, solicitors and attorneys of the respective
courts is unlimited. They are regulated by the rules and orders of the court in

JUDICIARY.

289

which they respectively practise, and they are admitted, on the approval by jthe
court of their good, character and learning. If such officer be guilty of deceit, or
collusion, or consent thereto, with intent to deceive the court, or any party, he is
guilty of misdemeanour, and punishable by fine and imprisonment at the discretion
of the court, and forfeits to the party injured treble damages. So, if he wilfully
delay his client's suit for his own gain, receive money or allowance, for money
which he has not laid out or become liable for, he forfeits to the party injured like

If an attorney or solicitor permit any one other than his general law partner or
clerk, to sue out process, prosecute or defend any action in his name, he, and the
person so using his name, forfeits to the party $50.
The degrees of attorney, solicitor and counsellor, are commonly held by the same
person. No one, according to the regular practice, is admitted counsellor of the
supreme court, without being first admitted as attorney. Every attorney of the
supreme court is entitled to examination, as counsellor, in three years after his ad
mission; and every person is entitled to examination as solicitor, upon producing
his attorney's license, and as counsellor in chancery, upon producing his counsel
lor's license in the supreme court. Persons are admitted, as of course, to the same
degrees in the county courts, and in the superior court of the city of New York,
as they hold in the supreme court.

County.

1820.

1834.

1835.

Albany,

60

124

125

Allegany, .

5

13

10

Broome,

5

15

16

Cattaraugus,

3

19

19

Cayuga,

24

38

41

Chautauque,

13

22

19

Chenango, .

20

26

28

Clinton,

11

24

23

Columbia, .

32

41

33

Cortland,

11

14

17

Delaware, .

20

17

12

Dutchess, .

52

47

42

Erie,

19

57

67

Essex,

11

13

12

Franklin, .

6

7

5

Genesee,

18

37

35

Greene,

21

23

24

Herkimer, .

15

30

27

Jefferson,

24

37

35

Ktngs,

3

15

17

Lewis,

8

12

11

Livingston, .

11

19

17

Madison,

26

34

34

Monroe,

17

57

48

Montgomery, New York, .

29

37

44

. 303

529

539

Niagara,

4

21

21

Oneida,

38

83

77

ittorneys and Counsellors at Law

'n the

1820, 1 834, and 1835.

County.

1820

1834.

1835.

Onondaga,

45

59

62

Ontario,

35

45

41

Orange,

34

38

37

Orleans,

1

21

17

Oswego,

9

35

25

Otsego,

29

42

41

Putnam,

3

4

3

Queens,

2

3

5

Rensselaer, .

36

67

67

Richmond,

3

6

6

Rockland,

3

4

5

Saratoga,

30

29

36

Schenectady,

12

19

20

Schoharie,

18

16

16

Seneca,

15

24

26

St. Lawrence,

13

30

29

Steuben,

12

23

20

Suffolk,

6

14

13

Sullivan,

7

7"

6

Tioga,

14

23

24

Tompkins, .

13

26

27

Ulster,

20

37

35

Warren,

11

6

8

Washington,

41

39

38

Wayne,

8

20

22

Westchester,

13

14

15

Yates,

6

22

20



r 

 .

Total,

. 1,248

2,084 2,052

TRIALS  JURY.
18. Issues of fact in any court are tried by jury, unless where reference is oruered
in the proper county.
On the first Monday of July, in each third year, from the year 1829, the super
visor, town clerk arid assessors assemble at the place appointed by the supervisor
or in his default by the town clerk, and select from the names on the last assess
ment rolls of the town, suitable persons to serve as jurors; taking- the names of
Oil

290 POLITICAL VIEW.
such only as are, male inhabitants, not exempt from service, of the age of 21 years
or upwards, and under 60, who are assessed for personal property in their own
right to the amount of $250, or have a freehold in the county in such right or right
of their wives, to the value of $150 — in possession of their natural faculties, not
infirm or decrepit — free from all legal exceptions, of fair character, of approved in
tegrity, of sound judgment and well informed.
Every person residing in either of the counties of Niagara, Erie, Chautau
que, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Genesee, Orleans, Monroe, Livingston, Jefferson,
Lewis, St. Lawrence and Franklin, who does not possess the property qualifica
tions above specified, but is qualified in all other respects, and who is assessed on
the last assessment roll ofthe town for land in his possession held under contract
for the purchase thereof, upon which improvements have been made to the value
of one hundred and fifty dollars, and who owns such improvements, "is qualified
to serve as juror.
Duplicate lists ofthe persons so selected, with their additions and places of re
sidence, are made out and signed by such town officers, or the major part of them;
and within ten days thereafter, one list is transmitted to the county clerk, and the
other to the town clerk.
On the first Monday of August after the lists shall have been so returned, the
clerk of the county writes the names contained therein, with their additions and
places of residence, on separate pieces of paper, and deposits them in a box kept
for that purpose; and the persons so returned, serve as jurors for three years, and
until other lists from their respective towns are returned and filed.
Fourteen days before the holding of any circuit court or sittings, of any special
court of oyer and terminer, of any court of common pleas or mayor's court, and in
the city and county of New York, before the holding ofthe superior court of law,
or the court of general sessions, the clerk of the county draws the names of thirty-
six persons, and in the City of New York forty-eight persons for certain courts, to
serve as jurors at such court, and any number in addition thereto, that shall have
been ordered according to law.
Such drawing is made in the presence of the sheriff or his deputy, and of the
first or other judge ofthe county, or justice ofthe peace, or in the presence of two
county judges or justices of the peace, and not otherwise, at the time, and in the
manner specially directed by law; and the jurors are summoned by the sheriff.
The court may fine a juror for non-attendance not exceeding $25; and discharge
or excuse any person from serving as juror, when not duly qualified or when ex
empted by law.
Special juries may be ordered, when it appears to the supreme court, or court of
common pleas, that a fair and impartial trial of any cause is more likely to be ob
tained by a struck jury; or that the importance or intricacy of the cause requires it.
ARBITRATIONS AND REFERENCES.
19. All persons, except infants, married women and persons of unsound mind,
may, by an instrument in writing, submit to the decision of one or more arbitrators,
any controversy, the subject of an action at law or equity, except a claim to an
estate in fee, or for life, in real estate; and may, in such submission, agree that a
judgment of any court of law and of record, to be designated in such instrument,
be rendered upon the award made pursuant to the submission.
Causes may be sent to referees for investigation by the courts in which they
are pending, in certain cases specially designated by law.

CRIMINAL CODE. ^91

CHAPTER XV.
CRIMINAL CODE.

1 Its Character— how distributed. 2. Crimes punishable by Death— Treason— Murder
—Arson in the First Degree. 3. Offences against the Person punishable by Imprison
ment in a State Prison— Manslaughter— first, second, third, fourth degree. 4. Homi-.
cide, justifiable or excusable— when. 5. Rape. 6. Mayhem. 7. Kidnapping,
8. Abandonment of Children. 9. Attempt to Kill or commit other Felony. 10. Of
fences against Property, punishable by Imprisonment in a State Prison — what. 11. Ar
son of Inferior Degrees— second, third, fourth. 12. Burglary, three degrees. 13. For
gery, four degrees. 14. Falsely personating another, and Cheats. 15. Robbery, Em
bezzlement, and Larceny. 16. Offences against the Administration of Justice— what.
17. Perjury, and Subornation of Perjury. 18. Bribery, and Corrupting Jurors, &c.
19. Escapes from Prison. 20. Offences against Public Peace and Public Morals, &c.
21. Duelling. 22. Unlawful Marriage or Incest. 23. Offences against Public De
cency—Malicious Mischief— Concealing or Compounding Offences. 24. Offences pun-
ishable by Imprisonment in a County Jail, &c— Petty Larceny— Misdemeanours.
25. General Provisions concerning Crimes and their Punishment. 26. Procedure in
Criminal Cases. 27. Surety of the Peace. 28. Arrest and Examination of Offenders
—Bail. 29. Trials before Court of Special Sessions. 30. Grand Jury— Indictment.
31. Indictments— when and how removable. 32. Issues in Fact— where and by
whom tried. 33. Writs of Error, when, and how allowed— effect of. 34. Coroner's In
quests. 1. The criminal code of the state is characterised by the humanity which mo
dern philanthropy has almost universally applied to the punishment of offences
in the United States of America, and which from their example is becoming pre
valent in Europe; and also by that apportionment of punishment to the nature of
crimes which enlightened justice demands.
The code is distributed under three chapters, which treat, respectively — of the
nature of crimes and their punishment — of the mode of preventing, and of the
trial for, offences — and of the establishment and government of Jails, penitentia
ries and state prisons.
Chapter first defines crimes, and denounces their punishment, under the follow
ing titles: Crimes punishable with death — offences against the person punishable
by imprisonment in the state prison — offences against property, so punishable —
and offences affecting the administration of justice.
CRIMES PUNISHABLE WITH DEATH,
2. Are treason, murder, and arson in the first degree.
Treason consists in levying war against and within the state; in the combi
nation of two or more by force to usurp or overturn the government of, accompa
nied by a forcible attempt within, the state; and in adhering to the enemies ofthe
state, while separately engaged in war with a foreign enemy, in the cases pre
scribed by the constitution ofthe United States, and giving to such enemies aid
and comfort, in the state or elsewhere.
Outlawry abolished in all other cases, in this, produces forfeiture to the state,
during the life of the convict, of all his real and personal estate.
Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being — by premeditated design — by
any act imminently dangerous to others, evincing a depraved mind, regardless of
human life, although without any premeditated design to effect the death of any
particular individual — or by a person engaged in the commission of felony, with
out design to effect death.
Every resident of the state, who, by previous appointment, fights a duel with
out the state, and inflicts a wound on his antagonist or other person, whereof he
dies within the state, and every second engaged in the duel, are guilty of murder;
and may be indicted, tried and convicted, in the county where the death happens.
Arson, in the first degree, consists in wilfully setting fire to, or burning, in the
night time, a dwelling house, in which there is at the time some human being—

292

POLITICAL VIEW.

and every house, prison, jail or other edifice, usually occupied by persons lodging
therein at night, is deemed such dwelling house; but no warehouse, barn, shed or
other.outhouse is deemed part of a dwelling, unless joined to, immediately con
nected with, and part of, the dwelling house.
The court pronouncing the sentence appoints the day for its execution; not less
than four, nor more than eight weeks, from the time of sentence. In certain cases
of female convicts, the governor may commute the punishment to perpetual impri
sonment in the state prison.
The punishment of death is, in all cases, inflicted by hanging.by the neck; and
was formerly executed in the prison, or its inclosed yard, or in public, at the dis
cretion of the sheriff; but by the act of May 9, 1835, it is to be inflicted within the
walls of the prison of the county in which the conviction was had, or within the
yard or inclosure adjoining the prison; and the sheriff is required to invite the pre
sence of the judge's, district attorney, clerk, and surrogate ofthe county, with two
physicians and twelve respectable citizens; and to admit, at the request of the
criminal, not exceeding two ministers of the gospel, named by him, and any of
his immediate relatives, to witness the execution; whilst all others, and espe
cially persons under age, are excluded.
This secrecy of execution is similar to that in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and
some other states, and would seem to destroy one of the great objects of punish
ment, the terror of other evil doers; but experience has demonstrated that the pub
licity of executions is more adapted, by familiarising the spectator to its horrors, to
render him regardless of them, than to impose a dread which might deter him from
crimes. The public is now protected against a shocking spectacle, whilst the
depraved are, through the journals and other sources, informed, that crime has re
ceived its due reward; and are more terrified, probably, by the mystery, than
they would be by the publicity, of the execution.
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON, PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT IN A
STATE PRISON,
3. Are manslaughter, rape, maiming, kidnapping, abandoning children under
six years of age, assaults with deadly weapons, administering poison with intent
to kill, and assaults to commit felony. Manslaughter,
Is divided into four degrees, punishable in proportion to their enormity.
The killing of a human being, without design, but in the perpetration of, or at
tempt to perpetrate, any crime or misdemeanour, less than felony; deliberately as
sisting another in self-murder; wilfully killing an unborn quick child by injury to
the mother — is manslaughter in the first degree — punishable by imprisonment, for
a term not less than seven years, in a state prison.
Administering to a woman pregnant with a quick child, any substance whatever,
or using any instrument or other means with intent to destroy the child, unless ne
cessary to preserve the life of the mother, or advised by two physicians to be so
necessary, in case the death of the child or mother be thereby produced — the kill
ing of a human being, without design to effect death, in heat of passion, but in a
cruel and unusual manner, unless committed under circumstances constituting ex
cusable or justifiable homicide — unnecessarily killing another, while resisting
an attempt by him to commit felony or other unlawful act, or after such attempt
has failed — is manslaughter in the second degree — punishable by imprisonment
for a term not less than four nor more than seven years in a state prison.
The following are cases of manslaughter in the third degree :— Killing
another, in the heat of passion, without design to effect death, by a danger
ous weapon, in any case, except where by law justifiable or excusable — the in
voluntary killing of a human being, by the act, procurement, or culpable negli
gence of another, engaged in the commission of a trespass or other injury to pri
vate property, or in an attempt to commit such injury. The owner of a mischievous
animal, knowing its propensities, who wilfully suffers it to go at large, or keeps it
without ordinary care, and, which while at large kills any human being, who shall
have taken all the precautions which circumstances permit, to avoid such animal
—any person navigating a vessel for gain, who wilfully or negligently receives

CRIMINAL CODE. 293
so many passengers, or such quantity of other lading, that by means thereof a ves
sel sinks or oversets, and thereby any human being is drowned or otherwise killed
 the captain or other person having charge of any steamboat used for the convey
ance of passengers, or the engineer or other person having charge ofthe boiler of
such boat, or of any other apparatus for the generation of steam, who, from igno
rance or gross neglect, or for the purpose of excelling any other boat in speed,
creates, or allows to be created, such an undue quantity of steam as to burst or
break the boiler or other apparatus in which it shall be generated, or any appara
tus or machinery connected therewith, by which bursting or breaking any person
is killed — any physician who, while intoxicated, without design to effect death,
administers any poison, drug or medicine, or does any other act, to another person,
which shall produce his death, is guilty of such offence.
Manslaughter in the third degree is punishable by imprisonment in the state
prison, for a term not more than four, and not less than two years.
The involuntary killing of another by any weapon, or by means neither cruel nor
unusual, in the heat of passion, in any case, other than excusable homicide, and
every other killing of a human being, by the act, procurement, or culpable negli
gence of another, when not by law justifiable or excusable, or when not man
slaughter of some other degree, is manslaughter in the fourth degree — punishable
by imprisonment in a state prison for two years; or imprisonment in a county jail,
not exceeding one year; or by fine, not exceeding $1000; or by both such fine and
imprisonment. 4. Homicide is justifiable — when committed by a public officer, or under his
command, in obedience to the judgment of a competent court — when necessarily
committed in overcoming actual resistance to the execution of legal process or to
the discharge of other legal duty, or in retaking felons who have been rescued, have
escaped, or are fleeing from justice— ^hen committed by any othjer person, while
resisting an attempt to murder him, to commit felony on him, or upon or in any
dwelling house, in which he is — when committed in the lawful defence of such
person, his or her husband, wife, parent, child, master, mistress or servant, when
there is reasonable ground to apprehend a design to commit felony, or to do some
great personal injury, and there is imminent danger of such design being accom
plished — when necessarily committed in attempting, by lawful ways and means,
to apprehend any person for felony committed — or in lawfully keeping and pre
serving the peace.
Homicide is excusable when committed by accident or misfortune, in lawfully
correcting a child or servant, or in doing any other lawful act by lawful means,
and with usual and ordinary caution, and without any lawful intent; or by accident
and misfortune, in the heat of passion, upon sudden and sufficient provocation; or
upon sudden combat, without any undue advantage being taken, and without any
dangerous weapon being used, and not done in a cruel and unusual manner.
Rape.
5. Rape, by carnally and unlawfully knowing any female child under the age of
ten years, by forcibly ravishing any woman of the age of ten years or upwards, is
punishable by imprisonment in a state prison not less than ten years.
The carnal knowledge of any woman above the age of ten years, without her
consent, by administering to her any substance or liquid, producing such stupor
or imbecility of mind or weakness of body, as to prevent effectual resistance, is
punishable by such imprisonment not exceeding five years.
To take any woman unlawfully, against her will, and by force, -menace or
duress, to compel her to marry or to be defiled — or with the intent so to compel her
to marry or to be defiled, is punishable by such imprisonment, for not less than ten.
years. To take away any female under the age of fourteen years from any person hav
ing the legal charge of her person, without his consent, for the purpose of prosti
tution, concubinage or marriage, is punishable by such imprisonment not exceed
ing three years; or by an imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year; or
by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars; or by both such fine and imprison
ment.

294 POLITICAL VIEW.
Mayhem.
6. Every person who from premeditated design, or with intent to kill, or com
mit felony, cuts or disables the tongue; puts out an eye; slits the lip; slits or
destroys the nose; or cuts off or disables any limb or member of another, is sub
ject to imprisonment in a state prison, at the discretion ofthe court, not less than
seven years. Kidnapping.
7. Unlawfully to seize and confine, inveigle or kidnap, any person — to cause
him to be secretly confined and imprisoned in this state; or to be sent out of the
state; or to be sold as a slave or in any way held to service against his will, is
punishable by imprisonment in a state prison for ten years; and accessaries
after the fact, by such imprisonment, not exceeding six years, or in a county jail
not exceeding one year; or by fine not exceeding $500; or by both such fine and
imprisonment. To sell or transfer, for any term, the labour of any person of colour, forcibly
taken or inveigled from this to any other state. or country; or maliciously, forci
bly or fraudulently, to take away any child under the age of twelve years, with
intent to detain and conceal it from the person having lawful charge of it, is pun
ishable by imprisonment in a state prison, not exceeding ten years; or in a county
jail, not exceeding one year; or by fine not exceeding '$500; or by both such fine
and imprisonment. Abandonment of Children.
8. The exposure of a child under the age of six years, by the parent or other
person to whom it is confided, with intent wholly to abandon it, subjects the
offender to imprisonment, in a state prison, not exceeding seven years, or in a
county jail not more than one year.
Attempt to Kill or commit oilier Felony.
9. To shoot, or attempt to discharge any fire arms or air-gun at another, or
assault and battery by means of any deadly weapon, or by other means likely to
produce death; with the intent to kill, maim, ravish, or rob or in the attempt to
commit burglary, larceny, or other felony, or in resisting the execution of any legal
process; or to administer, or procure to be administered, any poison to another,
with intent to kill, and which shall have been actually taken by such other,
whereof death does not ensue, is punished by imprisonment in a state prison for a
term not less than ten years.
To mingle poison with any food, drink, or medicine, with intent to kill or injure
any human being, or wilfully to poison any spring, well, or reservoir of water, is
punishable by imprisonment in a state prison not exceeding ten years, or in a
county jail not exceeding one year, or by fine not exceeding five hundred dollars,
or by both such fine and imprisonment.
To assault, with intent to commit robbery, burglary, rape, manslaughter, or
other felony, the punishment for which assault is not before prescribed, is punished
by imprisonment in a state prison not exceeding five years, or in a county jail not
exceeding one year, or by fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or by both such
fine and imprisonment.
OFFENCES AGAINST PROPERTY PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT IN A
STATE PRISON.
10. Such offences are arson of inferior degrees, burglary, forgery, falsely per
sonating another, and cheats, robbery, embezzlement, and larceny.
Arson of Inferior Degrees.
II. Wilfully to fire an inhabited dwelling house in the daytime, which, if com
mitted in the night, would be arson in the first degree; to fire in the night, any
building, not the subject of arson in the first degree, but adjoining to, or within
the curtilage, of any inhabited dwelling house, so that such house be endangered

CRIMINAL CODE. 295
thereby, is arson in the second degree, punishable by imprisonment, not less than
ten years.
Wilfully to fire in the day time, any building, which if committed in the night
would be arson in the second degree, or to fire in the night time, the house of an
other, not the subject of arson in the first or second degree, any house of public
worship, scliool house, public building, or building in which are the papers of any
public officer, any barn or grist-mill, or building for the manufactory of cotton or
woollen goods, or both, or paper, iron, or other fabric, fulling-mill, or ship or
vessel, or wilfully to burn any building, ship, or vessel, or goods insured against
damage by fire with intent to prejudice the insurer, whether the property of the
offender or any other, is arson in the third degree, punishable by such imprison
ment, for not more than ten nor less than seven years.
In the day time, wilfully to fire any dwelling, building, or vessel, which if
committed in the night, would be arson in the third degree; or in the day or night
time, wilfully to burn any saw-mill, carding machine, or building containing it,
stack of grain or hay, not the property of the offender, any toll or other public
bridge, or crop of grain growing or standing in the field, or nursery or orchard of
fruit trees, or fence around any cultivated field belonging to another, or the woods
in any town, or grass or herbage growing on any marshes or other lands, not be
longing to the offender, is arson in the fourth degree, punishable by such impri
sonment for not more than seven nor less than two years, or by imprisonment in
a county jail not exceeding one year. Burglary.
12. Burglary is divided into three degrees.
Breaking into and entering in the night-tinie, the dwelling house of another, in
which there is a human being, with intent to commit some crime therein, eitjier by
forcibly breaking the wall, outer door, window, or shutter, or lock or bolt of such
door, or fastening of such window or shutter, or breaking in any other manner,
being armed with some dangerous weapon, or with the assistance of one or more
confederates, actually present, or by unlocking an outer door with false keys, or
by picking the lock, is burglary in the first degree.
Breaking into any dwelling house in the day time, under such circumstances
as. would constitute burglary in the first degree, if committed in the night, or
breaking into such house in the night, with intent to commit a crime, but under
such circumstances as do not constitute burglary in the first degree, or entering
such house by day or by night, in such manner as not to constitute any other bur
glary, with intent to commit a crime, or being in the dwelling house of another,
to commit a crime, and in the night time breaking any outer door, window, or
shutter-of a window, or any other part of such house, to get out, or having entered
such house in the night, through an open outer door or window, or other aperture
not made by offender, and breaking any inner door, with intent of committing any
crime, or being admitted into any dwelling house, with the consent of the occu
pant, or being lawfully in such house, and in the pight time breaking any inner
door, with intent to commit any crime, is burglary in the second degree. No
building is a dwelling house, or any part thereof, within the foregoing provisions,
unless joined to, immediately connected with, and part of, a dwelling house.
Breaking and entering in the day or in the night, any building within the curti
lage of a dwelling house, but not part thereof, or any shop, store, booth, tent,
ware-house, or other building in which are any goods or valuable thing, with in
tent to steal therein, or to commit any felony, or breaking and entering into the
dwelling house of another, in the day, under such ciscumstances as would consti
tute burglary in the second degree, if committed in the night, is burglary in the
'third degree. .
Burglary in the first degree is punished by imprisonment in a state prison, for
not less than" ten years; in the second degree, by such imprisonment for not more
than ten nor less than five years; in the the third degree, by like imprisonment for
a term not exceeding five years. Forgery.
13. Forgery is classed under four degrees.
To forge, counterfeit, or falsely alter," a will, deed of real estate, the certificate
of acknowledgement, of any deed or other instrument, any state certificate or bill

296 POLITICAL VIEW.
of credit, or other public security, any certificate of public stock, or transfer thereof,
with intent to defraud, is forgery in the first degree.
To forge or counterfeit the great or privy seal, the seal of any public office, court
of record, or incorporation, or the impression of such seal; to falsely alter, destroy,
corrupt or falsify the record of any will or other instrument, which is evidence by
law; the record of any judgment in a court of record, or enrolment of decree in
equity; the return of any officer, court, or tribunal, to process; to falsely make,
forge, or alter any entry in a book of records, or return last, mentioned; the wilful
and falsely certifying by an authorised officer, that any instrument which may be
recorded, was acknowledged by a party thereto, when no such acknowledgement
was made, or that such instrument was proved, when in truth no such proof was
made; to counterfeit current gold or silver coin; to make any bank note plate,
of any incorporated bank, without the authority of the bank; to have possession
of such plate with intent to take any impression to be uttered; having, "without
the authority of the bank, any impression from such plate, with intent to have
it filled up and uttered; making or possessing any plate on which are engraved
any figures or words, which may be used for falsely altering any evidence of debt,
issued by such bank, with intent of having it used for such purpose; delivering or
offering to deliver, or receiving for any consideration, any forged note or other evi
dence for the payment of money, knowing it to be forged, with intention to have it
altered, is forgery in the second degree.
With intent to injure or defraud, falsely to make, alter, forge, or counterfeit, any
writing, being or purporting to be, process from any competent coun, magistrate,
or officer; pleading or proceeding entered in any court of law or equity; certificate,
order, or allowance, by acompetent court or officer; license or authority given by
statute; the act of another, by which any pecuniary demand or obligation is or
purports to Kb created, increased, discharged, or diminished, or by which any
rights or property are or purport to be transferred, discharged, or diminished, or in
any manner affected, the punishment of which is not elsewhere prescribed, and
by which any person may be affected, bound, or injured in his person or property;
making any false entry, or falsely altering any entry in any book of accounts, in
the office of the state comptroller, treasurer, or surveyor general, or county trea
surer, by which any demand, obligation, claim, right, or interest, against or in
favour of the state, county, town, or any individual, is or purports to be discharged,
or in any manner affected; making such entry, or altering any entry in any book of
accounts, kept by any moneyed corporation within the state, or in any book of
accounts kept by such corporation, delivered or intended to be delivered to any
person dealing with it, by which any pecuniary obligation, &c. is or purports to
be in any manner affected, is forgery in the third degree.
To have in possession any forged negotiable note, or other evidence of debt,
issued or purporting to have been issued, by any corporation or company duly au
thorised by the laws of the United States or of this state, or any other state or
country, the forgery of which is before declared to be punishable, knowing the
same to be forged, with intention to utter it as true or false, with intent to injure
or defraud, is subject to the punishment for forgery in the second degree.
To have in possession any forged instrument, the forgery of which is punishable,
except such as are enumerated in the last section;
To have in possession any counterfeit gold or silver coin current in this state,
knowing it to be counterfeited, with intention to defraud by uttering it as true or
false, or by causing it to be so uttered, is forgery in the fourth degree.
Uttering and publishing as true, with intent to defraud, any forged instrument,
or gold or silver coin, the forging of which is an offence, knowing such instrument
or coin to be forged, is punishable as the forging the instrument or coin so uttered;
except it appear on the trial that the accused received it of another, in good faith
and for a good and valuable consideration, without any circumstances to justify a
suspicion of its being forged, when the jury may find him guilty of forgery in the
fourth degree.
If any one, with intent to defraud, make any instrument in his own name, in
tended to create, increase, discharge, defeat, or diminish any pecuniary obligation,
right or interest, or to transfer or affect any property whatever, and utter or pass
it, under pretence that it is the act of another who bears the same name, he is

CRIMINAL CODE.

297

gui lty of forgery in the same degree as if he had forged the instrument of a person
bearing a different name from his own.
Forgery in the first degree is punished by imprisonment in a state prison, for a
a term not less than ten years; in the second degree, for not more than ten, nor less
than five years; in the third degree, by like imprisonment not exceeding rive years;
and in the fourth degree, by like imprisonment not exceeding two years, or im
prisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year.
The total erasure or obliteration of any instrument, with intent to defraud, by
which any ^pecuniary obligation, or interest to property is, or is intended to be in
any manner affected, is forgery, as the false alteration of any part of such instru
ment. Where different parts of several genuine instruments are so placed or connected
together, as to produce one instrument, with intent to defraud, it is forgery in the
same degree as if the parts put together were falsely made or forged.
The falsp making of any evidence of debt, issued, or purporting to have been
issued, by any corporation having authority for that purpose, to which is affixed
the pretended signature of any person as agent or officer of such corporation, is
forgery, as if such person were at the time an officer or agent of such corporation;
notwithstanding he may never have been such officer or agent, or there never was
any such person in existence. Falsely Personating another, and Cheats.
14. Falsely to personate another, and in such assumed character to marry an
other; become bail or surety for any party in any proceeding, civil or criminal;
confess judgment, acknowledge the execution of any conveyance of real' estate,
or other instrument which may be recorded, or to do any other act in any suit, &c,
whereby the person personated may be liable to the payment of any sum of money,
or his rights be in any manner affected, is punishable by imprisonment in a state
prison not exceeding ten years, if complaint be made by the injured party within
two years after perpetration of the offence.
To personate another, and thereby to receive property intended for him, is
punishable as felonious stealing.
To produce an infant, falsely pretending it to be born of parents whose child
would be entitled to any estate, with, intent of intercepting the inheritance or dis
tribution thereof, is punishable by imprisonment in a state prison not exceeding
ten years.
Every person to whom an infant under the age of six years, shall be confided,
for nursing, or any other purpose, who, with intent to deceive the parent or guar
dian, substitutes another child, is punishable by such imprisonment not exceeding
seven years.
Whoever, with intent to defraud another, designedly, by colour of any false
token or writing, or other false pretence, obtains the signature of any person to
any written instrument, or obtains from any person any money or valuable thing,
is punishable in a state prison not exceeding three years, or in a county jail not
exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding three times the value of the money
or thing so obtained, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
If such false token be a promissory note, or other_negotiable evidence of debt,
purporting to have been issued under the authority of any banking company or
moneyed corporation, not in existence, the person convicted of such cheat may be
punished by imprisonment in a state prison not exceeding seven years.
Robbery, Embezzlement and Larceny^
15. Feloniously taking the personal property of another from his person, or in
his presence, against his will, by violence to his person, or by putting him in fear
of immediate injury thereto, is robbery in the first degree.
So taking such property of another in his presence, or from his person, delivered
or suffered to be taken, through fear of injury to his person or property,, or to the
"person of any relative or member of his family, threatened to be inflicted at some
different time, which fear shall have been produced by the threats of'the person so
receiving or. taking such property, is robbery in the second degree.
Robbery, in the first degree, is punishable by Imprisonment in a state prison for
38

298 POLITICAL VIEW.
not less than ten, and in the second degree, by like imprisonment not exceeding
ten, years.
To send or deliver, or make, for the purpose, and parting with the possession
of, any writing, threatening therein to accuse any person of a crime, or to do an
injury to the person or property of any one, with intent to extort money or pro
perty belonging to another, is an attempt to rob, punishable by imprisonment in a-
state prison not exceeding five years.
If any clerk or servant of any private person, or copartnership, (except appren
tices and persons within the age of eighteen years,) or any officer, agent, clerk or
servant of any incorporated company, embezzle or convert to his own use, or take,
make way with, or secrete, with such intent, without the assent of his^master or
employers, any money, goods, rights in action, or other valuable security or effects
belonging to any other person, in his possession, or under his care, by virtue of
such employment or office, he is punishable as for feloniously stealing; and the
embezzlement of any evidence of debt negotiable by delivery only, and actually
executed by such master or employer, but not delivered or issued as a valid in
strument, is such an offence; and to buy, or in any way receive such property,
knowing it to have been so embezzled, is punishable in like manner.
If any carrier or other person, to whom property has been delivered to be trans
ported for hire, without the assent of his employer, take, embezzle or convert to
his own use, or make way with, or secrete it with such intent, in the mass as de
livered, without breaking the package, and before delivery at the place or to the
person entitled to receive it, he is punishable as if he had taken such property
after breaking the package, or after separating any part from the other.
The felonious taking and carrying away the personal property of another, ofthe
value of more than twenty-five dollars, is grand larceny, punishable by imprisonment
in a state prison for a term not exceeding five years; and if such larceny be com
mitted in a dwelling-house, or in a vessel, the imprisonment may be increased
three years; if committed by stealing in the night time fromlhe person of another,
imprisonment may be for a term not exceeding ten years.
To sever from the soil of another, produce, of the value of more than twenty-five
dollars, or from any building, gate, fence, or other enclosure, any part thereof, or
any material of like value, and to take with intent to steal it, is larceny as if such
property had been severed at some previous and different time.
Stealing any record, paper or proceeding of a court of justice, deposited with
any officer thereof, or any paper, document or record in any public office, or with
any judicial officer, is larceny, without reference to the value of the subject; &c;
and is punishable by imprisonment in a state prison not exceeding five years, or in
the county jail not exceeding one year, or by fine not exceeding five hundred dol
lars, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
The officer having ihe custody of such record, &c, who steals, or fraudulently
takes away or withdraws, or destroys it, is punishable by such imprisonment, in a
state prison, for a term not exceeding five years.
Buying or receiving in any manner, upon any consideration, any personal pro
perty stolen, knowing it to have been stolen, is punishable by such imprisonment
in a state prison not exceeding five years, or in the county jail not exceeding six
months, or by a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars, or by both such
fine and imprisonment. In an indictment for such offence, it is not necessary to
aver, nor on the trial to prove, that the principal who stole such property has been
convicted. OFFENCES AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE,
16. Are perjury and subornation of perjury; bribery and corrupting jurors and
others; and escapes from prison.
Of Perjury and Subornation of Perjury.
17. Wilfully and corruptly to swear, testify or affirm falsely, to any material
matter, upon oath, affirmation or declaration, legally administered; in any matter,
depending in any court of law or equity, or before any officer thereof; in any case
where an oath or affirmation is required by law, or is necessary for the prosecution
or defence of any private right, or for the ends of publio justice; in any matter be-

CRIMINAL CODE.

299

fore any tribunal or officer. created by the constitution or by law, or where any oath
may be lawfully required by any judicial, executive or administrative officer, is
perjury; and the offender may not thereafter be received as a witness to be sworn,
in any matter whatever, until the judgment against him be reversed; and he is
punishable in a state prison:
*- For perjury on the trial of any indictment- for felony, for a term not less than ten
years: on any other judicial trial or inquiry, or in any other case, for a term not
exceeding ten years.
Unlawfully and corruptly to procure any witness to commit wilful and corrupt
perjury is subornation of perjury; subject to the same consequences and punishable
in like manner as perjury.
By the offer of any valuable consideration, to attempt unlawfully and corruptly
to procure another to commit wilful and corrupt perjury, as a witness, in any pro
ceeding, in or concerning which such other might by law. be a witness, is punish
able by imprisonment in a state prison not exceeding five years.
Bribery and Corrupting Jurors and others.
18. To bribe the governor, lieutenant governor, member ofthe legislature, com
missioner ofthe land office, canal fund or canal, comptroller, surveyor general, se
cretary of state, attorney general, or any judicial officer, is punishable in the person
bribing, by imprisonment in the state prison not exceeding ten years, or by a fine
not exceeding $5000, or both in the discretion of the court — in the person bribed,
by disqualification for holding public office under the state,, forfeiture of office and
imprisonment in a state prison, not exceeding ten years, or by a fine not exceeding
$5000, or both in the discretion of the court.
Any person drawn or summoned as a juror, chosen arbitrator or appointed referee,
receiving any thing to give his verdict, award or report, or receiving any gratuity
from; any party to a suit for the trial of which he is designated, is punishable by
imprisonment in a state prison not exceeding five years, or in a county jail not ex
ceeding one year, or by fine not exceeding $1000, or by both such fine and im
prisonment; and the person corrupting or attemptiug to corrupt him, is punishable
in like manner. Of Escapes from Prison, ifc.
19. To convey into a state or other prison, any disguise, arms, or other thing,
to aid a prisoner committed for felony, to escape; or by any means to aid such pri
soner to escape, whether the escape be effected or attempted, or not; or forcibly to
rescue any prisoner in legal custody on a criminal charge, is punishable by im
prisonment in a state prison not exceeding ten years.
If the prisoner be confined on conviction for a criminal offence, other than felony,
such aid fur his escape, is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not ex
ceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding $500, or by both; and if such aid be
rendered by a fellow prisoner, with intent to facilitate his own escape, he is
punishable as on a conviction for his own escape.
To aid in the escape or attempt to escape of any prisoner from the custody of
the. sheriff or other person having him in lawful charge, upon any-criminal accusa
tion is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, and
fine not exceeding $250, or by both.
The sheriff, jailer, coroner, marshal or constable, who wilfully and corruptly re
fuses to execute lawful process for the apprehension or confinement of any person
charged with a criminal offence — omits to execute such process, so that such per
son escape — wilfully refuses to receive in jail under his charge, any offender law
fully committed thereto; or suffers him to escape; or receives any gratuity or re
ward to procure, assist, connive at, any prisoner in his custody on civil process,
criminal charge or conviction, to escape, whether the escape be attempted or ef
fected, or not — is punishable by imprisonment, in a county jail, not exceeding one
year, or by fine, nqt exceeding $1000, or by both; and by forfeiture of office and dis-,
qualification to hold office under the state. "
The escape or attempt to escape by convicts from prison, is punishable by addi
tional terms of imprisonment, proportioned to the term of the first sentence.

300 POLITICAL VIEW.
OP OFFENCES AGAINST THE PUBLIC*PEACE, AND PUBLIC MORALS, AND
OTHER MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT
IN A STATE PRISON.
20. This class embraces duelling and challenges to fight; unlawful marriages
and incest; offences against public decency; malicious mischief and crimes not
before enumerated. Of Duelling, Sfc.
21. To fight a duel with a deadly weapon, though no death ensue, is punishable
by imprisonment in a state prison, for a term not exceeding ten years and disquali
fication to hold any office, place of trust or emolument, civil or military, under the
constitution and laws ofthe state.
To challenge another to fight a duel; to send or deliver such challenge, verbal
or written; to accept, knowingly carry or deliver such challenge; to be present at
the fighting with deadly weapons, as second, aid, or surgeon; Or to advise, coun
tenance, or assist such duel, is punishable by imprisonment in a state prison for a
term not exceeding seven years.
An offender against either of the above provisions is a competent witness against
any other offender in the same transaction, and may be compelled to testify; but
his testimony may not be used in any prosecution, civil or criminal, against 'him.
If an inhabitant of the state leave it to elude the foregoing provisions, with in
tent of giving or receiving a challenge, or of aiding and abetting therein, and do
so give or receive, aid or abet, without the state, he is subject to like punishment, as
if the offence were committed within the state; and may be brought to trial in any
county, designated by the governor; but may plead in bar any prior conviction,
elsewhere, for the same offence.
Of Unlawful Marriage and Incest.
22. Every person having a husband or wife living, who marries another,
whether married or single, is guilty of bigamy; punishable by imprisonment in a
state prison for a term not exceeding five years.
But this provision does not extend to any person by reason of- any former mar
riage, whose husband or wife, by snch marriage, has been absent for five succes
sive years, without being known to such person, within that time, to be living :
nor, to any person, whose husband or wife by former marriage, has absented him
self or herself from his wife or her husband, and has been continually remaining
without the United States, for the space of five years together: nor, to any person
by reason of any former marriage, which shall have been dissolved by the decree
of a competent court, for some cause other than the adultery of such person; nor,
which shall have been pronounced void by the sentence or decree of a competent
court, on the ground of the nullity ofthe marriage contract: nor, by reason of any
former marriage contracted by such person within the age of legal consent, and
which shall have been annulled by the decree of a competent court: nor, to any
person by reason of any former marriage with a husband or wife who shall have
been sentenced' to imprisonment for life.
If any unmarried person, knowingly, marry the husband or wife of another, in
any case in which such husband or wife would be punishable, such person may
be imprisoned in a state prison not more than five years, or in a county jail not
more than one year, or be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or be subject
to both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.
Persons being within the degrees of consanguinity, within which marriages are
declared by law to be incestuous and void, who intermarry with each other, or who
commit adultery or fornication with each other, are punishable by imprisonment in
a state prison for a term not exceeding ten years.
Offences against. Public Decency, &c.
23. The removal of a human dead body from the place of interment, for sale,
dissection, or from wantonness, or the purchase or receiving it, knowing it to
have been unlawfully disinterred, is punishable by imprisonment in a state prison
not exceeding five years, or by fine not exceeding $500, or by both.

CRIMINAL CODE. 301
To open a place of interment, with intent to remove the body for sale or dissec
tion, or to steal the coffin or part thereof, vestments or other articles interred with
the body, is punishable by imprisonment in a state prison not exceeding two years,
or in a county jail not exceeding six months, or by fine not exceeding $250, or
by both such fine and imprisonment.
Wilfully to administer poison to, or maliciously to expose poison, with intent
that it he taken by, any horse, sheep or cattle, is punishable by imprisonment in a
state prison not exceeding three years, or in a county jail not exceeding one year,
or by fine not exceeding $250, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
• To take money or property or engagement therefor,, npon an understanding to
compound, conceal or abstain from prosecuting, or to withhold evidence of any
crime punishable by death or imprisonment in a state prison for life, and if taken
by one having knowledge of the actual commission of such offence, is punishable
by imprisonment in a state prison not exceeding five years, or in a county jail not
exceeding one year.. And when this offence is committed in relation to a crime
punishable by imprisonment in a state prison for any other term than for life, it is
punished by imprisonment in a state prison not exceeding three years, or in a
county jail not exceeding six months.
The crime against nature is punishable by imprisonment in a state prison for a
term not more than ten years.
OF OFFENCES PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT IN A COUNTY JAIL, AND
BY FINES.
24. Stealing the personal property of another, of the value of $25 or under, is
petty larceny, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding six
months, or by fine not exceeding $100, or by "both.
The following offences are misdemeanours, punishable by imprisonment in a
county jail not exceeding one year, or by fine not exceeding $250', or by both.
To threaten verbally or by writing to accuse another of any offence, thereby to
extort property or pecuniary benefit:
The making or putting in use a fraudulent conveyance of real or personal pro
perty, with intent to defraud prior or subsequent purchasers, or to hinder, delay or
defraud creditors or others:
Concealment by an insolvent debtor, applying for the benefit of the insolvent
laws, of his estate, or books or writings relative thereto; or debts or demands col
lected; or any transfer made after presenting the schedule of his estate:
Taking conveyance of lands ot of any interest therein, from any person not in
possession, while such lands are in suit, knowing the pendency of the suit and
that the grantor was not in possession — by any judicial or ministerial officer:
The conspiring together by two or more persons — to commit any offence— ^falsely
and maliciously to indict or procure another to be charged or arrested for any of
fence — falsely to move or maintain any suit — to defraud any person of property,
by means in themselves criminal, or by means which if executed would amount to
a cheat, or to obtaining money or property by false pretences — to commit an
act injurious to the. public health or morals, to trade or commerce, or for the per
version or obstruction of justice, or the due administration ofthe laws. No other
conspiracies are punishable criminally. Nor is any agreement, except to commit
felony upon the person of another, arson or burglary, deemed conspiracy, unless
some act beside the agreement, be done to effect the object, by one or "more of the
parties:, To arrest or detain against his will, any one; to seize or levy on any property
or to dispossess any one of land, without lawful authority, by any sheriff or other
officer, under pretence or colour of law;
Having knowledge of the actual commission of any offence, punishable by im
prisonment in a county jail or by fine, or of any misdemeanour or violation of
any statute for which any pecuniary or other penalty or forfeiture is prescribed,
and taking money or reward, or engagement therefor, upon an understand
ing to compound or conceal such offence, or to abstain from prosecution therefor
or to withhold evidence thereof: '
Racing, running or other trial of speed, between horses, or other animals within
one mile of the place where any court is actually sitting;

302 POLITICAL VIEW.
To attempt improperly to influence any juror, arbitrator or referee, in relation to
any matter to be submitted to him:
Being drawn, summoned or sworn as a juror, to promise a verdict for or against
the accused, or party in a civil suit; or to receive any paper, evidence or informa
tion from any one in relation to any cause, for the trial of which he is sworn,
without the authority of the court or officer before whom he is summoned, and
without immediately disclosing the same to such court or officer:
When, in duty, assisting at the drawing of any jurors, designedly to.put or con
sent to put upon the list as drawn, any name not drawn in the manner prescribed
by law; or omitting to place on such list any name so drawn; or signing or certi
fying any list as having been drawn which was not so drawn; or to be guilty of any
other unfair, partial or improper conduct in drawing such list:
At an election, voting more than once for the same candidate for the same office,
or for different candidates for the same office, either in the same or in a different
town or ward:
Posting another for not fighting a duel, or for not sending or accepting a chal
lenge; or in writing or print using reproachful or contemptuous language to or con
cerning any one for not sending or accepting a challenge, or for not fighing:
While in a state of intoxication, prescribing any poison, drug or medicine, to
another person, which endangers his life:
Navigating any boat or vessel for gain, and wilfully receiving so many passen-.,
gersor such quantity of other lading on board, that by means thereof she sinks orf
oversets, and the life of any human being be endangered thereby:
When the captain, or other person having charge of a steamboat for the convey
ance of passengers; or the engineer or other person having charge of any appa
ratus therein for the generation of steam, from ignorance or gross neglect,or for
the purpose of excelling any other boat in speed, creates or allows to be created,
such an undue quantity of steam as to burst or break such apparatus, by which hu
man life is endangered, such captain, engineer or other person is guilty of misde
meanour: Maliciously to kill, maim or wound any horse, cattle or sheep belonging to ano
ther, or maliciously or cruelly to beat or torture any such animal, whether belong
ing to himself or another:.
Wilfully or maliciously to destroy any public or toll bridge, or any turnpike
gate: Unlawfully and wilfully or maliciously to destroy any mill, or other dam erected
to create hydraulic power, or any embankment necessary for the support thereof,
or wilfully and maliciously to make, or cause to be made, any aperture in such
dam or embankment with the intent to destroy the same:
Wilfully or maliciously to remove any monument of stone, wood or other dura
ble material erected for the purpose of designating the corner, or any other point
in the boundary of any lot or tract of land; or so to deface or alter the marks upon ,
any tree, post or other monument made for such purpose; or so to cut down or re
move any tree upon which such marks are made for such purpose, with intent to
destroy such marks:
Holding or exercising any office under the state, and for reward or gratuity, to
grant to another the right or authority to discharge its duties: and in addition to
other punishment, the offender forfeits his office and is for ever disabled from hold
ing it: to -give, or make agreement to give, any gratuity or reward in consi
deration of any such grant or deputation:
Where any duty is enjoined by law upon any public officer, or person holding
public trust or employment, every wilful neglect to perform such duty, where no
special provision is made for the punishment of such delinquency:
Where the performance of an act is prohibited by statute, and no penalty for the
violation is imposed, either in the section containing the prohibition or in any other
section or statute, the doing such act is a misdemeanour.
Committing trespass, by cutting down or destroying any kind of wood or timber
standing or growing upon the lands of any other, or belonging to the state; or car
rying away any wood or timber that may have been cut down, and lying on such,
lands; or maliciously cutting down, lopping, girdling, or otherwise injuring any
fruit, or ornamental or shade tree; or maliciously severing from the freehold any
produce thereof, or thing attached thereto; or severing ana carrying away from the

CRIMINAL CODE.

303

freehold any property pr thing attached thereto, ofthe value of twenty-five dollars
or less, under such circumstances as would render the trespass a larceny if the
thing so severed and carried away were personal property; is a misdemeanour,
punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding six months, or by a
line not exceeding $150, orhy both.
Wilfully administering to a pregnant woman any thing whatever, or employing
any means whatever with intent to procure miscarriage, unless necessary to pre
serve her life, or advised by two physicians to lie necessary for that purpose, is
punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not more than one year, or by fine not
exceeding $500, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Selling and delivering any arsenic, corrosive sublimate, prussic acid, or other
substance usually denominated poisonous, without having the word " poison"
written or "printed upon a label attached to the phial, box or parcel in which it is
so sold; or selling and delivering any tartar emetic, without having the true name
thereof written QX printed upon a label attached to the phial, box or parcel con
taining it, is a misdemeanour, and punishable by a fine not exceeding $100.
If any person wilfully open, read, or cause to be read any sealed letter not ad
dressed to himself, without authority from the writer or the person to whom it is
addressed; or maliciously publish the whole or any part of such letter without
such authority, knowing the same to have been so opened, he is punishable for
misdemeanour, by fine not exceeding $100 and imprisonment not exceeding one
month. But these provisions do not extend to any breaking open of letters pu
nishable by laws of the United States.
Wilfully or.maliciously to break, destroy or remove any mile-stone, mile-board
or guide-board, uponjany public highway or turnpike, or so to deface or alter any
inscription thereon, is a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment in a county
jail not exceeding three months, or by a fine not exceeding fifty dollars, or by both
such fine and imprisonment.
GENERAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING CRIMES, AND THEIR PUNISHMENT.
25; Nq person is liable to punishment for any act done whilst insane; nor can
he be tried, sentenced or punished, whilst in that state.
An attempt to commit a crime in which the party fails, where not otherwise pro
vided, is punished, if the offence attempted be punishable' by death, by imprison
ment in a state prison not exceeding ten years: If the offence he punishable by
imprisonment in a state prison for four years or more, or by imprisonment in a
county jail, then the attempt is punished by imprisonment, in a state prison or
county jail, for a term not exceeding half the longest term of imprisonment pre
scribed for the offence attempted: If such offence be punishable by imprisonment
in a state prison for less than four years, the attempt is punished by imprisonment
in a county jail for not more than one year: If the offence be punishable by fine,
the attempt is punished by fine not exceeding one half the largest amount that
may be imposed on the offence: If the offence be punishable by imprisonment and
fine, the attempt is punished by both, not exceeding half the longest time of im
prisonment, and half the greatest fine which may be imposed, for the offence.
Larceny in any other state or country, if the property be brought hither, is pun
ishable as if committed in this state, and may be charged as committed- in any
place through which it is -brought. But former conviction may be pleaded in
The principal, in the second degree, in any felony, the accessary to a murder
before the fact, and the accessary to any felony before the fact, are punishable, in
the manner prescribed, with respect to principals in the first degree. Accessaries
after a fact, are punishable by imprisonment in a state prison not exceeding five,
or in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by fine not exceeding $ 500, or by
both. If a convict of an offence punishable by imprisonment in a state prison, after
pardon or discharge, or expiration of his sentence, commit an offence, which, on
a first conviction, was" punishable by imprisonment in a state prison for a term ex
ceeding five years, he is punishable by such imprisonment for a term not less than
ten years; if the subsequent offence be such, that a first conviction would be pun
ishable by such imprisonment for five years or less, the subsequent offence is pun-

304 POLITICAL VIEW.
ishable by such imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years; and if the sub
sequent offence be petty larceny, or an attempt to commit an offence, which, if
committed, would be punishable in a state prison, it is punishable by imprison
ment in a state prison for a term not exceeding five years.
If one having been convicted of petit larceny, or of an attempt to commit an of
fence, which, if perpetrated, would be punishable in a state prison, having been
pardoned or otherwise -discharged, commit an offence, which, upon a first convic
tion, is punishable in a state prison, for life, at the discretion of the court, he is
punishable by imprisonment in such prison during life. An offence, which, upon
a first conviction, would be punishable by imprisonment in a state prison for a
term lees than life, is punishable by such imprisonment for the longest term
prescribed for the first offence; if the subsequent offence be petty larceny, or an
attempt to commit an offence.which,' if perpetrated, would he punishable in a state
prison, it is punishable by imprisonment in such prison, for a term not exceeding
five years.
These increased punishments are also inflicted, "in cases of a prior conviction,
without the state.
Where one is convicted of two or more offences, the imprisonment to which he
is sentenced, upon the second or subsequent conviction, commences upon the ter
mination of the first term to which he is adjudged, and so on.
Where the punishment denounced is imprisonment for a term not less than any
specified number of years, and no limit to its duration is declared, the court may
sentence to imprisonment during life, or for any number of years not less than that
prescribed; but no one is sentenced to a state prison for less than two years;
where the punishment is by imprisonment, and no fine is prescribed, the court im
poses one not exceeding $200.
Where the convict for felony is under the age of 16 years, he may be confined
in the house of refuge instead of being sentenced to the state prison.
Sentence of imprisonment in a state prison, for any term less than life, suspends
the civil rights of the sentenced, and forfeits all public offices and private trusts,
authority and power, during the term; and one so sentenced, for life, is deemed*
civilly dead. Sentence for felony (only) renders the convict incompetent to testify
in any cause, unless, pardoned.
If one be acquitted of a criminal charge, upon trial, on the ground of a variance
between the indictment and the proof, or upon any exception to the indictment, he
may be tried and convicted upon a subsequent indictment for the same offence; but
acquittal, on the merits and facts, is a bar to a subsequent accusation.
Upon an indictment of any offence of different degrees, the jury may find the
accused not guilty of that charged, but guilty of any inferior degree of an attempt
to commit such offence, and when the defendant is acquitted or convicted upon an
indictment for an offence consisting of different degrees, he may not be tried for a
different degree of the same offence, nor for an attempt to commit that indicted, or
any degree thereof.
By the term felony, is meant an offence subjecting the offender to the punish
ment of death or imprisonment in a state prison; the word " felonious" means
criminal, and " feloniously" criminally; the words " infamous crime," an offence
on which death or imprisonment in a state prison may be inflicted.
PROCEEDINGS IN CRIMINAL CASES.
26. Proceedings in criminal cases are considered, by the law, undef 8 titles.
1. To prevent the commission of crimes. 2. The arrest, examination, arid securing
offenders for trial. 3. Trial before special sessions of the peace. 4. Indictments
and proceedings before trial. 5, Trial. 6. Judgments. 7. Special1 and miscella
neous proceedings. 8. Fees of officers.
We shall notice of these no more than is necessary to trace the course of pro
cedure from the inception to the conclusion of the prosecution.
Ofthe Prevention of Crimes.- .
27. The following magistrates only, are empowered to preserve the public peace
by requiring persons to give caution or security to keep it: viz., the chancellor,
justices of the supreme court, circuit judges, judges of the superior court of law,

CRIMINAL CODE. 305
and the special and assistant justices in the city of New York, judges of county
courts, mayors, recorders and aldermen of cities, supreme court commissioners,
and justices of the peace.
Upon complaint in writing, on oath, to such magistrates, that any person has
threatened to commit any offence against the person or property of another, he may
examine the complaint as directed by law, and if there be just reason to fear
the commission of such offence, by the person complained of, cause him to be ap
prehended and brought before him; and may require him to enter into recogni
sance, in a sum not exceeding $ 1000, with one or more sureties, to appear at the
next court of general sessions, &c, and in the mean time to keep the peace towards
the people, and particularly towards him requiring the security. If the party fail
lo give such security, he may be committed to prison until he find it.
Such magistrate may require such recognisance from any person before him,
when> from his words or conduct he apprehends a breach of the peace.
The party giving recognisance, appears at the court, or forfeits it. If the com
plainant do not appear, he is discharged, unless there be cause to the contrary.
On hearing, the court either discharges the recognisance or requires a new one for
a time not exceeding one year.
Arrest and Examination of Offenders, fyc.
The magistrates last above enumerated, are empowered, on complaint, on oath,
that a criminal offence has been committed, to issue a warrant for the arrest ofthe
accused. Such warrant, unless issued by an assistant justice in New York, or by
any alderman or justice, may be executed in any part of the state. In the excepted
cases, the warrant is not executable out of the county, unless endorsed by a justice
of the peace, or other magistrate, where the warrant is proposed to be executed;
and the endorser of the warrant is not liable to action though it have been illegally
issued. If the offence charged be not felony, the accused, on arrest, may require to be
brought before a justice of the county in which he is arrested, who may admit him
tobail. If such magistrate refuse to take, or the accused to give, bail, or if the
offence charged be felony, the accused is taken to the county, and before the ma
gistrate whence the warrant issued, where the accusation is examined; the accuser
and his witnesses first heard, and then the prisoner questioned in relation to the of
fence. He replies without oath, but is not required to reply at all; and is entitled
to time to send for, and advise with, counsel, and to have his aid during the inves
tigation, and to the testimony of his witnesses.
The witnesses, on either part, are not present at the examination of the prisoner;
and the magistrate may cause them to be kept separate from each other, before
examination, and may exclude the others while any one is under examination.
According to his opinion of the innocence or guilt of the prisoner, the magis
trate discharges or commits him; unless, in the latter case, the prisoner, when the
offence is bailable by the magistrate, offers sufficient bail, and unless in cases
where a court of special sessions is authorised to try such prisoner.
Where the magistrate deems there is sufficient cause for committal, he binds, by
recognisance, the prosecutor and material witnesses against the prisoner, to appear
and testify at the next court having cognisance ofthe offence, to which he returns
his proceedings; and where, by due proof, he has reason to believe that any wit
ness will not fulfil his recognisance, or where the witness is an infant or married
woman, he may require the witness to enter into recognisance with sureties, and,
in default, commit him to prison.
1 he magistrate to whom complaint is made, or before whom a prisoner is brought
may associate another magistrate of the county with himself.
Bail may be taken in all cases by the chancellor, justice of the supreme court,
circuit judge, supreme court commissioner; by a judge of the county court, in cases
triable in the general sessions; by a justice of the peace, alderman, and, in the
city of New York, by a special justice or an assistant justice, in all cases of mis
demeanour and of felony, where the imprisonment in the state prison cannot ex
ceed five years, before indictment; by the court of oyer and terminer, upon any
criminal charge, and by the general sessions, for any offence triable in such
court. 39

306

POLITICAL VIEW.

Of Trials before Courts of Special Sessions of the Peace.

29. Courts of special sessions, except in the city of New York, may hear and"
determine — charges for crimes arising within the respective counties; cases of
petit larceny charged as a first offence; of assault and battery not committed riot
ously, nor upon a public officer in the execution of his duties; of poisoning, killing,
maiming, wounding or cruelly beating any animal; of racing animals within one
mile of where the court is held; of wilful trespass or for severing any produce or
article from the freehold, not grand larceny; of selling poisonous substances not
labelled; of maliciously removing, altering, defacing or cutting down monuments
or marked trees; and cases for maliciously breaking, destroying or removing mile
stones, mile boards or guide boards, or for altering or detacing any inscription
thereon. In such cases, upon the request of the accused, or where he fails to give bail as
required by law, a special court composed of three justices or two justices and a
judge of the county court, as the case may be, is convened with convenient speed,
before which the aecused is tried by the court alone, or by a jury of six persons, if
he demand it. But the court upon its own judgment or upon the verdict of the
jury, can sentence only to a fine not exceeding $50, or to imprisonment not exceed
ing six months.
If the accused be acquitted, and the court certifies that the prosecution was
wilful, malicious, and without probable cause, the complainant is subject to the
costs. '
When any one charged with petty larceny, or with assault and battery not riot
ous, on examination before a police justice of the city of New York, is required to
enter into recognisance with sureties to appear at the proper court, at any time
demands to be tried by the court of special sessions for the city; or shall not re
quire so to be tried, but fail for 24 hours to enter into such recognisance required,
the court of special sessions may hear and determine the accusation.
For the constituents of this court, see page 286. It proceeds in the manner
above prescribed, except as to the summoning of a jury. But if the acsused have
not demanded the trial, he may appeal from the sentence at the time it is pro
nounced, to the court of general sessions, which proceeds thereon as if no sueh
trial were had.
In special courts, no fees are allowed to jurors or witnesses.
Ofthe Grand Jury.
30. The supervisors of the several counties, except in the city of New York, at
their annual meeting, prepare a list of 300 persons to serve as grand jurors at the
courts of oyer and terminer and general sessions for the respective counties, dur
ing the ensuing year, and until new lists be returned; and in the city of New
York the mayor, recorder and aldermen meet on the 2d Monday of July annually,
as a board of supervisors, and prepare a list of 600 persons for the like purpose.
The judges of the proper courts may increase these lists when requisite, by a num
ber not exceeding one-half that above required for the city and counties respec
tively. Persons exempt from service as jurors for the trial of issues in fact, are not
placed on these lists.
The mode of preparing the lists and drawing and summoning the jurors, impos
ing fines, discharging jurors, supplying deficiencies, &c. is analogous to that pre
scribed for other juries. (See page 290.)
The grand jury consists of not more than 23 nor less than 16 persons, and their
foreman is appointed by the court.
A person held to answer a criminal charge, may object to the competency of
any one summoned to serve as a grand juror, before he is sworn, on the ground
that he is the prosecutor upon a charge against him, or that he is a witness on the
part of the prosecution subpoenaed or bound as such; and if the objection be estab
lished the juror is set aside. But no challenge to the array or to any person sum
moned thereon, is admitted in any other case.
The grand jury may appoint a clerk to preserve minutes of its proceedings, and
of the evidence given before it, which by their direction may be delivered to the
district attorney. The foreman is authorised to adminiser any oath to witnesses

CRIMINAL CODE. 307
ill matters cognisable before them. The members maybe required by the court
to testify whether the testimony of a witness examined before the jury is consist
ent with that given by him before the court; and to disclose the testimony given
before them by any person upon a prosecution against him for perjury. But in no
case can a member be obliged or allowed to declare in what manner he or any
other member voted on any question before them, or what opinions were expressed
by any juror in relation to any such question.
If an offence be committed during the sitting of the court, after the grand jury
has been discharged, the court may direct the sheriff to summon another grand
jury. No indictment is found without the concurrence of at least 12 grand jurors. In
dictments for murder may be found at any time after the death of the person killed.
In all other cases it is found and filed in the proper court, within three years
after the commission of the offence; but such as is found against any person for
felony, not in actual confinement, is not open to the inspection of any person ex
cept the district attorney, until the defendants have been arrested.
No grand juror, constable, district attorney, clerk or judge, may disclose the
fact of an indictment having been found against any person for felony not in actual
confinement, until he have been arrested thereon, under penalty of being deemed
guilty of misdemeanour. This prohibition, of course, does not include any dis
closure by the district attorney in the discharge of official duty.
31. Indictment pending in any court of general sessions is removable by order,
to the court of oyer and terminer of the county in which it is found, under regula
tions prescribed by law. But no certiorari to remove an indictment from a court
of general sessions before trial, to the supreme court, or to any court of oyer and
terminer, is allowed. Nor is any certiorari, to remove into the supreme court any
indictment pending in a court of oyer and terminer before trial, effectual, unless
allowed by a justice ofthe supreme court or circuit judge.
32. All issues in fact joined on any indictment, are triable bya jury in thecounty
where the indictment was found, unless for special causes the supreme court order
an indictment removed into that court, to be tried in some other county.
33. Writs of error upon judgments on any indictment for a capital offence, do
not issue unless allowed by the chancellor or one of the justices of the supreme
court, or a circuit judge, upon notice to the attorney general or to the district attor
ney of the county where the conviction was had. In all other cases, such writs
upon final judgment rendered upon any indictment, are of right, and issue. of course,
in vacation as well as in term, out of the court in which by law they are returna
ble; but no such writ stays the execution of the judgment or sentence, unless it
be allowed by a justice of the supreme court or circuit judge, with express direc
tion therein, that it so operate. CORONERS' INQUESTS.
34. When a coroner has notice that any person has been slain, has suddenly
died, or has been dangerously wounded, he goes to the place where such person
is, and summons not less than 16 nor more than 23 persons qualified, and not ex
empt as jurors, forthwith to appear before him at such place as he appoints, to
make inquisition of such death and wounding.
When 12 or more ofthe jury appear, they are sworn by him to inquire how, in
what manner, when and where such person came to his death or was wounded,
(as the case may be,) and who he was, and into all the circumstances attending
such death or wounding; and to make a true inquisition according to the evidence
offered, or arising from the inspection of the body.
The coroner may summon and compel the attendance of witnesses; and is re
quired to summon some surgeon or physician to attend the inquest.
The jury upon inspection ofthe body and after hearing the testimony, deliver
to the coroner their inquest in writing, signed by them, certifying the matters
above mentioned for their inquiry; and who were guilty thereof, either as principal
or accessary, and in what manner.
If they find that murder, manslaughter or assa-ulthas been committed, the coro
ner .binds over the witnesses to appearand testify at the next criminal court ofthe
county, at which an indictment for such offence may be found. And if the party
charged with the offence be not in custody, he may issue process for his appre-

308 POLITICAL VIEW.
hension in the same manner as justices of the peace, and has the power of a jus
tice to examine the defendant. He reduces to writing the testimony of all wit
nesses, and returns it with the inquisition cf the jury and all recognisances and
examinations taken by him, to the next criminal court of record to be held in the
county. In the city of New York, in the absence of the coroner, an alderman or special
justice supplies his place. —..?©©©,,.-—
CHAPTER XVI.
OF JAILS, PENITENTIARIES, HOUSE OF REFUGE.
1. Of County Prisons, their Tenants and Police. 2. Of State Prisons — Inspectors, their
Duties. 3. Officers of State Prisons — Duties — Compensation. 4. Treatment of the
Prisoners. 5. State of the Prisons in 1835. 6. History of the Auburn System — De
scription of the Auburn Prison — Employment of the Prisoners — Description of Mount
Pleasant Prison. 7. Results of the Auburn System. 8. Statistical Memoranda Rela
tive to Crimes in New York — Health of State Prisons — Use ofthe Pardoning Power —
Number of Annual Convictions — Character of Offences — Proportion of the Sexes in
Crime — Native and Foreign Criminals — Proportion of Criminals to Ages. 9. House
of Refuge — History of.
1. The county prisons commonly called jails, are appropriated for the detention
of persons as witnesses in criminal cases; of persons charged with crime, and
committed for trial; and for the confinement of persons sentenced to imprisonment,
upon conviction for offences.
The penitentiary and the Bridewell or city prison, of the City of New York,
are under charge of the corporation, which appoints the proper officers for their
management. Prisoners committed, on criminal process, for trial or contempt are kept sepa
rate and distinct from convicts under sentence. The sexes in all cases are sepa
rated, except in that of husband and wife, and so far as practicable, all prisoners
are kept separate and distinct from each other. Prisoners detained for trial, are
permitted to converse with counsel and with others at the discretion ofthe keeper;
but those under sentence are not permitted to hold intercourse with any person
except the keepers or inspectors, unless in their presence.
Prisoners detained for trial, and those under-sentence, are provided with in
ferior but wholesome food, at the county expense; but the former may also at their
own charge, under the direction of the keeper, be supplied with other proper arti
cles of food, and with cider or table beer. Convicts, when sentenced to hard la
bour, are kept constantly employed therein, except on Sunday; and the keeper,
annually, accounts with the board of supervisors for the proceeds of their labour.
The keepers may with consent of the supervisors cause the convicts to be employed
upon any public works in the county, or adjoining counties, upon such terms as
they can make; and when so employed, the convicts are chained and secured, and
subject to the regulations prescribed by the keeper. Convicts becoming insane
are transferred to the custody of the overseers of the poor.
In each county the first judge and the county superintendents of the poor, are
inspectors of the prison, empowered, from time to time, to inspect their govern
ment, discipline and police; and required to visit them in January and July, yearly;
and at the next court of oyer and terminer, thereafter, to present, on the first day
of its session, a detailed report, stating the condition, the number of persons con
fined therein for the six months preceding the inspection, and for what causes,
respectively; the manner of their employment; the number kept in one room; the
distinction, if any, usually observed in their treatment; the evils existing; and par
ticularly whether the laws relating to them are violated, or neglected, with the
causes thereof. To this end, the keepers are required to admit the inspectors
to every part of the prison; to exhibit to them all books, documents and accounts,
pertaining to the prison or detention of the prisoners, and to render every other
facility in their power; and the inspectors may examine, on oath, the officers of

PENITENTIARIES. 309
the prison, and converse with any of the prisoners without the presence of the
keepers. The keeper presents to every court of oyer and terminer and of general sessions,
at the opening of the court, a calendar of the name of each prisoner, the time when
and the process on which he was committed, and the cause of his detention. Such
court, within 24 hours after the discharge of any grand jury, causes every person
confined in the prison, upon a criminal charge, not indicted, to be discharged with
out bail, unless satisfactory cause be shown for his detention in custody or on
bail, until the next meeting of the grand jury.
Any person confined in a county prison for a fine not exceeding $250, imposed
for a criminal offence and for no other cause, on satislactory proof to the court of
common pleas, that he is unable and has been ever since his conviction, unable to
pay such fine, may in the discretion ofthe court be discharged.
OP STATE PRISONS.
2. The state prisons, at Auburn and Mount Pleasant, are each under the direction
of five inspectors. Three of the inspectors of the Auburn prison are required to
reside at the village of Auburn; and three of the Mount Pleasant prison, in the
town of Mount Pleasant. The inspectors, non-resident, receive three dollars per
day, not exceeding to each board $500 per annum; and those resident, have for
every day actually and necessarily employed in the business of the prisoners, the
sum of one dollar and fifty cents.
The inspectors elect a president from among themselves, and hold stated meet
ings at least once a month; a majority constituting a quorum. They make rules
for the government of all the officers ofthe prisons, which, with their proceedings,
are recorded by their clerk. The agent of the prison makes general and special
orders to be in force until the next meeting of the inspectors, but not longer.
The agent or deputy keeper, also keeps a journal of the proceedings of the pri
son, in which is noted every infraction of the rules by any officer, and a memo
randum of every complaint made by a convict — of bad or insufficient food, want of
clothing, or of cruel and unjust treatment from his keepers; to be laid before the
inspectors at every stated meeting.
The inspectors have the general supervision of the prison and all its concerns;
and in an inquiry into the conduct of the agent or other officers, a justice of the
peace may issue subpoenas for witnesses and the production of papers before them;
they may examine Such witnesses, on oath, administered by the president; they
report, annually, to the legislature, in January, the condition of the prison and its
finances. No inspector may be an agent, or connected with the agency, or hold
any appointment connected with the prison.
3. The officers of each prison are, an agent or principal keeper residing in the
prison; a clerkf-chaplain, physician and surgeon; a deputy keeper; and for Auburn
not exceeding 20, and for Mount Pleasant not exceeding 23, assistant keepers.
The agents, chaplains, physicians and assistant keepers, are appointed by the
inspectors, and hold office during their pleasure; the clerk is appointed by the go
vernor and senate for four years; a vacancy in his office during the recess ofthe
senate, is supplied by the inspectors. The agent appoints the deputy keeper.
A guard employed by the inspectors is maintained at each prison, consisting of
one sergeant and so many privates, not exceeding 16, as the inspectors direct, re
ceiving $25 each per month, under command of the agent. A company of militia
is also organised at Auburn and at Sing Sing, which, in case of alarm or danger in
stantly repairs to the defence ofthe prison.
Each agent gives bond to the state with sureties approved by the inspectors, in
the sum of $25,000, filed in the office ofthe comptroller, conditioned for the faith
ful performance of his duties. He has the supervision and superintendence of all
the concerns of the prison; all its transactions are conducted in his name, and he
may sue or be sued by his name of office; under the direction ofthe inspectors, he
contracts^from time to time, for the labour of the convicts, with such persons and
on Buch terms as he deems most beneficial to the state, but not for a longer period
than six months, without the consent and direction of the inspectors had at a regu
lar or special meeting of the board, and giving two months' public notice of the
time and place of letting every contract. No contract may extend beyond five years*

310 POLITICAL VIEW.
and for the supplies of provisions, for three years or a less term, as they think pro
per. But no inspector, agent or other person employed in the prison, may be in
terested in any contract in relation to it, under the penalty of $250.
The agent returns, on oath, monthly, to the inspectors, an account of the moneys
received and expended, in the form prescribed by law; he annually closes his ac
counts on the last day of October, and on or before the 1st of December thereafter,
renders to the comptroller a full and true account, with vouchers and inventory of
stock on hand, exhibiting a complete detail of the transactions ofthe prison for the
year, to be audited by the comptroller and laid before the legislature; and to the
inspectors, a report, exhibiting a comprehensive view, of such transactions; of the
number of convicts confined; the various branches of business in which they are
employed; the number employed in each; and the profits to the state. And he is
required to use his besl endeavours to defray all the expenses of the prisons by
the labour of the prisoners. He annually, on or before the 1st Tuesday of Feb
ruary, makes a report to the secretary of state, of the names of convicts pardoned
or discharged the preceding year; the counties in which they were tried; the crimes
for which they were convicted; the terms for which they were severally committed;
the ages and descriptions of their persons; and in cases of pardon, the term unex
pired of the time for which they were respectively sentenced; when, and the con
ditions upon which, such pardons were granted.
The deputy keeper supplies the place of the agent in his absence, or when the
office is vacant.
The physician keeps a register ofthe sick convicts, their diseases, &c.
The compensation per annum, to the agent of Mount Pleasant prison is $1,750,
and of the Auburn prison $1,250; to the clerk of the former $800, of the latter
$600; to the deputy keeper of the first not exceeding $1000, and the assistant
keepers upon an average not exceeding $550; to the deputy keeper of the second
$650, and the assistant keepers $450; to the chaplain of each prison $500, and a
room or office; and to the physician not exceeding $500.
Treatment and Conduct of Prisoners.
4. All the convicts, not confined in solitude for misconduct in the prison, are
kept constantly at hard labour during the day, when not incapacitated by sickness
or infirmity; and during the night, and when unemployed, are confined in separate
cells. Their clothing and bedding are of coarse materials, manufactured as far
as practicable within the prison, and their food sufficient in quantity and whole
some, is inferior in quality.* Each convict who can read, is supplied at the ex
pense of the state, with a bible. No letter may be taken to or from him, without
consent of the agent, under penalty of misdemeanour.
The agents take charge of any property the eonvict may have on entering the
urison, and if it be worth $10, and not demanded by any trustee of his estate, place
t at interest for his use; and when the convict is discharged, they furnish him with
necessary clothing not exceeding ten dollars in value, and a sum of money not
exceeding three dollars.
The governor, lt. governor, members of the legislature, chancellor, judges of the
supreme court, attorney general, circuit judges, district attorneys, and ministers of
the gospel, who have charge of a congregation in the town wherein is the prison,
visit the prisons at pleasure; hut none others are admitted within the walls where
the convicts are confined, unless by special permission of the agent, or under regu
lations prescribed by the inspectors.!
* Ten oz. of pork or 16 oz. of beef; 16 ounces of wheat flour, the wheat ground fine and
not bolted; 12 oz. sifted Indian corn meal; half gill molasses — a ration.
And 4 quarts of clean rye; 4 do. salt; 2 do. vinegar; two and a half oz. of pepper; two
and a half bushels potatoes — for each 100 rations.
Salt pork and beef are furnished alternately, each three days, and fresh beef one day in
each week, all the articles of good quality, and the pork and beef such as will pass inspec
tion as prime.
t At Auburn admission has been readily granted to every visiter paying 25 cents. The
aggregate fees amounted in 1834 to $1,859 59; so that 7,440 persons must have visited that
prison during the year. There is no item of this kind in the accounts of the Sing Sing pri-
™iaQ(' admission has not heretofore been freely granted; but in future the doors will pro
bably be more frequently patent, pursuant to the views expressed by a committee of the
legislature in 1835.

PENITENTIARIES. 311
The male convicts sentenced in the first, second and third senate districts to the
State prison, are confined at Mount Pleasant; and in the other districts at Auburn;
but this arrangement is subject to modification by the governor, when the state of
either prison may render it convenient to transport convicts within its district to
the other.
Females sentenced to a state prison in the first, second and third senate districts
were confined in the' prison at NewYork, under contract between the inspectors of
Mount Pleasant prison and the corporation of the city. But in 1835, authority was
given to the agents of the respective state prisons to erect buildings for female
convicts^ and to the inspectors to appoint matrons and assistants, for their manage
ment.
i If a convict become insane in a state prison, he is placed in the lunatic asylum
at New York. If he die under sentence, his body, unless demanded in 24 honrs
after death by his relatives, may be delivered to the agent ofthe designated medi
cal college. Due provision is made for the removal and care of prisoners in case
of pestilence or fire in the prison.
The assistant keepers preserve proper discipline among the convicts, and may
punish them at discretion, in such manner, and subject to such regulation as may
be directed by the board of inspectors; but no female convict may be punished by
whipping; and each keeper, as soon as the next day after inflicting punishment,
leaves with the agent or deputy keeper a written memorandum, stating the offence
and the extent of the punishment.
No mechanical trade is hereafter to be taught in the prisons, except the making
of those articles of which the chief supply for the consumption ofthe country is
imported from foreign countries; and in all those branches of business of which
the consumption of the country is chiefly supplied without foreign importation, the
number of convicts to be employed or let, is limited to the number who had learned
a trade before coming to prison. The inspectors and agents were required by
the act of 1835, to avail themselves of every opportunity to conform the contracts
to these principles.
These provisions have grown out of the clamour of mechanics against the,intro-
duction of convicts into their respective trades, and the interference with the mar
ket by the prison manufactures.
The inspectors are required to cause the manufacture of silk goods from cocoons,
to be carried on in the prisons so soon as it can conveniently be done, and for that
purpose to purchase the cocoons raised in the country, as well as the raw material
imported; and to plant so much of the state farm at Sing Sing as they may think
proper,with the white and other mulberry, to be gratuitously distributed, or sold at
moderate prices, for the purpose of promoting the culture of silk.
The county and state prisons of the state are used as prisons by the United
States; each for its appropriate purpose; the general government paying the ex
pense of the prisoners.
5. Condition ofthe state prisons January 1835, showing the numherand modes
of employment of the prisoners.
TABLE showing the number employed by contract, the prices of each per day, and the
prices per each piece.
AUBURN.
Price per day. No. Tot.
Cotton weave shop, 50 cts. 1 Tailors' .shop, per piece, great coats
25 37 $2 25; box coats $2; coats $1 75;
15 8 — 46 pantaloons 50 cts.; vests 50 cts. 41
Tool shop, - - 30 68 Shoe shop, per piece, fine boots $2;
25 1  39 fine shoes 621 cents; coarse boots
Machine shop, - 40 25 75 cts.; stoga fine boots $1; coarse
30 21 — 46 shoes 37|cts.; women's shoes 37J
Comp. shop, - - 32 43 cents; lace boots 75 cts.; misses
25 1 — 44 shoes 31£ cts.; cacks 18J cts. ,41
Coverlet weave shop, 30 23 To work for State.
25 3 Cotton weavers, - - - . 8
15 io — 36 Tailors,  6

312

POLITICAL VIEW.

Cabinet shop,

Hame shop, -

Coopers' shop,

Clock shop, -
Burr mill stones,
Hair pickers, -

Price per day. No.

50 35
25 m
50^ 30
2550 30
28 121
32'
25 371

Tot. To work for State.
Machinists, -
Comb makers, - - -
Shoemakers, -
Coopers, - -
Cooks, washers, and waiters,
Hospital, - - - -
n the wings, -
north yard, -

1
47 9 1—58
5
39 2—46 16
50 4—61
24 1—25
4— 4
2"ctspr. lb. 2

MOUNT PLEASANT.

Attendants :
Do.
Females, -

7 1
10 2
30 6
12
5127
649

On Contract, and at work for Sale.
In Coopers' shop, - - 151
Stone shops, - - - 122
Marble finishing shop, - - 23
Cane seating shop, 24
Boot andshoe shop - - 64
Copper nailed boot shop, 87
Blacksmith and lock shop, - 37
Lock shop, making locks, 26
Forgers, drillers and moulders, 7
Hatters' shop, ...
Brass saddlery shop, - -
Quarries, - -
Repairing trucks, &c.
Total,

33 19
44
56

668

Unemployed, or at work for Stale.
Labourers in front yard,
Tailors and shoemakers, (at work
for state,) -
Masons, barrow-men, stone cutters,
and labourers, at prison buildings
Carpenters at do.
Sick in hospital, ...
Waiters and invalids in prison halls
Cooks, bakers, and washers in kit
chen, . - - - -
In blacksmith's shop, repairing' tools
&c. ----- -
Weavers and spoolers, &c., in hat
shop, - - . -
Invalids in same shop,
Labourers in coopers' yard, -
Ox drivers, - - - - -

- 20

25 4
17
16

17

- 16 5
9
17 3
175
668

Total,

843

We have given above a full outline of the legal provisions for the establishment
of the vindicatory and penitentiary system of the state; but this subject, in every
regard, merits a full exposition; alike interesting to the citizen of the state,
whose rights of person and property are affected by the system, and to the inha
bitants of other states and countries, who have viewed, and in many instances
adopted it, as the best remedy which philosophical legislation has yet applied to
remedy the greatest disorders of society.
We shall treat the subject under the following divisions: 1. Its origin and pro
gress. 2. Description of the prisons. 3. Internal police. 4. Results.
1. The philanthropical labours of Howard, about the year 1776, turned the at
tention of many considerate and humane persons in Europe and America, to the
condition of the public prisons; induced earnest inquiries into the abuses attend
ant upon them, and to the vast injury which the mode of their administration
inflicted upon society. It was every where seen, that prisons, instead of being a
remedy for moral evil, were in truth sources of moral pollution, spreading a cor
rupting influence over every country. The great vice of the system of prison dis
cipline, if system there were, was the indiscriminate congregation of the prisoners
for whatever cause committed, and the idleness which attended their confinement.
The first efforts for reform in the American prisons, are justly ascribed to the

PENITENTIARIES.

313

" Friends" of Pennsylvania. The founder of the state seems to have had a clear
view of the benefits of a mild criminal code, and of the punishment by hard labour.
In 1786, the " Friends" procured, in that state, the abolition of the punishment
of death for all offences save premeditated murder; and, by continued efforts, in
1794, established a system of imprisonment with labour, for the punishment of all
inferior offences, combining, to a certain extent, severity and certainty with hu
manity; and a classification of the prisoners in such a manner, as to stay some
what the progress of the corruption of the convict, and afford him an opportunity
for reformation. For some years their labours were crowned with beneficial re
sults. The monstrous immoralities of the prison were removed, giving place to
comparative order and decorum; the average quantity of crime seemed to decrease;
and the system, much lauded, was copied by other communities, among which
New York was enrolled in 1797.
But there lay in the system a radical defect. The means for classification were
inadequate, and the idea of improvement from classification was unsound. Crimi
nals, no matter what their grade in crime, by association always corrupt each
other. The prison, instead of a penitentiary or house of reform, was an efficient
school of vice; and the number of convicts became much greater than before, in
proportion to the population. This was properly ascribed to the communi
cation between the convicts, during their work; at their meals; and in the
perilous interval, between the conclusion of .their labour in the evening, and the
resumption of it in the morning. Solitary confinement was a part of the system;
but used more as a mean of severe punishment than as an appliance for the regu
lation of discipline, and the production of reform. It was not connected wjth la
bour, and was generally inflicted by the sentence of the court on the more heinous
criminals, or for the purpose of compelling obedience to the rules of the prison.
The defect was supposed to exist in the administration, and not in the theory of
the system. Modifications of the former, particularly with the view to improve
classification, were continually attempted. In this view, the prison of Auburn was
founded in 1816; but Ihe original plan still comprehended the congregation of
many prisoners in one room, and part of the prison was constructed to that end.
In 1819, however, clearer and more correct, but still imperfect views, were en
tertained, and cells were erected, each admitting one prisoner only. In 1821,
the northern wing having been nearly completed, 80 prisoners were placed there
in; but as the confinement was without labour, it proved destructive to the prison
er, physically and morally; his health was undermined, and his reason unsettled.
The system was abandoned, whilst the pardoning power was freely employed to
empty the cells. The friends of prison reform were afflicted, and apprehended
failure in their designs; which in Pennsylvania had already induced the com
mencement of the Pittsburg and Cherry-Hill penitentiaries upon the plan of soli
tary confinement.
But, happily, at this period, (1823,) a modification in the discipline of Auburn
prison was adopted — by whom introduced is disputed, but generally ascribed to
Mr. Elam Lynds. The prisoners were confined in solitary cells during the night,
but employed in the common workshops during the day, and compelled to abso
lute silence. This has received the name of the " Auburn system." Itisanalo-
gous to that which had long prevailed in the penitentiary at Ghent, called the
Maison de Force, and which probably was the model for Auburn. This system
was found in action in 1824, when Messrs. Allen, Hopkins, and Tibbetts, a com
mittee from rhe legislature, visited the prison. Their report induced the legis
lature to adopt and extend it.
As the prison at Auburn was insufficient for all the prisoners under the criminal
laws, the legislature, in 1825, provided for the erection of another at Sing Sing.
The execution of this work was intrusted to Mr. Lynds, tho superintendent of Au
burn, who taking with him one hundred convicts accustomed to obey him led
them to the spot, encamped on the bank of the Hudson, without a place to receive
or walls to secure, his dangerous companions. He made of every one a mason'
carpenter, or other useful labourer— ^vith no other power than the firmness of his
character and the energy of his will — and thus for several years, the convicts
whose number was gradually increasing, were engaged in building their own
prison. The Auburn prison, with its wings and workshops, is inclosed by a wall 500
40

314 POLITICAL VIEW.
feet on each side. The front of the prison, including the keeper's dwelling, is
about 300 feet, and the two wings, extending west, are about 240 feet, each. The
north wing contains solitary cells, and a hospital; and the south wing is divided
principally into cells. Between the wings is an area, with grass and gravelled
walks, to the west of which is the interior yard, with reservoirs of water, and sur
rounded with workshops. These shops form a range of near 1000 feet, well
lighted from the sides and roof. The outer walls, against which they are built,
are 35 feet high, 4 feet thick, and the walls of the prison are 3 feet thick. The
cost of erection, exclusive ofthe labour ofthe convicts, was about $300,000. The
prison being on the bank ofthe Owasco creek, water power is advantageously ap
plied to machinery within the walls.
The building contained originally 550 cells. More, we believe, have lately been
added. They are principally distributed into four tiers or stories, and constructed
on each side ofthe block or wing. The cells are each 7 feet long, 7 feet high, and
3Jr wide. They are sufficiently lighted, well warmed, and ventilated. The area
between the cells and the parallel walls, 10 feet wide, is open from the ground to
the roof; and of this interval, three feet adjoining the cells are occupied by the
galleries. This space in front of the cells forms a complete sounding gallery, so
that the watchman in the open area on the ground can hear even a whisper, from a
distant cell in the upper story.
Such are the provisions and precautions for the separate confinement of the pri
soners at night. ¦ In the day time, they are compelled to labour together, in an or
derly and penitential manner. Soon after daylight, on a signal given by tbe pri
son bell, the turnkey unlocks the doors of the cells, when the convicts, each with
his night tub, water can, and mush kid, march out; and having disposed of these
articles, according to the order of the prison, proceed to the workshops, where
they commence the labour ofthe day. At a fixed hour another bell is rung, when
they form again in line, and march in silence, with closed files, to the mess room,
where they breakfast at narrow tables, so arranged that they are unable to ex
change even looks or signs. After an interval of 20 to 30'minutes, they return in
the same manner to the workshops. At 12 o'clock, they dine under the sarne care
to prevent intercourse. On the approach of night, they wash their faces and hands,
and"»t the ringing of the bell form a line, according to the number of their cells,
march out of the shops to their tubs, and at the word of command take them up,
step forward and empty into the drain the water which had been placed in them in
the morning lo purify them. They then proceed, with closed files, the tubs hang
ing on their arms, to the wash room, adjoining the kitchen, where their mush and
molasses in a kid, and water in a can for drinking, have been placed together, in
,rows, by the cooks; and, without breaking their step, they stoop and take up the
can and kid, march to their respective galleries, enter their cells as they arrive at
them, and pull the doors partly shut. Each gallery is occupied by one company,
which is marched and locked up by one turnkey, with two keys, differing from
each other, and from all the rest. The convicts then eat supper in their respective
cells. At an early hour they are required, by the ringing of a bell, to take off
their clothes and go to bed, upon their canvass hammocks; when well they are
not permitted to lie down before the bell rings, nor to get up again, but from ne
cessity, until the ringing ofthe morning bell. During the night, turnkeys are con
stantly moving round the galleries, wearing woollen socks on their feet, and
walking so noiselessly that the convicts are not able to discover their presence or
absence; and thus the whole wing, containing several hundred convicts, is pre
served in perfect stillness and order. It is obvious, that no communication can
take place between the convicts -at night, without the connivance or negligence of
the turnkeys, which is guarded against by the visits of the keeper and his depu
ties, at different hours.
For several years after the erection of this prison, the agent purchased the
raw materials, caused them to be manufactured in the prison, and sold from the
prison stores, on account of the state. Very serious losses resulted from this sys
tem, and it was changed for the plan of hiring by contract now pursued. The
contractors furnish the materials, pay a fixed sum per diem for the labour of the
convicts, and dispose ofthe articles manufactured on their own account. They are
allowed at all times to visit the shops, but never to speak to the convicts. Each shop
is superintended by at least one turnkey, who, master of the business pursued in it,

PENITENTIARIES.

315

instructs new convicts, and compels the old to do their best work. The contractors
give their instruction through the turnkeys, with some exceptions. The convicts are
forbidden to speak to each other under severe penalties, and they pursue their labour
with downcast eyes, in a humble and penitential manner. In all the shops
they are so managed, a3 far as possible, as not to face each other; and all neces- .
sary communication on the subject of their work is performed through the medium
of the superintendents.
The discipline of the prison is enforced by stripes, inflicted by the assistant
keepers upon the back of the prisoners, in such manner as to produce personal
suffering in the delinqneut, without danger to the. health or any vital part.
The prisoner is not only subject to the open supervision of the keepers, but to a
secret one; whether incessant or intermittent he knows not. A private gallery
runs round each workshop, with small apertures, through which the inspector can
observe the interior, himself unseen. Thus the assistant keeper and the convicts
are under perpetual surveillance; and the knowledge that an observant eye may be
ever resting upon them, has the like effect as if in truth it were never removed.
The Mount Pleasant prison is on the east side, and near the north extremity, of
Tappan sea, on the Hudson river. It consists of a main building of 50 feet by 500;
with wings running westerly about 300 feet, forming a spacious inner yard, open
only to the river, and other structures for workshops. These buildings are chiefly
of marble, quarried from the farm belonging to the state, and contain 1000 cells,
a chapel, keeper's dwelling, &c. The cost was about $200,000, exclusive of the
labour ofthe prisoners.
In describing the day of the Auburn prison, we have told that of Sing Sing, so
far as a change does not arise from a difference in the nature of the labour of the
convicts, many of whom are employed in the marble quarries at the latter. At
Mount Pleasant, however, no meal is social; the prisoners are all marched to their
cells to eat their food.
Religious instruction is constantly and regularly given by the chaplain, whose
confidential communion with the prisoners makes him their friend and their so
lace — his influence procures for them such favours as are admissible, and always
redress, if they be abused by the keepers. His residence in the prison gives him
every opportunity of exercising his functions with effect. Sunday schools are in
stituted in the prisons, in which the students in the Theological Seminary at Au
burn, and other pious citizens, assist; and'which at Sing Sing are superintend
ed by charitable inhabitants of the vicinage. The younger portion of the convicts
almost always illiterate, are thus taught to read, to write, and to cast accounts —
and, when returned to society, are better qualified to maintain and enjoy them
selves, than when imprisoned.
7. We have now before us the Auburn system of prison discipline. To judge
of its efficacy we must ask ourselves — what in any such system is to be desired 
and then seek how far the results of this conform to our views. *The first and
great object of all punishment is to deter from guilt — not only the convict, but all
others. Absolutely to effect this, is hopeless; but in our efforts we would admi
nister such severity as should be dreaded by the tempted — in such way as does
not shock the public sense — and in such manner as hot to add, in the expense of
maintaining the convict, a new infliction upon society.
There are two modes to deter from crime. First, education, including moral habi
tude. This is above, and extraneous from, the criminal law, but is most obligatory
upon every government to provide. The second is, by so punishing offenders, that
those disposed, may fear, to offend; and those who have once offended, may dread
a repetition of their offence. This is the proper object of all rational legal provi
sion; to which, a third mode, the reformation or regeneration of the offender, may
be incident.
Instructed by experience, society revolts from cruel corporal punishments, such
as the taking away life, mutilation, stripes, infamous exposure, &c, and has re
stricted itself in the greater number of crimes, to the application of imprisonment
at hard labour, for terms of time proportionate to the enormity of the offence. In
the application of this mode of punishment, it is averred that the Auburn system
has been eminently successful.
The convict is separated from all association which can increase his corruption.
One half of his time is spent in total isolation; and during the remainder, he min-

316 POLITICAL VIEW.
gres with his fellows, only as an animated statue, having physical powers directed
by others to given ends, but altogether without moral association. This total ab
sence of moral intercourse is, by the advocates for solitary confinement with soli
tary labour, denied to exist, and to be impossible; whilst it is asserted, by those
familiar with the Auburn system, not only to be practicable, but to have been fully
attained. That it has been attained for the purpose of prison discipline, and of
rendering the imprisonment more dreadful to the convict and to all disposed to of
fend, is not to be doubted. The great object, therefore, of making punishment an
obstacle to crime, has been accomplished by the Auburn system. But it is' again
allegedly the opponents of the system, that if this end have been attained, the
means, consisting of the unrestricted and irresponsible use of the whip, and expo
sure to his fellow convicts, are unwarrantable, and so degrade the convict, that,
his absolute reformation is rendered impossible, and he is not deterred from re
entering, when free, upon a course of crime.
These are objections which may not be easily wholly removed. But they have
been so much lessened, that it may well be doubted, until absolute refurmatiwi be
established as more than possible, as a highly probable result of any prison disci
pline, whether the benefits admitted to flow from the system do not greatly pre
ponderate over these evils. We correct with the scourge the breach of discipline in
our families, in our schools, in the navy, and it therefore seems fastidious to object
to its use in our prisons for a like cause. And we are oblivious of the moral state
of the ordinary criminal, when we suppose him degraded, in his own, estimation,
by the lash. In the commission of crime he has sunk below the state where such
a feeling exists, and has willingly and voluntarily subjected himself to its inflic
tion. The objection to the use of the whip applied more forcibly, when the assistant
keeper had no responsibility for its abuse. He might employ it cruelly and with
out detection. But the aet of 1835 has corrected this fault in the system, and the
report required of every flagellation, subjects his conduct to constant inquiry. It
is to be remarked, however, that, in truth, there is not much occasion to resort
to the lash. The dread of its infliction renders its frequent use unnecessary, by
producing, absolutely, the object for which it is designed.
The convict, however, is known to his associates. When he and they have
been returned to society, the acquaintance may be challenged, and the opportunity
for evil communication afforded. This is unquestionably an evil of much magni
tude, and if it be not compensated by the system must weigh heavily against it.
This compensation is said to be found in the formation of habits in the convict,
which influence his moral conduct after his return to society.
" The necessity of labour, which overcomes his disposition to idleness; the obli
gation of silence, which makes him reflect; the isolation, which places him alone
in the presence of his crime and his suffering; the religious instruction, which en.
lightens and comforts him; the obedience of every moment to inflexible rules; the
regularity of a uniform life; in a word, all the circumstances belonging to this se
vere system are calculated to produce a deep impression on his mind."
" Perhaps, leaving the prison, he is not an honest man; but he has contracted
honest habits. He was an idler; now he knows how to work. His ignorance
prevented his pursuing a useful occupation; now he knows how to read and to
write; and the trade he has learned in prison, furnishes him with means of exist
ence which he formerly had not; without loving virtue, he may detest the crime of
which he has suffered the cruel consequences; and if he is not more virtuous, he
has become at least more judicious; his morality is not honour, but interest; his
religious faith is perhaps neither lively nor deep, but even supposing religion has
not touched his heart, his mind has contracted habits of order, and he possesses
rules for his conduct in life; without having a powerful religious conviction, he
has acquired a taste for moral principles which religion affords; finally, if he has
not become in truth better, he is at least more obedient to the laws, and that is all
which society has a right to demand;" and, we may add, is all, society can rea
sonably hope from any vindication of the laws.
All this, and much more, is claimed as the effect of the system, by the highly
respectable and zealous resident chaplain of the Auburn prison, sustained by proofs
which merit the highest consideration. The result of much labour to ascertain
the condition of discharged convicts, is, that of 288 individuals discharged, 154
were decidedly reformed; 45 very much' improved; 39 somewhat improved, and

PENITENTIARIES.

317

50 unreformed. Of 449 individuals discharged, there were unreformed, 78;
deranged, 3; somewhat improved, 63; much improved, 76; decidedly reformed,
229. -
Still, among many intelligent men, there is much skepticism as to the extent and
permanence of reformation; yet all concede, that more, much more, has been done
in the prevention of crime, by this system, than by any which has preceded it.
Whether it may not be excelled by that adopted by Pennsylvania, where the im
prisonment is wholly solitary, and labour and instruction are given and gratefully
received as favours, is yet to be demonstrated. There, the principle of solitary
confinement, with labour and instruction, is fully developed; punishment by stripes
is not used; and the friends of that system are entirely convinced of its practica-,
bility, and of its superiority over every other.
From the vagrant nature of the criminals, and the ease with which they conceal
their former condition, it is utterly impracticable to determine upon the propor
tion of reconvictions. All that can be known, with any thing like certainty, is,
how often the same individual has been sentenced to the same prison. Taking
this very unsatisfactory view of the subject, it appears, that, from 1803 to 1820, the
proportion of recommittals in the state, was 1 of 9; and from 1824 to 1831, one
only of 19, at Auburn; but the subsequent years show a proportion less favourable
to improvement.
Thus, in 1834, out of 778 convicts, in Sing Sing prison, 55, or nearly one for
every fifteen, had before been in the prison; and at Auburn, in the same year, out
of 747 convicts, 73 had been reconvicted, nearly 1 in 10.
The following table, showing the effect of education and habits upon crime, is
an interesting document, lt relates to the convicts in the Auburn prison in 1835.

a > _ -3 . o CRIMES. Murder. ~~Ma.nslaugh.ter. Assault and
tattery
to
kill. Rape. A. and
B. to rape. A. and
B. to maim.

Perjury. Rettery. Arson. Forgery. Passing
Counterfeit money. Burglary. Incest. Sodomy.

Cq O

8

«q

Total.

Of collegiate education,
Of academical do.
Of common do. 16 8 14
Without any, [could not read the bible,], 4 12 9 4

3 3
5 5 2 44 22 26 3 1
6 3 6 31 24 42 1 2
4 6 6 3 10 28 1

15
1 77
1 119
1 71

14
4340

1
54

48
221 311
203

Total, 4 15 32 13 12 1

15 14,14 84 56 96 5 3
6 7 4 23 9 40 3 2
6 4| 7 25 27 31 2 1

3 273

9745 31

10 7 3

747

HADITS.
Excessively intemperate, 3 10 17 6 8 1
Moderately intemperate, - 1 511 6 4

96
2 108

287 274

Intemperate, • ¦ 4 15 28 12 12 1
Temperate drinkers - 4 1
Total abstinents, - - -

12 11 11 48 36 71| 5 3
3 3 3 35 20 21
1 1 *\

2 204 76
1 65 21
4|

10

561 177
1 9
i 747

Total, - - - 4 15 32 13 12 1

15 14 14 84 56 961 5 3

3 273197

10

Under the influence of ardent spirits at the
time of committing their crimes, - 448
Had intemperate parents or guardians, - 283
Left their parents or were left orphans, un
der the age of sixteen,
Had attended Sunday school previous to
conviction, - 
Had been habitual daily readers of the Bible
Had committed the Decalogue to memory,
Had been strict observers of the Sabbath.

248

27

12

Married, Lost wives by death previous to con
viction, - 31
Left wives previous to conviction, 90

Living with wives when convicted,
Unmarried, 
" Lost or left wives, -

Living without wives when convicted, - 479

192

123

155
123

Number of children of the married,
The number in prison on second conviction:, 68.
«• third " 5.

1046

As a desirable concomitant of criminal punishment, we have stated, that it
should he administered in such a manner as not to increase the burden which the

318 POLITICAL VIEW.
criminal imposes on society. In other words, it should be a prominent feature of the
system, that the prisoner maintain himself. This has been fully accomplished by
the Auburn system. The returns from the prisons for two years present the fol
lowing results. Auburn. 1833. 1834.
Receipts, .... $49,66550, $47,72347
Expenditures, - - - 41,040 45 42,228 M

Gain

8,625 25
Mount Pleasant.

5,494 53

Receipts, Expenditures,

$67,548 65
67,262 74

$76,990 84
55,593 85

Gain .... 285 91 21,396 99
Add for buildings, - - 2,969 35
Total gain, - - - 3,255 26
Previous to the year 1830, the balance was annually against the Auburn pri
son. In 1830, it was in its favour, $25 37. In 1831, $1,803 84. In 1832,
$3,528 16. Prior to the year 1833, the balance was annually, from 1828, against
Mount Pleasant prison; but it must be observed, that in all these accounts, no al
lowance is made for the labour of the prisoners in the construction of the prisons.
The reports for 1835 were not received when this work went to press; but we
understand they show results not less favourable; so that it may now be consider
ed, that the state prisons are no longer a burden on the public treasury; and that,
in regard to cost, the Auburn system is decidedly more advantageous than any
other. A like result has been produced, or is approximated, wherever-this sys
tem has been established; and it has been adopted in Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Tennessee, .Kentucky, Mis
souri, Illinois, and Ohio, in Upper and Lower Canada — in the state prisons, and
also in many city and county jails.
The cost of maintaining prisoners may be stated as follows: —
Auburn. Sing Sing.
Average of 7 years.
Total expense of each prisoner, per day, 17 cts. 1.6 mills 16 cts. 3.3 mills
Food alone of each prisoner, do. 3 " 3.6 " 6 "
Expense of guarding, do. 6 " 1.7 " 6 " 8.3 "
Expense of food, clothing, and bedding, 5 " 7.6 " 8" 0.7' "
During the seven years which elapsed, from 1825 to 1831, each prisoner cost,
on an average, per year, $63 76.6 The most a prisoner has cost, per year, is $76
77. The least, $53 50 cents, 8 mills. These statements are taken from Messrs,
Beaumont and De Toqueville's Report.
The annual expense of maintaining prisoners in New York, is greater than at
Wethersfield or Baltimore.
We are called upon to observe, that, even in New York, the benefits flowing
from the Auburn system, from solitary confinement, labour and instruction, have
not yetrbeen introduced into the county prisons generally. It prevails, however,
in the city prison at Blackwell's Island. The cost of buildings for the put-
pose has been, probably, one cause of delay ; but if it effect reform, as it is said,
it would be economical to reconstruct every county prison, and adapt it to the
system; and certainly this object should invariably be kept in view in all new erec
tions. The state prisons do not contain more than one-half of the persons yearly
convicted; and in the present condition of the county prisons, half the annual ac
cumulation of moral corruption is suffered to remain without attempt at purification.
The county prisons still possess the evils which pertain to the old system of
indiscriminate association.

PENITENTIARIES. 319
In the city and county of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania system is adopted in
the county prison, and in the house of detention. Persons committed for trial
there, no longer associate; each has his separate apartment; and he who tempted by
passion to a single breach of the peace, is no longer compelled to associate with
felons, Nor do felons mingle with, and corrupt each other. In the city of New
York, the plan of isolation for all persons committed for detention only, is also
about to be adopted in the hall of justice, and house of detention, now being
erected. It would be a great advantage to statistical science, if the legislature would re
quire a return from every county prison, annually, of the committal for every
cause — with the causes, the convictions, pardons, deaths, &c. — to be made to the
secretary of state; and direct a digested abstract to be presented to the assem
bly. Such an abstract would furnish valuable materals for legislation.
8. The following memoranda, relative to the crimes and the' penitentiary sys
tem, in this state, have deep interest for all.
The health of the state prisoners is full equal to that of general society*. The
steady labour and temperate diet of the convicts, are most salutary; and, among
the same number of persons, there will be nowhere seen more healthy ones. The
female convicts, however, do, not come within this remark; their confinement, for
want of proper buildings, is more strict, and their employments more sedentary,
than of the men.
The power of pardoning is exercised with great freedom, and mostly in favour
of those convicts who have been sentenced to the severest punishments, and are
therefore to be deemed the most hardened offenders.
From 1822 to 1831, nine years, 477 convicts were pardoned, averaging 53 per
annum. In 1833, the number" was 107. In 1834, 102, of which the proportion
was but little different in either prison. It would seem, therefore, that the num
ber of pardons does not diminish; and that one of the great remedial qualities of
punishment, certainty, is not attained.
We have no means of ascertaining, at present, the number of convictions in the
state, including those persons sentenced to county prisons. The return for 1830
has been given at 982. The number from that period, it is presumed, has not in
creased, since the number in the state prisons has diminished. In 1830, the
number sentenced -to the state prisons was 461, and in 1834 but 407; and it
might be inferred that crime was really diminished. On the 1st of January, 1835,
there were in the state prisons, 1492 convicts — 843 at Sing Sing, and 640 at Au
burn — and the proportion and aggregate were much the same in the preceding
year! The following statement shows the character of the offences in the state.
From 1800 to 1830, there were,
Convicted for crimes against property, ... 93.56 out of 100.
do. do. persons, ... 6.26 do.
do. do. morals, ... 2.78 do.
do. do. forgery, ... 13.28 do.
From 1830 to the present period, the variation in the proportion has been incon
siderable; but, contrary to the usual effect of progressive civilisation, it would
seem that crimes against the person increase. Thus,
From 1800 to 1810, From 1820 to 1830,
There were convicted for crimes —
Against property, - - 96.45 90.12 in 100.
do. persons, - - 3.54 9.37 do.
do. morals, - - .87 5.06 do.
do. forgery, - - 8.88 16.76 do.
The inference would seem to be, that the temptation to crime from want, or the
desire of gain, diminishes; whilst those caused by the other passions increase.
The proportion of women in our prisons, to that of the men, is about 3, to the
100, and this proportitin has been long maintained.
From 1827 to 1832, there have been 1 native, for every 8,600 inhabitants, an
nually sentenced — 1 foreigner, from 1800 to 1805, to 2.43 prisoners; and from

320 POLITICAL VIEW.
1825 to 1830, 1 to 4.77 prisoners. The proportion of native convicts must conti
nue, necessarily, to increase with the increase of population — since the proportion
of foreigners must continue to decrease. For every 100 convicts, it is estimated
that there-are 14 foreigners — 51 natives of the state — and 35 native Americans,
not born in the state. In the large cities, the proportion of strangers convicted is
always much greater than in the country.
The convicts under 20 years of age, are as 1 to 10 — between the ages of 20 and
30, as 1 to 2 — between 30 and 40, as 1 to 5 — between 40 and 50, as 1 to 9 — and
between 50 and 60, as 1 to 25.
We give the number of convictions, in proportion to population, in several Eu
ropean countries, to enable the reader the better to form an idea of the extent of
crimes in this. In Scotland, the proportion is as 1 to 9,649 — in England, as 1 to
1000 — in France, of the greater crimes noticed at the assizes, 1 to 6,500; of
the smaller offences, cognisable by the correctional and local police, as 1 to 1000
— in Prussia, about 1 to 750 — In Spain, 1 to 900. Taking the number of convic
tions, by all the criminal courts in New York, at 1000 per annum, and the popula-
lation at 2,000,000, we have the proportion of 1 to 2,000. The proportion of con
victs, however, would be much increased, if we include those sentenced by the
police magistrates for vagrancy, &c.
The comparison of the number of convicts sentenced to the state prison, between
equal periods, shows that crime, generally, is on the decrease. Thus, from 1800
to 1810, the convictions in the state, was 1 to every 4,465 inhabitants — from 1810
to 1820, 1 to every 4,858— and from 1820 to 1830, 1 for every 5,532 inhabitants.
HOUSE OF REFUGE.
9. Whatever difference of opinion may prevail, in relation to the reform of
adult criminals, hardened by long practice in guilt, there will be none in regard
to the practicability of averting juvenile offenders from a course of depravity into
which they are commonly led by ignorance and the arts of the aged; or tempted
by false allurements or driven by want. The possibility of training up the child
in the way he should go, seemed so obvious, that it must ever be a matter of sur
prise, that the idea of attempting it by some efficient mean with destitute children,
had not long since been promulged and acted upon, with the view of rescuing
them from the prisons, which had become, and were universally acknowledged to
be, the schools of crime.
Although some attention was given to this subject by benevolent individuals in
Germany and England, so early as 1813, no plan similar to that which has been
adopted in this state was matured; and New York has the additional merit
of founding the first house of refuge for juvenile delinquents; blending the action
of private beneficence with the administration of the penal law. This institution
originated in the year 1823, with the " Society for the prevention of pauperism in
the city of New York." An able report of that society, upon the penitentiary sys
tem of the United States, contained the plan little different from that which was
subsequently matured.
The " Society for the reformation of Juvenile delinquents," soon afterwards
formed, was incorporated 29th March, 1824. An appeal was made by the ma
nagers to the justice and charity of their fellow citizens, and the sum of $15,000
was promptly raised by private contribution, and was increased, from time to
time, to nearly double that amount. The corporation of the city granted to them
the lot on which the asylum has been erected, and the government of the United
States, which occupied it for an arsenal, relinquished it for a moderate compen
sation j
The act of 1824 incorporated the. subscribers to the association and directed
that it should be conducted by 30 managers, to be elected by a plurality of the
subscribers, yearly, and that vacations in the management should be filled by the
board; and empowered the managers to receive into their house all such children
taken up or committed as vagrants, or convicted of criminal offences in the city,
as may, in the judgment of the courts, or of the jury before whom tried, or the po
lice magistrates, or the commissioners of the alms house or Bridewell, be proper
objects; and to place such children, during their minority, at such employments,
and to cause them to be instructed in such branches of useful knowledge as should be

PENITENTIARIES. 321
suitable to their years and capacity: To bind them out, with their consent, as
apprentices or servants during such minority, to such persons, and at such places
to learn such proper trades and employments, as in their judgment would be'most
for the reformation and amendment, and. the future benefit and advantage of such
children; restricting such power, however, in the case of females, to those
within the age of eighteen years. This power supersedes that of the parent or
guardian, who had proved himself inapt or unable to regulate the conduct of the
child. No term of confinement is prescribed. It continues during the minority of
the child, because it is designed, not as the mean of punishment, but of reforma
tion and instruction; and thus, in the language of De Witt Clinton, " Houses of
refuge are tWfe best penitentiary establishments which have been conceived by the
genius of man^ and instituted by his benevolence."
The act of 9th April, 1825, appropriated from the public treasury to the society,
the sum of $2000 annually for five years. The act of 28th January, 1826, required
the managers to receive all children convicted of criminal offences in any city or
county of the state, who should be deemed by the courts before which they were
tried, to be proper objects, and appropriated certain surplus funds ofthe Marine
Hospital to their use. By the revised statutes it was provided, that when any per
son under the age of 16 years should be convicted of felony, the court, instead of
sentencing him to the state prison, should order that he be confined in the house
of refuge, unless there should not be, room for his reception. The act of 29th May,
1829, fixed the revenue from the funds of the Marine Hospital, at $8000 per an
num, and granted to the institution the. sum of $1' 50 additional excise upon every
license to taverns, grocers, &c, in the city of New York, with the sum of $500 for
eveTy license to a theatre, and $250 for each license to a circus, per annum, im
posed by the act. The act of 16th April, 1830, empowered the governor to direct
the agent of either of the state prisons, when the inspectors 9hould recommend it,
to convey to the house of refuge any convict under the age of 17 years. By an act of
21st April, 1831, the treasurer of the city of New York was required to pay to the
society, annually, from the moneys appropriated for the support ofthe poor, by the
act of 1824, the sum of $4000, in lieu of the excise imposed by the act of 1829;
and finally, the grant of $8000, payable from the marine fund, was confirmed; but
if the amount collected from passengers should be insufficient therefor, (after pay
ing the expense ofthe quarantine establishment,) then the balance to be paid an
nually from the state treasury.
Under these provisions the society has continued its very useful labours. Its
income now consists*" of the produce of the labour of the children $4000, the
amount from the marine fund $8000, license of four theatres $2000, amount from
the excise fund $4000, contributions about $3000=21,000. Besides the annual
contribution from the marine fund, the. institution has received from that source
$26,000, which have been expended on the--buildings.
The female department is under the charge of an experienced and judicious ma
tron, who is encouraged and supported by a committee of ladies belonging to the
society, whose endeavours to reclaim the erring and uninstructed beings confided
to their care, are rewarded with distinguished success. The females are employed
in the economical labours of the house, as cooking, washing, &c, a^d in making
their own garments and those of the boys.
The society have lately erected a house of refuge for coloured children, on a lot
adjacent to their other buildings, granted by the city, which has also given to it
$5000 in aid of this purpose. A donation of a like sum was made by the Manu
mission Society.
The number of children received from the opening of the house to the 1st of
January, 1835, was 1480; 1120 boys and 360 girls; and the number apprenticed
1140! The number in the house on the 1st of January, 1835, was 190 boys and
67girls=257. The funds and buildings of the institution are adequate to all calls upon them'
and the sphere ofthe society's ability is limited onlyby the disposition of the unfor
tunates for whom they have been raised, to employ it.
The government of the Refuge, as far as is deemed compatible with the peniten
tiary objects of the institution, is strictly paternal. On their first admission the
subjects are made acquainted with the rules of the house and the duties that will
be required of them. These are so clearly explained that none can plead ignorance
41 '

322

POLITICAL VIEW.

as an excuse for violation. They are informed that cheerful' and punctual obedi
ence to these duties will insure them kind treatment and all the benefits which the
institution and the interests of the managers can procure for them. But that pu
nishment, prompt and severe if necessary, will inevitably be the consequence of
disobedience. These engagements are strictly observed on the part of the super
intendent. Those who distinguish themselves by undeviating good conduct for a
certain length of time, are enrolled in the'class of honour, and wear the badge of
this class on the left arm. Certain privileges are granted to this class. From them
the night guards are chosen, who are officers of considerable trust. The superin
tendent finds no difficulty in procuring boys of fourteen or fifteen years of age who
are worthy of this confidence.1 If they betray it, (which has seldom been done
except for the purpose of escaping from the premises,) they know that the punish
ment will be proportionally heavy. This punishment consists in flagellation with
a whip of strings, in solitary confinement to their cells, either with or without the
accompaniment of a low diet, in forbidding any one to hold communication with
the offender without permission, and in extraordinary cases of flagitious conduct,
in wearing an iron on one side,* fastened to the waist at one end and to the ankle
at the other. By a judicious alternation or use of these punitive measures, no dif
ficulty of a formidable character has occurred, in supporting a system of perfect
order, among boys who, from their age and crime are well entitled to the appella
tion of ruffians, without the use or display of dangerous or destructive weapons of
any kind.
In almost every case the discipline ofthe institution works a reformation. The
moral faculties are awakened, the thoughts of the young offender are turned, often
with regret, upon his past life, and he is led to resolve on a better course. In
many instances, the child not only thinks of his future condition in this world, but
his mind is filled with a concern for his eternal, as well as his temporal welfare;
a conviction is produced that our happiness in this life, as well as in that which is
to come, depends on a due application of our moral and physical faculties. The
transition of a being from a life of want, ignorance, idleness, corruption and hope
lessness to the enjoyments in the refuge, ot comfort, to the relief whieh is afforded
to the mind, by constant and useful employment, to the knowledge of good and
evil, to the hope of obtaining an honest living, and to the consolations of religion,
must be tu him as a new birth.
The nature of the government and discipline exercised over the children, is best
illustrated by a summary account of the routine of a single day.
At sunrise a bell rings to rouse the children. In fifteen minutes the cells are
opened, and each of the children, having made up his own bed, and arranged his
little apartment, steps forth at a signal into the hall. They are then marched in
order to the wash-room, where the utmost attention to personal cleanliness is re
quired and enforced. From the wash-room they are called to parade in the open
air (the weather permitting,) when they are ranged in ranks, and undergo a close
and critical inspection as to cleanliness and dress. The parade finished, they are
summoned to morning prayers. These various operations consume about a half-
hour; and at half-past 5 o'clock in the summer, the morning school commences.
In school they remain till 7 o'clock, when they are dismissed for a few minutes,
and until the bell rings for breakfast, which" consists, according to the dietary re
gulations ofthe managers, of bread, .molasses, and rye coffee, occasionally varied
by the substitution of Indian meal for bread, and milk for coffee. A half-hour is
allowed for breakfast, at the expiration of which the signal for labour is given, and
the children are conducted to their respective work shops, to remain there until'
noon. By an allotment of tasks, however, these hours of labour are shortened to
the industrious. The working day for this purpose is considered as commencing
at one o'clock in the afternoon, when a certain task, proportional to his years and
capacity, is assigned to each child, and if this task be performed before 12 o'clock
at noon of the succeeding day, he is rewarded by the allowance for his recreation
of whatever time he thus gains before twelve and after eleven o'clock, until which
hour all are kept in the work shops. "The benefit of this arrangement is sensibly
perceived upon the spirits and industry ofthe boys, and there are few amongthern
who do not thus gain, what all but the wilfully idle are able to gain, some extra
time for their own amusements. • Under their pantaloons.

PENTENTIARIES.

323

At twelve o'clock a bell rings to call all from work, and one hour is allowed for
washing. (which is again scrupulously attended to) and dinner. The dinner by
the managers' regulations, consists (for five days in the week,) of nutritious soups,
meat,'potatoes and bread. On Fridays, fish is substituted for soup and meat; and
on Sunday, a dinner of beef and vegetables of superior quality to those of the
other days is allowed. Atone o'clock, a signal ia given for recommencing work,
which continues till five in the afternoon, when the^bell rings for the termination
of the labour of the day.- A half-hour is allowed for washing (which is once
more enforced) and supper, consisting of mush and milk, molasses and rye coffee.
At half-past five, the children are conducted to their evening school, in which they
are kept till eight o'clock. Evening prayers are now offered by the superin
tendent, and the children ranged in order, are then marched to the sleeping halls,
where each takes possession of his separate apartment, and the cells are locked,
and silence is enforced for the night.
The above is the history of six days of every week, except that during the short
winter days, morning school is suspended, and the work shops are closed at four
o'clock in the afternoon. On Sundays labour, of course, ceases, and instead of the
morning school, the time allotted on other days for this purpose, is taken up in the
classification ofthe children according to their conductduring the preceding week,
and the distribution of badges of merit. Religious service is performed twice dur
ing the day in the chapel, in the presence of a committejLof the managers, by the
clergymen of the city in rotation. In the interval between the church services, a
Sunday school is held for the children; and after the evening service, they are
allowed to walk about the grounds under the observation ofthe officers until eight
o'clock. The discipline exercised over the inmates of the house of refuge, is of a mild
and simple character. The children are divided, with reference to their merit, into
four classes, Ihe most worthy being placed in class No. 1. Each wears on his
arm a badge of the class to which he belongs. To a station in the third class, is
annexed a certain slight deprivation of play; and to the fourth class, which consists
ofthe worst boys, who have been guilty of flagrant offences against the rules of
the house, is attached, during the first wetek, the penalty of the third class, with
an additional one, consising of the deprivation of Sunday supper. A second week's
continuance in the fourth class, which is the consequence of further bad conduct
during the first week, brings with it the additional punishment of confinement after
evening service on Sunday. On the other hand, four weeks' maintenance of a
station in c-lass No. 1, which is the result of continued good conduct during this
period, erititles a boy to a blue ribbon, and certain slight but highly appreciated
privileges: four weeks of further good'conduct, entitles the wearer of the blue rib
bon to the higher honours ofthe red and blue: — and if after this he shall, without
any special limitation of time, prove himself worthy of the confidence ofthe offi
cers, he receives the highest reward of merit in the tri-colour badge.
This simple system' of rewards and punishments, suffices, in the main, to pre
serve in contented and cheerful obedience the inmates of the house. Cases, how
ever do arise, which require severer punishments. Bold and daring attempts to
escape, and rude and obstinate disobedience do occasionally occur, when corporal
punishment — never however of a severe character — and solitary confinement 
rarely of a protracted duration — are found indispensably necessary. The miscon
duct which renders necessary punishments of the fast description, is almost inva
riably committed by those youth who are approaching manhood. The experience
of the institution fully confirms the opinion, that the hope of a delinquent's reform
ation is inversely as his years; and that the benefit which an offender of mature
age derives from the discipline of the refuge, is greatly counterbalanced by the evil
which he spreads around him.
Houses of Refuge upon the New York model have been established at Boston,
Philadelphia, and Baltimore.

324 POLITICAL VIEW.
CHAPTER XVII.
PAUPERISM.
1. Derivation of the Poor System. 2. Paupers supported by Relatives, when. 3. Main
tained by County or Town, when. 4. Superintendents of Poor, how Appointed. Powers
and Duties. 5. Poor House may be Erected, when, how. 6. Excise Moneys, to whom
Payable — Balance of Town Moneys, how disposed of when Poor House is erected.
Maintenance of Poor, County Charge, when — Town Charge, when. 8. Settlement,
how Gained; 9. Pauper not to be Removed — by whom Supported, when having a Set
tlement — when not. 10. Pauper sent to the Poor House, when. 11. Manner of Relief
where there is no Poor House — where each Town Supports its own Poor, and there is
a Poor House. 12. Penalty on Removing Pauper from one Place to another, with in
tent to charge the latter with his Maintenance. 13. Penalties on Superintendents for Ne
glect of Duty. 14. Penalties Payable to County Treasurer, when — how Collected.
15. Poor House and Appurtenances Exempt from Taxation. 16. Idiot and Lunatic
Paupers may be Supported out of Poor House. 17. Disposition of Town Poor Funds
Invested. 18. Reports to Secretary of State. 19. Poor Moneys Received and Expend
ed by Overseers, when. 20. Provisions in Relation to Vagrants. 21. In Relation to
Bastards. 22. Habitual Drunkards. 23. Remarks on the Pauper System of the State.
24. Statistics Relative to the Poor.
1. Pauperism and crime are intimately connected, and are often, reciprocally,
cause and effect. Men wanting the means of subsistence, and, but too commonly,
when wanting the means of criminal enjoyment, prey upon society, and by foroe
or fraud, compel its contribution. To provide against the evils flowing from des
titution, the laws of England, at a very early period, made the support of the poor
a public charge. It is a duty of justice, of conservation and of charity, almost
inevitable; yet, in its execution, subject to great and hitherto irremediable
abuse, by the burdens which, through it, the idle and the dissolute impose'upon
society. In every country, perhaps, which has derived its political institutions
from England, her system for the maintenance ofthe poor, under some modifica
tion, has been incorporated with the laws.
2. The pauper is supported either by his relatives or the public. The liability
of relatives extends only to parents and children of sufficient ability, who, upon
failure, may be compelled to afford the necessary Telief, weekly, by an order of
the sessions at the instance of an overseer. The father first, the children next,
and the mother last, are subject to this compulsion; and where there is partial ina
bility, in the proper degree, the court may impose the obligation upon two or more
relations of different degrees, and in all cases, proportion the sum payable to the
actual ability of the payors. The costsof the application fall upon the relatives,
and the order of the court may be enforced by attachment; and an action by the
supervisor, for the weekly allowance lies against them.
If the parent abscond from the children, or the husband from the wife, leaving
them chargable, the property of the absentee is liable for their maintenance, and
may be attached by the overseers, on the order of two justices of the peace of the
proper county; and the title to the estate, real or personal, is vested in the over
seers, by the warrant of seizure; and sales of personal property by the absentee,
after the warrant is issued, are void.
The overseers return the warrant, with their proceedings, to the sessions, which
confirm or discharge them; in the former case, directing what part of the personal
property and of the rents of the realty may be applied towards the maintenance of
the abandoned. The warrant is discharged when the absentee returns and sup
ports, or gives security, satisfactory, to two justices of the peace, to support the
abandoned, and the property seized is restored to him.
In the towns required to support their own poor, the overseers apply the estate
to the special case, and account with the sessions. In the counties where the
poor are a county charge, the power of the overseer is vested in the superintend
ents of the poor.
3. Every poor person, unable by his work to maintain himself, is maintainable
by the county or town in which he may be, where his relatives have not sufficient
ability for the purpose, according to the following provisions;

PAUPERISM. 325
4. The supervisors and judges of the court of common pleas of the county, ex
cept of .New York, appoint annually not less than three, nor more than five, free
holders, not supervisors, as superintendents of the poor; a majority of whom form
a quorum, and they receive such compensation as the supervisors deem reasona
ble. The superintendents form a corporation, meet as often as the supervisors di
rect, and, when they think expedient, at the county poor house, if there be one,
otherwise at the usual place of holding the courts; have the general superintend
ence of the, county poor, and are required to provide suitable places for keeping
them, when directed by the supervisors, where there are not poor houses, and may
rent houses, and land not more than 50 acres; to establish rules for the govern
ment of. poqr houses, and employment of the poor, under sanction of the county
court; to employ keepers, &c, and vest in them the powers for governing such
houses, reserving to the paupers an appeal to the superintendents : where poor
houses are erected, to provide furniture, and implements, and materials, for em
ploying the poor, and to dispose of the proceeds; to prescribe the rate of allowance
for transporting paupers to the poor house, subject to the general direction of the
supervisors; to authorise the keepers to certify the amount on^uch rate, which is
payable by the county treasurer, on the certificate countersigned by two superin
tendents; to decide any dispute concerning the settlement of a pauper, and for that
purpose to summon witnesses, and administer oaths, and with power to enforce
process as justices of the peace, filing their decisions, which are conclusive, with
the county clerk, within 30 days after ihey are made; to direct the commencement
of suits by overseers, when entitled to prosecute for penalties, or securities taken
for the indemnity of a town Or county; or, in case of neglect, to institute such
suits themselves; to draw on the county treasurer for all necessary expenses in
discharge of their ^duties; to render to the board of supervisors at their annual
meeting an account of moneys received arid expended; to pay over all moneys in
their hands, within 15 days after the expiration of their office to such treasurer, or
to their successors. (
5. The board of supervisors. of any county in which there is no poor house,
may erect one, and on filing their determination with the county clerk, may direct
the superintendents to purchase not exceeding 200 acres of land; and to defray the
cost of land and buildings, may levy by tax a sum not exceeding $7000, payable
by such instalments and at such times as they judge expedient.
6. Moneys received by the commissioners of excise in any town or city, of any
county in which the distinction between town and county poor is abolished, are
payable to the county treasurer within 30 days after receipt, and are accompanied
by a certified copy of the resolutions of the board of excise, fixing the sums paya-
- ble for licenses, under penalty upon the commissioners, of 50 dollars, recoverable
by the superintendents, and liability to an action by. the county treasurer for the
moneys so received with interest thereon; and in such county, moneys collected
by the overseers, from the relations of a pauper, or from the property of a person
absconding, or for fines, penalties or forfeitures, or fees in any way received in their
official capacity, are also payable to such treasurer, within 30 days after re
ceipt, and may be recovered by him with 10 per cent interest.
In the counties where the supervisors determine to abolish the distinction be
tween town and county poor, and to make them a county charge, the clerk of the
supervisors immediately notifies such determination to the overseers of every town,
and within three months thereafter they pay the balance of moneys in their hands,
after discharge of the demands against them, to the county treasurer, unless the
inhabitants of the town direct the application of such money to other purposes.
In the counties where the distinction between town and county poor is not abo
lished, the excise money collected in the town, and all penalties given by law to
the overseers, are applied to the use of the poor of the town in which they are col
lected. 7. In the county where such distinction is abolished, all charges relative to the
poor are borne by the county, without reference to the number or expense of the
paupers sent to the poor house from any town. When the supervisors have de
termined to abolish such distinction, their clerk serves a copy of the resolution
upon the clerk of each town, village or city, within the county, and thereafter all
moneys received ibr licenses, &c, are paid to the county treasurer;

326 POLITICAL yiEW.
In all other counties the poor, having a settlement within the town, "are supported
by the town; and the poor not having such settlement, by the county.
8. Every person of full age, resident and inhabitant of any town for one year, and
the members of his family not having a separate settlement, are deemed settled
therein. A minor gains' a settlement, if a female, by marriage, and living one
year with her husband, the husband's settlement determining that of the wife; if a
male, by marriage and living one year, separately, from the family of his father,
by apprenticeship ^nd service of one year, by virtue of his indentures, and by be
ing hired and actually serving for one year for wages.
A woman of full agej by marriage, acquires the settlement of the husband, if he
have any; and until a pauper have gained a settlement, he has that of his father or
mother; but no child, born in a place used. as a residence for the poor, nor a
child, born whilst the mother is a county pauper, gains a settlement merely by rea
son of such birth. No residence' in a county or town poor house, of a pauper,
gives him a settlement.
9. No person may be removed, as.a pauper, from any city or town to another of
the same or another county, nor from any county to another; but every pauper is
maintained in the town or county where he may be, by the town where he has
gained a settlement. If he have not a settlement, or the distinction between town
and county poor be abolished, then by the county; if in a county where the re
spective towns are liable to support their poor, and he have a settlement in a town,
other than that in which he may be, he is supported by the latter, and' notice is
given to the town of his settlement to provide for him. The right of settlement
may be contested, and is determinable, conclusively, by the county superintend
ents; and if the town bound to support the pauper omit so to do, the expense,
costs and interest, are annually levied on such town by the board of supervisors,
and credited to the town paying them. . ¦
The support of a pauper is not charged upon the county without the sanction of
the superintendents, who determine whether he should be a county or town charge
under the law.
10. When a pauper applies for relief in a county having a poor house, if appa
rent to the overseers that he needs permanent-support, and can be safely removed,
they send him to the.house. If the county be one whose towns support their own
poor, the overseers designate in the order whether he be chargeable to the county
or not, otherwise he is chargeable to the town making the order. The expenses
are paid by the comity treasurer, chargeable to the county or town, as the right of
the pauper may determine. The pauper is thus supported until able to maintain
himself. If he cannot be conveniently removed- to the poor house, the overseers,
on an order of a justice of the peace, grant him temporary relief, receiving the
amount necessary from the county treasurer, not exceeding $10, without the sanc
tion of the superintendents, chargeable to the county or particular town as the case
may warrant.
11. If the application for relief be in a county having no poor house or other place
provided for the poor, the overseer, with assistance of a justice, grants an order for
a due allowance weekly or otherwise. If the pauper have a legal settlement in
the town where application is made, or in any other of the county, the overseer
applies the money received from the county treasurer, out of the fund of the town,
to his relief. If the pauper have no settlement in the county, the overseers notify
a superintendent, and, until he assume charge of the pauper, provide for his relief,
at the expense of the county. *
If there be no poorhouse in the county, the Superintendents may authorise the
overseers of the town in which the pauper may be, or of any other town, to support
him, on,prescribed terms; and thereafter no money is paid for his support, without
the order of the superintendents.
In the county, wherein the towns respectively support their own poor, the
county treasurer keeps an account with each town. If there be a county poorhouse,
the superintendents, in- each, year, before the annual meeting ofthe supervisors,
furnish to the treasurer a statement of the sums charged by them, to the several
towns, for such support, which are charged by him in the several accounts.
In a county having" a poorhouse provided by the superintendents, and in which
the several towns are respectively liable for the support of the poor, the superin
tendents during the week preceding the annual meeting of the supervisors, make a

PAUPERISM. 327
statement to the treasurer of the expenses of the preceding year; and the moneys
received, exhibiting the deficiency, if any, in the funds for such expenses, and ap
portion the deficiency among the towns, according to the number and expense of
the paupers belonging to each, and charge the towns with such proportion.
At the annual meeting of the supervisors, the treasurer lays before them such
account; and if tflere be a balance against any town, the board adds such amount to
the taxes to be levied upon it, with the contingent expenses and interest, at 7 per
cent., as will satisfy any advances made from the county treasury for such town;
to be collected and paid into the county treasury.
The superintendents of the poor, in each county, present to the supervisors, at
their annual meeting, an estimate of the sum necessary, during the ensuing year,
for the support of the county poor; and the supervisors levy so much thereof as
they deem requisite as other contingent expenses, to be paid to the county trea
surer, and kept as a separate fund.
Where there is no county poorhouse, the overseers, of the respective towns,
enter in a book an account of their proceedings relating to their office; of all mo
neys received, stating from' whom and upon wfiat account; of all moneys expended,
stating to whom and on what authority, specifying in each case whether to county
or town poor; the names of all persons applying for and obtaining relief; the time
when admitted to, relief; the Sums allowed and the cause of allowance. On the
Tuesday next preceding the annual town meeting, such books and their accounts
are laid before the town auditors, with an account of the earnings of the poor; the
account verified by oath of the supervisors. In tho audit, no credit is allowed
to the overseer, unless for payment made by legal order. For failure so to present
such book and account each overseer forfeits $250, recoverable by the overseers of
the town. The superintendents audit and settle all accounts of overseers of the
poor and others, for services in the case of county paupers, and draw for the
amount on the county treasurer.
In a county where the towns are respectively liable, for the support ofthe poor,
the town clerk, at the annual town meeting, exhibits the accounts of the preceding
year, so audited; and the overseers present an estimate of the sum necessary to
supply the deficiency of such year, and for the support ofthe poor for the ensuing
year; whereupon, the meeting, by a vote of a' majority, determine the amount to be
assessed for tile ensuing year; which, if there- be a county poorhouse, is payable
to the county treasurer, to the credit of the town, and in other counties to the over
seers of the town.
In the cities of Albany, Hudson, Troy and Schenectady, the overseers render
their books and accounts to the common council, from time to time-, as required;
and the councils of such cities as are liable for the support of their own poor,
yearly determine the amount to be raised; and certify it to the supervisors of -the
county who cause it to he levied and paid to the county treasurer.
The accounts of overseers and justice?, for servioes in relation to the poor, are
settled by the supervisors and paid by the county treasurer; and if the services
were rendered in behalf of a town, liable for its own poor, they are charged to the
town; but no allowance is made to any officer for attending any board with ac
counts for the purpose of having them audited or paid. "
12. The removal or causing to be removed, any indigent person, from any city,
town or country, to another, without legal authority, and there to leave him, with
intent to make the precinct to which he shall be removed chargeable with his sup
port, or the enticing such person so to remove with such intent, is punishable by,
forfeiture of $50, recoverable by the overseers of the town or the superintendents
of the county into which such person shall be removed; and is a misdemeanour
subjecting the offender to imprisonment not exceeding six months, or fine not ex-
ceeding$100; or both, in the discretion ofthe court.
The pauper is supported wherever he may be, and due provision is made for
obtaining remuneration from the place of his residence and of deciding the question
of removal when denied. •
To remove or cause to be removed, any indigent person from without to within
the state, to leave him, with the intent to make him chargeable upon any countv
, subjects the offender to a forfeiture of $50, recoverable before a justice

by the overseer or superintendent; and the offender is required to convey the pauper
out of the state or to support him; and the justice before whom he may be con-

328 POLITICAL VIEW.
veyed for violation of the law, may require of him satisfactory security for so
doing, or indemnifying the town or county, for the pauper's support, under penalty,
in case of refusal to give such security, of imprisonment not exceeding three
months. 13. The county superintendent neglecting to render any account or statement
required to the board of supervisors, or to pay over moneys as directed by law, for
feits $250, rec&verable in the name ofthe county treasurer. They are also liable
to account jointly or severally to the treasurer for all money in their hands, after
the time it should have been paid over, with interest at 10 per cent. ,
14. Penalties imposed by the poor laws, when recovered, are payable to the
county treasurer, and are by him credited to the town, by whose officers they are
collected, if it be liable for the support of its own poor, or to the county, when
collected by the county superintendents; and' he collects them when not so paid by
acting in his name of office.
When apparent to any overseer, that a penalty has-been incurred, by the viola
tion of any statutory provision, which he, is directed by law to collect, it is his
duty immediately to commence and prosecute suit therefor; and the overseers are
allowed in the audit of their accounts for all costs they incur, in any suit brought
by them 'according to law, and the same daily pay for, attending such suit as for
other official duties; such allowance is either deducted from the penalties or paid
as other town charges; and the balance of such penalties is paid to their successors
or to the county treasurer.
15. The poorhouse and its appurtenances are exempt from alltaxationj and the
superintendent from service in the militia or juries, and from labour- on the high
ways. 16. Where poorhouses are established, the superintendents may provide for the
support of idiot or lunatic paupers, out of the poorhouse.
17. When a town has money for the support of the poor invested, in the name of
the overseers, they apply the interest to the maintenance ofthe town poor, whilst
the town is liable to support its poor; and if it be relieved from such liability, the
money is-applied to the payment of such taxes upon the town, as the inhabitants
at their annual town meeting determine.
18. The superintendents of each county report in December, annually", to the
secretary of state in the form directed by him; the-number of paupers relieved or
supported during the preceding year, distinguishing the county from' the town
paupers, if any; the whole expense of support; specifying the amount paid for
transportation of paupers, and other items not composing part of the actual expense
of maintenance, and the allowance to superintendents, overseers, justices, keepers
and officers; the actual value ofthe labour ofthe paupers maintained, and the esti
mated saving in their support by such labour.
The supervisors of towns, where the poor are not a county charge, report to the
clerk of the supervisors, within fifteen days after the accounts of the overseers,
have been settled by the town auditors, annually, an abstract of sueh accounts for
the preceding year, exhibiting the number of paupers relieved or supported; spe
cifying the number of county and town paupers, the whole expense of their sup
port; the allowance to overseers, justices, constables and other officers, and other
items not comprised in the actual expense of maintenance; such abstracts to be de
livered by the clerk of the supervisors to the county superintendents to be included
in their report to the secretary.
The superintendent, supervisor or clerk, failing to make such reports,'abstracts,
or copies, or wilfully making a false one, forfeits $100, recoverable by the district
attorney, for the use of the poor of the county. The secretary gives notice to
such attorney of such neglect or misconduct; who thereon, or when in any way
apprised thereof, prosecutes.
The secretary, annually, lays before the legislature, during the first month of
its session, an abstract of such returns and reports.
19. In the counties where there is no cotfnty poorhouse or other place provided
for the reception of the poor, the moneys raised in the several towns, for the poor,
are received and disbursed by the overseers of the respective1 towns; -and the com
missioners of excise pay to such overseers the moneys received by virtue of their
office. In the counties where such houses or places are provided, and the dis
tinction of town and county poor is not abolished, such commissioners pay such
moneys also to the overseers of the respective towns.

PAUPERISM. 329
VAGRANTS.
20. A vagrant may be apprehended by a peace officer, when required by any per
son, and taken before a justice of the peace, mayor, recorder or alderman, for ex
amination, and if convicted of vagrancy, may be committed, if not a notorious of
fender, and is a proper object for such relief, to the poorhouse, for any time not
exceeding six months, there to be kept at hard labour; or if not a proper object
for the poorhouse, then to the Bridewell, house of correction, or common jail of the
county, for a term not exceeding 60 days; there to be kept, if the justice think
proper, upon bread and water only for such time as he shall direct, not exceeding
one half that for which he is committed.
Any child begging for alms, from door to door, or in any street, highway or
public place, in any city or town, may be committed by a justice, on complaint
and proof, to the poorhouse, or other place for the support of the poor, to be kept
employed and instructed in useful labour, until discharged by the county superin
tendents of the poor, or bound as an apprentice by them or the commissioners of '
the almshouse, or overseers of the poor.
The superintendents of the poor, in the several counties, may bind out any child
who, or whose parent or parents, become chargeable, to be clerks, apprentices or
servants, if a male, until 21 years, if a female, until 18 years old; as may the
overseers of any town or city, with the consent, in writing, of two justices of the
peace, or of the mayor, recorder and aldermen, or any two of them. The inden
tures contain an agreement, by the person to whom the child is bound, that he will
instruct it to read and write, and if a male, in the general rules of arithmetic, and
will give the apprentice, at the expiration of the term of service, a new bible.
The counterpart of the indentures executed by the superintendents, are deposited
with the county clerk, and of those executed by the overseers, with the elerk of
the city or town. BASTARDS.
21. The reputed father and mother of every bastard are liable for its support ;¦ and
in their default or inability, it is supported in the county or town in -which it is
born. Due provision is made for the support of mothers unable to maintain them
selves during confinement and recovery; for the discovery of the father; for com
pelling him to provide for the maintenance of the child; and also for compelling
the mother to support it when she has property in her own right.
The commissioners of the almshouse of the City of New York, and the superin
tendents of the poor in the several-counties, may make such compromise and ar
rangements with the putative fathers of bastard children, within their jurisdiction,
relative to the support of such children, as they deem equitable, and thereupon
discharge the father from all liability for their support.
HABITUAL DRUNKARDS. #
22. The overseers of the poor may, by writing under their hands, designate and
describe, any habitual drunkard, and require by written notice, signed by them,
every merchant, or other dealer in spirituous liquors, or other person, not to give
or sell, under any pretence, any such liquors to such drunkard ; any person, who
after persona] service of such notice, knowingly, gives or sells to him such li
quors, except by the personal direction or written certificate of some licensed phy
sician, certifying that such liquor is necessary for his health, forfeits, for every of
fence, ten dollars, to the poor ofthe town, where the drunkard resides.
The person so designated as an habitual drunkard, may apply to a justice ofthe
peace, of the precinct where he resides, for a jury to determine the fact of such
drunkenness; whereupon the justice gives notice to the overseers, of the time and
place of trial, and summons a jury of twelve persons, six of whom try the fact, as
in other issues before a justice; and their verdict recorded by the justice, is deemed
presumptive evidence of the fact, in any action between the overseers and person
prosecuted, for the penalty above imposed; if the verdict be that the demandant is
an habitual drunkard, he is liable for the costs; if otherwise, the overseers are liable-
but if the latter have acted in good faith, each party pays his own costs.
If the drunkard reform and become temperate, the overseer, for the time being
may revoke the notice.
42

330 POLITICAL VIEW.
23. Compared with the system of the country from which it is borrowed, and with
those in force in other states of the Union, the poor system of New York is sim
ple, and it yearly becomes more so, by the erection of county poor houses and the
abolition of the distinction between town and county poor. All the counties have
abolished this distinction, except 14, viz., Chenango, Monroe, Onondaga, Oswe
go, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk,
Tioga, Tompkins, and Ulster; and all, except four, have erected poor houses;
viz., Queens, Rensselaer, Rockland, and Suffolk.
The following remarks upon the system are from the report of the secretary of
state for 1836:
"It is believed that the established mode of providing for the support and relief
of indigent persons in this state is, in all respects, more free from objection than
any other that has been tried. No system of the kind supported altogether by
the public can be exempt from the danger of contributing to the extension of pauper
ism, without such a well balanced administration as to make a liberal regard to the
comforts of the infirm and helpless, consist with a degree of frugality and disci
pline, which shall hold out to those, who have the ability without the disposition
to maintain themselves by their own labour, no assurance of bettering their condi
tion. This medium it is certainly not in all cases easy to attain: and.it is doubt
less to a departure from it, that we owe many of the able and ingenious treatises
upon the impolicy of such establishments. The abuse of the system in England
has afforded strong grounds for calling in question its usefulness; and yet it is be
lieved that the argument against the principles which lie at its foundation is ap
plicable only to the errors in its administration. A radical reform has recently
been commenced, and it promises to bring about a total revolution in its character.
The principle of the reform is to make the condition of the pauper less desirable
than that of the labouring man. Hitherto in that country it has been the reverse.
The wants of the labourer have been greater and his comforts less than those of
the pauper.- This is unjust to the man, who relies upon the efforts of his own in
dustry, by raising above him those whose necessities are often the fruits of- their
improvidence or their vices. And it is unjust to the public, by holding out in
ducements to any class to accept what should neither be extended on the one hand,
nor received on the other, from any other consideration than that of absolute ne
cessity. The poor house system in this state needs no such reform: butthe same
evils which require a remedy elsewhere, will be visible here, if the same false
principles are allowed to enter into its administration. While, therefore, the aged
and infirm are liberally provided for, care should be taken by those who have the
management of the poor houses, that their inmates are not better supplied with
comforts than persons, who rely on their daily labour for their subsistence; and
that the system shall be to those who are capable of manual exertion, one of con
stant employment. If these principles are rigidly adhered to, there need be no
apprehensions that these establishments will he sought as a refuge from the ne
cessities of their condition, by those who are capable of earning their subsistence
by the labour of their own hands."
The following very valuable tables leave scarce any thing to be desired on tbe
score of the statistics of pauperism in the state:

PAUPERISM.

331

24. Abstract of the returns from the Superintendents of thePoor of the several counties,
exhibiting the whole- number of town and county paupers relieved or supported
during theyear, ending Dec. 1, 1835, and the amount expended for their support.

Whole number of pau

Number of

Number of

Whole- expense of

COUNTIES.

pers relieved or su#- county paupers

.own paupers1

support of county and

ponedduring the year i

eHeved or sup-

relieved or sup-

town paupers for the

ending Dec 1, 1835.

xirted.

jorted.

year end'g Decl, 1835

Albany, -

994

994

 .

9,981 33

Allegany,

102

102

—

1,346 25

Broome, -

107

107

—

1,634 07

Cattaraugus,

51

51

—

2,947 58

Cayuga, -

225

225

—

6,277 52

Chautauque,

144

144

—

2,710 96

Chenango,

157

77

80

1,772 80'

Clinton, -

168

168

—

3,490 86

Columbia,

610

610

—

8,805 91

Cortland,

101

15

86

2,770 78

Delaware,

127

'¦' 127

—

2,291 29

Dutchess,

803

803

—

8,428 42

Erie,

430

430

—

6,742 01

Essex,

198

198



3,628 61

Franklin, -

122

122



2,500 00

Genesee, -

215

215



2,624 14

Greene, -

296

296



5,378 48

Herkimer,

300

300



3,450 49

Jefferson, -

500

500



4,861 86

Kings,

1,210

1,210

—

11,523 61

Lewis,

67

67



1,119 37

Livingston,

139 -

139

—

1,191 98

Madison, -

256

256

—

3,166 27

Monroe, -

792

522

270

9^55 96

Montgomery, -
New York,

473

473

—

5,322 65

22,696

22,696

—

91,813 90

Niagara, -

354

354

—

3,307 02

Oneida, -

568

568

_

7,223 48

Onondaga,

269

173

96

3,494 27

Ontario, -

360

360

-_

4,105 23

Orange, -

785

785

—

12,619 52

Orleans, -

111

111

—

2,326 62

Oswego, -

471

130

341

4,336 64

Otsego, -

266

226



3,990 28

Putnam, -

127

127

—

1,450 00

Queens, -

236

33

203

5,470 00

Rensselaer,

743

387

356

8,771 85

Richmond,

34 .

15

19

906 45

Rockland,

175

34

141

3,903 80

Saratoga, -

256

266



5,130 96

Schenectady, -

210

115

95

3,000 00

Schoharie,

183

60

123

3,441 10

Seneca, -

184

184



2,317 70

St. Lawrence, -

151

151



2,216 15

Steuben, -

339

339



5,292 46

Suffolk, -

172

8

164

5,j41 83

Sullivan, -

110

110



1,867 63

Tioga, - -

186

186

—

2,016 53

Tompkins,

226

91

135

2,740 37

Ulster,

515

197

318

6,171 03

Warren, -

70

70

—

1,800 00

Washington,

225

225

—

3,599 45

Wayne, -

150

150

—

1,690 00

Westchester, -

533

533

—

8,527 65

Yates,

70

70

—

1,546 00

39,362

36,935

2,427

$323,841 12

332

POLITICAL VIEW.

The following Table shows the amount paid in the respective counties, for the transpor
tation of paupers, to superintendents, overseers, justices, keepers, &c, and also the
value ofthe labour ofthepaupers, the average cost of supporting each pauper for one
year, and one week. Year 1835.

O a

top CD
-a a>9

u5 to totato>O

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T3 p
COCCD to

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9 m
9* *-
8 S.
£ -

a ifo
eg C go
>- c s
|p »

p.
CD
CD
a. O CD P
tn o

aco

COUNTIES.

w5« V. CO
(2

>- a>p.3

o
i

O CD
-a CO

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«1

to £
a S
^ p.
<~ 9
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9
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to
to
9
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£
£
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CO
'£
2>"^
O
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CACmS§ CO O-O
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rj
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<s
Albany,
, 
$500 00



$1243 06
$4050 00
$27 99
53.9
$400 00
Allegany,
$30 63
178 00
$96 14
$20 42
$300 00
150 00
200 00
26 00
50
100 00
Broome,
36 61
137 50
77 29
47 95
200 00
150 00
150 00
23 40
45
18 00
Cattaraugus
59 55
236 00
166 18
28 04
306 25
140 00
70 00

—
255 57
Cayuga,
143 87
366 30
689 04
201 77
450 00

564 00
18 71
36

Chautauque
82 10
90 00
96 42
35 37
400 00
350 00
558 00
28 08
54
178 39
Chenango,
88 20
92 00


375 00
523 87
523 87
20 80
40

Clinton,
58 04
122 75
147 91
63 28
220 00


44 07
84.7
150 00
Columbia,
254 12
310 66
334 50
201 68
500 00
1250 00
1550 00
24 44
47
741 70
Cortland,,,

109 38
122 62
39 60



60 19
115
162 32
Delaware,
71 87
85 00
127 98
24 55
432 00
150 00
300 00
36 95
17

.Dutchess,
285 90
659 00
— —

600 00
1000 oo
2000 00
54 86
50c.
230 00
Erie,
196 98
281 00
415 89
41 19
400 00

817 00
39 99
76.9
158 00
Essex,
72 38
165 50
70 00
35 30
420 00
529 34
1179 88
38 13
73
212 57
Franklin,
28 23
70 75
59 75
22 00
350 00
180 00
180 00
36 40
70
45 00
Genesee,
142 76
200 00


300 00
300 00
500 00
26 64
51
158 00
Greene, «
Herkimer, ~
155 63
264 00
234 88
55 04
275 00
8 83
8 83
28 50
55
50 00
42 18
150 00
193 59
36 78
330 00


24 49
47
323 71
Jefferson,
71 05
170 58
350 00
100 50
469 00
100 00
100 00
32 76
63
350 50
Kings,
154 25
600 00


250 00
800 00
1400 00
33 93
65.3
100 00
Lewis,
35 06
64 00
201 30
7 63
325 00
84 00
84 00
23 66
45.5

Livingston,
67 45
119 00
116 63
17 82
330 00


21 67
41.7
222 82
Madison,
116 02
300 00
257 43
45 19
459 82
200 00
200 00
40 95
78.7

Monroe,
—

Montgomery New York,
108 55
274 20
306 00
83 80
500 00
700 00
700 00
21 84
42
414 69
2197 26
1600 00


6369 97
14909 00

38 49
73.9
3788 54
Niagara,
110 79
114 00
154 62
42 24
490 00
680 00
830 00
27 74.
53
307 77
Oneida,
247 00
096 63
2356 88
110 61
679 00


22 80
44
. 200 00
Onondaga,
234 27
400 00


659 00

500 00
32 24
62
250 00
Ontario,
97 75
120 00
340 00
78 51
337 50
1000 00
1500 00
27 13
52
664 87
Orange,
259 36
356 00
654 74
223 08
600 00
1400 00
1000 00
24 57
47
1109 85
Orleans,
40 50
223 00
228 55
29 06
530 00
300 00
200 00
39 00
75
411 50
Oswego,
96 48
189 25
219 95
62 41
300 00
276 00
276 00
30 16
58
210 83
Otsego,
69 29
227 00
249 40
120 46
350 00
225 00
400 00
20 28
39
221 00
Putnam,

82 00
81 00
17 50
225 00
800 00
500 00
24 02
46.2
50 00
Queens,
34 00
160 00
395 00
171 00
317 00
Rensselaer,

400 00
—

Richmond,
10 25
16 00
16 25

250 00


51 35
98.7
25 00
Rockland,


122 00
26 75




—
236 17
{Saratoga,
123 46
90 00


600 00
500 00
500 00
34 55
66.5
125 qo
Scheneetady
75 00
75 00
275 00
100 00
200 00


40 00
76.9
200 00
Schoharie,
15 91
53 00
207 04
46 37



32 50
62.5
230 00
Seneca,
143 25
152 00
73 86
3 75
325 00
120 00
172 00
38 03
73.1
113 00
St.Lawrenca
80 00
150 00
143 21
35 96
250 00
150 00
150 00
34 32
66
100 00
Steuben,
101 64
553 88
109 25
26 02
325 02
450 00
500 00
31 13
60
427 00
Suffolk,

110 00
169 50
26 35
7112
Sullivan,
37 21
141 00
69 25
25 93
179 72
100 00
50 00
46 00
88
31 qo
Tioga,
68 47
243 12
161 25
46 42
335 00


42 33
81.4
50 00
Tompkins,
140 14
142 69
108 59
24 25
425 00
100 00
100 00
25 28
48.6
116. 92
Ulster,
154 51
249 00
303 59
92 37
400 00
200 00
200 00
17 50
33.6
175 00
Warren,
30 17
40 00
90 71
17 59
225 00
50 00
50 00
43 75
84.1
190 34
Washington
122 24
175 00
281 11
40 95
400 00
450 00
450 00
21 25
41
120 00
Wayne,
99 00
160 00


602 75
338 00
428 00
26 85
51.6
42 00
Westchester
252 80
227 00
200 00
200 00
564 68
1200 00
1000 00
34 84
67
254 00
Yates,
30 00
72 50
30 00
14 75
200 00
79 50
79 50
63 76
12.2
40 00
7306 21
12616 14
11346 09
2T59 64
24374 71
31286 60
24521 08
32 73
62.9
14977 OB
PAUPERISM.

333

The following Table Exhibits a statistical View of the Poor Houses in the several
Counties.

o
r3

.o'

> in
g =

3
13

CO CD

a
|

« CD

Number of persons
in the poorhouse,

Of persons relieved
or supported during

V
•g

CD

£¦2

CD

cO

to
£2

CD

Dec. 1, 1835.

the year, there were

rt .
CO .
s §
o s
CD
COUNTIES.
«3
Sp
ft CD
°m
P. CO
9 cD CD
a co
B »
o >>
O „
P-.C
>. CDto
CUDc3
tD
boP3
¦3
toRL.
3
"3
n o
~ o
o 0)
Mp
P..9
Cm"" O CD9B
- —
o O .c*
s -s
EtS 9
3 ct"9
CD **
S3 tt
« C
9 —
PS
P3
T3¦9 CD
3O
¦9 P =
-3 CDtoCO
¦9 CD
-3 3OCD
JO
wCD sa
cdon}'
COo
cdCD
P to
'S O
iCOp3
o
cdV
3
<
>
£.
K
5
B
a
<
fa
S
h
fa
A
is
s
Albany.
60
27000 00
694
14
81
47
595
24
140
129
275
634
9
7
3
Allegany,
182
5500 00
45
1
3
2
45
3
20
16
36
3
10
4
2
Broome,
130
4000 00
78
J
6
5
35
11
13
15
28
20
1
2
Cattaraugus,
200
3000 00
33
1
2
2
40
3
16
9
25
2
9
3
Cayuga,
83
5000 00
158
3
11
4
140
4
30
35
65
22
5
8
Chautauque,
90
6431 00
65
4
8
8
29
5
29
33
62
10
3
5
1
Chenango,
173
5000 00
97
2
6
—
65
—
38
49
87
32
11
4
Clinton,
90
4021 00
113
2
2
8
83
1
30
39
69
108
6
Columbia,
200
15000 00
240
10
25
20
152
67
95
75
170
36
. —
8
('ortland,
_

—
—
1
—
—
—
8
7
15
1
Delaware,
102
5000 00
73
4
6
6
43
10
30
32
62
40
9
5
Dutchess,
107
17500 00
642
9
53
60
401
119
61
118
179
75
10
4
1
Erie,
80
30479 89
387
5
33
—
217
150
25
38
63
205
6
3
1
Essex,
100
4100 00
95
4
8
11
74
6
27
15
42
43
6
5
Franklin,
106
2200 00
120
1
8
9
40
31
22
20
42
14
5
Genesee,
120
4000 00
126
2
10
7
94
13
38
53
91
40
12
6
Greene,
111
5000 00
138
9
27
6
80
5
84
74
158
6
7
4
2
Herkimer,
25
1500 00
184
4
14
6
85
10
44
31
75
79
4
2
1
Jefferson,
100
7500 00
129
3
13
2
114
'2
31
35
66
25
4
3
1
Kings,
70
16836 35
445
8
57
17
233
21
118
121
239
581
10
4
Lewis,
55
2600 00
50
3
3
3
13
1
17
9
26

5
2
4
Livingston,
136
7000 00
86
1
5
6
50
15
20
43
63
30
2
4
Madison,
125
7000 00
181
3
17
2
136
10
31
52
83
15
12
6
Monroe,
47
4000 00
264
4
9
2
171
23
44
42
86
103
'8
2
3
Montgomery,New York,
150
7000 00
217
3
25
15
146
—
67
82
149
139
20
24
5
248
600000 00
3807
83
642
242
2700
94
1000
1246
2246
1933
440
4
6
Niagara,
94
7000 00
172
2
8
9
87
38
22
41
63
101
5
3
1
Oneida,
115
7000 00
391
18
38
11
454
—
63
51
114
292
10
3
1
Onondaga,
140
6500 00
197
3
24
15
135
20
28
52
80
65
5
8
1
Ontario,
212
13500 00
135
5
12
10
74
38
37
27
64
37
5
11
2
Orange,
158
14000 00
219
16
35
39
148
104
90
135
225
83
17
1
5
Orleans,
93J
6000 00
60
2
10
5
18
8
6
11
17
24
1
8
1
Oswego,
61J
2500 0C
104
9
4
10
92
5
27
15
42
29
5
3
Otsego,
157
10592 0(
9E
4
33
2l
13
2
38
32
70
14
21
13
2
Putnam,
196
8000 01
3C
]
8
12
11
7
23
30
53
2
2
3
1
Queens,
—

X
]
1
6
9
—
8
16
24
14

1
Rensselaer,
• —

47:
2(
6C
18
382
15
115
113
228
400
15
3
Richmond,
100
'5000 0(
) 1.
)
5
13
3
8
5
13
7
5
Rockland,
—

67
89
156
1
3
1
Saratoga,
•178
; 7000 0
) IK
:
2C
9
92
9
62
84
146
45
10
15
Schenectady
9Q
3000 0
) 17.
i
9
1
114
1
1»
29
48
100
3
2
1
Schoharie,
104
2000 0
) .')(
s
3
27
29
19
. 48
* 3

1
Seneca,
136
6500 0
) 12S
s
5
12
75
28
19
17
32
32
1
3
1
St. L'rence,
80
2000 01
15)
s
12
8
50
3
30
14
44
101
2
1
Steuben,
132
8000 or
10C
—
8
• 18
16
16
22
26
48
9
3
3
2
Suffolk,
—

62
40
102
3
14
8
5
Sullivan,
100
2000 or
31
3
2
38
—
12
11
23
9
1
3
Tioga,
50
1000 or
60
S
6
2
23
12
19
41
60
2
3
Tompkins,
100
5200 or
87
4
7
4
: 66
10
19
21
40
45
7
1
5
Ulster,
147
6000 oc
96
6
21
, 24
63
10
70
45
115
42
5
18
Warren,
190
1730 0C
35
2
5
7
27
4
21
14
35
2
2
Washington
140
8500 0C
131
2
27
4
101
7
38
48
86
27
20
9
Waynq,
150.1
. 7750 0C
97
2
10
7
89
14
7
23
30
15
8
4
Westchester,
135
13500 0C
292
7
43
15
169
86
71
123
194
159
¦. V
12
2
Yates,
125
3750 00
60
2
5
6
32
5
20
7
27
9
3
6064!
959690 24
11986
307
1496
763
8228
1073
3138
3597
6629
5865
799
260
61
334

POLITICAL VIEW.

The whole number of children in the poor houses, under 16 years of age, on
the 1st December, 1835, was 2,410, of whom 1358 were males and 1052 females.
Of the whole number, 1928 were instructed an average period of 8 months; from
several counties no instruction was reported.
By the secretary's report there were in

18.33,
1834,1835,
1836,

County Paupers.
32,146,33,525,30,418,36,935,

Town Paupers.
1,848,
2,252,
2,380,2,427,

Total Number.
34,094,35,777,
32,798,
39,362,

Total Cost.
267,767 80
295,239 13
304,913 21
323,841 12

Ofthe increased number, 6,565 in the year 1835, 4,147 were in the city of New
York, and came within the denomination of temporary reliefs. This great appa
rent increase is ascribed to the prevalence of small pox in several parts of the
state, but more particularly to the greater accuracy in the returns of the supervi
sors of towns in counties in which the distinction between town and county poor,
is not abolished, whereby the expense of supporting town paupers is more fully
given. The average cost of maintaining, in the poor houses, each pauper, per
annum, for the 6 years next preceding 1836, was $33 07. The maximum in
1830 was $ 37 03, and the minimum in 1834 was $30 78 J.
The actual expense of maintaining the paupers of the state, consists of the in
terest of the capital vested in poor houses and farms; say one million, at 5 per
cent.=$ 50,000, and actual outlay, $323,841 12=$ 373,841 12, per annum.

CHAPTER XVIII.
GENERAL STATISTICS.
1. Statistical Returns of the Marshals on taking the Census in 1825 and 1835. 2. Com
parison between the Returns of the two Periods. 3. Tables of the Cotton, Woollen,
and Iron Manufactures in 1832. 4. Commerce — Tables showing- Progress and Pre
sent Condition of Imports, Exports and Tonnage. 5. Population Tables from 1 720.
1. The returns of the marshals, under the acts directing the census, besides
the population, give a general, but not very satisfactory, view, of the principal
manufactures of the state. We present an abstract from the returns of 1825 and
1835. General Abstract of Returns ofthe Census of 1825 and 1835.

Population.

1825.

1835.

Increase.

Decrease

Value of
mateiial.

Value of
product.

Yards wool.

Yards
C.&vr.

Total Population,

1,616,458

2,174,517

558,059

Males,
822,897
1,102,658
279,761
Females,
793,859
1,071,859
278,298
Militia,
180,645
201,901
21,256
Electors,
296,132
422,034
126,902
Aliens, 1830,
40,430
t82,319
Paupers,*
5,610
6,821
1,211
Persons of colour
not taxed,
38,770
42,836
3,066
Do. taxed,
931
934
3
Do. voters,
298
570
280
Population, exclud
ing aliens, pau
pers and persons
of col. not taxed,
1,531,648
2,042,541
410,893
Married females
under 45 years,
200,481
283,230
88,749
Unmarri'd between
16 and 45,
135,391
195,499
60,108
Do. under 16,
361,624
456,224
94,600
* Actually chareable when the census was taken.
\ Males. The females were not taken in 1835. Their number is estimated at 80,018.
GENERAL STATISTICS.

335

Population.

1825.

1835.

Increase.

Decrease

Value of
material.

Value of
product.

Yards of
wool.

Yards
C.&W.

i Deaf and dumb,

645

933

288

In

U35.

< Supported by

( charity,
141
278
137
j Blind,
889
'
| Sup. by charity,
270
\ Idiots,
1,421
1,484
63
| Sup. by 6harity,
442
514
72
( Lunatics,
819
967
148
j Sup. by charity,
184
382
198
Marriages, preced
ing year,
11,553
15,535
3,982
{ Births, do. males,
31,514
39,839
8,325
/ females,
29,689
37,405
7,716
DeathB, do. males.
12,525
17,486
4,961
females,
10,019
15,280
5,261
Acres of improved
land,
7,256,048
9,655,426
2,399,378
Value of. real es
tate,
239,434,100
403,309,813
163,975,713
of personal do.
71,584,350
124,620,823
53,036,473
of real & per. do.
312,259,444
531,718,531
219,459,037
No. of neat cattle,
1,513,421
1,885,771
372,350
Horses,
349,628
524,895
175,267
Sheep,
3,496,539
4,261,766
765,226
Hogs,
1,467,573
1,554,358
86,785
Y'ds. of fulled cloth
made in families,
2,918,233
2,183,951
734,282
Unfulled wool. do.
3,468,001
2,790,069
678,932
Linen «te cotton do.
8,079,992
3,799,953
4,279,961
Grist mills,
2,264
2,051
213
17,687,009
20,140,435
Saw mills,
5,195
6,948
1,753
3,651,153
6,881,055
Oil mills,
121
71
60
50
214,813
275,574
Fulling mills,
1,221
965
266
1,994,491
2,894,096
Carding machines,
1,585
1,061
524
2,179,414
2,651,638
Cotton factories.
101
111
10
1,630,352
3,030,709
24,175,357
Woollen factories,
213
234
21
1,450,825
2,433,192
6,626,058
686,203
Iron works.
171
293
122
2,366,065
4,349,949
Triphammers,
164
141
23
168,896
363,581
Distilleries,
1.129
337
792
2,278,420
3,098,042
Asheries,
2,196
693
1413
434,394
726,418
Gloss factories,
13
163,312
448,559
Rope factories,
63
464,394
980,083
Chain cable facto
'
ries,
2
20,871
28,625
Oil cloth factories,
24
63,119
95,446
Dyeing ct printing,
15
1,999,000
2,465,600
Clover mills,
69
95,693
110,025
Paper mills,
70
358,857
685,784
Tanneries,
412
3,563,592
5,598,626
Breweries,
94
916,252
1,381,446
2. From the preceding table, it is seen that 2,399,378 acres of land have been
brought under improvement, in 10 years. The whole quantity returned as im
proved, is about one-third of the area of the state. We understand by improved
lands, such as are seated; a portion of which only is under cultivation. Probably
not more than one-sixth part ofthe state is yet under profitable culture. Taking
in round numbers the whole area of the state at 44,000 square miles, and the popu
lation at 2,000,000, and we have 45T5T inhabitants to each square mile. In 1825,
upon the same estimate of area, there were 36y8T inhabitants to the square mile. If
the state were as densely settled as England and Wales, it would contain 203
persons to the square mile, or 8,932,000 — if settled as France, it would have 141
to the square mile, or 6,204,000 — if as Ireland, 240 to the square mile, or
10,560,000 inhabitants.
The value of real estate has increased in ten years, $163,975,713, or at the rate
of nearly $17,000,000 per annum; of personal estate, $53,036,473, or $5,303,647
per annum. The stock of domestic cattle, of every species, has increased in num
ber 1,399,628. But the products of household manufacture have decreased
5,693,175 yards. This must be attributed to the great increase in the cotton and
woollen manufactories of the country generally, and particularly of the former.
The carding machines and fulling mills have also much decreased, from the same
cause; but the increase of cotton and woollen factories in the state has been in
considerable in number; ofthe former 10, and ofthe latter 21, only. Of their pro
duct, in the two periods, we have no data for comparison. The product of 1835,
336

POLITICAL VIEW.

as given by the marshals, being very deficient, and the number being actually less
than reported to the secretary of the treasury in 1832.
The grist mills have diminished in number, notwithstanding the product has
greatly increased; This will be apparent by reference to the quantity of flour
transported on the canals, (see pages 90, 94.) In 1825, there were cleared on the
Erie canal, 237,124 barrels; and in 1835, on all the canals, 1,267,275.
The saw mills have greatly increased — the excess in 1835 over those of 1825,
being 1753; showing an increase of 175 per annum. This is owing to the means
of transportation afforded by the canals, and especially the Champlain canal, giving
access to the forests of the north-eastern counties and of Vermont.
The iron works have also much increased in number, chiefly in the small fur
naces. The products of the blast furnaces, bloomeries, nail and hoop factories, have
been greatly enlarged.
The diminution of the distilleries is at once gratifying and surprising; being not
less than an average of 79 in each year.
, With the improvement of the country, and the opening of the markets for lum
ber, the number of asheries has been greatly reduced.
Of the other manufactures, in the abstract for 1835, there were no returns in
1825, and we have no means of instituting a comparison.
On the values returned by the marshals, no reliance can, we think, be placed.
Having examined the returns from the several counties, we find so many omis
sions and obvious errors, that we have little confidence in the result. Supposing
the ratio of estimate to be correct, the amount is greatly below what it should be.
The grand result, however, is the cost of material $41,900,922, and the value of
product $58,639,083, giving for wages, and other cost of manipulation, $16,738,161
upon the species of manufactures therein stated, exclusive of increased product on
other manufactures; such as boots, shoes, sadlery, and other fabrics of leather; all
the manufactures of wood, as ships, carriages, furniture, &c.
3. Of the great manufactures of cotton, wool and iron, we give more particular
and satisfactory results, drawn from the returns made to the treasury of the
United States, in 1832, at the special instance of that department.
We take the table of cotton manufactures as arranged in Williams's Register.
Statistical View of the Cotton Manufacturing Establishments in the State of New
York, in 1832.

Counties in

No of

Amount

Number

Pounds of

Pounds of

Value of

Value of

No. per

which locat

Mills.

of Capital

of Spin

Cotton ma

Yarn sold

Cloth pro

Yarn and

sons sus

ed.

invested.

dles in

nufactured

annually.

duced an

Cloth pro

tain 'ii by

use.
annually.
nually.
duced an
said Es-
nually.
tab's.
Oneida,
20
$737,500
31,596
1,705,290
175,080
5,273,200
$590,650
2354
Rensselaer,
45
525,000
16,606
854,300
147,110
2,790,315
304,700
1621
Dutchess,
12
445,000
17,690
833,000
185,500
1,952,000
332,500
1974
Otsego,
11
304,000
15,344
618,543
56,000
2,322,000
201,500
1077
Columbia,
7
218,000
13,266
559,000
199,000
1,150,400
201,720
1285
Westchester
5
115,000
9,400
486,000
438,000
132,900
289
Washington
5
100,000
3,606
168,800
33,500
717,650
65,000
275
Herkimer,
5
35,000
2,296
106,237
33,500
269,912
27,600
128
Saratoga,
4
144,000
5,752
270,000
1,210,660
98,580
460
Jefferson,
3
170,000
6,020
327,000
22,600
1,004,720
99,000
595
Ulster,
3
140,000
5,796
410,000
330,000
115,000
86,700
475
Orange,
3
135,000
4,200
251,000
4,000
740,000
66,400
4b'0
Madison,
3
30,000
1,998
35,000
31,500
8,500
35
Tompkins,
3
28,000
812
35,500
1,000
199,063
18,000
97
Onondaga,
2
62,000
2,160
125,000
5,000
460,000
38,100
325
Monroe,
2
55,000
2,648
208,000
105,000
300,000
53,500
330
Clinton,
2
16,000
884
25,000
100,000
8,000
70
Rockland,
1
100,000
3,500
200,000
40,000
460,000
47,200
500
Schenectady
1
77,000
2,000
118.O0O
20,000
4 16,000
37.900
200
Chenango,
1
75,000
4,474
200,000
800,000
64,000
225
Cayuga,
1
70,000
2,692
180,000
8,000
180,000
65,000
138
Seneca,
1
70,000
4,000
190,000
550,000
55,000
150
Franklin,
1
10,000
Suffolk.
1
10,000
576
36,000
33,000
6,600
30
112 >
$3,671,500
157,316
7,961,670
1,867,790
21,010,920
$2,618,050
12.954
"Voollen Manufactories,
1832.
337
00 'O
SV
i:
o
a
enCDucu
IS a
a »-
n v.
caV.
COUNTIES.
S3
*3M
sg,
oa
9
o
°s
s
•3.2
<o
J«Sj5
is -a
S °
01
»<3
O
3*tH
Z
IS'o
E'e.
ct)
is
O
1
3 a
a a
>
ase
n
£
M
CB
E
a
ill
ri rt °
o
Dole.
lbs.
Dols.
yds.
yds.
yds
yds.
yds.
yds.
Dutchess,* i
6
186000
197
42179
156000
89100
196250
76000
—
900
3000
1500
—
Orange,
6
192762
187
36667
73950
35067
146650
32772
—
190000
—
300
—
Ulster,
3
38500
105
13397
43497
23206
58342
15736
232
781
1372
—
—
Columbia,
2
26000
65
5690
46000
20606
35120
10800
—
—
41600
500
—
Suffolk,
3
59000
101
16500
49250
34647
63000
23000
—
2000
1000
138
-_
Saratoga,
2
17500
32
2100
16000
5960
10006
—
200
500
2000
3150
euuu
Putnam,
1
2000
14
500
1500
750
1500
—
—
i'00
—
1500
—
Greene,
1
40&
9
100
450
225
600
—
—
700
—
1500
—
Washington,
1
4000
8
626
2300
115C
2076
—
-'-
--
1000
1560
—
Cayuga,
1
20000
56
7000
60000
3500C
6000C
—
—
—
90000
—
—
Rensselaer,.
5
170215
214
19041
151750 71102
125935
2O500
— >
198000
85500
—
. —
Oneida,
1
160000
147
18500
125000! 83751
13000C
38000
45000
—
5000
—
—
Jefferson,
1
—
40
6200
30000, —
—
—
6000
20000
26000
—
—
Delaware,
1
900C
2f
1500
3300 1452
3000
500
.250
3011
1500
1000
—
23 factories
in the west
ern*; north
ern counties,
23
• —
—
—
399800 —
—
57000
100000
60000
196000
—
—
57
895377
1203 160000
1158797 402650
852003
274308
151682
485381
470972
11148
6000
Note. It is obvious that this table is very imperfect, since it embraces of the 234 woollen factories
in the state, 57 only. Its details in relation to the number reported are entitled to credit.
, * From three factories only of this county have returns been made. i
The following tables, relating to the iron manufacture, embrace all the principal
works in the state, and probably all that were in operation for making iron from
the ore in 1832.
Cupola and | Blast fur-
air furnaces naces.
COUNTIES
Albany,
Cayuga,
Chautauque,Chenango,Clinton,Columbia, Dutchess,Delaware, Erin,
Essex,Genesee, Greene,Herkimer,Jefferson, Madison,Monroe.
Montgomery, NewYork,Niagara,Onondaga, Oneida,
Ontario,Orange,* Oswego,OtBego,Putnam,Rensselaer,Rockland,St. Lawrence'
Saratoga,
Schenectady, Schoharie, Seneca,
Tioga, Tompkins,Ulster, Wayne,Washington Westchester, Yates,
E
1315 340 55 85
115500 855 55
310 195255250 486 245 100
335 185
2960 100
125
617 160150120
205
2000 980 50 65
190110 2020 8080
160
247230 27
HS
68 175 12 1035
1 200
5'
70
250 40
2275
130
160
100
150
5
100
1220 25 3044 60 3062
1500 260
109 14377 120 3974 2325 6 41 3830 3920 11392 106711 4631 10842 1506
405 160150 188
230 200417 70
70
100
826736 130
210 45
1565 50
230294 6060
2600 400 50
346 25
180
200 60
100 25
120 10
60
130 6530
770 31]
4
101
19731 7147 50 5
120
29906 200 15
50144372 104 6
170401 7
12
17158 39062510 3820
3440 459
2560 4354 63 10 2
2
154
300 10
2250 1280 20 2
e S
413 1610
193
315 16
124 20
465 28 48
334 74
310 105 62
330 118 40 93
55 40 48
33 10 6
33
629, 16
13 Si
1232 265
450 66.
967, 154
1
26'
1278 229
04 8
40 2
120 55
454 46 6
80
1030 1
8
816 152
1100 24 15
1200 163
160
247 18 1
2
2
44 40
2490
262 20 2
112 8
8
51
190167
10 8
3068 2 1
6
8
2
20
* The return for orange includes the blast furnace at Cold !»pring, Putnam countv h<.lr,,,„;„
Messrs. Kemble. *•> ' """"s'mj
338

POLITICAL YIEW.

'3 too

o.o o
E «3 Co

c03So

u~
*j a
cS
13 a<o O-
-Q

c c
<;

*cfl
99 C
S

O
O) is
saso

"¦a
CJ|S

CD
-n
c —
o
two '«-S
O

Ou
3' w c
o

Troy Nail Works, - - -
Albany dn. - - -
Carthage. Jefferson Co. -
Clintonville, Peru, - -

630
410 33
624
300 430
1100

1360 828 35
1000 500500
1442
5665

40
40 5
5024 17 8
100100 30

160160 20
102 7250 8
400 600 90

600
200 2024

86 30

44
1010 3
10 10
36 90 13

200200 58
3000 576
15.00 100
1500
3000 900

60

Hulbert, Clinton, - - -
do. do. - - -
Monroe, Orange., - - -
Washington county, - -

90

3617

414'l662

804

116 189

11026

60

90

We refer to our county tables for more minute details of the statistics attainable
from the returns ofthe marshals in 1835.

COMiWERCE.

4. Of the greatness and the rapid increase of the commerce of New York, it is
scarce possible to speak without wonder and terms of astonishment. In place,
however, of expressions of admiration, we present the following tabular views,
which show its progressive increase from 1790, and its present condition, in re
gard to its exports, imports, and tonnage.

Exports from New York, from 1790 to 1820.
1791,
2,505,465
1801,
19,851,136
1811,
12,266,215
1792,
2,535,790
1802,
13,792,276
1812,
8,961,922
1793,
2,932,370
1803,
10,818,387
1813,
8,185,494
1794,
5,442,183
1804,
16,081,281-
1814,
209,670
1795,
10,304,581
1805,
23,482,943
1815,
10,675,373
1796,
12,208,207
1806,
21,762,845
1816,
19,690,031
1797.
13,308,064
1807,
26,357,963
1817,
18,707,433
1798,
14,300,892
1808,
5,606,058
1818,
17,872,261
1799,
18,719,527
1809,
12,581,562
1819,
13,587,378
1800,
14,045,079
1810,
17,242,330
1820,
13,163,244
Commerce of New York from 1821 to 1834.
1823
182418251826 18271828182918301831 183218331834
Value of Imports.
American vessels.
21,926,635 33,394,601
37,827,70934,341,843
47,751,84436,589,362 36,600,91439,050,50632,771,50033,432,098
53,617,03348,728,64951,832,03368,292,736
Foreign
vessels.
1,702,611
2,051,027 1,593,640
1,771,880 1,887,330
1,526,268
2,118,730
2,877,286 1,971,807
2,191,972 3,460,384
4,485,753 4,086,416
4,895,858
576,157,463 36,620,962
23,629,24635,445,62829,421,34936,113,72349,639,174
38,115,63038,719,644 41,927,79234,743,307
35,624,07057,077,41753,214,40255,918,449 73,168,594
602,778,425
Value of Exports.
Domestic Produce.
American Foreign Total.
vessels. vessels.
7,137,057
9,855,188
10,352,17113,041,072
20,133,312 10,819,04012 320,508
10,909,259
11,125,77712,277,55313,899,62812,399,693 13,158,943
11,596,306
761,548
1,131,9791,010,824 487,582518,246677,679
1,600,1191,452,756 910,784
1,340,725
1,826,490
2,657,5582,252,3533,143,899
7,898,605
10,987,167
11,362.99513,528,654
20,651,558 11,496,71913,920,62712,362,015
12,036,56113,618,27815,726,118
15,057,25115,411,29613,740.205
160,025,507 18,774,542 187,798,049 109,115,290
F.produce.
American vessels.
4,919,9025,196,7787,055,196
8,640,804
12,978,333 9,551,748 8,908,535
9,206,418 6,888,900
5,130,189
8,658,955 8,115,4756,457,5217,406,536
GENERAL STATISTICS.

339

Commerce of New York. — continued.

Value of Exports.

Tonnage.

Foreign Produce. Total

American.

Foreign.

Total.

Domestic and
Foreign
Total.
Enter'd.
Depart.
Lvnter'd.
Depart.
Enter'd.
Depart.
vessels.
Foreign.
1821
344,411
5,264,313' 13,162.918
156,493 158,174
13,856
10,720
170,349
168,894
182?
916,537
6,113,315. 17,100,482;
217,538
185,666
22,478
17,784
240,016
203,450
1HM
620,799
7,675,995: 19,038,990:
201,5 9
193,521
25,453
23,553
226,972
216,074
1824
727,676
9,368,480 22,897,134
227,961
222,271
19,774
18,142
247,735
240,413
1825
1,629,370
14,607,703 35,25,1,261
271,825
255,878
22,947
19,851
2J4,773
375,729
1826
890,324
10,442,072 21,938,791
254,213
214,664
27,975
21,365
382,188
236,029
18-J7
1,004,975
9,913,510
23,834,137
261,301 239,966
39,242
33,375 300,543
273,343
1828
1,209,216
10,415,634
23,777,649
256.750 217,113
44,505
42,373 301,255
259,486
1823
1,193,550
8,082,450
20,119,011
V5!>,382
219,674
30,219
32,8551 289,601
252,529
1830
949,516
6,079,705
19,097,983
2:18,434
239,341
35,344
36,574! 333,778
265,915
1831
1.150,071
9,809,026
25,535,144
315,972
254,331
77,719
72,4441 393,691
326,775
1832
2,828,220
10,943,695
26,000.916
329,842
342,749
1)6,481
101,987! 446,323
344,716
1833
3,526,300
9,983,821
25,395,117
454,21£
384,175
161,949
153,566' 616,167
537,741
1834
4,256,099
11,662,345
, 25,402,340
451,359
361,606
243,633
238,650 694,892
600,356
21,247,064
130,362,354
318,160,403
1
The latest return of the tonnage in the several districts ofthe state, which we
have been able to obtain, is for the year 1833, which gives fpr Champlain, en
rolled and licensed,. 616.60— Sackett's Harbour, 1861.07— Oswego, 1535.40—
Genesee, 1641.41-nOswegatchie, 716.32— Buffalo Creek, 3740.70— Sag Harbour,
7639.75 registered, 3428.10 enrolled and licensed— JSJew York, 141,915.28 regis
tered, 171,818.48 enrolled and licensed— Cape Vincent, 859.43 enrolled and li
censed. Of the internal commerce ofthe state, we haye sufficiently spoken in our views
of internal improvements.
5. The annexed table shows the population ofthe state at every period at which
a census has been taken.
Aggregate of Population, at the seviral periods at which the Census was taken.
[
.
-G
to
~as 0)
White emales. Slaves.
a .
O Ui
= »
o &
*o CO
o g
CD »
0) 1
\ -S B ,
Total.
0>
gfe
o0.
fc.
Px
1790
161,822
152,320' 21,324
4,654
340,120
1800
237,694
268,122 20,613
10,374
586,050
1810
473,331
744,418 15,017
23,333
959,049
1820
709,129
653,193 6,698
13,458
15,821
701
1,372,812
1825
822,897
793,561
*39,999
1,616,458
1830
951,441
916,620 76
21,401
23,468
l,918,608t
1835
1,102,658
1,071,859
*44,348
2,174,517
* Males and females. ,t In this total are included 5,602, not classed.
Prior to 1790, the population of this and the other late colonies, is conjectured
only. In 1700, New York had given to it, 30,000; in 1750, 90,000; in 1775,
238,000 inhabitants.
Between 1790 and, 1800, the ratio of increase was about 8 per cent, per annum*
between 1800 and 1810, above 6 per cent.; between 1810 and 1820, over 4 per
cent.; and between 1820 and 1830, also over 4 per cent. At the present rate" of
increase the population doubles in about 23 years, whilst the period assigned for
doubling the population of the whole United States, is about 25 years.
The total number of post offices in the state* in 1836 was 1,719. Postage Vear
ending March 31, 1834, g!30,000. s ' '
ALBANY COUNTY" was originally organised by the act of 1st of November,
1683, but has undergone much modification; and is now bounded, N. by the
counties of Saratoga and Schenectady; W. by Schoharie, the W. bounds of the
Manor of Rensselaerwyck; S. by Greene county, and E. by the Hudson river,
dividing it from Rensselaer county. Greatest length 28, greatest breadth 21
miles; area 464 square miles, or 297,351 acres, situated between 42° 23' and 42°
49', N. Lat., 2° 40' and 3° 15' E. Lon.; and centrally distant from New York 160,
from the City of Albany, 15 miles.
The surface and soil are much variegated. Along the Hudson, are alluvial flats,
nowhere exceeding a mile in width, susceptible of high cultivation in favourable
spots. From these flats the surface rises abruptly 140 feet, and thence gradually
westward to the mountains. On the Mohawk the land is rugged, broken and na
turally sterile; on the west are the Helderberg hills, precipitous and craggy, with a
soil of calcareous loam; centrally, the country consists of undulating grounds and
plains, with small marshes and tracts of cold wet sands and clay, but which have
been of late years wonderfully fertilised by gypsum, converting the piney and
sandy desert into fragrant clover and fruitful wheat fields. Still much ofthe soil
of this county is unimproved and perhaps, unimprovable; but the greater portion
is productive of wheat, of which a, large surplus is annually sent to the New
York market.

ALBANY COUNTY. 341
The geological formation is transition; being the graywacke groupe of De la
Beche — underlying rock, arenaceous and conglomerate graywacke, in thick schis
tose beds, visible in the banks of the Hudson and Mohawk rivers; while in the
Helderbergs appear the higher portions of the same groupe, lime and sand stones,
abounding in organic remains. In many parts of the county both limestone and
graywacke are extensively quarried for building; and many of the locks on the
Erie canal, near the city, are constructed of the former. The elevated plain of the
east, is underlaid with thick beds of blue and yellow argillaceous marl, having a
distinct lamellar structure, destitute of animal remains, and covered by a reddish
yellow silicious sand.
Mineral springs abound. At the village of Coeymans is one containing sulphate
of magnesia, muriate of lime, iron, sulphuretted hydrogen and carbonic acid gas.
In Guilderland and Watervliet, they are found impregnated with carbonate of iron
and sulphuretted hydrogen. Sulphuretted hydrogen springs gush forth in every
direction. In the limestone ofthe Helderbergs are several extensive caverns, in which are
stalactites and stalagmites of various beauty, and many interesting animal remains
and minerals; but we are not aware that ai<y bones have been discovered in them.
They have apparently been formed by the action of water; small streams of which
flow through most of them.
The county is well watered lay streams, which iii their course from tbe high
f rounds, on the west, to the Hudson river, afford valuable hydraulic power.
'he chief of these are the Patroon's creek; Fox, Butler, and Beaver, kills, in the
city of Albany; Normanskill, Vlamanskill, Coeymans creek, Hannakraikill, Pro
vost creek, Ten mile creek; Catskill, Foxenkill, Pichteway, Pasic, Eight mile,
creeks; Schwitzkill, Black creek, Vlykiil, Bozakill, Elislia's, Stienhook and
Hnngerkills. The most important of these streams, save Normans and Coeymans,
are described under the adjacent counties, in which they partly flow.
Normanskjjl rises in Schenectady county, and has a south-east course of about
twenty-eight miles. At its mouth are very extensive and valuable mills. The
principal tributaries are the Boza and Vlykills.
The county, exclusive of the city of Albany, is divided into nine towns.
The post towns and villages are Albany, Clarkville, Coeymans, Coeymans
Hollow, Cohoes, Disbrows, Dormausville, Dunnsville, East Berne, Guilderland,
Guilderland centre, Hall's Mills, Knox, Lisbaskill, New Scotland, Potter's Hol
low, Reidsville, Bensselaerville, South Westerlo, Union Church, Watervliet,
Watervliet centre, Westerlo, West Guilderland.
Albany City may be said to have been founded in 1612, by some Hollanders,
and to have been, next to Jamestown, the earliest European settlement within the
primitive 13 United States. A temponry fort was erected in 1614, and Fort
Orange, in 1623. By that name it was known until after the English conquest in
1664, when it received the name of Albany from one of the titles of the Duke of
York. It was fortified against the Indians by the Dutch, with a stockade in 1645,
and vestiges of the work remained until 1812.
The city was incorporated by the colonial governor, Dongan, in 1686, with an
area one mile wide on the river, extending N. W. to the N. line of the manor of
Rensselaer, and retaining that width 131 miles; the fee simple of which was vested
in the corporation. Its bounds were enlarged by addition of part of the small
town of Colonie, 25th of February, 1815, which now forms the fifth ward. Area
7160 acres, a small portion of which only is improved; the soil being a sandy and
clay loam of very inferior quality. Originally, by the charter, its government was
lodged in a mayor, recorder, six aldermen and six assistants, but is now exercised
by a mayor, recorder, ten aldermen, and ten assistant aldermen, under the title of
"The Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty." It is divided into five wards, each
electing, on the 1st Tuesday of May, annually, two aldermen and two assistants,
and the usual town officers.
The corporation courts consist ofthe mayor's, justices' and police courts.
The city lies in 42° 39' 3" N. Lat. and 3° 12'E.Lon. from Washington City.
Distant from N.York City, 145 miles, or 10 hours by steamboat; fromPhiladel-
phia 234; Washington City 373; Boston 171; Hartford 92; Quebec 394; Montreal
247; Buffalo by Utica, by land 296, via Cherry Valley 282, by the Canal 363-
from Detroit 664. It is the capital of the state and of the county.

342

TOPOGRAPHY.

The plat on which the city lies is uneven. A low alluvial flat extends along the
river, from 15 to 100 rods wide, west of which rises a hill of clay and sand; in
the first half mile 153 feet, and in the next about 67 feet high; from the summit
the country is an even plain for miles; broken only by some small streams. The
old portion of the city is not remarkable for the regularity of its streets, but the
modern has more symmetry. It contains about 100 streets and alleys. The
principal of which are State, Market, Pearl and Washington streets; many others
are thickly built on, with shops, stores and splendid dwellings.
The Capitol, containing the legislative halls, the supreme and chancery court
rooms of the state, the state library and other apartments for public business,
stands at the head of State street, 130 feet above the river. It is a substantial
edifice faced with the Nyack free stone, costing above $120,000; is 115 feet long,
90 broad, and 50 high, of two stories, upon a basement of 10 feet elevation. The
east part has a portico of the Ionic, order, with columns 3 feet 8 inches in diameter,
and 33 feet high. The legislative halls and court rooms contain portraits of emi
nent men. The building is surrounded by a public square, enclosed with costly
iron railing, which is separated from another by Washington street.
On the north side of the latter square is the academy, one of the finest buildings
of the city, constructed also of the Nyack stone, three stories high and 90 feet
front; cost, at the city charge, $90,000, exclusive of the site and some important
donations. The faculty consists of the principal; (Dr. T. Romeyn Beck,) a pro
fessor ofthe Latin and Greek; one of mathematics and natural philosophy; one of

ALBANY COUNTY.

343

modern languages, and four tutors. For the. condition of this institution see page
198. Near the capitol and academy, at the foot of Washington street, is the City
Hall, a costly edifice of white marble, appropriated to the city council and officers.
Its gilded dome is conspicuous at some distance from the city. In the walls of
the principal apartment are some bas reliefs executed by W. Coffee, at the cost'
of the citizens, commemorative of De Witt Clinton and Sir Walter Scott.
Near it is the Slate Hall, also "of marble, commenced in 1835, containing the
offices of secretary of state, comptroller, treasurer, surveyor general, attorney
general, register in chancery, clerk of the supreme court, &c.
It is a substitute for the old State house on the south side of State street.
The Albany Female Academy is a very chaste and beautiful building, in North
Pearl street, erected by a company, incorporated 16th February, 1821. The insti
tution enjoys high and merited reputation.
Among other distinguished buildings we may name Stanwix hall, built of
Quincy granite, and surmounted by a large dome; the Museum, of marble, 4
stories high, -above the. basement, at the corner of State and Market streets, de
serving attention by reason of its architectural merit and valuable collection of cu
riosities in the arts and natural history; the Law Buildings at the corner of Bea
ver and south- Market streets, also of marble; the south Dutch church inclosed
in well arranged grounds extending from Beaver to Hudson street, and having at
either end a lofty portico, supported by 6 large columns of free stone; the Baptist
church built on the site of the Vanderheyden mansion, an elegant structure, sur
mounted also by a splendid dome.
Oth.er public buildings are the Lancasterian School, alms house, jail, orphans'
asylum, &c. &c.
Religious Institutions. Churches. — 2 Dutch Reformed, 2 Episcopal, 6 Presby
terian, 1 Lutheran, 2 Baptist, 1 Methodist Protestant and 3 Methodist Episcopal,
1 Roman Catholic, 1 Universalist, 1 African Baptist and 1 African Methodist, 21.
Most, probably all have Sabbath schools annexed, giving moral and religious in
struction to about 3000 children.
Religious Societies. — Albany Bible Society, Bible and Common Prayer Book
Society, and Sacred Music Society.
Literary and Scientific Institutions. — Under a special act of Assembly of 17th
April, 1830, and supplements, the city is divided into riine districts for common
schools, and 1 Lancaster school for whites and 1 for blacks are maintained; 40
teachers and assistants are employed at an annual expense exceeding $6000,
giving instruction to more than 7000 children. The trustees of the second dis
trict have erected a very commodious edifice. The school moneys apportioned by
the superintendent of common schools to the city of Albany, are paid by the trea
surer of the county to the trustees of the Lancaster school in the city, to be ap
plied to the education of such poor children as such trustees deem entitled to gra
tuitous education; the trustees, annually accounting with the treasurer for the
faithful application of such funds, according to the laws relating to common
Bchools: Besides these primary schools there are numerous well conducted select schools,
as the Albany academy, female academy, female seminary, and the Albany classi
cal school:
The Albany Institute is divided into three departments. 1. Of the useful arts.
2. Of natural history. 3. Of history and literature, each separately organised.
But the presidents of the departments are ex-officio vice presidents of the insti
tute, and the other officers of the departments hold the same offices in the insti
tute as in the departments. The institute has commodious apartments in the
academy. Its library contains near 2000 volumes, and its museum more than
10,000 specimens in geology, mineralogy, botany, coins, engravino-s, casts
&c. It publishes its transactions from time to time, and has a high refutation
abroad: The Albany Library, established in 1792, kept at and connected with the Athe-
neum, contains near 9,000 volumes. The Atheneum was established in 1827:
The Young Men's Association for Mutual Improvement, has one of the best-read
ing rooms in the United States, to which strangers are freely admitted, and where
lectures are given by members twice a week; a debating society is connected with

344 TOPOGRAPHY.
the institution: The Apprentices' Library, a very useful institution; and the North
ern Institute and Academy of Fine Arts, founded 1831:
Here are also established the State Medical, the Albany County Medical, the
State Agricultural, and the Albany Horticultural, Societies:
The newspapers published in Albany, are the Daily Albany Argus, the official
slate paper; Albany Argus, semi-weekly; Albany Argus, weekly; Albany Daily
Advertiser; Albany Gazette, semi-weekly; Albany Whig, weekly; Albany Evening
Journal; Albany Journal semi-weekly; Albany Weekly Journal; Albany Mercury;
The Saturday Politician; The Microscope, weekly; Emerald; Zodiac, and Common
School Assistant; The-Cultivator, monthly; Temperance Recorder, monthly; Ame
rican Temperance Intelligencer, monthly; Beacon and Watchman, semi-monthly.
Benevolent Institutions. — Typographical Society, St.Andrews, St. Nicholas, Me
chanics, German, Painters; the Orphan Asylum, under the supervision of benevo
lent ladies of different Christian denominations, located in State street, near its
Junction with the great western turnpike road, maintains and instructs near
100 poor and destitute children, of whom the mayor of the city is, ex-officio, the
guardian: the Catholic Benevolent Society, and St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum,
and the Hibernian Provident Society, and four Masonic Lodges.
Manufactures. — Six iron works, annual produce $226,000; 1 rope and 1 oil
cloth factory; 2 tanneries; 6 breweries, producing near the value of half a mil
lion yearly; extensive manufactories of fur hats, morocco, carriages, harness, plated
and silver ware, coach lace, iron and hollow ware, enamelled stone ware, ships,
looking-glasses, cabinet ware, tobacco and snuff, types, oil and sperm candles,
brushes, &c.
The Patroon's creek and the Normanskill might readily be conducted through
the city, and supply a valuable power for manufactures; and such a measure, we
understand, is "contemplated by the enterprising inhabitants.
Banks — Bank of Albany, incorporated 10th April, 1792, capital $240,000;
New York State Bank, 19th March, 1803, capital $369,600; Mechanics and
Farmers' Bank, 22d March, 1811, capital $442,000; Commercial Bank, 12th
April, 1825, capital $300,000; Canal Bank, 2d May, 1829, capital $300,000;
Albany City Bank, April, 1834, $500,000; Albany Savings Bank, incorporated
24th March, 1820.
Insurance Companies. — Albany, Merchants', Firemen's, Agency of New York
Life Insurance and Trust Company.
The position of Albany, near the head of tide, on the direct line of communica
tion with the St. Lawrence river, with Saratoga Springs, and with the lake coun
try, necessarily makes it a great thoroughfare. The completion of the canals,
however, have given it great commercial importance, making it the entrepot for
the greater proportion of the products of the state destined to the New York
market. To accommodate this trade, a noble basin has been constructed, by the
citizens, upon the river, in which all the boats of the northern and western canals
are received. It consists of part of the river included between the shore and a
pier 80 feet wide and 4,300 feet long. The pier is a stupendous work, containing
about 8 acres, on which spacious stores have been erected, and where immense
quantities of lumber and other articles of trade are deposited. It is connected
with the city by drawbridges. The basin has an area of 32 acres. It cost
$ 130,000 dollars, and the lots upon it were sold at public auction at a large ad
vance. For the great value of the trade passing here we refer to the article relating to
the canals at page 89, &c. The tonnage is more than double that of the city of New
York. The 8 or 10 lines of canal freight boats all have an agency here.
There are 12 steamboats employed in the transportation of passengers and light
freight between this city and New York, 10 of which belong to the Hudson River
Steamboat Association, one of which leaves each city, morning at 7, evening at 5
o'clock. Small boats ply between this city and Hudson, and other towns on the
river, and a line is established between Albany and Troy; and there are 7 steam
boats engaged in towing barges between Albany and New York.
The navigation to .the city is much impeded by bars at the Overslaugh, three
miles, and at Winne's, eight miles, below. Many efforts have been made to remove
these obstructions, but hitherto without success. It is now proposed to contract
the channel ofthe river, and to turn the current in such direction as will cause it

les.

Chains.

Grade.

Inclination.

0

32

level

0

31

rise

lin 18

3

44

level

2

10

descent

1 in 40

1

40

level

2

53

descent

1 in 225

1

7

level

3
11
descent
1 in 270
0
2
level to
head of plane
0
47
descent
1 in 18
0
32
descent
1 in 500
ALBANY. 345
to carry away the deposits of earth, which have been, and still are, annually in
creasing. Should this plan avail, Albany may engage directly in ocean com
merce, from which she is in a great measure restricted. Still she has now a
large coasting trade. 360 vessels having arrived here in 1834, from eastern ports
alone; and the whole number of sloops plying to and from the city is given at
800. The Mohawk and Hudson rail road terminates in this city and connects, at
Schenectady, with the rail road to Saratoga and the rail road to Ulica. It was the
first chartered in the state. The plan and profile are said to be admirably designed;
yet it has been a very expensive work, costing near $40,000 the mile, including
the real estate connected with it. Still it proves a profitable investment of funds.
The road commences on the bank ofthe Erie canal, at Schenectady, and runs
parallel to it for 20 chains — then a curve of 10 chains:
1
From Schenectady lo foot of inclined plane
Inclined plane, - - - - -
Then runs .....
Do. 
Do. 
Do. ' 
¦Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Then Albany plane ....
Then to dock head on the Hudson at Albany, 0
Total  15 69
When excavation occurs in the grading, the width for a double road is 38 feet;
when embankment occurs, the width on the level of the road is 26 feet.
The greatest height of embankment is 44 feet; and the deepest excavation is 47
feet. On the first grade at Schenectady, below the inclined plane, there is one curve,
about 10 chains in length, on a radius of 700 feet. There is a curve at the head of
each inclined plane, about 8 chains each, on a radius of 1100 feet : between these
two there are two other curves, one on a radius of 4,200 feet, 9 chains long — and
one on a radius of 23,000 feet, 6 chains long. The only other curve is between
the foot of the Albany plane and the river, on a radius of 4,000 feet.
The wooden cross sleepers are 7 inches in diameter, and 8 feet long. '
Stone blocks contain each two cubic feet, and cost 45 cents. They are laid three
feet apart, from centre to centre, on a foundation of broken stone, well rammed.
The iron rail plate is a. bar fj- by 2i inches, with the upper curves rounded to
1\ inches width. The timber rails are yellow or Norway pine, 6 by 6 inches.
The width between the rails is 4 feet 9 inches.
The summit is 335 feet above the Hudson. Much of the cost of this railway
has been incurred for broken stone.
There are two stationary engines, one near each end of the road. Locomotive
engines aremostly-in use,although horses are occasionally employed. The main line
ofthe road approaches the Hudson below the city of Albany, where the company
have warehouses for freight. There is also a branch road into State street to the
depot, and also to the basin, which cost near $100,000. It is, however, used only
for passengers.
The stock for the Castleton and west Stockbridge rail road, to connect with
the Western rail road, incorporated by the state of Massachusetts, has been sub
scribed, and the road, it is said, will shortly be commenced. By act of March,
1836, a company was incorporated to make a tunnel under the Hudson river to
Castleton. The. inhabitants have been driven to this mode of crossing the river, by
reason of the trade of Troy and the large villages above, which would be inter
rupted by a bridge over the stream. The objections to a bridge above the water seem
to be insurmountable, and Albany has, therefore, stooped to conquer, by bridging
beneath the stream. The result of this experiment, if successful, may lead to like
44
346 "TOPOGRAPHY;
attempts elsewhere upon the river. The charter is favourable, being perpetual, and'
without the usual reservation of the state to repeal or modify.
There are two ferries across the river, one to Bath on the north, and the other
to Greenbush, on the south part of the city.
The ordinary expenses of the city amount to about $50,000 annually, besides
county and town charges.
Stages competent to the extraordinary flux of passengers, run from the city in
all directions. Upon the Mohawk and Hudson rail road, cars go to Schenectady
four times daily; and coaches upon the Macadamised road to Troy, hourly, make
18,350 trips the year. This road, one of the finest on -the continent, admits three
carriages abreast, and is so graded that the speed ofthe horses need not be check
ed, at any point. The scenery upon it is inviting.
The principal hotels are, the Eagle Tavern, S. Market street; Adelphi, Bement's,
American, State street; Congress Hall, Capitol square; Mansion House, City Hotel,
and Temperance House, N. Market street. On a less expensive scale, are the Fort
Orange House, and Montgomery Hall, Columbian, Exchange Coffee House, S. Market
street; and the Franklin House, State street.
Perhaps no city in the Union of its size has more, or more spacious hotels. It
has been estimated that 700,000 persons arrive and depart from the city in the
course of the year. The passengers on the Mohawk and Hudson rail road
amounted, in 1835, to about 180,000, and the receipt from passengers in the
Association lines of the canals was, by estimate in 1835, $250,000.
During the sessions of the legislature, Albany is crowded with strangers, and is
the focus for much of the legal talent and learning of the state, and for the repre
sentatives of its vast business concerns.
A mineral spring was discovered here some years since, by boring through
slate rock 500 feet. The partners in this enterprise having disagreed, one of
them, (Mr.Colloch, a Scotchman,) sunk another well, 617 feet, which gives water
much superior in its qualities, containing a large quantity of muriate of soda, and
being an active cathartic. The spring is surrounded by a handsome garden, and
is much resorted to by citizens and strangers. The analysis of this water, by Dr.
Lewis C. Beck, gave muriate of soda, carbonate of soda, carbonate of lime, car
bonate of magnesia, carbonate of iron, and free carbonic acid; differing not essen
tially from the water of the Saratoga Springs.
Much capital from abroad has, within a few years, been advantageously vested
here: still rents are comparatively low. A very profitable business has been done
since the completion ofthe canal, and many large fortunes have been accumulated
by men of business; and the industrious mechanic or tradesman can no where
establish himself with more favourable prospect of "wealth. Society is intelligent;
and polished; and, when properly approached, the inhabitants display liberal and
elegant hospitality.
The vicinity of the city affords many pleasant walks and rides: and the neigh
bouring cities of Troy and Schenectady, the villages of West Troy, Cahoes,
Lansingburg and Waterford, the Shaker settlement at Neskayuna, the farm ofthe
distinguished agriculturist, Mr. Jesse Buel, are objects for short and interesting
excursions. Upon the northern bounds of the city is the neat and beautifully situated man
sion of Stephen Van Rensselaer, Esq., the Patroon of the manor of Rensselaer
wyck. The name of this gentleman can scarce be mentioned without a passing
tribute to his merit. Blessed with great wealth, which so frequently leads to
selfish egotism and exclusiveness, he has through life been distinguished as an
active and efficient public man; bestowing his personal services and his fortune, to
the encouragement of every species of improvement in literature, science and art.
His name as a benefactor is associated with most of the charitable and scientific
institutions of the state, and he has perhaps done more than any other citizen to
foster agriculture and internal improvements.
The following are the towns of the county.
Behne, taken from Rensselaerville 17th of March, 1795, since modified: ¦ Cen
trally distant, N. of New York 165, W. of Albany 20, miles: Surface much
broken by the Helderberg hills, composed of calcareous rocks, which rise pre
cipitately from 70 to 500 feet, having in many places the appearance of an arti
ficial wall, in which there are several curious, natural caserns. The valleys are exten-

ALBANY COUNTY. 347
sive and have a fine soil of calcareous argillaceous loam, and in places tracts of clay,
marsh, bog, turf and marl. Fox's Creek and its branches drain the town N.W'.i
flowing into the Schoharie. Thompson's and Warner's ponds on the E. part
cover, each about 100 acres. The lands are holden of Mr. Van Rensselaer by
lease, at the rent of from 10 to 15 bushels of wheat the 100 acres. There are two
small villages in the town; Bernville, at which is a post office, and Mechanicsville.
Bethlehem, taken from Watervliet 12th of March, 1793: Centrally distant
from New York, N. 140, from Albany, S. W., 8, miles. Surface diversified, and
much still covered with wood: Soil various: Along theriver are extensive allu
vial flats, cultivated chiefly by descendants of the early Dutch settlers. Coeyman's
Creek crosses the town on the S. W.; Vlamanskill rises in it and flows E. to the
Hudson, and Normanskill enters the N. W. angle and runs to the river 2| miles
below Albany. These streams, particularly the last upon which are Rensselaer's
mills, afford advantageous water power. Messrs. Russell, of Albany, have a
mill at which they prepare 5000 barrels of dye woods, annually, and employ a
capital of $25,000. Mills Island, a valuable tract of alluvion, lies in the Hudson
partly in this town. The town has 2 villages; Rensselaer's mills and Bethlehem centre.
Coeymans, taken from Watervliet, 18th of March, 1791; distant N. from New
York, 134, and from Albany S. 11 miles. The surface is much broken, some
ridges of the Helderberg occupying the West. The soil is various; along the
river sterile, but of better quality westward. Coeymanskill flows W. over the N^ E.
part of the town, enters New Scotland, having a course of about 20 miles, and joins
theriver aboutamile above the town and county line, where are falls and mills. Han-
nekrai, another mill stream, drains the S. portion and unites with the Hudson on
that line. Limestone and shell marl abound. The town was early settled by the
Dutch, and is called after an original proprietor. It contains the villages of Coey
mans, Stevenville, and Coeymans Hollow. Coeymans village, at the confluence
of the creek with the Hudson, 14 miles S. of Albany, including a hamlet for
merly called the Square, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist church, 1 grist and
1 saw mill, 3 taverns, 6 stores, and about 150 dwellings. Stevenville upon the
Hannekrai Creek, in the S. W. angle, has a Methodist church, 1 grist, 1 saw
mill, clothing works, 1 tavern, 2 stores, about 30 dwellings. There are two
Dutch Reformed churches in the town.
Guilderland; taken from Watervliet, 26th of February, 1803: Centrally dis
tant from New York, N. 157; from Albany, N. W., 12 miles: Surface level,
or slightly irregular; Soil generally inferior in quality, a barren sand interspers
ed with maTshy plains; there are, however, some fertile tracts of sandy loam
well farmed. The Cherry Valley turnpike leads through the town, on which,
8 miles from the city, is the hamlet of Hamilton, where is the post office called
after the town, and where formerly was an extensive manufacture of glass.
Guilderland centre is also a post office.
Knox, taken from Berne 28th of February, 1822: Centrally distant from Albany,
W. 20 miles: Surface high and undulating; all arable and of good quality.
The Helderberg limestone ridge runs through it, in which there is one of the
caverns which distinguish this ridge. The town has a library of some, hundred
volumes; the lands are holden of Mr. Van Rensselaer by lease, rendering from 10
to 14 bushels of wheat the hundred acres. Boza kill crosses the N. E. part and
a small branch of Fox's Creek, a tributary of the Schoharie, indents the S.
boundary. Knoxville or Union street, the pest village on the road from Albany
to Schoharie; 21 miles W. from the former, and 14 E. from the latter; has from'
25 to 30 dwellings, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist church, 1 tavern and two
stores. New Scotland, taken from Bethlehem 25th of April, 1832: Surface hilly; soil
loam, clay, sand and gravel, underlaid with slate and limestone, tolerably culti
vated in spots; drained by Coeymans Creek which crosses it south easterly,' and
theViskill a branch of Normanskill, which flows N. E. Salem, New Scotland
and Clarkesville, are small villages. New Scotland a post village, 8 miles S. W.
from Albany, and about the same distance from the mouth of Normanskill, con
tains 1 Dutch Reformed church, 2 taverns, 2 stores, and about 40 dwellings.
Salem, 5 miles W. of New Scotland, has one Dutch Reformed church, 2 taverns,
1 store and 25 dwellings.
Rensselaerville, taken from Watervliet 8th of March, 1790: Centrally dis-

348 TOPOGRAPHY.
taot, S. W. from Albany 25 miles: Surface hilly; spurs of the Kattsbergs run
ning through it. The valleys, however, are numerous and fertile, with a soil of
sandy loam. There are turnpike roads over the town in every difection. The
Catskill crosses the S. W. corner, receiving from the town some small tributaries.
The lands are holden under lease from the Van Rensselaer estate. Rensselaer
ville, Preston Hollow, Potter's Hollow, and Hall's Hollow, are post villages.
Rensselaerville village, on Ten mile creek, at the junction of the Albany and
Delaware, and Greenville turnpike roads; 20 miles W. from Albany, contains 1 Epis
copal, 1 Presbyterian and one Baptist, church; 3 grist mills, clothing works,
1 furnace, 2 taverns, 7 stores, various mechanics, and about 175 dwellings. Pres
ton Hollow, 30 miles S. W. from Albany, on the Athens and Cherry valley turn
pike, conl.linjS between 30 and 40 dwellings, several mills on the Catskill, 8
miles from its head. Potter's Hollow, 2 miles W. of the above, has a Quaker
meeting house, some 20 dwellings, and some mills.
Watebvliet, organised 7th March, 1788, since reduced in area, includes the
islands in the Hudson on the east; centrally distant north from Albany 6 miles;
extending 10 miles along the Mohawk river and its lowest branch or sprout, and
6J miles along the Hudson: Surface generally hilly; soil varied, comprehending
along the Hudson some fine flats, and good arable land upon the river hills, and in the
interior sandy ridges, some marshes and pine swamps and tracts covered with
dwarf shrubbery. A fine Macadamised road extends along the river to West
Troy, 6 miles; from West Troy a turnpike road runs to Schenectady, and nearly
parallel with the Mohawk and Hudson rail road. Havers, Van Schaick's or
Cahoes, and Green or Tibbet's islands, are formed by the sprouts ofthe Mohawk;
they are notable as having been occupied by the American army under Gates in
1777; In the vicinity of the Cahoes Falls is a Dutch church and farming settle
ment, formerly and perhaps still known as the " Boght," or Cove. The lands
ofthe town are principally holden of Mr. Van Rensselaer. Cahoes, Neskayuna,
and West Troy, are villages.
A small creek on the southeast corner of the town drives a factory and the
mills ofthe Patroon, and there are other small mill streams. The Erie.and Cham
plain canals unite in the town. (See page 78.) At Port Schuyler, a raceway is
taken from the canal, supplying several hydraulic works.
The property of the Cahoes Company, of which the village is part, at the
mouths of the Mohawk, includes the falls and the banks on both sides of the
river, and extends within a few rods of the junction of the Erie and Champlain
canals. The property around the falls has, from the first settlement of the couutry,
been in the Van Rensselaer family, who, with a just regard to its future value, had
refused to part with it. The great hydraulic power here was first fully developed
by Mr. Canvass White, during the progress of the Erie canal; at whose instance
jt was arranged with Peter Remsen & Co. of New York and Mr. Van Rensselaer,
to commence its improvement on a large scale; a liberal charter was obtained from
the state in 1826, authorising the investment of $250,000, and subsequently of
half a million.
By an independent canal, near two miles long, supplied with water by a dam in
the river, half a mile above the falls, where the stream is 300 yards wide, uncon
nected with the state works, the company are enabled to avail themselves of the
whole water ofthe river, yielding power for mills as durable and constant as the
rocks and the stream. The entire head and fall thus gained is 120 feet, permitting
the use ofthe water under sta: successive falls, of from 18 to 23 feet above the level
ofthe state dam, below which it may be used under a head of 11 fret, and may
be carried on these levels to almost any point of the company's estate. The mi
nimum supply of water is 1000 cubic feet the second, competent to drive from
three to four millions of cotton spindles. The upper canal, excavated for the
greater part of its course in the slate rock, passes from the dam on the east side of
the Erie canal, and thence by a tunnel under that canal to the west side.
The advantages of this position for manufactures are unquestionably the greatest
in the state. By the Erie canal and the North river it communicates directly
with the great marts on the Hudson and with the ocean; by that canal with the
interior of the state and the lakes and the Great West,- and by the Champlain ca
nal with the northern portion of the state and the basin of the St. Lawrence: ob
taining readily from the south all that may be required from abroad, and from the

ALBANY COUNTY. 340
west and north a never-failing supply of provisions, lumber and iron, upon the
cheapest terms^ It is surrounded by the following populous cities and villages: —
Albany, distant 9 miles; Troy, 3; Lansingburg, 2; Waterford, 1; Schenectady,
15; West Troy, 3. The rail road from Troy to Saratoga runs on Green Island a
few rods below; the proposed rail road from Troy to Schenectady must pass
through or near the estate; the Macadamised road from Albemy to West Troy ter
minates within three miles of it; and the side cut from the state canal enables
boats from Cahoes to receive their freight at WestTroy from the daily lines of tow
boats plying to New York city.
The rock here is slate, lying generally, 5 feet below the surface, affording firm
foundations for buildings, flumes and basins at small expense; brick and stone are
obtainable on the premises, and with lumber and other materials procured by the
canals, every species of building may be erected at little over half the usual cost
elsewhere. The Delaware and Hudson canal furnishes a steady and cheap supply
of coal for manufacturing purposes, and the large banking' capital in the neigh
bouring cities and villages afford all the assistance to trade derivable from such in
stitutions. The location is alike healthful and pleasant. The site of the village is on the
southeast declivity of a hill, whence, as well as from the ridge of hills on the north
west, are views, which for variety and beauty are unsurpassed. The hills to the
northwest rising 300 feet, give to the spot, an agreeable temperature in summer,
cooled by the waterfalls and rivers, and shelter it completely from the northwest
winds of the winter. .
The falls, in full view ofthe village, and seen with* special advantage from the
bridge, have a total descent of 78 feet, and a perpendicular pitch of about 40 feet.
Above the cataract, the bank on the left has nearly 100 feet perpendicular eleva
tion, and below, 170 feet. On the right above the pitch, the bank is low; but be
low it, the shore is between 80 and 90 feet high; below the falls the river runs in
a deep, rocky and broken bed for a short distance, expanding into the placid pool
formed by the state dam, and glides over that dam in one lovely sheet of 550
yards in length, whose gentle fall of 7 feet, makes a pleasant contrast with the
great cataract above. In floods the whole bed at the latter is covered with water,
which descends in one unbroken torrent, about 900 feet wide. At such seasons, the
the high rocky barriers which confine the stream, the roar of the cataract, the dash
ing ofthe troubled waters as they descend the rapids, and the striking assimilation
ofthe torrent with the wilderness above, give to the scene unusual sublimity.
The canal affording use ofthe water was completed in. 1834. The village now
contains one factory for cotton arid woollen machinery, one for edge tools, one for
cotton, linen and woollen hosiery made on newly invented looms, a mill drivimr
turning lathes, an iron foundery, a carpet factory; an Episcopal church, 2 hotels,
3 stores, many shops of various kindson the canals and 60 dwellings whose num
ber is rapidly increasing.
The company offer lots and water rights for sale on very advantageous terms.
WestTroy incorporated in 1836, comprehending Watervliet, Gibbonsville, and
Port Schuyler, though in Albany county, is a suburb of the city of Troy, with
which it is connected by several ferries, and by the rail road bridge. We will
describe it when speaking of that city.
The Shakers are followers of Ann Lee, calle'd by them Mother Ann, born in Man
chester, England, Feb. 28, 1736, a religious enthusiast, who, leaving her native
country iti consequence of persecution, as she alleged, established a small society
at Neskayuna in Sept. 1776. The society is principally distinguished by the pro
fession of total celibacy, faith in the divine mission of Mother Ann, pretensions to
superior holiness, the mode of worship by singular dancing, and the order and
economy of their domestic concerns, in which a community of goods is establish
ed. They own here 2000 acres of good land, well cultivated, and divided into
four farms, on each of which is a family, the whole amounting to about 80 persons
of both sexes and all ages. They raise garden stuff and seeds extensively for sale
manufacture various useful and ornamental articles; the proceeds of which, with
the avails of the farms, form a considerable income. From a very small beginning
the society has grown into several communities, one of which is established at
New Lebanon, and another in Wayne county of this state.

350

TOPOGRAPHY.

Despite the temptation which a life of celibacy offers to immorality, these per>
pie are remarkable for the correctness of their conduct and the order of their lives^
which may be attributed to the rigour of their discipline and the constancy of their
labour. Though for a Jong time distinguished by gross ignorance and supersti
tion, they are now feeling, slowly, the influence of the intelligence of the limes,
bestow some attention on letters, and mingle somewhat more freely than formerly
with the world.
Westerlo, taken from Coeymans and Rensselaer, 16th March, 1815. Cen
trally distant from Albany S. W. 21 miles: Surface undulating traversed by
moderate ridges, with small valleys of. good arable, meadow and pasture lands,
having also some flat, low lands which, however, produce good grass. The ground
yields abundance of stone for field wall. The western part ofthe town pertains to
the manor of Rensselaerwick, and the farms are holden by lease; the east part
is in the Coeymans patent. The settlements commenced here in 1759, by Dutch
and Germans, around the low lands, but did not increase rapidly until 1794, when
many emigrants arrived from New England. The country abounds in springs;
Prevost creek crosses the town S. from Berne, and other tributaries of the Katts
kill run on the east and west. Hannekraikill flows along and across the E.
boundary. Sacketts is a small village centrally situated on the N. boundary, and
there is a post office called after the town.
Chestcrville and South Westerlo are post villages. Chesterville centrally situated,
contains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Baptist, church, 2 tanneries, 3 stores, 1 saw mill,
and about 40 dwellings. South Westerlo on Prevost creek near the S. boundary,
23 miles from Albany, has 1 Baptist and 1 Christian, church, 1 grist, and 1 saw,
mill, clothing works, 1 tavern, 2 stores, 25 dwellings.
POPULATION TABLE.

Females.
o
Births.
Deaths.
TOWNS, &c.
B a
ico
- cd
a •-
-C CO
0) to
T3 o
*E -^
to
«*
1830.
1825.
1830.
1835.
C3
IS
CJO
>
<
.T- CO
cd C
n
s;
B u
cc)
'£ «
—
B
"cd
COSeg
Albany City,
12630
15971
1st ward,
6857
7638
549
1088
687
1146
738
1462
30
113
134
119
114
3d ward,
6226
5742
354
815
472
804
536
1239
53
135
156
82
59
3d ward,
2011
3845
370
677
275
436
638
672
20
49
55
35
38
4th ward,
5872
6365
616
1111
599
916
719
1236
16
114
140
43
35
5th ward,
3206
4519
313
768
384
713
495
891
68
114
120
72
56
Berne,
3031
3509
3607
3956
262
747
40
515
305
943
31
72
68
21
33
Bethlehem,
5114
5643
6082
3103
249
637
116
375
273
660
22
63
50
31
16
Coeymans,
2812
1006
2723
3957
323
628
98
346
270
610
29
49
40
31
23
Guilderland,
2270
243c
2742
2903
288
580
48
329
205
600
19
53
49
35
17
Knox,
2500
3222
2189
2262
175
472
9
254
197
48i
11
37
40
13
13
*Hew Scotland,
3030
231
040
10
347
343
704
37
53
57
15
19
Rensselaerville
3435
3461
3685
3507
282
763
28
414
336
683
31
46
53
24
28
Watervliet,
3:106
3574
4962
6961
571
1383
962
021
1430
45
200
131
70
66
Westerlo,
3458
3346
3321
3074
2. '8
632
3
368
300
683
34
53
45
31
32
3M16
42821
53520
59762
4*11
10941
3381
7925
.5874
13379
425
1151
1138
612
549
Note.— Males, 29,867 ; Females, 29,895; Persons of Colour, 1250; Coloured Voters, 15- Paupers 339;
Deaf and Dumb, 28; Blind, 32; Idiots, 55; Lunatics, 42.
*New Scotland was included in Bethlehem until 25th of April, 1832.
ALBANY COUNTY.

351

s 1
Animals.
Cloth made in
to
m
Family.
' ,9
-a
CO
•3
COato
'
;*
TOWNS, &c.
< a'
oS.
CD©'
Cm
•i',i,
Eh
«
en
4) "
¦a
V ¦
9
CDCO
to
P.
a
to
"o
o
a
=*•
<!
¦0
i>
>
a
p
te
w
fc.
O -
O
t* ¦¦
Albany City,
740J
1215900
180400
340
300
31
701
36
4243
'5717
533J
899058
325300
299
168
219
346
3417
473S
1358J
3032603
3180592
340
197
191
228
,
15843
22100
293
1186646
94150
408
125
80
335
3891
5460
5th ward,
3H
546475
92166
570
130
75
532
-
1940
2746
2947
3878681
3772608
1857
920
596
2132
39334
40756
36083
39015
230900
17100
1079
31(i3
0028
3028
6284
6955'll57l
753
847
Bethlehem,
32083
19219
472000
44175
ista
2436
5213
3.501
3779
3185
3441
1568
1566
Coeymans,
29993
18954
29600C
13359]
927
25H4
4926
3508
2988
4605
7084
1304
1190
Guilderland,
31811
17957
313001
49091
127S
26511
6370
3713
3010
3296
6138
1100
564
26173
17198
15348!
17991
H37
2296
6057
1858
3340
51 OH
7401
518
21)0
New Scotland,
35360
19305
416001,
6737(
1343
2495
4618
1861
3742
3706
7520
1468
658
Rensselaerville
35940
28900
349101
40905
1081
3854
9101
3414
5666
6051 10195
881
367
Watervliet,
34340
17464
794601
261651
1311
24H7
3794
381,0
3625
3152
2396
3210
715
Westerlo,
35567
36435
345000
37157
1063
3816
6545
3130
4704
5889
8107
857
469
297350
307484
0050370
4440536
11880 26681
56J54
28065
37138
41047
64383
41993
47393
i .
Schools.
TOWNS. ...',' a
tfl D
/J
^ (A
en
«
. o
s s *
. ' o
2,-2
m
o
11
.2 &
ct! cd o
'3.5 - en
a
s
2 •
a
I 1
> -
3
-c3
gist §
ShSJSp 62 6
H : o
i'l
ac-0O.
O
¦a tn
O
eacher ges
b public ney.
§1 6
o
•M b
o
1 1
a.
<
Oi
c
H
S5
Albany City,
9
3788
2973
4489
Berne,
1 3
li 2
12
304
1180
730
Bethlehem,
! 4
1 4
1
22
381
1109
1212
Coeymans, %
Guilderland,
) 12
1 1
1
1
15
283
641
694
1 8
2
1
10
285
• 780
575
Knox,
I 18
i
12
226
> 532
600
New Scotland,
L 12
| 1
17
511
918
627
Rensselaerville
5 6
2 2
i :
1
21
384
909
997
Watervliet,
7 7
1 2
I
1
1
1
16
517
1644
864.
Westerlo. ,
3 13
6 105
1 2
1114
1 8]
8 27;. 6 2
1 1
2
8O
!
2
22
338
745
1100
s
156
7017
11521
. 11888
Value of pro- 't
' 3
11
duct. ;
; *
^ co m
IA CO to
3
31 —I
rt
No.
nf children above 5
Value of mate- S
ft t-C
?! $'
II
C5 N N
3 CO r-t
o
as
rrT
16
years of agi 15,231.
rials. -"
j ^
' s
m ci w
.J* m QO
X> 00
i— <
r-t
352

TOPOGRAPHY.

o WtteWn ~s" ViiT^fe w 0MM

ALLEGANY COUNTY, taken from Genesee April 7, 1806: Bounded N. by
Genesee; E. by Steuben; W. byCattaraugus, counties; and S. by the state of Penn
sylvania: Situate between 42° and 42° 37' N. Lat., 0° 52' and 1° 27' W. Lon.;
In form nearly a parallelogram; length, N. and S. 44, breadth, E. and W. 28
miles; area 1185 square miles; centrally distant northwest from New York by
way of Catskill 349, from Albany S. of W. 256; from Washington City N. W.
327 miles.
This county forms part ofthe extensive high and hilly country which composes
the S. W. portion of the state. In the south, the summit is about 2000 feet
above the ocean level. On the east, a ridge little depressed extending N. from
AndoVer, through the towns of Alfred, Almond, Birdsall, Grove and Nunda divides

ALLEGANY COUNTY.

353

the waters, giving to the streams respectively an eastern and western declination;
sending, oil the east, part to swell the volume of the Susquehanna, and on the north
east a tributary to the Genesee. , West of this, the whole pountry is somewhat
lower; butanotHer ridge crosses the county on the S. W. in a N. W. direction, intd
and through the adjacent cpunty of Cattaraugus, forming' the water shedbetween
the basins of the Genesee and the Allegany rivers. These ridges throw the central
and northwestern portion of the county into the valley of the Genesee, through
which the river by a course 35 miles N.'W. and thence 18 miles N. E., divides
the county into two irregular but not very unequal parts. The basin has a medial
width qf about 22 miles.
The Genesee river flows through a deep channel depressed from 500 to 800 feet
below the higher hills. Its course through the greater part of this county is gen
tle; its valley often wide, and free from high, precipitous and rocky shores, until
it reaches the northern town of Portage, where, within the space of two miles, it
falls 274 feet, Here the hills approach the river closely, and are separated only
by a deep chasm, with perpefidicular banks of aluminous slate 400 feet high,
through which" the river passes by three falls. From the head of the falls, the
descent to Rochester is about 736 feet; nearjy the whole of which is between Port
age and Mount Morris. Above the upper Falls theyolume, of the stream is hot
very large, sending forth about 5000 cubic feet the minute. At Angelica its be,d
is HJ9t feet above tide, according to the report of the engineers upon the Erie rail
road. (See- jit. 29.) ' '' ¦
> By an act of 18th April, 1828, the river from Rochester to the Pennsylvania line,
was declared a public ^highway; without prejudice to mills or dams previously
erected. . ^ , ;
The Rochester and Oleari canal, authorised to be made by act of the legislature
May, 1836,, enters the county at Portage and follows the valley of theriver 21
miles to the mouth of Crawford's creek; thence by a lateral valley runs two miles ,
to the valley of Black creek; and ascends the latter 7| mijles to the summit level,
stretching 111 miles in to Cattaraugus county. On this summit between the Genesee
and Allegany rivers, a little east of Oadysville there is a swamp about 2 miles in
length, covered with timber, the waters of which run to both rivers; to the one by
Black creek, and to the other % Oil creek. The passage" here into the Ohio valley
is 1292 feet above tide, and is. the lowest yet discovered, except that by Conewan
go valley, by the Erie canal, Buffalo and take Erie. The lockage from the sum
mit to the river in 9i, miles is 242 feet, to be overcome by 31 locks.. ¦ ,j -
The River receives from the county by the right barik, Cryder, Independence*
Dyke, Phillips, Angelica, and other creeks; and by the left, Vancampejl's, White,
Black, Cold, Caneadea, Wisfkoy, and Nunskoy, creeks. With the exception of the
laSti these are small streams, none of them much exceeding 10 miles in length. :
From the eastern section ofthe county, in the towns of Alfred and Almond,
flows the Canacadea, and another trihutary of the Canisteo river. From the N.
E. the towns of Burns and Ossiansend forth the Canascraga,, which curves
through Livingston county .to the Genesee river. From the towns of Seio, Boli
var, Genesee and Cuba flov? the Oswaya, the Little Genesee and Swan creeks, and
from the N. W. part of Cuba, Oil creek. '
The county belongs to the great western secondary formation and is underlaid by
carboniferous slate upon which, extending over the greater part of its area, is a bed
of quartzose rock; consisting of blue and ash colored sand stone, well adapted for
building. Lime is found in. the town 6f)Cuba, and probably elsewhere in irreg
ular masses, filled with shells, but not commonly stratified. The sand stone and
shale abound with entrocites, encrinites, corallines, terebratula, &c.
Bog iron ore abounds in Angelica, Caneadea, and other northern towns, and
mountain ore is said to be found in Cuba.
The soil formed of. these constituents is, respectively, argillaceous and sandy,
' loam, much of it fertile; but generally moist and better suited for grass than grain.
The caunty forms part of the tract ceded to Massachusetts, and two western
tiers of towns are within the Holland Land Company's purchase. That company
have sold their interest to another company lately formed. Previous to this sale
(hey had a sub office at Ellicottville and offered lands at from § 1 50 to $ 4 the acre.
" The line of the Erie rail road, called the Genesee division, enters the county by
the valley of the Canacadea creek, and passes thence by that of Dyke creek to the
45

354

TOPOGRAPHY.

valley of the Genesee, thence down that valley for about 10 miles, and thence up
the valley of Vancampen's creek through the villages of Friendship and Cuba, to
the valley of Oil creek; making the length of its course within the county about
37 miles. The grade through Almond and Alfred over the dividing ridge is 72
feet per mile.
The forests are generally very dense, and the timber, of large growth, consists
of oak of various species, maple, beech, basswbod, ash, elm, white and yellow
pine and hemlock; the three last prevailing most in the south. Hitherto, the dis
tance from navigable streams, has prevented the lumber of this county particular
ly from the south, from reaching a market. But it is estimated that the con
struction of the Rochester and' Olean canal will cause an annual export of 22
millions of feet. Little surplus grain has been exported, from the same cause,
and also because the influx of population, which in a new country is more the
consumer than the producer of grain, has created a home market. The increase
for the last 10 years has been nearly 10 per cent, per annum.
Wheat and corn thrive' well in the valley and river flats. Of the former 25
bushels are deemed an average crop, and of the latter 40 bushels to, the acre. On
the upland, corn, rye, oats, potatoes and buckwheat, are productive crops.
' The county is divided into 27 towns.
Alfred, taken from Angelica, March 11, 1808; since modified; distant S. W.
from Albany, 246 miles, from Angelica, E. 10 miles; surface high and rolling;
soil clay loam; drained N. E. by Canacadea, S. by Dyke and Vandemark's, E. by
Philips and Angelica, creeks; crossed S. W. by the line of the Erie rail road.
The town is deemed a good one for farming generally. Improved farms are worth
here, from $ 12 to 15 the acre. Baker's Bridge on the Canacadea creek, 13 miles
from Angelica, is the post village and contains, 2 stores, 2 taverns, and about 20
dwellings. Allen, taken from Angelica, Jan. 31, 1823; since reduced; distant from Albany,
244, from Angelica, N. 6, miles; surface undulating; soil clay and sandy loam;
drained by a branch'of Angelica and Wigwam creeks. Allen, post village, con
tains 2 taverns, 1 store, and some half a dozen dwellings. There is a post office
called Allen centre. i
Almond, taken from Alfred; limits since reduced; surface hilly; broken by
several streams tributary to the Canisteo river; soil clay loam of good quality.
Almond, North Almond, Centre Almond and West Almond, are post villages.
The turnpike road from Bath to Angelica leads through the town. Almond vil
lage, 16 miles from Angelica, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Baptist, churches, 3 stores,
2 taverns, 1 grist and 3 saw mills, clothing works, 2 asheries, and 30 dwellings.
North Almond contains some 15 or 20 dwellings. Centre Almond, is of similar
character to North Almond. West Almond, has 1 tavern, 1 store, and about 12
dwellings. Amity, taken from Angelica and Scio, 22d Feb. 1830; distant from Albany 258,
from Angelica S. 6, miles; surface high and rolling, on the E. and W. inclining
to the Genesee river which crosses it N. westerly, and receives from the right
Vandemark's and Philips, creeks, and from the left Vancampen's creek; soil vari
ous, but generally of fair quality. Upon the river are fertile flats from half a mile,
to a mile wide. Phillipsburg, post village, lies on the river and line of the Erie
rail road in the N. E. angle of the town, and has 1 Presbyterian church, 2 stores,
2 taverns, 1 saw and 1 grist, mills, clothing works, and about 25 dwellings. There
is a fall in the river hereof 12 to 14 feet, yielding an excellent water power.
Andover, taken from Independence 28th Jan.,. 1824; distant from Albany 252,
and from Angelica, S. E. 15, miles; surface and soil like those of Alfred and
Independence; drained by Dyke creek, along whose valley runs the line of the
Erie rail road. Less than one-tenth of the town is under improvement.
Angelica, formed from Leicester, 25th Feb. 1805; surface undulating, declin
ing W. towards the Genesee river, which crosses the S. W. angle and receives
from it, Angelica creek; distant from Albany 256, from New York 327, miles:
surface undulating; soil, clay, argillaceous loam, brown mould and sandy alluvian
of good quality. Angelica village, 2 miles E- of the Genesee river, 40 miles W.
from Bath, 52, S. from Batavia, incorporated 2d May, 1835; the county town;
has the' court house of brick, a neat building, prison of stone, clerk's office fire
proof, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, churches — 1 select
school, 2 printing offices, each issuing a weekly paper, 1 grist, 1 saw mill, cloth-

ALLEGANY COUNTY.

355

ing works, a woollen factory, 6 stores, 4 taverns, and about 125 dwellings, some of
brick and stone, but chiefly of wood; About three miles S. W. from the village, is
the seat of Philip Church, Esq., called Belvidere, where is a remarkably fine house
and appurtenances and farm under high cultivation. He is an extensive land
holder of the county. Near his mansion, a bridge erected by the state crosses the
Genesee river.
Belfast, taken from Caneadea, by the name of Orrinsburg 26th March, 1824;
name changed 21st April, 1825; distant from Albany 264, from Angelica, W. 6,
miles; surface rolling; soil, sandy loam; drained by the river, which crosses the
N. E, angle, receiving from the town Black and White creeks, and other tributa
ries. Buttsville and Summer's valley are post villages. Buttsville, on the north
line, partly in Caneadea, 7 miles N. W. from Angelica has, 1 store, 1 tavern, saw
and grist mills, clothing works, sash factory, and about 20 dwellings. Summer
valley, 7 miles S. W. has a store, tavern, and some half dozen dwellings.
Birdsall, taken from Allen and Alirfond, 4th May. 1829; distant from Albany
245, from Angelica, N. E. 9, miles; surface undulating; soil, clay loam; drained
S. by Angelica creek and E. by a branch of the Canisteo river. Birdsall, post
office, in the north, 12 miles from Angelica, has a few dwellings around it. Not
more than one-tenth ofthe town is improved.
Bolivar, taken from Friendship, 15th Feb. 1825; distant from Albany, S. W.
275, from Angelica 19, miles; surface high and undulating, declining to the S.
W.; drained by the Oswaya creek and: its tributary, Little Genesee; soil, sandy
loam. Bolivar, post village, centrally situate, contains 1 store, 1 tavern, and about
20 dwellings. More than nine-tenths of the town are yet unimproved.
Burns, taken from Ossian, 17th March, 1826; distant from Albany 239, and from
Angelica N. E. 16, miles; surface broken, declining N. E.; drained by the Ca
nascraga creek: Soil clay loam, of fair quality: About one-third of the town is un
der improvement, and there is a dense settlement in the South, known as Dc Witt's
valley, where is a post-office. i
Caneadea, taken from Angelica 11th March, 1808; hilly on the east and west,
dipping to the Genesee river, Which curves centrally through the town, receiving
from it Cold creek; distant from Albany 267, from Angelica N. W. 11, miles;
soil clay and sandy loam. Caneadea. village centrally situated, has 1 store, 1.
tavern, 1 saw mill, fulling mill, and about a dozen dwellings. The Indian reser
vation of Caneadea, nearly 10 miles in extent along the river, commences in this
town, and extends northwards through Hume into Portage. Not more than one-
eighth of the town is under improvement.
CENTREViLLE,taken from Pike 15th January, 1819; from Albany 264, from An
gelica N. W. 18, miles; surface undulating; soil argillaceous mould, suitable for
grain or grass; drained E. by two main branches of Caneadea creek, and W. by
. lear creek, a tributary of the Cattaraugus. The post village called after the town,
centrally situated, has 2 taverns, 2 stores, and aboutv25 dwellings. About one-
third of the town is under improvement.
Clarksville, taken from Cuba 11th May, 1835;, surface and soil similar to those
of Cuba, covered with a dense forest of valuable white pine timber, and yet thinly
settled, not one-twentieth of the lands' being taken up. The post-office bears the
name of the town.
Cuba, taken from Friendsnip 4th February, 1822; distant from Albany 275, and
from Angelica S. W. 18 miles; surface high, undulating on the east, being on the
ridge dividing the basin of the Genesee from that of the Allegany river; declining
westerly and drained by Swan, Hasket, and Oil creeks; the line of the Erie rail
road crosses the northern section. The hills are generally of a dry, warm soil,
covered with large pine, oak and chesnut timber, and there is not an hundred acres
unfit for cultivation. Oil creek winds through this town and is navigable for boats
to Olean, on the Allegany. Cuba, post village centrally situated, near which
the lines of the Erie rail road and Olean and Rochester canal intersect, has 5
stores, 2 taverns, saw mill and grist mill, clothing works, trip hammer, and about
50 dwellings; many of them good, of brick and stone, 1 Presbyterian and Baptist
church. Lands rate here from 7 to 25 dollars the acre. Cadysville, 2 miles N. of
Cuba.village, contains 1 store, 1 tavern, 2 saw mills, 1 gristmill, and about 20
dwellings. The famed Seneca Oil Spring is in this town within 80 rods of the county line,

356

TOPOGRAPHY.

3i miles from the village of Cuba, and 21 from Angelica. The spring rises in a
marsh/. It is a muddy, circular, stagnant pool about 18 feet in diameter, with no
visible outlet, and no other circulation than may be caused by changes of tempera
ture and passage of the gas1 and petroleum which are constantly rising, and which
emit an odour, sometimes perceptible at a distance. The water is coated with a
thin layer" ofthe mineral oil, giving it a yellowish brown colour, similar to dirty
molasses, exhibiting little of the iridescence which is commonly observed in this
substance when floating upon water; yet small portions of this character are visi
ble. The oil-is collected by skimming it from the fountain, and used for rheuma
tism in man, and for sprains and, sores in man or beast. The spring was much
prized by the Indians, and a square mile around it has been reserved for the Se-
necas. A small branch of Oil creek, taking its name from the spring, flows to the
Gulph of Mexico, whilst the waters of Black creek which interlock with it, pass
by the Genesee into Lake Ontario.
The petroleum sold in the eastern states under the name of Seneca oil, is not
obtained here, but from Oil creek, in Venango county, Pennsylvania, where it is
not only more abundant but more pure. ,
The earth in the vicinity of the spring we are describing, is strongly impreg
nated with the petroleum, and its presence is deemed indicative of bituminous
coal beneath; a bed of which, we are told, has been discovered near the spring,
and hopes are entertained that it may prove valuable. The opinion hitherto re
ceived by men of science has been, that though the coal formation extends here
from Pennsylvania, it lies at vast depths. The spring gives name to a post office.
Eagle, taken from Pike 21st January, 1823; centrally distant from Albany 264,
from Angelica N. W. 24, miles; surface undulating; soil argillaceous loam of good
quality for grain and grass; heavily timbered; drained east by Caneadea and Wis
koy creeks. There are three post offices; one in the N. called Westkoy, and ano
ther in theS.W. called after the town, and a third in the S. E. corner called South
Eagle, at each of which is a hamlet, or dense neighbourhood. About one-fourth of
the town is under improvement."
Friendship, taken from Caneadea 24th March, 1815; surface undulating; soil
argillaceous mould productive of grass; heavy timbered; drained by Vancam-
pfcn's creek, along whose valley runs the line ofthe Erie rail road. The post vil
lage of Friendship on the line of the rail road, 10 miles S. W. from Angelica, con
tains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist church, 4 stores, 3 taverns, 2
grist, 3 saw mills, clothing works, and about 50 dwellings, chiefly of wood. Not
more than one-sixth ofthe town is under improvement.
Genesee, .taken from Cuba 16th April, 1830; surface high and broken; soil
sandy loam; drained southwest by Little Genesee and Swan creeks; centrally dis
tant ,S. W. from Albany 280, from Angelica 25, miles; yet thinly settled; not
one-twentieth ofthe lands being under improvement. There is a post office called
Little Genesee, upon the stream of that name and upon the road from Angelica to
Olean. Grove, taken from Nunda 3d March, 1827; surface undulating, declining in all
directions; drained east by Canascraga creek, south by Angelica, north by the.Ca-
shaqua, and west by a small tributary of the Genesee river, which courses the
N. W. boundary. Grove and Short Tract, are small post villages, centrally situ
ated, an<J about 2 miles asunder. This is a large town, of, which scarcely more
than one-sixth is under improvement.
Haight, taken from Rushford 20th April, 1825; surface undulating; soil clay
and sandy loam; drained east by Black creek, and south by Oil' creek; from Al
bany 268,.from Angelica W. 13, miles. Haight and Black Creek are villages; the
latter has a post office, a store, a tavern, a Methodist church, and 10 or 12 dwell
ings. Haight village has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 steam saw mill, and some half
dozen dwellings. The town lies upon the summitlevel of the Rochester and Olean
canaj. About one-sixth part of it is taken up.
Hume, taken from Pike 20th February, 1822; surface undulating; drained by
the Genesee river on the southeast; receiving from the east a small creek and from
the west, the Caneadea, Wiskoy and Nunskoy creeks; soil clay loam of good qua
lity for grain and grass; the banks of the river have a gentle inclination and are'
arable to the summit. Hume and Wiskoy are post villages. Hume village con
tains 2 taverns, 3 stores, 1 grist,'4 saw mills, and from 30 to 40 dwellings. Wis-

ALLEGANY COUNTY. 357
hoy or Mixville, 15 miles N. W. from Angelica, upon the Wiskoy creek, which
leaving the upper plateau and falling into the Genesee valley, has here in the
space of 60 rods, 4 perpendicular falls making in the whole 75 feet; the stream is
large and constant. There are now erected upon it 1 grist, 1 saw mill, and 15
dwellings. This is a very advantageous position for persons desirous to engage
in business requiring hydraulic power. The water may be used, at small expense,
twice over.
Independence, taken from Alfred 16th March, 1821; surface and soil as in Al
fred; drained west by Cryder and Independence creeks; from Albany 262, from
Angelica S. E. 20, miles. About one-seventh of the town is under improvement.
Independence, Centre Independence and Spring Mills, are post offices and hamlets.
Nunda, taken from Angelica 11th March, 1808; surface undulating; soil argil
laceous loam of good quality; drained E. by Ossian, S. E. by Canascraga, and on
the N.W. by Cashaqua, creeks; from Albany 253, from 'Angelica N. E. 18, miles.
The name is said to be a corruption of an Indian word meaning " potato ground"
appropriate when this town comprehended the rich flats on the Genesee. Limestone
underlays the soil, which is well adapted to wheat. Nmida and NundaValley are
post villages, the former having a few dwellings only. The village of Nunda Val
ley, upon the Cashaqua creek, in fhe north part ofthe town, contains 1 Presbyte
rian and 1 Baptist church, 1 grist, 3 saw mills, 2 furnaces for castings, 2 tanne
ries, 1 pail factory, 1 chair factory, and about 70 dwellings. Farms in the vicinage
sell from 25 to 35 dollars the acre.
Ossian, taken from Angelica 11th March, 1808: surface undulating; soil argil
laceous mould of good quality; drained by branches of the Canascraga creek; from
Albany-233, from Angelica N. E. 20 miles. ' The town is thinly settled, but has
a post office and village centrally situated, bearing its name.
Pike, taken from Nunda 6th March, 1818; surface rolling; watered by the
Westkoy and Nunskoy or Eastkoy creeks, which flow S. through it; soil light and
fertile mould; from Albany 255, from Angelica N. W. 18 miles. Pike and Grif
fith's Corners, and East Pike .are post villages'. Pike centrally situated, has 1
Presbyterian, 1 Baptist and 1 Methodist church, 3 taverns, 7 stores, 1 grist, 1
saw, 1 oil mill, 2 clothing works, 2 tanneries, 1 furnace and about 80 dwellings,
with 470 inhabitants. Griffith's Comers has I store, 1 tavern, 3 saw mills, 1 grist
mill and about 20 dwellings. East Pike has a post office, 2 stores, 1 tannery,
clothing works, 2 saw mills and 20 dwellings. The lands of this town are wholly
taken up and much of them under high cultivation, worth from 18 to 30 dollars
the acre, and are well adapted to wheat and grass.
Portage, taken from Nunda March 8, 1827; surface high and rolling on the E.
and W, dipping towards the centre, in which runs the Genesee river, having upon
it the notable falls already noticed; soil gravelly loam, fertile and well cultivated;
centrally distant from Albany 247, from Angelica N. 18 miles. A very extraordi
nary land-slide occurred in this town, June 30, 1817, nearly 15 acres sliding from
the side of a hill into the river, completely damming it for some time, leaving a
perpendicular bank more than 100 feet high. The fall of this mass sensibly shook
the earth, and much alarmed the inhabitants for a considerable distance around the
spot. Portageville, Messenger's Hollow and Hunt's Hollow are post villages.
Portageville on the river at the head of the rapids, contains 3 stores, 2 taverns, 1
grist mill, clothing works, 5 saw mills, a large sash factory, distillery and about
50 dwellings. The proposed canal will pass through the village. Messenger's
Hollow, 18 miles N. of Angelica, has 1 grist and saw mill, 1 tavern, 2 stores, 15
dwellings. Hunt's Hollow has 1 Episcopal church, 1 tavern, 2 stores, 1 gristmill,
1 saw mill, 20 dwellings. The town is generally settled, and lands sell at from
$10 to 50 the acre.
The river scenery of this towu is highly attractive and richly merits the atten
tion of the tourist. There are three distinct falls respectively 60, 90 and 110 feet
high, within the space of two miles, differing in character each from the other,
and having each its peculiar beauties. Although the cascades themselves are highly
admirable, they are almost disregarded in the wonder and fear caused by the stu
pendous perpendicular walls of theriver, rising to morejthan 400 feet in height, and
extending along the stream for nearly three miles with as much regularity as if
constructed by art. To this great depth the river has worn its bed in the solid
rock, in turns as short and bends as graceful, as if winding through the softest

358

TOPOGRAPHY.

meadow. There are few scenes of more savage grandeur and loneliness than that
presented from the summit of these soaring walls^ Gigantic evergreens stand upon
the extreme verge, and from their vast height, seem to have maintained their posi
tion for ages. In a geological view this place has much interest, showing the pep
feet stratification - and almost horizontal position of the strata, consisting of lime
stone, sandstone and slate.
Rushford, taken from Caneadea 8th March 1827; surface undulating; soil clay
loam and gravelly mould, of good quality for grass; drained east by Cold creek;
centrally distant from Albany 270, from Angelica N.-W. 20 miles. Rushford post
village centrally situated, contains .1 Methodist church, 3taverns, 4 stores, 1 grist,
2 saw, mills, clothing works, and between 50 and 60 dwellings. This is one ofthe
best grazing towns ofthe county, and the, portion settled is in a highly improved
state; yet not more than one-fourth is returned as under improvement.
Sew, taken, from Angelica 31st January, 1823; surface high and much broken
by streams; soil clay loam, wet and cold; heavily timbered with pine, hemlock,
&c; drained N. by the Genesee river, which receives from the E. Independence,
Dyke and Vandemark's creeks-, and -from the W. numerous innominate tributa
ries; from the S. W. flows the Osw^ya creek. The line of the Erie rail road passes
by the valleys of Dyke's creek and the river through the N: E. angle ofthe
fown. This is by far the largest town in the county, and is almost wholly in its.
primitive wilderness state; scarcely one-thirtieth of it being under improvement.
It has a post office called after the town.
West Almond was taken from Almond, Angelica and Alfred, April 15, 1835,
and it comprises township No. 4, in the first range of Morris' Reserve. It is drained
westerly by Angelica creek and, its branches; its soil and surface are similar to
those of Angelica and Almond; its statistics are given in the return of the towns
of which it formed part. The post office bears the name ofthe town.
Besides the post offices we have named under the several towns, there are
in the county others called respectively East Hill, East Koy, Genesee Valley,
Hickory Swale, Oakland and Whitney's Valley-

Females.
Births.
Deaths.
Ct)
T3
jo -*
a
oi
TOWNS, &x.
§E-
¦a.*! C^CO
13
to
. ea
¦J:
t-l
a ¦D
« 4)
a a
5"
'~\ CD
g 5
SO o
COCD
OS
"3
'8 '
to ,
m
to
"3 S
1830.
1825.
1830.
1835.
i
1
<_
s
SB
r
g
s
S
0>
Alfred,*
1701
1060
1476
1903
188
386
1
264
91
459
24
'49
45
11
12
Allen,
726
898
1089
88
219
5
155
63
264
11
26
28
7
8
Almond,
1378
1804
2059
200
'427
272
118
501
12
54
31
12
14
Amity,
872
1280
115
267
5
175
75
320
. 7
34
28
18
11
Andover,
404
598
708
73
151
101
30
162
17
' 16
22
10
9
Angelica,
1510
1008
998
1502
198
319
22
207
124
341
7
39
32
10
8
Belfast,
560
743
1035
98
219
145
64
254
8
22
22
8
9
Birdsall, t
543
573
57
105
13
67
43
138
3
12
3
1
1
Bolivar,
303
440
752
84
163
109
34
184
3
18
12
9
14
Burns,
702
936
94
194
119
62
225
9
17
9
8
4
Caneadea,
696
550
780
1046
88
204
138
75
236
10
17
4
4
Centreville,
421
763
1195
1426
93
265
1
181
92
333
14
34
24
13
9
Cuba,
670
1059
1478
184
307
3
200
100
364
9
41
25
13
4
Clarksville,
252
28
61
3
36
12
56
1
10
6
Eagle,,
577
892
1149
93
217
136
72
283
11
20
31
4
8
Friendship,
662
1129
1502
1764
170
356
237
111
398
1
31
28
9
6
Grove,
,
1388
1563
131
320
33
233
94
405
8
47
42
9
11
Genesee,
. 219
470
42
95
69
24
122
2
15
9
2
2
Haight,
377
655
1065
103
211
142
34
252
6
20
26
4
4
Hume,
607
951
1523
152
311
2
207
93
373
5
35
32
11
9
Independence,
570
877
1189
124
237
5
195
51
296
14
32
21
12
6
Nunda,
1188
2871
1291
2031
174
399
7
292
109
511
14
42
27
13
19
Ossian,
921
1419
812
940
85
162
25
131
66
277
10
26
27
4
6>
Pike,
1622
1532
2016
2179
211
449
4
302
147
467
15
29
38
18
11
Portage, Rushford,
1839
2560
242
493
8
333
173
620
13
57
59
24
19
609
803
1115
1520
108
269
6
202
83
362
1
12
5
a
1
Seio,
757
¦«02
1122
96
3319
207
7013
143
161
4809
38
2078
.317
8520
8
233
28
«76
27
676
8
245
2
9340
18164
26276
35214
211.
aa^Sunrw?1!6!' V*£' ?ema}?s< ft240' Blacks' m- Bla<* Voters, 10; Paupers, 38; Deaf and Dumb,
32; Blind, 12; Idiots, 38; Lunatics, 10.
* Alfred in 1820 included Almond and Independence.
"3o
3

151063 | 164884 j jg |

tO"MM MUM

^UU19 tO t

I Grist mills,

52367 114821

1700 | 2900 |

CJltOOO<I.CB--],UCOCBCntJTCPCJ*3tO&0>^aOM

• oca, w'Cn tow I

Saw mills.

| Oil mills.

38395 | 54459 | {g | MW#.

HO-* t- 10 I— t-

I Full, mills.

41893 | 435791 » |

.to to w

MH'| Card.mach's

150 | 500 |

I Woolfacto's

1750 | 5300 1 M I

I Iron works.

300 | 4501 ^ I

| TripHam'rs.

5700 1, 11326 |

I .Distilleries.

17286| 31758| fc | M_.o towM wtotot- co

-to to wnn^l Asheries.

13772| 24819 1 ggi Htaua

W tO ••tO

Tanneries.

213|' 691 | ,^|

I Oil cloth fae

o •*
">«¦.P3 <J» -
trc * c
cb B '

go to*QQDioi tOMto cotntocnoto 00 co OS t/t tfr. to O CO^h- CJt OS CO

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? W W W OA *wWv|iiyiMSW-.(5il

No. of School
Districts.

Pub. money
expended.

Teachers wages and
pub. money.

Number of
Scholars.

P'tOtOtOtOCOtOif

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to -J1 i-n**Os -<i
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oS33

Area in
acres;

Acres im
proved.

Assessed value.

Total value
of personal
estate.

Cattle.

Horses.

- to „, tO hJ t-i

!riS.«f «!-;" .

MtOOOOCOOt^aDtCOvlfOOiO>t>tlCOi£.OioO-ii;CM*.M I r unea .
i-i co ao os to o i-i pj-n-ii^ffi-H o*jokV-s1 a^jtocoaoto-jao© I

a go go quo

SiSS-flSfeJSgwJfeSa^ttjggKgfe'feS Woollens
wSwcp«Sc0pft5OOSC0Ot0t0toG0tniSc0V nnfnlloH

5Mffi0>atj|t8OQHt0fri[;.HMOOtB^

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0 CO COW

^ ^ m m ,ii ^ to ti ts w o; a IO ii W M *. |0 *. I S Cri Ol A J
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HWWMOWMUijO'«JAOJ»JM lO »S 4* COm©m*.)Ov! © O'-J
iyiC-0'iccowowffiMOCWiiwwucco*. was ho-icc

unfulled.

Cottons, linens, &c.

Supervisors Town
I expenses.

County.

360

TOPOGRAPHY.

BROOME COUNTY, named after Lt. Gov. Broome, taken from Tioga 26th
March, 1806 : Bounded N. by Chenango and Cortland; E. by Delaware, counties;
S. by the state of Pennsylvania; W. by Tioga county: Length, on the Pennsylva
nia line, 37 miles; Breadth various; on the Tioga boundary 28; on the Delaware
13; Midway 17, miles. , Area, about 627 square miles; situate between 42° and
42° 23' N. Lat. and 0° 47' and 1° 30' E. Long: Centrally distant from New York,
N. W. 252, and from Albany S. W. 145, miles.
Surface high, hilly and much broken by streams in all directions, but especially
by the larger ones, the Delaware, the Susquehanna, the Chenango and Tiough
nioga, rivers. The summits of the hills rise, from 1400 to 1600 feet above the ocean,
whilst the larger valleys are depressed, from 400 to 600 feet below their level.
The ridge dividing the western branch of the Delaware from the Susquehanna,
has an altitude of 1688 feel; the valley of the Susquehanna at Windsor, 947 feet;
the Oquago mountain, filling the great bend of the rivet, 1557 feet; Binghamton,
on the Susquehanna, 836 feet; and on the W. line the valley is about 800 feet
above tide. On the N. the surface of the summits is lower, not only as compared
with that of the streams, but positively in relation to the sea level. At Bettsburg,

BROOME COUNTY. 36'1
t
it is 1430 feet and W. ofthe Tioughnioga, about 1330. Upon the E. the country
i» divided into three ridges, by the Delaware, by the Susquehanna in its passage
out of the county to curve round the Oquago mountain, and by the same river on
its return to near the centre of the county to pursue its western way: N. and S. of
that river, after its junction with the Chenango, the country is comparatively plaint
yet still hilly.
The Tioughnioga river enters the county from the N. W. and within 5 miles
receives the Otselic, and thence runs about 10 miles to unite with the Chenango,
which approaches from the N. E.; the last has a winding course of about 14 miles
to the Susquehanna at Binghamton. These streams have numerous but not large
tributaries. TheW. branch of the Delaware river curves on the S. E. boundary.
The line of the Erie rail road runs from the Delaware river at Deposit, up the
valley of Oquago creek to its source at fiettsburg, and thence descends to the val
ley of the Susquehanna; a,nd passing that river near Nineveh, follows the valley
of Belden Brook to its source; and there taking the head waters of Page Brook
follows that down the Chenango to Binghamton, and thence keeps the valley of
the Susquehanna through the county; having a very devious course of near 50
miles within the county.
Routes were examined between the Delaware river at Deposit, and; the Che
nango at Binghamton; and lines were run on the most favorable ground, on nearly
a direct course between Deposit and Windsor, on the Susquehanna, and between
Windsor and Binghamton, from the Susquehanna to the Chenango. Both these
summits, however, are considerably higher, than those on the route chosen; they
cannot be overcome but by stationary steam power.
The great basis rock of the county is carboniferous slate, which rises to day on;
the E. and forms the mountains between the Delaware and Susquehanna, rivers.
Their summits are probably overlaid by graywacke which in a quartzose form-
covers the western portion of the county.
The hills have generally hard pan near their surface; are retentive of water, and
adapted to grass. The valleys, commonly, have soils of gravelly loam, and pro
duce profitable crops of wheat, averaging about 15 bushels the acre.
The timber is dense, and the preparation of it for market, means for which are
abundantly furnished by the streams, forms a great portion of the business of the
inhabitants: agriculture, however, is not neglected, and has of late years rapidly
improved. ,
Hill lands for agricultural purposes, are worth from 8 to 12 dollars the acre; val
ley land from 12 to 20.
The Chenango canal enters the county with that river and follows it to the Sus
quehanna at Binghamton.
Settlements commenced in this county so early as 1790 by emigrants from tbe
western part of Massachusetts; and the larger portion of its present inhabitants
are from the eastern states, or are the descendants of New England settlers.
The county is divided into 1 1 towns.
Barker, taken from Lisle April 18th, 1831: Surface undulating: Drained by the
Tioughnioga river crossing it diagonally from N. W. to S. E. Chenango Forks,
post village, 12 miles Ni. from Binghamton, has 1 Presbyterian church, 2 taverns,
4 stores, 1 grist, 1 saw mill, clothing works, and 30 dwellings. There is another
post office and vicinage called Hyde settlement.
Chenango, organised 16lh Febi 1791: Since Teduced in limits: Much covered
with dense forests of pine and other timber; the cleared lands forming good
pastures; drained by the Chenango river, flowing centrally through it, to the Sus*
quehanna at Binghamton; along the valleys of both streams are rich alluvialflats,
from one to two miles wide. Binghamton, formerly Chenango Point, the shire
town, incorporated, April 2d, 1813, March 13th, 1824, and May 3d, 1834; distant,
N. W. from New York, via Catskill 252, from Albany, S. W. 145, from Wash
ington City, N. 291, from Norwich, S.40, from Catskill, W. 134, miles, contains
the court house and prison, of brick, under one roof — a fine building, 1 Episcopal,
1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Baptist, churches; 1 Academy, for females^ highly
flourishing;: the Broome County Bank, incorporated 18th April, 1831,, with a
capital of $ 100,000; two printing oflices, issuing weekly journals; a small
furnace for castings, 3 saw mills, cutting each more than 2 millions feet of lumber
annually; about 400 dwellings and 2000 inhabitants. The water power here is
46

362 TOPOGRAPHY.
very great, and the Chenango canal, and Erie rail road, will give the means of ob
taining on easy terms material for manufactures.
A company was incorporated April 29th, 1833, to make a rail road from this vil
lage by the valley ofthe Susquehanna to the Pennsylvania line; capital $ 150,000;
designed to unite with a rail road from Carbondale, for the transportation of an
thracite coal to the Chenango canal.
Colesville, taken from Windsor 2d April, 1821: Drained centrally by the
Susquehanna river, along which are fertile alluvial flats: Distant from Albany, S.
W. 123, from Binghamton, N. E. 16, miles. Harpersville, Nineveh, Colesville,
New Ohio, and Bellona Springs, are villages. The four first have post offices.
Harpersville, 17 miles from Binghamton, N. E. contains 1 Episcopal church, se
lect school, 2 stores, 1 tavern, 1 grist and saw mills, clothing works, tannery and
about 30 dwellings of wood. Nineveh, 19 miles from Binghamton, has 2 stores,
1 tavern, and 20 dwellings. Colesville, 14 miles from Binghamton, has 1 Presby^
terian church, 1 store, 1 tavern, and 12 or 15 dwellings. New Ohio, has 1 store,
1 tavern, and 10 or 12 dwellings. Bellona Springs, so named from some noted
sulphur springs, much frequented for health and pleasure, has a commodious ho
tel, a store and some 10 dwellings; within 6 feet of the chief sulphur spring is a
fountain of fresh water, wholly free from mineral mixture.
Conklin, taken from Chenango, 29th March, 1824; having the Susquehanna
river running N. W. through it, in a deep valley margined by fertile flats, and re
ceiving from the W. Snake and Little Snake Creeks, and from the E. some lesser
tributaries: Distant, S. W. from Albany, 152, from Binghamton, S. E. 5, miles.
Conklin, post office, is centrally situated on the E. side of the river. There is a
second post office called Osborne's Hollow.
Lisle, taken from Union, 7th April, 1801: Surface undulating, soil clay and
sandy loam of good quality for grass: Drained by the Tioughnioga river and its
branches, of which the Otselic river is on the E. boundary; distant S. W. from
Albany 140, from Binghamton, N. E. 18, miles. There is a pond in the town,
with an area of three miles, whose bottom and shores are covered with shell
marl. Settled by emigrants from the eastern states, about 1792. Lisle,
Union and Yorkshire, are post villages. Lisle Village, contains 1 Presbyterian
church, 3 stores, 1 tavern, carding and cloth dressing works, and about 25 dwell
ings. Union Village, 4 miles N. of Lisle, has 1 Baptist church, 2 stores, 1 tavern,
1 grist, 1 saw, mill, a large tannery, and about 15 dwellings. Yorkshire, 4 miles
W. of Lisle, has 1 Presbyterian church, 2 stores, 1 temperance tavern, a saw mill,
tannery, and 12 or 15 dwellings, and the Lisle centre post office.
Nanticoke, taken from Lisle, April 18th, 1831; Surface undulating; Drained
S. by Nanticoke creek, which, rising in the town, flows through Union, to the Sus
quehanna river, 15 miles: Distant from Albany 144, and from Binghamton N.
E. 12 miles. There are sulphur springs in the N. W. part of the town, 14 miles
from Binghamton, much resorted to recently; near which, are a hotel, a number of
dwellings, and a post office called Nanticoke Springs.
Sandford, taken from Windsor, 2d April, 1821: Surface mountainous and stony;
drained by the Oquago creek, and branches running S. and E. to the Cooquago
branch of the Delaware: Distant from Albany, S. W. 121, from Binghamton,
E. 24, miles. The town is thinly settled. The post village of Sandford, centrally
situate, contains a tavern, and 10 or 12 dwellings.
Triangle, so named from its shape; taken from Lisle, April 18th, 1831: Sur
face hilly; watered by Otselic creek and Tioughnioga river on the W. and central
ly by tributaries of the latter: Distant from Albany, S. W. 132, from Binghamton,
N. 17, miles. Clark's Settlement at Halfway Brook, Whitney's Point, and Union
are villages. Clark's Settlement, near the E. line, has Triangle post office, 1 Pres
byterian and 1 Baptist, churches, 2 taverns, 1 store, and about 30 dwellings. —
Whitney's Point, at the junction of the Otselic with the Tioughnioga river, 4 miles
W. of Clark's, has 3 stores, 2 taverns, and 20 dwellings. Union, 4 miles N.
from Whitney's Point, has 1 Universalist church, 1 store, 1 tavern, and 20 dwell
ings, 1 grist, 1 saw, 1 clothing, mills, and a post office called Upper Lisle.
Union, organised 16th Feb. 1791: Surface undulating, with a soil of fertile
gravelly loam, adapted to grain or grass, timbered with oak and white pine on the
E. and on the W. with beech and maple; drained S. by Nanticoke creek and some
smaller tributaries of the Susquehanna river, which forms the S. boundary; set-

BROOME COUNTY. 363
tied in 1790. Distant from Albany, S. W. 150 miles. Union village, on the Sus
quehanna river, and Erie rail road, 9 miles W. from Binghamton, contains a post
office, 1 Presbyterian church, 2 taverns, 4 stores, and about 50 dwellings. The
flats are 1 mile wide here, and have a good soil. There is a post office called
Maine. Vestal, taken from Union, 22d Feb. 1823: Surface cut into ridges by Choco-
nut creek and other streams, flowing N. to the Susquehanna which laves the
northern boundary, having along it fertile flats: Distant from Albany, S. W. 154,
from Binghamton, 8, miles. It is a lumbering town and about one-seventh of the
soil may be under improvement. . The post office is at a small hamlet having the
name of the town, where is a store and tavern, and several dwellings.
Winhsor, taken from Chenango, 27th March, 1807: Surface mountainous upon
the E. and W. divided by the Susquehanna river, flowing centrally and south
erly through it, receiving on either bank small accessaries; the hills though stony
yield abundant and nutritious grass and the valley profitable crops of wheat, &c.
Locust timber is abundant on the hills, of good quality; centrally distant from Al
bany 130, from Binghamton, E. 16, from Deposit, W. 14, miles. Windsor, post
village on the right bank of the Susquehanna, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist,
churches, an academy, 4 stores, 2 taverns, 1 grist, 1 oil, 1 carding and cloth dress
ing, mills, and about 60 dwellings. West Windsor, 10 miles E. from Bingham
ton, has 1 tavern, a post office and several dwellings. Dora, Susquehanna and
Wallersville, are names of post offices and settlements.

t

Females.
Births.
Deaths.
CD
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si,
tr,
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TOWNS, Jus.
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1825.
1830.
1835.
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Barker,*
1150
64
233
134
85
274
3
14
18
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Chenango,
2626
2782
3730
5441
483
902
389
H54
430
965
22
73
72
15
13
Colesville,
1774
2387
2230
184
468
8
219
170
516
30
40
5
11
Conklin,
635
906
1142
117
231
11
157
69
259
12
25
35
12
6
Lisle, -
3083
3615
4378
1413
139
310
1
175
118
282
4
2!)
25
13
5
Nanticoke,*
295
25
63
1
44
16
77
3
6
13
9,
1
Sandford,
692
931
1143
114
234
9
153
68
269
9
21
32
4
12
Triangle,*
1669
119
411
1
214
157
358
12
36
26
16
13
Union,
2037
1674
2121
2415
267
553
2
315
189
5011
iii
49
44
9,4
18
Vestal,
794
946
1124
118
249
138
76
256
5
15
25
19
8
Windsor,
3354
1927
2180
2168
181
448
4
269
151
468
11
41
37
22
11
11100
13893
— i 
17579
20190
1811
4102
426
2472
1529
4224
103
332
367
133
102
Note. Males, 10,566; Females, 9,624; Blacks, 135; Black voters, 4, Deaf and Dumb, 11; Idiots 9.
Lunatics. 6; Paupers. 38. * Erected since 1830.
TOWNS, Sec.
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Barker,
23764
7457
83624
16750
1628
298
2702
915
253
2395
4406
351 30
231 86
Chenango,
56707
15227
444644
179586
2391
670
3793
2036
3446
2186
4592
2184 SO
672 30
Colesville,
42694
10085
174588
13412
1794
518
5268
1256
4378
4451
5544
658 00
220 82
Conklin,
30427
6089
111994
1006
925
222
1702
8110
1225
1391
2104
395 50
223 79
Lisle,
23764
7590
133089
8955
1754
376
3.32
911
2893
3433
3916
512 15
339 11
Nanticoke,
12709
1619
33621
140
192
70
364
212
272
459
1189,
119 67
69 04
Sandford,
52390
5119
101011
1056
201
1565
722
1399
3118
2099
356 37
474 75
Triangle,
22189
10540
128784
12444
2917
486
3068
1329
3537
5372
5476
544 26
219 3]
Union,
52083
12039
232116
18640
2333
540
3457
lb96
39M
4703
7478
886 30
468 76
Vestal,
34810
4707
130011
7316
886
235
159'd
844
1489
1287
59,23
480 64
225 49
Windsor,
49867
13297
177734
10266
2820
523
5040
1572
3919
5351
7229
658 00
290 47
401404
93769
17520271268515
18696
4139
31784
12583
26724
34146
49749
7146 99
4035 70
364

"TOPOGRAPHY.

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3
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TOWNS.
toS
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3
5
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Barker, ......
9
139
291
10$
Chenango,
5
16
l
l l
i
1
1
21
369
656
Colesville,
3
22
2
2
4
15
317
516'
836
Conklin,
1
13
1
2
7
76
173
237
Lisle,
3
20
l
3
3
2
1
3
11
166
302
506 159
Nanticoke,
5
4
58
83
Sandford,
3
16
1
12
213
133
429
Triangle.
2
10
2
2
4
11
171
360
su
Union,,
3
35
1
1
3
14
218
568
83j
V*j|tal- .
2
18
2
6
98
277
320'
Windsor, ....
2
15
l
o
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1
91
ct c
1 1
0 2
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4
o
1
i
1
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2
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1
g
16
135
288
472'
761
24'l78
2113
3831
617J-
Value of product, ....
a ©
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ra1
Children in the
M
w ©
1
county above 5 and1
under 16 yeara of
Value of material,
©1
1
1
Is
> 33
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©
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01
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age, 5,695.
COOt
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.
-
CATTARAUGUS COUNTY.

365

]E H

STATE 01 PEMSYLVAlflA

CATTARAUGUS COUNTY,* taken from Genesee, Uth March, 1808 is
bounded N. by Erie and Genesee; E. by Allegany; W. by Chautauque, counties;
and S. by Warren and Me Kean counties, of Pennsylvania; length E. and W. about
39, greatest breadth N. and S. 3G, miles; area 1270 square miles; situate between
42° Of/ and 42° 34' N. Lat. and 1° 27' and 2° 12' W. Long.; centrally distant from
New York, by way of Catskill 384, from Albany 292, from~Buffalo, S. E. 50, miles.
The surface of the country, viewed as a whole, is table land, elevated more
than 2000 feet above the ocean; but it is broken into hills by the streams in
every direction; and is divided into two great ridges of very unequal breadth
by the Allegany river which flows, by a very irregular course of about 50 miles,
through the southern portion. The country extending from 30 to 40 miles,
into the state of Pennsylvania, dips northward to the river. The valley of the
river, varying from half a mile to two miles in breadth, is depressed below the
genera] surface from 700 to 800 feet, and its banks, therefore, have a mountainous
character. In places, the massive sand stone is precipitous; but in others, it has
• The name is said to be corrupted from the Indian word, Gah-ta-ra-ke-ras, stinking shore
or beach, applied to Lake Erie, and thence extended over the adjacent country.

366 TOPOGRAPHY.
gentle acclivities, and is covered with arable soil. North of theriver, the country
rises, for 15 to 25 miles, until it attains the summit of the ridge, forming the wa
ter shed between the basins of the Mississippi and the St. Lawrence; or to speak
of a more contracted sphere, between the Allegany river and the Cattaraugus
creek. This summit is very irregular; commencing here, in the N. W. it curves
through Perrysburg, New Albion, Mansfield, Ellicottville, Machtas and Farmers- '
ville, to the N. E. The tributaries of the Allegany are Hasket's Creek, rising in
Allegany county and having a course of about 10 miles; Oil Creek, which has its
source in Allegany, and meandering for several miles along the boundary line,
finally by a S. W. course passes through Hinsdale and Olean to its recipient; its
length may be 20 miles; near the centre of Hinsdale it receives, the Ischua creek
which runs from Machias, S. also 20 miles; Great Valley creek, issuing from
Machias, flows through the towns of Ellicottville and Great valley, about 18 miles;
Little Valley creek not more than 8 miles long; and Cold Spring of about the same
length. The river is navigable for boats and rafts, when high, from Olean to
Pittsburg. The Cattaraugus creek, described under " Erie county," also receives several
tributaries from this; the largest, is the South Branch, which by a very serpentine
course flows through Ashford, Otto and Perrysburg about 25 miles. The val
leys of these tributary streams, sink from 400 to 600 feet below the general level.
The basis rock of the county is carboniferous slate, which is also the principal sur
face rock upon the dividing ridge and its northern declivity; over the southern re
gion, sand stone prevails. Lime stone is found in Machias, Freedom, and Perrys
burg, in abundance, and probably in other northern towns, and marl, from which lime
is burned, in Persia. The soil and timber correspond with these bases; upon the N.
the forest consists chiefly of deciduous trees, as oak, hickory, ash, elm, linden,
chestnut, walnut, beech, maple, &c. with groves of pine, where the sand appears,.
and hemlock in the swales; on the S. the evergreens abound, although they are
much blended with the other species, particularly with white oak and chestnut.
The subsoil is covered generally with vegetable mould, deeper and more tenacious
in the N. where, mingled with the clay, it produces excellent crops of grain as
well as grass; in the S. grass is the most productive return. But as the general
constituents vary with localities, good farms for all purposes may be had in all the
towns N. of the river; south of the river the country is yet almost a wilderness.-
The soil oPthe valleys, generally, formed of alluvial deposit is fertile in grain.
Upon the high banks of the river, there are extensive tracts of poor land, meagrely
covered with yellow pine.
The lines of the Erie rail load and Rochester and Olean canal, enter the county
by the valley of Oil creek, following it to its junction with the Allegany. Be
tween the waters of the Genesee and the Allegany, some of the grading of the
road reaches 50 feet per mile, as the line is.run; but it is believed that it may be
diminished upon revision. Thence the route is continued down the Allegany val
ley about 26 miles, over excellent ground, generally, to the Indian village, near
Cold Spring creek; there leaving the river it passes by the valley of the Cold
Spring1, over a small swell of land and descends to the valley of the Little Con
newango, and down that and the Great Connewango, into Chautauque county. A
route was surveyed from the town of Randolph, up the valley ofthe Great Conne
wango, to its source, in order to find a more direct course to Dunkirk or Fayette;
but it was found impracticable.
Improved farms sell at from 15 to 40 dollars the acre. Wheat produces an
average crop of 20 and corn 30 bushels the acre. Good farms on the river are
the highest. Not more than one-ninth part of the county is under improvement.
This county formed part of the Holland Land Company's purchase, and was
surveyed by them into townships and ranges. The title to lands is direct, cleaT
and unincumbered. The company had a sub office at Ellicottville, where they
offered lands at from $ 1 50 to $ 4, the acre; but have lately sold out their inter
est in the wild lands, to an association formed at Utica.
The county is divided into 23 towns.
Ashford, taken from Ellicottville, 16th Feb. 1824; surface undulating, declining
to the N. and W.; soil clay loam; drained N. by tributaries of the Cattaraugus
creek; W. by the S. branch of the same creek; the valley of the Cattaraugus
is, from 1 to 2 miles broad and fertile; centrally distant, W. from Albany 282,

CATTARAUGUS COUNTY. 367
from Buffalo, S. E. 40, from Ellicottville, N. 10, miles; the post-office having the
name of the town, is at Dutch Hollow, around which are a store, tavern, grist mill,
clothing works, and some 20 dwellings. Less than one-tenth part of the town is
under improvement.
Burton, taken-from Great Valley, April 18th, 1831; surface on the N. and S.
high and somewhat broken, descending to the valley of the Allegany river; soil
variously blended with clay, sand and gravel; portions adapted to grain and others
to grass. Burton, post village upon the river and rail road line, 15 miles S. of
Ellicottville, has 1 store and tavern, 2 saw mills and 10 or 12 dwellings. A city
plot has been laid out upon the river and near the E. boundary, by the Utica com
pany, to be called, " Allegany," which is expected to become a thriving place on
the completion ofthe railroad and Olean canal. Chapelsburg and Five Mile Run,
are names of other post offices and settlements. Not one-thirtieth part of this
town is improved.
Connewango, formed from Little Valley, 20th Jan. 1823; surface high and roll
ing on the N. and E. but deeply indented on the S. and W. by the Conhewango
and Little Connewango creeks, which, at their junction are depressed, 875 feet be
low Ihe general level; soil of excellent quality, with a small proportion of pine,
bnt densely covered with oak, hickory, chestnut, black and white oak, walnut,
beech and maple; Elm creek, a tributary of the Little Connewango runs near the
E. boundary; S. W. from Albany, 312, from Buffalo, S. E. 54, from Ellicottville,
S. W. 20, miles. Somewhat more than one-tenth of the land is under improve
ment. Rutledge, post village, on the E. side of Connewango creek, has 2 stores,
1 tavern, and some 25 dwellings.
Dayton, taken from Perrysburg, Feb. 7th, 1835; surface undulating; soil clay
and gravelly loam, adapted to grain; drained by Connewango creek and branches;
distant from Albany, 302, from Ellicottville, N. W. 25, miles; heavily timbered in
the valleys with pine and on the highlands with oak aud chestnut. About one
fifth of the town is settled. The post office has the name of the town.
Ellicottville, taken from Ischua, 13th April, 1820$ surface generally undu
lating, except along the Great Valley creek, where it sinks above 600 feet below
the general level; soil sandy and gravelly loam, adapted alike to grass and grain.
The Great Valley creek flows through the town, by a S. W. course of about 7
miles to the village of Ellicott; thence S. E. 3 miles to the S. line; a fine mill
stream. The W. sends a tribute to the S. branch of the Cattaraugus. Thus it is
seen that, the dividing ridge between the waters of the Allegany and those of
Lake Erie, crosses the town. Ellicottville, the shire town, named after the late
principal agent of the Holland Land Company, upon the Great Valley creek; dis
tant S. W. from Albany 292, from New York, N. W. by the way of Catskill 384,
from Mayville E. 50, from Portland Harbour 58, from Angelica, W. 35, from
Buffalo, S. W. 50, and from the line of the Erie rail road and the Allegany river,
9, miles, contains 1 Episcopal church, select school, the county court house, a
good brick building, prison, clerk's office, and office of the Holland Land Compa
ny, 1 grist, 1 saw, mill, 1 tannery, 4 stores, 3 taverns, and about 70 dwellings — 2
printing offices, each issuing a weekly paper. Plato, is the name of a post office.
Farmersville, taken from Olean, June 16th, 1812; area since much reduced;
surface hilly, on the dividing ridge; drained on the S. W. by the Ischua creek; S.
E. by Cold creek, a tributary of the Genesee; N. W. by the S. branch of Catta
raugus creek; soil clay and sandy loam, of fair quality; from Albany, S. W. 280,
from Ellicottville, N. E. 19 miles. Nearly one fourth of the town is under im
provement. The post village called after the town, has 2 taverns, 2 stores, and
25 dwellings- There is another dense settlement with a post office called Fairview.
Franklinville, taken from Olean, by the name of Ischua, 16th June, 1812;
since much reduced; surface undulating; soil fertile, sandy, clay and gravelly loam;
drained on the E. by Ischua creek; on the W. by Great Valley creek and its branch
es. Franklinville, in the N. E. angle, 13 miles from Ellicottville, contains 1 Pres-
byterian and 1 Methodist, churches, 4 stores, 2 taverns, 1 tannery, and about 60
dwellings. There is on the Ischua creek, a village, called the Lower village, 1
mile below Franklinville, where are 2 stores, 1 tavern, 1 tannery, grist and saw
mill, clothing works, iron foundry, and about 40 dwellings; and there is a post
office called Canning. About one-eighth of the town is under improvement.
Freedom, formed from Ischua, or Franklinville, 13th April, 1820; surface level;

368 TOPOGRAPHY.
soil, gravelly loam of excellent quality, adapted to grass; drained by Clear creek,
and south branch of Cattaraugus; the former having a W. and N. W. course
of about 18 miles to the latter; distant from Albany, S. W. 269 miles. Freedom,
Chelsea, and Sandusky, are post villages. Freedom village, 26 miles N. E. from
Ellicottville, at the head of Clear creek, on Fish lake, has 1 store, 1 tavern,, and
about 15 dwellings. Chelsea, 21 miles from Ellicottville, has 1 Free Will Bap
tist church, 1 store, saw mill, and some 15 dwellings. Sandusky, 24 miles from
Ellicottville, contains 1 grist, 2 saw mills, clothing works, 2 taverns, 2 stores^
and about 35 dwellings. Fish and Mud lakes cover about 50 acres each, and are
tributary to the Cattaraugus; but it is proposed to increase their area by damming
their outlets, and to conduct their waters to Beaver lake in Farmersville, and
thence to Ischua creek, to feed the Rochester and Olean canal. Fish lake is
267-1, and Mud lake 218 feet above the summit level of the canal; Fish lake is
divided into two unequal parts; the larger division is 6 feet above the other, and
in the dry season has no communication, unless subterranean, with it.
Great Valley, taken from Olean 15th April, 1818; surface and soil similar to
those of Burton; the Allegany crosses it by a W. and N. W. course, receiving
from it on the N. Great Valley creek, and on the S. Tuniangnant creek; distant
from Albany S. W. 299 miles. Peth village, 7 miles from Ellicottville, has 1:
store, 1 tavern, 2 saw mills, and about 15 dwellings, and the post office is called
after the town. The Indian reservation, a mile wide, extends along the river to
the east line of the town.
Hindsdale, taken from Olean 14th April, 1820; broken by Ischua and Oil
creeks, which unite near the village of Hindsdale in the south part of the town;
S. W. from Albany, 281 miles. The lines of the Erie Rail Road and Olean
Canal, run through the town. About one-eighth ofthe town is settled. Hindsdale
and West Hindsdale are post villages. Hindsdale, 26 miles from Ellicottville, upon
Oil creek, has 3 stores, 2 taverns, grist mill, 3 saw mills, clothing works, carding
machines, tannery, and about 25 dwellings. West Hindsdale, 16 miles from Elli
cottville, has l,store, 2 taverns, grist and saw mill, iron foundry, and 15 dwel
lings. Leon, taken from Connewango 24th April, 1832; surface high, and compara
tively level; soil, clay and sandy loam of good quality; drained on the N. by the
Connewango creek and its branches; distant from(Albany 307, from Ellicottville
W. 18, miles. Thompsonville, a small village, has lately sprung up here, on. a
branch of the Connewango, centrally situate, containing a grist and saw mill, ta
vern, and a few dwellings. The post office, formerly called Pleasant Grove, now
bears the name ofthe town. About a fifth of the town is under improvement.
Little Valley, taken from Perry 10th April, 1818; surface mountainous.
The Allegany river curves W. across it, receiving from it the Little Valley creek
and other streams; distant from Albany, 299, from Ellicottville S. W. 10,
miles; the town is yet a wilderness, not one-fortieth part of it being in any way
improved; there is not one inhabitant to the 100 acres of its area. Little Valley
post village, 7 miles from Ellicottville, has 1 store, and some 10 or 12 dwellings,.
and 1 saw mill.
Lyndon, taken from Franklinville 24th January, 1829; in surface and soil simi
lar to that town; drained on the S. E. by Oil creek, and on the W. by a branch
of Ischua creek; from Albany 277, from Ellicottvile, by the usual road, 20, miles.
Elgin is the name of a post office and settlement.
Machias, taken from Yorkshire 16th April, 1827; surface level; soil, clay and
gravelly loam, fertile; drained S. E. by Ischua creek; distant from Albany 288,
from Ellicottville, N. E. 10, miles; Lime lake, a small sheet of water, has its
name from the decomposed fresh water shells covering its bottom, and which may
be burned into lime; it sends a small stream to the Cattaraugus creek, upon which
are several mills; but it is proposed to turn its waters, also, to the south, into the
Ischua creek, for the purpose of feeding the Rochester and Olean canal; the
lower end of the lake is separated from the Ischua by a tamarak swamp, I5
miles in length. Machias, and Lime Lake, are post villages; the former has a post.
office, 1 tavern, 2 stores, 20 dwellings; the latter, at the foot of the lake, has 1 grist
mill, 1 tavern, 1 store, and 12 dwellings. There is an excellent gray building
stone in the town, which stands fire well.

CATTARAUGUS COUNTY. 369
Mansfield, taken from Little Valley 23d February, 1830, by the name of Ceci-
lius, changed April, .1831; like Ellicottville in surface and soil; watered on the
N. by the south branch of Cattaraugus creek; on the S. by Little Valley creek;
distant from Albany 296, from Ellicottville, W. 5, miles; about one-eighth part is
under improvement. Mansfield is the name ofthe post office.
Napoh. taken from Little Valley by the name of .Cold Spring; name changed
15th April, 1828; surface and Soil like those of Connewango; the Allegany river
crossing the town W. and S. W. receives from the N. Cold Spring creek, and
from the S. another creek; at the mouth of Cold Spring is the Indian vil
lage, called Tunesassah; the Reservation, one mile in width along the river, ex
tends some miles above, and several below, this point, into Pennsylvania; this
remnant lately had at its head the celebrated chief Cornplanter, who died early in
the year 1836, aged about 100 years; some of the tribe are wealthy, have large
stocks of cattle, and some saw mills; much isi due for the improvement of their
condition to the judicious efforts of the Society of " Friends" of Philadelphia, who
have long maintained instructors amongthem, teaching the primitive arts of civili
sation, and who have a settlement in the southern part of the town. Seelysburg
on the N. W. is 308 miles from Albany, and 13 S. W. from Ellicottville:
there is a post office here, and a few dwellings; there is another post office called
Napoli. Not a tenth part of the town is settled.
New Albion, taken from Little Valley 23d February, 1830; distant from Al
bany 302, from Ellicottville W. 10, miles; surface somewhat broken, inclining to
the N.and S.; drained N. by the south branch ofthe Cattaraugus, and a tributary
ofthe Connewango creek, and on the S. by Flint creek flowing to the Little Con
newango. New Albion and Sociality are post offices and settlements.
Olean, organised 11th March, 1808, since much reduced; surface broken; soil,
sandy loam, covered with dense pine forests; the Allegany river crosses the town
by a N. and N. W. course, receiving from it, Oswaya, Swamp, Hasket, and Oil
creeks; the settlements are chiefly on the river and creeks, the remainder of the
town, nineteen-twentieths, being uncleared. Olean village, at the confluence of
the Olean creek with the river, 350 miles from New York by the way ot New
burgh, 288 from Albany, 18 S. E. from Ellicottville, founded by Major Hoops, of
Albany, about 1814, and by him named " Hamilton on Allegany," contains 3
taverns, 5 stores, 1 flouring mill, 2 saw mills, an iron foundry, tannery, and about
70 dwellings. The north bank of the river rises gently and forms a beautiful
site for the village; the south bank is precipitous and high; a steamboat constructed
on the Blanchard plan ascended the river, in May, 1830, to this point, from Pitts
burg, from which it is distant 270 miles, and is elevated 600 feetaboveit, and 1400
above the ocean; to the latter, the distance is 2500 miles, by the course of the ri
vers. Here the Rochester and Olean Canal is to terminate, and this is to become
the entrepot, in the transit of goods by this route from the valleys, of the Hud
son and St. Lawrence into that of the Ohio. The width of the river here is 20 rods;
at the state line it is between 30 and 40, at Warren between 40 and 50, and at
Pittsburgh 100. The channel is free from obstructions, the bed of small boulders.
Arks carrying 50 tons may descend from Olean during the greatest part of the
year in about 4 days. The amount of lumber annually sent to market, by the
river, is estimated at two hundred millions of feet, board measure, of very superior
quality. The river is navigable generally early in March. The cost of transporting
merchandise, in arks, from Olean to Pittsburgh, is estimated at from 12 to 15
cents the 100 pounds. j± second post office is called Mill Grove.
Otto, taken from Perrysburg 29th January, 1823; surface much broken; having
on the N.1 boundary the Cattaraugus creek, and the south branch ot that stream
flows S. W. across the town, and thence running a N. W. course forms the
W. boundary; the soil is gravelly and clay loam, productive in graiti and grass;
distant from Albany W. 300 miles; about one-sixth part of the town is under im
provement. Waverly and Tyler are post villages. Waverly, on the south branch
ofthe Cattaraugus creek, 11 miles from Ellicottville, has 1 grist and 1 saw mill,
1 tavern, 2 stores, and some 20 dwellings. Tyler has a tavern, store, grist and
saw mill, and 10 or 12 dwellings. There is a post office called East Otto.
Perrysburg, taken from Olean and Ischua, by the name of Perry, 13th April,
1814; name changed 10th April 1818; surface and soil similar to those of dtto;
drained by the Cattaraugus creek on the N. boundary; the valley of the creek is
47

370

TOPOGRAPHY.

deep and narrow, and the Indian.reservation extends along it; distant from Albany
304, from Ellicottville 30, miles. There are considerable beds of lime stone in
the town, and its lands, of fine quality, are more than one-third settled and im
proved. The post office is called after the town.
Persia, taken from Perrysburg 7th February, 1835; surface gently inclining
N. and E.; soil, clay, and gravelly loam of good quality; the Cattaraugus creek
is on the N. and the south' branch of that creek on the E. boundary; distant from
Albany 300 miles W. There are in the town beds of marl, from which
lime is made. Lodi, post village, 25 miles from Ellicottville, upon both sides of
the Cattaraugus creek, partly in Erie county, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist
church, high school, 1 grist, 3 saw mills, 5 stores, 3 taverns, 1 large woollen fac
tory, clothing works, furnace, pail factory, 1 large tannery, distillery, 1 printing
office, issuing a weekly journal, and 150 dwellings of wood. The creek affords a
valuable water power, much of which is unimproved.
Randolph, taken from Connewango 1st February, 1826; in surface and soil like
the latter; drained N. by branches ofthe Connewango creek, and S. E. by the Al
legany river, crossing that angle and receiving from the town some inconsiderable'
tributaries. Randolph, post village, on the N. line, and on the line ofthe Erie
Rail Road, 24 miles S. W. from Ellicottville, has 3 stores, 3 taverns, 3 saw mills,
and about 30 dwellings.
Yorkshire, similar in surface and soil to Ashford and Machias, was erected
from Ischua, 13th April, 1820; branches ofthe Cattaraugus creek flow from it N.
to the main stream, which form3 the N. boundary; distant from Albany, W. 281,
from Ellicottville, N. E. 15, miles. Yorkshire, and Yorkshire Corners, are villages.
The former, in the forks of the south branch of the Cattaraugus creek, has a post
office, 1 tavern, 2 stores, 1 grist and 2 saw mills, and 25 dwellings; there is a va
luable water power here: The latter, on Cattaraugus creek, has 1 grist, 1 saw
mill, trip hammer, and about 25 dwellings. The country around it is pleasant and
well pultivated.

1820

1825

1830.

1835.

a S

-U o>

c at
<

Females.

toVaS3
S 14

Births.

Deaths

TOWNS, &c.

uaa &
¦o £
.2 to
E >•
edtQ

£¦* g|a >

¦a cs

m o
"3S
31

CO
"3 s
23

an
73 S 8

tn
.2213 s

Ashford,

27S
631
1201
116
229
2
177
47
313
7
Burton,
809
88
172
10
112
38
165
8
23
18
8
6
Connewango,
not
1712
1166
94
233
4
174
49
312
7
25
26
10
6
Dayton,
1114
102
4
167
54
282
14
28
22
8
9
Ellicottville,
319
380
626
941
93
176
4
111
66
243
2
18
19
5
6
Farmersville, ^
636
1005
1164
124
264
1
160
73
287
10
20
24
7
9
Franklinville,
501
523
903
1330
136
256
26
168
83
347
30
26
9
4
Freedom,
320
935
1505
1835
128
350
20
248
104
452
10
41
36
9
10
Great Valley,
271
378
647
611
88
140
s>
73
36
135
3
15
11
4
3
Hindsdale, .
347
919
1543
151
303
215
64
395
11
32
48
14
9
Leon,
1139
156
240
171
54
280
7
21
30
8
2
Little Valley,
484
462
336
610
58
149
2
87
42
107
4
17
5
4
3
Lyndon, .
271
539
53
97
24
90
40
139
4
15
11
2
3
Machias,
735
1025
93
196
2
142
41
260
3
30
30
8
3
Mansfield. .
378
720
71
160
3
92
36
159
3
14
13
9
1
Napoli,
443
852
1379
126
287
2
185
63
374
3
23
35
7
10
New Albion,
380
848
64
184
6
132
37
209
2
22
26
4
4
Olean,
700
404
561
830
141
223
7
120
55
238
4
19
25
5
3
Otto,
601
1224
1731
187
354
7
265
71
426
8
40
37
17
10
Perrysburgh,
835
15252
2440
1549
108
304
211
87
416
10
25
38
6
13
Persia,
898
104
98
1
129
57
228
11
17
11
8
3
Randolph, .
776
938
94
191
1
138
41
256
7
17
29
14
15
Yorkshire, .
313
4090
856
8643
823
1066
88
2423
202
5030
t
141
142
3509
56
1294
261
6284
8
153
28
551
23
566
8
182
5
16724
24980
144
Note.— Males, 12,915; Females, 12,071; Blacks,
natics, 9.
Deaf and Dumb, 19; Blind, 7; Idiots, 18; Lu-
CATTARAUGUS COUNTY.

371

TOWNS, Ac.

¦vS

8

cd
-8 'O „;
£ e»2
JJJ3S

> a
Vi £ v
m K*2
tt) T'cd
<ri ± w
<3S

d
eg
O

to
to c
C
ST

a.CD
a
w

6
C
irii

¦dj»*5
fa
1693'

S-d
2190

4
U
S3
1792

M
'B S
3

. eda
I'
H

33388

3555

41915

'.'00

1279 222

1480

1308

416 27

665 04

«7955

2194

65876

200

789 111

859

700

611

1076

1438

550 57

719 09

Connewa«go,'

29725

2335

45450

2860

1221 233

1734

1526

2315

2986

2207

336 69

280 41

22547

4313

45807

200

1471 205

1802 1228

1249

2730

4272

332 70

250 27

Ellico&tviHe,

30534

2819

77745

1075

1021 194

932

890

661

1229

1562

472 38

552 55

30139

6360

93934

6500

2202 373

3299

1344

3095

3297

3515

526 19

389 20

32672
4148
65344
750
1455 277
1838
969
1632
1896
2409
489 12
641 36
2S867
6600
72095
962
2106' 484
3952; 2205
3270
4959
3612
430 02
497 65
59451
1283
66963
903
592 107
455 433
373
720
821
366 78
753 73
45183
5637
69120
1160
157l| 323
1902! 1242
2000P 1551
1405
2042
,3142
641 73
961 49
21017
4311
37282
450
1235 222
1664
2187
4429
350 69
- 398 53
Little ValQey,
67656
isss
55004
200
684 133
736
424
601
1017
554
312 64
• 689 12
Lyndon, s;
20953
2154
36959
238
678
90
808
604
575 945
1280
295 84
¦ 444 90
IMachias, j
23498
4109
48699
1000
1261
203
1649
1280
1233 2270
2:104
273 67
396 53
Mansfield, J
wajioii, ji
24918
3017
38413
250
1015
84
9TO
7«0
* 707 1145
1867
304 17
' 534 63
58564
5436
99462
1100
1365
200
2200
1460
1734 3069
saw
663 47
534 46
New Albion; 'SB
Olean, $ $
Otto. * j
22349
¦2559
39324
400
871
125
1041
95ij
1198 1418
2068
267 91
1 267 22
44865
1835
95145
649
147
422
58<S
220 646
439
493 04
539 23
42139
7252
91803
3843
2267
296
3U87
1705
2632 3456
3679
660 52
451 25
I'errysburgh, :* '
Persia, « ?
16834
6900
72095
962
2010
276
3958
1476
2874 4793
42-22
385 33
389 30
13289
2208
36061
1560
7*26
132
1103
589 982 1310
2113
255 79
353 08
Randolph, ' i
42985
3687
9 391
3030
1112
261
15431 1018, 1297 1835
2591
588 62
593 65
Yorkshire, .!/
tens
3421
51847
2125
1044
203
1730 1200 2023 3513
-2976
320 08
' 547 04
"3, ,
768305
87576
1439725
29968
28644
4990
39509 25176133044 50738
56559
9834 22
11849 73
TOvVNS.
i2 co
5 .2
s f
eV —
CD
e
00 CD
a
0 .
BT5
CO
If
es0
¦R
5 's
E cd
3"*
3 -d
a ed
ii U
si
Sl'-CO '.£
I CO
<
0)csd
.8 5
t2"
ed"3
0
d
Ashford,
2 8
1 1
1
1
6
89
119
282
Barton, .
8
1
7
55
41
235
Connewango, '. .
2 3
2 2
Si
a
7
138
290
401
Dayton,
3
j
j
6
139
150
S177
Ellicottville, .
3
1
1
.3
5
MM
178
305
Freedom, ...
2 5
1 1
2
i
13
237
338
610
Franklinville, .
3
1 1
3
a
8
135
205
444
Farmersville, •¦..-.
1
1
3
10
150
247
441
Great Valley,:. . .
2 12
1 1
1
4
38
169
138
Hindsdale, '.....
2 10
1 1
1
1
16
169
422
663
Leon,
1 3
li
1
1
10
130
195
406
Little Valley, . 1 . .
2 3
1
4
58
94
158
Lyndon, "-..'.
|
5
42
67
153
Machias, . ...
1 3
1 1
1
H
152
158
395
Mansfield, 4
1 1
5
60
166
247
Napoli,
2 0
1
1;
11
12U
336
518
Now Albion, -.."
1 3
1
7
57
92
384
Otto, .,
3 6
1 1
1 2
11
163
•250
507
OUsan, ?¦..,
2 22
[ 1
5 106
138
210
Perrysbnrgh, \
1 7
1
12! 177
228
493
Persia,
1 3
1 1
J
1 I
5l 93
246
297
Randolph,
1. 10
1
1 1 1
6
121
152
298
Vorkshire,
3 4
1
1
1
1 1 1
8
126
11$
408
28 108
13
11
1
0
4
19 191 2
OO CD £
178
2653
4456
8370
Value of product, . . * .
^1 , Tf
$
rH
-t
i -
Number of chil
dren batween 5 and
r- ' 0
3
CD
0
CO en
w m u}
16 years of a»e.
Value of material.
c 1 to
X)
a
cs
« m
7,151.
372

TOPOGRAPHY.

CAYUGA COUNTY. 373
Upon thi\ S. the surface rises into ridges, along the Cayuga lake., the Qwasco
lake and inlet, and the Skaneateles lake. Between the ridges on the first two
lakes, flows the Salmon Cfeek, seeking, southward, the Cayuga lake near Ludlow-
ville, in Tompkins county; whilst the inlet of the Owasco lake flows northward,
and Fall creek, of the Cayuga lake, rising in the S. E. angle of this county hasa
S. western direction. This disposition of the waters shows an irregular surface.
The Poplar ridge, E, of the Cayuga'lake, rises in some places to 600 feet above,
but has a gentle slope towards, the lake, displaying finely cultivated farms. The
eastern declivities of this and the other hills, are more abrupt. • On the nprth of
Auburn, the country,is comparatively level, yet has a rolling appearance from the
many large gravel hills scattered over the plain, assuming in many places the
semblance of stupendous mounds formed by art. This gravel has much lime stone
audprodu es excellent wheat-. • j
The southern portion has for its basis rock, secondary slate; whilst the northern
rests upon the saliferous sand stone; upon both, are imposed shell lime, lias lime
and gypsum., These impositions, however, are not abundant in the S. The broad
belt of argillaceous oxyde of iron, of which we. have spoken at page 49, extends
across the county. From such a basis good soils only are to be expected, and few
portions of the slate possess more fertile lands, or can boast higher, cultivation.
About two thirds of its area are under improvement.
lu all the fruits of the climate, this county is prolific. Upon the N. it is not
yet densely settled; from one third to one fourth part pf this section may be still
covered with wood; but on the S. little more of the forest remains than is requisite
in: rural economy. The timber'consists of oak, beech, butternut, elm, poplar, bass
wood, pine and hemlock. The principal streams, are the Salmon and Fall, creeks,
tributaries of the Cayuga hike; the Inlet and. the Outlet of the Owasco lake and
the Seneca river, which is the eventual recipient of all these waters. The river
flows through a plain in which its sluggish course is scarce perceptible, and the
marshes which it waters, extend to the western border of the county; in its way
it passes through Cross lake, a basin 5 miles long by 2 wide, lying on the eastern
boundary, in a low swampy district, whose surface is 370 feet above tide. vThe
Erie canal crosses the county N. of its longitudinal centre arid parallel with the
Seneca river. ' .
The Cayuga lake, which forms a large part of the W. boundary is a beautiful
expanse of water, 3b' miles long and from one to four broad, lis outlet is about
25 miles S. of Lake Ontario. Its shores are often low, but not marshy, except
iiear the outlet. Around its head, the country is high and hilly, Its present area
is about 80 square, miles. In some parts the water is so deep that it is rarely
closed by ice in the most rigorous winters, lt is the recipient of many fine streams
and is well stocked with fish. ,At one period, this lake spread N. over the Monte
zuma marshes, and S. into the vale of Ithaca, having a length of 50 miles, and
now, during high floods, it overflows the marshes.
The county is divided into 22 towns. ;
Auburn, taken from Aurelius, 28th March, 1823; surface rolling; soil fertile clay
loam, on lime stone; of which extensive quarries supply a valuable building ma
terial much used in the village. The lands are highly cultivated. The Owasco
lake touches the S. E. angle ofthe town and its outlet affords admirable mill sites.
The town, three miles by 2, comprehending 6 lots ofthe military tract, is included
within the chartered limits of the village. The compact part of the village lies
on the Outlet two and a half miles irom the lake, on the great western turnpike 1 09
miles N.' W. from Albany, 314, from New York, and 7, S. from Weedsport on the
Erie canal, was founded in 1793 by Col. John L. Hardenburg, and was for many
years known as " Hardenburg's Corners." It became a post village in 1800, and
in 1805, received from Dr. Crosset, the name which it now bears., In the same
year it became the county town, and in 1807, the public buildings having been
commenced, the courts were first holden here. It was incorporated, 8th April,
1815, and in 1836, the several acts of incorporation were revised and consolidated,
giviug to trustees, powers similar to those of the Mayor and Aldermen of the city
of Utica. The village and town is divided into four wards, each of which elects
two trustees; the president of the board is chosen by general tickei. It is one of
the most thriving and beautiful villages of the state; though not very regularly luidr
out, its principal streets are wide, are Macadamised, and are adorned with spacious,

TOPOGRAPHY.

\ TanAudpn'S:;

AITBTTRJY.

Scale of Feet
JO soo J.OOO JSOO

TactorV-kJL"

, References.
l.Court Mouse
2-County Clerks Office
3.Acadeiny
^Theological Seminary
SJPost Office
6Spiscopal Ch.
1.1'f Presbyterian Ch,
8.2* Do.
S Baptist C7i.
la Methodist Ch.
II. Bank of Auburn.

12. Cayuga Co. Sank
13. American Motel
14: Western Exchange
lS.Sank Coffee Souse
l£.Taverns n.FlouringMM
18.Do. Mo.
19.Jactory SO.'Brtwery2l22.DistiUetys
23.SawMill

lofty buildings of brick and dressed lime stone; some of them four stories high,
with stores that would not discredit Broadway or Pearl street. Many of the pri
vate dwellings are notable for neatness and commodiousness. During the year
1835, several extensive ranges of buildings of dressed lime stone were put up.
Th,? American and Exchange, hotels, merit notice: both are large; the latter of
wood, and the former of dressed lime stone, 56 feet square, 4 stories high, with
wings and contains 80 apartments. The new county prison raised in 1833, 7'2 by
45 feet, and three stories high, is also of this material.
Auburn contains a population of 5368 souls; 850 houses, State prison, theological
seminary, court house, jail, county clerk's office, the bank of Auburn, capital
$ 200,000, and Cayuga county bank, capital $ 250,000; 2 Presbyterian, 1 Episco
pal, 1 Methodist E piscopal, 1 Baptist, 1 Universalist, 1 Roman Catholic, churches;
1 academy, 6 district schools, 2 infant schools, 3 select schools, 15 private schools,
1 band of music, 1 museum', 8 hotels, 4 printing offices, issuing weekly papers,
20 lawyers, 15 physicians, 24 dry good stores, 29 groceries, 4 druggists, 5 hard
ware stores, 3 copper, tin and sheet iron factories, 4 jewellers and silversmiths, 2
soap and candle factories, 1 tool factory, 1 brass clock factory, 3 bookstores, 2
binderies, 5 tailor shops,2 comb factories, 4 cabinet ware rooms, 5 saddle and har
ness shops, 8 blacksmiths shops, 2 looking glass factories, 3 leather stores, 3 mo
rocco factories, 9 boot and shoe stores, 3 hat stores, 1 tobacco factory, 3 distilleries,
1 brewery, 1 brush and bellows factory, 3 furnaces, 1 burr millstone factory, 1 co
verlet and carpet factory, 1 cotton factory, 4 flouring mills, 1 marble yard, 2 livery
stables, 2 threshing machine factories, 1 card factory, 2 wool'carding and clothiers
works, 1 dentist, 2 portrait painters, 6 milliners, 5 dress makers, S carriage makers,

CAYUGA COUNTY. 375
1 steam engine factory, besides manufactories of copper tea kettles, japanned
ware, &c. &c.
Auburn College, founded in 1836, received from the regents of the University a
charter, upon condition that the trustees shall, within three years, become pos
sessed of a site and buildings, free from incumbrances, the cost of which shall not
be less than $30,000, and of a permanent fund of at least $50,000, secured by mort
gage at an interest of 7 per cent. The applicants propose to devote the full sum of
$80,000 to this institution.
A company has been incorporated fer making a rail road from the village to
Syracuse, distant 20 miles, with a capital of $400,000, atid the stock has been
taken, chieflyby the citizens. Another, company was incorporated in 1836, to make
a like road hence to Ithaca, in Tompkins county, and by Oswego rail road to con
nect with the Erie rail road; and with a, view to increase the water power at Au
burn, and to open a navigable communication by the lake with the adjacent coun
try, a canal has been made by an incorporated company from the Owasco lake. A
fall of 50 feet, with a great volume of water, has thus been obtained.
At this village is the Theological Seminary established by the Presbyterian Sy
nod pf Geneva in 1819, and by the act pf incorporation of 1820 placed under commis
sioners chosen by the synods of Genesee, Geneva,'and Oneida. There are three pro
fessors in the institution, and about 60 students; Since its establishment, 240 minis
ters of the gospel have been qualified here for their important offices. The buildings
are very advantageously located on iiigh ground, north pf the village, and consist
of substantial stone edifices. The library contains 4000 volumes.
Here, also, is the Auburn state prison, commenced in 1816, and described at
page 313.
Auhelius, organised January 27, 1789, since modified: distant W. frem Albany
159 miles; surface, gently undulating; scil, clay loam; drained chiefly by the
Owasco creek, easing the N. E. angle. Aurelius, Cayuga, and Fosterville, are post
villages. The first, centrally situate, 4 miles W. of Auburn, on the turnpike road
to Buffalo, has 2 taverns, 2 stores, and about 20 dwellings; the second, at the
foot of Cayuga lake, 8 miles W. from Auburn, contains a Presbyterian church, a
high school, 3 taverns, 4 stores, and about 40 dwellings. A wooden bridge, late
ly renewed, 1 mile and 8 rods long, crosses the lake; it belongs to an incorporated
company, and the stock has been at 200 per cent. Valuable beds of plaster are
extensively wrought upon the lake, a short distance from the bridge. A steamboat
plies te Ithaca from the bridge daily.
' Ciarkesville is rather a suburb of Auburn, than a distinct village, being only a
mile frorn the county town. It has a paper mill, a cotton factory, grist and saw
mills, furnace, 2 trip hammers, clothing works, 1 tavern, some stores, and about
50 dwellings upon the Owasco outlet.
Brutus, taken from Aurelius, 30th March, 1802, since altered; distant from Alba
ny, W. 153 miles; surface hilly, beingpartly covered with gravel mounds; soil, clay
and sandy loam, generally cleared and under excellent cultivation; drained N. by
Broad creek and Cold Spring brook flowing into Seneca 'river. The former is a
feeder of the Erie canal, and is a good mill stream; limestone and plaster are
found here, and a quarry of the latter is worked. Weedsport and Centreport are
villages. Weedsport, incorporated in 1831, 7 miles N. of Auburn, 87 W. of Utica, and 26
from Syracuse, and by canal 197 from Albany, named after the founder, has a
post office, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist church, 1 ashery, tannery, 8 stores,
3^ forwarding establishments, 3 taverns, 1 furnace, 1 saw mill, and 120 dwellings.
This is a thriving village, at which much business is done, being the canal port
for the northern part of the ceunty, and fpr Auburn. This is une ef the hundred
canal creations.
Centreport has merely a grocery and about 20 dwellings, founded as a rival to
Weedsport, but it has been unsuccessful in the race.
Cato, taken from Aurelius March 30, 1802, since altered; distant from Albany
155, from Auburn N. E. 13, miles; surface, in the S. gently undulating, in the N.
rolling; soil, sandy loam of good quality, but having some swamps, and ponds 
ofthe latter, Parker's, Otter lake, and Cross lake, are chief. Cress lake has a
length of 5 miles, and breadth of 1, the others are much smaller; Muskrat river,
an inconsiderable stream, runs S. to the Seneca river, bounding the town on the
south, Cato Corners, and Cato Four Corners, are post villages; the former, situated

376 TOPOGRAPHY.
partly in Ira, upon the line, has a Dutch Reformed church, 4 stores, 2 taverns, 1
saw, 1 grist mill, 1 ashery, 1 furnace for casting, and 35 dwellings: The latter,
centrally situated, has 1 Baptist church, 1 store, 1 tavern, 1 brick school house, 1
furnace, an extensive waggon and carriage factory, and about 30 dwellings.
Conquest, taken from Cato, 16th March, 1821; distant from Albany W. 162,
from Auburn N. W. 14, miles; surface, rolling; soil, clay and sandy loam; drained
on the S. by the Seneca river, separating it from the town of Mentz, a branch of
which curves round the S. W. angle, forming Howland's Island. In the north is
Duck lake, in circumference about 5 miles, stored with the fish usually found in
the waters ofthe West. The post office, named after the town, is in the hamlet of
" Perkin's Corners," where are a tavern, store, ashery, and 15 dwellings.
Fleming, taken from Aurelius 28th March, 1823; distant from Albany W. 160,
from Auburn S. 5, miles; surface, undulating; soil, clay loam, very well culti
vated; drained northwardly by a small tributary of Seneca river. Fleming, post
village, centrally situated, has 1 Methodist church, 2 taverns, 2 stores, and about
20 dwellings.
Genoa, organised by the name of Milton, by General Sessions of Ontario, pur
suant to act, January 27, 1789, name changed April 6th, 1808, since altered; dis
tant W. from Albany W6, from Auburn S. 20, miles; surface, rolling; soil, clay
loam, highly fertile and cultivated; drained S, by Salmon creek and its branches
flowing to the Cayuga lake. The post village, centrally placed, called after the
town, and formerly "Indian Fields," has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Universalist
church, 1 grist and saw mill, 1 distillery, 1 tavern, 4 stores, and from 40 to 50
dwellings. Northville, in the west, has a Presbyterian church, 1 tavern, 3 stores,
and about 20 dwellings. The King's Ferry post office is at this village, and 2
miles W. from it is a ferry over the lake, here two miles wide, called by the same
name. There is a third post office, called the " Five Corners," about 1 mile south
of Northville, at which is a store, and some half dozen dwellings. East Genoa,
also a post office, is 1 mile E. from Genoa village, where are 1 store, 1 tavern,
and 5 or 6 dwellings.
Ira, taken from Cato 16th March, 1821; distant from Albany 189, from Auburn
20, and from Oswego 18, miles; surface, rolling; soil, sandy loam; more than
three-fourths cleared, and generally very well cultivated; population rapidly in
creasing; watered by some small brooks, but having no considerable stream. Ira
post village, centrally situated, has a Presbyterian church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, an
ashery, and about 25 dwellings.
Ledvard, taken from Scipio, 30th January, 1823; distant from Albany 170, from
Auburn, S. W. 16 miles; surface rolling; soil, clay loam, resting on clay slate, in
which the remains of shell fish are so abundant as to convert it into marl; drained
by some small tributaries of the Cayuga lake. Levana and Aurora are post vil
lages, both lying on the lake. The first, 14 miles from Auburn, has a tavern,
store, several stores for the forwarding business, and about 20 dwellings. The se
cond, 18 miles from Auburn, has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Methodist
church, the Cayuga Academy, 2 taverns, 4 stores, 2 storehouses, and about 150
dwellings. This is one ofthe most charming villages on the lake, lying upon a gen
tly inclined plane, ending in an indentation ofthe lake, surrounded by a very rich
country, under the highest cultivation, and ornamented by many neat dwellings,
inhabited by wealthy families. A steamboat from Ithaca to the bridge, touches
daily at this and the other villages upon the lake. The post office has the name
of the town.
Locke, taken from Milton, original name of Genoa, 20th February, 1802; dis
tant W. from Albany 166, from Auburn S. E. 21, miles; surface, hilly; scil, gra
velly loam, underlaid with slate, of a quality somewhat inferior to the adjacent
towns; drained by Owasco inlet, furnishing valuable mill power. Milan village
has the postoffice called after the town; a grist mill, saw mill, carding and cloth
dressing mill, tannery, distillery, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Baptist church, 2 taverns,
2 stores, and about 50 dwellings.
Mentz, taken from Aurelius by name of Jefferson, name changed 6th April,
1808; distant N. W. from Albany 161 miles; surface, undulating; soil, gravelly and
sandy loam, highly fertile; drained N. by Owasco outlet and a smaller tributary
pf Seneca river. The Erie canal cresses the town south-westerly, passing by an
aqueduct of stone over the outlet. The Montezuma salt springs and works lie one-
quarter of a mile N. of the canal, to which there is a side cut. The land here is

CAYUGA COUNTY. 377
low and marshy. Port Byron, Mpntezuma, and Thrpppsville, are ppst villages.
Port Byron, 3 miles W. ef Weedsport, on the Erie canal, 8 from Atiburn, has 1
Baptist church, 5 stores, 2 taverns, 2 grist mills, an extensive merchant mill, 4
saw mills, 1 distillery, 1 tannery, 1 carding and cloth dressing mill, and 140
dwellings. Montezuma village, or Lake Port, has a collector's office for canal
tolls, 3 taverns, 1 store, several groceries, and about 40 dwellings; about 1 mile
W. of the village commence the Montezuma marshes. Throopsville, on the outlet
of Owasco Lake, 3 miles N- W. from Auburn,-has 1 Presbyterian church^1 1 flour
ing mill, 1 saw mill, carding and cloth dressing mill, 1 tavern, 2 stores, and from
20 to 25 dwellings. The fall on the stream here is about 15 feet.
Moravia, taken from Sempronius, 20th March, 1833; distant W. from Albany
157, from Auburn S. E. 20, miles; surface hilly, with a broad valley, in which is
the Inlet ef Owasco lake, running to its recipient with a very rapid current. A
branch of the Inlet from the E. falls perpendicularly 70 feet at the head of the
Owasco flats. The flats are highly fertile, but the soil of the hills is indifferent,
The hills are high, and afford a very extensive prospect. The town is generally
underlaid with slate. Settlements commenced here in 1794, when there were
still some Indians residing on the flats. Moravia and Mentville are post villages.
Moravia contains a Presbyterian and an Episcopal church, 2 taverns, 6 stores, 1
cotton manufactory, 1 grist, 1 saw mill, clothing works, tannery, distillery, and
about 50 dwellings. Montville, 1 mile E. from Moravia, has a grist mill; tavern,
store, and 6 or 8r-dwellings.
Niles, also taken from Sempronius 20th March, 1833; distant W. frcm Albany
160, from Auburn S. E. 15, miles; surface rolling; soil, clay and sandy Icam, on
lime and slate; drained easterly by seme small tributaries pf Skaneateles lake,
which laves the east boundary. Kcllogsvdle, post village, near the south .line, has
1 Presbyterian church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and about one dozen dwellings. There
is a post office called West Niles.
Owasco, taken from Aurelius, 30th March, 1802; W. from Albany, 164 miles;
surface rolling; soil rich loam, highly cultivated; it has the Owasco lake on the
W. for about 4 miles of its length, and is watered by several, small streams run
ning into that receptacle. Owasco, post village, 8 miles from Auburn, has 1
Presbyterian church, 1 tavern, 2 stores, and from 15 to 20 dwellings.
Scipio, originally organised as part ef Ontario county„by General Sessions pur
suant to Act, Jan. 27th, 1789; since modified; W. from Albany,"180 miles; sur
face gently undulating; soil clay loam and calcareous alluvion, resting on slate,
very fertile and highly cultivated; drained, S. by Salmen creek: TheOwascc lake
forms the whole ofthe E. boundary. Scipio, North Scipio, Scipioville, and Sher-
wpod's Cprners, are post villages.
Scipio, 10 miles S. of Auburn, has 1 Baptist church, 1 tavern, 1 store, and seve
ral dwellings — Sherwood's Corners, has a tavern and two stores, and some 12 or
15 dwellings — Scipioville, a Baptist church, tavern, 2 stores, and about a dozen
dwellings — and North Scipio, 1 store and a few houses. Therp are a settlement
and post office called the Square.
Sempronius, organised, March 9th,' 1799; W. from Albany, 153, from Auburn,
S. E. 16, miles; surface rolling; soil clay loam, resting on lime. Skaneateles
lake, touches it on the N. E. and receives from it some small.tributaries. At the
post office called after the town, are a store, and several dwellings.
Sennet, taken from Brutus, 19th March, 1807; from Albany 160, from Au
burn, N. E. 5, miles; surface idling; soil clay and gravelly loam, under high
cultivation; Iarids valued at from 25 to 50 dollars the acre. Sennet, post village,
on the road from Weedsport to Auburn, equally distant from each, contains 1 Bap
tist and I Presbyterian church, distillery, tannery, 1 tavern, 2 stores and about 30
dwellings, upon a fertile plain. The county poor house is on a farm in this town.
Springport, taken from Scipio and Aurelius, Jan. 30th, 1823; W. from Alba
ny 166, from Auburn, S. W. 9, miles; surface rolling; soil rich calcareous N>am;
drained by some small streams flowing to the Caynga lake.
Union Spa, post village, laid out in 1813, so called from two springs whose uni
ted waters form a useful mill stream, on the lake, 10 miles frem Auburn, ccntains
1 flouring and plaster mill, clothing works, 6 stores, 3 taverns, 50 dwellings, ex
tensive quarries of lime and gypsum, and is a depet, for the wheat and other pro
ducts of the cpuntry, designed for transportation en the lake. There are salt and
48

378

TOPOGRAPHY.

sulphur springs adjacent to the village, but they are net held in esteem for curative
prcperties. Plaster of the cockscomb kind, white or transparent, is plentifully
found on the lake shore, being washed from the bank where it lay embedded; and
by digging may be obtained at a considerable distance from the shore.
Sterling, formed from Cato, 19th June, 1812; W. from Albany 172, from Au
burn, N. 28, miles; surface rolling; soil sandy loam, on the E. stony; drained by
Little Sodus creek, emptying into Little Sodus Bay, of Lake Ontario. Its waters
are fed by a small lake near the centre of the town. Sacketville and Little Sodus,
are villages:--the former has the post office, having the name of the town, 1 grist
and 1 saw mill, 2 taverns, 2 stores, and some 25 dwellings; the latter is yet smaller.
Two-thirds of the town are cleared and settled. There is a third post office named
Martville. Summer Hill, taken from Locke, 26th April, 1821, by the name of Plato; name
changed, 16th March, 1832; W. from Albany 147, and from Auburn, S. E. 25',
miles; surface hilly; soil clay loam on slate, tolerably cultivated, but deemed the
least fertile town of the county, yet having some good lands in the vales, and the
whole adapted to grazing; drained southerly by branches of Fall creek, flowing
from Locke Pond, in the N. Summer Hill, the post village, contains 1 Presbyte
rian church, 1 tavern, 2 stores, distillery, tannery and about 20 dwellings.
Venice, taken from Scipio, Jan. 30th, 1823; W. from Albany 162 miles; sur
face undulating; soil clay and gravelly loam upon lime and gypsum. Venice,
Tallcott's, Tupper's, and Smith's Corners, are post villages. Venice, 15 miles S.
from Auburn, has 1 Baptist church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, 20 dwellings; Smith's Cor
ners, 1 tavern, 2 stores, 15 dwellings, 14 miles from Auburn; Talcott's, 15, and,
Tupper's, 17, miles from Auburn, are similar to Smith's.
Victory, taken from Cato, 16th March, 1821; W. from Albany 167, from Au
burn 20, miles; surface undulating; soil sandy1 and gravelly loam; four-fifths pf
theland are cleared and under pretty good cultivation; drained nerthward, by Little
Spdus creek. Lathrop's Comers, centrally situate, has 2 taverns, 2 stpres, school
hpuse, ashery, some 30 dwellings, and the Victory post office.

'

Females.
to
Births.
Deaths
1
TOWNS, <fcc.
c.01
T3 a = ci
.cu
ts .«
vto
0) fl>
.s
COto
to C2
.11
"C r-c
a *
c to
tt
a
CO01
r/ja>
Ha S 01
oa CO
to
"a a
' ,
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
'1
>
<
SB"
ss
cd
S
13
Auburn,!
3019
4486
5368
543
1020
94
656
592
880
20
72
66
51
32
Aurelius,
7923
2289
2767
2771
309
593
32
354
219l
614
31
41
41
22
19
Brutus,
3579
4098
1827
1991
197
423
44
266
159
414
37
47
34
20
12
Cato,
1017
1407
1782
2214
182
427
17
296
165
548
15
42
30
22
9
Conquest,
802
1069
1507
1782
176
366
237
113
396
7
21
24
12
9
Fleming. f
1507
1461
1363
117
267
12
148
168
303
10
21
15
5
10
Genoa,
2585
2756
2768
2721
221
577
7
316
277
552
25
52
40
23
17
Ira,
1165
1778
2199
2187
185
427
31
288
158
503
8
29
47
13
19
Ledyard,t
5280
2427
2373
329
530
24
280
248
478
21
44
32
23
20
Locke,
2559
3925
3310
1752
133
354
2
210
146
405
13
34
29
16
15
Mentz,
3010
3472
4143
3986
506
876
67
552
293
820
49
69
56
26
26
Moravia,*
1756
114
382
2
225
179
379
9
25
22
15
16
Niles,*
2197
222
485
3
278
196
524
6
33
38
14
14
Owasco,
1290
1326
1350
1278
130
243
31
15-i
140
265
14
24
29
11
8
Sempronius,
5033
5371
5705
1280
86
270
142
113
300
18
17
24
3
7
Sennet,|
2297
2069
140
381
33
247
188
409
13
35
29
16
23
Scipio,
8105
2702
2691
2523
194
505
24
294
261
,580
27
53
47
17
20
Springport,t *
1807
1528
1829
252
368
50
184
146
409
1
33
28
8
2
Sterling,
792
1081
1436
2001
196
391
56
244
124
464
12
42
26
22
12
Summerhill,* .
1432
119
313
1
188
94
346
10
26
30
14
8
Venice,!
2530
2445
2238
190
486
10
250
235
452
12
37
25
14
11
Victory,
1037
1563
1819
2091
145
374
13
548
272
6079
136
4339
510
358
41
838
40
752
17
384
20
, 
38897
42743
47948
49202
4686
10058
10561
329
Note. Males, 25,238; Females, 23,964; Persons of colour, 328; Black voters, 27; Deaf and Dumb, 20;
Blind, 15; Idiots, 53; Lunatics, 16.
* Erected since 1830. -f Erected in 1823. { Erected in 1827.
xvi Xjunoo

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4.

Value o( product, Valije of material,

380

TOPOGRAPHY.

CHAUTAUQUE COUNTY was formed from Genesee, 11th March, 1808; (the
name is a corruption of the Indian word, Ots-ha-ta-ka — " foggy place" — appro
priate to the country around the head of the Chautauque Lake;) bounded N. by "
Lake Erie; E. by Cattaraugus county; S. by Warren and Venango counties, of
the state of Pennsylvania; and W. by Erie county of that state; greatest length
N. and S. 40, and greatest breadth 36, miles; area 1016 square miles: situate
between 42° and 42° 34' N. Lat. and 2° 12' and 2° 55' W. Long.; centrally dis
tant from Albany W. 330, from New York by way of Catskill N. W. 4281, from
Buffalo S. W. 15, miles.
This county may be considered as divided into three parts, comprehending a
portion of the Erie and Allegany basins, and the ridge which divides them.
Along the shore ofthe lake, is a margin of alluvial land, varying in breadth from
three to four miles, from which rises, parallel with. the lake, a ridge, whose lowest
pass has an elevation above the lake of 753 feet. ' Upon the S. E. of this ridge,
the Allegany basin extends over Cattaraugus county, bounded by the ridge upon

CHAUTAUQUE COUNTY. 381
the W. bank ofthe Genesee river; but asub-basinis formed by a ridge of scarce less
altitude separating the waters of the Connewango from those of the Allegany proper,
which compels the latter river to change its westerly for a southern course;
bounded' by this ridge, the eastern valley pf the county might be termed the Chau
tauque valley, from the lake and outlet which form its principal waters. The
lowest pass of Ihe ridge east of the Connewango is 1709 feet above tide; the Con
newango valley at Walerborough, upon the east line of the county, is 1255 feet;
and the Cassadaga, near its junction with the Chautauque outlet, 1231 feet, show
ing the depression of the valley at that point to be 478 feet in about 11 miles.
Thence the valley rises gradually to the west and north, the Chautauque lake,
being elevated 1305, and Bear lake 1312, feet, until the' altitude attained, between
Chautauque lake and Lake Erie, at the lowest practicable pass in that direction
for a road, is 1351 feet above, tide. The ridge bounding this valley to the west,
therefore, is but 120 feet above the lowest depression of the vale; it forms, however,
the shed of the northern and southern waters. The high- interval is undulating,
and almost universally arable where cleared.
Carboniferous upper secondary slate underlays more than two-thirds of the
County; it forms the dividing ridge, and extends into Lake Erie, and under Chau
tauque lake. Along the former, the upper stratum is highly bituminous, rises in
places a hundred feet above the surface, and emits large quantities of carburetted
hydrogen gas. Upon the S. E. corner of the county, sandstone prevails, as well
as upon the W., and is ofthe best quality for architectural purposes; masses may
be taken of from 6 to 50 feet in length. N. of1 the Chautauque lake and outlet,
limestone, variously compounded, is of frequent occurrence.
The soil; generally, is strong clay loam, very productive, large crops of wheat,
barley, and corn, bejng obtained; the last, however, is sometimes destroyed by
early frosts, to, which the country upon the ridge is especially subject, as it is
also to dense fogs. The plain upon the lake is highly fertile, and produces the
finest fruits adapted to the climate; the ascent from it is sufficiently gradual for
beneficial cultivation, and is frequently adorned with valuable farms. The pros
pect from various points of this acclivity, commanding a wide view of .Lake Erie,
and the shore north-east, and south-west, possesses great beauty.
The streams flowing to Lake Erie, rising upon -the declivity of the rdge, are
short, but by their rapid fall have great power; the chief are, Twenty Mile Creek,
which has its source in Westfield, and runs westerly to the lake, about 10 miles,,
5 Of which are in Erie county, Pa.; the Chautauque, which rises in Chautauque,
and runs N., by a serpentine course, also about 10 miles, forming, in part, the
boundary between the towns of Westfield and Chautauque; the Caniidawa, having
a somewhat longer but devious course from Arkwright, through Pomfret. to the
lake, near Dunkirk, and having a lighthouse upon- the point near its mouth; Wal
nut and Silver Creeks, smaller streams, running through Hanover, and uniting at
Payette, near the lake.
The upper valley is drained on the E. by the Connewango creek, and its great
est tributary from, the county, the Chautauque outlet, the Cassadaga, and by many
small inlets to Chautauque lake.
The Connewango formed by two considerable hranc'.ies uniting in Cattaraugus
county near the boundary line, and, curving along that line into both counties,
finally enters ihis iii the N.E. angle ofthe town of Poland, and flows by a S. butser-
pertine course -ubout 14 miles to the Pennsylvania line, and thence about 12 miles
to the Allegany river at Warren. For 7 miles above its mouth it is a rapid stream,
falling in that distance 60 feet; thence, upward, it is deep and sluggish, navigable
for steamboats more than 25 miles; keel boats pass the rapids, at full water, with
out difficulty, lt receives, near the S. line of Poland, the outlet of Chautauque
lake, also a broad, deep, crooked, and sluggish stream, by its meanderings about
10 miles long. The Outlet receives, in the town of Ellicott, the Cassadaga, which
is navigable^'or 15 miles, to the lake, whence it issues. Its volume is enlarged
by Bear Creek, flowing 7~miles from Bear lake. The vale, ofthe Connewango is in
places 7 or 8 miles wide.
In the S. W. part of the county rise other branches of the Allegany river, as
French, Broken Straw, and Little Broken Straw, creeks.
French creek has a S. W. course, of about 15.miles, from the town of Sherman
to the western line of the county; thence by a like course of about 35 miles to Mead-

382 r TOPOGRAPHY.
ville, in Crawford county, Pa,; thence running S. E. 25 miles, it unites with the
Allegany river at the borough of Franklin, Venango county. . It has an easy navi
gation as high as the mouth of Le Boeuf creek, 5 miles S. of Waterford. The
feeder for the contemplated canal from the Ohio to Erie, commences at Bemus'
mills, on the E. side ofthe creek, 2 miles N. of Meadville, and passing through
that town and six miles below it, crosses the creek and follows the valley of the
outlet of Conneaut lake, which it pursues to the summit level near the lake, with
whieh it communicates, having a total length of 191- miles. By comparative
courses, French creek is 75 miles long; by its windings perhaps 25 more.
The Frampton branch of Great Broken Straw creek, runs from Harmony,
through Clymer, to the state line S W. about 9 miles; ihence, by a circuitous
course, through the E. part of Erie county into Warren county, Pa., 7 miles below
the village of Warren. Its whole length may be about 50 miles, one-half of which
is navigable for boats.
The Little Broken Straw rises in Busti, and flows through Harmony to the
Pennsylvania line, and thence thVough that state to the Great Broken Straw, 9
miles above its mouth.
Stillwater creek rises upon or near the state line, and curving through Sugar
Grove township of Pennsylvania, re-enters this state in the town of Busti, whence
by a N. E. course of 8 miles it unites with the Connewango.
Chautauque lake is a fine sheet of water, 16 miles in length N. E. and S. E.,
with breadth varying from I to 4 miles. Its N. W. end is 7 miles only from
Lake Erie. It is navigable from Mayville, and by its outlet to the Connewango. We
have already said that its elevation is 1305 feet above the ocean.
Cosdaga, or Cassadaga lake, 9 miles N. E. of Chautauque lake, and 7 S. from
Lake Erie, is3 miles-long, and 1 broad. This lake and its outlet are navigable in
floods; .they were used by the Indians, with the portage between the lake and the
boatable part ofthe Oanadawa, which discharge into Lake Erie.
Bear lake is a yet smaller sheet, lying 3 miles W. of the Cosdaga.
The line of the Erie rail road enters the county by Waterboro', and pursuing the
valley of the Connewango and the Chautauque outlet to the Cassadaga branch,
mounts the valley of that stream to the mouth of Bear c^eek, and thence to the di
viding ridge, about 5 miles in a direct line from Lake Erie, and 740 feet above it;
thence itis proposed to descend by one plane 506 feetin adistance of lj miles. The
foot of the plane will be nearly equi-distaht from Dunkirk and Portland Harbours.
In selecting this route, the engineers were determined by the advantages deriva
ble from its passing through the centre of the county, and approaching within
3 1 miles of Jamestown, the largest village — by its approximation to the harbours
above mentioned — and by the probability that improvements will soon be made in
the Allegany river to render it at all times navigable for steamboats; making it de
sirable vto continue the route, as far as practicable, down the valley of that stream,
and thereby to facilitate the direct communication between the city of New York
and the great valley of the Ohio — and by the hope that the construction ofthe
Toad to this point would ensure its'continuation through the western states to the
Mississippi river.
A company was incorporated 29th March, 1832, to make a rail road from May
ville to Portland Harbour — authorised to employ a capital of $150,000, and re
quired to commence the road within three, and to complete it within eight, years.
April 11th, 1834, the stock was reduced to §15,000, and the company empowered
to commence operations when that sum should be subscribed. In 1836, a com
pany was also incorporated for making a rail road from Cassadaga to the western
bounds of the county, and another company to make a like road fiom Fredonia to
Van Buren Harbour.
This county formed part of the Holland Land Company's purchase, and the
company offered lands for sale here at from $1 50 to $4 the acre; but a company
of gentlemen of Batavia have bought out the Holland Land Company's inte
rest in the wild land ofthe county. More than three-fourths of the county are yet
unimproved. Improved lands, on the lake level, sell at from $20 to 50, and in the upper
country, at from $10 to $20, the acre.
The county is divided into 24 towns.

CHAUTAUQUE COUNTY. 383

for
grain or grass; distant from Albany 310, from Mayville N. E. 16, miles. Two-
thirds of the town are yet unimproved. The post office bears its name.
Busti, formed from Ellicott and Harmony, 16th April, 1823; surface hilly,
much broken by the streams; sending tributaries N. to the Chautauque lake, and
river, E. Stillwater creek, an arm of that river, and W. Little Broken Straw
creek; distant from Albany 334, from Mayville S. E. 17, miles. The soil is of
excellent quality, and about a third of it is taken up. Busti is the name ofthe
post office.
Carroll, taken from Ellicott, 25th March, 1825; surface hilly; soil, sand and
sandy loam; deeply indented by the Connewango river flowing centrally through
it, receiving Sillwater creek upon the right, and some lesser streams on the left,
bank; abundantly wooded with pine near the waters, and deciduous trees in the
interior; distant from Albany 336, from Mayville S. E. 29, miles. Carroll and
Trewsville are villages. Carroll, centrally situate, has a post office, 1 Baptist and
1 Presbyterian church, 1 tavern, 1 store, and about 25 dwellings, pleasantly
placed on the great road from Jamestown to Warren. Trewsville, opposite to Car
roll, on the E. side ofthe river, has 1 grist, 2 saw mills, a store, tavern, and 12
dwellings. Scarce one-eighth part of this town is improved.
Charlotte, taken irom Gerry, 18th April, 1829; surface undulating; soil, moist
clay loam, adapted to grass and grain; drained in the west and centre by the Cas
sadaga and its branches, on the S. E» by Clear creek; distant from Albany 325,
from Mayville N. E. 13, miles. St. Clairsville, on the south line, has the postof
fice, 1 Presbyterian church, 3 stores, 1 tavern, 1 grist, 2 sawmills, 2 carding ma
chines and clothing works, and about 30 dwellings, on the main road from Fre
donia to Jamestown. . About one-fourth of the town is improved. There is a post
office called Charlotte, another Gerry, and a thirl Pulaski, around which are dense
settlements. Chautadijue, organised as part of Genesee county, 11th April, 1804; since
much reduced in area; upon the "dividing ridge," but chiefly upon its eastern
declivity; soil argillaceous loam of excellent quality, producing luxuriant crops of
corn, wheat and grass; drained upon the W. and N. by Chautauque creek, and Lit
tle Chautauque, and E. by small inlets to the Chautauque lake, which extends
about 6 miles into the town. Mayville and.Hartsfield, are villages. Mayville, the
shire town, incorporated 20th April, 1830; distant 336 miles W. from Albany,
from-New York, via Catskill 434, from Buffalo, S, W. 66, from Erie, Penn. 35,
from Warren, Penn. 40, from Lake Erie, Portland Harbour, E. 7, miles. This is
one of the most beautiful sites for a village in the state; situate upon the high
grounds, at the head of the lake, it commands a delightful view of that fine sheet
of Water, and of the rich and well cultivated country around it. There are here,
1 Baptist, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Methodist, churches, an academy,
incorporated 24th April, 1834, 1 select school, a sub office of the Holland Land
Company, a court house of brick, a handsome edifice, costing $ 9000, prison of
brick, a fire proof clerk's office, 4 taverns, 8 stores, and about 80 dwellings. Harts-
field, 2,miles E. of Mayville, on the inlet ofthe Chautauque lake, on the flat, has
2 taverns, 3 stores, tannery, 1 grist, 1 saw, mills, and about 25 dwellings. De
Wiltville, is a hamlet, on the lake, near the E. line of the town, at which is a post
office. There is also a post office called Magnolia. ,
Cherry Creek, taken from Ellington, 10th May, 1829; surface rolling; drained
on the E. by Connewango creek and tributaries; soil clay and sandy loam;- dis
tant from Albany 320, from Mayville, N. E. 18, miles; there is a post office cen
trally situate, having around it a store, tavern and several dwellings. , About one-
eighth part of the .town is improved.
Clymer, formed from Chautauque, 9th Feb. 1821; surface rolling; soil sandy
loam, moist and adapted to grass; drained S. W. by Broken Straw creek and
branches; distant from Albany 353, from Mayville, S. W. 15, miles. Clymer and
Clymer Centre, are post bffices. - Clymer village, has 1 tavern, 2 stores, 1 grist,
2 saw, mills, and about a dozen dwellings.
Ellery, taken from Chautauque, 9th Feb. 1821; surface undulating, declining
to the lake, which laves the S. W. shore for about 10 miles, receiving from it

384 TOPOGRAPHY.
several small streams, and having Bear creek, a branch of the Cassadaga, on the
N. E.; soil sandy and gravelly loam, of fine quality, heavily wooded, and when
cleared productive of grain; more than one-third of the land is improved; distant
from Albany 342, from Mayville, S. E. 13, miles. Ellery, post village, centrally
situate, has 1 tavern, 1 store, a Baptist church, and 15 dwellings. There is a
post office called Union Ellery.
Ellicott, taken from Pomfret, 12th June, 1812; since reduced in area; surface
undulating, dipping S. to Chautauque lake and river, the latter receiving from the
town the Cassadaga creek, which crosses the N. E. angle; soil sandy and gra
velly loam; distant from Albany 330, from Mayville 22, miles. Jamestown, post
village, on the Chautauque outlet, 4 miles below the lake, contains 1 Presbyterian,
1 Congregational ist, 1 Methodist, and 1 Baptist, churches, all fine buildings, of
wood, an academy, 3 printing offices, each issuing a weekly paper, 5 taverns, 12
stores: There are two dams upon the outlet here, half a mile asunder, giving
power for 1 saw mill with 3 single saws, and 1 gang, another with 1 saw, a stone
grist mill, a woollen factory, a sash factory at which large quantities of sash are
made for Pittsburg and other southern markets, 1 wooden ware factory, cloth dress
ing mill, 4 extensive tanneries, and 250 dwellings; a steam boat plies on the lake
between this village and Mayville. A second postoffice is called Havanna. About
one-fifth part of the town is improved. '
Ellington, taken from Gerry, 1st April, 1824; surface undulating; soil sandy
and gravelly loam; drained E. by Clear creek, which, rising in Charlptte anACher-
ry creek, flows through this town and has a course of about 10 miles to the Con
newango, in Cattaraugus county; distant from Albany 320, from Mayville E. 20,
miles. The post village of Clear Creek, on the E. boundary, on the creek, has 2
stores, 2 taverns, several saw mills, and 25 dwellings: three miles W. of the vil
lage, near the centreof the town, is a settlement called "Ellington Centre," where
are a post office, store, tavern, grist mill, and 15 dwellings. Nearly one-third of
the town is under improvement.
French Creek, taken from Clymer, 23d April, 1829; formed into ridges by the
creek, which, crossing it diagonally, S. W. receiving small tributaries on either
hand; soil moist sandy loam, heavily timbered; distant from Albany 355, from
Mayville, S. W. 17 miles. This town is for the greater part a wilderness; not
more than one-fifteenth part being in any. way improved.
Gerry, divided from Pomfret, June 1st, 1812; surface undulating; soil gravelly
loam; drained S. by the Cassadaga creek; distant from Albany 326, from May
ville, E. 13, miles. Vermont village, has, the post office, a tavern, store, and 12
dwellings. Somewhat more than a fifth of the town is settled.
Hanover, taken from Pomfret, 1st June, 1812; surface high and billy, descend
ing rapidly lo Lake Erie on the N. W. boundary; having the Cattaraugus
creek on the N. E. and Silver and Walnut, creeks flowing centrally over it, and
uniting at the village of Fayette, upon the lake. Along the lake shore and upon
the intervals of the streams are rich alluvial soils, especially in the Indian reser
vation, on Cattaraugus creek. Walnut creek has its name from a black Walnut
tree which formerly stood about a mile above its mouth, and was 36 feet in cir
cumference at the base, gradually and gracefully tapering 80 feet to the first limb.
Its entire height was 150 feet. It was estimated to contain 150 cords of wood or
50,000 feet of inch boards. The bark was 12 inches thick. The tree was entire
ly sound when blown down in 1822, and was supposed to have been 500 years old.
The butt, 9 feet in length, was transported to Buffalo, having been excavated; and
was there occupied as a grocery store. It was subsequently, carried by the canal
to the Atlantic cities, and splendidly adorned, was exhibited for money, to thou
sands of admirers. Fayette and Forestvil'le, are post villages. Fayette, is at the
mouth of Silver creek, upon Lake Erie, 33 miles from Buffalo. The harbour has
10 ft. water, but is exposed to the N. W. wind; the village contains, 1 gristmill, 2
saw mills, several stores, clothing works, about 100 dwellings, and 500 inhabi
tants; the proprietor, Mr. Lee* is" improving the harbour, at his own expense and
making it a convenient depot for lumber. Forestville, upon Walnut creek, 6 miles
from Lake Erie and 25 from Mayville, near the W. boundary, has from 500 to
600 inhabitants, several churches, a printing office, issuing a weekly journal,
several hydraulic works, stores and taverns, and about 100 dwellings. Hanover,

CHAUTAUQUE COUNTY. 385
Silver Creek, Smith's Mills, Nashville and Acasto, are the names of the post of
fices.' Harmonv, taken from Chautauque, 14th Feb. 1816; surface rolling; soil sandy
and gravelly loam, blended with some clay, declining E. to the Chautauque lake,
extending five miles on the N. E. boundary, to which it gives Goose and other
small creeks; and S. it sends forth the Great and Little Broken Straw creeks; dis
tant from Albany 338, from Mayville, S. 12, miles. Ashville and Panama, are
post villages. Ashville, on Goose creek, 1 mile from the lake, near the E. line of
the town, ha* 2 taverns, 2 stores, 1 Presbyterian church, I saw, 1 grist, mills, a
tannery and about 30 dwellings, and the Harmony post office. Panama, in the
W. part of the town on a branch of the Broken Straw creek, has 1 grist and 1 saw,
mills, tannery, 2 taverns, 2 stores, and 30 dwellings, built partly on the hill and
partly on the flats. Little more than one-fifth of the town is improved.
Mina, taken from Clymer, 2"d March, 1824; surface moderately uneven; soil
clay and gravelly loam; drained S. W. by the N. and S. branches of French creek;
to the former Fiuley's lake yields a small tribute, and upon that branch, also, is a
sulphur spring much frequented; centrally distant from Albany 353, from May
ville, S. W. 13, miles. The post village of Mina, has a store, tavern, and 8 or
10 dwellings. Finley's Mills, has a grist and saw mill, clothing works, 1 tavern,
1 store, and about 1 dozen dwellings; the Lake was dammed, but proving unhealthy,
the dam has been abated, by order of the court. Scarce more than one-tenth of the
town is improved.
PdLAND, taken from Ellicott, 9th April, 1832; drained by the Chautauque and
Connewango rivers, which flow by very serpentine courses through the town; the
one S. E. the other S. W. uniting near the S. boundary; soil sandy and gravelly
loam; Centrally distant from Albany 316, from Mayville, S. E. 20, miles. Kenne
dy's Mills, Ivesville, and Waterborough, are post villages. At the first are 1 saw
and 1 gristmills, 2 taverns, 2 stores, and 20 dwellings; at the second, 1 saw mill,
and 16 dwellings. Ivesville, is yet smaller.
Pomfrkt, taken from Chautauque, 11th March, 1808; surface hilly, being on the
dividing ridge, descending rapidly to Lake Erie, which bounds it on the N. but
more gently towards the S.; drained N. by the Canadavva creek and some small
er but rapid streams; upon the S. lie Bear and Cassadaga lakes; soil fertile loam,
on the hills argillaceous, and on the lake flats sandy and gravelly. Fredonia,
Laona and Dunkirk, are post villages. Fredonia village, on the Canadawa creek,
315 miles from Albany, 22, N. E. from Mayville, 45, S. W. from Buffalo, 4, from
Lake Erie, at Dunkirk, incorporated 2d May, 1829; contains 1 Presbyterian, 1
Episcopal, 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, churches, an academy, a printing office, issu
ing a weekly paper, 2 grist mills, 4 saw mills, 2 clothing works, 4 taverns, 10 or
12 stores, 1 eitensive tannery, and many mechanics, a foundry, and about 120
dwellings; the village is lighted by gas, issuing from a source in the Creek; it is
conducted to a gas holder and distributed to the taverns, stores and dwellings. —
Laona, 2 miles above Fredonia, on the Creek, has a very valuable water power,
1 grist, 1 saw, mills, a woollen factory, clothing works, 2 taverns, several stores,
and about 40 dwellings. Dunkirk, upon the Lake, 44 miles from Buffalo, has a
harbour of 8 or 9 feet water, much improved by the General Government, which
has expended some 60 or 80,000 dollars here,' has a light upon a point on the S.,
several stores and taverns, and about 60 dwellings; the village thrives rapidly.
The plat fora city to be called, "Van Bufen," has been laid out on the lake
6hore, 2 miles above Dunkirk, where, there is said to be a commodious harbour.
There is a post office called Shumla.
Portland, taken from Chautauque, 9th April, 1813; surface hilly on the divid
ing ridge, sending many small streams to Lake Erie, and a brook to the Chautau
que lake; soil similar to that of Pomfret; distant from Albany 354, from Mayville,
N, 6} miles. Nearly half the town is under improvement. Salem and Centre-
ville, are villages. Salem, upon Slippery Rock creek, 2 miles from the lake, has
1 grist, 1 saw mill, 3 stores, 2 taverns, 1 church, and 25 dwellings. Centreville,
has the Portland post office, 1 Baptist church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, clothing works,
and about 20 dwellings.
Ripley, taken from Portland, 1st March, 1817; surface hilly, on the dividing
ridge; soil generally clay- loam, variously mingled with sand, of good quality,
heavily timbered; drained W. by Twenty Mile Creek, and by many brooks flow
49

386 TOPOGRAPHY.
ing on the W. declivity of the ridge; distant from Albany 348, from Mayville, W.
12, miles. Somewhat more than one-fourth of the town is under improvement.
Quincy, formerly called Ripley, the post village, contains 1 Baptist and 1 Pres
byterian church, 2 taverns, 3 stores, a number of mechanic shops, and about 50
dwellings scattered along the road for nearly 4 miles upon the lake flat, 2 miles
distant from the shore. Volusia is the name of a post office and vicinage.
Sheridan, taken from Pomfret and Hanover, April 16th, 1827; like to the lat
ter in soil and surface, lying wholly on the northern declivity of the ridge; drained
by Walnut and Scott's creeks,and some smaller streams flowing to Lake Erie; dis
tant from Albany 340, from Mayville N. E. 20, miles. Nearly half the town's
settled.- Kensington and Orrington are post villages. Kensington, upon the Buf
falo and Erie road, 3 miles S. of Lake Erie, has 2 taverns, 1 Presbyterian
church, 3 stores, and about 15 dwellings. Orrington, on the same road, 2 miles
from the former, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 tavern, 1 store, and about a dozen
dwellings. East Sheridan is a post office.
Sherman, taken from Mina, 17th April, 1822; surface and soil similar to those
of Mina; drained S. W. by French creek and its branches; distant from Albany
348, from Mayville S. W. 12, miles. Four-fifths of the area are yet covered with
forest. Sherman and North Sherman are post offices and settlements.
. Stockton, formed from Chautauque 9th February, 1821; surface undulating, in
clining southward; drained by Bear and Cassadaga creeks, and by some small
brooks flowing to the Chautauque lake; soil, on the hills moist clay, adapted to
grass, with fertile alluvion in the valleys, yielding good crops of grain; distant
from Albany 323, from Mayville N. E. 8, miles. Stockton, post village, centrally
situate, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 tavern, 1 store, and 15 dwellings. Casdaga
and Oregon are post offices, and thickly settled neighbourhoods.
Villanova, taken from Hanover 24th January, 1823; surface hilly, and broken
by the Connewango creek and its numerous branches which drain it easterly; soil,
clay and sandy loam, adapted to grass and grain; distant from Albany 318, from
Mayville N. E. 22, miles. About one-fourth of this town is under cultivation.
The post office is called after the town.
Westfield, formed from Portland and Ripley, 19th March, 1829, lying wholly
upon the northern declivity of the ridge; surface and soil similar to those ofthe
towns of which it formed part; drained by the Chautauque and Little Chautauque
creeks, which from their great fall through deep ravines yield valuable mill power.
Near the shore of Lake Erie, about 230 rods below Portland Harbour, is a carbu-
retted hydrogen spring, the gas from which is sufficiently abundant to light a city.
and is used for the lighthouse at the harbour, seventy-five feet above the lake
level. Mclntyre's, a sulphur spring in much repute, and formerly much fre
quented, is on the bank of the Chautauque creek, 3 miles from the lake. About 2
miles below Portland is Buffington's well, bored by a gentleman of that name to
the depth of 642 feet in search of salt water, but without profitable results.
Westfield and Portland Harbour are post villages.
Westfield village, on the road from the harbour to Mayville, 1 mile S. E. from
Portland, 6 N. W. from Mayville, 60 S. W. from Buffalo, and 30 N. E. from Erie,
Pa., from Albany W. 342 miles, incorporated 19th April, 1833, situate on the bor
der of apleasant plain, on the margin of the deep ravine of Chautauque creek, con
tains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Methodist church, an academy, 2 select
schools, one for males and the other for females, 10 stores, 4 taverns, 2 grist, 3 saw
mills, 2 clothing works, large scythe and axe factory, 1 printing office, issuing a
weekly paper, and 100 dwellings.
Portland, on the lake, was early occupied by the French, who established a post
here. The harbour admits steamboats drawing 8 feet water, is much exposed to
the N. W. and N. E. winds, but might be rendered secure by a pier connected with
the point on the S. The lighthouse, of stone, 40 feet high, stands on the E. ofthe
harbour, upon a bluff40 feet above tbe lake, visible for 20 miles. The village contains
about 30 dwellings, 2 stores, 2 taverns, 4 commission houses. The storm of 11th
November, 1835, did much damage to the wharves and store houses. Its position
in relation to Chautauque lake, and the navigable waters of the county, give it
many advantages for trade.
Rogers ville and Nettle Hill, are post offices and dense settlements.

CHAUTAUQUE COUNTY.

387

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1835.
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Arkwright.t
928
1293
130
248
4
195
54
307
7
34
3R
fi
8
Busti,;
1187
1680
2079
195
405
4
268
141
510
6
19
40
2
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Carroll,!
1015
1414
132
326
206
68
317
12
26
30
'• «
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Charlolte.t
886
1208
120
233
26
172
64
312
9
17
a
17
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Chautauque, t
2518
1423
2442
3119
9.78
584
110
379
210
694
43
47
lfi
16
Cherry Creek, t
574
923
70
179
2
146
56
232
7
20
16
31
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Ciyrner,J
304
567
843
57
175
3
122
26
207
U
12
3
1
Ellery ,t
1207
2002
2395
197
483
1
307
146
591
24
44
42
10
12
Eilicott,
1462
1653
2101
2355
251
510
20
361
168
526
15
62
34
24
14
Ellington.
824
1279
1773
128
339
4
24!)
84
489
10
54
53
7
13
French Creek.t
420
553
6fi
112
76
21
118
6
4
6
1
Gerry,
947
1157
111C
1339
107
291
6
183
74
326
111
26
25
9
3
Hanover,
2217
3620
2614
3520
3S6
725
23
47!l
262
854
17
62
72
30
30
Harmony, Mina,§
845
926
198S
2915
222
593
12
415
142
7-18
25
80
70
17
10
556
1386
798
f.9
154
14
121
35
215
1
16
13
10
8
Poland,*
916
98
197
3
136
43
235
7
19
27
1»
5
Pomfret,
2306
3186
3386
4041
344
805
21
537
318
807
31
61
48
, 28
38
Portland,
1162
1989
1771
2191
171
449
30
29'J
141
491
"
36
,34
12
15
Ripley,
1111
1821
1647
202;
169
393
24
271
132
474
19
41
39
10
10
Sheridan, f
1666
1911
140
389
16
237
161
431
14
42
35
2(1
15
Sherman,*
487
1605
83C
60
158
11
I3(
33
220
6
16
20
6
¦ 5
Stockton,*
194;
1011
372
5
278
108
456
25
36
45
12
11
Villenova,||
855
1126
145;
143
296
5
81!
71
335
!
3d
26
-••?
10
Westneld.t
2477
3036
28i
3873
596
9012
52
400
398
6147
239
639
15
62
55
27
15
125U8
20639
34671
44809
2797
10504
316
876
849
290
281
Note. Mates, 22,955; Females, 21,914; Blacks, 109; Black voters, 5; Deaf and Dumb, 15; Blind, 9;
Idiots, 22; Lunatics, 17.
* Erected since 1830. f Erected since 1825. } Erected in 1821 from Chautauqne.
1824 from Clymer. ( Erected in 1823 from Hanover.
§ Erected in
a
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Ark wright,
21397
6341
73074
1400
401
2267
37711, 1180
2206
4156
2862
425 93
253 22
Busti,
31361
10016
112459
4560
604
3334
5080 1883
3532
5979
7821
605 18
359 05
Carroll,
31703
4005
112424
200
305
2081
2508
907
1376
2610
2889
- 482 35
545 41
charlotte,
23422
5704
76356
5550
332
1805
2967
90S
3457
i 3350
1943
456 72
338 08
Chautauque
42135
13427
197560
10435
806
4156
8824
2465
631!
5551
6148
923 94
555 62
CherryCreek
2271'
2954
49630
1068
155
1066
1700
845
J009
1935
3346
239 29
245 93
Clyni'er,
2244(
2947
42752
550
133
881
1111
715
94'
1527
2720
226 30
387 23
Ellery,
31186
12180
134157
2650
691
3002
7535
2378
452"
1 6567
10127
744 14
592 34
Eilicott,
2230C
4577
141028
99102
370
1199
1710
1272
155"
1 2559
2488
1071 30
877 17
Ellington,
FrenchCreek
22642
6656
78393
1326
353
1820
3775
1657
281-
! 4004
5966
348 53
382 91
2310!
1505
33679
108
681
542
;469
21!
(538
1572
217 07
427 28
Gerry,
2863!
5344
80162
295
1815
2774
1045
236
, 3133
4116
398 53
615 32
Hanover,
29617
12257
252901
15850
811
3805
6191
3290
587.
6816
6342
1263 19
786 63
Harmony,
51227
9475
159154
3820
557
3447
5591
2280
491
) 7241
12835
885 02
636 08
Mina,
21715
2411
46300
375
176
1485
I7R6
647
105
S 1466
1501
214 32
196 39
Poland,
21796
2838
52108
635
12R
R96
1055
779
73
S 1237
1160
235 66
481 40
Pomfret,
32416
11343
348652
26300
92!
353!
6839
276C
356
3 10228
2406
1652 50
912 23
Portland,
20216
9083
157903
5000
482
262(
470!
1264
363
> 5542
5795
471 H
1241 02
Ripley,
28991
7358
158302
850
597
3565
6506
200b
341
7 5361
5674
501 37
1265 57
Sheridan,
22214
9113
158167
5927
4RS
302fi
5248
2410
381
4 6772
4372
336 69
1090 06
Stockton,
27197
6765
121251
8340
395
233S
425'
1450
42fcf
2 5853
5440
549 39
1257 60
Sherman,
22217
4096
48951
1550
14'
138.'
179.
759
136
6 238!
320]
377 65
613 33
Villenova,
22583
5484
751 iO
950
29S
161"
268C
807
237
9 3414
4956
326 69
697 41
Westfield,
27362
11251
232676
12440
751
3661
i 696!
174'
431
3 904C
3956
504 3S
1599 15
650620
167130
2348159'20887f
10296l5549
J 9590!
3592!
69663 10726!
109636 11659 7(
26746 40
388

TOPOGRAPHY.

TOWNS.

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Arkwright,

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294

536

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15
216
576
823
Carroll,
2
20
; 4
8
156
147
365
Charlotte,
1
5
1
1 1
13
106
249
450
Chautauque,
4
11
2 5
1
17
265
519
894
Cherry Creek,
1
5
1 1 )
9
59
200
373
Clymer,
1
3
1 1
7
74
100'
225
Ellery,
3
7
-1
1
1
2
17
228
430
888
Eilicott,
3
9
1
2
5
1
2
10
262
534
538
Ellington,
1
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1
1
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1
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196
377
653
French Creek,
1
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6
52
84
148
Gerry,
1
9
2
9
168
268
440
Hanover,
5
20 5 5
6 1
6
18
408
621
1140
Harmony,
4
Hi 3 2
1 2
2
24
314
523
1035
Mina,
2
5, 1. 1
1 1
8
103
230
312
Poland,
1
16 |
1
- 8
65
207
272
Fomfret,
4
9 3 3
1
2
1
1
20
524
1092
1365
Portland,
2
12
1
1
2 1
15
302
435
796
Ripley,
2
6 2
1
1
4
14
174
426
073
Sheridan,
1
13
2
1
13
267
465
694
Sherman,
1
6! 1
1
1
10
76
220
534
Stockton,
1
6! 1
1
14
237
428
732
Villenova,
3
4! 2 2
1
1
12
247
200
515
Westfield,
7
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15413
Value of product,
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«, ,
CHENANGO COUNTY.

389

CHENANGO COUNTV, taken-from Herkimer and Tioga, 15th March, 1798;
reduced by the erection of Madison, in 1806; bounded N. by Madison; E. by Ot
sego and Delaware; S. by Broome; and W. by Brco.ie and Cortland, counties;
greatest length 35, breadth 30, miles; area 804 square miles?; situate between 42°
13* and 42° 44' N. Lat.; and 1° 02' and 1° 36' E. Long; centrally distant S. W.
from Albany 105, from New York, N. W. 250, and from Washington City, 332,
miles. The surface is mountainous; much broken by numerous streams; the greatest
of which, the Susquehanna, Unadilla, Chenango, and Otselic, divide it into ridges,
having a N. E. and S. W. direction. Between the Unadilla and the Chenango,
the land rises 1630 feet above tide; at the junction of the Unadilla and Chenango,
it is 973, and in the valley of the Chenango, at Oxford 961 feet; the greater de
pression of the latter valley is doubtless due to the greater -volume and force of
the stream; the summit on the W. is as high as on the E.; from this it would
seem, that the surface was table land, which has been cut into ridges and hills by
the streams, which, sinking in their course, give, comparatively, higher elevation
to the hills; thus, the Chenango river, from its source to the Susquehanna river,
falls about 300 feet, and the hills which bound its valley, rise above its bed from
ISO to 900 feet more at the S. than at the N. line of the county.

390 TOPOGRAPHY.
The Unadilla river, laves the whole eastern boundary except the distance of 8
miles, on the S. blending with the Susquehanna, at the N. E. point of the town
of Bainbridge; thence the latter pursuesa S. W. course, by" its windings about 15
miles; along the curve upon the Si boundary, for about 3 miles, runs the -line of
the Erie rail road; the Unadilla receives several, but inconsiderable tributaries
from the county, and is bordered by broad and rich flats; it forms a striking fea
ture of a beautiful country. For a fuller description see,' " Otsego County."
The Chenango River, a stream not less beautiful, and of larger volume, rises in
the town of Smithfield, Madison county, interlocking with the head waters ofthe
Oneida and Oriskany, creeks, and pursues a S. course of 30 miles, to the village
of Norwich, of this county; thence S. W. about 25 milis, to the S. W. corner of
the town of Greene, where it receives the Tioughinoga river; and thence by the
same, and serpentine course of about 14 miles, unites with the Susquehanna at
Binghamton, in Broome county. It flows through a broad and generally fertile
valley, in which is constructing the Chenango canal. The tributaries to the river
from the W. are numerous; the most important are the Canasawacta, Meadow,
Mill, Bowman's, and Genegansette,', creeks; the last has a S. course of about 20 miles;
this river is navigable for boats, when swollen, throughout the county.
The lateral streams which descend into this valley, have a rapid course and
have paved their beds with boulders, beneath which, in seasons of drought, they
are almost concealed.
The Otselic River, a branch of the Tioughnioga crosses the N. W. angle of the
county, through which it runs about 15 miles.
The basis rock of the county is upper secondary and carboniferous slate, which
crops out generally, upon the E. and N. but is overlaid, centrally and S. west-
wardly, by a quartzose formation, consisting of siliceous graywacke and mill
stone grit.
The soil, on the hills, consists of argillaceous and sandy loams, variously blend
ed with vegetable mould, forming admirable grazing lands, whilst the valleys are
enriched with gravelly loam fertile in wheat and other grain. In the S. the in
habitants are devoting themselves to the dairy business; whilst in the "N. great
attention is given to the culture of sheep.
The timber consists of beech, maple, some oak, much basswood, elm, butter
nut, black cherry; and in the S. hemlock aud pine.
The county is settled, chiefly by emigrants from the eastern states. It is divided
into 19 towns.
Bainbridge, organised as part of Tioga county, by the name of Jericho, 16th
Feb. 1791; name altered 1814; limits since much reduced; surface hilly; divided
by the Susquehanna river, which winds centrally and diagonally, S. W. crossed
by the Albany and Newburg turnpike roads; soil of good quality for grain or
grass. The town forms part of a tract, given by the state to sufferers in former
grants Ln the present state of Vermont. Bainbridge, South Bainbridge and Betts-
burg, are post offices. Bainbridge, a thriving village, pleasantly situated on the
W. branch ofthe Susquehanna, upon the Ulster and Delaware turnpike,' 110 mileB
S. W. from Albany, 14, S. from Norwich; incorporated 21st April, 1829; has a
select school for males and one for females; and in the town are 1 Episcopal, 2
Methodist, 1 Congregationalist, 1 Baptist and 1 Universalist, churches. More
than one third of the town is under improvement.
Columbus, taken from Brookfield, 4th Feb. 1805; surface hilly and somewhat
broken; soil cray and sandy loam, producing fine grass on the hills, and grain in
the vales; drained on the E. by the Unadilla river and its branches, and W. by
tributaries to the Chenango; distant from Albany 83, from Norwich, N. E. 16,
miles. Columbus, post village, centrally situated, contains 1 Congregationalist
church, 2 stores, 2 taverns, a tannery, and about 20 dwellings. There are in the
town, also, 1 Episcopal and 1 Baptist, ehtirches, and another post office called
Columbus Corners.
Coventry, taken from Greene, 17th Feb. 1806; surface like that of Columbus,
declining to the S. E.; watered by Kelsey, Harper's, and other creeks, flowing to
the Susquehanna, in length respectively from 7 to 8 miles; soil sandy loam, best
suited to grass; distant S. W. from Albany 117, from Norwich 16, miles. Co
ventry and Coventryville, are post villages, both on the Catskill turnpike; the for
mer has 1 Baptist church, 1 store, 1 tavern 1 grist, 2 saw, mills, and about 15

CHENANGO COUNTY. 391
dwellings; the latter has 2 Presbyterian churches, 6 stores, 2 taverns, and about
30 dwellings. There is a post office called Wilkins's Creek.
German, separated from De Ruyter, 21st March, 1806; since much reduced, in
area; distant 15 miles W. from Norwich, from Albany 115; watered by some small
branches of Genegansette creek; surface hilly and stony, yet, producing good
grass. About one-third of the town is settled; it has 1 Methodist and 1 Baptist,
churches. The post office is called after the town.
Greene, formed from Union and Jericho, 9th March, 1798; limits since reduced;
surface hilly and much broken; the soil is, however, generally of good quality and
heavily timbered; the Chenango river flows S. W. and diagonally through it and
its valley contains ricl. alluvial flats. Greene, Chenango Forks, and Carter's Cor
ners, are villages. Greene, village upon the river, the Chenango canal and the
Ulster and Cayuga turnpike, 126 miles S. W. from Albany, and 20 from Norwich,
has a post office, 1 Episcopal and 1 Presbyterian, churches, 7 stores, 2 taverns,
and about 50 dwellings; a toll bridge crosses the river, here, about 200 feet wide.
Chenango Forks, at the junction of the Chenango and Tioughnioga rivers, 30 miles
S. W. from Norwich, contains a post office called Genegansette, 1 Presbyterian,
church, 4 stores, 2 taverns, 1 grist, 2 saw mills, and about 30 dwellings; there
is a toll bridge over the two rivers. Carter's Corners, 23 miles S. W. from Nor
wich, 3 W. from Greene, has 2 stores, 2 taverns, 1 tannery, 1 grist, 1 saw, and
1 cloth dressing mill, and about 30 dwellings. More than a third of the town is
under culture. In addition to the above mentioned, there are, in the town, 1 Me
thodist and 1 Baptist, churches.
Guilford, taken from Oxford, 2d April, 1813, by the name of Eastern; name
changed, 21st March, 1817; surface hilly and broken along the Unadilla and Sus
quehanna rivers, which bound it on the E.; soil generally of good quality, espe
cially in the valleys. Mount Upton and Guilford, formerly Knappsburg, are post
villages. More than half the town is under good cultivation; it contains 1 Epis
copal, 1 Methodist, 1 Congregationalist, 1 Baptist, and 1 Universalist, churches.
There is a third post office called Rockdale.
Lincklaen, taken from German, 12th April, 1823; since reduced in area; sur
face undulating; soil argillaceous loam; watered by some branches of the Otselic
creek; distant W. from Albany 128, from Norwich, N. W. 20 miles. Scarce
more than one-fourth of the town is improved. It contains 1 Methodist, 1 Pres
byterian, and 1 Baptist, churches; the post office is called West Lincklaen.
McDonough, taken from Preston, 17th April, 1816; surface divided into ridges
by Bowman's and Genegansette creeks; soil clay loam productive in grass, heavi
ly timbered, and stony; distant from Albany, S. W. 128, from Norwich, W. 14,
miles; near the S. line of the town is Spee's Spa, a sulphur spring, much frequent
ed, at which is a large house for the accommodation of visitors. McDonough,
post village, on the W., has 1 Methodist church, 2 taverns 2 stores, 1 extensive
paper mill, 1 saw mill, tannery, 1 grist mill, 1 distillery, and about 30 dwellings.
There are in the town, also 2 Baptist churches. About a third of the town is un
der cultivation.
New Berlin, separated from Norwich, 3d April, 1807; name changed to Lan-,
caster in 1821, but restored in 1822; surface undulating; drained by the Unadilla
and tributaries and some branches of the Chenango; soil generally moist clay
loam, suited to grass, with portions in the vales productive of grain. A company
was incorporated, 26th March, 1834, to make a Macadamised road by Bridgewater
and New Hartford, to Utica; but the design will probably be abandoned in con
sequence of a determination to make the Utica and Susquehanna rail road. New
Berlin, South New Berlin, and New Berlin Centre, are post villages. The first,
incorporated 17th April, 1816— 23d April, 1831; 14 miles N. E. from Norwich,
90, W. from Albany, on the Unadilla river, contains 1 Episcopal church, 2 school
houses, a printing office, issuing a weekly paper, 1 1 stores, 3 taverns, 3 tanneries,
2 flouring mills, 1 oil and 1 paper mill, 1 brewery, a rope factory, worked by hy
draulic power, 1 furnace, 1 chair, 1 woollen, and 1 extensive cotton factory, about
175 dwellings and 1000 inhabitants. South New Berlin, 9 miles E. from Norwich,
has 1 Baptist church, 3 stores, 2 taverns, and about 40 dwellings. New Berlin
Centre, has 2 taverns, and 15 dwellings. Amblerville, 2 miles W. from the last
village, contains 2 taverns, 1 grist, 1 saw, and 1 clothing, mill, and from 20 to 30
dwellings. There are in the town, besides those above named, 2 Methodist,

392 TOPOGRAPHY.
1 Baptist, and 1 Universalist, churches. Nearly two-thirds of the town are im
proved. NonwicH, formed from Jericho and Union, as part of Tioga county, 19th Jan.
1793; area since much reduced by the abstraction of other towns; surface hilly,
on the E. and W. with a broad vale running S. through the town, in which mean
ders the Chenango river, bordered' by fertile and highly cultivated flats; the hills,
where not still heavily timbered, are covered with grazing farms. More than half
the town is under cultivation. Norwich, N. Norwich, White's Store, and King's
Settlement are post offices. Norwich, the shire village, finely situated, upon a
neck of land formed by the Canasawacta creek and the river, and on the Chenan
go canal, 100 miles W. from Albany, 245, from New York, and 332, from Wash
ington City, surrounded by a highly fertile ind well cultivated country; incorpo
rated 17th April, 1816; contains the courthouse, jail, and county offices, 1 Epis
copal, 1 congregationalist, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist, churches, an academy, a
seminary for females, 2 printing offices, each issuing a weekly journal; the bank
of Chenango, incorporated 21st April, 1818, capital $ 120,000; charter extended
29th April, 1829, to the 1st Jan. 1856; many mechanic shops, several manufac
tories, and about 250 dwellings. A sulphuretted hydrogen spring, 2 miles from
the village, is much used in cutaneous disorders.
Otselic, taken from German 28th Marph, 1817; surface hilly, and broken by
the Otselic river and its tributaries; soil, clay loam, heavily timbered with beech,
maple, linden, elm, &c. better adapted to grass than grain; distant W. from Al
bany 110, from Norwich N. W. 20, miles. Otselic, post village, has 1 store, 1 ta
vern, 1 tannery, and about 20 dwellings. South Otselic has a post office, 1 grist,
2 saw mills, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and 15 dwellings. The town has 1 Methodist, 1
Congregationalist, and 1 Baptist church.
Oxford, formed from Jericho and Union, as part of Tioga county, 19th January,
1793; since much reduced in area; surface undulating, broken by the Chenango
river and valley, which wind through the northern and western portions of the
town, receiving from the W. Padget brook, and from theN. Bowman's, Mill, and
Meadow creeks. The town, and especially the valley, is highly fertile and well
cultivated. More than one-half the lands is under improvement. On a high
bank ofthe river are the remains of an ancient Indian fort, enclosing about an acre,
surrounded by a ditch still near 3 feet deep. In 1788, the area was covered with
heavy timber. Human bones and coarse earthenware have been dug from it.
Oxford, post village, in the N. part of the town, on both banks of the river, which
is here 210 feet, and the valley 24Q rods, wide; 118 miles S. W. from Albany, 8
from Norwich, 236 from New York, 110 from Catskill, 113 from Newburg, 56
from Utica, and 30 from Binghamton; very pleasantly situated; the hills around
it rising by gentle acclivity to the height of 400 feet, adorned with finely cultivated
farms to their summits; incorporated 6th April, 1806, with an area of 425 rods
square; contains 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, and 1 Presbyterian church, an academy,
8 or 10 stores, several taverns, a book store and bindery, 2 printing offices, each
issuing a weekly paper, a grist and saw mill, woollen factory, and about 200
dwellings. There are several bridges over the river, and the Appian way from
Newburg terminates here. A lock connects the Chenango canal with the river in
the village. There are also 2 Baptist churches in the town, and a post office call
ed South Oxford.
Pharsalia, taken from Norwich 7th April, 1806, by the name of Stonington;
name changed 6th April, 1808; surface hilly; soil, argillaceous loam; drained by
a branch ofthe Canasawacta on the E., the Genegansette S., and a tributary of the
Otselic on theW.; distant W. from Albany 114, from Norwich N. E. 11, miles.
There is here also a sulphuretted hydrogen spring. The Port Watson and Salt
Spring turnpikes intersect near the centre ofthe town. The town was first settled
in 1798, and about one-third of it is under improvement. It has 1 Methodist, 1
Congregationalist, and 1 Baptist church.
Pitcher, formed from German and Lincklaen, 13th February, 1827; similar in
soil and surface to Pharsalia, and drained by the Otselic creek, which crosses it
S. W.; distant W. from Albany 127, from Norwich 17, miles. More than tlwee-
fourths of it are improved. There are in the town 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, 4
Presbyterian, and 2 Baptist churches. Pitcher and Lincklaen are post offices.
Plymouth, taken from Norwich 7th April, 1806; surface undulating, generally;

CHENANGO COUNTY.

393

soil, argillaceous loam of fine quality; drained principally by the Canasawacta
creek flowing S. E. across it; distant W. from Albany 107, from Norwich-N. W.
7,. miles. Plymouth, or Frankville, has a post office, 1 Congregationalist church,
2 stores, 2 taverns, 1 grist mill, clothing works, and between 30 and 40 dwell
ings. There are in the town, also, 1 Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Baptist
churches. Nearly one-half the town is improved.
Preston, formed from Norwich, 2d April, 1806; since much altered in area;
surface moderately uneven; soil of good quality for grain or grass; heavily
timbered; drained by Meadow and Mill brooks; the Chenango river and canal
crosses the S. E. angle; distant from Albany W. 115, from Norwich N. E. 7,
miles. More than half the town is under cultivation. Mason's, and Palmer's Cor
ners, are small villages. There are in the town 1 Methodist, 1 Congregationalist,
and 2 Baptist churches — and a post office bearing the name of the town.
Sherburne, taken from Genoa, 7th April, 1806; surface hilly, having the Che
nango river crossing it southwardly, and receiving several tributaries from the E.
and one from the W.; soil, argillaceous and sandy loam, remarkably rich in the
valley; distant from Albany W. 96, from Norwich, N. 11, miles. Sherburne,
post village, on the turnpike, canal, and river, has 1 Congregational and 1 Epis
copal churches, 1 select school, 2 taverns, 10 stores, 1 ashery, and about 100 dwell
ings. About one mile N. of Sherburne, is a settlement called "The Quarter," in
consequence of the first settlers having purchased a quarter of the township. There
are here a clothing mill, machine factory, 1 store, 1 tavern, several mechanics'
shops, and 20 dwellings. Earlville, formerly the Forks, 16 miles N. from Nor
wich, between the canal and river, and upon both sides of the county line, has 1
Baptist church, 1 select school, 2 taverns, post office, 6 or 7 stores, and about 20
dwellings. Sherburre Four Corners, partly in the towns of Sherburne, Smyrna,
Plymouth, and Norwich, has about 25 dwellings, 1 tavern, and store. There is a
seeond Congregational church in the town.
Smithville, taken from Greene, 1st April, 1806; surface undulating; soil
sandy loam; drained on the E. by Bowman's creek, on the S. by Mullet creek,
and centrally and southerly by Genegansette creek; distant from Albany S. W.
131, from Norwich 20, miles. There are Some extensive and fertile flats. Smith
ville village has a post office, a select school, 1 Baptist church, 2 taverns, 5 stores,
1 flouring mill, 1 saw mill, 2 tanneries, clothing works, carding machines, chair
factory, and about 45 dwellings. Smithville Corners, on Bowman's creek, 12
miles from Norwich, contains 1 woollen factory, 1 grist, 2 saw mills, 1 tavern, and
about 12 dwellings. Besides that above mentioned, there are in the town 2 Me
thodist, 1 Congregationalist, and 1 Baptist, churches.

Females.
EO
Births.
Deaths.
TOWNS.
.S M
Be.0 O
.3 co
= cd
3 hi
•to a
oi 01
'C ^
br
cd
ta
1820.
1825.
1820.
1835.
cd
i
CO©
>
Aliens. Marrie 45 yeai
.-. 01
cd &
cd"5
Is
a
cd01«
a
S01
6.
cd 01
«
a
a
be
Bainbridge,
2299
2772
3038
3010
241
647
12 364
257
669
21
43
60
16
17
Columbus,
1805
1723
1661
1656
138
366
3 181
138
338
12
32
18
13
6
Coventry,
1431
1485
1576
1603
119
344
1. 199
101
138
7
29
16
15
5
German,
2675
1496
884
866
84
168
3 105
50
214
7
23
15
7
8
Green,
Guilford,
2590
3628
2962
4096
406
883
! 511
323
825
23
91
61
31
24
2175
2493
2636
2703
229
589
18 352
224
550
25
65
35
23
10
Lincklaen,*Macdonough,
1527
1425
1014
100
216
1 130
90
225
11
31
22
6
7
789
1044
1232
1425
140
264
12 179
106
358
14
39
31
. 19
18
New Berlin,
2366
2511
2680
2967
239
628
12 392
281
622
21
62
41
29
27
Norwich,
3257
3349
3619
3807
446
898
175 489
369
804
27
63
63
25
46
Otselic,
526
457
1236
1439
143
302
1 203
77
349
9
30
25
9
13
Oxford,
2317
2801
2943
3765
434
780
320 447
327
745
24
69
58
30
20
Pharsalia,
873
420
10111214
1170
104
232
' 139
57
282
6
17
19
7
4
Pjtcher.t
1533
113
296
189
149
342
16
25
17
7
7
Plymouth,
1496
1591
1609
1563
149
345
S
176
138
349
10
26
36
14
12
Preston,
1092
1224
1213
1126
103
254
8
112 134
229
11
21
15
4
6
Sherburne,
2590
2493
2601
3108
305
673
240
392! 277
571
28
56
46
16
20
Smithville,
1553
1733
1859
1885
166
370
25
251 172
440
11
51
31
18
14
Smyrna,
139U
1580
1839
2026
142
417
6
24i| 167
446
9
29
29
7
11
31215
34215
37238
40762
3801
8681
1170
5059'3437
8496
292
802
638
296
275
Not*. Males, 20,90
4; Pen
tales, 1
3,858; 1
Slacks, 267; Black voters, 11, Deaf a
ndl
umb, 18;
Blin
i. 9:
Idiots, 36; Lunatics,
19.
* Taken frori
l Gent
an in
1S23.
f Taken from German and Lin
ckla
jn in 1827
50
394

TOPOGRAPHY.

a m

8

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u ti

13
ci
•8
M
H a
TOWNS.
¦ s
08 ® —
3 cd
cd 8
cd
O
cduo
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to
aCQ
6s
S
w
rs "a
OlJO
SB' o a
oT cd
S E
o 01
O
S
-«?
a3 o
O
Bainbridge,
43200
16324
260978
44536
3561
707
6300
1683
5512
6941
8966
574
547
Columbus,
2300
14404
146245
10672
3299
655
7626
1776
3786
5764
6344
423
281
Coventry,
26500
12124
140005
10482
3111
529
7565
1432
3302
5106
5785
358
269
German,
16000
5366
45850
970
1H9H
305
2276
722
1952
294S
4024
219
79
Greene,
42000
19429
213859
44424
4632
868
6306
2223
5052
6481
8282
724
463
Guilford,
36000
19098
247850
26805
4371
745
7840
1940
5232
6282
6342
433
492
Lincklaen,
19200
5995
67959
2540
1433
293
4831
869
1895
3807
5614
222
175
Macdonough,
23000
8312
65845
2875
2039
394
5444
980
2529
4417
4315
262
116
New Berlin,
26000
16715
241101
52884
3567
H20
9111
1775
4786
6312
5925
547
516
38400
21106
513318
148256
4284
1302
25468
230R
4504
6660
6919
1057
1162
23000
6494
71562
2855
1674
340
6317
811
1879
3419
4181
29H
117
Oxford,
35500
18794
307032
43430
4746
1028
10547
2101
5056
7976
7219
596
630
23000
7338
83317
2450
1720
329
6988
751
1871
4036
8096
255
140
12200
9853
97099
11945
2310
461
d583
1202
2814
4343
7642
319
195
Plymouth,
26500
10009
133824
3335
2311
576
7602
1320
262!)
4316
5983
324
245
22500
11582
127790
17328
2221
605
10099
757
3382
5917
5392
202
239
24000
18079
267405
44150
3330
954
13137
223B
4143
5986
6023
955
566
28800
15339
107067
22868
3910
676
5580
1397
4522
4695
4557
379
237
Smyrna,
26000
12150
161559
21927
2699
700
9516
1585
3054
5776
6331
285
377
514800
248561
3299660
515392
56916
12287
161220
27871
67901
101183
116960
8430
6846
TOWNS.
ac
0 7
at
i cd
24
1s
i2
1 Ctia
3 2
to01 a
'3 ocdE
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cd
o 2
ao
o
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o
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o
c
o
es
«
.5*
cd
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5
CDCO
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p.
CO 0,01E
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1
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i _
=1
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si
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ft.
g>3 sS.
01 I- tt k'
cdcd
o,
¦sr*i
Bainbridge,
21
660
555
1059
2
1
2
12-
273
265
590
Coventry,
3
5
1
1
1
v
1
2
10 9
203 138
409 114
570 391
3
21
2
2
1
3
20
400
549
1019
4
17
1
2
3
1
l
3
4
17
320
907
946
1
J
3
1
8
190
79
347
1
10
1
2
1
1
1
12
300
76
542
5
15
1
b
4
1
1
i
1
1
4
1
16
414
758
1082
b
19
1
2
2
3
1
2
32
538
754
1216
2
10
4
1
2
13
280
176
557
3
12
1
4
4
1
1
1
3
it
2
23
352
638
890
1
3
1
1
8
232
85
422
3
b
3
3
1
2
13
189'
258
676
Plymouth,
1
9
2
2
1
16
281
216
583
3
7
2
2
2
12
185
166
374
4
13
1
2
1
1
2
20
375
658
925
2
13
2
2
1
2
13
194
443
671
Smyrna,
2
50
13
215
1
5
4
35
4
36§8 its
00
1
I
4
4
1
1
9
1
20©
1
3
2
2
36
1
<->
16
301
432
639
291
5825
7538
13499
Value of product.
S3 US
18
to
1>
n
w
i
3X)
s
o
£
'

—
Numb
tx of childi
en above 5
and un-
>n
Si
CO
8
¦¦o
«
W3
s
IS
a)
8
co go
©
cer 16 ye
ars af age.
10,670.
Value of material,
3
co
e*
o
**
8
S
i- 1
.»* ,co
ci
au
c>
iS»
'
1"
—
Smyrna, taken from Sherburne, 25th March, 1808, by the name of Stafford;
name changed 6th April, 1808; surface hilly, with fertile valleys; drained E. by
branches of the Chenango river, and S. by the Canasawacta creek. The first set
tler here was Joseph Porter, in 1792. Smyrna, post village, incorporated 20th
April, 1834; 101 miles S. W.from Albany, 11 N. W. from Norwich, upon Plea
sant brook, has a post office, 1 Congregationalist and 1 Union churches, 1 select
school, 4 stores, 3 taverns, 1 grist mill, 1 woollen factory, 1 ashery, and 60
^dwellings. Stimpsonsville, 3 miles W. of Smyrna, has 1 grist, 1 saw, mills, 1 clotti
ng works, 1 tavern, 1 distillery, and about 20 dwellings. There are in the town,
beside that above noticed, 2 Methodist, 1 Baptist, and 2 Quaker, churches. About
one-half the town is under culture. *
CLINTON COUNTY.

395

CLINTON COUNTY, taken from Albany, 7th March, 1788; since variously
modified; now bounded N. by Lower Canada, and the 45°<of N. latitude, S. by
assex county, E. by Lake Champlain, dividing it from the state of Vermont, and
w. by Franklin county; central Lat. N. 44° 45', Lon. 3° 20' E.; centrally
distant from New York N. E. 305, from Albany 160, miles; greatest length 40,
greatest breadth 37, miles; area about 933 square miles.
The surface is divisible into the level, the hilly, and the mountainous. Along
the eastern border, adjacent to Lake Champlain, extends a plain inclining lo the
lake, with an average breadth of about 8 miles, having a soil of clay loam, which
repays the care of the husbandman. West of this plain, the country becomes
hilly and less fertile, consisting of the low ridges, from which the Clinton
range of mountains rises; still further west and north is the Chateaugua mountains,
which run N. E. into Canada. These hills are covered with wood, and the bow
els ofthe earth abound with iron ore of the richest quality. The county is whol
ly of primitive formation, except some secondary lime along the lake shore.
The principal streams are the Au Sable, the Saranac, the Great and Little
Chazy, the E nglish river, and Salmon river, all , for the greater part of their course,
mountain torrents. The Au Sable, upon the south boundary, is described under
Essex county.
The Saranac rises in Loon, Saranac, and other ponds in the S. E. part of Frank
lin county, and has a N. E. course through Wilmington of Essex, and Peru, Sara
nac, and Plattsburg towns, of Clinton county, of about 60 miles, and enters Lake
Champlain at Plattsburg. About 25 miles from its mouth, it receives the West
Saranac, which having its source, also, in Franklin county, flows E. 20 miles to
its recipient. Nineteen miles from the lake are the " High Falls," where, within

396 TOPOGRAPHY.
the space of a mile, the river'descends by rapids and cascades 300 feet. Three
ofthe pitches exceed,, severally, 40 feet.
Chazy river flows irom Chazy lake, in the W. part of Beekmantown, and runs
N. E. through Chazy, Mooers, and Champlain towns, about 50 miles. It is an
excellent mill stream.
Little Chazy, a small stream about 18 miles long, empties into Lake Cliam-
plain, 4 miles S. ofthe montlrofthe Great Chazy, at Point au Fer.
English river, a larger stream, rising in the S. W. part of Ellenburg, has a N.
E. course of about 25 miles through this county into Lower Canada.
The Salmon river has its source in the Peiu mountains, and flows thence 25
miles, and near the S. boundary of the town of Plattsburg to Lake Champlain op
posite the centre of Valcour's Island.
There are two considerable lakeslying in the western partof Beekmantown; the
Chazy and the Chateaugua. The first, as we have seen, is the source of the Chazy
river, and the other sends forth the Chateaugua river of Fratiklin county. The
one is about 6 miles in circumference, and the other somewhat larger. There
are, also, some fine ponds in the S. W. part of Pern, giving tributaries to the Au
Sable and Saranac rivers. In all these northern mountain streams trout abound.
Much the greater portion of the county is yet in a wild state, not one-fifth part
of it being reporteJ as improved; covered with dense forests, which when removed
leave a soil ferule in proportion to the depth of vegetable mould, hut generally
not the most desirable to the agriculturist, condemned as he must be to contend
with long and rigorous winters; but as the lun.ber is cut away from the shores of
the lake, the great demand for it in the south, and 'the facilities of transportation
by Lake Champlain and the canal, must be powerful agents in clearing,'if not set
tling, the country. Rail roads, cheaply constructed, will aid these facilities. The
excellent iron of this region, already extensively manufactured, will employ new
capital and additional labourers; but will require large tracts to he reserved for
supply of fuel. For these reasons it is not probable that population will increase
so rapidly as in some other portions of the state. The rate of increase, however,
between 1820 and 1835, has been nearly 5 per cent, per annum. Sufficient grain
is not now raised to supply more than half the consumption; the remainder is ob
tained from Troy and Albany. When speaking ofthe goodness ofthe soil of any
portion ofthe county, we must be understood to speak relatively to other portions.
The iron of this region was first discovered at the Winter bed in 1800, by Mr.
Geo. Shaffer, a settler from New Jersey. This ore is better adapted for smelting
than blooming, The Arnold bed, the most valuable, was opened in 1809. The
mine consists of three veins of undefined extent, Tunning in the direction of the
mountain. Two of them only have been worked. These are parallel to, and a
few feet distant from, each other. The veins are from 3 to 12 feet wide, and have
beeri penetrated in places to the depth of 1K0 feet, and at the principal pit more than
260 feet. TheTe are two species of ore, the granular and the compact, the latter
of which is slightly magnetic. The gangue is granitic rock, and its perpendicular
sides are sustained against lateral pressure by large trunks of trees placed between
them. The ore is raised by blasting, at the expense $1 75 per ton. The mine is
freed from water by a steam engine of thirty horse power. The proprietors have
leased it to the Peru Iron Company for ten years from March, 1826, on condition
that the lessees raise not less than 3400 tons of ore annually, and pay for what
they raise $1 80 per ton. More than 4000 tons are mined, and what is not re
quired for the operations of the company is sold at from $4 50 to g5 the ton; six
were obtained until the discovery of the method of separating the ore ofthe mag
netic beds. Fine samples of1 this ore, by chemical analysis, have produced, it
is said, 90 per cent, pure metal; the ordinary product from the bloomery is be
tween 40 and 50 per cent. Four miles S. W. from Clintonville are the Palmer
mines, in which the ore of the magnetic kind is in veins, and in beds apparently
inexhaustible. The ore of the Baker mine, 1J miles north of Clintonville, is also
magnetic, and of good quality. There are many other mines which have been
wrought only experimentally, as the Rutgers, on the Livingston Gore, the Wat
son, and others which are innominate.
There have been erected in the county five blast furnaces, none of which are now
in operation, viz. one at the mouth of Salmon river; Etna, 6 miles from Peru viW
lage, burned; one at Peru village, and two at Clintonville, which were also de-

CLINTON COUNTY. 397
I
stroyed by fire. The ore is now reduced in bloomeries, and manufactured chiefly
into nails at the works in An Sable Forks, Clintonville, and Keeseville.
The lumber, generally in the shape of boards and planks, is of the best quality,
and is at every market eagerly sought for.
The roads on the eastern part of the county are sufficiently numerous and good,
and the military road, made by the United States towards Ogdensburg, runs about
35 miles through the county.
Soon after the conquest of Canada, in 1759. the shores of Lake Champlain
were visited by many speculators in quest of pine and oak timber; but with per
haps three exceptions, no permanent settlements were made in this county until
about the close ofthe revolutionary war. In May, 1765, royal grants were made
to Peter Stewart and John Friswell, deranged officers of the navy, of 2000 acres
of land, one tract located in Plattsburg, and the other in Peru; which pursuant to
the conditions were settled by a few families, who were soon driven off by the war.
A Mr. Hay, who resided upon one of them, and whose property is now possessed
by his descendants, removed to Canada in 1776, soon after the naval battle on the
lake, which was fought in full view of his bouse. Two other grants of lands
within the county limits were made before the revolution, to Beekman and Dean,
and their associates, respectively; and a 'Mr. James Le Framboise was seated on a
farm within Dean's patent, but under a contract with one Francis Mackay, (who
claimed a seignory on Lake Champlain,) dated June, 1768. Framboise was dri
ven out by the enemy, and, having served in the American army during the war,
returned to his farm in 1784, and it is now holden by his family.
One other settlement was commenced previous to the revolution, by a Count Vre-
denburg, a German nobleman, who, marrying a lady ofthe household ofthe queen of
England, obtained a warrant for 30, 000 acres ofland, which helocated on Cumberland
bay, whither he removed, although he did perfect his title by patent. He built a
large house on the spot now occupied by the U. States Hotel in Plattsburg, where
he resided, as tradition reports, in extraordinary luxury, having his floors covered
with carpets, and his windows shaded with damask curtains. When the revolu
tionary struggle commenced, he sent his family to Montreal, but remained some
time after their departure, and then suddenly and mysteriously disappeared; his
house, and a saw mill he had built 3 miles above, on the Saranac, " at Vreden-
burg's Falls," being at the same time burned. He was generally supposed to
have been robbed and murdered by some one covetous of the money and plate
which he displayed.
In July, of 1783, after the preliminaries of peace had been settled, Lieutenant
(since Major-General) Benjamin Mooers, adjutant of Hazen's regiment of Cana
dian and Nova Scotia refugees, stationed at Newburg, on the Hudson, with two
other officers and eight men, left Fishkill Landing in a boat, and by way of the
Hudson, the portage from Fort Edward to Lake George, and by that lake and
Champlain, reached Point au Roche, nine miles north of Plattsburg, where he and
his companions, on the 10th August, commenced the first permanent settlement of
the county.
A company, consisting of Judge Zephaniah Piatt and others, formed soon after
the war for the purchase of military warrants, located their warrants on Lake
Champlain. In August, 1784, the Judge, Capt. Nathaniel Piatt, and Capt.
Reeve, personally surveyed the Plattsburg patent on Cumberland Bay, and laid
off, among others, 10 lots of 100 acres each, to be given to the first 10 settlers who
came on with families. Another tract of 100 acres was allotted as a donation to
the first male child born on the patent. Messrs. Jacob Ferris, John Burke, Der
rick Webb, Jabez Pettit, and Cyrenus Newcomb, were the first settlers on the
"gift lots," and Piatt Newcomb, Esq. was the fortunate first born male, but not
the first child born on the patent; Mrs. Henry Ostrander, having previously given
birth to a daughter, who intermarried with a Mr. Wilson, of Chateaugua, of Frank
lin county. From this period the settlement of the county steadily proo-ressed.
The first court was holden at Plattsburg on the 28th day of October," 1788 of
which the following persons were officers: Charles Piatt, Judge— Peter Sa'ily
Win. McAuley, and Pliney Moore, assistant justices — Theodorus Piatt, justice-!
Benjamin Mooers, sheriff— John Fautfreyde, coroner— Robert Paul, John Steven
son, Lott Elmore, Lewis Lezotte, and Jonathan Lynde, constables. Grand jurv
Clement Goslin, Allen Smith, Abner Pometoy, Jonas Allen, Joseph Shelden Pe
er Payn, Moses Soper, Edward Everett, Elnathan Rogers, John Hoffnagle ' Cy"

398 TOPOGRAPHY.
renus Newcomb, Melchor Hoffnagle, Stephen Cuyler, Jacob Ferris, John Ran
som, and John Cochran.*
The county is divided into 8 towns.
Beekman, taken from Plattsburg, 25th Feb. 1820; distant from Albany, N. 167,
from Plattsburg, N. W. 18, miles; the town about 6 miles in width, stretches
across the county 37 miles; for 8 or 10 miles, it is level or undulating, with a fer
tile clay loam soil; on the W. it becomes hilly and mountainous; Chateaugua
and Chazy lakes are at the W. end. The post office, having its name, is near the
village of Beekman's Corners, where is also, the county poor house, and about 25
dwellings; about a mile and a half from the village, is a Methodist church and a
hamlet of some 15 dwellings, known as the Brick School House; a mile and a
half E. of the school house, is a mineral spring becoming celebrated, where a
commodious house for the accommodation of visitors has lately been erected; the
water contains sulphur, iron and carbonic gas. There is not in the town any li
censed tavern: But, there are 4 Episcopal Methodist, 1 Reformed Methodist, 1
Presbyterian, and 1 Baptist, societies.
Champlain, organised 7th March, 1788; since modified; distant from Albany,
N. 185, from Plattsburg 18, miles; surface on the E. level, resting on secondary
limestone; on the W. hilly; soil clay loam on granitic rock, generally fertile and
well cultivated; drained by Chazy river, furnishing mill power advantageously
used at the village of Champlain; a short distance above its mouth it receives the
Corbeau river, a much smaller stream. Champlain, Rouse's Point, Perrysville,
and Corbeau, are post villages. Champlain, upon the State road, on the left bank
of the Chazy, 5 miles from Lake Champlain, contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Metho
dist, churches, 1 grist mill with 4 runs of stones; 3 saw mills, 1 cupola furnace,
tannery, carding and cloth dressing mill, 1 temperance house, but no licensed
tavern, 5 stores, and about 40 dwellings. Rouse's Point, 23 miles N. from Platts
burg, has a good port, 2 docks and store houses, a Methodist church, 1 tempe.
ranee public house, 3 stores, tannery, and 20 dwellings; a place of much business;
A fort commenced here during the war, has been found to lie over the JJritish line
and has been abandoned.
Perryville, upon the Chazy river, 3 miles W. of Champlain village, 24 N. W.
from Plattsburg, has a Methodist society, 1 grist and saw mill, carding and cloth
dressing mill, 1 store, and 25 dwellings. Corbeau, at the confluence of Corbeau
river with the Chazy, 18 miles N. from Plattsburg, has a Roman Catholic church,
1 grist, and 1 saw mill, of stone, and about 20 dwellings. The chief business of
the inhabitants, is agriculture, but much lumber is cut and exported.
Chazy, taken from Champlain, 20th March, 1804; distant N. from Albany 170,
from Plattsburg, N. W. 12, miles; surface level on the E., but hilly on the W.;
soil generally of good quality anil some of it excellent, being underlaid with lime
stone, for 5 or 6 miles from the lake; drained by the Chazy and Little Chazy
rivers. Chazy, West Chazy, and Chazy Landing, are villages; the two first have
post offices. Chazy, village, 15 miles N. of Plattsburg, on the State road from
Albany to Canada, contains 1 Methodist and 1 Congregationalist, churches, a
high school, 2 grist mills, 2 saw mills, a trip hammer, tannery, carding and cloth
dressing mill, and some 50 dwellings, in a well improved country. Chazy Land
ing, lies on the lake, 1 mile S. of the Little Chazy and 3 from the village, and
has a dock and store house, a dry good and grocery store, and 15 or 20 dwellings.
West Chazy, late Lawrence's mills, 15 miles from Plattsburg, contains 1 Metho
dist church, 1 store, 1 temperance house, 1 grist, 2 saw, mills, 1 trip hammer,
carding and cloth dressing mill and 30 dwellings. There are in the town 8 Me
thodist, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist and 1 Catholic, societies.
Ellenburg, taken from Mooers, April 17th, 1830; drained E. by Chazy and
English, rivers, N. by tributaries of Chateaugua and Trout rivers; surface hilly,
but much of it susceptible of profitable cultivation; centrally distant N. W. from
Plattsburg 25, from Albany, i\. E. 185, miles; there is a compact settlement near
the centre of the town, S. W. of the Military road, of about 50 families; other
* For the materials from which we have framed this brief notice of the early history of
the county, we are indebted to a Ms. Memoir of Gen. St. John B. L. Skinner, of Platts
burg. We have received from him, also, much information relative to the present state of
the county.

CLINTON COUNTY. 399
settlers are scattered over the country and the inhabitants are exclusively employ
ed in agriculture; there are here 1 Methodist, 1 Baptist, and 1 Roman Catholic,
societies; the post office has the name of the town.
Mooers, named after General B. Mooers, taken from Champlain 20th March,
1804; distant N. from Albany 180, from Plattsburg, N. N. W. 18 miles; surface
hilly and broken; the Chateaugua mountain in low ridges running across it; con
tains, it is said, much land susceptible of cultivation, but, also much that is
swampy; drained by the Chazy river on the E. and by English river on the N.
Mooers, post village, on the Chazy river, 3 miles below the forks, has 1 Congre
gational church, 1 Methodist, and I Baptist, societies, which have not houses for
worship; there are also 2 other Methodist societies in the town; 1 grist, 1 saw,
mills, clothing works, 1 temperance public house, 2 stores and about 30 dwel
lings. The underlying rock of the town is granitic with small portions of lime
stone. The inhabitants are remarkably temperate and industrious.
Peru, taken from Plattsburg and Willsborough 23d Dec. 1792; since modified;
distant from Albany, N. 150, and from Plattsburg, S. W. 17, miles; surface W.
from Lake Champlain for 10 miles, level or gently undulating; thence rising into
hills, and finally into mountains; the soil of the E. is fertile, sandy and clay loam,
on lime; the western portion is covered with forests, and abounds with iron;
drained by the Great and Little Au Sable rivers. Yalcour island, in the lake be
longs to the town. Keeseville, Clintonville, Peru and Birmingham, are villages;
the first we have described under Essex county. Clintonville, incorporated, partly
in Essex and partly in Clinton counties, on the Au Sable river, 6 miles W. from
Keeseville, 10 from Port Kent, and Port Douglass, 17 N. from Elizabeth, and 20
S. from Plattsburg, contains a post office, 1 Methodist and 1 Presbyterian,
churches, 3 select and 1 district, schools, 1 grist and saw mill, rolling and slitting
mill, nail factory, chain cable factory, 1 forge or bloomery with 14 fires, anchor
factory of three fires, all belonging to the Peru Iron Company; 1 tavern, 4 stores,
200 dwellings, occupied chiefly by the persons employed by the company. The
iron manufactured here, is from the Arnold mine, above describetl, 3 miles N. W.
from the forge; eight hundred tons of iron are made here, from this ore; and 500
tons of nails, annually; the products of the manufactories are sent to New York,
from Port Douglass, on Lake Champlain, which also belongs to the company,
where they have a wharf, store house and 3 or 4 dwellings. The Peru company
purchase from other forges an annual average of 500 tons; they sell band iron and
rods, 500 tons; bar iron, 100 tons; anchors, 200 tons; and chain cables, 50 tons;
and employ about the works, between 400 and 500 workmen, 10 months in the
year, being unable to work their mills profitably in the depth of the winter, on ac
count of the ice; paying $120,000, annually, in wages, and maintaining about 2000
souls. Ore may be taken from the mine and made into bar iron and shipped for New
York, between the rising and setting of the sun. Peru, village, 10 miles S. from
Plattsburg, 4 W. from the lake, has a post office, 1 Methodist, 1 Congregationalist
and 1 Roman Catholic, churches, 1 grist, 1 saw, mills, a woollen factory, 1 tavern,
5 stores, and about 100 dwellings; at the landing are also a few dwellings. Bir
mingham, at Adgate's falls 2\ miles below Keeseville, contains a forge with 4
fires, a saw mill, a small woollen factory, and 12 dwellings. Near this village
are the falls and singular rocky ravine described under " Essex county." Swe
den, 2 miles above Clintonville, on the Au Sable, contains 2 stores, 3 forge fires,
2 saw mills, and several dwellings; and at the Au Sable Forks, 3 miles higher up
are 4 forge fires, 4 saw mills, 2 stores, a trip hammer, &c. It thus appears that
the valley of the Au Sable river, is one of the most busy districts of the State.
Beside the religious societies above named, there are in the town, 5 Methodist,
1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 2 Quaker, societies. There is also a post office
called Black Brook.
Plattsburg, organised April 4th, 1785; centrally distant N. from New York*
319, from Albany 164, and from Plattsburg village 5, miles; surface on the E.
level or gently undulating, becoming hilly towards the W.; soil clay loam, along
the lake, and its culture in an improving condition; drained E. by the Saranac
river flowing centrally through it, and by Salmon river near the southern bound
ary. Plattsburg and Cadyville are villages; the latter lies in the N. W. upon
the left bank of the Saranac 9 miles W. from Plattsburg and has a saw mill
forge with 2 fires, 1 store, tannery and 12 dwellings. Plattsburg, incorporated

-pl

400 TOPOGRAPHY.
village and seat of justice of the county and port of entry for the Champlain co
lection district, at the mouth of the Saranac river, on Cumberland bay, N. La'
44° 42' and Long. 3° 32' E.; having the distances above given from New York and
Albany; 112 miles N. from Whitehall, 120 E. from Ogdensburg, by the usual
road, and 97 in a direct line; 13 N. of Port Kent, and 21 S. ofthe state line; con
tains the court house, prison, and county clerk's office of stone, 2 printing presses,
each issuing a weekly paper, a lyceum; 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Episcopal,
and 1 Catholic churches, an academy, 1 grist, and 3 saw mills, 2 cotton, and 1
woollen factories, 2 extensive hotels, one on. the temperance plan, 1 tavern, 1 tan
nery, 14 stores, 6 groceries, 2 mills, sawing marble, obtained from Isle de la
Motte in the lake, a very extensive comb factory, machine shop, pocket furnace,
and 220 dwellings. This village felt sensibly and advantageously the expendi
tures during the late war, and though twice captured by the enemy, it grew
rapidly under the stimulus it received, and when that was withdrawn was thrown
upon the natural resources of the country for support, and its condition for some
years was not a thriving one. The bank with a capital of §300,000, suffered
under the change and became insolvent. In 1836, however, the Clinton county
bank was chartered with a capital of §200,000. The. Saranac affords a valuable
water power; much of Which is unemployed in and near the village. The village
lies chiefly W. of the Saranac river and around the head of Cumberland bay.
This is the scene of the victory of McDonough and Macomb, over the British
naval and land forces, under Commodore Downie and Sir George Prevost. Here
the American Commodore waited at anchor the arrival of the British fleet, which
assed Cumberland Head, about 8, in the morning of the 11th September, 1814.
'he first gun from the fleet was the signal for commencing the attack on land.
Sir George Prevost, with about 14,000 men, furiously assaulted the defences of
the town, whilst the battle raged between the fleels,.in full view of the armies.
General Macomb with about 3000 men, mostly undisciplined, 'foiled the repeated
assaults ofthe enemy, until the capture ofthe British fleet, after an action of two
hours, obliged him to retire with the loss of 2,500 men, and a large portion of his
baggage and ammunition. The American force, on the lake, of 86 guns and 820
men was opposed to one of 95 guns and 1,050 men. Commodore Downie was
killed in the engagement. He was a brave and skilful officer, and disapproved of
the method of attack on the American flotilla.
A short distance from the village, are the ruins of the cantonment and breast
works occupied hy General Macomb and his troops. A mile N., is shown the
house held by General Prevost, as his head quarters, during the siege; between
which and the village the marks of cannon-shot on the trees and other objects are
still visible. Farther onward about 5 miles, on a hill overlooking the village of
Beekmantown, is the spot where a sanguinary engagement took place between
the American and British troops, which resulted in the death of the British Col.
Wellington and several men of both armies.
McDonough's Farm, granted by the legislature of Vermont, lies on Cumberland
Head, nearly east of Plattsburg. In the church yard is a monument to the
memory of Commodore Downie; and several of the officers who fell at the same
period, on the American as on the English part, repose side by side. Tradition,
alone, distinguishes their graves. Schuyler's Falls and N. Plattsburg are post
offices. Saranac taken from Plattsburg 29th March, 1834; distant from Albany N.
145, and from Plattsburg W. 17 miles; surface mountainous, having on the S. E.
the Sable and on the N. E. the Chateaugua Hills, covered with wood and abound
ing in iron ore, wild and thinly populated, but rapidly growing in numbers;
drained N. E. by the Saranac river flowing through a valley varying in breadth
from 8 to 15 mites. The soil of this valley is generally loam of excellent quality
for grass. Saranac Centre or Baker's Forge and Redford, are post villages.
The first, near the confluence of Barnes' Brook with the river, has a Methodist
church, a store, saw mill, forge with 2 fires, a tannery, and some 25 or 30 dwel
lings. About a mile above the village are the noted High Falls.
Redford village on the N. bank of the Saranac 21 miles from Plattsburg, has a
building erected for a school and Free church, 1 saw, 1 grist mills, 1 store, 2
taverns, and an extensive glass manufactory, established by the Redford Crown
Glass Company, in 1831; who have here, 3000 acres of land and have laid out

CLINTON COUNTY.

401

this village,, selling lots in fee with condition that the grantee shall not vend
spirituous liquors thereon. Glass, of a quality unsurpassed, to the value of
§70,000, is made here annually. The sand and ashes used are obtained on the
spot. They have 6 pots, eacti containing 12 cwt. of metal, giving employment to
30 glass makers and 120 other hands. The glass is sent for sale to Troy. There
are about 60 dwellings and 300 inhabitants. In 1835, a vein of good iron ore was
discovered near the ore bed in the E, part of Saranac and W. border of this town,
where ore of poor quality had for some years previously been dug.

Females. ' 1
Births.
Deaths.
cairS
JO**
Sf
TOWNS.
3 co
¦eg
¦sis
to
'Z >.
M)
CO
*
'
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
s
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COa to
<
.2? s us
a a
a. °
PS
a"S 01
'C CO
CO V
13
13 a
f
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13
13 8
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Beekmantown,
1343
15111 2391
2263
178
345
296
269
184
528.
3
43
49
18
12
Champlain,
IBIS
1821 2450
2691
230
317
407
31fi
206
657
50
49
15
9
EUenburg,
645
52
102
32
91
211
154
111
a*
12
»
4
Mooers,
567
743
1222
1137
llf
163
139
isa
74
868
it:
3(1
22
7
5
Peru,
2710
39%
4949
5796
64S
1060
441
796
456
1269
32
137
120
30
40
Plattsburg,
3519 3753
4913
442u
292
682
381
602
372
1061
3(
7E
86
44
31
Saranac,
263
316
761
to
142
¦ 751 102
3U
154
:(j
li
- 17
4
5
Chazy,
2313
239S
3097
3023
214
493
225) 379
210
684
18
ft
49
18
19
12070
144861 19344
20742
1807
3304
199612710
1560
4775 i 109
457
404
139
125
Note.— Males, 10,661; Females, 10,081; Blacks, 69; Deaf and Dumb, 17; Blind, 14; Idiots, 11; Lu.
n a tics, 10.
«
TOWNS.
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OS u
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> 01
to 2
1 co 2
ot 3 to
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a
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Beekmantown,
76500
13936
145000
1100
811
27H8
4689
1705
3801
2361
3001
1052 30
556 33
Champlain,
30-100
10225
145000
9300
788
2742
4856
1748
2718
2623
86(i
1110 83
606 44
Chazy,
93000
15301
155000
3700
929
3574
6346
1869
5213
4987
3.153
1142 28
793 78
EUenburg,
137000
1995
75000
500
125
595
489
315
436
721
474
543 62
820 92
Mooers,
3617
60000
' 700
202
012
12HC
412
1286
1347
841
436 84
503 60
Peru,
140700
26862
429950
43150
1436
472B
aan
3181
599!!
644(1
2724
3187 05
1073 75
Plattsburg,
52300
29284
300000
0700
911
3517
8676
2392
5119
5212
2912
2228 52' 1282 79
Saranac,
60500
2187
50000
123
389) 4541 204
562
513
85
359 11
827 77
596800 1034071 1359950
68150
5325
19-245 35607| 11826
25135 24204
14257
8060 55
5525 38
TOWNS.
03aCO
a
to
a
13
CD V
s«S
¦6 cd
t»Si
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1-
. ' *¦*
'£ 1
* e
a 0
e S
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a
a
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'1-1
09
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2c.
0
1 a
ce
1
J* .
O 01
S|-
eacher'swa ges
besides publicmo ney.
B0
O
0 1
5
fci 1
u<;
2
5-
0
1—1
& c-
U
Sa^5
a.
h
Tl!
Beekmantown,
1
1
1
13
3S2
251
645
Champlain,
3
13
3
3
4
2
J
]
13
330
431
505
Chazy.
4
22
3
3
6
4
ii
18
503
430
861
EUenburg,
1
3
2 1
7
100
57
193
Mooers,
1
14
1
1
3
8
133
200
381 ••
Peru,
2
35
1
2: 1
5
lii
1
1
1
29
773
998
1460
Plattsburg.
3
22
3
4 2
5 a
2
4
J
,21
868
617
1536.
Saranac,
1
16
3
117
12
| 1
1413
1
22 2
4
24
1
1
1
4
1
3
4
49
124
152
113
3138
3111
5673
3 Z7>
CD
1
Value of product,
0
%
SjS
as
to1— ;
CO
»
^r
«
1
. No. of
children .
Value of material,
s
3s
Ijl
31
!0
(£>
to
OD
9
0
16 y
ears of agt
6,213.
51
402

TOPOGRAPHY.

COLUMBIA COUNTY, taken trom Albany, 4th April. 1786; bounded N.
by Rensselaer county; E. by the State of Massachusetts and Dutchess co.; S. by
Dutchess county; and W". by the Hudson river, separating it from Greene county;
greatest length, on the E. line 36, medium breadth 18, miles; area 626 square
miles; situate between 41° 58' and 42° 30', N. Lat. and 3° and 3° 36' E.
Long.; centrally distant from New York, N. 125, and from Albany, S. E. 34,
miles. The surface is much varied, but may be considered as divided into two great
valleys; Ihe easternmost one bounded, E. by 'the Taghkanic ridge of mountains;
, the Peterborough mountain, varying in altitude and irregular in its course, runs
centrally N. aiM S. dividing the valleys, but admitting frequently the passage of
the streams; whilst the Hudson river bank, every where high, rises, in places,
intn cliffe, and gives a determinate direction to the waters, which break through
it in two -places only; the surface of these valleys is very uneven, risin<r, however,
in the. western one on the N. and S. it sends the waters from either extremity
towards the centre; whilst in the eastern, the highest ground in the centre of the
valley directs tlie streams respectively tp the N. and fci.

COLUMBIA COUNTY. 403
The peculiar formation of the surface suffers none ofthe streams to escape into'
the adjacent country.- The county Is a basin retaining all the waters which tise
in it, to be poured by two outlets into the Hudson, and to these waters Rensselaer
county by Kinderhook and Valitie creeks, and Dutchess by some small branches
of Roeliff Jansen's creek, are tributaries. The principal streams, are Ancram,
Claverack, and Kinderhook creeks.
Ancram Creek rises in Austerlitz and flows S. at the W. foot of the Taghkanic
Hills, through Hillsdale and Copake, to Ancram town, where, taking the name of
Roeliff Jansen from the Dutch Receiver General, it turns to the S. W. and dips
into Dutchess at Montrose; thence deflecting N. E. flows through Gallatin, Cler
mont, and Livingston to the Hudson river, about 6 miles below the city ef Hud
son; having a semicircular course of about 35 miles; giving motion to many mills,
and receiving several tributaries, as Punch Brook, Dover Creek, and some smaller
streams. Claverack Creek has its source in the western part of Ghent, by two branches
which flowing S. W. unite near Claverack village, whence, turning N. W. it
runs about 8 miles to the' Kinderhook, at Columbiaville, where the united streams
take the name of Major Abraham's Creek. The Claverack receives near the
village, from the S., the Copake Creek, which issuing from a pond in the N. W.
angle of Hillsdale and, crossing S. W. the town of Copake, receives the waters
of Copake lake; thence it runs N. W. through Taghkanic and Livingston, into
Claverack; having a very crooked course of about 22 miles.
Kinderhook Creek rises by several branches in Berlin and Stephentown, Rensse
laer county, and flowing S. W. into New Lebanon, Columbia eounty, receives
Lebanon creek; thence, turning N. W. re-enters Rensselaer county to receive the
Tackawasacl; creek; thence, it deflects S. W. through Chatham, Kinderhook, and
Stockport to the Hudson river; augmented on the way, from the E. by Stoney,
and Kline Kill, from the N. by Valitie, and from the S. by Claverack, creeks. Its
whole course may be about 30 miles, in which it gives motion to many mills, and
at Columbiaville and elsewhere is extensively employed for manufacturing pur
poses. Its upper course except when breaking the Peterborough ridge in Chat
ham and Kinderhook, is over fertile alluvial flats; its lower, through deep ravines.
Sloney Creek issues from Whiting Pond with sufficient strength to drive a mill,
and flows W. across Canaan, into Chatham, to its recipient, having a course of 8
or 10 miles.
Kline Kill rises in Austerlitz, and running through the S. W. angle of Canaan,
crosses the N. W. angle of Austerlitz into Ghent; and thence, by a N. W. course,
enters Chatham and unites with the Kinderhook; having a devious route of about
10 miles.
Valitie Creek flows from a small pond near the N. line of Nassau, forming, in
part, the boundary between Nassau and Schodac towns of Rensselaer county, and
Chatham and Kinderhook of Columbia county, and through Fish Lake to the
Kinderhook creek, having a course of about 16 miles. At its junction with its
recipient, it is a fine mill stream, turning several mills and havino- a fall of about
37 feet.
There are several small ponds of which Fish Lake, on the division line between
Chatham and Kinderhook; Whiting's Pond in Canaan; Copake lake and Char
lotte lake of Gallatin, are chief. The Warm Spring of Lebanon is much famed,
and there are several weak and inconsiderable springs of sulphuretted hydrogen.
The whole county, except the Taghkanic mountains, which are primitive, be
longs to the transition formation. Granite and granular limestone give the consti
tuents of the soil, on these mountains, whilst graywacke and blue limestone, much
of which is shelly, and much metalliferous, superimposed on slate, form the Very
various soils of the remainder.
There are some excellent lands and much the larger portion of the soil may be
rendered, by judicious culture, highly fertile. Nature, in the abundant beds of
lime, has furnished the means, as if by a special providence, of tempering the cold
and ungrateful constituents of the clay; and in many places, the lime in the form
of marl does not require burning to become a stimulant. The capacity of the
country is certainly not expanded and there may be truth in the reason assigned,
viz. that many of the labourers are not the heritors of the soil. Scarce any per-

404 TOPOGRAPHY.
tion of the state is better adapted to the culture of sheep, and the profits from this
source, already great, are yearly increasing.
Lead ore has been mined from a limestone gangue, in Gallatin, Ancram, Hud
son, and other parts of the county, and is said to have yielded 80 per cent, of
metal. As usual, these ores have a small proportion of silver. Iron ores are
abundant: in Ancram, Taghkanic, and elsewhere; and that, of Ancram is much
valued. Marl is found in Lebanon, Canaan, and Kinderhook; marble in Becraft's
mountain, and Epsom salts in efflorescence on the clay banks of the river above
the city of Hudson.
Stimulated by great prosperity, the enterprising inhabitants constructed many
turnpike roads from the city in various directions. Some of these have been
abandoned, not producing funds adequate to their reparation, but gates are still
preserved upon two roads.
The county contains 17 towns.
Ancram, taken from Livingston, by the name of Gallatin, 19th March, 1803;
name changed 1814; from Albany S. 51, from Hudson S. E. 21, mile6; it is one
ofthe townships of Livingston manor; surface hilly; soil gravelly loam and clay,
Testing on slate and limestone, and generally strong and fertile; watered by Roeliff
Jansen's and Punch, creeks; Redner Pond lies on the N, boundary. The An
cram iron works operate extensively in castings and bar iron, from the celebrated
ore of Salisbury, in Connecticut. Ancram, post village, lies on the creek near the
western line, where are a store, grist, and saw, mills; 2 forges and houses for the
superintendent and workmen. Several thousand asres of land are preserved for
fuel. Austerlitz, taken from Hillsdale, Canaan, and Chatham, 28th March, 1818;
surface billy and broken, being upon and between the Taghkanic, here tailed
Williamstown mountain, and the Peterborough ridge. The intervening valley,
upon the S. is high, forming the water shed in this part of the county. Green
river, runs from the N. E. corner, S. through Green River Hollow, across Hills
dale to the Housatonic river of Connecticut; and the Klinekill, flows a short dis
tance across the N. W. corner, breaking through the western mountain, and
receiving a branch from the town; soil gravelly and clay loam, resting, on the W.
upon slate and blue lime, and in the E. upon granitic and calcareous rock. The
western portion is alike productive in grain and grass; whilst the eastern is better
adapted to the latter. The turnpike road from Albany to Hartford, leads from the
N. W. to S. E. angle of the town. Spencertown and Green River, are post vil
lages. The first, 15 miles from , Hudson, and 24 from Albany, contains a Pres
byterian church, a grist, and plaster, mills, 3 stores, and 24 dwellings, one select
and one district school; the post office has the name of the town: The second, 19
miles from the Hudson, 4 S. E. from Spencertown, has 1 tavern, 2 stores, 1 Pres
byterian church, and about 20 dwellings. The soil around Spencertown is warm
and fertile, but in the vicinity of Green River, cold and heavy.
Canaan, organised 7th March, 1788; since modified; surface mountainous on
the E. and W., upon the E. some summits rise to 500 feet. Through the centre
of the town and among the hills are extensive valleys of light warm arable soil,
underlaid by slate, clay and lime. Most of the ridges are arable and carefully
cultivated. Gypsum is very advantageously employed here. Marl is found in
the eastern part; some lead veins in limestone, and some bog iron ore. The roads
are numerous and remarkably good. Whiting's Pond in the N. E. angle near 5
miles in circumference, discharges a mill stream across the town to Kinderhook
creek; Klinekill crosses the S. W. angle. Canaan, post office, is on the Hudson
and New Lebanon turnpike, 18 miles N. E. from Hudson. Canaan Corners, and
Red Rock, are post villages. Canaan Corners, on the outlet of Whiting's Pond,
24 miles from Albany and 23 from Hudson, contains 1 Congregational, 1 Metho
dist, churches, 1 grist mill, 2 saw mills, 2 woollen factories, 2 stores, 1 distillery,
1 plaster mil), and 21 dwellings within a mile; Redrock, lies in a broken country
at the W. foot ofthe mountain, and has 1 tavern, 1 store, and 12 dwellings.
Chatham, taken from Canaan and Kinderhook, 17th March, 1795; surface
hilly; the Peterborough mountains, here sinking to arable hills, traverse it from
N. to S.; soil upon the hills generally slaty gravel; in the vales warm gravelly
loam and alluvion along the streams. On the E. boundary the hills have a strong
loamy soil, covered with stone, which is rare in the lowlands, except where the

COLUMBIA COUNTY. 405
slate ridges protrude. On the S. and W. are extensive tracts of clay loam. The
town is generally well cultivated. Kinderhook or Lebanon creek enters by the
N.E. corner, and crosses the W. line centrally, receiving Canaan or Stoney creek
from the E. and Klinekill from the S. uniting on the VV. border. Fish Lake lies
on the N. W. New Britain, Chatham, Chatham Four Corners, New Concord,
and Federal Store, are villages or thickly settled neig-hbourhoods. Chatham
Four Corners, at the junction of the roads from Hudson to New Lebanon,
and from Albany to Hartford, 20 miles S. E. from Albany, 14 N. E. from Hud
son, and 131 from New York, contains, 2 stores, 1 tavern, 1 grist mill, plaster
mill, some 10 or 12 dwellings. New Concord, 18 miles from Hudson, has achurch,
a store, tavern and some 10 or 12 dwellings. Maiden Bridge is the name of a
post office.
Claverack, organised 7th March, 1788; distant N. from New York 116, from
Albany, S. 35, and from Hudson E. 5, miles; surface diversified; the Peter
borough Hills running northerly, with broad valleys and plains; soil gravel, clay,
and" loam, on slate and lime, generally of good quality; the flats on the Claverack
creek are proverbially rir,h;~much of the land is well cultivated; drained by the
Claverack creek. Tho noted Claverack Falls are on a branch of the stream, in
its passage through the mountain in the N. E. part of the town. Claverack^
Churchtown, Smoky Hollow, and Centreville, are villages; those in italics have
post offices. The first, 4 miles E. of Hudson, was the seat of justice for the
county, from 1787 to 1806, when the courts were removed to Hudson. It is a
beautiful village, containing about 60 dwellings, many of which are large, neat,
and commodious; a post office, 1 Dutch Reformed and 1 Baptist, churches, an
academy, 2 taverns, and 3 stores; upon a fertile plain of sandy loam. Near the
village are 4 large flouring mills, 2 extensive woollen carpet factories, several
carding and cloth dressing mills, and an important broad cloth factory.
Churchtown, 6 miles S. E. from Hudson, has a Lutheran church, a tavern, a
store, and 6 or 8 dwellings.
Smoky Hollow, upon the Columbia turnpike road, 7 miles, S. E. from Hudson,
has grist, plaster, saw, and fulling mills, a tavern and store, and 20 dwellings, in
a hilly but fertile country.
Centreville, 8 miles N. E. from Hudson, on the road through Squampenick val
ley and upon Claverack creek, has 2 grist mills, 2 taverns, 2 stores, and about a
dozen dwellings.
Clermont, organised 7th March, 1788; distant from Albany S. 43 miles; sur
face undulating; soil clay sandy and gravelly loam, generally fertile and well
cultivated, and watered by many small rivulets. This town in the manor of
Livingston, is divided into about 120 farms, leased to the cultivators. There are
many fine views, from the hills of the Hudson and adjacent country; but none
perhaps more beautiful than that from the splendid mansion and grounds of the
proprietors, situated on the bank of the river. Clermont is the name of the
post village, and ofthe Livingston seat. Clermont, on the post road from Albany
to New York, 12 miles S. of Hudson, 6 miles E. of the ri;ver; contains 1 academy,
incorporated 26th April, 1834, also used as a church, 1 store, 2 taverns, 15
dwellings, among which are several remarkably neat and commodious. Eliza-
ville, on the S. line of the town, in a bend of Roeliff Jansen's kill, 15 miles from
Hudson, 4 E. of Clermont, contains 1 store, 1 tavern, 1 grist and plaster, 1
saw, mills, carding and cloth dressing factory, and 10 or 12 dwellings; the water
power consists of the Roeliff Jansen's kill, under a head and fall of 12 feet.
Copake, taken from Taghkanic, 2d March, 1824; distant from New York, N.
120, from Albany S. 57, from Hudson S. E. 16, miles; surface on the E. moun
tainous; W. of the mountain is a broad valley through which flows the Ancram
creekj and in which lie several small lakes. Copake, in the N. W. sends forth a
tributary to Copake creek; the Ancram creek flows through another, more cen
trally situated; while Redner Pond, lies on the S. boundary. Copake Pond
covers about 600 acres; its waters are translucent and its bottom of white sand or
gravel, its shore of gentle acclivity, adorned with rich verdure. It embosoms- an
island of about 20 acres, connected by a causeway with the main land, on which
isa neat dwelling belonging to, and occasionally the habitation of, a branch of the
Livingston family; the town is part of the Livingston manor; the post office has
the name of the town.

406 TOPOGRAPHY.
Gallatin, taken from Ancram, 27th March, 1830; distant, S. E.from Hudson,
15, from Albany 51, mires; surface diversified, chiefly covered with Swells of the
Peterborough ridge, which turns the Ancram creek to the southern boundary;
upon this ridge and near the N. line, lies Charlotte Lake, sending forth, westerly,
Dove Creekf.to unite by a course of 5 miles with Ancram creek, in the town of
Livingston. The rock is chiefly slate, and the soil a schistic gravel; though of
soils there is much diversity, and all are productive under good culture. The
post office is called Gallatin.
Germantown, organised 7th March, 1788; distant from Albany, S. 39, and
from Hudson 12, miies; commonly known by the name of the German or East
Camp; surface gently undulating; soil clay and loam, pretty well cultivated; the
timber here has been preserved with more than usual care, and the town is
notable for the abundance and excellence of its fruit. The streams are inconsid
erable; and there are but 2 mills, upon the outlet of a small pond. The Lutherans
and Presbyterians, have each a church; there are 3 landings and store houses on
the Hudson.
In June, 1710, seventy of the palatines sent out by Queen Ann, settled on this
spot, then part of Livingston mjinor. In 1725, pursuant to an arrangement be
tween Geo. I. and the proprietor, this tract was granted by letters patent to the
persons belonging to East Camp, as the settlement was called, in trust, to appro
priate 40 acres, for the use of a church and school, and to divide the rest equally
in fee. The settlement first commenced by 3 small lodges, named, respectively,
after the superintendent of each, as Weiser's Dorf, Kneiskern's Dorf; names now
disused. The post office has the -name of the town.
Ghent, taken from Claverack, Kinderhook, and Chatham, 3d April, 1818; dis
tant S. from Albany 25 miles; surface ridgy; soil gravelly loam, on lime and slate,
generally well cultivated, watered by Klinekill and Claverack creeks. Ghent,
post village, on the Union turnpike, 10 miles N. E. from Hudson, contains a
post office, a Dutch Reformed church, tavern, store, and about 15 dwellings. The
county poor house, with a farm of 150 acres annexed, is in the E. part of the
town near which are a grist mill, store, and 6 or 8 dwellings.
Hillsdale, organised 7th March, 1788; distant N. from New York, 129, from
Albany S. 48, and from Hudson, E. 18, miles; surface on the E. broken by the
Taghkanic mountain, and on the W. by the Peterborough hills; through the in
tervening valley, flow the Ancram creek, near the W. base of the mountains and
the Copake creek upon the E..foot of the hill; the soil gravelly loam and clay,
underlaid with-granite, lime, and slate. Such influence have the hills upon the
climate, that vegetation here is 8 days later than upon the W. part of Claverack
10 miles distant. Unhappy disputes relative to titles to land in this town long
agitated the inhabitants, and several lives were lost in the controversy, before it
was finally settled by arbitration. The post office is named after the town, and is
in the village known as the "Turnpike," 16 miles S. E. from Hudson; contain
ing 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Methodist, churches, 3 stores, 2 taverns, 15 dwellings,
a tannery, and several mechanics' shops, in a fertile pleasant valley. Watervilk,
lies in the N. W. angle 14 miles E. of the Hudson, has 14 dwellings, a tavern,
2 stores, tannery, several mechanics' shops, and a school house.
Hudson City, capital ofthe county, comprised a township, which, bounded N.
by Factory creek; S. by the Livingston patent; E. by tbe Claverack creek; and
W. by the Hudson river; contained nearly 9000 acres. This area has, however,
been much reduced by the abstraction of three miles in length from the northern
end, in the formation of the town of Stockport. The city plat, Lat. 42° 14' N.
Long. 14' E. from New York; distant from New York, N. 116, from Albany S.
29, miles; divided into two wards, extends now, about 5 miles along the river
with a mean breadth of 3 miles. The basis rock of the precinct seems transition
carboniferous slate, cropping out in various places, particularly along the river
bank, upon which are imposed several ridges, containing secondary lime stone,
abounding with animal remains, and in some places, graywacke. The soil is
generally of a deep stiff clay, indifferently cultivated.
The compact portion of the city, lies upon argillaceous marl, in horizontal stra
ta, containing a considerable portion of sulphate of magnesia. In front of the
principal street is a promontory of siliceous slate, projecting into tlie Hudson in
a bold cliff, whose summit, more than 60 feet from the surface of the water, has

COLUMBIA COUNTY.

407

been formed into an agreeable promenade, by the corporation, and commands a
beautiful view ofthe river, the village of Athens, and the country on the opposite
shore, bounded by the towering Kaatsbergs; being planted with trees and shrubs,
and furnished with a house for refreshment, it has become a desirable resort dur
ing the summer, and merits a visit, at all seasons. Upon either side cf this pro
montory is a bay of considerable extent, with a low and approachable shore, with
ample depth of water for all vessels which may ascend the river; and here are the
quays, which are carried out on a line with the base of the hill. The bay on the
>S. is locked in by a lofty hill anciently called Rorabuck, but which received the
name of Mount Merino, in consequence of an establishment of a sheep farm here
some years since, containing 500 acres of land. The streets of the city are regu-

408 TOPOGRAPHY.
larly laid out, intersecting each other at right angles, except near the river, where
they conform to the shape of the ground. From the promenade, on the river,
Warren, the main street, extends S. E. more than a mile, with a gentle ascent to
Prospect Hill, and there unites with others which subtend its base. This hill
gives a full view ofthe city and adjacent country; but is itself commanded by the
Becraft mountain. The hill is about 200 feet high, rising with a uniform smooth
surface and falls off on the S. E. to a low meadow, which divides it from the N.
end of the mountain. It is composed of a solid mass of hard clay (or pan) not
stratified, containing round pebbles of quartz, and rolled water worn limestone,
different from any thing in this district; on the surface are rounded masses of
quartz, gneiss, granite, &c, with; pebbles of slate, chlorite, jasper, basanite, &c.
The mass of the mountain is graywacke, supporting a blue compact lime stone.
The upper strata of both rocks contain a great variety of petrifactions. The lime
stone affords a fair marble, which is used for flagging the streets and for ornamen
tal architecture. This street is closely and handsomely built upon, and near its
head, has upon the N. side an extensive public square.
A new court house has recently been erected upon a square in the south part of
the city, of about 300 feet wide. The building, including the wings, has 116 feet
front; the main edifice, 40. by 60 feet, and 60 feet high, is surmounted by a dome
40 feet high, towering above the other buildings of the city, and is entered by a
portico 16 feet, with six Ionic columps; the wings are severally 34 feet in front by
44 in depth, and two stories high. The front is of Stockbridge marble, and the
ends and rear of blue limestone. Tbe centre contains the court room, sheriff's
and surrogate's offices; the west wing, rooms for the supervisors, county clerk,
grand and petit jury, and district attorney; and the east wing, the jail, with 20
cells, on the plan ofthe state prisons, and the keeper's dwelling. The court room
is splendidly furnished, and the whole structure is creditable to the taste and libe
rality of the county.
The city contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, under which is the Lancastrian
school, 1 Methodist, 1 Universalist, and 1 Episcopal, churches; an academy, a se
lect classical school, and a seminary for females; a private hospital under the care
of Dr. Si White, for the reception and cure of lunatics; 3 extensive hotels and
several other taverns, 2 printing presses, each issuing a weekly journal; 1 bank,
capital 150,000 dollars, two book stores, and many other stores of various kinds,
and an extensive rope walk. Twelve ships are owned in the port, which is one of
delivery only, dependent upon the port of entry at New York. Eleven of these
ships are in the whale fishery, and the twelfth, in the West India trade. Three of
the whalers belong to the Hudson Whaling Company, who have a capital of
$ 100,000; the remainder are fitted out by individual enterprise: Total 4000 tons,
giving employment to 300 men. There are three barges, plying to New York,
towed by steamboats, and many sloops engaged in the river trade. A steamboat
departs daily for Albany, touching at the intervening villages.
There'is a small stream on the north part of the town, which from its great fall
gives sufficient power to turn a grist mill. Water is brought in subterranean
pipes from the foot of Becraft?s mountain for the use ofthe city.
After a long season of great prosperity, the city of Hudson, some eight or ten
years since, underwent one of the reverses to which such prosperity sometimes
leads. From this temporary depression, it is now gradually but steadily advanc
ing. The inhabitants count much on the advantages to be derived from the com
pletion of the Hudson and Berkshire rail road, for which the stock, $350,000,
was subscribed by the principal citizens. The road extends from the Hudson
to the state line. The term ofthe charter is for 50 years from 1832. The induce
ments to the work are, the marble, lime, and iron of Berkshire, the first of which
is sought in all the Atlantic cities, and the advantages for passengers by this
route. This city was founded in 1784, by Seth and Thomas Jenkins, and 98 associates,
from Providence, Rhode Island, and from Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.
When the town plot was laid out, there was upon it only one house, but within
three years it contained 150 dwellings, many manufactures, and nearly 1500 inha
bitants. The city was incorporated in 1785, with a mayor, recorder, and alder
men, but the charter has been frequently amended since that time.
Kinderhook, organised 7th March, 1788; centrally distant N. from New York

COLUMBIA COUNTY. 409
128 miles; surface diversified; on the E. are some ridges of slate and lime, which
belong to the Peterborough range; whilst on the west, the country stretches out in
broad plains, interrupted by gentle undulations, formerly covered with pitch
pine; soil, gravelly clay or sandy loam, generally well cultivated, and becoming .
rich by improved management. The town was early settled by the Dutch and
Swedes. Its name is derived from a corneri or point, near the upper landing on
the Hudson, (Children's Corner.) Iron ores in various forms are found, but not
smelted in the town; among them some oxides, which may be used as paint.
Kinderhook and Valitie are post villages.
Kinderhook village, on the old post road to Albany, 12 miles N. of Hudson, 5
E.from the river, and 20 S. from Albany, on a fertile, sandy plain, upon the west
side of Kinderhook creek, contains 1 Dutch Reformed, and 1 Baptist churches, (neat
buildings,) an academy, in much repute, in which the higher branches of educa
tion are taught to males and females, 1 district and 2 select schools for misses, 4
lawyers, 4 physicians, 3 dry goods stores, 2 groceries, 1 stove and hardware store,
1 wool warehouse, hat factory and store, a furnace for castings, a millwright shop,
2 carriage makers, 3 smiths, 2 tailors, 3 shoemakers, 1 saddle and harness maker,
plough maker, painter and glazier, a watch and jewel store, a printing office, issu
ing a weekly journal, bookstore, 3 public houses, and 86 dwellings,' distributed
upon seven streets, some of which, large and Temarkably neat, are surrounded
with pleasant lawns, adorned with shrubs. This village is the birth-place of
Martin Van Buren.
Valitie lies at the junction of Valitie and Kinderhook creeks, 14 miles N. of
Hudson, and has been created by the hydraulic power of the streams, which, break
ing through a slate ridge, have very useful falls. There are here 1 Lutheran and
1 Presbyterian churches, 1 select and 2 district schools, 3 taverns, 4 stores, 3 gro
ceries, many mechanics' shops, and about 125 tenements, with a population of
1200 souls. Upon the Kinderhook creek is the Beaver cotton factory of
5600 spindles and one hundred power looms, making a million of yards of
sheeting per annum — the cotton mill of Mr. Baldwin, 2500 spindles and 40
looms, making 180,000 yards of sheeting annually: Upon the Valitie, the
cotton mill of Mr. Nathan Wild, having 2688 spindles, 58 looms, making
7500 yards weekly of printing cloth, No. 30; 2 grist, 1-saw, carding and cloth
dressing mills, and an extensive machine shop. Another cotton factory, and a
furnace for castings, are about to be put in operation. The buildings of the vil
lage, generally large and painted white, have a neat appearance.
Lands in the town of Kinderhook are estimated at from 45 to 75 dollars the acre.
Livingston, organised 7th March, 1788; since modified; distant N. from New
York 110, from Albany S. 42, and from Hudson 12, miles; surface diversified;
soil, clay loam, and gravel upon lime and slate, tolerably well cultivated; the lands,
belonging to the Livingston manor, are holden on lease; drained on the N. E. by
Copake, and S. W. by Ancram creeks. Johnstown and Glenco are villages; at
the first is the Livingston post office. Oakhill, on the Hudson river, in the N. W.
angle-of the town, is a handsome seat of one of the proprietors. Johnstown, cen
trally situate, contains 1 Dutch Reformed church, a tavern, 2 stores, 2 lawyers, 3
physicians, and 25 dwellings. Glenco, 9 miles S. E. from Hudson, has a cotton
factory, a store, and the necessary buildings for the accommodation of the work
people. Livingston manor originally contained that tract which now composes the
towns of Livingston, Taghkanic, Copake, Ancram, Gallatin, Clermont, and Ger-
mantown. The royal grants to Mr. Robert Livingston, the origina) proprietor,
are dated respectively 1684, 1685, and 1686, and were confirmed in 1714. They
empowered him to constitute a court baron, and the manor tenants were authorised
to send a representative to the Legislative Assembly. The extent ofthe manor was
10 miles on the Hudson, 14 on the E. line, and 201 from E. to W. It is owned
still by the heirs of the first proprietor, and is let out in farms generally on rent in
kind. New Lebanon, taken from Canaan, 21st April, 1818; surface hilly; on the E.
runs the Taghkanic^mountain, and on the W. the Peterborough hills, which
stretching across the S. part of the town, form an extensive and rich valley; in the
N. and N. E. watered by the New Lebanon creek, and underlaid by metalliferous
limestone on slate. The hills in the S. are generally arable, and are cultivated ia
52

410 TOPOGRAPHY.
grain or grass. The Canaan mountain, here three miles S. W. from the Leba
non springs, is an insulated ridge, about four miles in length, forming the S. W.
boundary ofthe Lebanon valley, having Whiting's pond on the south, and a tract
of low meadow land, part of which is quagmire, containing Adgate's pond, on the
W. In this marsh is an extensive bed of peat, resting on fine blue clay, remarka
bly viscid and tenacious. This mountain is of transition formation. The Lebanon
creek unites with the Kinderhook in the N. angle of the town. Slate of good
quality, yielding plates of more than 30 feet square, is found in the N. E.; and in
the lime stone rock are veins of lead. Marl is taken from the marsh at the head of
Whiting's pond. New Lebanon pool, or Warm Spring, is in the N. E. corner, at
which a village has sprung up. Another village called New Lebanon, and a third
pertaining to the religious community of the Shakers, are within sight of each
other. Lebanon Springs village, or the Pool, situate on the W. declivity ofthe Taghka
nic mountain, 25 miles from Albany, 32 N. E. from Hudson, 148 from New York,
contains about 30 dwellings, 2. stores, 7 taverns, two of which are very large,
commodious hotels, carding and clothing dressing mill, and 1 Baptist ehurch.
The post office is called Columbia Hall.
The spring is 10 feet in diameter, and 4 feet deep, and discharges water suffi
cient to turn several mills near its source. Temperature 72° Fahrenheit, which
being near summer heat, renders it delightful for the batb. When the tempera
ture ofthe water exceeds that ofthe atmosphere, a cloud of vapour hovers over the
fountain which grows denser as the weather becomes colder. In the spring the
pool is in a state of incessant ebullition, emitting large quantities of azotic gas.
The water is tasteless, inodorous, and soft, and is deemed beneficial in internal ob
structions, salt rheums, and cutaneous affections generally. This place is much
resorted to for health and amusement. The surrounding country is salubrious and
picturesque. >
New Lebanon, post village, a mile and a half >S. of the Springs, on the turn
pike foad from Albany to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, 25 from Albany, contains a
Presbyterian church, an academy, 1 tavern, 1 store, and 8 or 10 dwellings.
New Lebanon Shaker village is 2j miles S. of the Lebanon spring, on the west
declivity ofthe Taghkanic mountain. It contains about 40 plain, neat buiLdings,
including the workshops and farm tenements. This is the chief seat of the sect,
the centre of the union, and has all the attributes of comfort and thrift which grow
from steady and systematic labour under the guidance of economy. The chief or
nament ofthe village is the church, 30 by 61 feet, with a portico 27 by 34 feet.
The roof is domical, and covered with tin. The foundation and steps are of marble,
but the superstructure is of wood, neatly painted. The interior forms one jioble
arched room. This building cost, including the labour of the society, $30,000.
The society possess 2000 acres of land in this town, and about half as much more
within the boundary of Massachusetts, where part of the members reside. The
community here consists of about 600 members, divided into several orders and
families. They have schools for the children brought by the members into the so
ciety, which are conducted upon the Lancasterian or monitorial plan, and with dis
tinguished order and decorum; but the pupils are not remarkable for the extent of
their acquirements. Intelligence and faith have not been found here to be con
stant companions. For a further notice of the Shakers, see Watervliet, Albany
county. From the summit of the Canaan mountain, more than 1000 feet high, the pros
pect is very beautiful. On the N. E. is the vale of Lebanon, celebrated for its ro
mantic beauty, thickly studded with houses, gardens, orchards, and groves. On
the F.. Hancock mountain rises with a bold swell, adorned on the side nearest the
observer, with the dwellings of the Shakers. Beyond the vale, and distant 20
miles, Saddle mountain, the highest land in Massachusetts, rears its broad
double back to the skies. On the W. the hills gradually decline, and give a
glimpse of the Hudson river, distant 24 miles, and beyond are visible the Catskill
mountains, robed in azure, rising in long parallel ridges to the clouds.
New Britain and Moffett's store are post offices, around which are dense settle
ments. Stockport, so called from the native place of Mr. Wilde, the proprietor of the
mills at Columbiaville, taken from Hudson, Ghent and Stuyvesant, 20th April,

COLUMBIA COUNTY. 411
1833; distant from, Hudson 5, and S. from Albany 24, miles; surface on the W.
along the river, high table land, about 1| miles wide, descending on the E. gently
to the valley of the Claverack and Kinderhook creeks; soil generally deep and
strong clay, with some sandy loam on the N. resting on clay and graywacke slate,
the latter making good building stone. The Claverack and Kinderhook creeks, -
unite near the centre of the town, 1| miles above their confluence with the Hud
son, and take the names of Major Abraham's, and Factory, creek. In breaking
through the high bank of tile river, these streams, within 3 miles have falls which
together make little short of 160 feet; and this water power, has given rise to
several manufacturing villages: such as, Columbiaville, Marshallsville or the
Prints Works, Chittenden Falls, Glencadia, and Springville. Columbiaville, post
village, lies in a deep valley, on the road formerly known as the Farmer's turnpike,
but on which gates are no longer maintained, 6 miles N.- from Hudson city, on
Factory creek, three fourths of a mile from its mouth, to which point small vessels
ascend with the tide. The fall used here is 9 feet, upon which there are two cot
ton factories erected by Mr. Wild, in 1811 — 12, having together 5208 spindles and
180 power looms, engaged wholly upon cloths; Nos. 33 and 34; producing more -
than 600,000 yards per annum, employing 200 hands, (two thirds of whom are
women and children,) and paying over $500 per week in wages. The factories
are of brick, upon opposite sides of the creek, one 6, and the other 4 stories high.
The village or vicinage upon both sides of the creek, comprises a Presbyterian
church, a Methodist chapel, a district school bouse of brick, 2 bridges of wood,
each ahout 300 feet long, 2 store's, 2 taverns, and about 40 dwellings. Upon the
point formed by the creek and river, there has been located, with equal judgment
and taste, the " Hudson River Seminary," combining agricultural labour with
literary studies. The buildings are adapted to the accommodation of 300 stu
dents, and the cost of classical tuition does not exceed §75 per annum, which the
student, in most cases may earn, by his labour here. The directors of the insti
tution propose to devote attention to the culture of the beet, for the fabrication of
sugar. Upon the present dam is spare power; and near the village, upon the
Kinderhook creek, is an unoccupied fall of about 8 feet.
The Print Works, 5 miles from Hudson, on the Claverack creek, were estab
lished in 1827, by Jas. Marshall-and Co. in which they have employed a capital
of$ 400,000, and print annually, 5,000,000 yards of calico; paying about $ 60,000
in wages; employing 250 hands, and consuming 1800 tons of anthracite coal year
ly. One thousand persons are dependent upon this establishment, of whom near
ly 700 are children. There have been erected around and near the works, 1 Me
thodist, and 1 Presbyterian, churches, 2 school houses, and about 70 dwellings.
There is a store established by the proprietors; at which, however, no account is
opened with the workmen, who receive their wages at stated periods in cash. 
Chittenden Falls, 7 miles from Hudson, on the Kinderkook cree,k, has an extensive
paper mill, a merchant grist mill, the bleaching works of the Messrs. Marshalls,
and about 15 dwellings. The fall of the creek here is about 40 feet. Springville
is a small hamlet in the S. W. angle, two and a half miles from Hudson, where
are a flannel factory, grist and plaster, mills, 2 stores and about 15 dwellings. 
Glencadia, is on the Kinderhook, by the creek, three and a half miles from the
Hudson river, and by the road 9 miles from Hudson city; there are two cascades,
separated by a short rapid over slate rocks; the height of the upper fall is twenty-
six and a half feet, and of the lower, 42 feet; and the whole fall, including the
dividing rapid is 70 feet; in the rapid below, within a mile and a half, there is an
additional fall of 16 feet; these water falls, in a country gently undulating, and
highly improved, have much beauty; there are here, 2 cotton factories; 1 of wood,
on the left bank of the creek and upon the upper fall, owned by Butler and Vanal-
len, has 1500 spindles and 40 looms; the other, at the lower falls, on the right
bank, belonging to J. & J. W. Wardle, is of stone, 66 by 42 feet, 5 stories high
and has 2000 spindles and 50 looms, employing 80 hands, paying weekly jg 200 iii
wages, and making 375,000 yaidsof cloth per annum. The ,cotton manufacture
was commenced in 1827. There are here also, 2 saw, 1 grist, 1 plaster, and 1
paper, mills, a satinett factory having 8 looms, 3 stores, 2 taverns, and 49 dwel
lings, (1835). There is much and valuable hydraulic power for sale here.
Stuyvesant, taken from Kinderhook 21st April, 1823; . distant N. from New
York 127, from Albany, S. 16, from Hudson, N. 12, miles; surface hilly soil

412

TOPOGRAPHY.

clay, gravel and loam, underlaid by slate and lime stone, portions of which are
fertile, and the whole well cultivated, but very scantily supplied with streams;
Stuyvesant or Kinderhook Landing, the post village, on the Hudson, 125 miles
N. of New York, 20 S. of Albany, 5 W. from Kinderhook, contains a Dutch Re
formed Church, about 50 dwellings, 3 ware houses, 5 stores, 2 taverns, and 3 lum
ber yards; a steamboat and 2 barges, plying weekly to New York, Nearly op
posite, on the W. bank of the river, is a light house; there was another on the E.
2 miles above, which was overthrown by Ihe flood in 1832. The Albany steam
boats regularly stop at the village, which is the landing for a large proportion of
the northern part of the county.

-
Females.
Births.
Deaths.
to
cd in
jo tit
TOWNS.
c .
•Oct)
13 .
m
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
cd
COea
1
COaCD
to 5
caco
-- .3.
cd fl
£ «
E= 2
a
tuto
cd
CO 01
"cds
to
"cd ao> .
fa
to to
CO01« sto
fa
Hudson City.
1st ward,
2914
177
574
57
411
317
537
10
41
35
18
13
2d ward,
5310
5004
5392
2617
168
539
54
369
352
524
11
36
4«
12
10
Ancram,
3147
3126
1538
1617
161
352
17
184
127
370
10
34
31
9
9
Austerlitz,
2355
2045
2245
2092
201
477
5
20.1
231
367
12
26
26
12
16
Canaan,
2079
2048
2063
2042
202
451
11
221
217
342
9
25
30
9
13
Chatham,
3372
3522
3538
3469
295
727
35
406
33(1
65?
9
51
45
23
23
Claverack,
2813
297C
3000
2840
262
645
11
353
303
576
4
42
24
3
Clermont,
1104
1146
1203
1166
112
221
a
153
113
9S?
13
26
28
11
11
Copake,
163S
1676
1616
171
360
n
174
147
361
6
26
27
9
11
Gallatin,
1588
1655
151
312
190
125
369
IS
55
46
21
13
Germ an town,
891
920
967
979
122
"23
25
lit
68
211
13
24
12
6
5
Ghent,
2379
2290
2783
2375
206
491
17
298
192
457
18
35
38
14
10
Hillsdale,
2511
2389
2446
2266
217
555
7
24f
232
458
14
47
4B
20
14
Kinderhook,
3963
2471
2706
2831
27(i
608
38
363
320
«w
11
45
43
21
14
Livingston,
1938
1988
2087
2206
17SJ
457
45
244
178
47f
15
47
37
21
16
New Lebanon,
2808
2628
2695
2713
175
558
46
251
353
427
25
27
44
24
21
Stockport,
2023
7t
305
151
249
209
434
11
38
40
10
8
Stuyvesant,
1889
2331
1736
151
353
36
191
144
351
5
45
31
14
16
Taghkanic,
3600
1693
1654
1589
138
326
1
200
103
373
15
21
29
11
13
38330
37970
39907
40746
344318534
553
4826
4062
8157
231
691
658
268
237
Note. Males, 20,535; Females, 20;211; Blacks, 1,506; Black voters, 14; Paupers, 166; Deaf and Dumb,
17; Blind, 20; Idiots, 34; Lunatics, 61.
TOWNS.
a
.1 .
¦ S ™
> 8.2
*T3 tO
. |
f
3"= R 0)
.1
01 -
CO
cd £
2 >
E o
S to 2
w d jo
co Orz
01 w
co » s
¦ 90
<;— co
COCO MO
a
a
D
ato to
ain
w
fa
Oc£ 0 a
&3
25
1.S
0
Hudson Hty.f
14200
1st ward,
3526
584762
261
419
1041
627
323
101
230
8700
640630
429
, 798
1802
1156
586
1419
688
53900
21519
325132
34540
696
2447
8769
4370
2370
2583
2647
24300
21163
447337
23345
754
2536
18157
2311
3023
3577
5332
23500
15476
293845
23720
598
2020
12876
1794
2859
3319
3736
Chatham,
30300
25225
808843
139350
1211
3564
1-JO80
3890
306!
4993
5894
28300
22695
710650
12105(1
1338
2526
5952
3296
112s
4214
5737
13100
12726
230976
99700
478
1416
2694
2263
1R02
1451
2604
25300
17913
386126
25325
659
2410
9060
4144
2771
2841
2045
Gallatin,*
14116
251153
35400
694
2045
6236
3639
219;
3261
5831
German town,
5900
5477
19567C
46064
286
865
1366
1231
80'
1071
2187
Ghent,
27300
20470
503161
85810
1105
2392
11441
3257
2511
2072
2007
Hillsdale,
33000
23386
59660C
7145C
785
2857
10132
3015
376!
420f
4113
Kinderhook,
20800
18258
71170C
22S55C
790
1897
5578
208C
1615
1745
1182
Livingston. New Lebanon,
22800
21539
110351
10250C
784
203S
716!
2462
202:
2425
2045
23800
18778
37364-
2688C
616
2226
17665
1945
4111
5557
9220
Stockport, f
7146
30870(
scoot
246
69!
1176
597
3B7
405
234
Stuyvesant,
23400
13361
32774S
52451
391
1126
4627
1274
1141
134S
985
Taghkanic
29600
15908
311851
32060
742
1914
29929
2557
2431
2315
3193
1 399500
307354
8469876
1806094
12865
36190
167750145908
39514
48918
59912
* Included in Ancram-
t Included in Hudson. The return of the valuation of estates in our possession omits that of per
sonal estate, in Hudson city, and the amount of taxes in the several towns.
CORTLAND COUNTY.

413

TOWNS.

Hudson, Austerlitz, Ancram,
Canaan,Copake, Chatham,Clermont, -
Claverack, Gallatin, Ghent,Germ a ntown,
Hillsdale,Kinderhook,Livingston,New Lebanon,
Stuyvesant, Stockport,Taghkanic,

Value of product
Value of material

ii

104
227 150
248 173
354 125
309 165
244 105246280 325278 173 186191

co 5
iii
$ boo.

373
677652563338937497
1357 244 750
,424 661906 631707676 977 504

231699474602403951283590338510 175
723608533723
490 388356

U874 1 9157

No. of children above 5 ; and under 16
years Of age, 10,670.

Taghkanic, taken from Livingston, 19th May, 1803, by the name of Granger;
s-ubsequently modified and name changed; centrally distant N. from New York
114, from Albany, 8. 43, and from Hudson, S. E. 15, miles; is one of the towns
of Livingston Manor; surface hilly, the Peterborough ridge crossing it; soil clay
loam and gravel, generally arable and some of it highly fertile. The Copake
creek enters the N. E. angle and by a semicircular course leaves it in the N. W.
Taghkanic and Miller's, are hamlets, the former, has the post office. Linlithgow
is the seat of a member of the Livingston family.
CORTLAND COUNTY, taken from Onondaga, April 8th, 1808; bounded N.
by Onondaga, E. by Chenango, S. by Broome and Tioga, W. by Cayuga and
Tompkins, counties. Its form is oblong, having on the longer sides 25, and on
the snorter 20, miles; area, 500 square miles; situate between 42° 25' and 42° 47'
N. Lat., and 0° 38' and 1° 03' E. Long.; centrally distant N. W. from New York
200, from Albany W. 145, from Washington city N. 325, miles.
This county forms part of the high central section of the state. Its northern
boundary is upon the ridge dividing the waters of Lake Ontario from those of the
Susquehanna river. Nearly the whole area lies upon the southern declivity of the
water shed, and all its streams are tributaries to that river, except the inlet to Ska
neateles lake, in the extreme N. W. angle, and some small branches of Fall creek,
which flow to Cayuga lake. At the head of Owego creek, in the S. W. angle, the
hills rise 1377 feet above tide; and taking this for the altitude of the southern bor
der, the descent within the county will not greatly exceed three hundred feet, nor
much over 12 feet to the mile. The valleys of the streams, which are numerous,
give the surface a rolling character.
The Tioughnioga, and its branches, water nearly the whole of the county.
This river rises in a pond on the county line, partly in the town of Tully, of Onon
daga, and partly in the town of Preble, of this county, and flows S. and 8. W.
about 50 miles, through Homer, Cortlandville, Virgil, and Marathon, of Cort
land, and through Lisle, Triangle, and Barker, of Broome, counties, to the Che
nango river, 14 miles above its junction with the Susquehanna. At Port Watson,
in Cortlandville, it receives the N.'E. branch, which has its source in the town
of New Woodstock, Madison county, and a S. W. course of about 25 miles.
The Otselic, the main tributary of the Tioughnioga, issues from a pond in the

414

TOPOGRAPHY.

town of Eaton, Madison county, and runs S. W. nearly 40 miles, through tbe S. E.
portion of this county, and unites with the Chenango in the town of Triangle,
Broome county, 12 miles above its mouth.
The Chenango and Tioughnioga are navigable for boats, when swollen, the
greater part of the season.
The basis rock of the county is carboniferous slate, over which, on the north,
the central secondary lime formation extends a few miles, south of which the
slate crops out, alternating in ridges or patches with the lime; south and east of
the slate, covering a large portion of the county, sandstone is the surface rock.
Salt, and sulphuretted hydrogen springs, and iron ore, are said to be found in
the county.
The soil is tolerably fertile, every where producing good grass and summer
crops, and on the north favourable to wheat. There are no barrens or wastes.
The timber is chiefly oak, maple, beech, basswood, butternut, elm, chestnut,in-
termixed with groves of pine and hemlock in the south.
There are several turnpikes in the county, and a company was incorporated 27th
April, 1829, to make a railroad from the Onondaga lake, through tbe village's of Sy
racuse and Onondaga Hollow, to the head waters of the Tioughnioga, and through
the villages of Homer and Cortland, to Port Watson; but not having been com
menced within the time prescribed by law, the charter has expired. But the route
will be pursued by the rail road from Syracuse to Binghamton, and the Erie
rail road, authorised in 1836. A company has also been empowered (1836) to
make a rail road from Oswego to Cortland village.
The-county forms the S. E. section of the military tract, consisting of four
whole aud two half townships thereof: Settled chiefly by emigrants from the
eastern states, and their descendants.
It is divided into 11 towns.
Cincinnatus, taken from Solon, 3d April, 1804; surface hilly, broken by the
Otselic creek, which runs centrally through the town; soil productive. W. from
Albany 131, from Cortlandville S. E. 15, miles. Cincinnatus, post village, con-

CORTLAND COUNTY. 415
tains a church, a tavern, several stores, 1 grist mill, and between 30 and 40 dwell
ings. *
Cortlandville, takeu from Homer, 11th April, 1829; surface gently undulat
ing; soil argillaceous mould; drained by the main stream, and the N. and
N. E. branches of the Tioughnioga river; centrally distant 142 miles from Albany.
Cortland, Port Watson, South Cortland, and McGrawsville, are villages; at the
three first are post offices. Cortland village, the shire town, pleasantly situate
near the west bank of the north branch of the river, contains the court house, of
wood, and prison, of brick; 1 Baptist, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Universal
ist, churches; a seminary for young ladies, incorporated 18th April, 1828, a select
school for boys, 2 taverns, 6 stores, 2 printing establishments, issuing weekly
journals, and 180 dwellings, most of them neat, and several of them splendid.
Port Watson, 1 mile E. of Cortlandville, directly on the left bank oif the river, has
1 tavern, a paper mill, a large tannery, and 10 or 12 buildings. McGrawsville,
4 miles E. of Cortlandville, has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist,
churches, 1 tavern, 3 stores, tannery, and about 30 dwellings. South Cortland lias
a post office, tavern, store, and 10 or 12 dwellings.
Freetown, taken from Cincinnatus, 21st April, 1818; surface undulating,
thrown into ridges by small tributaries of the Tioughnioga and Otselicrivers; soil,
fertile sandy loam; distant from Albany 140, and from Cortlandville S. E. 10,
miles. Freetown Corners, post village, centrally situate, contains 1 Baptist, 1 Me
thodist, 1 Episcopal, churches, 1. store, 1 grist, 1 saw, mills, and about 20 dwell
ings. There is another post office with the name of the town.
Homer, organised 5th March, 1794; surface level; soil, sandy and clay loam;
drained by the N. branch of the Tioughnioga river, and its tributaries Cold and
Factory creeks. Homer, Little York, and. Factory Hill, are villages. Homer, post
village, is beautifully situated upon a plain, on the west bank ofthe Tiouo-hnioo-a
river; distant 138 miles W. from Albany, 40 N. from Oswego, 30 S. from Syra
cuse, 2| N. from the court house, incorporated May 11, 1835, has 1 Presbyte
rian, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Baptist, churches; ap academy, incorporated by the re
gents of the University, a flourishing institution, having, in 1835, 150 students, 4
male, and 2 female, teachers, a collection of philosophical apparatus, and a cabinet
of minerals; price of tuition and board, $95 per annum for each pupil; a printing
office, issuing a weekly journal, 1 grist, 1 saw, 1 carding and cloth dressing, and
1 oil, mills, an edge tool factory, a machine shop, 3 taverns, one very large and
commodious hotel, 3 stores, 6 lawyers, 3 physicians, and 200 neat dwellings. The
public buildings are upon a square of six acres. A cotton factory was established
by a joint stock company, which commenced operations in 1835.
Marathon, taken from Cincinnatus, 21st April, 1818, by the name of Harrison-'
name changed by the revised statutes; surface undulating; soil sandy loam; wa
tered by the Tioughnioga and its branches, and a branch of the Otselic; distant
from Albany 145, S. E. from Cortlandville 15, miles. Marathon, village, 4 miles
from the S. line, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 store, 1 tavern, 1 grist and saw mill
post office, 1 tannery, and 20 dwellings. There is a Baptist church in the east
part of the town.
Preble, taken from Tully, April 8, 1808; distant from Albany, W. 138, from
Cortlandville N. 10, miles; drained by the Tioughnioga, along/which are the Preble
flats, from one to two miles in width; surface hilly; soil, warm calcareous gravel,
and argillaceous loam; productive in grain and grass; settled in 1800 by New Eno-I
land, Dutch, and German farmers. There are several small ponds, and a spring
strongly impregnated with sulphur attracts some notice. Preble, village, on the
left bank of the river, contains a high school, incorporated 24th April, 1834
a Methodist church, a tavern, 3 stores, and 20 dwellings.
Scott, taken from Preble, 14th April, 1815; distant from Albany, 146 miles-
surface broken into ridges by the streams running N. and S., Cold and Factory
creeks, branches of the Tioughnioga, interlocking with the inlet of Skaneatelas
lake; soil argillaceous and calcareous loam, of excellent quality, producing grain
in the valleys and grass upon the hills. Scott's Corners, post village, 10 miles from
Cortlandville, has a postoffice, 1 Presbyterian and I Seventh Day Baptist, church
es, 1 tavern, 3 stores, 1 saw mill, 1 fulling mill, and about 25 dwellings,
Solon, organised March 9th, 1798; since modified; from Albany 140 from
Cortlandville E. 10 miles; surface undulating; soil gravel, mingled with clay and

416

TOPOGRAPHY.

sandy loam of good quality; much employed in rearing cattle; drained S. by the
Otselic creek and its branches, and W. by Trout creek, and other tributaries of the
Tioughnioga river. Solon, post village, centrally situate, has a store, .tavern, and
8 or 10 dwelliugs. East Solon is a post office.
Truxton, taken partly from Solon, and partly from Fabius, April 8th, 1808;
limits since changed; distant from Albany 128, N. E. from Cortlandville 12,
miles; surface undulating; soil, calcareous gravel and argillaceous mould; drained
on the S. E. by a branch ofthe Otselic creek, and on the N. W. by the N. E.
branch of the Tioughnioga river. A fine grazing country. Improved lands sell
at from 20 to 30 dollars the acre. Town generally settled. Truxton, village,
pleasantly situate on the right bank of the river, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Baptist,
churches, an academy, 2 taverns, 3 stores, 1 grist, 1 saw, 1 carding and cloth dress
ing, mills, and about 35 dwellings. Ceylon is a post office, on the eastern part of
the town, where are a tavern, a store, and some half dozen dwellings, and there is
another post office at Otis' Mills.
Virgil, organised 3d April, 1804; surface hilly; soil sandy and clay loam, well
suited to grass; drained in the E. by the Tioughnioga river, and its branches, S. by
the Owego c*creek, W. by branches of Fall creek; distant from Albany 148, from
Cortlandville S. 6, miles. Virgil and Hartford are post villages. Virgil, village,
6 miles from Cortlandville, contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Baptist,
churches, 3 stores, 1 tavern, and about 20 dwellings. Hartford is still less con
siderable. Scarce more than a fourth of the town is under improvement.
Willet, taken from Cincinnatus, 21st April, 1818; surface hilly, deeply indent
ed by the Otselic creek and its branches; soil clay loam; distant from Albany
137, from Cortlandville S. E. 17, miles. The town is thinly settled, not more
than a fourth part being returned as improved. A post office bears its name.

Females.
Births.
Deaths.
01
13
jo tf.
tfi
TOWNS.
a= m
¦s*
» t£
0Q
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
ta
1
CO01
©
>
CO a01
<
edio
a c
a «
SB
B s
ffll-t
«
01
*2 OSS
f
01
"3
s
01a01
60
Cincinnatus,
885
1057
1308
1180
112
240
145
105
256
12
16
19
ts
9
Cortlandville,*
3673
3715
338
825
16
449
3B4
786
27
fil
70
30
24
663
877
1051
962
106
193
8
117
67
238
1
23
20
2
7
5504
6128
3307
3584
366
767
15
405
376
707
28
51
43
20
14
807
873
895
986
102
203
1
130
74
235
8
17
22
3
7
Preble,
1807
1327
1435
1408
130
294
6
172
111
301
7
31
2b
10
R
1262
1781
2033
2103
222
448
2
274
151
497
9
31
33
12
16
Scott,
775
1000
1452
1504
100
284
5
201
99
366
14
31
23
A
4
295C
3325
3885
3712
363
804
18
464
1MB
847
45
84
6«
31
21
Virgil,Willet,
2411
3317
2912
4291
353
852
13
536
iltt
99c
271 89
80
28
20
437
580
840
723
50
147
1
9b
48
164
_3 21
8
8
7
16507
20271
23791
24168
2242
5057
85 |2989ll961
5395- 18ll 455
413
158
137
Note. Males, 12,201; Females, 11,967; Blacks, 61; Black voters, 3; Deaf and Dumb, 12; Blind, 4;
Idiots, 23; Lunatics. 10; Paupers, 50.
* Taken from Homer 1829.
oo a
o
TOWNS.
d
"* CO 01
06 h
<
S .
8
co £
<
•a8 ¦
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343 40
238 65
30000
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405210
58020
1232
4254
13940
2993
6176
7109
9751
733 44
1042 27
15000
6447
72107
5415
342
1607
2696
994
1907
2562
4749
301 92
174 43
Homer,
30000
16422
353620
155914
1069
4415
13051
3030
4769
5992
6155
661 39
1146 43
Marathon,
15009
5876
82050
206C
306
1466
3629
923
2235
2579
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147 28
189 24
Preble,
16000
7489
123875
17000
456
1755
4039
1661
2382
3388
3906
228 43
316 99
Solon,
36000
10568
168938
1210C
672
3343
106V5
178(1
4328
6008
7795
463 15
407 34
Scott,
13000
7312
728O0
262C
356
1684
3B34
1211
2820
3359
12583
277 83
169 69
Truxton,
54000
20279
330662
24007
1094
5794
16781
2683
5749
9145
11707
1096 38
798 01
Virgil,
60000
17339
238320
1288C
1333
5699
11232
3552
7741
11253
16104
901 67
565 30
Willet,
15000
3813
65911
. 3020
232
1083
2182
676
1775
2047
3640
297 00
155 09
299000
118857
2014093
298507
7515
33992
85748
20624
42430
56442
851495451 80
5203 36
DELAWARE COUNTY.

417

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Cincinnatus,Cortlandville,Freetown, Homer, Marathon, Preble,
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223495 122
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Number of children between 5 and 16
years of age, 7,315.

DELAWARE COUNTY,* formed from Ulster and Otsego, 10th March, 1797;
bounded, N. W.by Otsego; N, E. by Schoharie, E. by Greene, S. E. by Ulster,
and Sullivan, counties; S. W. by the Delaware river, separating it from Penn
sylvania; W. by Broome, and Chenango, counties; greatest length, N, E. and S.
W. 60, greatest breadth, S. E. and N. W. 37, miles; area 1362 square miles;
situate between 41° 50* and 42° 30', N. Lat. and 1° 28' and 2° 29', E. Long.; cen
trally distant, N.W. from NewYork; via. Catskill 166, S.W. from Albany 77, miles.
The surface is broken by three mountain ridges, which cross it from S. W. to
N. K., connecting with the Kaatsbergs. The S. E. ridge is a continuation
of that range of the Kaatsbergs, which lies upon the boundary between Greene
and Ulster counties; it has a base of many miles wide, extending into
Sullivan and Ulster, and is broken through by the Big Beaver kill, from the
former: The second ridge, divided from the first, by the Popachton branch of the
Delaware river, unites at right angles, with the N. W. range of the Kaatsbergs.,
and is separated from the third ridge by the Mohawk branch of the Delaware,
which, after having run parallel with it, for the whole length of the county,
breaks through it upon the S. W. boundary: Tbe third ridge, varying in breadth
from 12 to 18 miles, is bounded upon the N. W., by the Charlotte river and the
Susquehanna proper. These ridges with those which cross Sullivan county, N.
VV. ofthe Shawangunk, are collectively known as the "Blue Mountains."
Tbe northern and main range of the Kaatsbergs, on the N. E. boundary ef the
county has an elevation, varying from 2000 to 2500 feet; the radiating ridges ap
proximate to this altitude, but decline as they advance to the S. W. The heio-ht
of the " Pine Mountain," part of the eastern ridge, is 2080; that of the central
ridge is probably more; and near the northern line, the height of the ridge between
the Susqm -hauua and the Delaware, is 2143 feet, and near the middle of the
county, 1088 feet.
Those mountains are based upon an elevated plain, declining rapidly towards
the S.; the streams runnjng over it have great fall, and compared with the valleys '
the mountains attain, greater elevation, with their courses. Utsayanthe lake, the
source of the Mohawk branch, is 1886 feet above the tide of the Hudson; at
Delhi, that branch has, in 25 miles sunk 502 feet, and the junction of th/at with
the Popachton branch is depressed 989 feet below its surface. Thus, we have a
declination of the base of the county in about 60 miles of nearly 1000 feet. In
the northern part of the county, the hills rise from 500, to 700 feet above the
strpams; at the S., their comparative altitude exceeds 1000;
The surface, on the summits and sides of the hills, is very irregular, and is
* We observe too late for correction that our engraver lias written on the man « Cnnni >»
instead of "Rail Road." " """'»
53

418

TOPOGRAPHY.

DELAWARE COUNTY. 419
broken much by the many tributaries to the rivers, throwing the whole area into
hills, varying in height and configuration according to the force and direction of
the streams.
The Cookquago, Mohawk, or Main branch of the Delaware, flows from Utsay
anthe pond, in Schoharie county, about 3 miles N. of the Delaware line, and
passes by a S. W. course of 70 miles to the village of Deposit, upon the line of
Broome county, where by a large sweep it takes a S. E. direction, and thence for
60 miles forms the boundary between New York and Pennsylvania. It receives
the Popachton branch about 12 miles below Deposit. Its chief tributaries above
that point, are, from the right, Beaver, Elk, Steel's, Platner, Walton, and Trout,
brooks; from the left, Rose Brook, and Little Delaware rivers; the last has a
length of about 18 miles.
The Popachton is formed by the union of two branches on the N. and E.; the
former rising on the N. border of this county in the Kaatsbergs, and the latter in
the western part of the county of Ulster, each about 15 miles long. From the
junction it pursues a S. W. course of about 35 miles to its recipient. It has many
tributaries by the right bank; but the waters upon the left are chiefly collected by
the Big Beaver kill, from the county of Sullivan, a large stream, about 35 miles
long. In seasons when the waters are full, the main branches of the river are
navigable for the greater part of their course for rafts.
The Susquehanna river, forms, for aboot 15 miles, the N. W. bound of the
county; and thence its course is nearly parallel with, but two miles distant from,
that line. It receives from the town of Davenport the Charlotte, or Adiquatangue
river, which, rising in the town of Cobuskill of Schoharie county, runs, S. W.
about 30 miles and the Oleout creek, which has a like course and length.
The county is generally underlaid with upper secondary slate, which is also the
surface rock upon the N. and N. W. boundary; elsewhere it is covered with a
quartzose formation, embracing various species of secondary graywacke.
The county is generally adapted to grass; some wheat is raised but insufficient
for home consumption; corn succeeds well in the valleys, and yields an average
crop of 25 bushels to the acre; oats, rye, buckwheat, and potatoes, produce
abundantly.- The soil of the county is generally of good quality; consisting, on the hills, of
deep loam formed of sand, clay, and vegetable mould, in some places stony;
in.the valley, of alluvial deposit deep and of lasting fertility. The greater streams
are occasionally bordered with fine rich flats. The timber is dense, consisting of
beech, birch, maple, ash, elm, basswood, wildcherry, butternut, hemlock, and
small quantities of oak. Much lumber is sawed, which is sent to market by the
Delaware river. About one fourth of the county is returned as under improvement.
The improved lands in the valleys average 30 dollars the acre, on the hills,
from 5 to 10 dollars. Wild lands are worth from 2 to 3 dollars. All the lands
E. of the Mohawk branch belonged to the Hardenburg patent. W. of that stream
the country was divided among several patentees by the state.
The Erie rail road enters the county by the valley of the Delaware, which it
follows to the village of Deposit, and thence passes into Broome county. In
1836, a company was incorporated for making a rail road from Delhi to Deposit.
In 1768, William, John, Alexander, and Joseph Harper, with 18 others obtained
a patent for 22,000 acres of land within the bounds of this county, and soon after
the Harpers removed from Cherry Valley, and made a settlement which was
called Harpersfield; but which was broken up by the Indian and tory marauders
during the revolutionary war.
The county has 18 towns.
Andes, taken from Middletown, 13th April, 1819; drained by the Popachton, on
the S, E., receiving from the town Tremperskill and other small streams; tim
ber, maple, beech, hemlock; distant from Albany, 90, fron Delhi, S. E. 15, from
Kingston, W. 55, miles. Andes, upon Tremperskill, the post village, has 1
Presbyterian and 1 Methodist, churches, 1 store, 1 tavern, and from 15, to 20
dwellings. Cabin Hill and Shavertown, are names of other post offices.
Bovina, taken from Middletown, Delhi, and Stamford, 25th February, T820-
soil sandy loam, and as the name indicates, suitable for grazing; drained W bv
the Little Delaware; distant from Albany 89, from Delhi, E. 10, miles The
post office called after the town, centrally situate, has a few dwellings near it
One fourth of the town is under improvement.

420 TOPOGRAPHY.
Colchester, taken from Middletown, part of Ulster county, 10th March, 1792;
since much reduced; from Albany 91, from Delhi, S. 21, miles; surface hilly, com
prising thevalley of the Popachton and the mountains, which enclose it, with a por
tion of the valley of the Beaverkill; soil adapted to grass, and at present chiefly
valuable for its timber; the settlements are principally upon the river. There are
2 post offices in the valley, one on the N. called Popachton, and the other near
the centre, having the name of the town, where are a Presbyterian church, a store,
a grist mill, and some 10 dwellings.
Davenport, formed 31st March, 1817, from Kortright and Maryland, as part of
Otsego county; distant from Albany, 65, from Delhi, N. 11, miles; watered by
Charlotte river, running centrally across it; soil argillaceous loam; surface hilly,
hut not broken; much of the land is holden on lease from the original grantees
and their representatives. Davenport and Davenport Centre, are post offices, around
which are compact settlements, and at the latter a Presbyterian church.
Delhi, taken from Middletown, Kortright, and Walton, 23d March, 1798; area
since much reduced; distant from Albany 77, W. from Catskill 68, from Kings
ton 67 miles; surface broken by the Delaware river, which receives here the Little
Delaware from the left, and Elk, Steel's, and Platner, brooks, from the right;
upon the river are some fertile, but not extensive fiats. Delhi village, the shire-
town, incorporated 16th March, 1821; centrally situate on the W. bank of the
river, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Episcopal churches; an incorporated academy, 1
grist and 1 saw mills, 1 woollen factory, furnace for castings, 2 taverns, 5 general,
3 grocery, stores, and from 80, to 100 dwellings, all of wood; the court house
and jail also of wood; 8 lawyers, 2 physicians. A salt spring was discovered in
1833, about 4 miles from the village, upon Elk brook; a well has been bored about
400 feet in depth, 350 through rock; several veins of brine were struck, and the
boring was still continued, in 1836; some salt has been made from the brine.
Franklin, taken from Harpersfield, whilst part of Otsego county, 10th March,
1792; since much altered; surface broken by Oleout creek, and branches flowing
S. W. across it; soil fertile reddish loam; timbered chiefly with maple and beech,
mingled with pine, oak, and chestnut; settled in 1785; 93 miles from Albany, 13
N. W. from Delhi. Franklin, post village, 16 miles from Delhi; has 1 Presby
terian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist, churches, a Presbyterian theological seminary
of stone; the Delaware Institute, incorporated 23d April, 1835; grist mill, cloth
ing works, furnace, 2 taverns, several stores, and from 40 to 50 dwellings annexed
to large lots or small farms. East Franklin, post office, near the Meredith line,
has around it a small collection of dwellings.
Hamden, taken from Walton and Delhi, 4th April, 1825; surface mountainous;
somewhat broken by the Mohawk branch of the Delaware river, running centrally
through it, and by tributaries of that stream, and some branches of the Popachton;
distant from Albany 85, from Delhi, S. W. 8 miles. Hamden, post village, on
the river, has 1 Presbyterian church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, grist, saw mills, and
woollen factory, grocery, and half a dozen dwellings. Basin Clove, is the name
of a second post office.
Hancock, taken from Colchester 28th March, 1806; a large town, mountain
ous and broken; thinly populated, and the inhabitants, chiefly settled along the
Popachton, which runs S. W. centrally through it, are principally employed in
preparing lumber for market; distant from Albany 129, from Delhi 27, from
Kingston W. 65, miles; the river receives here, Big Beaver creek on the left, and
Sand's, Cadose, and Reed's, creeks, on the right. At the forks of the river, is.
the post office, having the name of the town, where are a tavern, store, and several
dwellings. There are two other post offices, called, respectively, East Branch and
Partridge Island.
Harpersfield, organised as partof Montgomery county, 7th March, 1788; since
much modified; surface mountainous, broken by the Delaware river, on the S. and
Charlotte river on the N.; and centrally by a branch ofthe latter; soil fertile cho
colate coloured loam, well cultivated; timbered with maple, beech, linden,
with oak on the hills, and some groves of pine; distant from Albany 62, from
Delhi, N, E. 20, miles. Harpersfield and West Harpersfield, are post villages.
Harpersfield, 18 miles N. of Delhi, contains a Presbyterian church, 1 tavern, 2
stores, and about 30 dwellings. West Harpersfield, has 2 stores, 1 tavern, an
academy, clothing works, grist and saw mill, and within a mile about 20 dwellings.
Kortright, organised as part of Otsego county, 12th March, 1793; surface

DELAWARE COUNTY. 421
mountainous, dipping to the S. and N.; drained on the one, by branches of the
Charlotte river flowing to the Susquehanna; on the other, by the Delaware river
and its tributaries, Banyar Brook, &c; soil fertile brown loam, excellently adapt
ed to grass; distantfrom Albany 68, from Delhi 10, miles. Bloomville and Kort
right, are post villages, and there is a post office called South Kortright. Bloom'
ville, 7 miles above Delhi, has a Methodist church, 1 tavern, 2 stores, grist mil), 2
asheries, and about 25 dwellings. Kortright, 14 miles from Delhi, has a Presby
terian church, 2 stores, l'taverti, and from 15 to 20 dwellings.
Masonville, taken from Sidney, 4th April, 1811; surface mountainous, upon
the ridge between the Delaware and Susquehanna, rivers; the latter forming the
N. Wr. boundary, receiving from the town, the Oleoutcreek; the waters on the S.
flow to the Delaware; distant from Albany 105, from Delhi, N. W, 24, miles. —
This is a lumbering town, containing more pine timber than any other in the coun
ty. About one fifth of the lands are returned as nmier improvement. The post
office bears the name of the town.
Meredith, taken from Franklin and Kortright. 14th March, 1800; drained N. by
the Oleout creek, and S. by Elk Brook; well cultivated by settlers from New
England and their descendants; distant from Albany 77, from Delhi, N. 8, miles.
Meredith and West Meredith, are post villages, Meredith, contains 1 Baptist, and
1 Presbyterian, churches, 1 tavern, 21 stores, and 12 or 15 dwellings. West Mere
dith, has a Baptist church, 1 tavern, 1 store, and some half dozen dwellings.
Middletown, taken from Rochester and Woodstock,, as part of Ulster county,
3d March, 1789; since much reduced in area; surface mountainous, divided into
unequal portions by the Popachton river, running S. W. through it; the larger
proportion of the soil is sandy loam, arable and productive; settled by emigrants
from New England, and by Irish, Scotch, Dutch, and German families; distant
from Albany 79, from Delhi, N. E. 20, miles. There is a post office with the
name ofthe town, and another called Colesville, and a third Halcottsville, at each
of which are a few dwellings.
Roxbury, taken from Stamford, 23d March, 1799; since altered; similarin sur
face and soil to Middletown, but less broken; drained centrally by the Popaehton;
settled in 1790, by New England emigrants; well cultivated; distant from Albany
63, from Delhi, E. 22, miles. Roxbury and Mooresville, are post villages; the
former, centrally situate, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Baptist, churches, 2 taverns, 2
stores, tannery, iron foundry, clothing works, and 25 dwellings; the latter, 28
miles from Delhi, has a Union church, 1 store, 2 taverns, an extensive tannery,
and 15 dwellings.
Sidney, taken from Franklin, 7th April, 1801; surface declining W. to the Sus
quehanna river, upon that boundary; distant from Albany 10O, from Delhi, W. 24,
miles. There are 3 post offices, one bearing the name of the town, another of
Sidney Plains, and the third of New Road, around which are densely settled neigh
borhoods. Stamford, taken from Woodstock and organised as part of Ulster county, 10th
April, 1792; dipping to the Delaware proper on jthe "N." to which it sends small
tributaries; surface somewhat broken, but much of it arable; distant from Albany
58, from Delhi, N. E. 16, miles. Hobart and Stamford are post villages. Hobart,
has 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, churches, 1 select school, 1 grist mill, 3 saw mills,
6 general stores, 1 grocery, 1 tavern, 1 woollen factory, 1 foundry, 1 tannery, and
from 75 to 80 dwellings, chiefly of wood. The village lies upon both sides ofthe
river, over which is a good stone bridge. The river is here a good mill stream.
Stamford, near the head of the river, has a Union, church, 2 stores, 2 taverns,
and about 15 dwellings. There are large herds of cattle and flocks of sheep in
the town.
Tompkins, taken from Walton, 26th Feb. 1806, by the nameofPinefield; name
changed 1808; surface mountainous, divided into two ridges by the Delaware,
river, running S. W. to the village of Deposit; whence turning S. E. it forms for.
about 6 miles the western boundary. Deposit, village, upon the river and partly
in Broome county, once known as the Cookhouse, 116 miles from Albany, 40 S.
W. from Delhi, and on the Erie rail road, the first section of which has been com
menced here, has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist, churches, 2 taverns
several stores, grist mill, and from 60 to 70 dwellings. Cannonsville, post office'
has around it a store, tavern, grist mill and some 12 or 15 houses; 7 miles above'

422

TOPOGRAPHY.

Deposit. At this place much lumber is received from the Susquehanna country,
for the markets on the Delaware river. Another post office is called Barbersville.
Walton, taken from Franklin, 17th March, 1797; since much reduced in area;
surface and soil like those of Tompkins; drained also by the Delaware river, and
lying wholly on the E. declivity of the dividing ridge between that river and the
Susquehanna, sending several small streams to the former; distant from Albany
94, from Delhi, S. W. 17, miles; every where heavily tirfibered. Walton, village,
on the river, contains 1 Episcopal, and 1 Presbyterian, churches, 1 grist, 1 saw,
mills, clothing works, 2 taverns, 4 stores, and within the circle of a mile, from 70
to 80 dwellings.

Females.
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Andes,
1378
1808
1860
2109
210
390
81
247
190
4RSI
33
60
45
30
25
Bovina,
1267
1248
1348
1412
118
235
HC
151
133
30fi
8
35
39
19
19
Colchester,
1064
1153
1424
1516
167
303
If
192
99
369
10
28
31
16
8
Davenport,
2384
1661
1778
2052
167
417
7
261
125
m
19
51
38
21
14
Delhi,
2285
2654
2114
2363
243
466
27
271
am
542
4,1
49
52
28
23
Franklin,
2481
2497
2786
2951
247
619
23
353
263
603
9
49
45
19
22
Hamden,
1230
1349
125
256
54
165
103
316
6
43
19
6
8
Hancock,
£25
649
766
895
123
193
1
109
64
207
8
16
21
4
5
Harpersfield,
1884
1952
1976
1741
127
355
6
218
212
353
25
21
27
13
17
Kortright,
2548
2766
2870
2531
190
.468
tsa
2611
306
sm.
16
48
44
23
14
Masonville,
719
1051
1145
1278
107
262
4
155
126
276
6
27
26
9
10
Meredith,
1375
1521
1666
1603
139
336
36
192
179
297
16
32
19
9
9
Middletown,
1949
2115
2383
2487
243
503
19
311
181
581
9
55
53
29
21
Roxbury,
2488
2944
3281
2856
229
546
14
1
156
620
6
45
39
15
4
Sidney,
1107
1137
1410
1597
116
353
t
200
154
330
6
24
21
12
6
Stamford,
1495
1595
1597
1747
151
365
23
210
165
349
29
39
30
18
11
Tompkins,
1206
1547
1774
1951
331
427
2
248
225
480
15
32
42
11
14
Walton,
1432
1567
1663
1754
156
381
11
196
171
366
13
27
29
12
9
26587
29565
33024
34192
3189
6875
475
3740
3121
7552
279
685
620
294
239
Noti  Males, 17,371; Females, 16,821; Blacks, 146; Black voters, 3; Deaf and Dumb, 19; Blind, 25;
Idiots, 34; Lunatics, 18; Paupers, 69.
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Andes,
67663
13385
147262
9885
3803
636
5491
1804
3423
5602
5553
187 10
293 30
Bovina,
25944
7373
106923
17817
3177
542
5969
162(1
2892
3891
5210
231 66
246 90
Colchester,
77962
6480
109615
15860
1615
268
2968
811
1819
2977
1075
449 89
235 80
Davenport,
34886
10637
118727
3350
2536
616
5650
1397
3386
4596
6512
450 00
341 23
Delhi,
36776
13932
182577
17850
3'-'19
577
7651
1469
3582
5350
290(1
454 90
382 90
47214
24540
257429
46225
4706
848
14384
1869
61190
7493
724(1
286 95
580 60
Hamden,
33817
7954
122525
8055
1943
306
3874
1112
1881
2433
1995
328 89
246 50
93902
3002
111285
16805
732
141
899
465
477
1585
117
208 03
345 70
Harpersfield,
25814
14208
168405
4265
3172
613
4420
1442
3J89
4931
8024
414 03
215 70
Kortright,
32755
21614
202492
12993
5062
908
13492
2185
4994
7588
12048
317 46
401 90
33761
6977
90667
8605
17*
34(1
3489
738
2271
4154
4077
323 58
185 30
Meredith,
31607
14235
173994
35198
3035
469
10779
1355
3192
4998
4075
389 64
412 50
Middletown,
51058
15987
151231
6350
3903
793
5333
1725
3414
5488
6699
658 52
294 40
50993
2428S
221209
29825
4979
867
6224
1862
4859
4234
1015C
813 49
468 50
Stamford,
28107
14264
168430
17415
2568
590
12396
1348
2817
3409
3284
203 06
346 80
24643
9312
154324
930C
2123
429
3310
1367
2305
2804
3038
309 49
308 10
91302
7387
202098
1201C
2049
371
2665
1417
2734
2746
2405
617 44
399 50
Walton,
59486
9174
169799
41300
2621
398
4692
1338
2359
3574
1987
219 69
398 40
847692
224811
2858990
303387
53040
9712
113686
25324
56084
77853
86390
6763 75
6004 03
DUTCHESS COUNTY.

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DUTCHESS COUNTY, organised Nov. 1st, 1683; bounded N. by Columbia
county; E. by the State of Connecticut; S. by Putnam county; W. by Hudson
river, separating it from Orange and Ulster counties; greatest length N. and S.
38, breadth E. and W. 26, miles; area 765 square miles; lying between 41° 20'
and 42° 02' N. Lat. and 2° 56' and 3° 26' E. Long.; centrally distant N. from N.
York T6, S. from Albany 70, miles.
Surface diversified, but generally hilly; on the E. and S. mountainous. The whole
country may be divided into two great valleys; that on the E. bounded by the
Taghkanic and the Matteawan or Fishkill mountains; that on the W. spreads be
tween the Fishkill mountains and the high bank ofthe Hudson river; but between,
the streams are rolling radges, whose line of bearing from S. W. to N. E. cor
responds with that of the mountains. ...
The mountains rise in some places to an altitude of nearly 1700 feet, and are
principally of primitive formation. VV. of ihe mountains, the country is transition,
underlaid with clay state or argillite. alternating with blue limestone; the one pre-'
dominating in the N. and the other in the S ; graywacke also is found in masses
over much ofthe western half of the county. The mountains have a gentle slope
towards the W. with some excellent soil at and near their bases, but, become stony
and less fertile in the ascent, yet arable to the top; the surface occasionally broken
into deep vales; the eastern declivity is rocky, rugged and precipitous, and the soil
valuable, chiefly on account of the timber which it affords. Where the mountains
sink towards the level of the country, these features are lost, the passage through
them becomes easy, and both faces are cultivated.
The western ridge, curving in tbe southern pait of tbe county to the Hudson,
presents some of tlie btghpst peaks of the Highlands; that called the Qld Beacon,
2 miles from Matteawan village, and three from Fishkill Landing, raises its crest
1471 feet, and the New Beacon or Grand Sachem, half a mile southward, towers
1685 feet above tide. Their names are derived from the Beacons placed on their
summits during the revolutionary war. From the top of the latter, the view oti
the S. embraces the country upon the Hudson, for 95 mi'es, to Tappan Bay; on
the S. E. includes Long Island and the Sound; and upon the N. E. and VV. com
prehends, in the diameter of a circle, 50 miles in extent, scenery of every diversi
ty, blending the beauties of cultivation, with the stern and unchangeable featurea
of nature.
424

TOPOGRAPHY.

In the N. and N. VV. portions of the county, the hills are, in places, very rocky,
rugged and sterile. The slate and lime crop out in masses, but there are some
broad flats, as in the town of Pine Plains, and upon Crom Elbow creek and other
streams. In the S. thnrp are also some wide alluvial levels of sandy loam, upon
Sprout Creek and Fishkill.
Iron ore, chiefly hematite and magnetic, abounds in the mountains and on or near
their western slopes, which is extensively wrought into pig and other castings,
and bar iron. Zinc is said also to be plentiful, but it is nowhere smelted. Marble,
white and variegated, is quarried and prepared for use in large quantities, in Do
ver valley, and roofing slate of good quality, may be obtained from the beds of
Clinton. The timber is chiefly oak and chestnut. The principal streams are,
Ten Mite, Fishkill, and Wappinger's Creeks.
Ten Mill Creek, rises by several branches, in the eastern portion of the county,
and flows through Amenia and Dover, into the State of Connecticut, and thence
to the Housatonic river. Its tributaries from the N„ Wassaic and Deep Hollow,
brooks, do not much exceed five miles in length; and Swamp river from the S.
rising from a morass, also, the source of the Croton river, may have a course of
about 8 miles.

DUTCHESS COUNTY. 425
Fishkill, called Viskill, by the Dutch, and now sometimes by the Indian name,
Matteawan, is formed by the union of Clove and Bush, kills in the N. part of
Beekmantown; whence it flows S. W. about 120 miles, to the Hudson opposite
to Newburg. It is rapid, in the upper and lower parts of its course, but sluggish
through the Fishkill plains. From Fishkill village to its mouth the fall is 187
feet, in the distance of 5 miles, affording 10 valuable mill sites. Sixty feet of this
fall are unoccupied. In Beekmantown, the stream turns the works of a furnace
and several manufactories, and in Fishkill, drives the extensive factories at Mat
teawan and Glenham.
Wappinger's Creek, the largest of the county, rises from Sissing pond, in the
town of Pine Plains, and flows S. W. about 35 miles, through Stamford, Wash
ington, Pleasant valley, Poughkeepsie, La Grange, and Fishkill, towns, to the
Hudson 9 miles' below the village of Poughkeepsie; receiving many tributaries
in its course, from either hand, and giving motion to many mills.
Crom Elbow^ Creek, is a very crooked stream, running from the S. E. border of
Rhinebeck, S. W. some 8 or 10 miles, uniting with the Hudson, at the village of
Hyde Park. It is a placid brook for tbe greater part of its course, but has much
fall in its passage through the high bank of the river.
There are other smaller but -valuable streams for hydraulic works, such as Fall,
Landtman's, Bear, Saw, and Whiteclay, creeks, which are noticed more particu
larly in the description ofthe towns to which they pertain.
Taken together, the county must be deemed highly fertile; producing, abun
dantly, wheat, rye, corn, oats, and grass. The valleys and plains are famed for
the quantity and quality pf their, grain, and upon the hills grass grows luxuriantly.
The valley, between the mountain ridges we have described, is not more remark
able for its picturesque beauty than for its fertility. In the N. and N. E. towns,
the culture of sheep is daily growing. Large tracts are stocked with flocks con
taining from 100 to 5000 head. A disposition prevails to extend a system which
will diminish the population of lands well adapted to general agriculture. Gyp
sum is the manure most relied upon, and its effects are indeed highly beneficial;
but quite as powerful an agent of feriilization, the lime on and beneath the soil,
is almost wholly neglected.
Of the 2,309,307, bushels of grain sent, in 1835, from the several counties , of
the state, to the city of New York, 838,043, were furnished from Dutchess county,
equal to one fourth of the import from all quarters. The quantity reported from
Dutchess, in 1833, was 479,532 bushels, and thus it appears that the surplus of
grain sent to market, has been nearly doubled in two years. But the quantity
shown by the inspector's reports is far short of the actual surplus. Many thousand
bushels are annually sent directly from Poughkeepsie and the eastern border, to
New England, and large quantities to New York, in the form of ground horse
feed, making, it is supposed, an additional amount of more than 400,000 bushels.
It is asserted, also, that this county supplies the New York market, with quite
as large a proportion, of its consumption of beef, mutton, pork, veal, &c. It is
not, therefore, a cause of surprise, that good farms here are worth $100, the acre.
In manufactories, it will 1be seen from the annexed statistical table that Dutchess
is, after Oneida, the first among the counties of the state.
The county is divided into 18 towns.
Amenia, organised 7th March, 1788; formerly part of the Crom Elbow pre
cinct; centrally distant from Albany, S. E. 75, from New York, N. E. 95, miles;
on the E. lipe, runs the Taghkanic mountain, having here the names of Great
Oblong and Kent mountains, and on the W. the Fishkill range, locally called
Tower Hill, and West Mountain, &c. The intervening valley, varying in breadth,
from 1 to 3 miles, is drained on the W. by the Wassaic, and on the E. by Ten
Mile, creeks; Chalky and Round ponds, cover about 400 acres; and there are
several mineral springs of little note; soil, gravelly and clay loam, on granite, pri
mitive limestone, and slate; marble of excellent quality is found chiefly in the
taghkanic hills, where is, also, magnetic iron ore; valuable beds of hematite ore
lie in the Matteawan mountains. Ameniaville, South Amenia, and Amenia Union,
or Hitchcock's Corners, Leedsville, and The City, are postjillages.
Ameniaville, on the turnpike road from Poughkeepsie to Sharon, Connecticut,
25 miles, E. from the former, contains a post office, grist, saw, and plaster,
mills, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist churches; an academy pertain-
54

426 TOPOGRAPHY.
ing to the Methodists, erected at an expense exceeding $7000, by joint stock
company, incorporated by the Regents, in 1836; 1 tavern, 2 stores, and between
30 and 40 dwellings. Near the village is a pond, the source of Wassaic creek; a
bed of hematite iron ore, and the Deep Hollow furnace, at which about 900 tons
of pig iron are annually made.
Amenia Union, {Society) or Hitchcock's Corners, on Ten Mile creek, -and upon
the state line, on the road from New York to Albany, 29 miles, E. from Pough
keepsie, 4 W. from Sharon in Connecticut, contains 1 Methodist, and 1 Presby
terian, churches, a cotton factory with 750 spindles and 24 power looms, a small
woollen factory, a saw mill, 2 stores, a tavern, and 35 dwellings. A stage from
Salisbury, and one from Litchfield, Connecticut, pass the village daily to Pough
keepsie. Leedsville, on the road from Poughkeepsie to Litchfield 27 miles E. ofthe former,
has a post office, small woollen factory, tavern, and 10 or 12 dwellings.
South Amenia, on the road from Amenia Union to Dover, 27 miles, from Pough
keepsie, has a store, tavern, grist mill, hat manufactory, and some 10 or 12 dwel-
lino-s. " The City,'] is beautifully situate at the head of one of the most charming
valleys ofthe county or state, bounded by limestone hills upon the E. and a fertile
high slaty ridge on the W. 5 miles N. W. from Ameniaville, and 24 from Pough
keepsie; contains a post office, a Presbyterian church with steeple, a store, tavern,
a pocket furnace, and 8 or 10 dwellings. Much of the land in the vicinage is
employed in sheep culture, for which purpose no country can be better adapted
than this rich valley, and the gracefully rounded and verdant hills which bound it
westwardly. Beekman, organised 7th March, 1788; distant from New York N. E. 87, from
Albany S. 90, miles; surface hilly, but with some level portions; West mountain
fills the S. and skirts the eastern border; westerly are the valleys of Fishkill,
Clovekill, and Bushkill. The Clove vale remarkably fertile and beautiful,
extends far into Uniontown, on the N.; the soil generally, is rich warm gravelly
loam, particularly about Apoquague. Great Pond 1\ miles from Beekmanville,
covering 300 acres, pours its waters into the Fishkill near Hopewell church.
There are in the town, a commodious free church, a Friend's meeting house, 1
Presbyterian, and 1 Methodist, churches, a competent number of schools, and a
public library at Apoquague. Beekmanville, Poughquake, and Greenhayen, are
post villages. Beekman furnace, is near the northern boundary, and receives its
supply of ore from an inexhaustible bed of hematite, 4 miles N. of the furnace.
At these works 1000 tons pig iron are annually manufactured.. Beekmanville, on
the Fishkill, half a mile below the confluence of the Bushkill with that stream,
16 miles E. from Poughkeepsie; contains a post office, a store, a iavern, grist
mill, plaster mill, and 16 dwellings. Greenhaven, upon the road to Pawling, 18
miles from Poughkeepsie, has grist, saw, carding, and cloth dressing, mills, a
church, 2 stores, and 15 dwellings. Poughquake, near the northern boundary, 18
miles E. from Poughkeepsie, has a post office, 2 stores, and about one dozen
dwellings. Clinton, organised 7th March, 1788; distant N. E. from New York 90, from
Albany S. E. 70, and from Poughkeepsie 16, miles; surface very hilly, and in
places rnpcU broken; soil argillaceous and gravelly loam, on slate, carefully cul
tivated. In the N. W. roofing slate of good quality has been extensively quarried,
but the quarries are now almost wholly abandoned; drained centrally and south
erly by bait Point creek, a tributary of Wappinger's creek, rising by two branches
from three ponds. Clintonville, Pleasant Plains or Le Roy's mills, Clinton Hollow,
and Shultz Store, are thickly settled vicinages, rather than villages. The meet
ings for town business are holden at Clinton Hollow, and Shultz store, alternately.
A°the former are a post office, saw. and grist, mills, and 8 dwellings; at the
latter, a Methodist church, and Quaker meeting house, grist, and saw, mills, and
half a dozen dwellings; M, Pleasant Plains, a post office, store, grist, and saw,
mills, and 10 dwellings. Land sells here at from $30 to 80, the acre.
Dover, taken from Pawling 20th February, 1807; distant from New York N.
80, from Albany S. 90, and from Poughkeepsie fc. 22, miles; surface on the E.
and W. mountainous; in the valley, tbe soil is gravelly and sandy loam, on
granitic rock and primitive limestone, fertile and well cultivated; white and col
oured marbles are extensively quarried and wrought; there being 8 mills with 396

DUTCHESS COUNTY. 427
saws employed in cutting it; there are 5 quarries open; it is sawed into slabs
from 2 to 3 inches thick, and sold at from 40 cts. to lOff'cts. the superficial foot;
about 30,000 feet are cut annually. Near the centre of the town is a bed of marl
composed, principally, of snail shells, soft, will mark like chalk, and may be
burned into lime. There are extensive beds of hematite ore in the hills; and a
forge has lately been erected for the manufacture of bar iron. Zinc ore has also
been found here. - Dover, South Dover, and Chestnut Ridge, are post villacres.
Dover, village, in the N. part ofthe valley near the confluence ofthe Swamp river
with Ten mile creek, upon a beautiful and fertile plain; has a Baptist, and a Free
church, an academy, incorporated 9th May, 1835, 2 stores, a tavern, a grist mill,
a wagon maker, a smith, a tannery, saddle and harness maker, and about 150 in
habitants, among whom are descendants of the primitive Dutch settlers. Lands
in this neighbourhood, are held at from 60 to 75 dollars the acre. In the hill,
near the Village is a cavern, which, from the resemblance of the entrance to the
pointed gothic arch, has the name of the "Stone Church." The cavern opens,
some distance above the base of the hill, into a perpendicular gneiss rock, and
consists of three apartments; the first of an ii regular form, about 25 feet in diame
ter and 40 feet high; the second a wide gallery leading to the third, which is
more spacious than the first, and was entered by a rude flight of wooden steps
much decayed, in 1835. There is a cleft in the roof of all the, apartments which
admits the light of the sun, and through them all, runs a clear, and delicious brook,
which, in the third apartment forms a pretty miniature cascade, and at a few rods
from the entrance of the grotto, turns a mill. The gneiss rock here is peculiarly
rich in garnets. South Dover, centrally situate upon Ten mile river, 24 miles E.
from Poughkeepsie; contains a free church, a grist mill, a carding, -and cloth
dressing mill, 2 mills for sawing marble, 2 stores, and 14 dwellings. About a mile
N. E. of the village is -Ellis' pond, whose bold shores and great depth render it
the admiration of the neighbourhood. It is stocked with fish and sends forth a
mill stream. It is frequently resorted to by parties of pleasure. Chestnut Ridge,
a small hamlet, on the mountain, S. W. from Dover village 2 miles; has a store,
tavern, saw mill, several mechanics' shops, and 6 dwellings surrounded by a rude
country bristling with slate rocks.
Fishkill, organised 7th March, 1788; distant N. from New York 80, S. from
Albany 89, mile,s; having the Matteawan mountain on the S. and E. and the cen
tral and western portions variegated with hill, valley, and plain; the last, between
Sprout creek and the Fishkill, admirably adapted to grain. Fisbkill, Fishkill
Landing, Hopewell, New Hackensack, Matteawan, Carthage br Low Point Land
ing, Upper Landing, Johnsville, Hughsonville, Stormville, Five Corners, Glen-
ham, Franklinville, Shenandoah, Cackemeyer's Mills, Gayhead and Peckville, are
villages. Adriance, is a post office. This town was the first settled of the coun
ty, by the Dutch, and is inhabited chiefly by their descendants. Two miles N. E.
from Hopewell, an inexhaustible bed of hematite ore supplies the Hopewell furnace,
on the Fishkill, 1 mile from Hopewell church, at which, when in full blast, 7 tons of
pigs may be made daily. This ore melts readily and yields from 50 to -60 per cent.
of metal. There are indications of other deposits. . Fishkill, village, on the creek
5 miles from its mouth, 16 from Poughkeepsie, has one Dutch Reformed and 1
Episcopal, churches; an academy, a boarding school for young ladies, 2 taverns,
5 stores, and 75 dwellings, upon a fertile plain. Hopewell, is an agricultural vi
cinage, 14 miles from Poughkeepsie, also on the plain and creek, where are 1
Dutch reformed and 1 Baptist, churches, grist, saw and plaster, mills, 2 stores and
25 dwellings. The farms here are generally large and well cultivated. Shenan
doah, lies at tbe foot of the mountain, 18 miles from Poughkeepsie, upon a small
branch of the Fishkill, and has a store, post office, and some 15 or 20 dwellings.
Stormville, called after the principal proprietor, 16 miles from Poughkeepsie, has a
store, tavern, smithery and 12 or 15 dwellings. Johnsville or Wickapic, 18 miles
from Poughkeepsie, has a store tavern and some half dozen dwellings. Hughson-
vilk, 14 miles,from Poughkeepsie, contains 1 tavern, several stores, and between
20 and 25 dwellings.
GUnham, upon the Fishkill, 18 miles from Poughkeepsie and 2 above Mat
teawan, contains a woollen factory employing 130 hands, and consuming 400 lbs"
of wool per day, in the fabric. of, broad cloths; about 70 dwellings and.500 inhabi
tants. Carthage or Lowpoint, on the Hudson river, 63 miles above N. York and

428 TOPOGRAPHY.
12 below Poughkeepsie, is a place of some business, has a towboat and some
sloops; a tavern, several stores and about 30 dwellings; many of whose inhabi
tants are employed in the river fishery. Franklinville, upon Wappinger's creek,
contains the extensive print works of Messrs. Ingraham, & Co. established in
1830; printing 4,500,000 yards per annum and employing 110 hands; the Phcenix
factory, 6 stories, occupied partly as a comb manufactory, partly as a veneer saw
mill, at which 350,000 feet are cut annually, and as calendering and glazing rooms,
connected with the print works; a gristmill with five run of stones, grinding
30,000 bushels of wheat per annum, and about 50 dwellings. Cackemyer's Mills,
15 miles from Poughkeepsie, has a Presbyterian church, a grist and plaster mill,
a store and 6 or 8 dwellings. Gay head, on a small tributary of the Fishkill, 16
miles from Poughkeepsie has a store, tavern, grist and saw mil), carding and cloth
dressing factory and 5 or 6 dwellings. New Hackensack, 9 miles from Poughkeep
sie, upon the left bank of Wappinger's creek, in a fertile vale, underlaid by slate
and limestone, is an agricultural vicinage, containing within the circle of a mile,
25 dwellings, a store and a very handsome brick church, with Doric front, steeple
and bell. ,
Pecksville, a mountain hamlet, 20 miles S. E. from Poughkeepsie, and in the
S. E. angle of the town, has a store, tavern and 15 dwellings.
Fishkill Landing or Five Corners, consists of several scattered hamlets, making
together a village, having two landings on the Hudson river, above the mouth of
the Fishkill, one known as De Witit's or the Long Wharf, and the other as the
Upper Landing, pertaining to the Matteawan Company, directly opposite to New
burg, to which two steam ferry boats constantly ply; there aTe here, 1 Dutch Re
formed, 1 Methodist, churches, a school for males and two for females; 4 taverns,
one of them highly respectable and much used as a boarding house by visitors
from New York, in the summer season, and about 50 dwellings. There is much
business done here, and two barges, towed by steamboats, run twice a week from
the landings to New York; the soil is of clay and gravelly loam, susceptible of
high improvement; N. of the mountains, on the S. of the creek, the country has
a gentle and agreeable ascent and expands its beauties to the eye of the spectator,
upon the river or upon the Newburg Hill, whence it is seen to the greatest advan
tage. The beautiful manufacturing village of Matteawan, lies upon the Fishkill creek,
about a mile from Fishkill landing, at the foot of the Matteawan mountain,
founded by Messrs. Schenck and Leonard, in 1814, about which time the Mattea
wan Company was incorporated. There are here, 3 large cotton mills, having to
gether 6000 spindles and a proportionate number of looms engaged on beaverteens,
kersey, flannels and moleskins, making about 9000 yards per week; an iron foun
dry having from 12 to 15 moulders, and casting every variety of machine and mill
geering, &c; a machine shop, one of the most extensive in the country, and con
stantly employed on every description of cotton and woollen machinery of the
most approved models and finish. The economy of the buildings and operations
here, affords an exemplar, that cannot fail to be advantageously studied by all who
are interested in similar works. Connected with these factories and employed
therein, are 2200 souls. Peter Schenck, & Co. are the agents in the city of New
York. Within a few years, this village, by the aid of the enterprising proprietors and
their efficient agents, has rapidly increased. Streets have been laid out, lots sold,
and from 30 to 40 neat dwellings built, chiefly by the mechanics employed in the
establishment; two beautiful churches, Presbyterian and Episcopalian, have been'
erected, at whose sabbath schools 250 children attend; a large school house has
been provided, where all the children employed are required to dedicate as much
time as is necessary to obtain the rudiments of an English education. No intoxi
cating liquors are permitted, and almost the whole population has taken the social
pledge to abstain from their use.
The deep valley with its cascades and rapids, the village with tits neat white
dwellings, magnificent factories and ornamental churches, overhung bythe stu
pendous mountain, render this one of the most beautiful scenes in the State, where
enlightened, cheerful and persevering industry is reaping its due reward. It at
tracts much attention and is greatly resorted to in the summer season.

DUTCHESS COUNTY. 429
Land which 6 years since sold here for $ 100 the acre, was bought in 1835,
10 acres together, for -$ 800 the acre;
Hyde Park, so called from the country seat of the late Dr. S. Bard, taken
from Clinton, 26th Jan. 1821; distant N. from New York 81, from Poughkeepsie
7, and from Albany S. 68, miles; surface E. W. and S. hilly. The Crom Elbow
creek flows centrally through the town, N. of the village of Hyde Park, and has
upon it some broad and rich alluvial flats; S. ofthe village, a small stream
crosses the town obliquely to the Hudson; soil gravelly loam and clay, upon slate,
which breaks through the surface in many places, into high and rugged ridges;
the greater portion of tbe town, however, is under excellent cultivation and abund
antly" productive. iNear the village, Crom Elbow creek, has a rapid fall and af
fords power for extensive water works. Hyde Park, Staatsburg, and Ellison's or
Union Corners, are villages. At the first two are post offices.
Hyde Park, village and landing are upon the Hudson river, having the relative
distances above given. The principal buildings are about half a mile from the
landing, upon a broad {ind pleasant plain, distributed over several streets. Large
additions have been made to the town plot, by the late Dr. Hosack and W. W.
Woodworth, Esq. who have opened some streets and laid out many building lots.
The village contains, including those at the landing, 80 dwellings, 1 Episcopal 1
Dutch Reformed, and 1 Methodist, churches; 1 Hotel, 3 stores, a grist, saw and
plaster, mills; a distinguished seminary for females, a classical school for males,
1 district school, two physicians and one attorney. Upon the river bank N. and
S. of the village, are several handsome seats, pertaining to wealthy residents,
among which, that formerly of Dr. Hosack is trie most distinguished. That gen-
gleman had a large tract of land here, with magnificent buildings and grounds
highly improved and ornamented.
Staatsburg, is an agricultural vicinage! 9 miles N. of Poughkeepsie, and 2 from
Hyde Park, having a post office, a tavern, a store, and some 30 dwellings.
Union Corners, 1 mile E. of Hyde Park village, and upon the Crom Elbow
creek, on a pleasant plain, contains 1 tavern, 1 store, grist, saw, and plaster, mills;
carding and cloth dressing factory, and some 10 or 12 dwellings.
La Grange, taken from Beekman and Fishkill, by the name of Freedom 9th
Feb. 1821; name changed by the revised statutes; distant from Poughkeepsie S.
E. 9, from Albany, S. 77, from N. York, N. 76, miles; surface rolling, rising in
to hills on the E.; soil gravelly loam, fertile and well cultivated, underlaid with
slate and lime; drained by Sprout and Wappinger's, creeks. There is a post of
fice at Freedom Plains, where are also, a tavern, store, and several dwellings;
another at Arthursburg, called after the post master, John Arthur, and a third one
called Sprout Creek.
Milan, taken from North East, 6th March, 1818; distant N. E. from New York
96, from Albany S. 63, arid from the Hudson river E. 9, miles; surface hilly,
swelling into high ridges, with some flats; soil clay, and warm gravelly loam,
resting on slate and limestone, productive of grain; drained W. by branches of
Landtman's creek, and N. by a tributary of Roeliff Jansen's creek. Milan, Shook-
ville, Lafayette, and Rock City, are villages; at the first two are post offices.
Milan, ot Thornville, centrally situate, contains a store, tavern, and 10 dwell
ings. Shookville, 25 miles from Poughkeepsie, has a Baptist church, store, several
mechanics' shops, and 15 dwellings.
Lafayette, 24 miles from Poughkeepsie, has a store, tavern, and above a dozen
dwellings; and Rock City, 24 miles from Poughkeepsie, a store, tavern, and 20
dwellings. North East, organised 7th March, 1788; distant N. E. from New York 100,
and from Albany S. E. 62, miles; surface covered with portions ofthe Taghkanic
and Matteawan mountains, bearing the local names of Delavaghn and Winchelle
mountains; soil various, consisting of mixtures of granite, slate, and calcareous
decomposition, generally stony, but arable, and productive of grass and grain.
The western mountains are cultivated to their summits, and have lands excellent
ly adapted to sheep pasturage, in which they are much 'employed, flocks being
kept here consisting of from 3000 to 5000 head. Drained by Ten Mile and Chi-
comeco creeks. Indian Pond lies partly in this town and partly in the state of
Connecticut, and there are two large ponds in the mountains further north, also

430 TOPOGRAPHY.
partly in this town. Rudd's pond lies one and a half miles N. of Spencer's Cor
ners. There is a vein of lead ore in a gangue of limestone, commencing at the
S. W. corner ofthe town, and running N. E. about 8 miles into Columbia county,
which was worked here previously to the revolutionary war, and long since in
Ancram, by members ofthe Livingston family. It is crossed by another vein said
to contain copper. Lands are estimated at from $10 to §60 the acre, and are ge
nerally holden in large tracts. Spencer's Corners, or North East, Federal Store,
and North Amenia, are post villages. Spencer's Corners, in the valley, 31 miles
N. E. from Poughkeepsie, 85 S. E; from Albany, contains a Baptist meeting
house, 3 stores, and about 20 dwellings. North Amenia, centrally situate, be
tween the E. and W. boundaries, 28 miles N. E. from Poughkeepsie, has 1 Pres
byterian and 1 Methodist, churches, 1 tavern, 2 stores, and from 12 to 15 dwell
ings, surrounded by a country said to be as productive as any in the county.
Federal Store is an agricultural neighbourhood, in the S. W. angle, 25 miles N.
E. from Poughkeepsie, at which is a post office.
Pawling, organised 7th March, 1788; distant S. E. from Poughkeepsie 22,
from Albany 105, from New York N*. E. 72, miles. The two great ridges of the
county cover its eastern and western boundaries, and in the intervening valleyi-lies
the Great Swamp, the source of Swamp and Croton rivers, which pursue diame
trically opposite directions. Whaley's, and another pond on the west, send forth
a branch of Fishkill creek. The soil, chiefly of granite diluvion, is not naturally
fertile, but repays cultivation. Quaker Hill, an eminence of the east ridge, af
fords proof of this, for, though stony, it is well tilled, and deemed excellent for
grass. The land of the west mountain is valuable chiefly for its timber. Iron
ore, of good quality, is found about two miles north of Quaker Hill. Pawlingville
and Quaker Hillaie post villages. There is a post office called after the town.
At the former is a tavern, store, grist and saw mills, and 8 dwellings; at the latter,
settled by Friends in 1740, there are 2 meeting houses, 3 stores, an academy, long
established and in high repute, and about a dozen dwellings.
Pine Plains, taken from North East, 26th March, 1823; centrally dis
tant" N. from New York 116, fr6m Poughkeepsie 26, and from Albany
S. 72, miles; surface, generally, rolling, and on the W. mountainous, Sus
sing mountain running N. across it; on the N. E. however, there is a plain
formerly covered with pine, whence the name of the town. The soil of the town
is sandy and gravelly loam; drained S. by Wappinger's. creek, which rises here
from three ponds called Stissings, the largest of which is about a mile and a half
in circumference, and N. by Roeliff Jansen's creek, and its tributaries. Pine
Plains, Pulver's Corners, Hammertown, and Montrose, are villages; the first three
have post offices.
Pine Plains, lying centrally between the E. and W. boundaries, upon Chico-
meco creek, 28 miles N. E. from Poughkeepsie, has a Presbyterian church, 2 ta
verns, 4 stores, and about 40 dwellings, upon two streets crossing at right angles.
Hammertown lies about a mile east of Pine Plains upon the same stream, and con
tains Harris's scythe factory, (at which about 1000 dozen of scythes are made, of
such quality as to induce a forgery of the brand in England,) a tannery, and about
7 dwellings, in a hilly country. Pulver's Corners, in the N. E., 30 miles from
Poughkeepsie, has a store, tavern, and 8 or 10 dwellings. Montrose, in the bend
of Jansen's creek, 30 miles from Poughkeepsie, contains a small woollen factory,
a store, a tavern, and some half dozen dwellings.
Pleasant Valley, taken from Clinton, January 26, 1821; distant N. from,New
York 82, from Poughkeepsie 7, and from Albany S. 82, miles; surface on the N.
and W. gently undulating, on the S. and E. hilly and broken; soil clay, sandy and
gravelly loam, on slate and lime, generally in high cultivation; drained by Wap
pinger's,- Salt Point, and other streams. Pleasant Valley, and Salt Point, are
post villages; the former, beautifully situated on the right bank of Wappinger's
creek, contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Quaker churches, a boarding
school for females, 4 stores, 2 taverns, a cotton factory of 3000 spindles, and 72
power looms, a saw mill, and about 100 dwellings; the latter, 12 miles from
Poughkeepsie, has a store, tavern, grist, saw, and fulling mills, and 25 dwellings.
There is a woollen factory at Pine Grove, at which superior cloth and kersynettes
are made.
- Poughkeepsie, from the Indian word Apolceepsing, safe harbour, organised 7th

DUTCHESS COUNTY.

431

March, 1788; surface undulating, and near the river somewhat broken; soil prin
cipally sand, interspersed with clay and loam, upon lime, rendered fertile by the
use of gypsum; drained upon the east by Wappinger's creek; Fall creek enters the
town from Hyde Park, and unites with the Hudson at Poughkeepsie village, and
a smaller stream joins the river about three miles below. Poughkeepsie, Man
chester, New Hamburg, Barnegat, and Ednam, are villages; at thefirst three are
post offices.
Poughkeepsie Village, one of the handsomest and most thriving of the state
was founded by some Dutch families about 1735, and was incorporated in 1801.
In colonial times, the legislature frequently sat here, and here the state conven
tion which ratified -the Federal constitution, convened in 1788. It is, by the river,

432 TOPOGRAPHY.
75 miles distant from New York, and 70 from Albany, 14 from Newburg, 18
from Kingston, and 42 from Hudson city.
The river bank is about 200 feet high, and projects into the stream by two pro
montories; the southern one, the " Call Rock," so covers the landing, that it is not
visible from the river until the boat has reached the dock. Several roads conve
niently graded, and the principal one paved, lead from the shore to the plain above,
which, on the north, is overlooked by a beautiful slate hill, affording a delightful
prospect of the village and adjacent country, fur more than 20 miles. The Fall
creek meanders over this plain, and finally rushes to the Hudson by a succession
of cataracts and cascades, which together fall more than 160 feet. These falls are
not visible from the. mount, being concealed in a narrow ravine.
The plat contains about 1768 acres, upon which some 40 streets have been laid
out. The increase ofthe village in the last six years has been nearly 100 per
cent. Several ofthe streets are well paved, and compactly built upon, and many
stores in Main street might be admired in Broadway, whilst many dwellings, in
more private parts of the town, show wealth and taste. On the 1st January, 1835,
there were 708 dwelling houses, 1 Baptist, 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, 1 Presbyte
rian, 1 Dutch Reformed, and 2 Quaker, churches; a court house and prison,, under
the same roof; the county poor house, an academy, a Lancasterian school house, a
powder house, and 2 markets; the Bank of Poughkeepsie, capital. $100,000, Dutch
ess County Bank, capital §450,000, Farmers and Manufacturer's Bank, capital
$300,000, Poughkeepsie Savings Bank; Poughkeepsie Whaling Company, capi
tal $200,000, 2 ships at sea; Dutchess Whaling Company, §200,000, 2 ships at
sea: A company for the manufacture of silk was incorporated 10th April, 1835, capi
tal $200,000, who are pursuing their object with greatspirit. There were 10 licensed
physicians, and 21 practising attorneys; 18 dry goods stores, 35 grocery stores, 2
china and crockery ware stores, 4 watch and jewellery stores, 3 book stores,
2 drug and medicinal stores, 3 hardware stores, 6 hat and cap stores, 3 chair
stores, 8 boot and shoe stores, 9 milliner stores, 4 merchant tailors, and 12 tailor
shops, 7 saddle and harness making establishments, 3 establishments for carriage
and wagon making, 3 printing offices, each issuing a weekly paper, 2 tanneries
and 2 leather stores, 2 tallow chandleries, 2 furnaces, 2 marble and stone yards,
2 yards for ship-building, 2 brick yards, 3 machine shops, 3 tobacco and segar
manufactories, 5 establishments of stoves and tin ware, 2 furniture ware rooms, 1
brewery, 2 malt houses, 1 pump and block maker, 1 Venetian blind factory, 5 coop
er shops, 9 blacksmiths' shops, 8 public houses, 15 victualling shops, 3 plough
factories, 4 freighting establishments, 2 establishments of stone and earthenware.
There are on the Fall Kill, 4 flouring mills, 1 dye wood mill, 1 saw mill, 1 cot
ton factory, 1 pail factory, 2 buildings used as machine shops, in which are 4 es
tablishments fitted up with turning lathes, a sash factory, and a planing factory.
These machine shops are exclusive of the ones named above.
Since 1831, more than one hundred thousand dollars have been expended in
opening, regulating apd paving streets; over twenty-five thousand dollars have
been laid out in the construction of a reservoir, pipes, &c, for supplying the vil
lage with water for the extinguishment of fires; and the following valuable im
provements have been made: one thousand feet of dock and bulkhfad, including
the new ship yard and dock of the whaling companies, (which alone have a water
front of 450 feet,) a new brick brewery near 200 feet long, a silk factory of brick,
four stories high, 36 feet by 100; a new market and village hall, at a cost of
§20,000; 2 Episcopal churches, a new Baptist church on the site ofthe old one; a
Roman Catholic church, a second Presbyterian church, a large coach factory, a
collegiate school, 77 by 137 feet, a young ladies' seminary, of large dimensions;
two elegant banking houses, a new post office and range of offices attached; anew
park or square, highly ornamented, and stocked with deer, a splendid mansion
house opposite, and about 40 fashionable modern dwellings, mostly of brick, in
its immediate vicinity; four whale ships have been built or fitted for sea, and
the keel of another lately laid; besides numerous schooners, sloops and tow
boats. Within the last year upwards of 160 buildings have been erected. Pro
perty has risen greatly in value, .and in 1835, there was not a single unoccupied
tenement in the village.
There were two steamboats, principally owned in the county, making 2 trips
weekly to New York, and towing barges from Rhinebeck, 4 from Poughkeepsie,

DUTCHESS COUNTY. 433
1 from Carthage, I from Fishkill, and several sloops, making regular trips be
tween this port and Albany, and New York, and from other parts of the county.
A steamboat plies twice a day from Poughkeepsie to Newburg; and a ferry boat
constantly through the year, to New Paltz; a hcrse ferry boat, between Tivoli
and Ulster; 2 between Rhinebeck and Kingston; 1 at Hyde Park, and 1 between
Hamburg and Hampton. A company was incorporated in 1836, to make a rail
road hence to the Connecticut or Massachusetts line.
Ednam, on Wappinger's creek, has about 30 dwellings, a cotton factory of
2,400 spindles, 98 looms, making 500,000 yards shirting per annum. The post
office has the name of the creek. Manchester, also on Wappinger's creek; has
about 30 dwellings, a cotton factory of 2,036 spindles, 66 power looms, a factory
of sattinet warps, 840 spindles, making 500,000 yards per annum, and a factory
of crape camblets, from imported worsted. Barnagal, 5 miles S. ofthe Borough,
is remarkable only for its many (some 20) lime kilns, whence large quantities of
lime are exported. The village has a store, and about 35 dwellings. New Hamburg,
at the mouth of Wappinger's creek, upon both sides of the stream, over which
is a good bridge contains about 20 dwellings, an extensive store, tavern, post
office, &c. Whipp'leville, has about 20 dwellings.
Redhook, taken from Rhinebeck 2d June, 1812; distant from New York, N.
96, and from Albany S. 55, miles; surface rolling; soil on the river clay loam and
stiff clay; in the interior, loam variously mixed with gravel, sand and vegetable
mould, on slate and graywacke base, highly cultivated, being generally in the
hands of intelligent and wealthy proprietors; drained westerly by Sawkill and
White Clay creek, small but steady streams, affording valuable mill power.
Upper Redhook, Lower Redhook, and Redhook Landing, Barrytown, Mechanics-
ville, and Tivoli, are post villages. Upper Redhook, 27 miles from Poughkeepsie;
has 1 Dutch Reformed church, an academy, tavern, 3 stores, and 40 dwellings,
on a plain at the foot of a hill. At the Upper Landing, 3 miles N. W. from the
village, are 2 wharves, 3 taverns, 3 stores, and 35 dwellings. The Albany steam
boats stop here, and there is a ferry over the river to Saugerties, and a tow barge
plies weekly to New York. Lower Village, at the intersection of the Albany road
and that leading to Pine Plains, 23 miles from Poughkeepsie and 3 from the
Lower Landing on the river, lies upon a fertile plain, and contains 1 Dutch Re
formed church, 2 taverns, 5 stores, and about 40 dwellings, and the number in
creases rapidly. The Lower Landing, Barrytown, Mechanicsville, and Tivoli, con
tain each, about 130 inhabitants.
Rhinebeck, organised- 7th March, 1788; distant N. from New York 91, from
Poughkeepsie 17, from Albany S. 57, miles; surface on the W. level, on the E.
rolling; the Rhinebeck flats, near the centre, are noted for easy culture and fer
tility; Wirtemberg tract, in the S. E. has a light soil rendered productive by the
use of plaster; much of the land of this town is holden in large tracts and leased
to tenants in small farms; but freeholds daily become more numerous; drained by
Crom Elbow, and Landtman's, creeks. Sepascat,a small lake, on the E. line,
has some fish, the catching of which is regulated by law. Rhinebeck Flats,
Rhinebeck Landing, and Schuyler's mills, are villages. Rhinebeck Flats, incor
porated 23d April, 1834; 2 miles E. from the Hudson on Landtman's creek, con
tains a post office, 1 Dutch Reformed, and 1 Methodist, churches, 3 taverns, 4
stores, 1 grist, arid 1 paper, mills, a small woollen factory, 140 dwellings, generally
of frame and neat in their structure. Rhinebeck Landing, on the river, 90 miles
from New York and 55, from Albany, has a tavern and 12 or 15 dwellings; a
barge belonging here, is lowed bi-weekiy to and from New York, by steam boats,
At Schuyler's mills, are a grist mill, and some half dozen dwellings, very fine
buildings, a tannery and store.
Stanford, taken from Washington 12th March, 1788; distant N. E. from New
York 110, and from Albany S. E. 78 miles; surface very hilly; on the N. the
Stissing mountain stretches into the town about 2 miles; soil gravelly and sandy
loam, underlaid with granite, slate, and limestone, weil watered; cultivated by
wealthy farmers who keep large flocks of sheep; drained by Wappinger's creek.
There are two small ponds, Thompson's and Upton's. The former discharges a
mill stream, which is improved within 40 rods of its source. From a hill, in the
N. issues Cold Spring brook a branch of Wappinger's creek, which drives an
55

434

TOPOGRAPHY.

overshot mill. The ponds have perch and pickerel, and Upton's pond trout.
Bangall, Stanfordville, Altlebury, and Hull's mills, are villages; those in italics
have post offices.*
.BuregaW,cer,trally situate on Wappinger's creek, 20 miles N. E. from Pough
keepsie, contains a Baptist church, 1 grist, and 1 saw, mills, a tavern, store, and
12 dwellings.
Stanfordville, 1 mile W. of Bangall, has 1 Christian and 2 Quaker meeting
houses, a woollen manufactory making 6000 yards of cloth per annum, a grist
mill, and 20 dwellings, inhabited chiefly by "Friends." Hull's mills, 23 miles
N. E. from Poughkeepsie, has a paper" mill manufacturing 2000 reams of paper
per annum, a carding, and cloth dressing, mill, a store, and 3 dwellings. Attle-
bury, in the N. E. part of the town upon Wappinger's creek and at the foot of
Stissing mountain, 26 miles from Poughkeepsie, contains a tavern, store, and
some 6 or 8 dwellings. Baremarket is a hamlet of some half dozen dwellings.
Union Vale, taken from Beekman and La Grange 6th March, 1827; distant N.
from New York 75, from Poughkeepsie E. 15 miles, from Albany S. E. 90 miles.

Females.
Births.
Deaths.
to
S
to
aitti
jo *r
f= ,/
, Ha
TOWNS.
- en
¦aH ¦ --o
Is
¦e ca
01 01
CO
o
cd
CO01
CO to
¦gs
.Z 01
¦c»>
CO
'u
V
CO01OS e 01
fa
cd 01
00to
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f1*
co
OA 01
1820.
1835.
1830.
1835.
£
O
>
<
•22 = i
= ¦£
ed
s
2
s
s
Amenia,
3114
2167
2389
213b
191
462
7
268 199
377
12
27
37
10
21
78
Beekman,
2865
280E
1584
1447
125
339
21
164 166
25(1
9
24
12
1
14
77
Clinton,
2384
2069
2130
1916
177
425
3
237 215
3fiC
13
26
2ft
5
7
9
Dovei,
2193
2196
2196
1981
219
483
2
222 173
40S
6
34
2i
15
19
38
Fishkill,
6(140
5916
8292
8622
775
1740
270
1156 1023
2056
75
197
168
8'
78 739
Hyde Park,
2300
2415
2554
2366
210
461
49
272; 232
494
1ft
33
36
1<
21 1 43
La Grange,
26SS
2415
2044
1927
181
442
17
197
224
361
13
23
23
1<
161 95
Milan,
, 1797
1769
1886
1813
134
376
4
206
116
385
15
31
38
15
19
52
Nortb East,
2037
1606
1689
1495
148
347
5
160
172
260
3
12
27
7
8
35
Pawlings,
1804
1691
1705
1565
17b
369
5
194
114
289
17
21
21
5
19
28
Pine Plains,
1421
1503
1355
131
327
b
1.15
147
267
111
15
24
i;
9
33
PleasantValley
1927
2506
2419
2245
176
462
45
270
237
453
19
34
41
21
23
91
Poughkeepsie,
5726
5935
7222
8529
1338
1667
400
1128
885
1606
15
126
141
61
7(1
289
Red Hook,
2714
2798
2983
2824
223
579
44
332
223
530
20
45
37
2-1
14
189
Rhinebeck,
272S
2735
2938
2624
181
582
16
291
235
527
14
30
41
15
r>
75
Stanford,
25 IS
2463
2521
2358
173
504
6
257
255
482
17
37
26
19
21
63
Unionvale,
1833
1636
172
393
13
171
190
281
13
18
22
12
13 37
Washington,
2882
2796
3036
2897
259
653
48
295
349
530
27
32
32
16
15 108
46615
46698
50926
50704
4989
10611
960
5975
5150
9873
315
776
767
367
393 2071
Note. Males, 25,457; Females, 25,237; Blacks, 2,117; Black voters, 37; Deaf and Dumb, 16; Blind, 26;
Idiots, 33; Insane, 22; Paupers, 189.
TOWNS.
a cd
c« g
£§
.! .
01
go
¦SB
V ca
CO 01
03 OS
co o
<"
caTS > a
£ co
CO *¦ ¦
!i, to oi
01 O.*.
¦ »s
<3 $
01o
IE
01
D.01CO
s-
Vs
'%
'Si
CO>»
-a «
fa
ell
oi zz
!-§ o c
-1!
Ii o —
O
CO ,
S3
00 v .
HCO >.e
3
s
Amenia,
25970
17558
571340
98260
562
2054
21761
2871
1895
2584
1985
144 25
92195
Beekman,
18352
12990
458800
20205
444
2036
4726
2450
1290
2736
2726
149 65
841 10
Clinton,
23940
20113
622440
20910
752
2419
6481
3095
1951
1835
2091
331 47
1033 24
Dover,
31032
16650
527544
25530
528
2853
7930
2707
2022
2246
2582
515 60
945 13
Fishkill,
67320
49186
2221736
26356
2035
7437
16873
7380
1858
2765
3572
837 53
4195 74
Hyde Park,
23332
16006
699660
78883
678
2507
2100
1811
1233
1311
1481
335 24
1298 92
La Grange,
23232
19651
659032
93550
729
2630
8872
3102
1349
1820
2586
182 75
1098 50
Milan,
22080
16950
43092(1
81830
622
1990
8766
2736
2651
2371
4041
235 07
776 25
North East,
25579
17234
588317
82800
5-.'0
1841
24835
3687
1583
3686
2811
135 70
100139
Pawlings,
27682
21710
525956
9820
360
2691
9189
2588
2239
2611
4243
150 25
860 13
Pine Plains,
1720]
13998
378422
87360
491
1653
13939
3069
1636
1919
2099
118 17
646 99
PleasantVa.
20173
15522
544671
1775
662
2127
9384
28H8
1136
1369
I67F
145 62
896 37
Po'keepsie,
19827
22297
1605981
1070688
928
2147
17716
2505
493
816
•488
627 98
3279 14
Red Hook,
21915
18857
635535
12175
705
2313
7964)
3697
15fti>
1848
2346
178 81
1032 02
Rhinebeck,
20922
15402
585816
70445
692
2116
3837
2702
1R17
1076
2363
190 50
1064 86
Stanford,
31496
25466
755904
5885
755
2741
23506
2804
2574
2340
2353
182 75
1225 75
Unionvale,
22486
1726S
517176
90060
586
1906
12012
2164
1620 1945
2673
739 00
827 24
Washington
35811
28841
966897
206932
839
3468
34377
3961
2497 3440
3218
141 92
1701 45
480946
365702
13393179
2083464
12890 46943
234294
56257
31430 38718
45936
5342 26123633 17
* This town belonged to Charlotte precinet, and has been settled about 100 years.
DUTCHESS COUNTY.

435

|
Grist. mills.

co
i 1
i g>
*.s« a
Xc fa
» 3

ta" a>au«
s
¦E O 4

eo
1

s a
Si oo 2

1-0¦!Ce
-i 2

orjEa
j= s- i-
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oi .
. .8 '
CO L. .
01 o
i cS .
= ft.
jo §•
a w e

b
* s -
¦ 1 s.
*• 3 rt

| Tanneries. - |Breweries. 1 Number of Schooldistricts.

a

5.2
- »sS'll

' ia
1 u
m

Amenia, 4

12

248"

637

582

Beekman, 3

3 2

2

1

2

.2 8
165
558
349 -
Clinton, I
8 3
3
11
237
700
492
Dover, 5
7 3
3
1
3 12
222
489
440
Fishkill, 12
6 1 1
¦;l
1
2
1 1
6 28
864
3521
1695
Hyde Park, 4
2
1 9
260
504
346
La Grange, 4
3
1
1 fo
788
410
438
Milan, I
6 2
2
4
2 11
553
498
-575
North East, ;
3 1
4
1
1 11
547
472
413
Pawlings, t
8 1
2
8
, 153
262
296
Fine Plains, 3
3 3
3
-
1
3
2 8
156
442
424
Pleasant Valley. S
1 1
1
1
1
1
n
333
510
484
Poughkeepsie, <
1
3
2
1
2 1 9
773
1097
302
Red Hook, 1
4 2
2
1
1
I
S 11
307 •
814
410
Rhinebeck, i
2 2
2
1
1 11
293
1234
594
Stanford, I
5 2
2 1
1
2
1
14
293
S85
864
Unionvale, S
\ X
1
2
1 9
194
550
458
Washington, 4
5
85 27
3 c
c> pa
1 1
32 8
-*'S
SI
2
15
6
15
o1
1
.11 1
t-H 64
us 52
1 2 2
s o e
isl
9 « 55,
2 13
319
786
621
B
26 I 206
5366
14877
9827
cc
Value o( product, |
8 '8
© ft
sl ¦
Si?
'P
io to
io 2
£,SS
B - f
t> ^
— — Number of children ahov
e 5, and
S
JO CD
£|^
§3;1 SCI
TflO
181
|3 | under 16
years of age, 12,597.
Value of material, s
CO O
a is
PS \Oi
3ll
" I0
1*8CD ¦
The eastern half of the town is covered by the Matteawan ridge, and the western .
has a high rolling surface; soil calcareous, gravelly, and clay, loam; drained by
tbe Clovekill southward; hematite iron ore of excellent quality abounds, from
which the Fishkill, Beekman, and Kent, furnaces are supplied. Verbank, post
village, upon a branch of Sprout creek, in the N. W. angle of ¦ the town, has a
cotton factory of 538 spindles, grist, saw, and plaster, mills, a Methodist church, •
store, tavern, and 15 dwellings. There is a hamlet called Four Corners, contain-
taining 50 inhabitants. The Clove vale, one of the richest, arid most lovely of
the county, extends into the town. It has a post office called " Clove,"
Washington, organised 7th March, 1788; distant N. from New York 95, from
Albany S. 80, and from Poughkeepsie E. 16 miles. The Matteawan mountains,
here called Tower Hill and Chestnut ridge, cover the eastern portion, arid on the
W. the surface is rolling and ridgy; soil gravel, clay, and calcareous loam, highly
productive of grain and grass, not surpassed by, and perhaps superior to, any
other portion ofthe county. .The inhabitants were originally and principally from
Long Island and the eastern states, and comprise a large proportion of Quakers.
The town is drained westward by a tributary of Wappinger's creek, and eastward
by a branch of Ten mile creek. Mechanicsville, Hartsville, Mabbettsville, Wash
ington Four Corners, Washington Hollow, and Little Rest, are villages, arid there
are post offices at those in italics. Mechanicsville, lies on the turnpike road from
Poughkeepsie to Dover, 15 miles S. E. from the former, and contains including
the Four Corners, 2 Friends meeting houses, the Nine Partners Orthodox Friends
boarding school, established in 1797, competent for the accommodation of 100
pupils; another boarding school lately established by Friends, at which there are
. 50 pupils; 1 tavern, 2 stores, and about 25 dwellings, 'Hartsville, centrally
situated, upon Sharon turnpike, has a store, tavern, a cotton factory working up
200 lbs. of cotton per day, into warps; a woollen factory making about 70 lbs. of
wool daily, into broad cloths, a machine shop, and about 30 dwellings. Mabbetts
ville, on the Sharon turnpike, 17 miles E. from Poughkeepsie, has a tavern, store,
post office, several mechanic shops, and 8 or 10 dwellings. Washington Hollow,
on the same road, 12 miles E. from Poughkeepsie, has a Presbyterian church a
tavern, store, and 6 or 8 dwellings. Little Rest,'on the Poughkeepsie and Dover
turnpike road, 17 miles from the former, has 2 grist mills, a store, several me
chanic shops, and about a dozen dwellings, upon a branch of Ten mile creek,
l.ithgow is the name of the post office.
436

TOPOGRAPHY.

ERIE COUNTY, taken from Niagara county 2d April, 1821 is bounded, E.
by Genesee, N. by Niigara, counties; W. by lake Erie and the Niagara river; S.
by the Cattaraugus creek, and a line running N. W. from its mouth to the bounds
ofthe state, separating jhis from Cattaraugus and Chautauque counties: Greatest
length N. and S. 44, greatest breadth E. and W. 30, miles;, area 851 square
miles; situate between 42° 25' and 43° 04' N. Lat.; and 1° 31' and 2° 14' W.
Long.; centrally distant from New York 357, from Albany W. 298, miles. '
The county lies upon the great western plain. Its northern half, is level or
gently undulating; the southern is somewhat hilly, particularly, along the streams;

ERIE COUNTY. 437
rising to the ridge crossing the towns of Sardinia, Concord, and Collins, and di-*
viding the waters which flow northerly, from those of the Cattaraugus creek.
The whole county rests upon slate, on which is imposed,, compact corniferous,
limestone, and calcareous sand stone. In the northern portion, the lime and sand
stone are the surface rocks; whilst on, the S. the slate most commonly crops
out. Limestone quarries are extensively wrought on the shores of the Lake and
Niagara river, where the rock assumes the form of stratified inferior marble; it
generally, however, abounds with shells and Hornestone, and has frequently flaws,
which are detrimental to a smooth and polished surface; whilst the hornestone
renders it difficult to work. Hammer dressed, it makes a beautiful building ma
terial, much used at Buffalo and Black Rock.
Springs of petroleum rise a few miles S. E. from the Cauquaga creek, in the
bituminous shale. The shale is so highly charged with bitumen, as to burn
freely when ignited.
The soil is, generally, good; consisting, in the northern half, of warm, sandy,
and gravelly loam, occasionally mingled with clay,' adapted to wheat; in the
southern, clay prevails, and is very productive of grass. Both portions yield ex
cellent and various fruits. Not one third of the lands is yet improved.
The timber is large and abundant at the south, and in great variety, compre
hending, oak, beech, maple, linden, elm, ash, poplar, hemlock, white pine, butter
nut, wild, cherry, &c.; in the north, it is principally oak, of diminutive stature,
mixed with underwood.
The county is amply watered; on the northern line is the Tonawanta creek,
the recipient of Murder and Ellicott's creeks; the first rising in Bennington of
Genesee county, and flowing N. W. 24 miles, through Darien and Pembroke, of
the tame county, and through Newstead, of this county; the second, sometimes
called Eleven Mile creek, rises, also in Bennington and runs N. of W, across Alrlen,
Lancaster, Amherst, and Buffalo, towns, of Erie county, about 30 miles; both are
good mill streams. The Tonawanta, fully described under "Niagara county"
bounds this county for 25 miles and forms, for 10 miles, the bed of the Erie canal.
Buffalo Creek, entering lake Erie at Buffalo city, is formed by the union of the
Cayuga, Seneca, and Cazenova, creeks. The Cayuga, rises in Sheldon, Geireses
county, and runs 30 miles N. W. to the Seneca* near the Indian villages, 7 miles
E. of the city. The Seneca, has its«ource in Java, of Genesee county, and has,
also, a N. VV. course of 30 miles. Cazenova, the S. branch, flows from Sardinia,
N. W. 27 miles, to its recipient, 4 miles E. of the city. The trunk of these
branches, has a length of about 8 miles; the whole of which is navigable. Its
mouth forms the Buffalo harbour. Tbe branches have sufficient fall to make them
highly useful for hydraulic works.
: The Little Buffalo creek, is a small stream, about 5 miles long, uniting with
the Great Buffalo, within the city. Smoke Creek, rises by two branches, in the
town of Hamburg, and runs 10 miles, to the lake. Cauquaga, has its source, and
course of about 20 miles, also, in Hamburg, receiving a tributary from Eden, and
uniting with the lake, 4 miles N. of Sturgeon point, 18 miles from Buffalo city,
and from the latter circumstance, is sometimes called Eighteen Mile Creek. The
Two Sisters, flows from Eden, through Evans, 12 miles to the lake, 2 miles S. ojf
the point; and Delaware Creek, a diminutive tributary of the lake, about 5 miles
long, is wholly in Evans town.
Cattaraugus Creek, on the S. boundary, rises in the S. W. part of Genesee, and
the N. E. part of Cattaraugus counties, and flows westerly, by a serpentine
.course of nearly 50 miles. Its basin varies from 10 to 15 miles in width. Its
course is active, but not rapid, and it is a noble mill stream. It enters the lake,
24 miles S. W. from the city, and has, at its mouth, a small harbour, into which
vessels drawing 6 feet water, may enter. The Cattaraugus reservation* pertain
ing to a branch i>f the Seneca tribe, 12 miles long by 6 wide, extends from the
lake, on both sides of the creek, lt is a fine tract ot land, heavily timbered. The
northern source of this stream in Java town, of Genesee county, is said to be fu^l
800 feet above the level of lake Erie.
The Seneca Reservation, settled by about 900 Indians, principally Senecas, with
some Ouondagas and Cayugas, is from 3 to 4 miles S. E. of Buffalo. The Reser
vation, comprehending 18 miles in length, by 7 in breadth, embracing Buffalo
creek, at its junction with its branches and several miles of their courses, lies

438 TOPOGRAPHY.
partly in the towns of Buffalo, Amherst, Lancaster, Alden, Wales, Aurora, and
Hamburg. The villages are, respectively, in Buffalo and Amherst. The tract
includes 49,000 acres, the greater part of which is fertile, and reaches to the
bounds of the city of Buffalo.. This is the most thriving portion of the Indian'
' remnant. It maintains, if it does not increase, its numbers. Some of its members
are intelligent, industrious, orderly, and wealthy; yet many of them hold to the
indolent habits of their race. A mission is established on the Reservation, and a
school kept for the instruction of Indian children. Near the village is a sulphur
spring, much resorted to, during the summer season.
North of the Reservation, the average price of improved farms is $25, S. $20,
the acre. Farms around the city, within five miles, range from $100, to $300,
per acre, and in some instances bring more. This great price is caused by the
large quantity of lands holden by the .Indians near the city, which do. not come
into market, and by the vicinage of the lake, contracting greatly the available
lands near to the city.
A rail road has been made between Buffalo city and Black Rock, length three
miles; another is being made from Buffalo to the falls of Niagara; a third has
been authorised from the city to Erie, in Pennsylvania; a fourth to Aurora; and a
fifth to Attica, in Genesee county, completing the line from Albany to Buffalo.
The whole county was within the Holland Land Company's purchase except a
strip of 1 mile in width, along the Niagara river.
The county has 17 towns.
Alden, taken from Clarence, 27th March, 1823; distant from Albany 272 miles;
surface undulating; soil clay, sandy and calcareous loam, adapted to grass, and
with proper cultivation, to grain; drained by Cayuga and Ellhjott's creeks.
Alden, post village, centrally situate, 20 miles E. of Buffalo, has 1 Presbyterian
church, 2 taverns, 2 stores, 1 ashery, 1 tannery, and about 25 dwellings. In the
S. E. part of the town is a hamlet, in which are saw, and grist, mills, 1 card
ing, and cloth dressing, mill, and 8 or 10 dwellings. Another post office, in the
town, is called the " Reservation."
Amherst, taken from Buffalo 10th April, 1818; distant from Albany 283 miles;
surface, gently undulating; soil gravelly loam, on slate, sand arid limestone,
which, frequently rising to the surface, renders it stony and barren; drained by
Cayuga, Seneca, Ellicott's, and Tonawanta, creeks.
WUliamsville, 10 miles N. E.Jrom Buffalo, is a thriving village, centrally
situate, containing a post, office, 1 Roman Catholic church, 1 large grist, 1 saw,
mills, 1 mill for grinding water lime, for which the stone is quarried here; 1 tan
nery, 2 taverns, 1 dry goods store, 4 groceries, and about 50 dwellings. A com
pany was incorporated in April, 1828, for making a slack water navigation on
Ellicott's creek, from the falls, at this village, to the Tonawanta. Millport, 18
miles E. from Buffalo, has a saw mill, 1 grocery store, and 20 dwellings. Slcin-
nersville, 10 miles from Buffalo, is a hamlet, containing 8 or 10 dwellings, and a
saw mill. The Erie canal leaves the Tonawanta creek near the N. E. angle of
the town. There is a post office with the name ofthe town.
Aurora, was taken from Batavia and named Willink, in honour of one of the
principal proprietors ofthe Holland Land Company, 11th April 1804. The name
was changed in 1818; and the boundaries have since been altered; distant W.
from Albany 271, from Buffalo S. E. 16 miles; surface undulating; soil clay and
gravelly loam; drained by Cazanova, and Seneca creeks. Aurora, and Griffin's
mills, sometimes called West Aurora, are post villages.
Aurora, incorporated 1836, centrally situate, is divided into two parts called
the Upper and Lower towns, or East and West villages, having a space of about
a mile between them: At the East village, are a church common to Presbyterians
and- Baptists, 3 taverns, and 3 stores; and at the West village, are the post office,
still called Willink, an Episcopalian church, 2 grist, 2 saw, mills, and 1 carding
and cloth dressing mill; 2 taverns, 3 stores, a printing office, issuing a weekly
paper; and half way between the villages is an academy. The whole number of
dwellings at the two sections, may be about 200.
Griffin's mills, upon the Cayuga creek, 3 miles S. W. from Aurora, has 1 grist,
and 1 saw, mills, a cloth dressing mill, a furnace for casting iron, a store, a tavern,
and some 15 dwellings.
A company was incorporated April 14th, 1833, for making a rail road from the

ERIE COUNTY. 439
Ea9t village to Buffalo city, with a capital of $300,000, with condition that the
road should be commenced within three years from the passage of the Acfi"and
be completed within three years after the commencement. In 1833, the Aurora
Manual labor seminary was incorporated.
Boston, "taken from Eden; 5th April, 1817; distant from Albany, 289, from Buf
falo, S. E. 18, miles; surface undulating; soil clay and gravelly loam, of good
quality; drained N. by Cauquaga creek; Very well settled by a thrifty population.
Boston, in the S. E. Angle, post village, has 1 Baptist and 1 Presbyterian, church
es, 1 grist and 1 saw, mills, carding and clothing mill, 2 stores, 1 tavern, 1 large
tannery, and a dozen dwellings. There is a post office in the N. part of tlie town,
called North Boston; Boston Centre* is a hamlet, with 1 tavern, 1 store, and 8 or 10
dwellings. Buffalo, taken from Clarence, 8th Feo. 1810; since altered; comprising Grand
Island, Bird, Squaw, Snake, and Strawberry, islands, all in the Niagara river;
centrally distant, W..from Albany 284 miles. Along the Buffalo creek, the land
is low and wet, with a soil of stiff clay, adapted to grass, and marshy on the river
in the N. W.; between (these points, and upon the E. side of the town, is an un
dulating plain, with a light alluvial soil mingled with clay. The underlying rock
is, chiefly, corniferous lime stone, at various depths, but commonly a few feet be
low the surface, alternating with graywacke and bounded, probably, near the south
ern border, by carboniferous slate. The limestone appears in deep horizontal
stratified masses, upon the banks of the Niagara, between Buffalo and Black
Rock; drained by Buffalo, Tonawanta, Cornelius, Two Mile, and Scaijaquedas,
creeks, small streams flowing to the Niagara river. It contains the city of Buffa
lo, Black Rock, and Tonawanta villages, and the small hamlet of Sherwood.
One of the most important portions of this town, is Grand Island, called by the
Indians Owanungah, in the Niagara river, commencing about 5 miles below the
Lake, and measuring, in length, around its edge 12, and in width, from 3 to 6,
miles, and terminating within 3 miles of the Falls. It contains 17,384 acres of
excellent land, generally, covered with heavy timber, chiefly oak, of the most ap
proved quality for ships. Small portions of the Island have been cleared and
converted into productive farms. This, with Strawberry, Snake, Squaw and Bird,
islands, originally belonged to the Seneca Indians, and were sold by them to the
state, in 1815, for $1000 in hand and an annuity of $500. The state, in 1833,
sold Grand Island to the East Boston Company, who have erected upon it, near
the site of the proposed Jewish city of Ararat, opposite to the mouth of the Tona
wanta creek, a village called White Haven, where they have about fifty families
and two hundred workmen, with commodious dwellings, a steam grist mill and
saw mill, 150 feet square, with room for 15 gangs of saws, six gangs of which
are at work; many workshops, a building used for a school and church; a commo
dious wharf, several hundred feet long, and a spacious dock of piles for storing
and securing floating timber.
The greatest object of the company .is to prepare timber for vessels on the lakes
and the ocean, fitting the frames to the models given; in which they avail them
selves, not only of their special resources, on the island, but of all which the vast
region around the upper lakes affords. They have already sent to the seaboard,
the frames of several large ships, rating from 400 to 700 tons. In this trade, they
employ 50 canal boats and several sloops on the N. river; and propose, we under
stand, to give great scope to their operations.
The village is approached from Buffalo, by the steamboats plying between that
city and the Falls and Chippewa; and from Tonawanta village, by a ferry, across
the river, here, 100 rods wide.
The island would seem to be, of alluvial formation; no stone, in place, has
been found upon it, save in a reef extending across its southern end, and across
the Canadian channel. The earth has been penetrated to the distance of 47 feet,
through a bed of blue clay, in which water worn stones abound, without obtaining
water. The water for domestic uses is procured from the river, and during the
summer months, rendered palatable by the free use of ice.
The company have lately purchased a large interest at Tonawanta village, and
are about to improve the harbour, formed by the creek and Tonawanta island.
Bird Island, opposite Black Rock, a mass of rock, is frequently submerged by
the river. Squaw Island, at the foot of the Black Rock rapids, contains 131 acres.

440 TOPOGRAPHY.
Strawberry Island, about 100 acres. Beaver Island,.S0 acres.. Rattlesnake Island,
48 acres; and Tonawanta Island, 69 acres.
A part of Tonawanta village, lying in the town of Niagara, Niagara county, we
have described the village as of that county.
Black Rock, village, on the Niagara river, is 3 miles N. from Buffalo city, op
posite to the village of Waterloo and the ruins of Fort Erie, in Upper Canada.
The plat formed part of the reservation made by the State, in her grant to Massa
chusetts, and the portion appropriated to the village was 1,212 acres. The village
is divided into two parts, the upper and lower. The latter had its origin in the
water power obtained by the- construction of the harbour arid dam, at Squaw
island, in 1825, forming part of the Erie canal.
The advantages dependent upon the site, at which the Erie canal should termi
nate on gr near Lake Erie, made that termination an object of great interest to the
inhabitants of Black Rock and Buffalo, respectively, and caused an earnest and
spirited contest between the two places, for the exclusive possession of the im
mense trade, connected with the canal. The conflict ended, in a judicious deter
mination of the canal commissioners to give to both a participation in the great
boon. To this end, the harbour was constructed here, and the canal continued to
Little Buffalo creek, in the city of Buffalo.
The harbour of Black Rock, partly in the lake, and partly in the river, is 4565
yards in length, from S. to N. and from 88 to 220 yards in breadth; having a
superficies of 136 acres. It opens, at the upper end, to the lake by a narrow pas
sage which vessels find difficulty in gaining, in storms. It is separated from the
river, by Bird Island, and an artificial mole, of double wooden cribs filled in with
stone, having a breadth of 18 feet, and a length of 2915 yards to Squaw Island,
raised from one to four feel above the surface of the river, rising gradually to
wards the N. An embankment is continued over Squaw Island, 1430 yards, to a
dam 165 yards long, which connects the island with the main. This dam raises
the water in the harbour, about four and a half feut, to the level of the lake; and
has a lock, by which vessels are passed to and from the river. The average depth
of water in the harbour, is 15 feet; the medial distance from the shore to Squaw
island is 40, and the mole uniting the islands, 16, rods. The harbour forms part
of the canal which leaves it opposite to Bird's island.
By the construction of these works, four great benefits have resulted. 1. A
large harbour, in addition to that of Buffalo, has been gained for the accommodation
of the immensely increasing trade, which must centre at the foot of the lake: 2.
Additional safety has been given to trade; for, previously to making the harbour,
vessels in tempestuous seasons, unable to make the mouth of Buffalo creek, were
compelled to run down the river, for protection, whence tbey could rarely ascend,
against the force of the current, save by laborious and artificial means; but, which
may now be accomplished, through the lock and harbours, with safety and dis
patch: 3. The advantages of that trade have been communicated to a larger district
and a greater number of competitors; and 4, A vast water power has been acquired,
where it was most needed, and where it may be used to greater advantage than in
any other part of the state.
There are now established on it, at the lower village, 1 flouring mill, with five
runs of stones, 1 grist mill, 2 runs of stones, 2 saw mills, a stave mill, 1 carding
and fulling mill, 1 iron foundry and steam engine manufactory, an extensive dis
tillery with grinding mill attached; at the head of Squaw island, 1 mile above the
dam, a saw mill and shingle mill; and at the Black Rock ferry, a flouring mill.
The unemployed power, here, is said to be adequate to drive 100 mills, similar to
those in operation.
Beside the above works, the village contains a window glass manufactory, with
one furnace and 10 pots, 5 taverns, 5 stores, and about 350 dwellings, among
which the mansion, late of Gen. Peter B. Porter, an efficient agent in these im
provements, is most conspicuous. There is now a rail road, 3 miles in length,
lending to Buffalo, upon the lower bank, and the rail road from that city, to the
falls, runs upon the upper bank. A team ferry boat plies continually between the
Upper village and Waterloo.
A company has recently been formed of merchants, at Buffalo, Albany and N.
xork, for the purpose of establishing a forwarding house, and several warehouses

ERIE COUNTY. 441
are about to be erected at the lower part of the basin, and great additional stimu
lus is expected from the advantages ot the harbour and its water power..
In April, 1836, a company of gentlemen at Buffalo, with associates, within and
without the state, purchased the interest of Gen. Porter here, including 400 acres
of land, mansion, harbour, grounds, manufactories, water power, &c. &c. for the
price, it is said, of $300,000. The same company also purchased an extensive
water power at the lower village. These purchases and others, making along the
Niagara river, are founded on the well grounded conviction of the rapid, improve
ment of business of all kinds here.
Buffalo Citv, lies upon the outlet'of Lake Erie, at the head of Niagara river
and upon Buffalo creek; distant N. W. from New York, by Albany and Utica
445, by Albany and Cherry Valley 435, by Morristown, New Jersey, Owego and
Ithaca 357, miles; from Albany, by the,great western road 298 miles; from Ro
chester 73, Lockport 30, Batavia 40; from Niagara Falls 22; from Erie, Pennsyl
vania 90; from Cleveland, in Ohio 103; from Sandusky 250; from Detroit, in Mi
chigan 290; from Mackinaw 627, Green Bay 807, Sault St. Marie 1000, miles;
from the mouth of the Welland canal, Port Maitland, in Upper Canada, 40 miles;
from Toronto, the capital of Upper Canada 72, from. Montreal 427, miles. Lat.
42° 53' N.; Lon. 2° W. from Washington City, and distant from that city 376 miles.
Buffalo was originally laid out by the Holland Land Company, in 1801; partly
on a bluff or terrace rising 50 feet above the lake, and partly upon' low marshy
ground, extending from the terrace, to the creek and lake. The marsh, however,
has been drained, and a large portion of the business part of the city lies upon it.
From the terrace, the land rises, by a very gentle and regular ascent for two miles,
to a level plain, bounded apparently by the horizon. From this elevation, there is
a wide and delightful view of the lake, the Niagara river, the canal, with all its
branches, the city and the Canada shore. The streets are broad, and passing from
the high grounds over the terrace to the water, are intersected by others, generally,
at right angles. There are three public squares, adding much to the salubrity and
beauty of the city.
The Erie caual extends from Black Rock harbour, 114 chains to Little Buffalo
creek; and from it are cut, at suitable places, lateral canals and basins, rendering
the whole of the lower town contiguous to water communication. The mouth or
Buffalo creek, in its. natural state, was obstructed by a sand bar, which shut out
most of the vessels navigating the lake, and forced them to resort to Black Rock,
where temporary shelter, only could be given them, in the open river. This obsta
cle, fatal to the commercial prosperity of the place, has been partly-removed by a
mole and pier of wood and stone, extending 1500 feet on the S. side of the mouth
of the creek, commenced in 1825, by aid of a loan of $12,000 from, the state, and
by donations of individual citizens; and for its improvement the general govern
ment has expended $71,194, besides the cost of ihe lighthouse. The sand has
thus been excluded from the mouth ofthe creek, and vessels drawing 8 feet water
pass freely. Upon the head of this pier a lighthouse of dressed yellowish lime
stone, 46 feet high and 20 in diameter at the base, a beautiful and durable struc
ture, was reared in 1832—3. A harbour safe against all winds, and against all
currents, save that of the creek, in ice freshets, has thus been made,' for more than
a mile, on the creek; and for the better accommodation of trade, a ship canal, 80
feet wide, and 13 deep, was completed, in 1833, across from the harbour, near the
mouth of the creek, a distance of 700 yards. But all has not yet been obtained
that is desirable, or practicable. In certain winds and seasons of tempests, ves
sels cannot make the harbour, but must run for Niagara river. To remedy this, a
ship canal is proposed directly from the lake, to the Buffalo creek, about a mile
from its mouth, by. which vessels may certainly and safely get into the harbour.
But there is a natural impediment to the trade of this and the adjacent port,
which no forecast nor enterprise can remove, save by a canal along the margin of
the lake. The breaking up ofthe ice in the lake is always accompanied by strono-
westerly winds, which force the vast accumulations of the winter into Buffalo bay*
where they remain, until dissolved by the sun, or driven from the shore by strong'
easterly gales, which rarely occur. Thus Buffalo harbour is almost always barred
up with ice from five to six weeks after the rest of the lake is in navigable condi
tion. From memoranda, made for 33 years, from 1802 to 1835, it appears, that
the mean time at which the Buffalo harbour is opened, is the 15th May, from 40
56

442

TOPOGRAPHY.

-to 45 days later than the lake, elsewhere, is navigable. It must also be observed
that, from the high northern latitude of the Erie canal, itis closed by ice from three
ito six weeks earlier in the fall than the streams which flow to the lake in Pennsyl
vania and Ohio. These circumstances necessarily diminish the annual term of
the trade on the canal from Buffalo, and have been a main inducement to the pro
jection of the Erie rail road, destined to strike a point on the lake, where snch ob
structions from ice do not exist. But these circumstances will never prevent the

ERIE COUNTY. 443
Erie canal from doing business to the full extent of its capacity, whatever may be
the efforts in the country on the south and west to divert its trade.
Buffalo is an entrepot for the immense and incessantly growing trade between
New York and a large portion of Upper Canada, and with the illimitable west.
Steamboats leave the harbour, daily, for Detroit, Portland, &c, whilst others ply
daily to Niagara Falls, and the neighbouring towns on the lake.
It is the sole port of entry for the Niagara district, consisting of the shores, ri
vers, and waters, which empty into Lake Erie, or into the Niagara river above
the falls of Niagara. Inspectors are stationed at Black Rock, Black Rock dam, To
nawanta, Silver Creek, Dunkirk, and Portland.
The city grew slowly from the time of its foundation to 1812. In that year it
became a military post, and in December, 1813, every building in it, save two,
was burned by a party of British and Indians. Many of the inhabitants were borne
captive to Montreal, while others preserved their liberty by precipitate flight. It
fuse, however, rapidly from its ashes. In 1817, it contained more than 100 houses,
many of frame, several of brick, and a considerable number large and elegant,
most of which were built in 1816. "It was incorporated as a village in 1822, and
in 1823 had the court house and jail, and upwards of 300 buildings. It had then
felt, in advance, the influence ofthe Erie canal, and much improvement was made
in anticipation of the completion of that great work. In 1829, it had 400 houses,
and more than 2000 inhabitants."
An act to.iucorporate the " City of Buffalo," was passed 20th April, 1832, di
viding the city into five wards, and establishing its government in a mayor and
common council, annually elected by the citizens. The city now contains 152
streets, and, by the census of 1835, about 2000 houses, and 15,861 inhabitants;
by estimate, this number, in June, 1836, had increased to more than 18,000. lt
has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Free Congregational, 1 German Lutheran, 1 Unitarian, TMe-
thodist Episcopal, 1 Methodist Reformed, 1 Baptist, 1 Universalist, 2 Catholic, 1
German Evangelical, 1 Bethel, churches, (13;) a literary and scientific academy,
incorporated' in 1827; Buffalo Lyceum, incorporated in 1832, possessing a library
of several hundred volumes, and some chemical and philosophical apparatus;—
weekly lectures are delivered in the winter season, which are well attended; —
Buffalo Library Association; a seminary for females, ip which the higher branches
of education are taught, incorporated in 1831; many district and select schools; 2
theatres, of dressed limestone; a very neat county court house, of brick, and pri
son, of stone; 200 stores; the Bank of Buffalo, capital $200,000; the Commercial
Bank of Buffalo, $400,000; tbe City Bank, incorporated 1836, $400,000; 6 news
papers, 3 of which are daily; many hotels and taverns, required. by the vast con
course of strangers here; among which the Eagle Tavern, Buffalo House, and City
Hotel, are conspicuous, together with a very large building for the same purpose,
erected in 1835; and a great variety of manufactories, among which are 2 steam
iron foundries and saw mill, and 1 furnace. The buildings, public and private,
are generally good, many of them four stories high, and among them are many ex
cellent specimens of architecture.
In evidence ofthe rapid improvement of this city, we may remark, that an enter
prising citizen, Mr. Rathburn, during the year 1835, erected 99 buildings, at an
aggregate cost of about $500,000. Of these 52 were stores of the first class— 32
dwellings — a theatre, &c.
The advancein the value of real estate has been very great, which, with the
large business "done here, has produced an abundant flow of wealth. That the in
habitants are disposed to use their riches liberally, and wisely, is demonstrated by
the University of Western New York, chartered March, 1836. The corporation of
the city, we understand, has given a lot for the buildings, and the following gen
tlemen have endowe 1 professorships: William Williams, the " Williams' Profes-
sorshipof Moral and Mental Philosophy"— Samuel Wilkinson, the " Wilkinsoh
Professorship of Law" — Alanson Palmer, the " Alanson Professorship of Mathe
matics and Natural Philosophy"— Hiram Pratt and Orlando Allen, the " Pratt and
Allen Professorship of Theology" — Joseph Dart and George Palmer, the " Dart
and Palmer Professorship of English Literature and Belles Lettres" — Perrie A.
Barker, the "Barker Professorship of Languages" — Guy H. Goodrich, the'
"Goodrich Professorship of Chemistry and Mineralogy" — H. B. Porter and John
C. Lord, the " Porter and Lord Professorship of Oriental Literature and Hebrew

444 TOPOGRAPHY.
Language." The endowment of each professorship is $15,000. The whole amount
of donations to the University is reported at about $250,000.
The city, and village of Black Rock, are supplied with water from the Buffalo
creek, 4 miles above the city.
The Buffalo Hydraulic Association was incorporated in 1827, with a capital of
$25,000, which may be increased to $50,000. They have brought a canal, com
mencing near 4 miles from the city, to its eastern bounds, where are now in opera
tion a woollen, a hat body, and pail, factories, a grist mill, a brewery, and other
works, around which a village of 500 inhabitants has grown up.
A company was incorporated in April, 1833, for the establishment of a marine
hospital; another in May 6, 1834, for constructing a marine railway, with dry or
wet docks, for building and repairing vessels; and April 29, 1835, "The Sailors
and Boatmen's Friend Society" was incorporated, for the purpose of improving the
social and moral condition of those who navigate the inland waters.
By a statistical account prepared by a committee of the citizens, in December,
1835, the aggregate amount of tonnage in October, 1832, was 2767 tons; in Octo
ber, 1835, 7400 tons, in 13 steamboats, 3 brigs, and 51 schooners and sloops. In
addition to which there were trading to, and owned in part by citizens of, Buffalo,
but registered at other ports on the lake; 12 steamboats and 147 other vessels, ton
nage 11,760; making the whole number of vessels 226, and the aggregate ton
nage trading to the.port 23,823 tons. In May, 1836, several large vessels were
added to this sum, including a ship of 300 tons, and to it we should also add the
tonnage of 16 regular lines of canal boats, running between this city and Al
bany. By the same account, the arrivals and departures of vessels, in 1835, during 210
days, were, of steamboats, arrivals 720, departures 720; of other vessels, arrivals
920, departures 920 — total arrivals and departures 3280 — averaging 16 arrivals
and departures per day. The number of clearances on the canal here were, in
1833, 3314— in 1834, 4008— in 1835, 5126. The amount of tolls received was, in
1833, $73,813 54— in 1835, $105,663 18. The amount of merchandise received
at Buffalo, by the canal, for the western, south-western, and southern states, and
territories, was, in the year 1834, 34,803,489 lbs.— in 1835, 36,921,362 lbs. Fur
niture, for every destination, in 1834, 8,297,643 lbs  in 1835, 10,869,045— in
crease, 4,689,275 lbs. The amount of merchandise destined for the citizens of Buf
falo and its vicinity alone, was, in 1834, 13,254,686 lbs  in 1835, 22,345,354
lbs. — increase, 9,090,768 lbs. Total increase of merchandise and furniture re
ceived at Buffalo, in 1835, 13,780,043 lbs.
From this statement, it appears that nearly two-thirds of all the mere! andise
and furniture received at Buffalo, by canal, goes no further, but is intended for the
city and vicinage; and that the increase of 1835 over 1834, of such property, is
over 40 per cent.; and of property destined beyond Buffalo, nearly 25 per cent.
The amount invested by the citizens of Buffalo alone, in steamboats and lake
vessels, and in canal boats, was $673,200. The advances made by her citizens
on freight passing Buffalo, east and west, during 1835, were $1,488,917 04; on pro
duce $470,104 54— total, $1,959,021 58. The manufactures in Buffalo, in 1835,
amounted to $2,073,500. Sales of merchandise, exclusive of such manufactures,
to $1,748,700; and the amount expended in buildings to $1,130,000; yet the total
banking capital was but $600,000.
The postage received at Buffalo, in 1835, was $20,881 46— increase of 1832,
$11,899 16. Amount of postage on letters distributed at the 'Buffalo office,
$91,302 69. Fifty-one mails arrive and depart, weekly, from the city during the
winter, and 58 during the summer.
Sherwood is a hamlet 5 miles N. E. from Buffalo, containing 2 taverns, a store,
and 10 or 12 dwellings.
Clarence, organised March 12th, 1808; since altered; distant from Albany 265
miles; surface gently undulating; soil clay, sandy, and cal'careous loam, covered
with stunted oak, dry and suitable for grain; drained by small tributaries of the
Tonawanta. The post office has the name of the town, and lies in the S. W.
part, at Clarence Hollow or Ransom's Grove, 18 miles N. E. from Buffalo;
where are a Methodist church, 1 grist, and saw, mills, 1 distillery, 1 tannery, 2
taverns, 5 stores, 3 groceries, 1 ashery, and about 40 dwellings. There is a
post offiee called Cayuga creek.

ERIE COUNTY.

445

Colden, taken from Holland, 2d April, 1827; distant from Albany 287, from
Buffalo S. E. 21, miles; surface hilly; soil, clay, wet and cold, adapted to grass,
but unfavourable to wheat, corn, or fruit; drained by the Cazenova creek. A vil
lage was laid out in 1834, called Waterville, at which are a saw, and grist, mills, ,
and 2 or 3 dwellings. The post office has the name of the town. The town is
yet thinly inhabited, but the greater portion of the lands were sold for settlement
in 1835, at an average price of $3 50, the acre.
Collins, taken from Concord, 16lh March, 1821; distant W. from Albany 295,
from Buffalo S. 30, miles; surface undulating; soil in the N. moist clay, adapted to
grass; and in the S. gravelly loam, suitable for wheat, and the town, generally, is
productive in the fruits of the climate; drained by Cattaraugus, Cauquaga, and Two
Sisters* creeks. A large portion of the S. W. portion is settled by " Friends."
Lodi, Collins' Centre, and Carr's Corners, are post villages. Lidi, lies on the
Cattaraugus creek, partly in Cattaraugus county, (which see) having over the creek
a fine covered bridge, 38 miles S. of Buffalo. /Collins' Centre, has a tavern, a store, a
saw mill, carding, and cloth dressing, mills, and 8 or 10 dwellings. Carr's Cor
ners, has a store, tavern, school house, and 6 or 8 dwellings. The timber here is
more various than in any other town ofthe county.
Concord, taken from Willink, 20th March, 1812; distant from Albany 282,
from Buffalo S. E. 23, miles; surface generally hilly, high ridges dividing the
streams; soil clay loam, underlaid by slate, well adapted to grass; drained by
Cattaraugus, Cauquaga, and Cazenova, creeks. Springville, post village, incorpo
rated, 14th April, 1834, contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Baptist,
churches, a society of free will Baptists, an academy incorporated and in flourish
ing condition, 2 grist mills, 3 s.iw mills, 1 woollen factory, 1 oil mill, 1 furnace,
3 extensive tanneries, 8 stores, 3 taverns, and 120 dwellings, rapidly increasing;
lying upon a high, healthy, fertile, gravelly plain, watered with abundant and
pure springs.
Eden, organised 20th March, 1812; surface undulating; soil clay and gravelly
loam, adapted to grass, grain, and fruit; drained by the Cauquaga, and Two Sis
ters, creeks. Three fourths of the town are seated. Tub's Hollow and Eden, are
post villages. The former, on Cauquaga creek, 16 miles from Buffalo, has 1 grist
mill, 2 saw mills, clothing works, and about 20 dwellings. The post office is
called Zoar. The town is rapidly growing in population; many Germans and
Swiss crowding into it.
Evans, taken from Eden 23d March, 1821; distant from Albany 293, from
Buffalo, S. W. 19, miles; surface hilly; being on the western slope of the divid
ing ridge; soil moist clay and gravelly loam, producing good wheat, rye, Indian
corn, grass, and fruit; drained W. by Two Sisters, and Delaware, creeks, and
some less streams, affording little mill power. Sturgeon Point, is opposite to,
and distant from, Point Albino, in Canada, 8^ miles, the width of Lake Erie here.
The major part ofthe town is settled. Evans and East Evans are post offices.
Hamburg, taken from Willink 20th March, 1812; distant from Albany 283
miles; surface undulating; soil clay, sand, and calcareous loam. The lime and
slate rising into ridges: Generally the soil is warm and fertile, adapted to grass,
frain, and fruit. Potter's Corners, centrally situate, and West Hamburg or Ham-
urg on the Lake, are post villages. The former, contains 2 taverns, 2 stores, and
half a dozen dwellings; the latter, 11 miles from Buffalo, and 3 E. from the lake,
has a tavern, 3 stores, and 12 or 15 dwellings. The town is drained, by Caze
nova, and Smoke, creeks. There is a post offiee called East Hamburg.
. Holland, taken from Aurora, 15th April, 1818; since altered; distant W. from
Albany 281, from Buffalo S. E. 24, miles; surface high and rolling; soil moist
clay and sandy loam; drained by Seneca, and Cazenova, creeks. One fourth seated.
Holland, post village, on Seneca creek, centrally situate, has 2 stores, 1 tavern, 1
tannery, 2 saw mills, and about 20 dwellings.
Lancaster, taken from Clarence 20th March, 1833; distant from Albany 280
miles; surface undulating; soil clay and calcareous loam, productive in grain and
grass; drained westerly, by Ellicott's, Cayuga, and Seneca, creeks. Cayuga
creek, village, 10 miles from Buffalo E. on the creek, has 1 Presbyterian church,
1 grist, and 2 saw, mills, 1 tannery, 1 ashery, 2 taverns, 2 stores, 2 groceries, and'
between 40 and 50 dwellings. The post office is called after the town. Town

446

TOPOGRAPHY.

Line, on the line between this and Alden, has a post office, 2 taverns, 1 store, and
10 dwellings.
Newstead, originally organised by the name of Erie, as part of Genesee
county, and taken from Batavia, 11th April, 1804; modified March 23d, 1823;
from Albany 260 miles; surface undulating; soil clay, gravelly, and calcareous
loam; drained by Murder, and Ellicott's, creeks. The Erie post office having
the former name ofthe town, is on the road from Batavia to Buffalo, .fowl village,
on Murder creek, 54 miles N. E. from Buffalo, has a post office, grist, and saw,
mills, tannery, ashery, a carding and cloth dressing mill, 1 distillery, 1 tavern, 2
stores, and 30 dwellings.
Sardinia, taken from Concord 16th March, 1821; distant from Albany 273, and
S. E. from Buffalo 30, miles; surface hilly; on the N. with clay loam, moist, and
adapted to grass; on the S. and E. a plain, about 3 by 4 miles, with gravelly soil,
covered with sugar maple, and productive of grain; drained by the Cattaraugus,
Cazenova, and Seneca, creeks. About one fourth of the town, is cleared and set
tled. The post village of Sardinia, on the Cattaraugus creek, 34 miles from Buf
falo, contains a Baptist church, 1 grist, and 2 saw, mills, a furnace for casting
iron, 1 carding and cloth dressing mill, a tannery, 1 tavern, 2 stores, and about 50
dwellings. Wales, taken from Willink 15th ApTil, 1818; centrally distant from Albany
268, from Buffalo S. E. 20, miles; surface undulating; soil clay, gravelly, and
sandy loam, of good quality, especially for grass; drained by the Seneca creek.
The greater proportion of the town is settled; the interest of the Holland Land
Company being sold out. Wood's Hollow, is a village, having the post office, 2
taverns, 1 store, and 12 or 15 dwellings, a grist mill, saw mill, carding and cloth
dressing mill. There is another post office called South Wales.

Females.
Births.
Deaths.
01
13
ico
JO T
aoi
TOWNS.
a
s
.2 a
- 01
Is
to J)
•cS
tZS to
mto
ti
m
to
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
.2 '
01o
>
c01
< ¦
eg e
s to
2 <o
Si
ooT
cd c.
CS
s
to
s
"a B 01
01
01
*« a
r"&c
Buffalo town, '
4054
259
465
551
566
248
795
50
86
70
06
39
City — 1st ward,
^
4838
616
1009
470
622
241
527
49
75
61
80
51
2d ward,
2805
261
451
335
389
326
424
17
54
45
33
22
3d ward,
1909
299
347
161
282
177
283
17
2-.»
14
10
14
4th ward,
3407
161
332
1448
498
254
583
11
60
61
19
29
5th ward,
2702
163
448
489
373
292
423
20
36
40
20
17
City and town,
2095
5141
8668
19715
Alden,
793
1257
1969
122
393
9
283
127
465
12
50
44
15
23
Amherst,
768
1308
2435
3376
228
440
636
450
262
809
19
61
64
19
13
A-trr,ra,
1285
1727
2423
2067
247
636
30
415
234
673
19
71
48
28
27
Boston,
08ii
992
1521
1825
154
314
69
261
135
399
13
39
30
29
14
Clarence,
3278
2465
3360
2249
223
424
48
292
151
518
15
34
4*
16
16
Colden,
464
788
56
155
2
104
48
173
1
16
12
1
2
Collins,
1064
1627
2123
4025
255
770
22
566
261
93i
32
68
61
30
25
Concord,
102)
1460
1895
2658
238
537
39
362
153
644
24
50
48
19
15
Eden,
583
862
1060
2093
110
279
301
254
143
4<!&
24
44
40
15
17
Evans,
482
770
1185
2638
215
525
48
388
158
66!
13
61
61
27
21
Hamburgh,
2034
2661
3351
4120
282
776
138
500
323
102
11
76
80
33
21
Holland,
768
1001
1071
1166
81
237
3
155
82
2J!
16
24
18
10
5
Lancaster,*
2009
90
290
320
259
158
464 13
42
23
12
7
Newstead,
1375
1926
'2383
202
468
31
323
130
604
13
53
57
19
10
Sardinia,
968
951
1453
1633
134
309
4
197
113
419
3
18
25
5
4
Wales,
903
1183
1470
1084
140
369
15
252
130
488
10
402
' 34
1074
27
982
12
518
11
15668
24316
35719
57594
4536
9974
5172
7791
4152'lll95
403
Note.— Males, 30,899; Females, 26,695; Blacks, 475; Paupers,63; Deaf and Dumb, 11: Blind, 13; IdiotB,
32; Lunatics, 16.
* Taken from Clarence in 1833.
ERIE COUNTY.

447

TOWNS.

.B'ofiUo town.
City-lst Ward
2d ward,
3d ward,
4th ward
5th ward
City and town
Alden,Amherst, Aurora,
Boston, Clarence,Colden, Collins, Concord, Eden,Evans, Hamburgh, Holland,Lancaster, Newstead,
Sardinia, Wales,

21845 18683
4238526945 24774 31167
24851 5717244572 26428 3819551129

go.

11434

456

23851 30400 3278240488

71158788
13191 9155
11075 1825
1683610530 61799152
18799 5004 7160

c-S
- ° *

2508356 128753
437293329761 121651
280943 79134
324763 193714
152710 Ui4693
446153 120574
206057
86361 212936
7183 150697
9482i 180202

01 C- 0
ffi-OJ* O, C a

560560|162891'5938400

758291395 64
2'5 210513 7559l4 510 900 118
848 657
' 413 500
1423 316 472 635466 664

2640187 44407 12039

1583900 1800
2700
11725 850
1800 50
1310
4940 38224145
11255 12253620 4610 760
1675

1909 159
270 99
144
191
1760
2244 32312300
2241 SOS
5845 3802 1936
2737 4444 18751645J 1910'
22802577,

44132585 6894 3533
4359 1211
6728 5831
2263 36779915 24452697 40123511 4036
69256

439242 50 6
213
1360
2809 2981 1507
2899 532
31132571 1288
2589 3801 1147
1649 18661783
2401

1579 1491
51822531 307) 1235490.1 3946
2154 3164 6482 1765 1682
39222402 3593

992 7020

2968 17657131 3915410' 128U 1136
6216 3188
4218 89054586'
'2792 4651
4577
11295

37544 49693 73823 5369523772 5

3635 792
3499
2589 1898 1727
8055 37232894 44034570 4800 1169
2244 3027 4670

12508 94
441 31
1400 0)
760 56
426 09
883 53
258 70
1034 79
660 44
517 40
630 00
1452 00
382 8'
669 57
693 92
477 83
574 61

S co

5806 09
618 62
1256 01
969 19
t?27 04
5U0 28
524 86
1278 63
853 16
675 07
635 80
1067 06
533 89
641 22
657 82
430 69
812 25

18088 28

The amount of debts of non-residents, $232,039 47.

TOWNS.

Buffulo town,
City— 1st ward,
2d ward,
3d ward,
4th ward,
5th ward,
City and town,
Alden,Amherst, Aurora,
Boston, Clarence,Colden,Collins, Concord, Eden,
> Evans,
' Hamburgh, Holland, Lancaster,Newstead,Sardinia, Wales,

Value of product

Value of material, fe
 IS

12

6 4

G 6

o t>
CO t-
"I

20 14 11 16 9
11 7
2320 8
18
27 88
.13 1511

239

5 oi
o 0

783 180282259
<C38 289 72
312312 170 198
496 193
233 301283 233

ti U
(to.

ill£2 8

4e34

2051 523 180
864 311
536 146
768568 314889
1013 126
324470 381

1* P 'i
la

1627 724681
1095 414 7»255
1333 944 637
1014 1495 407 461820 640
973
14285

No. of children between 5 and 16 years
of age, 14,791.

448

TOPOGRAPHY.

ESSEX COUNTY, formed from Clinton, 1st March, 1799, is bounded N.by
Clinton, E. by Lake Champlain, separating it from the state of Vermont, S. by
Washington and Warren, and W. by Franklin and Hamilton counties; greatest
length, N. and S. 43, greatest breadth E. and W. 41, miles; area 1162 square
miles, exclusive of Lake Champlain;* situate between 43° 49' and 44° 26' N.
Lat., 2° 40' and 3° 45' E. Long.; centrally distant from New York 271, and from
Albany 126, miles.
Surface mountainous; the Kayaderosseras ridge crossing it on the S. E.; bound
ing for 20 miles the western margin of Lake Champlain; the Clinton ridge run-
nine centrally and north-easterly over it to the lake, on the N. E. angle, and the
Au'Sable range filling the whole of the N. W. section. These ridges have irregu
lar and broken summits, varying in height from 500 to 1500 feet above their
bases, and the White Face mountain of the Au Sable has an elevation of 2600
feet. The valley between the Kayaderosseras and Clinton ranges is drained N. by
Bouquet river and its tributaries, S. by Sehroon river and its branches; and that
between the Clinton and Au Sable mountains, by the Hudson southward, and
branches ofthe Au Sable northward. Thus it will be perceived that near the cen
tre of the latitude of the county a watershed stretches across it, giving opposite

* This area is from the returns of the supervisors in 1835, giving 744,002 acres.
statistical table of Burr's Atlas gives 1779 square miles, or 1,138,500 acres.

The

ESSEX COUNTY. 449
courses to the streams. The Saranac drains the valley, traversing the extreme N.
W. angle ofthe county, and between the Au Sable and Chateaugua mountains.
Bouquet river isYormed by two branches, the south and the west. The first has its
source in the Moriah, and flows N. W. by Elizabeth town, within 60 rods of the
county buildings, through Essex to Lake Champlain at WeMsborough, 23 miles
N. of Crown Point, a distance of about 35 miles; the second rises in Chesterfield
and Lewis, and. has a crooked course of less than 20 miles. The branches unite
about 5 miles from ihe mouth. It is navigable only 2 miles from the lake, boats
being stopped there by the falls, at which there are mills, and the remains of an
entrenchment thrown up by Gen. Burgoyne. Its chief tributaries are Black creek
and Roaring brook of the south branch.
Sable, or River Au Sable,, has also two branches. The south, and main one, is*
sues from 'a lake on the south line of Keene, and flows through a broad and deep
valley by a N. W. course of about 25 miles, to the line of Clinton county; at
Jaysville, where it receives the west branch. The latter also rises in Keene, from
a lake centrally situated, and in a vale of the Sable mountains, and runs by the
same course of about 20 miles to its recipient. From the junction, the stream con
tinues a N. W. course of about 15 miles to Lake Champlain, forming for the
greater part of the way, the line between Clinton and Essex counties. The cur
rent is rapid, supplying many mill sites; its channel being that of a deep canal
with many locks; and is an object of much curiosity, particularly at Adgate's
Falls. These falls are about three miles above the mouth, and three west of Port
Kent upon the lake, and have their name from a proprietor of some valuable mills
there. The water pours over a precipice 80 feet high into a narrow channel,
whose walls of rock rise perpendicularly from sixty to one hundred feet, and
are separated at the entrance abou,t seventy feet. At what is called the "High
Bridge,"' about half a mile below the falls, it is narrowed to twenty-seven feet;
and the water is 35 feet deep; over this chasm a bridge was once thrown, but has
been suffered to decay. There is an indifferent road from the falls to the bridge,
whose site is yet a wilderness. This passage is directly through a ridge which
crosses tbe course of the river, and is milch higher than the falls, from whieh'the
stream is cast at its foot, and the top of the ridge is level table land. The walls
upon either side of the chasm have the appearance of art, and look in many places
as if they had obeyed the plummet's law. " The length ofthe ravine through the
ridge exceeds a mile.
It may be well doubted if the chasm has been made by the water, since it is.not
the only one ofthe kind in the hill; another (U' not more than one,) runs parallel to
this, but of less length, and is entirely dry. But a third, as deep as either, crosses
these at right angles, near tbe High Bridge, and being partly filled with earth and
)e*aves, admits a passaae to the water's edge. Tlie depth ofthe cbasm, including
that of the' water, is said to be here 135 feet. The rock is of the same siliceous
character as that which borders and underlays the river for several mil.s above.
lt is certainly one of the most singular and curious water courses in the state.
There are many small ponds and lakes among the hills, in every part of the
county. The whole of this county lies within the northern primitive district, except a
strip of lower secondary, which borders the lake for many miles, and which has
generally a surface rock of lime. Iron ore of the best quality abounds every where
on the hills; marble is apparent in Moriah; plumbago in several districts;ochres,
from which paint is made, in Ticonderoga; and some copper, it is said, has been
discovered in the northern partof the county.
The timber, which is verv abundant, and of large size, consists of white and
black oak, white and yellow pine, maple, beech, poplar, walnut, butternut, birch,
ash, elm, basswdod, cherry, fir, spruce, hemlock, &c. Tbe forests are stocked
with game, and the waters richly stored with fish. Springs and rivulets of purest
water gush from every hill, and the climate is highly salubrious. The flats and
undulating champaign along the lake and the valleys, are susceptible of beneficial
culture. The inhabitants are hardy and industrious, and chiefly from New Eno-Iand or
descendants of those sent forth by that hive of nations.
The great business of the county has been that of getting lumber, immense
quantities being sent from the eastern portions by the Champlain lake and canal
57

450 TOPOGRAPHY.
to the markets on the Hudson river; and the making and manufacturing of iron.
Engaged in these pursuits, the inhabitants do not raise sufficient bread stuffs for
their consumption. Flour is imported in the barrel, and much wheat for manufac
ture. But as the timber becomes culled, and the finer qualities more difficult to .
procure, more attention is given to agriculture, and its returns amply repay the la
bour bestowed upon it. — The county has 15 towns.
Chesterfield, taken from Willsborough, 20th February, 1802, including
Schuyler's island in the lake; surface mountainous, the Clinton range covering
. it; but along the lake the land is arable, and easy of tillage; the soil, a sandy
loam, mingled with clay. There are several small ponds, of which Butternut and
Auger are the largest, and there are some small streams; but the great water
course is the Au Sable. Iron ore abounds. In the S. W. part of the town is a
natural cave in which ice is preserved during the year. Agriculture here forms
now the principal business of the inhabitants, and wheat is said to yield from 15
to 20 bushels the acre. Port Kent and Port, Douglass, upon the lake, the former 2
miles N. and the latter 2 miles S. of Point Trembleau, and Keeseville, are villages.
The first, 149 miles N. E. of Albany, and 25 from Elizabethtown, and 4 E. from
Keeseville, 15 S. from Plattsburg, on the lake, has 2 landings, 3 store houses, post
office, 1 tavern, 1 store, 16 dwellings, and is the port for the valley of the Au Sable
river, from which vast quantities of lumber andMron are exported. Port Douglass,
from which much lumber is also sent, is the shipping place of the Clintonville iron
works, and contains a wharf, store house, and 3 or 4 dwellings. The steamboats
plying on the lake stop regularly at Port Kent. From this place there is a wide
and beautiful prospect, including the lake and its islands, the shores and mountains
of Vermont, and" the fine village of Burlington, distant 11 miles.
Keeseville, so called from tbe founder, Mr. Richard Keese, formerly ',' Ander
son's Falls," distant from Albany N. 150, from Elizabeth 20, from Plattsburg
S. 16, miles, contains 1200 inhabitants, 200 dwellings, 1 Baptist, 1 Presbyterian,
1 Methodist, and 1 Catholic, churches; an incorporated academy, 4 other schools,
1 very large grist mill, with 5 run of stones, and another with 3 run of stones;' a
woollen factory, making annually 2500 yards of cloths and kerseynets; the Man
chester Cotton Manufacturing Company, incorporated 8th May, 1835, capital au
thorised 50,000 dollars; 5 saw mills, 1 gang-mill, with 28 saws, producing
five millions feet per annum of white pine boards and plank ; 1 trip
hammer shop, and 5 fires, employed principally on iron for waggons, and 1
rolling and slitting mill, and nail factory, making 1000 tons of nails per annum, 1
cupola furnace, and machine shop, 2 taverns, 12 stores, an extensive brewery, 2
printing offices, each issuing a weekly paper; the Essex County Bank, capital
$100,000; 1 large tannery, 6 lawyers, 7 physicians. The buildings lately erected,
and the best in the village, are of a fine grained quartzose stone, which underlays
the county in well defined strata. Farms around the town are worth from 5 to 20
dollars the acre. A gently inclining plane rises westward from the village, for 4
or 5 miles. There are two falls in the village, the upper about 13, the lower dis
tant 100, yards, of about 18 feet, and much of the power is unemployed. One
half the river at the lower dam is owned by an incorporated company at Troy;
the remainder of the stream belongs to individuals. Grain for the flouring mills
here has been brought from Ohio to the Welland canal, thence by land from Ogdens
burg, distant 120 miles; .supplies are commonly obtained from the Erie canal, and
in 1835 were procured from Montreal. A rail road is constructed from this place
to Port Kent, distant by the valley ofthe river 4 J miles.
In 1802 this place was a wilderness, when the first saw mill was built; in 1814
a grist mill was erected, in 1815 the rolling mill, and 1829 the forge. It is now
the centre of business for the great iron and lumber district of the Au Sable val
ley, and belongs to the two counties, Essex and Clinton, lying partly in each.
For further notice of this valley see' "Clinton county."
Crown Point, organised 7th March, 1780; N. from Albany 100 miles; along
the lake the surface for the breadth of four miles is level, and the soil, principally,
clay loam; high mountains pervade the west; drained centrally and eastwardly
by Putnam's creek. Crown Point, whence the name of the town and the ancient
Fort, is situated at the N. E. extremity, and is formed by an extensive deep bay
on the W. skirted by a steep mountain, and on the N. and E. by the body of the
lake. The fort, St. Frederick, was built here by the French, in 1731, on the bank
of the lake, but was subsequently blown up; and its site is now marked by a heap of

ESSEX COUNTY. 451
stones. After the capture of this post, in 1756, Fort Crown Point was erected
about 47 feet above the level of the lake, Lat. N. 44° 3' Long. W. 73° 29', from
London. May 14th, 1775, it fell into the hands of the Americans, but was evac
uated in 1776, and re-occupied by the British. The walls were of wood and earth,
16 feet high, 22 thick, enclosing an area of 1,500 yards square, surrounded by a
deep and broad ditch cut in the granite rock with gTeat labour. There were here a
double row of strong stone barracks, and in the N. a gate with a strong draw
bridge, and covered way leading to the lake. The whole is now in ruins, and the
outworks, which were extensive, are heaps of rubbish. Near this place 13th
October, 1776, terminated the disastrous expedition against Canada, by the total
destruction of our lake fleet, under the command of Arnold. Crown Point and
Morrow's mills, are villages. The former, 23 miles from Elizabeth, has a post
office, Presbyterian church, tavern, store, several saw mills, and about 30 dwel
lings. Much lumber business is done here. The latter, 20 miles from Elizabeth,
has a store, 2 taverns, grist, and saw mills, blast furnace, which has not been in
operation, clothing works, and some 20 dwellings, upon Putnam's creek, which
affords fine water power. There is a ferry heTe over the lake.
Elizabethtown, organised 12th February, 1798; since modified; from Albany
126, from Lake Champlain W. 8 miles; surface mountainous; the Clinton range,
running through it, having broad valleys, the largest of which, called " Pleasant
Valley," is drained, N. E. by the Bouquet river, while its tributaries "Black
Creek," and " Roaring Brook," course other vales. The mountains have points
of considerable elevation. The Giant of the Valley* a mile S. W. of Elizabeth
village, rises 1,200 feet above the level of the plain, and Rover's Hill, on the E. has
not much less altitude. From the former, there is an extensive and beautiful view,
embracing the whole valley of Lake Champlain, the Green Mountains, the vales
of Vermont, and its villages of Burlington, Vergennes, Middlebury, and others,
with Plattsburg, and the whole western shore of the Lake: And northward and
southward may be traced the irregular, but continuons line ofthe mountain chain,
with its soaring summits. On the N. E. this mountain has an almost perdendicu-
lar declivity of 700 feet. Wood and water, and iron of the best quality abound,
and iron works have been established upon the Bouquet, 6 miles above the village
of Elizabeth, at " Valley Forge." This town was settled so early as 1785.
Elizabeth is the shire town, and a post village, containing the court house of
brick, small and inconvenient, prison of stone, fire proof clerk's office, state arse
nal of brick, 3 taverns, 2 stores, and about 30 dwellings.
Essex, taken from Willsborough April 4th, 1805; N. from Albany 133 miles;
surface hilly; Clinton mountain being on the W.; on the E. and along the margin
of the Lake, the lands are arable and fertile, and well cultivated. There is iron
ore here of good quality, Bouquet river runs N. through the town. The post
village of Essex lies upon Lake Champlain, and upon a handsome and gently in
clined plain, and contains about 50 dwellings, 1 very fine Presbyterian church, 3
stores, and 2 taverns. The buildings are generally good, many of them of brick
and limestone, surrounded with gardens, which give the village an extent of three
miles. The strip of land on which it lies has a breadth at most of two miles, and
has a curvilinear hill boundary on the west. Split Rock, post office is 129 miles
from Albany, and from Elizabeth 12 miles N. E.; near it is the noted Split Rock.
This curiosity is part of a rocky promontory projecting into the lake about 150
feet, and elevated above the level of the water 40 feet. The part broken off con
tains half an acre covered with trees, and is separated from the main rock some
20 feet. The opposing sides fit, the prominences of the one corresponding with
the cavities of the other. Through this fissure a line has been let down to the
depth of 500 feet without reaching the bottom. A third post office is called
Wessex. Jav, N. from Albany 145, and from Elizabethtown N. W. 18 miles; surface
mountainous, on the E. runs the Clintoniridge, on the W. the Au Sable; through
the intervening valley, in a N. W. direction, flows the E. branch ofthe Au Salle
river, along which are some extensive and fertile flats, generally settled and well
cultivated; soil sandy loam; mill seats and timber are abundant. In the deep
valleys less snow falls than is usual in this latitude, but the late and early frosts
are more severe. The market for the town is at Keeseville, 16 miles from the
centre. The first settlements here were made in 1790; the present inhabitants are

452 TOPOGRAPHY.
chiefly from New England. Jayville, Au Sable, Upper Village, and the Forks,
are post villages. Jayville, centrally situate upon the Falls ofthe river, (20 feet)
20 miles N. W. of Elizabeth, contains 1 Methodist, and 1 Baptist, churches, 1
forge, 1 trip hammer shop, 1 tavern, 2 stores, and about 30 dwellings.
The Upper Village, 3 miles S. of Jay, has 1 Presbyterian church, carding and
cloth dressing mill, 1 tavern, 1 store, and 25 dwellings! "The Forks" has the
very extensive rolling mill and nail factory, belonging to the Au Sable Iron Com
pany, composed ofthe forge masters of the country, producing 1,200 tons nails of
very superior quality, 1 forge, 2 saw mills, 1 store, 1 tavern, and 70 dwellings.
The company was incorporated 29th April, 1835, with a capital of §50,000.
Keene, taken from Elizabeth and Jay, 19th March, 1808; N. from Albany 138,
W. from Elizabeth 12 miles; having the Clinton and Au Sable mountains cross
ing it; drained by the E. and W. branches of the Au Sable, and by the Saranac,
rivers. There are several lakes of which Placid, covering 1,700 acres, is the
largest. The settlements at the " Flats," on the W. branch of the Au Sable, com
menced here in 1797, and those at the " Great Plains," in 1804. Iron ore abounds
but its admixture with plumbago renders it difficult to work; for which reason the
Elba Iron and Steel Company, incorporated with a capital of $100,000, have
abandoned operations here. For the supply of the only forge now worked in the
town, ores are obtained from Peru. 'Spafford speaks of Lake Saranac, in this
town, producing great abundance of trout of very large size; {Salmon Trout, Qu.)
some weighing 401bs. and says that a barrel has been filled with them, by the
hook and line within an hour. We do not find the lake on the state map, nor did
we hear aught cf it from the inhabitants of the county; yet it may be there. The
post office bears the name ofthe town.
Lewis, taken from Willsborough April 4th, 1805; surface hilly: the Clinton
range of mountains running N. E. across it, rising to a great height; Morris' dis
covery, one of its summits, being supposed to attain two thousand feet. On the
E. the land is more level and arable, with a tolerable soil; drained on the S. E.
by Bouquet river, and E. and N. E. by its tributary Gilliland's creek. Iron ore
is abundant. The town was settled about the year 1800. The post village of
Lewis, 5 miles N. from Elizabeth, contains 1 Presbyterian church, 2 stores, 15
dwellings, 1 grist mill, and 2 saw mills, forge, and tavern.
Minerva, taken from Sehroon 20th March, 1804; surface upon the E. hilly, the
Clinton range crossing it. On the W. is the valley between that and the Au
Sable range; in which N. ofthe town line are the primary sources of the Hudson
river. The valley affords some fertile lands. The state road from Cadwell
through Chester, to Canton, in St. Lawrence county, runs diagonally N. W. on
which are the chief settlements. Minerva Four Corners, in the S. E. 92 miles N.
E. from Albany 40, S, W. from Elizabethtown, is the post village.
Moriah, taken from Crown Point and Elizabethtown, 12th Feb. 1808; N. from
Albany 114, from Elizabethtown, S. 10, miles; surface hilly; the Kayaderosseras
mountain crossing the E. and the Clinton range the western part. The interven
ing valley is watered by the Sehroon river, rising here in some lakes; the soil of
the valley is a pretty good loam, underlaid in many places with limestone.. The
shore of Lake Champlain is hilly and broken, but there is a comparatively level
tract between these hills and the mountain, which affords many good farms. Iron
ore of excellent quality abounds, and there are, it is said, quarries of white marble.
The first settlements were made here by Wm. Mackenzie, Esq. in or about the
year 1785. Cedar Point is a small village upon the lake. Moriah, Pondsville,
and Port Henry, are post offices.
Newcomb, taken from Minerva and Moriah, 15th March, 1828; N. from Alba
ny 120, from Elizabethtown, S. W. 30, miles; surface mountainous; the Au Sa
ble mountain running on the N. W; on the S. E. an uneven valley, in which are
seven or eight small lakes, whose surplus waters form a very considerable tribu
tary ofthe W. branch of the Hudson river. Lakes Teralt, Delia, Rich,Harries,New-
comb, and Sanford, are the principal of these. Newcomb, is the name.of a small
settlement centrally situated. But the whole country may be considered as yet
unsubdued, not containing more than 50 inhabitants. Iron ore is very abundant,
and rich; and a forge has been erected, but its operations are not successful; the
foreign matters mingled with the ore rendering its fusion imperfect and difficult.

ESSEX COUNTY.

453

Schroon,* taken from Crown Point, 20th March, 1804; N. from Albany 97,
from Elizabeth, S. S.v W. 25, miles; surface on the E. and W. mountainous; the
intervening valley, 6 or 8 miles wide, is drained by the Schroon river, and con
tains several lakes, of which Schroon, Paradox, Pharaoh, and Crane, are chief.
The first lying on the S. boundary, is about 8, and the second about 5, miles long.
Soil, sand and sandy loam, with some alternates of clay, covered generally with
dense forests, and underlaid with primitive and secondary limestone. Schroon, is
a dense vicinage, 95 miles from Albany and 30 from Elizabeth, on the N. end of
the lake, where are a tavern, store, forge, 2 saw mills and several dwellings.— -
Around Paradox postoffice, at the head of the lake of that name, is also a number
of dwellings; and there is a similar collection at Woodwardville post office. The
lumber of this town, abundant and excellent, is sent to market through lake
Champlain, by way of Ticonderoga.
TicoNDE_ROGA,t taken from Crown Point, 20th March, 1804; North from Alba
ny 96, S. from Elizabeth 30, miles; surface along the shore of Lake Champlain,
level, with a good soil of clay, on the E. and loam on the W. whilst back from
the lake rise mountains, which, where arable may be made productive of grass;
drained by some small streams, and the outlet of Lake George. The peninsula,
upon which stood the fort, contains about 500 acres, elevated 110 feet above Lake
Champlain, at the mouth of Lake George outlet. The fortress called by the'
French Carrillon, was erected by them in 1756, and was a place of much strength
by nature and art, surrounded on three sides by water, and having half the fourth
covered by a swamp, and the only approachable point, defended by a breast work.
But it was commanded by Mount Defiance on the S. of the creek, which towers
750 feet above the lake. Mount Independence, frequently connected in story with
Ticonderoga, lies in Vermont, 1 mile from the fort, on the E. side of the lake, to
which there is a well regulated ferry. There are some remains of military works
still visible here. Before Ticonderooa, Gen. Abercrombie rashly sacrificed 9000
men in 1758. In the following year, this fort with Crown Point, was quietly
abandoned by the French. In 1775, Ticonderoga was seized by Col. Alleri, "in
the name ofthe Great Jehovah, and the Continental Congress." The remains of
another fortification built durirrg the revolutionary war, are 60 rods further S. on
a point adjoining the lake. The walls facing the lake, are 60 feet high. The pic
turesque scenery aud historical interest of this neighborhood recommend it to the
tourist. At the foot of Mount Defiance are extensive and valuable beds of ochre
and plumbago, from which large quantities, particularly of the latter, are sent to
market. The fall on Lake George outlet, is 170 feet withiii three miles and the
¦volume and steadiness of the stream give it great power. Alexandria and Ticon
deroga, are thriving villages; the former at the upper fall, near Lake George, and
'the latter on the lower falls near Lake Champlain; about 1 mile asunder. The
post office has the name of the town,
Westport, taken from Elizabethtown, 24th March, 1815; N. from Albany 123,
from Elizabethtown, E. 8, miles; surface hilly on the W. but level enough for
tillage upon the lake; soil clay and loam of good quality, timbered with yellow
and white pine, oak, beech, ash, maple, &c. Iron ore abounds and the works at
Vergennes, Vt. are supplied from hence. The town is watered by the Bouquet
river, which curves into it from the N. and a small stream which flows centrally
arid easterly to the lake. Westport and Wadham's Mills, aTetpost villages.
Westport, at the head of N. W. Bay of Lake Champlain, 8 miles E. of Eliza
bethtown, contains 1 Baptist and 1 Methodist, churches; 1 academy, incorporated
May 1st, 1834; 2 taverns, 5 stores, a ferry to Basin harbour, in Vermont, and from
60 to 70 dwellings. The village thrives rapidly, being surrounded by a large
quantity of excellent land, under improving cultivation.
At Wadham's Mills upon the Bouquet river, are a grist mill, 2 saw mills, 1 store
carding and cloth dressing mill, and about 20 dwellings.
Willsboroitgh, originally organised as partof Clinton county, 7th March, 1788'
since modified; N. from Albany 138, and from Elizabeth, E. 13, miles; surface'
hilly upon the W. level upon the lake with a productive soil of clay loam. The
Bouquet river enters the S. W. and receiving Gilliland's creek, a- considerable
stream from the N.. flowing N. E. to. the lake, affording fine mill seats at the falls
?Supposed a corruption of the Indian word ska-ne-tagh-ro wah-na, largest lake.
tChe-onderoga, noisy, probably in allusion to the falls on the outlet of Lake George.

454 TOPOGRAPHY.
Rattlesnake and Warm, Ponds, on the N. also send forth a small tributary to the
lake. On the river, 2 miles from its mouth, is Willsborough, post village, having
the relative distances above mentioned; containing 1 Presbyterian church, 1 grist
mill, 1 forge, 1 cupola furnace, 2 saw mills, 2 taverns, 2 stores and 50 dwellings.
The waterfall here is 30 feet, and the river is navigable from the village for canal
boats. Wilmington, taken from Jay, 27th March, 1821; name and lines altered in
1822; distant N. from Albany 148, from Elizabeth, N. W. 20 miles; surface
mountainous, covered with the Au Sable range; in a deep valley of which flows
the W. branch of the Au Sable river; and in another valley on the N. E. the Sa
ranac river. The White Face mountain, here commands a view of more than 100
miles in extent, including Montreal, Ogdensburg and Lake Ontario. It is the
great watershed of this part of the country sending forth streams to almost every
point of the compass. The valleys are arable, but the soil is not inviting, being
wet and cold. There are a post office having the name of the town; 3 forges,
working the Peru ore, and 1 Methodist church. The post office is called after the
town.

Females.
Births.
Deaths.
u to
¦a
oiii
jo .r
= CO
TOWNS.
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
1
COCm01
o
!>
tr,B
<
= oi
-a Jg
.2 oi
cB"fl
a"
¦GJt
OS
is
s"3
« fcu
S3
Se
01
s
0D E01
DO01
13
S
ti,01 8
f
Chesterfield,
667
1154
1671
2083
180
374
175
291
170
474
ll
46
36
15
14
Crownpoint,
1522
1728
2041
2189
211
477
17
268
167
484
24
39
54
8
15
Elizabethtown,
889
1029
1015
856
75
187
9
99
67
lHfc
>4
in
a
7
5
Essex.
1225
1288
1543
152S
135
294
28
191
128
343
11
22
27
19
12
Jay, '
1647
1216
1629
1732
153
315
77
235
116
412
16
32
44
14
23
Keene,
605
707
787
700
68
131
3
!73
56
146
4
7
7
2
3
Lewis,
779
1101
1305
1358
118
294
13
176
116
81
13
33
27
7
7
Minerva,
271
371
358
335
21
48
32
47
10
80
-3
11
8
8
3
Moriah,
842
1251
1742
2293
238
470
74
290
144
528
15
40
47
9
19
Newcomb,*
62
46
10
11
5
1
9
1
1
2
Schroon,
888
1290
1614
1723
197
388
13
236
102
411
12
23
40
7
5
Ticonderoga,
1493
1833
1996
2080
258
432
46
276
187
331
13
27
Hi
5
7
Westport,
1095
1322
1513
1724
130
341
44
224
129
366
15
42
27
13
b
Willsborough,
888
1166
1316
1253
112
235
50
139
126
290
13
27
20
4
7
Wilmington,
637
695
789
84
160
44
103
46
206
9
20
16
4
6
12811
15993
19287
20699
1996
4157
625
2653
1565
4355
164
383
386
122
134
Note. Males, 10,711; Females, 9,988; Blacks, 29; Paupers, 60; Deaf and Dumb, 7; Blind, 8; Idiots,
20; Lunatics, 10. * Erected since 1825.
TOWNS.
a
a
'"to
eg A
CO
to
ntoC oi
to
if »
H
C9
a £
%3S
01 —
3 M
•5 °
r> CO
3
O
01©
S426
to,01to
a
m
2175
a
?722
V3
EC
o~
s%
s3O
o
Chesterfield,
39230
6967
182740
97325
1297
17f!S
2353
1106
488
12C8
Crownpoint,
27129
12313
81155
4800
2537
671
9217
11 60
4240
4474
3383
258
405
Elizabethtown,
30814
5819
49555
4350
889
249
1846
402
1442
1686
753
218
249
Essex,
18341
11905
109649
17310
2255
525
5778
911
3393
3789
151X3
339
598
Jay,
33080
3544
99972
20755
1431
474
3354
516
3043
2879
2248
549
548
Keene,
51401)
3759
48956
600
1158
211
1868
298
1198
1674
WW
207
228
Lewis,
56054
10132
88033
1450
1300
385
3159
649
2441
2571
654
263
417
Minerva,
100759
2256
45672
1247
445
76
597
180
483
TK
783
365
218
Moriah,
138903
9175
179594
9738
1896
598
4755
723
3631
391t
1031
507
882
Newcomb,
99363
511
19103
45
14
55
24
33
89
73
233
189
Schroon,
13213J
9969
153099
2232
1788
378
3164
741
2464
3841
2581
596
723
Ticonderoga,
2304(1
14267
116619
2068
2447
673
10891
1215
3898
3469
842
571
551
Westport, M
31304
11441
85653
1050
1949
509
777.!
He*
3266
3278
1332
328
411
Willsborough, *
24298
8169
87484
4079
1370
412
4717
709
2196
257(
(SOf
208
460
Wilmington,
38149
3360
38318
981
783
191
1394 274
961
1141
329
433
183
7440021 113588
1383602
167986
21590 5796 607441 9412
34448
37511
18237
5563
7970
FRANKLIN COUNTY.

455

.

.

CO

[_
TOWNS.
CO
1 CO 2
1
s
m 12
aecoto 3
Co 2
a
Is offl 3
¦6 ci
O 5
e
3-2 -1
oa 5 Q. 1
in i>o
5
COV a>CO
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Si a '
d i
Hi 1
, o
-1 '
=1 ¦'
.I5
01a .
.agS.01
2'i -
CS« us jj:
-¦§!
¦3'» o
nuao
Chesterfield,
2
1
10
145 ¦
422 >
418
Crownpoint,
4
14
3
4
1
2
2
15
%
490
/ 836
Elizabethtown,
2
10
4
1
1
1
5
128
240
Essex,
2
2
2
2
1
I
1
l1
9
159
378
492
Jay,
1
6
2
2
4
2
2
10
180
278
590
Keene,
1
7
1
1
1
1
I
6
120
110
255
Lewis,
24
1
2
3
1
1
12
226
172
378
Minerva,
1
7
1
2
1
4
77
33 '
, 131
Moriah,
2
40
2
2
3
1
31
14
181
443
621
JVcwcomb,
1
1
1
1-
1
9
15
Schroon,
1
45
2
g'
1
2
14
251
266
531
Ticonderoga,
1
13
2
2
1
1
2
13
194
327
557
Westport,
1
12
1
2
1
1
14
149
388
520
Wilmington,
1
4
1
4
1
6
72
146
262
Willsborough,
1
21 •JS
o
8
205 r-.o
1
1
1
2
27 1
3
O
1
1
14
4 I*
13
127
264
452
¦20 25 2
g!§g r CT, O
3 ffi a
146
2197
3855
6301
Value of product.
sis 'IS
3
"j,n i-i
~.
<— 1
1
&
1
1
Number of children above 5 and under 16 years
Value of material,
©S
34803 34850 9500
os3
s'g i
1
of age, 5,825.
FRANKLIN COUNTY, taken from Clinton 11th March, 1808; is bounded
by Lat. 45°, and Lower Canada on the N., Clinton and Essex counties, on the B.,
Essex and Hamilton counties on the S., and St. Lawrence county, on the W.
Greatest length 60, greatest breadth 30, miles; area 1,527 square miles; situate
between 44° 06' and 45° N. Lat. and 2° 13' and 3° 01', E. Long.; centrally dis
tant from New York, 287, from. Albany 142, miles.
Upon the S. E. and E. this county has some hilly lands, in Duane and Bel
mont, and a range of lower hills, runs N. E. over Dickenson, Brandon, Malone,
Constable, and Chateaugua; the other portions are comparatively level. These
hills on the E. of primitive formation, are composed, chiefly, of granitic rocks.
The country on the N. and W. is transition, containing sand stone, graywacke,
slate, and lime. The lands of the transition are generally of medium quality and
some of them highly fertile. Bog iron' is found in the N. and mountain ore of
good quality in the S.
The county is drained on the S. E. by the S. W. branches ofthe Saranac river,
on the W. by branches of the Racket, and St. Regis, rivers; on the N. E. by
Chateaugua river, and on the N. W. by Salmon and Trout rivers. There are some
small lakes or ponds scattered over the surface.
The Chateaugua river, flows from Chateaugua lake, 1,200 feet above the level
of the ocean, in Beekmantown, of Clinton county, near the line of this county
and runs N. W.. through Franklin, about 15 miles, into Lower Canada, and to the
St. Lawrence river, a few miles above Montreal; and receives Trout river some
miles N. ofthe state line.
Trout river, rises by several branches, in the towns of Belmont, Malone, Chate
augua and Constable; and runs northerly about 18 miles, across the state bound
ary, affording numerous and excellent mill sites.
Salmon river, issues from some small lakes, in the towns of Belmont and Duane,
near the sources of the W. branch of the Saranac, and passes through Malone
Westville, and Fort Covington, into Lower Canada, and thence to the St. Law
rence; having a length of about 50 miles. . Near the village of Fort Covington it
receives the Little Salmon and Deer rivers, and thence is boatable to its recipient
6 miles. In the waters, and particularly, in the lakes, trout are abundant and
frequently large.
The forest, very dense, containing trees of immense size, consists of white and
yellow pine, hemlock, oak, beech, birch, bass wood, elm, and white cedar. The
last is very abundant and large.
456

TOPOGRAPHY.

The settlements ofthe county are almost wholly in the northern part extending
about 15 miles S. from the N. line, and even here are sparse; much the larger
portion of the country being yet covered with the primitive forests. The soil is
a sandy loam, occasionally mixed with clay, stony, and the fields commonly,
among thrifty farmers, are fenced with the stones gathered from the surface.
Some wheat is raised, but it is an uncertain crop, whilst grass, oats, barley, corn,
and esculent roots, generally, are very productive. No portion of the state per
haps is better adapted to the sugar beet. Grazing and lumbering, are tbe chief
pursuits of the inhabitants, who find their market upon the St. Lawrence river.
Notwithstanding the Tigours of the climate, and they certainly are not to be
disregarded, scarce any portion of the state, grows more rapidly in population;
and no newly settled portion of it displays more comfort and content. Wild lands
sell at from $2i, to $f>, and improved farms at from $8, to $25, the acre.

FRANKLIN COUNTY.

457

A pretty good road extending from Plattsburg to Ogdensburg, runs through
these settlements.
The county comprises all the tract known as No. 1, of Macomb's Purchase, (ex
cept three townships of Essex county) three townships of the Old Military tract,
and the St. Regis Indian reservation.
The county is divided into 12 towns.
Bangor, taken from Dickenson 15th June, 1812; distant N. W. from Albany
221, and from Malone, W. 8 miles; surface level; soil sandy loam, underlaid
with quartzose rock and blue limestone, both affording excellent material for
building, and what is rare in newly settled countries, stone is much used for dwel
lings. Good crops of wheat are grown here, and grass and oats flourish luxuri
antly; drained northerly by Little Salmon river. The population is principally
distributed along two roads, about 3 miles asunder, known as the North and
South streets, and the settlements thereon, respectively, as Bangor and North
Bangor. The first, 5 miles from Malone, contains the post office, a free church, 3
asheries, 2 grist and 2 saw mills, clothing works, 2 stores, 4 taverns, one of them
a temperance house, and' about 35 dwellings; many of them very comfortable,
and their number is rapidly increasing. North village, contains about the samo
nupnber of dwellings as Bangor, and of better quality, a free church, and is alike
thriving. Belmont, taken from Chateaugua 25th March, 1833; N. W. from Albany 185,
and from Malone, S. E. 25, miles; surface on the N. hilly, on the S. mountain
ous; soil clay and sandy loam, sparsely settled, there not being more than one
inhabitant to every 500 acres; drained northward by the Chateaugua and Trout
rivers, and westward by branches of the Salmon river. Belmont, post village, 12
mihss S. E. from Malone, has a store, tavern, ashery, saw mill, and 10 or 12
dwellings. Bombay, taken from Fort Covington March 30th, 1833; N. W. from Albany
232, from Malone 20, miles; watered by tbe Little Salmon and the St. Regis and
Racket rivers, flowing westward to the St. Lawrence; ,to which the N. W. angle of
of the town and county approaches within 40 rods.- The Indian village, St. Regis,
lies on the left bank of the St. Regis river, upon the N. boundary, and the post
village of Hogansburg, on the same side of the river, about 3 miles above it. The
reservation for the St. Regis Indians, lies partly in this town and partly in Fort
Covington, extending 11 by 3 miles. Hogansburg, has 1 Catholic and 1 Epis
copal churches, 1 large flouring mill, 4 saw mills, clothing works, 2 taverns, 3
stores, and about 50 dwellings, generally good. Bombay Four Corners, has 1
Methodist Episcopal church, 3 taverns, 4 stores,and about 30 dwellings. The present
or late chief ofthe St. Regis Indians, is or was a descendant, ofthe daughter ofthe
Rev. Wm. Williams, ministejr of Deerfield, who was made captive in the war of
1660. The father lived to return, but the daughter having married an Indian,
adhered to the tribe. Eleazer Williams, a son'of the chief, was some years since
employed by the Episcopal church of New York, to instruct the Oneidas.
Brandon, taken from Bangor 28th January, 1828; N. W. from Albany 220,
from Malone 30, miles. A wild, rough, and thinly inhabited district, covered
with almost unexplored forest. Its known soil is sandy loam; drained S. E.
by the Saranac river, and W. by branches of the Racket and St. Regis rivers.
Saranac lake lies in the S. E. The settlements are in the N. part of the town!
where a dense vicinage called after the town, contains about 30 dwellings, some
of, which are of stone. The surrounding country is productive in grass.
Chateaugua, taken from Plattsburg and Champlain, as part of Clinton county
N. W. from Albany 200, from Malone 13, miles; surface somewhat hilly, but not
broken; soil clay and sandy loam, resting on quartzose rock and limestone; drained
by the Chateaugua river, running N. across the town, on which, near the villao-e of
Chateagua Four Corners, are some noted falls with a cascade of 90 feet perpendic
ular, over granitic rock; and by some branches of Trout river. The village, cen
trally situate, contains 1 Presbyterian church, a store, tavern, saw mill, 'grist
mill, ashery, tannery, and 20 dwellings, surrounded by a fertile and improvinp-
country. Settlements were first made in this town about the year 1805. Another
post office is called West Chateaugua. ¦.
Constable, taken from Harrison, as part of Clinton county, March 13th 1807-
since modified; N. W. from Albany 227, and from Malone-7, miles; surface' level'
58 '

458

TOPOGRAPHY.

soil sandy loam; drained northerly and centrally by Trout river, and N. W. by
Salmon river. '.Tbe village of Constable, on Trout river, 7 miles N. of Malone,
has a post office, a free church, 1 store, 1 tavern, 2 saw mills, and about 35 dwel
lings, stretching a considerable distance along the principal road. Another post
office in the town is called East Constable, around which is also a considerable
settlement. Dickenson, taken from Harrison, (original name of Malone) 11th April, 1808;
N. W. from Albany 220, and from Malone S. E. 30, miles; surface generally
level; soil sandy loam and stony; drained westerly by tributaries of the Racket
and St. Regis rivers. The settlements are chiefly in the N. part of the town, ex
tending 10 miles S. of the boundary. The town is nearly 20 miles long. The
post office lies upon Deer river, a branch of the St. Regis 225 miles from Albany,
and 16 S. W. of Malone, near which are 2 taverns, and a saw mill.
Duane, taken from Malone 24th January, 1828; N. W. of Albany 185, S. of
Malone 20, miles; surface in the S. hilly, being crossed by the Chateaugua moun
tains, covered with dense forests little explored. In the N. part, the soil is sandy
loam, of good quality, upon which the scanty population is settled; drained on
the S. E. by the Saranae, on the N. E. by the Salmon rivers, and on the W. by
the St. Regis. Tbe post village lies in the N. partof the town about 10 miles S.
of Malone, where are a blast furnace and forge for making iron, from ore in the
vicinage, a scythe factory, 2 saw mills, 1 store and tavern, and some 25 dwellings.
There is in this town an abundance of hypersthene and octahedral iron ore,
strongly magnetic; and a bed of native steel ore, for the manufacture of which Mr.
Duane, the proprietor has erected extensive works. Tbe product is much esteemed
in the market. This ore is not the spathic iron or proper ste^l. It resembles the
octahedral ore, but is only slightly attracted by the magnet.
Fort Covington, called after General Covington, who was slain at the battle
of Williamsburg, November 11th, 1813; taken from Constable 28th February,
1817; comprising townships No. 1, and part of No. 2, in Great Tract, No. 1, of
Macomb's purchase, and part of the St. Regis Indian reservation; N". W. from
Albany 235, and from Malone 15,, miles; surface level; soil of sand and
clay loam of good quality; drained N. by the Salmon and Little Salmon rivers,
and their tributary Deer river, which winds in the N. part of the town. In the
Fork, 5 miles S. of the St. Lawrence river, lies the post village of Fort Coving
ton, formerly called French Mills, containing a congregation of Baptists, 1 Pres
byterian church, an academy, 1 grist, 1 saw, mills, 3 taverns, 8 stores, 1 distillery,
several groceries, and 150 dwellings, A large lumber business is conducted by
the way of the St. Lawrence, The Salmon river is navigable for boats to that
river. This is Ihe principal depot of the eastern part of St. Lawrence and the
W. part of Franklin counties. ,
Malone, taken from Harrison and organised as part of Clinton county, March
2d, 1805; the name was subsequently changed to Ezraville, and afterwards to
Malone: It. has been variously altered; N. W. from Albany 212 miles; surface
level; soil sandy loam; drained by the Salmon river which crosses it N. westerly.
In the S. E. there are upon this stream considerable falls, and in the S. a small
lake which sends forth a tributary to the river. Malone, the shire village, in the
N. part of the county, 51 miles from Plattsburg, and 70 from Ogdensburg, is
finely situated on both banks of the stream, over which is a stone bridge of one
arch, 80 feet wide, 65 feet above the surface of the water. The village contains the
post office, a.printing office, issuing a weekly journal, the court house and jail, of
wood, an arsenal, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Baptist, churches, an academy, 1 very
large cotton factory of stone, having 5,000 spindles and 80 looms; 1 grist and 1
saw mills, clothing works, trip hammer, pocket furnace, 3 taverns, one of them a
" temperance house," 6 stores, and 65 dwellings. There are a pail factory, a
scythe factory, pocket furnace, and forge, 2 miles from the village. Iron ore is
abundant in the town, said to be similar to the celebrated Peru ore, from which,
at works in the town, between 60 and 70 tons of bar iron are made annually.
Moira, taken from Dickenson 15th April, 1827; N. W. from Albany 225, from
Malone W. 14, miles; surface level; soil sandy loam, on lime and slate; drained
N. by Little Salmon river, comparatively thickly settled. The post village bear
ing the name of the town, contains a free church, 2 saw and 1 grist, mills, cloth
ing works, 1 store, 1 tavern, and about 25 dwellings.

FRANKLIN COUNTY.

459

Females.
Births.
Deaths.
S I
I
JO —
3 2
TOWNS.
2io
oi to
r. >¦
;
GO
OS
DO01
wC to
B to
a '
K
1001
E
03to
rt
= fr
B £
«
«3
C3
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
g
> 191
< 45
158
&6 57
251
s 8
27
24
¦ 8
fa
Bangor,
370
910
1076
1035
81
7
Belmont,*
382
34
78
21
45
18
90
4
4
8
1
'2
Bombay*
1357
70
144
223
189
64
351
18
28
27
11
17
316
417
36
80
5
61
22
109
1
12
7
4
2
Chateaugua,
828
1384
2016
2039
142
317
79
272
127
510
16
47
46
14
7
Constable,
637
1016
693
724
52
113
67
103
44
172
4
13
11
0
495
Hil!
446
597
61
116
11
72
31
148
13
10
8
fi
247
237
28
48
17
25
20
41
2
6
6
Fort Covington
979
2i»:
2901
1605
140
255
30b
232
124
398
16
27
36
12
9
1130
163!
2207
258!
209
403
20U
326
24!1
558
13
43
35
13
18
Moira.f
791
798
119
1 168
1
111
34
203
3
9
5
6
8
Wostville.t
619
661
83
1 110
| 2083
32
1009
7b
1670
36
H2I
173
3004
4
89
15
244
7
22-J
3
'86
5
4070
7978
11312
1250]
1055
8l
Note. Males, 6,317; Females, 6,184; Blacks, 12; Deaf and Dumb, 8; Blind, 8; Idiots, 9; Lunatics, 10
Paupers, 43. * Erected after 1830. t Erected after 1825.
fi
9 a
C-7t
CO
13
to
as
TOWNS.
•-
'"•B
&*-«--
OS ol
W CO
«
to
a £
£o
J 3 S
"- —
(> to
01to>-o
a
CJ
ed
D
1
Oi
to
s
'i
Oi
•00 3 n
fa
c 01
o
to
cOSo
O
Bangor,
26571
6883, 62000
892
300
1489
2128
1115
1689
24681 3023
619
415
Belmont,
warns
1137| 6800U
200
5U
305
2U2
171
285
441 500
767
4411
Bombay,
21246
5546: .530111:
10677
309
1477
2211
1036
1735
2274 953
636
413
Brandon,
168077
1963! 5000C
54
482
604
357
416
812, 1081
4W
325
Chateaugua,
65062
8904 11400C
1830
472
2512
3426
1345
2906
3958 4258
758
761
Constable,
20703
2939 44001
14705
162
775
1160
612
1158
1347 818
311
381
Dickinson,
132753
2567 5500C
230
101
685
735
340
491
985 1998
3.W
489
Duane,
198233
11691 4700C
31
142
22U
103
13R
342 10
351
305
Fort Covington,
20813
7406 102001
17684
419
1827
3609
737
3446
2243 - 995
491
773
Malone,
63250
12786 17000!
6161
568
3033
4655
279R
3403
4135 3824
704
1143
Moira,
28641
5204 53001
200(1
27fc'
1272
140c
687
1127
1900 2215
407363
357
Westville,
22234
3319 44000 5270
166
713
903 651
738
835J S42
322
|u7738H 59879 862000J 5B709
| 2910,14712
1 21381 9950 17533
| 2174l| 206231 6194
6127
TOWNS.
1
in
I 5 iii3 1
132 1
2
a &ra
Cfl 1
552
10 4 2 a
l§ 4
1 exa 3
fa 1 1 1
1 11
6
!
¦i<a c u c
•g £
« c
o c
1 ]1
3 11
8
? =
1 i
© C
>n c
O Q
=
ii o
1 2
1 1 2
s us
z ao
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? I
tn
id o po 1
3 11ti
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0)
< 2 3
24 4
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uia;
'E CO
Gc
ffl
t-t 2 4 1
22 1
Oo
m
I-
Public money expended.
§ o
tnU VI •
g'ss
Bangor,Belmont,Bombay,Brandon.Chateangua, Constable, Dickinson,
Duane, Fort Covington,
Malone, Moira,
Westville,
838 4
17 0 6 3
11 10 76
168 33
207 49
282 109 9138
247 344 177110
• 128 29
1!!0 70
330 160 85
283529 116 175
389 94
383 148
587342228 56
438 780
2SI2314
16 49
3j 1 18J12
95
1855 1 2195 | 4051
Value of product.
Value of material,
tn to
to tt,
en (~
ttl
00COo : '
o to3 I—
oo o
r o
orOen
I
QO OS <-
o
s toGOO to
Number of childre
years af age, 10,670. 4
i above 5 an
d under 16
460

TOPOGRAPHY.

Westville, taken from Constable April 25th, 1829; N. W. from Albany 223,
and from Malone 9, miles; surface level; soil sandy loam; drained by the Salmon
river, which flows N. westerly across it. Upon its banks in the N. W. angle,
lies the post village of Westville, containing 1 saw mill, 1 tavern, 1 store, about
20 dwellings, and a forge for making iron.

GENESEE COUNTY, was taken from Ontario, 30th March, 3802; and has
been reduced by the formation of several counties from it. It is now bounded, E.
by Monroe and Livingston; N. by Orleans and Monroe; W. by Niao-araand Erie;
and S. by Allegany and Cattaraugus, counties: Greatest length, N. and S. 41,
greatest breadth, E. and W. 29 and a half, miles; area 974 square miles; situate
between 42° 31' and 43° 08' N. L.; and l°.fl2' and 1° 37' W. Long; centrally
distant from N. York 321, from Albany 258, miles.

GENESEE COUNTY.

461

The county pertains to the great plain of the W., and forms the highest portion-
of it, throwing off streams on every side. It is a high tableland divided into 3
plateaus, each rising by low rocky ridges, with a subsequent gentle ascent, from
its inferior. The first and northern, the mountain ridge of Ontario, rising in Or
leans and Monroe, counties, extends from 5 to 10 miles into this county; and up?
on it rests the Tonawanta swamp, running E. and W. along the N. line* for
more than 15 miles, in the towns of Elba and Alabama; and having a breadth'of
about 2 miles, through which, by a central and southerly course, creeps Oak Or
chard creek. The second mural ridge, runs from the village of the Tonawanta
Indians, S. E. to the town of Le Roy, and its plateau extends S. about 11 miles
to the third, arid parallel ridge, running through Darien, Attica, Middlebury, and
Covington. The third plateau, wiih a breadth greater than the second, reaches
into the towns of Java, Wethersfield, Gainesville and Castile, whence it dips
southerly. The first plateau is about 400 feet above Lake Ontario, and between 70 and 80
feet above Lake Erie. The highest terrace, in the southern part of the county, is
800 feet above Ontario, consequently the surface rises more than 400 feet in 35
miles, averaging less than. 12 feet to the mile; an elevation scarce perceptible to
theeye. In fact, the plateaux are almost dead levels, having not more descent than
is sufficient to drain them. The chief elevation is by the ridges. This is ap
parent, from the falls of the great streams, which have their courses almost through
the whole county, from S. to N.; as upon the Tonawanta, in Alabama, and Attica
and upon Allen's creek, in Le Roy.
Upon the W. the streams run to Lake Erie; on the E. to the Genesee river; on
the S. to that river or to the Cattaraugus creek.
Northward over the central portion of the county, flow by meandering courses,
the Tonawanta and Allen's creeks; the former through a valley varying from 2 to
4 miles in width, and by the sinuosities of the stream, 40 miles in length, within
the county; the latter runs through a narrower channel 30 miles, falling in LeRoy,
more than 140 feet, within the space of two miles; and thence about 10 miles
through the town of Wheatland, Monroe county to the Genesee river. It is said
to have its name from Indian Allen, who from this neighborhood committed many
murders and depredations on the frontier inhabitants.
In the western declivity, are the sources of Murder's, Ellicott's, Cayuga, Seneca,
and Cattaraugus, creeks; in the southern, of Wiskoy and Nunskoy, creeks; and
in the eastern, of numerous tributaries of the Genesee river, among which Black
creek is most considerable; rising in the town of Middlebury arid flowing N. E.
through Bethany, Stafford, Byron, and Bergen, towns; and thence through Monroe
county, 35 miles to its recipient. Genesee river runs on the S. E. boundary about
5 miles. As in most limestone countries the streams are subject to much fluctua
tion. •
There are some small lakes, of which Little Lake, in the town of Java, re
markable as the northern source of the Cattaraugus; and Silver Luke, hating a
lenotli of 3 miles, by a. breadth of nearly one, are chief:
The soil is generally highly fertile; and, in the northern and central portions,
produces as fine crops of wheat as any part of the state; grass and summer crops,
are more profitable in the south.
Much tiie larger proportion ofthe lands have been taken up and settled; and the
interest of the Holland Land Company, to whom the whole county belonged, is
now confined to some tracts in the south, which they offer for sale, at from 3 to 5
dollars the acre. The improvements are commonly good; the stone mansion is
frequently seen in all the villages, and often on the farms; where, however, frame
and log dwellings are still most common; aud the primitive log hut remains even
is the most populous parts.
Companies have been formed for making the Darien and Medina, the Tonawanta,
the Le Roy and Warsaw, and the Attica and Buffalo, rail roads.
Nearly half the lands of the county are returned by the supervisors as under
improvement. The deb* due to non residents, chiefly for lands, is, given, in 1834
at $ 1,006,873 59. The county has 24 towns.
Alabama, taken from Pembroke and Shelby, 17th April, 1826; W. from Al
bany 257, from Batavia, N. W. 13, miles; soil clay and gravelly loam, having
formerly much oak openings and famed for its productiveness in wheat; drained

462 TOPOGRAPHY.
W. by the Tonawanta creek, flowing through the swamp on the N. boundary. —
The feeder of the Erie' canal crosses the N. W. angle, above which, on the creek,
are falls of about 30 feet. The greater part of the town was in the Tonawanta
reservation, part of which was sold, in 1827 — 8. The Indians have yet here, and
in Erie and Niagara, counties, a tract of 12,000 acres. Their village containing
about 300 inhabitants, is centrally situate in this town. The chief of the Six Na
tions, now resides, or lately resided here. Alabama, and West Alabama, are post
offices. At the former, 12 miles N. W. from Batavia, are a tavern, store, and 12
or 15 dwellings.
Alexander, taken from Sheldon, June, 1812; W. from Albany 247, from Ba
tavia, S. W. 8, miles; soil calcareous and clay loam; drained N. E. by the Tona
wanta creek. Alexander and Brookville. are post villages. The former, incorpo
rated 24th April, 1834; centrally situate upon the creek, has 1 Presbyterian, and
1 Universalist, churches; 1 grist, 1 carding and cloth dressing, mills, machine and
gun factory,. 4 stores, 2 taverns, and from 60 to 70 dwellings. The Tonawanta
rail road runs through the village: The latter, on the E. side of the creek, 6 miles;
S. from Batavia, has a saw mill, 1 tavern, 12 or 15 dwellings. The Alexander
x Classical School, in this town, was incorporated, May 6th, 1834. ,
Attica, taken from Sheldon, 4th April, 1821; W. from Albany 250 miles; sur
face rolling; soil clay loam; the hills adapted to grass and the valley of the Tona
wanta creek producing fine wheat. The creek runs northerly, and near the W.
boundary, through the town. Attica, post village, in the N. W. angle, on the
creek and at the southern termination of the Tonawanta rail road, 11 miles S. of
Batavia, contains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist, churches, a printing office, is
suing a weekly newspaper, 1 grist, 1 oil, 1 carding and cloth dressing, and 1 saw,
mills; ashery, 2 taverns. 7 stores and 150 dwellings. In 1836, arail road was
authorised hence to Buffalo, completing the line between the two western cities,
and another hence to lot No. 10, in the town of Sheldon. Vernal, post office, lies
near the N- E. corner of the town, where are 1 store, a tavern, and some 8 or 10
dwellings. March 31st, 1828, " The Attica Manufacturing Company," was incorporated,
with a capital of $ 50,000, for manufacturing cotton and wool; with power to
clear out, and make navigable, the Tonawanta creek, from Attica, to the Erie ca
nal, either through the feeder at Medina, or directly down the creek, to Pendleton;
and to construct a towing path along the creek.
Batavia, organised 30th, March, 1802; surface level; soil sandy and calcareous
loam; drained W. by the Tonawanta creek. Batavia, shire village, laid out by the
Holland Company, in 1800; incorporated in 1823; W. from Albany 244, from
Buffalo, N. E. by the road 40, from Rochester, S. W. 34, from Lockport 32, from
Canandaigua, W. 49, from Geneseo 29, miles, upon a plat 2 miles square, on the
N. bank of the creek, and on the Tonawanta rail road, contains the county court
house, of wood, prison and county clerk's office, of stone; the chief office of the
Holland Company; 1 Episcopal, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist, churches; bank,
capita], $ 100,000; a flouring mill, with 4 runs of stones, 3 large brick hotels and
five frame ones; 12 general, 2 hardware, 2 druggist, 1 hook, stores; 2 printing offi
ces, each issuing a weekly paper, 1 book bindery; bell foundry, gun smith, 2 tan
neries, 2 hat factories, 3 millinery, 4 shoe, stores, 1 iron foundry, 5 physicians, 9
law offices, and 300 dwellings, and the number rapidly increasing; among them
are many excellent ones of brick. Lands within three miles of the village range
from 20 to 40 dollars the acre. In 1836, a rail road was authorised hence to
Lockport. .This village derived notoriety, as the scene of the events, which gave birth to
anti-masonry. It was the residence of William Morgan, previous to his abduc
tion, and here were printed his disclosures, #eal or pretended, of the masonic se
crets. The folly and wickedness of those who assumed to punish his apostacy,
drew upon masonry a fierce and unrelenting persecution, which extending through
out the whole northern portion of the United States, nearly overthrew the institu
tion, and became an active element of political parties.
Bennington, taken from Sheldon, 6fh March, 1818; distant W. from Albany
256, from Batavia, S. W. 18, miles; surface generally high and deeply indented
by the streams; soil moist clay, underlaid by slate; fruitful in grass and summer
crops; generally seated; drained chiefly, by the Cayuga creek. The post office,

GENESEE COUNTY.

463

having the name of the town, is centrally situate, where are a saw mill, store and
tavern, and half. a dozen dwellings. There is another post office called Cowles-
ville. Bergen, taken from Murray, 2d April, 1818; since altered; W. from Albany 241
miles; surface level; soil clay and calcareous loam; drained easterly and centrally
by Black creek. North Bergen, Hergen Corners, and Stone Church, are post vil-
' lages. North Bergen, 14 miles N. E. from Batavia, has 1 Presbyterian church, I
tavern, 1 store, 10 dwellings. Bergen Corners, 16 miles from Batavia, has 1 Pres
byterian church, 2 taverns, 3 stores, 20 dwellings. Stone Church has 1 Presbyte
rian church, 1 tavern, I store, 10 dwellings.
Bethany, taken from Batavia, 8th June, 1812; distantW. from Albany 241
miles; surface rolling; soil, sandy loam on the hills, clay in the bottoms; drained
on the E. by Black creek, and on the W. by a tributary of the Tonawanta. Betha
ny, East Bethany, and Linden, are post villages. Bethany, 8 miles S. E. from
Batavia, has 1 Baptist and 1 Presbyterian, churches, 2 stores, 2 taverns, and about
35 dwellings; and 1 mile south is the county poor house, on a farm of 100 acres.
East Bethany, 7 miles S. from Batavia, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist,
churches, 2 taverns, 1 store, 1 grist and 1 saw, mills, and "The Genesee Manual
Labour Seminary," incorporated 15th April, 1832, capital $20,000, with a farm
annexed. Linden, 10 miles S. from Batavia, has 1 flouring mill, 1 store, 1 ta
vern, 1 Baptist church, and 20 dwellings. There is a post office called Transit.
Byron, taken from Bergen, 4th April, 1820; distant W. from Albany 247, from
Batavia N. E. 10, miles; surface level; soil, clay and calcareous loam, under good
culture;, drained by Black creek. Byron Centre, the post village, has, including
Taggart's mills, and within a circle of three-fourths of a mile, 1 Presbyterian, 1
Baptist, 1 Methodist, and 1 Union or Free, churches, 1 tavern, 3 stores, 1 flouring
mill, 1 saw mill, 1 carding and cloth dressing mill, and from 30 to 40 dwellings.
North Byron, 1 mile N. of Byron Centre, has 1 Baptist church, 1 tavern, 1 store,
and 10 or 12 dwellings. Here is a mineral spring, having the character of Avon
spring, but of less strength. Near it is a sulphuretted hydrogen spring, the gas of
which may be inflamed. In the S. E. part of the town, in a swamp, are several
sulphur springs. There was lately, near Byron Centre, a buttonwood tree, the
hollow of which, at 6 feet from the ground, exceeded 10 feet in diameter. The
Tonawanta swamp extends over a portion of the N. W. angle of this town-, and
on the N. E. is, a cedarand tamarac swamp.
In the S. W. part of the town sulphuric acid is produced in great quantity, ma
diluted and concentrated state, in a hillock, 230 feet long and 100 broad, elevated
5 feet above the plain, consisting of ash coloured earth, charged with minute
grains of iron pyrites, and covered with vegetable matter charred with the acid, as
is also the vegetable deposit around the hillock. Holes excavated in the mound,
and depressions in the surrounding surface, contain diluted acid. In combination!
with the charred vegetable matter, the acid is concentrated, and dry; and it is every
where strongest at the surface. Two miles E. of this locality, and about 100-
rods W. ofthe Byron hotel, a spring sends forth sufficient .water to turn a light grist
mill; yet its whole volume is always sufficiently acid to give the common test with
violets, and to coagulate milk. The formation of sulphate of lime, iron, and mao--
nesia, may be traced here to considerable extent.
Castile, taken from Perry, 27th Feb. 1831; W. from Albany 244, from. Bata
via S. E. 28, miles; surface rolling; soil gravelly loam, fertile in wheat, but more
so in grass; drained by the Genesee river on the S. E., to which flows a small tri
butary called Wolf creek. Castile, post village, centrally situate, on Wolf creels,
has a grist mill and several saw mills, 2 taverns, several stores, and 25 dwel
lings. China, taken from Sheldon, 6th March, 1818; W. from Albany 275miles; surface
on the north, rolling, on the south gently undulating; soil clay loam productive of
grass. Four-fifths of the town are settled. Drained centrally and S. W. by the
Cattaraugus creek. Arcade, the post village, in the S. part of the town, 40 miles
S. W. from Batavia, has 1 Presbyterian church, ti grist mill, several saw mills, 1
carding and cloth dressing mjli, 2 stores, a temperance tavern, and about 50 dwel
lings, at the confluence of Clear and Cattaraugus creeks, where is a valuable wa
ter power. The post office is called China, and one in the E. part of the town
East China. '

464 TOPOGRAPHY.
Covington, taken from Le Roy and Perry, Jan. 31, 1817; distant from Albany
W. 241, from Batavia S. E 14, miles; surface rolling; soil clay loam, and gene
rally very productive of wheal; drained N. E. by Allen's creek, and E. by some
small tributaries ofthe Genesee river. Covington Centre, Pavillion, Pearl Creek,
and La Grange, are villages. The first two have each a post office. Covington
Centre, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 store, tavern, and about 15 dwellings.
Pavillion, on Allen's creek, and on the Warsaw and Le Roy rail road, 11 miles S.
E. from Batavia, has 1 carding and cloth dressing mill, 1 Universalist, 1 Baptist,
churches, 1 tavern, 1 store, 2 physicians, and about 40 dwellings. Pearl Creek,
15 miles S. E. from Batavia, has 1 tavern, 1 large store, and 10 dwellings. La
Gra*tge,17 miles E. from Batavia, has 1 Baptist church, 1 tavern, 1 store, 1 phy
sician, and about 20 dwellings.
Darien, taken from Pembroke, 10th Feb. 1832; W. from Albany 255 miles;
surface hilly; soil clay and calcareous loam; drained N. W. by Ellicott's and Mur
der creeks, here inconsiderable streams. Darien, and Darien Centre, are post vil
lages. Darien, 13 miles S. W. from Batavia, has 1 tavern, 2 stores, 1 grist mill,
1 ashery, 1 carding and cloth dressing mill, driven by steam, 20 dwellings. The
rail road to Medina runs from this village. Darien Centre, 2 miles W. of Darien,
has 2 stores, 1 tavern, and 10 dwellings.
Elba, taken from Batavia, March 14, 1820; W. from Albany 250, from Bata
via N. 7, miles; surface gently undulating; soil gravelly and sandy loam, on lime
stone; drained on the N. by Oak Orchard creek flowing through the Tonawanta
swamp, which has a width here of about 2 miles. Elba, Pine Hill, Oakfield, and
Careysville, are villages, and at the two former are post offices.
Pine Hill, 6 miles N. from Batavia, has a church common to Presbyterians and
Baptists, 2 taverns, 2 stores, and 20 dwellings, upon a fertile plain.
Oakfield, 8 miles N. W. from Batavia, has a store and tavern only; and Careys-
ville has a tavern, store, and a dozen dwellings. At Transit Lineoost office, in
the S^ E. angle, 5 miles from Batavia, are a tavern, 2 flouring mills, 1 distillery,
and half a dozen dwellings.
Gainesville, taken from Warsaw, 25th Feb. 1814, and organised.by the name
of Hebe; W. from Albany 218, S. from Batavia 28, miles; surface rolling, and in
some places hilly; soil adapted to grass better than grain, but on the east are lands
suitable for wheat; drained S. E. by the Nunskoy creek, a tributary of the Gene
see river. Gainesville Centre, the post village, contains 1 Presbyterian, and another
church, 1 grist, 1 saw, 1 carding and cloth dressing, mills, 2 taverns, 3 stores, and
about 30 dwellings, within a circle of a mile in diameter. The town formerly pro
duced large quantities of maple sugar.
Java, taken from China, 20th April, 1832; centrally distant W. from Albany
272 miles; surface rolling; soil clay loam, adapted to grass; four-fifths of the town
are seated; drained S. by the Cattaraugus, and N. W. by Buffalo and Seneca
creeks, both flowing from Little or Cattaraugus lake, a pond of 300 acres. East
Java, post village, 30 miles S. from Batavia, upon Little lake, has a store, 2 ta
verns, and about a dozen dwellings. Java Centre, 4 miles W. of East Java, has a
post office, tavern, store, and 15 dwellings. The central part of the town is set
tled by some 50 families of Irish emigrants. Java, village, in the N. W. angle,
on Buffalo creek, 32 miles from Batavia, has 1 grist, 1 saw, mills, clothing
works, 1 tavern, 1 store, 15 dwellings, and post office.
Le Roy, named after the proprietor of the town, taken from Caledonia June
8th, 1812, and organised by the name of Bellona, which was changed in 1813;
W. from Albany 234, and E. from Batavia 10, miles; surface, generally, level;
soil sandy and gravelly ldam, highly productive of wheat, and well cultivated;
drained N. E. by Allen's creek. Le Roy and South Le Roy are post villages.
Le Roy village, on Allen's creek, upon a low limestone ridge, founded in 1810, by
Mr. Le Roy, incorporated 5th May, 1834, contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal,
1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist, churches, a printing office, issuing a weekly jour
nal, 2 large flouring mills, each 4 runs of stones, belonging to Mr. Le Roy,
making 40,000 barrels of flour annually; 1 oil and 1 plaster mills, a furnace for
casting iron, a machine factory, 15 stores, 3 taverus, 1 tannery, 4 law offices, 5
physicians, and about 250 dwellings, chiefly of stone, surrounded by ample lots,
and of very neat appearance. The village grows rapidly. The land office of the
" Triangular Tract," is kept here. The fall in the creek, here, and in the vicinity,

GENESEE COUNTY. 465
is great. At the village, it is 18 feet; within a mile is another fall, of 27 feet;
and at the distance of 2 miles, a third, of 80 feet. Much of the water is lost be
fore ,it reaches the high fall and is supposed to supply the Caledonia Spring, in
tbe adjacent town of Livingston county. The creek at the village is passed by a
stone bridge of 3 arches. South Le Roy, 12 miles from Batavia, and near the S.
line ofthe town, has a store, 2 taverns, and some 10 or 12 dwellings. The lands
of the town are wholly seated. Many petrified animal remains are found in the
creek near the village, embedded in geodiferous limestone, among which are said
to be turtles weighing from 10 to 3001bs. The incorporation of a company was
authorised 4th May, 1835, to make a rail road hence to Brockport, on the Erie
canal, in Monroe county; capital $100,000. The road to be commenced within
two, and completed within five, years. In 1836, another rail road was authorised
to be made hence to Scottsville, of Monroe county, on the Genesee river. There
is a post office called Uniontown.
Middlebury, taken from Warsaw May 20th, 1812; distant from Albany W.
248, from Batavia S. E. 14, miles; surface rolling; soil clay and sandy loam, of
good quality for grain or grass; drained on the S. E. by Allen's creek, and on the
N. by a branch of the Tonawanta. Wyoming, post village, near the eastern
boundary, on Allen's creek and on the line of the Warsaw and Le Roy rail road;
contains 1 Baptist and 1 Presbyterian churches, an academy, incorporated, under
thrifty administration, a select school, 3 taverns, 4 stores, and about 100 dwellings,
neatly constructed, and situated in a pleasant valley. There is another post office,
centrally situate; called after the town. »
Orangeville, taken from Attica, 14th February, 1816; W. from Albany 254
miles; surface hilly; soil clay loam, principally in grass, and noted for dairy pro
ducts; drained on the W. line by the Tonawanta creek, and on the S. E. by the
Nunskoy creek. Orangeville Centre, post village, 20 miles S. from Batavia, has a
Presbyterian church, 1 tavern, 1 store, and about 15 dwellings. There is another
post office called Orangeburg.
Pembroke, taken from Batavia, 8th June, 1812; since altered; W. from Albany
257 miles; surface level, or gently undulating; soil clay and gravelly^ loam;
drained N. W. by the Tonawanta and Murder creeks. The Pembroke post office
is at Richville, 14 miles W. from Batavia, where are 1 tavern, 4 stores, 1 grist, 1
saw, mills, and from 15 to 20 dwellings. The East Pembroke post office is 6 miles
W. from Batavia. Long's Qorners, near the S. boundary, has 1 Presbyterian
churdh, 2 stores, and 10 or 12 dwellings.
Perry, taken from Leicester 11 March, 1814; W. from Albany 257 miles; sur
face gently undulating; soil sandy and clay loam, adapted to grass and grain;
indifferently watered, having only some small tributaries of the Genesee river, one
of which is the outlet of Silver Lake. Perry and Perry Centre, are post villages.
The first, incorporated 17th April, 1830— 26th April, 1834, 22 miles from Batavia,
has 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, and 1 Universalist, churches, a printing office, issu
ing a weekly paper; 2 taverns, 7 stores; 1 flouring, 3 grist, 1 oil, 3 saw, and 2
carding and cloth dressing, mills, 1 furnace, 1 pail factory, 2 tanneries, one of
which is very extensive, 1 gun smith shop, 1 ashery, 200 dwellings, 4 physicians,
and 2 lawyers. The village lies on the outlet of Silver lake, about half a mile
from the lake shore. This lake is about 3 miles long, and has an average width
of five-eighths of a mile. The inhabitants have stocked it with the various fish of
this region, from lakes Erie and Conessus. The second, 20 miles from Batavia,
has 1 Presbyterian church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and about 30 dwellings. There is
also a post office called La Grange.
Sheldon, taken from Batavia 19th March, 1808; distant W. from Albany 271
miles; surface hilly and broken; soil moist clay loam, adapted to grass better
than to grain; drained on the E. by the Tonawanta, on the N. by Cayuga, and on
the W. by Seneca, creeks. Sheldon Centre, Varysburg, and Strykersville are
post villages. Sheldon Centre, 25 miles S. W. from Batavia, has 1 Episcopal 1
Presbyterian, churches, 1 tavern, 2 stores, and from 15 to 20 dwellings. Varus-
burg, 20 miles from Batavia, contains 2 taverns, 3 stores, some mills, and about
30 dwellings. Strykersville, 29 miles from Batavia, has 1 grist mill, 1 cardins-
and cloth dressing mill, 1 tavern, 2 stores, and 15 dwellings. The town has lately
received an accession of about 30 families from Germany. North Sheldon is a
post office. 59

466

TOPOGRAPHY.

Stafford, taken from Batavia and Le Roy, 24th March, 1820; W. from Albany
238 miles; surface level; soil clay and gravelly loam, resting on limestone;
drained N. E. by branches of Black creek. Stafford Centre, Morganville, and
Roanoke, are post villages, Stafford Centre, 6 miles E. from Batavia, has 1 Pres
byterian church, 1 tavern, 1 store, and 25 dwellings. Morganville, 7 miles from
Batavia, has 1 Baptist church, 1 church, common to Christians and Universalists,
2 stores, 1 tavern, 2 grist mills, 3 saw mills, upon a fall in Black creek, of 30
feet and about 20 dwellings. Roanoke, 9 miles from Batavia, has 1 tavern, 1 store,
1 flourinrr, 1 saw, 1 carding and cloth dressing, mills, 1 furnace, 1 machine shop,
and 20 dwellings. From 30 to 40 English families, deemed pattern farmers, have
lately settled in this town and more are expected.
Warsaw, taken from Batavia, 19th March, 1828; W. from Albany 248 miles;
surface, on the E. and W. hilly; in the centre is a valley, through which flows N.
Allen's creek. The underlying rock is slate or sand stone; soil clay loam, on
the hills, adapted to grass and wheat, in the valley clay and gravel, suitable for
corn and grass. Warsaw village, 22 miles, S. from Batavia, contains the post
office, 1 Baptist, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Methodist, churches, a high
school, 4 grist, 4 saw, 2 carding and cloth dressing, mills, 1 furnace, 5 stores, 4
taverns, and about 60 dwellings. The Warsaw and Le Roy rail road, intersect
ing the Tonawanta rail road, commences here.
'Wethersfield, taken from Orangeville 12th April, 1823; W. from Albany 266,
from Batavia S. 27, miles; surface rolling; soil sandy and clay loam, adapted to
grass; drained N. W. by the Tormwanta, and on the E. by the Wiskoy, creeks.
Wethersfield and Wetliersfield Springs, are post villages. The former, in the S.
'--¦'- .... The latter,
1 saw,
i post office
called North Wethersfield, in the 'N. W. angle.

Females.
DO
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Births.
Deaths.
TOWNS. ¦
M oi
3 O
to 7>
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to
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1825.
1820.
1835.
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Alabama,
819
1638
146
359
12
227
111
380
19
41
33
14
9
Alexander,
I486
1893
2331
2487
235
517
16
308
195
578
22
60
53
17
19
Attica,
1519
1915
2492
2581
208
491
6
344
183
724
23
48
45
18
13
Batavia,
2597
2393
4264
4430
578
1027 126
530
386
968
17
59
76
17
16
Bennington,Bergen, •
Bethany, Byron,
Castile,
796
1463
2224
2676
197
500 29
341
159
641
16
33
41
15
29
1108
1342
1508
1519
134
328
10
203
116
335
15
31
28
13
9
1691
2088
2374
2532
202
475
29
307
221
542
21
44
40
23
15
1330
1720
1936
1953
256
419
9
246
176
423
17
28
28
15
10
1592
2269
2536
198
491 1 30
385
141
611
20
58
56
16
20
China,
780
1466
2387
1279
109
249 2
176
95
336
13
27
27
9
10
Covington, Darien,*
2144
2444
2716
2514
226
496 27
330
209
571
23
47
52
19
14
2621
190
515 7
311
225
564
5
32
37
16
24
Elba,
1333
1770
2678
3134
302
671' 41
438
235
696
18
59
68
11
20
Gainesville,
1088
1482
1934
2097
190
407
10
269
151
521
25
50
32
15
7
Java,*
1972
140
348
69
266
104
530
5
29
35
2
12
Le Boy,
Middlebury,
2611
2973
3902
4239
461
894
63
558
360
958
.48
75
67
19
26
1782
2088
2416
2518
225
526
8
341
185
579
17
50
37
17
16
Orangeville, Pembroke,
1556
1202
1525
1791
92
309
72
217
92
443
3
32
30
4
3
2576
3153
3828
2029
174
436
6
270
115
473
7
48
43
27
16
Perry,
Sheldon,
2317
2396
2792
2984
211
603
50
394
249
651
33
57
37
19
21
887
1248
1731
2186
115
400
229
287
171
540
17
28
22
|6
6
Stafford,
2069
2416
2368
2563
198
512
117
302
195
562
21
46
40
24
12
Warsaw,
1658
2089
2474
2686
226
504
10
329
237
639
! 17
37
40
10
13
Wethersfield.
815
1179
1623
138
331
231
84
393
5
37
24
21
8
31338
46905
52147
58588
5151
118081 978
7610
4395
13688
427
1056
991
367
348
Note. Males, 29,834; Females, 28,754; Blacks, 65, Black voters, 3; Paupers, 83; Deaf and Dumb, 22;
Blind, 15; Idiots, 29; Lunatics, 20. * Erected since 1330.
GENESEE COUNTY.

467

TOWNS.

Alabama,Alexander,
Attica,Batavia, Benningtpn,
Bergen, Bethany, Byron,
Castile,China, Covington, Darien,Elba, Gainesville, Java,Le Roy,
Middlebury,
Orangeville, Pembroke, ,
Ferry, Sheldon, Stafford,Warsaw, Wethersfield,

ts 9

332802240023040 3392035200 17280
23040 19200 19200
307202752030720 3776022420 3072030720!22400 224001 25600] 1920030080123680

rt «
> =
Its o

¦ 6»!
m 0> 1* I

13369 1215917134 13388 9674
15482
1324212730 5787
1682317271 19709 10386 7016
21649 14231 9052 7029
159481083015393 11095
| 6788

184775368836304299

4970
4290048oeo

812348 178112

251777 353395 475005
422041 291140 140196503467 425897 732811232983 162762
859023354268 176624
269734 376852 188878
480042 347962 124148

2650
10550
29694 6050
10396 3605
39918 1373014428 11430 650
87405 15150 5175 3210
46100 4925
34250 19900 13800

m

1514
2678 325327373750 1514
2542 1862 1997 1897
2434 35S7
2094 32792248 34382739 2502 1701
2740 29072122 3000 2055

2023£600 634253416064 363160644619 487944767555

2187 1637
2763 5617
21661 3U0-1

33662178
1777 2596 1967
2310 1279
2815

9708 3l3ti
6689 37602370

5902 3693 9370 89204478 321050825461 51728003

3589 1453

41072088 1444 1776
2715 216227772432

4890 5306 2283 4504 39343631 2262 5358 4784 5592 3882 32135175 53262600 2649 4937 3296 354244622787

1682
10980 6016

625280 305484 8839263 647678 60590 136471 57144 9563e 139521 71880 20420 36 13576 09

796
22« 5059 947
5986 739
2402

83742599 86554983 4700 37531 2652
6098 1916
8643 4013
7141 41J
6783 6148
3731 2975
0070 1827
6835 4280
4338 33651

2595 6696 6183515' 66923329

2037 4760 3381 900
5455 5973

415 44
807 51
812 87
2141 03
539 25
762 69
1039 93
923 35
647 82
333 96
1122 82
995 59
1565 04
529 38
440 13
1999 97
749 05
416 67
680 12
858 92
432 33
1039 54
806 4"
300 48

458 73
589 98
777 90
1214 03
591 97
300 C5
569 96
S47 54
343 83
440 99
745 38
729 86
645 29
369 71
353 91
1043 01
521 20
294 67
622 51
639 16
503 42
499 31
528 56
244 52

TOWNS.

Alabama,Alexander, Attica,
Batavia, Bennington, Bergen,Bethany, Byron,
Castile,China, Covington,
Darien,Elba, Gainesville,Java,Le Soy,
Middlebury,Orangeville,Pembroke, Perry,
Sheldon, Stafford, Warsaw, Wethersfield,

Value of product.

Value of material

72
1 1
2 2

135

30

39

1 1 1 2

40

11 14 15
21 18 11 16 11 IS lt18 19171112
20 1610121413 1315

344

69
311239 657 243 184
256 201 219 163
410371
292 180
220405253 158
229 439 176
264258 131

tn*z 01 OS
] OOP.

664 5828H7 704418 685 655590295925757944425
271
1286 697461 364 791578 759 722 452

15306

790
1051 1215 1196 547904 651 834
. 448981
1243
,1115 776 765
1298 946 616681 940548831
1001 577

20353

No. of children above 5 and under 16 years
of age, 17,775.

468

TOPOGRAPHY.

GREENE COUNTY, taken from Ulster and Albany, 25th March, 1800, is
bounded N. by Albany county, E. by the Hudson river, separating it from Colum
bia connty, S. by Ulster and Delaware, and W. by Delaware, counties. It in
cludes Scutter's, Little, and Willow, islands, in the river. Greatest length 42,
greatest breadth, on the Hudson, 28, miles; area about 583 square miles; situate
between 42° 04' and 42° 28' N. Lat., and 2° 24' and 3° 10' E. Long.; centrally
disant N. from New York 130, and from Albany S. E. 35, miles.
The surface is every where hilly, and the larger portion mountainous. The
Kaatsbergs enter it upon the S. E. from Ulster, holding a northerly course for
about 10 miles, and then curving to the west;.S miles from the Hudson river, they
attain the height of 3000 feet. The main ridge, however, has a N. W. direction,
and its summits, in the town of Hunter, jise to 3800 feet. These ridges divide
the county into two great valleys; that upon the N. E., extends to the Hudson,
and that on the S. W. near to the southern line, where it is bounded by another
lofty ridge of the range. The peaks of the mountains are covered with snows

GREENK COUNTY.

469

one month longer than the low lands; the summer is shorter, and vegetation seve
ral weelcs later; but when spring commences it is more rapid than near the Hud
son. Fruits, vegetables, and grain, attain maturity from thijee to four weeks later
than neaT the village. The mountains on the eastern front are precipitous, fre
quently in ledges with perpendicular walls, and the gradations are marked by va
rying vegetation .Upon the west, the declivity is comparatively gentle. In these
mountains the wolf, the bear, and the deer, are still frequently, and the wild cat
is sometimes, seen.
The great drain of the eastern valley is the Catskill creek, which has its source
in the town of Middleburg, Schoharie county, in the Vlaie, Fly or Marsh, near
the summit of the mountain bounding the Schoharie valley on the east, 1200 feet
above the tide. The Catskill has a S. E. course of about 35 miles, entering the
Hudson at the village of Catskill; its volume is increased by many small but
nameless tributaries from the mountains, and by Provost, Potuck, Hans Voss^and
Kaater's, kills.
Provost creek rises in Westerloo, Albany county, and running through Green
ville, of this county, unites with the Catskill, at the village of Freehold, after a
rapid course of 12 miles.
Potuck creek has also its. source in Westerloo, and enters its recipient, in
Athens, after a course of 16 miles. These are useful mill streams.
Hans Voss creekj flows about 6 miles from the south part of Coxsackie to the
Catskill, near Catskill village.
The great valley on the S. W. is divided by the mountain ridges into four lesser
ones, from which flow the Schoharie kill, and its branches, East and West, and
Batavia, kills.
The whole county is classed with the lower secondary formation, and by some geo
logists with the transition. It is apparently underlaid with carboniferous slate, sus
taining red sandstone, graywacke, gray wacke slate, pudding stone, and limestone.
Alum and copperas are said to be so abundant in places as to offer inducements for.
preparing them for market; plumbago, and seams of bituminous coal, have been
discovered, but none of- the latter sufficiently large for profitable working. The
limestone, almost every where abundant in the valleys, frequently disclosing ani
mal remains, is dark and variegated, running sometimes into massive marble,
which takes a high polish. The wacke varies in colour from light to dark brown,
frequently resembling indurated clay, and is often traversed by veins of flint, lime
stone, and pitch stone.
The valleys are rich, producing abundant crops of grain, whilst the uplands
yield fine grass, and the mountains afford excellent sheep walks.
The timber consists of oak, hickory, cherry, and soft maple, on the lower lands,
and of sugar maple, from which are annually made large quantities of sugar, in the
towns of Hunter, Lexington, Windham, and Prattsville; beech, birch, and in some
places fine groves of spruce, and large quantities of hemlock, upon the hills. The
white pine, formerly abundant, has been chiefly cut away.
The county produces for market large quantities of wheat, rye, corn, oats, bar
ley, and flaxseed, neat cattle, and other live stock; beef, pork, wool, flour,
hay, butter, cheese, and much of the small articles usually denominated mar
ket stuffs; pot and pearl ashes; many thousand casks of lime, and millions
of -nriok; much lumber and cord wood; several hundred thousand feet of curb
and flag stone, and from 260,000 to 300,000 sides of tanned leather, prepared
with the hemlock bark, and worth from 800,000 to 1,000,000 dollars per annum.
Although the county was originally, and at an early period, settled by the
Dutch, a large proportion of its irihabitants is derived from New England, and to
that source it is indebted for its extensive tanneries, and the long train of prospe-
rity which this profitable business induces. The people are industrious and mo
ral, and eminently religious.
The county has 11 towns.
Athens, taken from Catskill and Coxsackie, 25th Feb. 1815; centrally distant
N. from New York 120, from Catskill 5, from Albany S. 28, miles; surface hilly
upon the west, where are some bold limestone ridges, having upon their west and
rising high above them, a ridge of graywacke slate, called the Hooge Berg, or High
Hill, from which much flagging stone is taken to Athens and Catskill villages- on
the E. the surface is comparatively level, with some tracts of pine plains; soil clay
sand, and loam of various mixtures, generally fertile, and under careful-cultivation.

470 TOPOGRAPHY.
drained by the Potuck creek on the W. boundary, centrally by Hans Voss and
Curlar's creeks, and on the N. E. by Murderer's kill. Paddock's island, in the
Hudson, a beautiful spot at the head of ship nayigation, opposite the mduth of
Major Abraham's creek, of Columbia county, lies on the N. E. boundary, 4 miles
above the village of Athens.
Athens, formerly called Loonenberg, and Esperanza, incorporated 2d April, 1805;
on the W. bank of the Hudson river, opposite to the city of Hudson, whence it is
seen to great advantage, extending, by the shore, about a mile and a half, and rising
gently from the water's edge westwardly, nearly the same extent, affording many
beautiful sites for country seats, some of which are advantageously improved.
The shore is bold, and the channel close to the village. The plat embraces 25
principal streets, a small portion of which only is built upon, and in two sections,
which appear like distinct villages. The northern section was laid out about the
year 1790, by Edward Livingston, Brockholst Livingston, Elihu Chauncey
Goodrich, and associates; the lower in 1801 by Isaac Northrop, Alexander Alex
ander, Patrick Hamilton, and others. The village now contains 1 Episcopal, 1
Dutch Reformed, 1 Lutheran, 1 Baptist, churches, and a Friends' meeting house,
1 district and 3 select schools, 3 taverns, 15 stores, an extensive stone ware fac
tory, distillery, tannery, and about 150 dwellings. Immense quantities of brick
and lime are burned near the village for the New York market, and 15 sloops are
employed in its trade; still the prosperity of this village is overshadowed by
Hudson, Coxsackie, and Catskill, notwithstanding its communication with the
western country by its turnpike roads. A steamboat plies half hourly between
the village and Hudson city.
Cairo, taken from Catskill, Coxsackie, and Freehold, (now Greenville and
Durham,) and organised hy the name of Canton, 26th March, 1803; name changed
April 6th, 1808; centrally distant N. from New York 124, S. from Albany 40,
and from Athens W. 10, miles; surface on the west mountainous, comprehending
the slope of the Kaatsbergs, the remainder hilly. The valleys have a rich soil,
and the uplands are profitably cultivated. The Catskill flows on the north
east boundary, and receives from the town the Shingle kill, and some small
streams, affording abundant mill power. Cairo, and Acra, are post villages;
the former upon the Susquehanna turnpike road at the crossing of the Shingle
kill, 10 miles W. from Catskill village, contaihs 1 Presbyterian and 1
Baptist, churches, a church common to Episcopalians and Methodists, a district
and a select school, 4 taverns, 6 or 8 stores, a grist mill, a carding and cloth
dressing factory, a tannery, and about 101) dwellings. The country around it is
hilly and broken. The county meetings for business, political and economical,
are commonly holden here. The latter, upon the Schoharie kill and turnpike road,
upon a fertile plain 14 miles N. W. of Catskill village, has a Baptist church, a
tavern, store, tannery, and 10 or 15 dwellings.
Catskill, organised 7th March, 1788, as part of Alhany county; since modi
fied. The Kaatsbergs cross the western part; the plain between the mountain
and the river is broken upon the S. by ravines, while on the N. it is high and
generally level. The soil is clay sand and loam, underlaid with clay, slate, lime
stone and graywacke, not of the best quality. The Catskill runs S. E. through
the town and partly on the N. boundary to the Hudson river, receiving from the
S. the fine mill streams, the Kaaters and the Kaatrix kills, and on the N.Hans
Voss's kill. Upon these streams, especially upon the principal one, are fine
tracts of alluvial land. Catskill, 3Iadison or Leeds, and Jefferson, are villages; at
the first two are post offices.
Although not in the town, yet as connected by name, and many relations with
Catskill, we may describe here, the Pine Orchard and Mountain House, noted
attractions to tourists. They fire in Hunter, near its eastern boundary, 12 miles
west from Catskill village. The road from the village to the foot of the moun
tain, 9 miles, has little of interest. The ascent of the mountain is by a good
though circuitous road of three miles, but which, often running upon the brink
of a deep ravine, or beneath frowning precipices, excites an unwelcome degree of
terror. The Hotel, erected by " The Kaatskill Mountain Association," at the
cost of $22,000, is on a circular platform of rock, of uneven surface, having an
area of about 6 acres. The building is 140 feet by 24, 4 stories high, with
piazzas in front, and a wing for lodging rooms, and is duly fitted and furnished for
the accommodation of its numerous guests.

GREENE COUNTY. 471
The prospect from this rock is more extensive and diversified than, perhaps,
from any other point in the United States. Petty inequalities disappear, and the
whole surrounding country is spread out as a plain. The eye roves, in endless
f ratification, over farms, villages, towns, and cities, stretching between the Green
tountains of Vermont on the N. and the Highlands. The Hudson river with its
green isles, and thousand sheets of white canvass, becomes visible for 60 miles,
in a clear atmosphere. At times a thick curtain of clouds of ever changing form,
veils the region of lower earth from sight; and in their respective seasons storms
of rain and snow, spend their force in mid air,. beneath the rays of a bright sun
which gilds the mountain above them. The scene when gradually unfolded with
the day is most enchanting.
A few years since this delightful position was almost unknown and rarely
visited; but the reports of the extent, beauty, and grandeur of its prospects, and
the salubrity of its atmosphere, at length fixed public attention. The number of
visitors at each successive season increased, until the temporary buildings at first
erected, gave place to the edifice we have described. The following heights on
the mountain have been given by Captain Partridge; Mountain House, 2,212 feet
above the Hudson; 1,882 feet above Lawrence's tavern; 1,547 feet above the turn
pike gate, at the foot of the mountain, and 947, above Green's bridge.
Two miles from the hotel, are the Kaaterskill Falls, upon a stream flowing from
two lakes, each about a mile and a half in circumference, and about a half mile in
the rear of the house. After a W. course of a mile and a half, the waters fall
perpendicularly 175 feet, and pausing, momentarily, upon the ledge of a rock,
precipitate themselves 85 feet more, making the whole descent of the cataract,
260 feet. Below this point, the current is lost in the dark ravine or clove, through
which it seeks the valley of the Catskill. The water fall with all its boldness,
forms, however, but one of the interesting features of this scene. From the
edge of the first falls is beheld, a dreary chasm, whose steep sides covered
with dark ivy and thick summer foliage, seem like a green bed prepared for the
waters. Making a circuit from this spot, and descending about midway of the
first fall, the spectator enters an immense natural amphitheatre behind the cascade,
roofed by a magnificent ceiling of rock, having in front, the falling torrent, and
beyond it the wild mountain dell, over which the clear blue sky is visible. The
falls on the W. branch of Kaaterskill have a perpendicular descent of more than 120
feet, and the stream descends in rapids and cascades, 400 feet in 100 rods. The
Kaaterskill has a devious and very rapid course of about 8 miles, to the Catskill,
near the village. The falls are best seen from below; and the view from the Pine
Orchard is better between 3 o'clock P. M. and at sunset, than in the middle of
the day.
During the season for visiting the mountain, commencing about the 15th June,
stages, twice a day, on the arrival of the steamboats, run to and from it, by the
village of Catskill.
About a mile from the village is a limestone cave, said to have an extent of
nearly a half mile.
Catskill, incorporated 14th March, 1806, the seat of justice ofthe county, on the
banks ofthe Catskill, near its confluence with the Hudson river; 111 miles N. of
New York, 5 S. from Hudson city, and 33 from Albany, and 9 from the head of
ship navigation. The mouth of the creek makes a fine harbour for sloops; and a
long and broad dyke, walled with stone, connects the village with an island near
the middle of the river, affording commodious landings for steamboats. On thtf
island are several buildings, appropriated to the accommodation of travellers.
The village is principally built in the deep valley of the Catskill, and upon a
single street, on the left bank ofthe stream between which and the river is a bluff
150 feet high, but it extends upon both sides of the creek and upon the heights.
A substantial wooden draw bridge connects the portions of the town, admitting
the passage of sloops some distance above it. There are the county buildings
comprising, a substantial and commodious court house and prison, 2 Presbyterian,
1 Episcopal, 1 Dutch Reformed, and 1 Baptist, churches, 3 common, 1 (select I
classical, schools, and 1 seminary for females; the Catskill bank, capital
$150,000, and the Tanners'. bank, capital, $100,000; 2 printing offices, issuing
weekly papers; 1 grist and 1 saw mills, 2 paper mills, and a very extensive sash
factory, for which the Catskill and Kaaterskill supply abundant power, and much

472 TOPOGRAPHY.
for future improvement; 14 ware houses and docks, 40 stores, 10 mechanics'
shops, about 285 dwellings, on the E. and 40 on the W. side of the creek. The
site ofthe town is very favourable to trade, and much business is now done, as
well on account of residents, as in the forwarding of goods for merchants in the
interior. The exports consist of about 250,000 sides of sole leather, valued at
$750,000; 3 millions feet of lumber, and 3000 bundles of shingles; 15,000 firkins
of butter, valued at $200,000; vast quantities of grain, flour, hay, brick, wood,
&c; 600 tierces flaxseed,, estimated at $9,000; pot and pearl ashes; 3,000 bbls.
salted herrings at $9,000; 5,000 bbls. beef at $30,000; 500 bbls. tallow, $7,000;
2,500 slaughter hides, $10,000; 50,000 lbs. wool, $25,000, and the products of
many handicrafts. .A company was incorporated in 1836, to supply the village
with pure and wholesome water.
A stage leaves the village daily, on the arrival of the morning steamboats
from New York, for Ithaca, via Delhi, Oxford, &c, 165 miles — returning, leaves
Ithaca, daily, at 3 o'clock A. M, and arrives at Catskill the second day in time for
the boats for New York or Albany. Another stage leaves Catskill, for Canajo
harie, every Tuesday and Friday mornings, at 6 o'clock, via Cairo, Durham,
Schoharie court house, &c, distant 65 miles — and a stage runs daily, between
this village and Hudson city. Authority was renewed in 1836, to make a rail road
from this village to Canajoharie, on the Mohawk, with which it is proposed also
to connect other like roads.
Leeds or Madison, 4 miles N. W. of Catskill village, on the Susquehanna turn
pike road and Catskill creek, having on the S. and E. a broken and sterile county
and on the N. W. a fine alluvion, contains a Dutch Reformed church, of stone, 2
large grist, 2 plaster, mills, an air furnace, a tavern, 6 stores, district school, and
near 40 dwellings. Jefferson, a hamlet on the same turnpike 1\ miles N. W. from
Catskill village, upon a fertile sandy plain, contains 3 taverns, a store, district
school, and some 12 or 15 dwellings. There is a post office at lrvingsville.
Coxsackie,* originally organised, 7th April, 1788, as part of Albany county;
surface on the W. broken and hilly; on the E. level, with much pine plain; soil
of light sandy loam, mixed with tracts of clay; drained on the N. E. by Cox
sackie creek, a branch of Dieppe creek, which flows by the village of Coxsackie;
on the W. by Potock creek and a branch called Stake Oak brook; and on the S.
E. by Murderer's kill. This town was principally settled by the Dutch, whose
descendants constitute a large portion of the inhabitants, holding their lands
chiefly in fee simple. Coxsackie, village and landing, of the town, lies in the N.
E. part, 124 miles from N. York, 20 from Albany, and 16 from Catskill. The
village is upon a high and fertile plain of sandy loam, 1 mile W. from the landing,
on the N. river, and contains a Dutch Reformed church, 7 stores, 2 hat manufac
tories, 3 powerful hay presses, 2 taverns, brick yards, and more than 100 dwell
ings. At the landing, there are several wharves and docks, several narrow streets
upon the restricted margin of the river, and on the hill side, on which are 1 Bap
tist, and 1 Dutch Reformed, churches; 2 taverns, 22 brick yards, an extensive hay
press, and about 30 dwellings; and 12 extensive stores and warehouses; several
mechanics' shops, druggists, jewellers, &c. and a printing office, whence issues
"The Greene County Advertiser." At the docks many sloops and canal boats
are annually built and some steamboats have been constructed, and small ships
occasionally hanl up for repair. This is a place of much business, employing 25
sloops and having an export trade of more than half a million of dollars annually,
In grain, cattle, sole leather, stone, brick, lime, hay, cord wood, &c.
Durham, taken from Coxsackie, by the name of Freehold 8th March, 1790,
changed 28th March, 1805; N. from N. York 134, from Catskill village, N. W. 24,
from Albany, S. W. 30, miles; surface hilly and broken, the Kaatsbergs forming
11 miles of the S. boundary; soil clay and gravelly loam on slate; drained by the
Catskill. Durham, South Durham, Cornwallsville, Winansville, and Oak Hill,
are post offices. The first two are on the Susquehanna turnpike, about 6 miles
asunder; Oak Hill, is on the creek about 2 miles N. of Durham village; around
each is a collection of dwellings.
Greenville, taken from Coxsackie and Freehold towns, organised March
26th, 1803, by the name of Greenfield, changed to Freehold, April 6th, 1808, and
?Derived from an Indian -word, meaning "Hooting of Owls."

GREENE COUNTY. 473
subsequently to Greenville; distant from N. York, N. 130, and from Albany, S.
25, miles; surface broken and hilly; soil clay and loam, productive and excellent
for grass, the dairy of the town beino- in high repute; drained hy Provost and by
Potuck, creeks; good roads lead to Coxsackie, Albany, Athens, and Catskill. —
Freehold, Greenville, Newry, and Gayhead.are post villages. Freehold, 15 miles
N. W. from Catskill, near the junction of Provost and Catskill, creeks, contains
a store, tavern, grist and saw mill, shingle mill, carding machines, post office, and
25 dwellings. Greenville, 16 miles from Catskill upon Provost creek, has 1 Pres
byterian ami 1 Methodist, churches; an academy, 3 stores, a tavern, and about 30
dwellings. Newry, on the Albany county line, 18 miles from Catskill, has a tan- '
nery, and 8 or 10 dwellings. Gayhead, in the S. E. part of the town, 13 miles
from Catskill has a tavern, 2 stores, and 6 or 8 dwellings.
Hunter, taken from Windham, Jan. 27th 1813, by the name of Greenland, .
changed 15th April, 1814; distant from N. York, N. 130. from Albany, S. 58,
miles; surface mountainous, having the main ridge of the Kaatsbergs on the N.
boundary, some of whose summits, as the Round Top and High Peak, attain the
height of 3801 and 3718 feet above the tide; and on the S. another ridge of the '
same chain. The high, intervening, uneven and broad valley is drained by the
main Schoharie creek, and the E. and W. branches. The Kaaterskill Falls, and the
mountain house above described, are in this town. The soil is poor.exoept immediate
ly on the streams, and comparatively little of it reclaimed. The inhabitants subsist
chiefly by procuring lumher, large quantities are sent to market, and by furnish
ing bark to the extensive tanneries in this and the neighboring towns. Tanners-
ville, 22 miles from Catskill, upon the main branch of ihe Schoharie kill, contains
a Presbyterian church, 2 stores, and about 30 dwellings, and the most extensive
tannery in the county, established by Mr. Edwards. It lies in a deep and com
paratively fertile valley. Hunter, East Hunter, and East Kill, are names of other
post offices.
Lexington, part of the Hardenbnrg patent, taken from Windham, by the name
of New Goshen, 27th Jan., 1813, altered to Lexington 19th March, 1813; N. from
N. York 140, from Albany, S. 45, miles; surface mountainous, the main ridge of
the Kaatsbergs running on the north, and another ridge ofthe chain along the S.
boundary. The high intervening valley, is drained by the main branch of the
Schoharie and its great tributaries, E. and W. Kills. The lands here are holden
partly in fee simple, and partly at rent charge; commonly 20 bushels of wheat
annually, to the 100 acres. The country was first settled by emigrants from Con
necticut, in 1788. Lexington Heights, and Lexington, are post villages; Sports-
ville, and West Kill, post offices. Lexington Heights, on the mountain dividing
the Batavia Kill from the E. branch of the Schoharie, 30 miles from Catskill,
contains 1 Presbyterian church, a select academy, 1 tavern, 2 stores, 1 tannery, -
12 dwellings, surrounded by a fine grazing country, settled by emigrants from
Goshen and Wallingford, Connecticut. Lexington, village, on the main branch
of Schoharie Kill, 34 miles from Catskill, contains 1 large tannery, 1 Baptist
meeting house, 1 grist mill,! tavern, 2 stores, 12 or 15 dwellings, in a deep val
ley upon a fertile alluvial soil.
New Baltimore, organised 15th March, 1811; distant from N. York, N. 130
miles; surface broken and hilly; soil clay and sandy loam underlaid with lime
stone, fertile and highly cultivated; drained by Dieppe and Hannakrai, creeks.
New Baltimore and Four Corners, are post villages, and Stanton Hill is an agri
cultural vicinage. New Baltimore, village, upon the Hudson river, 15 miles be
low Albany, 19 miles N. of Catskill, contains a Dutch Reformed church, 2 taverns,
4 stores, and about 50 dwellings upon one street, remarkable for their size and
neatness. It is a place of considerable trade, employs 6 sloops and exports large
quantities of building stone to Albany. Four Corners, near the S. boundary of
the town, 16 miles, N. from Catskill, in a hilly country, contains 1 Christian, 1
Episcopal,! Methodist, and 1 Baptist, churches; 2 saw mills, and about 20 dwell
ings. Stanton Hill, is settled chiefly by "Friends," who have here 2 meeting
houses, pertaining to the respective sects of that society, and about 15 dwellings.
Prattsville, taken from Windham, in 1833; centrally distant S. W. from Al
bany 50, from Catskill, N. W. 36, miles. The town lies between 2 great ridges
of the Kaatsbergs, and is drained by the Batavia Kilt. The country is covered-
generally with forests, but there are some good grazing farms in the valleys 
60 J

474

TOPOGRAPHY.

>
Females.
Births.
Deaths.
u to
S3
i US
jo tr
a
;
TOWN3.
aP to
«*
¦g g,
'i,
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
3
'a; o
>
ti,3 s)
<
-p Jg
'E& tSus
2'
5 a
s «
Si
=, s
asCO
3"3 .
a
a.
CO '
01
«
a
Athens,
2030
203?
2425
2673
222
526
109
337
ieo
564
10
42 45
17
12
Cairo,
2353
2642
'2912
2=61
217
585
25
314
HO)
589
25
63! 44
52
27
Catskill,
3510
4085
4861
5179
456
1068
87
582
548
1073
22
114 90
39
37
Coxsackie,
2355
299t
3373
3364
398
698
122
460
254
767
32
58 1 63
34
'JO
Durham,
2979
3180
303a
2954
264
646
9
360
309
622
1!,
43, 35
22
21
Greenville,
2374
2304
2566
-2313
236
510
2
27b
247
4H0
2!-
39 31
20
>8
Hunter,
1025
1407
1960
2024
190
397
101
289
100
48(1
14
64 61
18
14
Lexington',
1798
2221
254c
2598
206
552
44
311
195
591
21
45 44
12
20
New Baltimore,
2036
2171
2370
2395
230
445
32
271
212
520
16
46 35
19
18
Prattsville,
1469
197
323
44
192
-84
326
7
30 34
• 6
7
Windham,
2536
3963
3471
2343
268
507
58
293
184
442
9
35 33
14
11
22996
26-?29
29525
30173
2885
6257
633
3687
2542
6394
204
579 515
253
201
' Note. Males, 15,428; Females, 14,745; Blacks, 1000; Black voters, 21; Deaf and Dumb, 10; Blind,
20; Idiots, 30; Lunatics, 27.
TOWNS.
c
S .
tt)
"5 01
¦a * ¦
I o)2
81 "~ »
to
•p
3 S)
¦8
'=»
KOS -
si>- to
t p.
m P os
to'Z^icS'S
co tt) S
CO 3 O
vCOt-
O
tt)
o.to0)
c
01
O 3
~ 3
3
33
<
<
<
<•— CO
S
r_>
tyj
Oj
b,
%J
o~
h
O'
Athens,
12056
9115
287450
19950
533
1206
815
1153
584
1017
1995
356
469
1166
Cairo,,
35180
17953
209330
37765
720
2081
2555
3448
215(1
2570
4026
932
Catskill,
13347
17251
687155
294959
1016
2388
3016
2456
1988
1955
3094
1623
3725
Coxsackie,
18436
15507
327995
55424
693
1753
1923
1751
1530
1481
2942
643
1472
Durham,
36145
26900
272110
26765
K7H
341!)
9952
2285
4409
6122
11481
526
1134
Greenville,
24025
17818
253359
42975
713
20-*
2888
1058
3298
3207
6728
256
1124
Hunter,
74123
10633
83343
10450
440
1830
3010
616
2244
2483
1797
655
355
Lexington,
67157
17720
115075
5410
780
3235
3713
1359
3225
3702
4569
671
453
New Baltimore,
24412
15647
264874
72537
662
2126
2695
2110
2516
3094
5255
767
1277
Prattsville,Windham,
13545
7060
57083
12325
323
1163
3269
713
1432
1409
2045
143
263
54507
19177
16252
28567
704
2951
7892
1263
4055
3236
4516
390
722
3:2933
174841
2719831
607117
7462
24181
41728
18812
27431
30269
48412
6499
12563
TOWNS.
tn
m
-j.ce
IS u
4>o
S
l77Vsp
itn0J
en
tn
»
Oo O '
tn
i) .
CtpO 01
3-3 B 3
.2 a
a.
ed to i
^ oj o
CO
CO tt)
E
a
a 3
a3
6,
ft
*d
oo
aoi-
r1
Q 1
tt)
<
a.
Cc« 1
¦s
=03
0.
°1
I1
tt) ;S
•g n JO >.
O, 01 P 01
g MB.S
cd
"oA 01
m
6
252
113
354
4
3
1
1
1
1
17
303
584
758
Catskill,
6
7
3
3
1
i
2
14
506
1194
. 839
6
6
2
3
11
345
1019
722
6
16
4 3
1
17
363
820
932
2
8
2 3
1
13
290
642
773
2
35
1 1
1
1
15
314
566
630
Lexington,
3
15
3 3
1
2 3
20
397
551
919
New Baltimore,
3
13
L\ 1
15
236
711
564
Prattsville,
1
7
1
8
115
315
492
Windllam,
4
37
34
144 00
2 a
20 20
CN »0
4
US
13
]
o
3
©©
3
32
1
1
2
©©
16
261
523
767
152
3382
7038
7750
Value of product,
us
CO 00
00 O
s
<n
©us
© ao
&
!_!

No. of (
hildren aboi
e 5 and um
er 16 years
Value of material,
i
«
US35
©
00 to
o o
1
t>
©©
s
©©©
ofag. -8,21
18.
a
^
.-I
rt
!¦*
so
r-l
HAMILTON COUNTY.

475

Prattsville, post village, upon the right bank of the main Schoharie kill, in a broad
and fertile valley, contains, including a settlement about a mile below, a Dutch
Reformed church, 1 select, 1 district, schools, 2 very extensive tanneries, grist and
saw mill, 1 tavern 2 stores, and 30 dwellings. This is a thriving village, and
has its name from Zadock Pratt, who established the first tannery here.
Windham, taken from Woodstock. 23d March, 1798; centrally distant from N.
York, N. 140, from Albany, S. 39, miles. It consists of two ridges ofthe Kaats
bergs, with a high narrow intervening valley, through which flows westerly the
Batavia kill. The country is generally heavily timbered with beech, birch, ma
ple, hemlock, bass wood, and ash. The valleys contain some excellent lands and
the hills produce grass abundantly. The lands are holden partly in fee simple,
and partly on ground rent, from the Hardenburg proprietors. Windham, formerly
called Batavia, Osbornville and Scienceville, are post villages. Windham, 26
miles W. from Catskill, stretches along the Batavia valley about 2 miles, and has
1 Presbyterian and 1 Episcopal, churches; a district school, 2 taverns, 2 tanneries,
a store, 3 sawmills, and about 20 dwellings, surrounded by a fertile and pictu
resque country. Osbornville, in the same valley, 24 miles N. W. from Catskill,
has a fine new Presbyterian church, a grist and saw mill, 2 tanneries, a tavern,
store, district school, and 20 dwellings. Scienceville, also in the. same valley,
miles from Catskill, has 2 taverns, a store, 2 tanneries, a district school, and
12 or 15 dwellings. Big Hollow and Union Society, are names of other post
offices.

HAMILTON COUNTY, was provisionally erected, but not organised, by
Act of 12th April, 1810; and yet, for municipal purposes, forms part of Mont
gomery county, from which it was taken. It is to be organised when it shall
contain 1288 taxable inhabitants, qualified to vote for members of Assembly.
It is bounded N. by St. Lawrence and Franklin; E. by Essex, Warren, and
part of Saratoga; S. by Montgomery, and W. by Herkimer counties; greatest
length N. and S. 60, greatest breadth E. and W. 30, miles; area 1,800 square
miles; situate between 43° 13' and 44° 07' N. Lat.; and 2° 4' and 2° 47' E.
Long.; centrally distant from New York 250, from Albany 105, miles.
The county is covered with mountains; being traversed by the Clinton, the
Sable, and Chateaugua, ridges, and embraces that elevated region, in which the
Hudson, the Sacandaga, Black, and Racket rivers, and the E. and W. Canada
creeks have their sources. It is sprinkled with almost countless lakes and ponds.
The chief of which are Long Lake and Lake Pleasant, connected by a creek of
half a mile, with Round Lake, Piseco Lake, and Elm Lake. From a mountain in
Lake Pleasant town, nine ponds may be seen at one view. These lakes abound

476 TOPOGRAPHY.
with trout, and upon their margins aTe tracts of arable lands, covered with white
pine. But generally the county is broken and sterile, abounding with swamps
and clothed with dreary forests, as are the bounds ofthe counties which surround
it, of which little is known.
The site of the county town was designated in 1817, on the N. bank of Lake
Pleasant. The whole county is divided into four (owns, Lake Pleasant, Wells,
Hope, and Morehouse, in all of which are post offices. The mountains are all
primitive and chiefly granitic, abounding with magnetic ore, said to be of excel
lent quality. Deer, bears, panthers, catamounts, and wolves, are numerous, and
it is supposed, that some moose may yet remain in this wild country.
The chief streams are the Sacandaga and Indian rivers. The former is des
cribed in our account of Saratoga county. The latter, forming the W. branch of
the Hudson, rises near the centre of the county, and flows by a N. E. course of
about 30 miles in the valley between the Clinton and Chateaugua mountains, into
Minerva town, Essex county, and thence by a S. E. course of about 40 miles, to
the N. branch of Schroon river, in Warren county.
For statistics the reader is referred to " Montgomery county."
Hope, taken from Wells 15th April, 1818; centrally distant N. from New York
215, from Albany 70, from Johnstown N. N. E. 25, miles. Except some small
tracts, the lands are said to be of little value; yet the town contains one half the
population of the county. The settlements are, principally, on the Sacandaga
river, on Stony creek, one of its branches, and on a tract called the Benson Tract.
The land belongs chiefly to the state; and the best of it is surveyed into small
tracts for farms.'
Lake Pleasant, taken from Johnstown 26th May, 1812; centrally distant N.
of New York 255, of Albany L20, of Johnstown 43, miles. It extends N. and S.
about 60 miles, and E.and W. 26; is covered with mountains and lakes, stocked,
respectively, with deer, and trout; contained, in 1830, but 266 human beings,
about one to every three square miles; and in 1835, 336; but Morehouse had then
been taken from it. A wild and sterile desert, with an occasional oasis, of toler
able fertility. Of late, some Welch families have gone into this district; and it
has become a favourite resort for the fowler and angler. • .
Morehouse, -was taken from Lake' Pleasant, by act, 13th April, 1835, which
gives it the following boundaries; beginning at the N. W. eorner of the Arthur-
borough tract, and running thence, S. on the line of that tract, to the Vrooman
patent; thence by the W. line of the county, across that patent to the S. line of
the county; thence, E. by such S. line, to the intersection of the E. line of the
Arthurborongh tract;- thence, N. across ihe Lawrence patent to the E. line of the
Arthurborongh tract; thence, K. along the E. line of the said tract, to the N. E.
corner thereof; thence, N. on a course parallel with the W. line of the county to
the place of beginning.
Wells, taken from Mayfield and Northampton 28th March, 1805; centrally
distant N. from New York 255, from Albany 110, and from Johnstown N. N. E.
50, miles. A wild waste of mountain and swamp, abounding with small lakes
from which flow by opposite directions, two principal branches of the Hudson,
the Sacandaga by the S. and Indian river by the N. Its sparse population is
confined chiefly to the valley ofthe Sacandaga.
HERKIMER COUNTY, was originally constituted, by act 16th Feb., 1791;
and part ofthe town of Winfield, was taken from Otsego countv, in 1816; and Dan
ube, Salisbury, and Manheim, from Montgomery, in 1817; bounded N. by St.
Lawrence; E. by Hamilton and Montgomery; S. by Schoharie and Otseo-o; W.
by Oneida and Lewis, counties: Greaiest length, N. and S. 90; greatest breadth,
E. and W. 23, miles; situate betvveeil 42° 50' and 44° 5' N. Laf. and 1° 43' and
2° 14' E. Long; area 1386 square miles: centrally distant N. W. from N. York,
by the way of Albany 260, and from Albany 115, miles.
The surface is greatly diversified, and broken by mountains, which cross it in
every direction. The Chateaugua range enters in on the East, from Hamilton
-county, in Salisbury, and runs, South West to the Otsquake hills, which
form the water shed between the Mohawk and Husquphanna, rivers; broken
through, however, by the river, at the Little Falls. The elevation of this range,
at its entrance into the county, may be 1200 feet above tide; but it sinks°to
712 feet, at Litle Falls; rising, however, to the Otsquake hills, in the distance of

HERKIMER COUNTY.

477

8 miles, near 1000 feet. The Otsquake hills extend W. covering the whole south
ern extremity. Between the Chateaugua range and the western line of the coun
ty, are the Highlands of Black river, and on the S. the Hassencleaver mountain,
which has a base of 8 or 9 miles and an altitude of from 800 to 1000 feet. The
West Canada creek, breaks through the Highlands, at Trenton Falls, and runs
some distance along the Hassencleaver mountain upon its eastern base. That por
tion of the county which lies N. of W. Canada creek, is little known. It is co
vered by high and barren hills. The ridges are scooped into innumerable lakes,
and bounded by deep valleys and rapid streams, such as the Black river and its
tributaries Moose, Independence and Beaver, rivers. This region has summits
1400 feet higher than Lake Ontario, and 1634 feet above- the ocean.
Upon the northern extremity, however, the inclination of the country is north-

478 TOPOGRAPHY.
ward; and here the Oswegatchie river, of the St. Lawrence, has its sources. —
From the Highlands, the country dips to the Mohawk, and is drained almost whol
ly by the E. and W. Canada creeks. The streams flowing to the river from the
S. are short, rapid and of inconsiderable volume.
The northern part of the country is chiefly granitic. The rock, sometimes
well defined granite, at others gneiss, breaks through the surface into bare and
desolate fields; but the granite is frequently covered by transition and secondary
slate, limestone, and calcareous sand stone, apparent upon the banks of the E.
and W. Canada creeks, and other places in the central parts ofthe county and in
the valley of the Mohawk.
On the S. of the river, the granite rarely appears, except, for some miles, in
Fall Hill. The dividing ridge is of slate, upon which is imposed siliceous and
calcareous sand stone, and secondary limestone.
The Mohawk river runs centrally through the populous portion of the county,
eastwardly about 23 miles; and receives, as we have already observed, E. Canada
creek, upon the eastern boundary and W. Canada, near the centre. The river
from the end of the long level, in Frankfort, descends through the county, at least
100 feet; 42 of which are in the defile of Little Falls. The Erie canal runs on the
S. bank, and overcomes this ascent, by 14 locks, having together a lift of 97 feet.
Along the river, chiefly in the towns of Herkimer and German Flats, are broad
alluvial bottoms of inexhaustible fertility.
We have included E. Canada creek in our description of Montgomery county.
West Canada creek, (Cayoharie, Indian name,) the principal northern branch of
the Mohawk, and in size inferior only to the main stream, rises from small lakes
amid the mountains in the S. W. parts of Hamilton county, interlocking with the
sources of Black and Sacandaga rivers, and flowing S. W. through the wilds of
Herkimer, indentingthe E. border of Oneida, and thence by a S. E. course, unites
with the Mohawk, at the village of Herkimer, being in length near 60 miles. —
The upper part of the stream has been little explored. In passing through the
Highlands, on the borders of Oneida county, which deflect its course, it falls, in
a distance of less than 5 miles, 387 feet. Indeed, from its source to its mouth, this
stream is a torrent. Its springs are said to be 1600, above the tide level, and its
mouth 380; so that in less than 60 miles, it has a fall of 1220 feet; more than 20
feet to the mile. It receives Black creek, about 5 miles above Trenton Falls, and
Cincinnati, one mile below.
The Trenton Falls, on this stream, form a distinguished object of curiosity, and
grow yearly, in interest with the tourist. They are 6 in number.and commence a short
distance above the High Bridge, on the Black river road, and terminate, at Conrad's
Mills; embracing a space of two miles. But the ridge of secondary limestone over
which they break, has a breadth of four or five miles, and the descent in the stream,
two miles above the first cataract, is at least 60 feet. At this cataract, the water
is precipitated 20 feet over an abrupt ledge, in breadth nearly 80 yards, into a spa
cious basin,whereadeep and winding ravine begins; cut, apparently, by the water,
through the rock, to an average depth of one hundred, and breadth of two hun
dred feet.
' The falls are connected by race ways or shutes; the most remarkable of which,
is that between the first cataract and the " Cascades," 20 rods long and from 10 to
15 feet wide; troughed shaped and rugged, contorted and much inclined, through
which,7 the water rushes with great velocity. At low water, the length of this
shute may be 10 rods, in floods, it is 60, reaching to Sherman's Fall. Between
Sherman's and Conrad's, Falls, commencing at the foot of Sherman's, a stairway,
with a width of 15 feet, bounded by rocks and a strand upon the W. affords a
passage to the visitor.
The appearance of these falls, varies greatly with the state of the water. In
seasons of freshet, the scene is tremendously wild and exciting; and possesses
at all times great interest. The best time to visit it, is when the waters are low;
for, then the ravine may be ascended from the foot of Sherman's stairway, to the
head of the upper race way.
The limestone of these cataracts is scarce less curious than the water falls. It
is generally in horizontal layers, varying in thickness from some inches to a foot,
or more, and readily divisible; having petrified animal remains in prodigious quan
tities between the laminaB. In most instances, all the parts are so fully defined,

HERKIMER COUNTY. 479
that, not only the order, but the genera and species, may be recognised. They are
easily separated from their case; have a smooth glossy and black exterior, much
darker than the enveloping rock.
A company has been recently formed for the erection of hydraulic works on an
extensive scale, at the falls.
At no very remote period this stream seems to have made a remarkable change
in its bed, near its confluence with the Mohawk.
The Utica turnpike and rail roads extend along the N. bank of the Mohawk,
through the villages of Manheim, Little Falls and Herkimer.
The lands of this c6unty were originally granted in large tracts; such were the
" Royal Grant," to Sir William Johnson, embracing the country between the E.
and W. Canada creeks, 92,000 acres, noticed under "Montgomery County,-" the
Jerserfield patent, covering a large portion ofthe northern part ofthe county;
94,000 acres, made April 12th, 1770; the German Flats patent granted in 1725,
9186 acres, and others.
The county has 18 towns.
Colombia, taken from Warren, June 12th, 1812; N. W. from Albany 75, from
Herkimer, S. 10, miles; surface hilly; soil calcareous and sandy loam;- indiffer
ently watered on the N. by some small streams flowing to the Mohawk, and on
the S. by the sources of the Unadilla, and a tributary of the Canaderaga lake. —
The hills are generally arable, and the slopes fertile, in grass and grain. There
are a post office bearing the name of the town, and another called South Columbia,
a church, common to Lutherans and Presbyterians, and 2 stores. The first settle
ments were made here by German families, previous to the revolution.
Danube, taken from Minden, 7th April, 1817; N. W. from Albany 68, from
Herkimer, S. E. 10, miles; surface gently undulating; soil argillaceous sandy and
calcareous loam, highly fertile, especially in the valley of the Mohawk; drained
by the Nowadaga, a small stream flowing some 6 or 8 miles; at whose mouth for
merly stood, a Mohawk castle, with its church and bell. There is no village in
the town, the pursuits of the inhabitants being wholly agricultural. One post office
bears the name of the town, another is called Newville.
Fairfield, taken from Norway, 19th Feb. 1796; from Albany W. N. W. 76,
from Herkimer N. E. 10, miles; surface hilly; the prevailing rock is blue and
gray compact lime, and calcareous sand, stone, through which the granitic base
sometimes breaks; soil strong clay loam, highly fertile, and well cultivated,
adapted to grass, and there are here large dairies; watered by the West Canada
creek, and by many springs and small brooks. Fairfield, Middleville, and
Eaton's Bush, are post villages. Fairfield, village, centrally situate, contains 1
Presbyteriap and 1 Episcopal, churches; the' College of Physicians and Sur-
geousof the Western District, a fine stone edifice, near 200 feet front, and three
stories high, having an extensive museum of natural history and cabinet of mine
rals — professorships of anatomy and physiology, materia medica and medical ju
risprudence, surgery and midwifery, chemistry and pharmacy, practice of physic
and diseases of women and children — and numbering in 1834, 217 students; an
academy, occupying two large buildings, one of wood, the other of stone, highly
flourishing; 2 taverns, 2 stores, and about 60 dwellings. Middleville, on West
Canada creek,' partly in this, and partly in Newport town, has a church common
to Episcopalians and Baptists, a cotton factory, making $10,000 worth of goods
annually, 1 grist, 2 saw, and 1 carding and cloth dressing, mills, 1 tavern, 2
stores, and 60 dwellings. Eaton's Bush, on the lines of Manheim, Fairfield, and
Herkimer. 5 miles N. E. from Herkimer, has 1 Baptist church, a store,' tavern
and 20 dwellings. < >
Frankfort, taken from German Flats, 5th February, 1796; distant W. N.
W. from Albany 86, from Herkimer W. 8, miles; surface on the S. hilly
and broken, underlaid with slate and sandstone; upon the river are fertile flats-
drained by Steele's creek, about 10 miles long, and some smaller tributaries
of the Mohawk, which courses the N. boundary. The Union Furnace in this
town manufactures annually $30,000 worth of iron ware. The company to
whom it belongs were incorporated in 1811, and their charter was renewed for 21
years, and their capital increased to $30,000, April 27th, 1835. Frankfort
post village, upon the canal 5 miles N. W. from Herkimer, 100 from Albany 10
E. from Utica, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Baptist, churches, 2 taverns, 7 stores
and about 50 dwellings. The Frankfort Manufacturing Company was incorpo'

480 TOPOGRAPHY.
rated' May 1, 1834, for manufacturing cotton and woollen goods and machinery,
with an authorised capital of $200,000, to go into operation when $50,000 should
be subscribed, and 4825,000 paid in.
German Flats, organised 7th March, 1788; distant from Albany 75, from Her
kimer S. E. 5, miles; surface undulating, rising from the Mohawk river on the N.
boundary. Upon the river are the extensive fiats giving name to the town, pro
verbially fertile, although the culture might be much improved. The soil of the
town is, generally, of superior character. Drained, principally, by Fulmer's
creek, some 10 miles long, rising in the northern declivity of the dividing ridge,
A canal has been cut around the Wolfe Rift, in the Mohawk, 5 miles above the
Little Falls, 1 J mile in length, affording advantageous water power. Remington's
manufactory of rifle barrels is in this town, producing returns of $15,000 per an
num. Mohawk, post village, on the canal and river, 2 miles S. from Herkimer,
Iras 3 taverns, 5 general and 3 grocery, stores, 4 forwarding and commission
houses, a large malt house, and 30 dwellings. This is an excellent market for
produce ofthe county. Here is a post office called Paine's Hollow.
Herkimer, organised 7th March, 1788; distant from Albany 80, and from Utica
14, miles; surface rising into hills towards the north, aiid spreading into broad
rich alluvial flats along the Mohawk river, forming part of the famed " German
Flats;" soil generally productive, but under ordinary cultivation; drained by the
West Canada creek.
Herkimer, post village, and seat of justice for the county, incorporated April 6,
1807-1825, three-fourths of a mile N. of the river, on the West Canada creek,
built principally on two parallel streets, contains 1 Methodist church, a new and
very handsome Dutch Reformed church, with steeple and spire; a new and commo
dious court house, of brick, prison of stone, a fine building, and connty clerk's of
fice, of brick; 5 taverns, 5 general stores, 8 law offices, printing office, issuing a
weekly paper, and about 120 dwellings, chiefly of wood. The village and vicin
age exhibits small evidence of enterprise, or of the wealth which pertains to it;
yet " The Herkimer Manufacturing and Hydraulic Company" was incorporated
here 17th April, 1833, with a capital of $100,000, for making a dam across the
West Canada creek, north of the village, to create water power, to manufacture
cotton and woollen goods, and machinery, and to dispose of the surplus power.
This company, at the expense of $40,000, have constructed extensive works. The
whole volume ofthe creek is turned into a canal, and maybe used at any point for
the space of two miles under a head and fall of 40 feet.
Litchfield, taken from German Flats, 7th Feb. 1796; distant from Albany 88,
from Herkimer and Utica 11, miles; surface hilly and broken; soil argillaceous
and calcareous loam; drained S. by a branch of the Unadilla, and N. by Steele's,
creeks. Argillaceous oxide of iron, found in the town, is smelted in a furnace
here, at which hollow ware, to the value of $20,000, is made annually. Cedarville,
partly in this, and partly in the towns of Winfield and Columbia, contains a post
office, 1 Methodist and 1 Universalist, churches; an academy, 2 taverns, 2 stores,
1 grist, 2 saw, mills; an extensive distillery, and 35 dwellings. There is also a
post office named after the town.
Little Falls, taken from Herkimer, Fairfield, and German Flats, 16th Feb.
1829; from Albany 75 miles; surface hilly; soil sandy and argillaceous loam,
based on granite, calcareous sand and limestone, the greater part broken and
rugged, producing equally grass and grain. The town extends north and south of
the Mohawk and has no other streams worthy of note, save the Nowadaga, which
drains its S. E. angle.
The only village is Little Falls, 73 miles from Albany, and 7 from Herkimer,
upon both banks ofthe Mohawk, and on the Utica turnpike and rail roads, incorpo
rated in 1827, and containing 1 Episcopal, 1 Baptist, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Union,
churches, the latter occupied by Methodists; a select seminary for malen, and ano
ther for females; 2 grist, 2 saw, 2 paper, mills; 2 tanneries, 2 furnaces for casting
iron, 2 machine shops, 1 trip hammer, 1 carding and cloth dressing mill; a bank,
with a capital of $200,000, incorporated 14th May, 1833; a canal collector's office*
11 law offices, 5 physicians, 2 printing offices, issuing weekly journals, and above
300 dwellings, generally of stone, whose number is rapidly increasing. The vil
lage is supplied with water brought, by an incorporated company, from a spring in
the granite mountain, 306 feet above the tops of the houses. The " Little Falls

HERKIMER COUNTY.

481

Manufacturing Company" was incorporated April 20th, 1833, with a capital
of $300,000, for manufacturing cotton and woollen goods, and machinery. The
largest portion of the land here has recently been purchased by Richard R. Ward,
Esq, of New York, and the lots brought into market.
This spot is remarkable for the passage of the Mohawk river through the moun
tain Barrier; for its wild and picturesque scenery; and for the difficulties which
have been overcome in constructing the Erie canal through the pass. It reseivea
the name of the Little Falls, in contradistinction to the Great Falls at Cahoes.
The falls extend upon the river, about three-fourths of a mile, descending in
that distance 42 feet, and consist of two long rapids, separated by a stretch of deep
water, occupying each about the fourth of a mile. The upper rapids ' are most
considerable. Above them, a dam across the stream renders it placid, oyer which
the waters, separated by a small island, form beautiful low cascades, falling into, a
deep pool beneath, whence the current rushes, murmuring and foaming, over
ridges and amorphous masses of granite and gneiss rock, flowing with compara
tive gentleness beneath the overarching bridge and aqueduct, and, thence hurrying,
with new impetuosity, over the stony bed below.
This waterfall would be beautiful any where; but it acquires grandeur here,
from the high hills which confine it, and which the slightest observation teaches
us have been cut down by its ever enduring and irresistible force. The defile is
two miles long, with a medial breadth of one hundred rods. On either bank, the
hill, on which deciduous and evergreen trees are pleasingly intermingled, rises
from 360 to 400 feet, and the fall, over which-may have once poured the waters
of Lake Ontario, may have had a verylittle inferior altitude. A mound, raised
here tothe height of 70 feet, would now cause the waters to overflow the Rome
summit, and send them again, by Wood creek and the-Oneida lake, to Ontario.
That the hill has been so abraded is incontestibly demonstrated by the many ca
vities, basins, and channels, worn in the rock, at the^bottom and sides of the de
file, visible throu'ghputits extent, and at an elevation of 60 feet. Bejow the Gulf
Bridge, on the N. side of. the road, is an insulated rock, having a remarkable wa
ter-worn cavity or funnel; its- top is between 30 and 40 feet above the low water
mark ofthe river, and the rock in which It is formed is 16 feet high. The funnel,
2^ feet diameter, descends perpendicularly from .the top below the exposed part of
the base. Near the base it is broken so that the sky may be seen as through a
chimney. This funnel has doubtless been worn .by the violent action of water
upon loose stones withiii its cavity. Similar indications of like action are common
here, and some have lately been disclosed by removal of the soil from other por
tions of rock.
At the foot of the falls the river expands into a basin more than an hundred feet
deep, into which the high cataract once poured its floods, and from whose depths
rocky spires rise above the surface.
A canal, with. 5 locks, was constructed here by the Western Inland Navigation
Company, in 1802, which now gives a valuable hydraulic power, and serves as a
feeder for the Erie canal, with which it is connected by a noble aqueduct of mar
ble, 214 feet long, 16 feet wide, confined by walls 14 feet high and 4 feet broad,
sustained by three arches, the central one of 70, and the outer ones each of 50,
feet span. The western parapet, guarded with an iron balustrade, forms an agreea
ble promenade, from which a great portion of this varied scenery is visible. This
beautiful structure is best seen from a fine stone bridge immediately above it.
This defile presented an obstacle to the Erie canal, inferior to none save the
deep excavation at Lockport. Here, two miles of deep rock cutting were neces
sary; years were supposed requisite to accomplish the work; but the perseverance
and skill of the contractors effected the most difficult portion in less than 90 days.
The canal descends the pass, by 5 locks, 40 feet in the distance of one mile, and
the time of the passage permits the traveller in boats to view, leisurely, the natural
scenery and artificial improvements.
This place has much attraction for the student of natural science. The geolo
gist will find the various formations, curiously blended, in its vicinity. The rocks, -
immediately at the falls, are granite, gneiss, and hornblende, with calciferous"
sand rock overlaid by transition limestone. Beautiful quartz crystals of unusual
size, purity, and lustre, and fine specimens of tourmaline, may be obtained.
61

482 TOPOGRAPHY.
About half a mile N. W. of the village, ia a sink in the limestone rock which
engulfs a small stream.
- Manheim, taken from Palatine 3d March, 1797; distant from Albany 69, E.
from Herkimer 11, miles; surface hilly, in the N. descending to the Mohawk
river on the S.; soil clay and calcareous loam of good quality; drained by the
Manheim creek, some 10 miles in length, and by E. Canada creek. First settled
in 1770, but the inhabitants were driyen irom their possessions during the revolu
tionary war. Manheim, post village, on the Utica turnpike and rail road, near
the mouth of East Canada creek, 14 miles from Herkimer, contains a Presby
terian church, 1 grist, 1 saw, 1 carding and cloth dressing, mills, 1 tavern, 3
stores, and about 20 dwellings, and a substantial bridge over the creek. Man
heim centre is a post office.
Newport, taken from Norway, Fairfield, and Schuyler, 7th April, 1806; dis
tant from Albany 95, from Herkimer N. 13, miles; surface hilly, with fertile
valleys; soil sandy and calcareous loam, more productive of -grass than grain;
abundantly watered by the West Canada creek; Newport and Middleville are
post villages. The latter, lying partly in Fairfield, has "been described above.
Newport village, formerly called Bowen's settlement, on the creek, has 1 Episco
pal church, a cotton factory, 1 grist, 1 saw, 1 carding and cloth dressing, mills,
a furnace for iron castings, 2 tanneries, 2 taverns, 5 stores, and about 100 dwel
lings. Norway, -taken from Herkimer lOlh April, 1792; distant from Albany 90, from
Herkimer N. E. 18, miles; surface high and hilly, declining to the S. W. and N.;
soil sand', sandy loam, and clay, more productive in grass than grain; drained by
small tributaries -of West Canada creek. I Norway, post village, contains a church
common to Presbyterians and Episcopalian's, a Baptist church", 2 stores, 1 tavern,
and about 30 dwellings.
Russia, taken 7th April, 1806, from Norway, by the name of Union; distant
from Albany 94, from Herkimer 20, miles; surface and soil like those of Norway;
drained by West Canada arid Black creeks; Sparsely settled, having few or no
inhabitants N. of Black creek. Russia, post village, on Black creek road, con
tains a church common to Baptists and Presbyterians, 1 grist and 1 saw mills, 1
tavern, 2 stores, and about 40 dwellings. The village grows rapidly. Poland
village^ on West Canada creek, 15 miles from Herkimer, has a cotton factory,
clothing works,, 1 tannery, store, tavern, and 25- dwellings. Cold Brook and
Postville are post offices;
Salisbury, taken from Palatine 3d March, 1817; distant from Albany 76, from
Herkimer 19, miles; surface mountainous, with broad valleys on the N. E. and
centre; soil sandy and clay loam, most productive of grass; drained by>East Ca-~
nada, Spruce, and Black creeks. Salisbury, Salisbury centre, and Winton, are
-villages. Salisbury village, 14 miles from Herkimer, contains 1 Presbyterian and.
1 Universalist churches, 2 stores, a tavern, and 20 dwellings. Salisbury centre,
17 miles from Herkimer, has 1 Universalist and 1 Methodist churches, 1 tavern,
3 stores, 1 grist and 2 saw mills; a large tannery, 1 carding and cloth dressing
mill, a scythe and axe factory, 1 gunsmith, and about 30 dwellings. Winton,
named after the proprietor, D. B. Winton, 20 miles from Herkimer, has 1 Metho
dist church, 1 store, 1 tavern, a tannery, tanning 100 hides per day, sending to
market, annually $80,000 worth of leather; 2 extensive turner's shops, two fur
naces, two saw, 1 grist, and 1 plaster, mills, 1 brewery, and 1 coach and waggon
factory, and from 40 to 50 dwellings.
Schuyler, taken from Herkimer 10th April, 1792; distant N. W. from Albany
86, from Herkimer 8, from Utica E. 6, miles; surface hilly but generall/arable;
fertile flats on the Mohawk river, on the S., well watered with springs, and
brooks, and producing abundant crops of wheat in the S. and grass in the north.
East and West Schuyler are post offices.
Stark, taken from Danube April 28th, 1828; centrally distant N. W. from
Albany 29, from Herkimer, S. E. 16, miles; 'surface hilly on the N. and S. dip
ping towards the centre, to the valley of Otsquake creek; soil sandy calcareous and
argillaceous loam, resting chitefly on lime and calcareous sand stone; fruitful in grain
and grassland sustaining many sheep. Vanhornsville, post village, upon the forksof
the creek, contains 1 Dutch Reformed church, 1 tavern, 2 large grist mills, cloth
ing works, and 15 dwellings. There is also a post office called Starkville^

HERKIMER COUNTY.

483

The Otsquake creek of this town, flowing 9 miles to the Mohawk river, is re
markable for the number and extent of the calcareous incrustations and petrefac-
tions along its batiks, and tributaries, rftar its source. A fine example of the
former is presented about half a mile above the first mill, where a tufaceous rock
stretches across the dell, from 60 to 70 yards, with a breadth of 16, and height of
2, yards, enclosing masses of petrefied wood. The most perfect petrefaction, in
the ravine of a small stream descending to the creek, is the trunk of a hemlock
tree 2 feet in diameter, in which the concentric circles and colours of the wood
are admirably preserved. This curious laboratory of stone is still in action.
Warren, taken from German Flats, 5th February, 1796; distant from Albany
68, from Herkimer S. 10, from Cooperstown N. 15, miles; surface hilly, lying
upon the dividing ridge, and sending tributaries N. to the Mohawk, and S. to the
Canaderaga and Otsego lakes; soil sandy and clay loam, on lime and calcareous
sand stone; the hills, generally, arable, and excellently adapted to the culture of
sheep; the valleys, fertile in grain. Subterranean streams burst forth here in large
volumes, sufficient for hydraulic uses. Iron ore is found, and the oxide has
been manufactured into brown paint. Little Lake village, on the Cherry Valley
turnpike, 15 miles from Herkimer, contains the post office called after the town,
a Methodist church, 3 stores, 2 taverns, and about 30 dwellings. There is another
post office at Crain's Corners.
West Brunswick, taken from Norway April 11th, 1823; comprises all that
part of the county lying N. of the N. line of the " Royal Grant," and the S. line
of the Jersey field patent, the far' greater portion of which is yet an almost unex
plored wilderness. The settlements are chiefly near the southern border, distant
from Herkimer about 25 miles, and S. of West Canada creek, where is a post
office having the name of the town.
Winfield, taken from Richfield and Plainfield, of Otsego, .and Litchfield of this
county, April 17th, 1816; distant from Albany 75, from Herkimer S. W. 15,
miles, lies on. the S. inclination of the dividing ridge, and contains the primary
sources of the Unadilla river; surface rolling; soil rich calcareous and sandy %
loam, maintaining many sheep and producing much grain. Winfield and West
Winfield are post villages. Winfield, contains 1 church, 2 taverns, 3 stores, and
25 dwellings upon a long street. West Winfield, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Bap
tist churches, 2 grist, 1 saw, and I carding and cloth dressing, mills,- 1 tavern, 2
stores, and about 35 dwellings.

Females.
Births.
Deaths.
01
t3
oiui
jotr
§2
TOWNS.
P to
II
¦a M
to0100
ti.
to
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
I
s o
>
tna
<
.oa1 a
as
CO
to
s
si
01
Hs
aCD
g
tosCII
6.
Columbia.
3051
2180
2181
1983
175
440
4
265
163
443
20
26
23
6
9
Danube, ¦
3187
3275
1723
1651
155
335
12
206
119
402
4
35
38
14
7
Fairfield,
3610
2535
2265
2062
192
452
20
232
284
379
17
35
25
11
12
Frankfort,
1860
2148
2620
2670
360
539
104
347
200
598
15
61
45
15
13
German Flats,
2665
3065
2460
2715
276
599
43
'351
201
566
.21
52
51
33
¦ 28
Herkimer,
3055
3198
2486
2710
301
642
247
341
179
543
5
31
41
14
17
Litchfield,
1T29
1701
- 1750
162!)
140
374
9
195
153
326
3
-39
23
5
12
Little Falls,
,-2539
3147
374
635
154
411
289
638
16
60
59
28
25
Manheim,
1777
1841
1937
2095
234
392
115
262
175
493
14
29
47
7
11
Newport,
1746
1811
1863
1955
166
398
29
250
178
447
20
32
24
11
15
Norway,
1612
1168
1152
1131
137
260
9
132
129
210
3
22
12
12
9
Russia,
1685
2174
2458
2313
216
492
46
298
200
483! 22
38
39
10
11
Salisbury,
1438
1779
1999
1974
209
446
18
252
157
400 4
30
39
8
~12
Schuyler.
1837
1936
2074
2153
164
368
166
238
167
4-1.5 6
32
28
12
10
Starks,.
1781
1581
152
319
6
187
145
375 15
25
28
12
16
Warren,
2013
2077
2084
2004
142
463
15
238
225
372- .27
47
31
13
9
West Brunswick,
515
713
698
68
148
6
88
3-'
156 4
14
15
5
1
Winfield,
1752
1701
1778
.1739
36201
171
3732
407
7699
21
1020
227
154
331! 10
31
639
18
586
11
227
14
31017
33040
35869
4520
3150
7597
226
231
Note. Males, 18,612; Females, 17,589; Paupers, i
and Dumb, 14; Blind. 12; Idiots, 35; Lunatics, 28.
Blacks, 244; 1 Black voter, in Newport; Deaf
Value of
product,
Value of
material,

Columbia,
. Danube.
Frankfort,
Fairfield,
German Flats,
Herkimer,
Little Falls.
Litchfield,
Manheim,
-Newport,
Norway,
Russia,
Salisb&ry,
Schuyler,
'
Starks,
Warren,
West Brunswick,
Winfield,

o5"as CO

S2895 | .252586

"1 *. ww en w to to w to to i—i- to mw i Grist mills.

40928 -1 83344

os rtooioDtoaiSifrpi».^*itiA.*jS3'»jo<io! i Saw millla. ,

450 | , 775
47446J 68842

k- v- | Oil mills.

u t5MMUKiMr9uis>->t9ur9MMi-i| Fulling mills.

55102 | 61834

SI MKiu.tj««K!it5K!-K>WK!--w 1 Card. machines.

21800 j 29600

u | w t- 1 Cotton factories.

1301 | 2629

w | k. ^- 1 Wool, factories.

12534 | 28080

w ! *- m m 1 Iron works.

17022 | 38580

SI _.„mw>-wn> i- 1 Trip hammers.

53120 | 86365

SImw^ mwm.- ^w I Distilleries.

11328| 17560

5 1 S3 1 Asheries.

19767 | 23145 | g | g ! Clovermills.

13449 | 32576

^ | *. | Paper mills.

118260 | 161362

S3

. g | Tanneries.

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cctiwCDOhACci<cwHWawHAwaw

No. of School
districts.

8
CD i-i

CCHUCD^OuiUao^rSCACJii^rxtorD

Public money
expended. -

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tt- tr,*.WCJt*.(CCr:Ol*. ti -tn ClOiirWffl
-tSCtM- UW"WAtXlntdi- tn *. CJ tft
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Teachers' wages
besides public
mouey.

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8ffiKffiSSBSSB83s38S3S

No. of Scholars.

Si £ £ 5P J? I? * M 2 f tr1 tt-ffl 3 *l tt Q
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?--'£&;^t°"t;*owS50*owtototoh>

'OhOCO(Oi

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- — a CO Ci tn pr © ffi ci

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tow cot-' to ci co

^58££g&r£SgSg£:^^^igg^a linens, Ac,

Area in
Acres.

Acres im
proved.

Assessed va
lue ox* real
estate.

Assessed va
lue of per
sonal estate

Cattle.

Sheep-

Swine.

Fulled yds.

Woollens un fulled.

3338g3£S32S,3£i§!§§ County tax

JEFFERSON COUNTY.

485

CANAD A

JEFFERSON COUNTY, taken from Oneida, 28th March, 1805; bounded
N. W. by the St. Lawrence river and Upper Canada, N. E. by St. Lawrence
county, E. by Lewis, S. by Oswego, counties, and W. Jjy Lake Ontario; extend
ing about 65 miles along the lake and river; greatest length N. and S. 48, great
est breadth E. and W. 36, miles; area 1125 square miles; situate between 43° 40*
and 44° 23' N. Lat., and 0° 35' W. and 1° 28' E. Long.; centrally distant N. W.
from New York 305, and from Albany 160, miles.
The surface is generally level, or gently undulating, and may be divided into
two steppes, of which the broader is on the N. W. The mountain ridge, continued
from the Niagara river, runs from the southern bound of Ellisburg, in a N. E. di
rection, to the Black river, a short distance above the falls, at Watertown, and
follows the S. side of the river into Lewis county. The north-western portion
may have once been part of the bed of the lake, when the ridge, elevated about
100 feet above the plain, formed its shore. The country on the S. E. of the ridge
preserves a high elevation, rising gradually towards the south, and is of more bro
ken character than that on the N. W. The natural turnpike, or Ridge road fol
lows the course of the ridge. {Sec page 23.)
The whole ofthe county is of secondary formation, except a small portion on the
N. E. embracing Antwerp and Wilna towns. The rock of this, secondary district

486 TOPOGRAPHY.
consists chiefly of limestone of various qualities, and clay slate. The limestone
ofthe lower terrace is universally blue, containing abundance of organic remains;
but the impression of shells is commonly not very distinctly marked. Upon the
upper terrace the lime assumes a light gray appearance, and along the ridges
seems to be an aggregate of shells washed up on the shore.
The lands in the basin on the N. W. are adapted to wheat, large quantities of
which are annually exported; rye and Indian corn are also abundant, but the soil
is less- favourable to them than the higher lands of the S. E. where wheat is not a
favoured crop; oats, barley, potatdes, pulse, are raised alike profitably every where.
The average product may be given: for wheat 15 brfshels, corn 30, oats 30, pota
toes 250 bushels, the acre. The culture of every species of grain may be highly
advanced, and the product much increased, by due care and skill, as have been
shown in many instances; and perhaps few portions of the, country, even in the
far, far West, will prove more enduringly fruitful. The cattle sent to market
from this county exceed 4000 head per annum, lis horses are equal to any of the
state, and their sale is a source of much revenue. Sheep culture has of late been
commenced with zeal, and promises great success.
About one-half the exports descend to Montreal, while tire other half is sent by
the lake, and the Oswego and Erie canals, to New York, or through the Welland
canal into Lake Erie, and the region of the upper lakes; but a new outlet will
soon be made by the Black river canal. The vessels on the lake belonging to the
county amounted, in 1834, to about 4000 tons. The exports of staves, lumber, iron,
ashes, pork, beef, whiskey, lake fish, flour, cattle, sheep, butler, &c. are estimated
at $1,000,000 annually. [
The only mineral of importance that has been discovered is iron, chiefly in the
town of Wilna, in the eastern part of the county, in the granite region. Mines aTe
opened there, 'and several forges established for the manufacture of pig and bar
iron, making together about 500 tons per annum.
The timber generally prevailing is white oak, maple, beech, elm, ash, bass-
wood, and a small portion of pine, hemlock, red and white cedar.
The county is not abundantly watered. It has, however, two considerable
streams running through it; Indian river, described under St. Lawrence county,
and the Black river.
Black river, so called from the colour of its waters, rises in a small lake, in the
uninhabited parts of Herkimer county, and flows S. W. to the N. W. corner of
Remsen, Oneida county, about 25 miles; thence N. W. through Boonville, of the
same county, and through Lewis county centrally into Jefferson county, 53 miles;
thence westward through Jefferson county, 24 miles, to Black river bay, of Lake
Ontario, having a length of 108 miles. At Lowville, 40 miles from its mouth, its '
width is 18 rods, and 60 at Watertown. It receives from the E. Moose river, near
the High Falls, in Lewis county, and Fish, Otter, and Independence creeks, and
Beaver river, from the same county; from the W. Black creek, in Oneida, Sugar,
Whetstone, and Martin's, creeks, and Deer river, In Lewis county. The greater
part of its course is through a deep valley, and its tributaries generally are moun
tain torrents. On its westerly line, below the rapids, its banks are water sheds,
turning the waters of the country from its bed into opposite courses. It descends
itself from a great height by steps. For 25 miles from its source the current is
sluggish and navigable to the High Falls, in Leyden, where it is precipitated 63
feet; thence it is again navigable, 40 miles, to the " Long Falls," at Carthage,
where is begun a series of rapids,' cascades, and pools; thence, in1 14 miles, it falls
some hundred feet to the Great Bend; thence to its mouth is another series of
reaches, rapids, and falls. Its source is 1400 feet above the level of Lake Onta
rio. The connection of this river with the Erie canal, by means ofthe Black river
canal, was authorised in 1836. The improved navigation will, for the present, ter
minate at Carthage; but will eventually be continued, by the valley of the river,
through Watertown to Sackett's Harbour.
Besides these larger streams, there are others of considerable volume, which seek
the St. Lawrence and the lake. Of the one, Plessis creek, of Alexandria, emp
tying into Black la"ke, of St. Lawrence county, is the most important, having a
N. E. course of about 15 miles. Of the other, Chaumont and Perch rivers,
Stoney and Sandy creeks, are the chief.
Chaumont river, rising in Orleans, flows S. W. about 14 miles, through Clayton

JEFFERSON COUNTY. 487
and Lyme, into Chaumont bay, of the lake, of which Hungry and Black river
bays are part. In all these, there is depth of water and safe harbourage for vessels
of the largest size. The name of Chaumont is now confined to the portion on the
north, in Lyme, which is remarkable for its fisheries of white fish and siscoes, of
which some thousand barrels are said to be taken annually. .Perch river flows
from Perch* lake, in the S. E. angle of Orleans county, and runs a parallel course
with the preceding, about 10 miles, into Black river bay.
Stony creek rises in Watertown, and has a S. W. course of 18 miles, through
Adams and Henderson, to the lake; and Little Stony creek, issuing from a small
pond of Henderson, runs about 6 miles to the same recipient.
Sandy creek, the most considerable of these lake streams, has its source in the
E.part of Rutland, upon the upper steppe, and runs S. W. nearly 30 miles, through
Rutland, Watertown, Rodman, Adams, and Ellisburg, descending by high falls to.
the lower terrace, and thence to the lake, receiving in its way the south branch
and other tributaries.
The county has 19 towns.
Adams, taken from Mexico, 1st April, 1802; N. W. from Albany 149 miles;
surface gently undulating; soil sandy loam, of excellent quality, on limeand'slate;
drained by Stony, and the north branch of Sandy, creek. Adams, post village, on
Sandy creek, 14 miles S. from Watertown, contains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Metho
dist, churches; a large grist, 2 saw, mills; clothing works, chair factory, 2 ta
verns, 4 stores, 1 select school, a seminary for young ladies, 4 lawyers. 6 physi
cians, and 120 dwellings. The fall on the creek here is about 15 feet. The town
was originally the property of Mr. Nicholas Low, of New York, and was first set
tled by New England emigrants in 1801. Appling and Smithville are post
offices. Alexandria, taken from Brownsville and Le Ray, 3d April, 1821, including the
islands of the St. Lawrence river fronting 'the town; surface gently undulating;
soil clay, sandy, and marly loam; on the E. stony and broken, the rock of well
defined granite, and the soil indifferent. The shores of the St. Lawrence are dry
and elevated, indented by numerous bays, and remarkable for fine scenery. The
river, from two to five miles wide, is speckled by the "Thousand Islands." Indian
river flows N. across the E; part of the town, having falls of 80 feet near Theresa,
and others adapted to hydraulic works above and below it. Below the falls, the
river is navigable for boats to Rossie. Mullet, Otter, Hyde, Plessis, and Crooked
creeks, are useful mill streams; and there are in trie town 12 small lakes, from
three- fourths of a mile to 3 miles in length. All these waters are well stocked
with fish. Settlements were commenced hereby emigrants from New England in
1817. Alexandria, Plessis, and Theresa, are post villages. Alexandria, on the
St. Lawrence, at the mouth of Otter creek,. 25 miles below Cape Vincent, and 30
above Ogdensburg, 190 N. W. from Albany, and 30 N. E. from Watertown, con
tains 1 saw mill, 1 tavern, 2 stores, and from 20 to 25 dwellings, surrounded by a
well cleared and improved country. Plessis has a grist mill, saw mill, tavern, and
10 dwellings. Two miles E. of the village are extensive glass works, making
cylinder window glass. Theresa, 25 miles from Watertown, has a grist mill, saw
mill, store, tavern, fulling mill, and 20 dwellings. Redwood is the name of ano
ther post office. There are in the town 1 Methodist church, and another com
mon to Presbyterians, Baptists, and Universalists. The military road from
Sackett's Harbour towards Plattsburg, leads centrally through the town.
Antwerp, taken from Le Ray 5th April,- 1810; surface hilly, but the greater
portion arable; soil clay loam of good quality, resting on primitive limestone and
granite, and best suited for grass; watered chiefly by Indian river. The Oswe-
gatchie river, in the form of an oxbow, indents the N. W. boundary. Antwerp
and Oxbow are post villages. Antwerp or River village, upon Indian river, 20
miles N. E. of Watertown, 7 S. E. from Oxbow, 164 from Albany, 41 from Og
densburg, on the turnpike road, from Denmark to Ogdensburg, contains 1 Presby
terian and 1 Methodist churches, one a neat building of brick, erected in 1813,. at
the cost of near $10,000, by Mr. Parish, to whom the town belonged; 1 grist, and 1
saw, mills, carding and cloth dressing mill, 1 scythe factory and pocket furnace,
2 taverns, 3 stores, and 43 dwellings, in a rough country of clay and marl. Ox
bow, 25 miles N. E. from Watertown, has^a large school house, in which public
worship is holden; 2 stores, 1 tavern, grist and saw mills, pocket furnace, and 24

488 TOPOGRAPHY.
dwellings. One mile W. of the village, is a rock having the form of a pulpit,
and bearing that name, where meetings for public worship have been occasionally
convened. N
Brownville, taken from Leyden 1st April, 1802; surface level; soil marly loam,
on limestone, of excellent quality and highly improved, producing much wheat;
drained by Black and Perch rivers. Brownville and Limerick are post villages.
The town has its name from Mr. John Brown, an early settler, the father of the late
Major General Brown. Brownville, on the right bank of Black river, 3 miles
from its mouth and at the head of navigation, 4 miles below Watertown, 164
from Albany, contains 1 Methodist, 1 Episcopal, 1 Presbyterian, churches, 2
select schools, 2 taverns, 8 or 10 stores, 1 cotton factory, 1,500 spindles, (Brown
ville Manufacturing Company,) 2 grist mills, 2 saw mills, an extensive distillery,
and tannery, furnace and machine shop, and about 120 dwellings. The fall ofthe
river, here, is about 24 feet. Limerick, on the Perch river, 4 miles N. W.-from
Brownville, 7 N. E. from Sackett's harbour, has 2 taverns, 2 stores, 1 saw mill,
and about 30 dwellings. Pillar Point, extending along Black river bay, is a fertile.
ridge, thickly settled. Perch river is the name of a post office. The village of
Dexter, recently founded and very rapidly improving, is at the mouth of Black
river. Champion, taken from Mexico, 14th March, 1800; distant N. W. from Albany
148, from Watertown E. 11 miles; surface hilly but generally arable; soil rich
marly and sandy loam; drained by Black >iver, on which are the " Long Falls."
The bottom of a small lake here, is covered with shell marl or white carbonate
of lime, which has been substituted in various ways for Spanish White. This
lake abounds with trout. Champion, South Champion, and Great Bend, are post
villages. The first, centrally situate, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 tavern, 3
stores, and 25 dwellings. At the second, are some half dozen dwellings. ' The
third, on the N. line and partly in Le Ray, 10 miles from Watertown, upon the
river, over which is a wooden bridge, has a large flouring mill, saw mill, carding
and cloth dressing mill, 1 tavern, 1 store, and 20 dwellings. A blast furnace has
lately been erected on the river opposite the village of Carthage.
Clayton, taken from Orleans and Lyme 1832; distant N. W. from Albany 180,
and from Watertown 14, miles; surface gently undulating; soil sandy and chiy
loam of good quality; drained by Chaumont river. Grindstone, and others ofthe
."Thousand Islands," are within the town. Depuuville, called after Francis
Depau, proprietor of a large portion of the town, centrally situated at Chaumont
riv.er falls, above which, the stream is known as Catfish creek, contains, 1 free
church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, I grist and 1 saw, mills, and 25 dwellings. Cornelia,
lies on the St. Lawrence river, 26 miles from Watertown; and 4 miles above, on
the river, is a hamlet called Clayton,at which is a post office. North of Depau-
ville, the limestone rock in the space of 3 square miles, comes so near the surface
as to render the country unfit for cultivation.
Ellisburg, called after Lyman Ellis, the first settler, in 1797; taken from
Mexico, 22d February, 1803; distant N. W. from Albany 169, from Watertown
S. W. 17 miles; surface level; soil rich sandy loam; drained by the N. and S.
branches of Sandy creek, affording abundant mill power. Belleville, Woodville,
Ellisburg, and Mannsville, are post villages. Bellev'lle, on the N. branch of
Sandy creek, 5 miles from its mouth, has 1 Presbyterian church, an academy,
grist and saw, mills, clothing works, 2 taverns, 4 or 5 stores, and 50 dwellings.
Woodville, on the same stream, 2 miles from the mouth, has 1 Baptist church, 1
tavern, 1 store, grist and saw, mills, 30 dwellings. Ellisburg, on the S. branch of
Sandy creek, 4 miles from its mouth, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 grist mill, 2
saw mills, 1 tavern, 2 stores, and 30 dwellings. Mannsville, on Little Sandy
creek, has grist and saw, mills, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and some 15 dwellings, and
a Presbyterian church. There are in the N. part of the town, some remains of
ancient fortifications, consisting of 7 tumuli, surrounded by ditches and having an
area varying from half an acre to 2 acres. Stone instruments, as axes, wedges,
knives, &c, are ploughed up, from time to time, in the adjacent fields.
Henderson, taken from Ellisburg, 17th February, 1806; from Albany 173, from
Watertown S. W. 15, miles; includes Stony, Gallapoli, and some other small
islands in the lake; surface level; soil rich sandy loam, easy of tillage; drained
by Big and Little Stony creeks.

JEFFERSON COUNTY.

489

', Henderson, post village and port, lies at the head of Hungry bay, where vessels
of 100 tons may find safe harbourage. The village is about three quarters of a
mile from the landing: At the latter, there is a dock, 3 ware houses, 1 tavern, 2
retail stores, and 12 or 15 dwellings. At the village, which lies on Stony creek,
are 1 church common to Presbyterians and Baptists, 2 taverns, 4 stores, and be
tween 60 and 70 dwellings, 2 gristmills, 3 saw mills, carding and cloth dressing
mill. Smithville, post village, also, on Stony creek, and on the line between
Henderson and Adams, has a church common to Presbyterians and Baptists, 1
tavern, 2 or 3 stores, a large flouring mill, 2 saw mills, clothing works, a large
distillery) tannery, and about 60 dwellings; '12 miles S. W. from Watertown, 5
milfis from Sackett's harbour. Salisbury mills is the name of another post office.
Hoonspield, taken from Watertown 17th February, 1806; surface gently un
dulating; soil clay and sandy loam; drained W. by Black river and some small
creeks. Settled by August Sackett, agent for the owners, in 1801. The lands of
the town are generally taken up and as generally cleared and. cultivated, scarce
more wood being left than is necessary for economical uses. The larger propor
tion of the soil is well adapted to wheat, large quantities of which,. and of Indian
corn are raised.
Sackett's Harbour', incorporated 3d April, 1821, on the S. W. si'de of Black
river bay, of Lake Ontario, 12 miles below Watertown, 8 from Lake Ontario, 306
N. W. from -New York, 161 from Albany, 63 S. W, from Ogdensburg. The bay
and harbour are well situated for shelter and defence, being land lacked by the
curvatures of the shores and some islands opposite the mouth of the bay, 8 miles
distant. The harbour is the best on the lake, for ship building and a naval depot.
From the lower extremity of the town there juts a peninsula, forming an inner
and outer harbour, the latter of which, within 2 fathoms of the shore, has a depth
of water sufficient for the largest ships of war. Near the mouth of Black river
is another place equally advantageous, and at both, vessels of the largest class
were commenced during -the late war, and ate on the stocks undercover. The
village contains extensive military barracks, , and the ruins of forts Tompkins and
Pike. The barracks on the N. consist of 3 ranges of limegtone buildings, each
some 250 feet long, two stories high, with piazzas in front, forming three sides of
a square, the fourth side of which fronts on, and commands the harbour and bay.
These buildings "afford accommodation for 2000 troops. They are surrounded by
an area of several acres closely picketted in. There were laid up in the portrat
the close of the war a frigate of 68, and 3 ships of 28, guns, 4 brigs and a number
of gun boats.
The village extends a mile along the bay, and contains 1 Presbyterian and 1
Episcopal, churches, a Methodist society, holding worship in the school house! &
select school for males, and another for females, a printing office, issuing a weekly
paper, 3 hotels, 16 stores, 3 groceries, 1 cupola, and 1 pocket furnace, a manufac
tory of steam engines, 3 saw mills, 2 grist mills, one having 4 runs of stone, an
extensive tannery, a distillery, a bank with a capital of $200,000, and 300 dwel
lings, many of which are of limestone. Upon a point projecting into the lake S.
of the towri, is a light house.
A very considerable trade Is carried on from this port, by the lake and the St.
Lawrence river, and by the Oswego, Erie, and Welland canals. Ma'ny vessels
for the lake trade are built here; one steamboat is owned in the village, and 4
steamboats, plying on the lake, touch here, daily. The water power is derived
from a canal from the Black river, commencing, 2 miles above Watertown, and
Tunning thence 6 miles into Mill creek, whose bed is used 4 miles, and thence a
canal of 1 mile brings the water to the village. The fall obtained js about 30 feet,
yielding power for many more mills than have been erected. The cost of this im
provement, made by the citizens of the village, was $25,000. After the late' war,
the business of this place very much decreased, but has grown with the general
improvement ofthe country, and is now in a thriving condition.
Le Ray, organised l-7th February, 1806; N. W. from Albany 156, from Utica
78, and from Watertown N. E. 9 miles;, surface undulating; soil clay and sandy
loam, fertile and easy of .tillage; drained S. by the Black river, along which is a
belt of sand about 1 mile in width covered with large white and yellow pines, and
by Pleasant and West creeks, and Indian river. The settlements commenced
here in 1803. Le Raysville, and Evans1 Mills, are post villages. The former
62

490 TOPOGRAPHY.
named after Mr. Le Ray Chaumont, has a store, 2 taverns, 1 grist mill, and about
40 dwellings. The mansion of Mr. Le Ray, near the village was built at much
expense and is surrounded by grounds neatly disposed. The latter, upon a small
branch of Indian river, having a grist mill, 1 tavern, 2 stores, and about 50 dwel
lings, is a place of much business. There are two other post offices called, re
spectively, Sandford's Corners and Joachim.
Lorraine, taken from Mexico, by the name of Malta, 24th March, 1804; N. W.
from Albany 145, W. from Watertown, and E. from Lake Ontario 16, miles;
surface hilly; soil clay and sandy loam, not so subject to drought as the limestone
lands, and having more hemlock than other portions of the county, with much
pine on the west; drained by the S. branch of Sandy creek. The post office has
the name of the town. Little wheat is raised, but grass and summer crops
abundantly. Lyme, taken from Brownville March 28th, 1817; N. W. from Albany 185, and
from Watertown 15, miles. It includes Grenadier, Fox, and other islands of Lake
Ontario and Carlton island, of the St. Lawrence river; surface gently undulating
soil marly and sandy loam, of excellent quality; indifferently watered by Chaumont
river. Cape Vincent, port of entry of the collection district of that name, at the-
fork of Lake Ontario, and head of St. Lawrence river, 25 miles from Watertown,
contains a new Presbyterian church, 3 stores, 3 taverns, and 50 dwellings; the
port is a good one, and much business is done here in lumber. A good turnpike
road, made by Mr. Le Ray, runs from this village to Brownville. Chaumont vil
lage, at the head of Chaumont bay, 14 miles from Watertown, and 11 from Cape
Vincent, has a store, tavern, grist and saw, mills, and 25 dwellings. There is
much improved land in the N. part of the town. There is a light house on Tib-
bets Point, and another post office called Three Mile bay. The first settlers here
were Elijah Fox, jr., James McKee, and a Mr. Balcam.
Orleans, taken from Brownville 2d April, 1821; N. W. from Albany 184, and
from Watertown N. E. 15, miles; surface gently undulating; soil generally rich
clay and loam, on limestone, in detached masses near the surface, and in some
places, impeding, a(jd in others, preventing beneficial cultivation; drained S. by
Perch river, issuing from Perch lake, and by branches of Catfish creek. Perch
lake is about 2 J- miles long and half a mile wide, stored with perch. Upon its
western bank, is an extensive cranberry swamp, apparently floating upon an
abyss of water, from which large quantities of fruit are annually gathered, Le
Fargeville and Stone mills are post villages. Le Fargeville, called after John Le
Farge, the proprietor of the town, 16 miles from Watertown, has a church, 1 grist,
1 saw, mills, 1 store, 2 taverns, and 15 dwellings. Near the village is the costly
stone mansion of the proprietor. Stone mill, in the S. W. angle of the town has
a saw mill, store, 1 tavern, and 8 or 10 dwellings. ¦
Pamelia, taken from Brownville 12th April, 1819; the name was changed to
Leander and the bounds altered in 1824; but the name was restored in 1825; N.
W. from Albany 166, and from Watertown 4, miles; surface level, or gently un
dulating; soil sandy and clay loam, chiefly of the latter, highly cultivated. Iti
the high bank some ten rods distant from the Black river opposite to Watertown,
was discovered, in 1832, a cave, whose extent has not yet been explored. It has
been followed, it is said, for half a mile in a direct course; and has many lateral
branches and apartments. The entrance is by a contracted passage about 3 feet
wide, from a cavity 5 feet below the surface, from which the descent to the floor
is gradual and short, consisting of a few feet only. The roof is frequently so low
that the visitor must stoop much in getting through the galleries, and the cham
bers, rarely rise to 12 feet, or have more than 20 feet in diameter. " The walls are
uneven and rise into arches of a pointed form. The water percolating through
the roof and sides, forms stalactites, the most perfect of which have been removed.
A rill descends N. easterly, forming, it is said, at the remote end, a considerable
stream. The county poor house,, with a farm annexed of about 100 acres, is in
this town, about 13 miles from Watertown, Williamsville, is on the' bank of
the river along the falls, and might properly be considered a part of Watertown,
being connected with it, by bridges. It contains 1 grist mill, 1 saw mill, 1 card
ing and cloth dressing mill, 2 taverns, and about 40 dwellings. Pamelia and Pa
melia Four Corners are post offices.
Philadelphia, taken from Le Ray, 2d April, 1821; N. W". from Albany 170,

JEFFERSON COUNTY. 491
from Watertown, N. E. 16,'miles; surface gently rolling; soil clay and sandy
loam, generally of good quality, but not so well adapted to wheat as some other
towns of the county; underlaid generally with clay, slate and graywacke; drained
by Indian river and some small tributaries; settled in 1813, principally by Quakers
frpm Pennsylvania. . The village of Philadelphia, centrally situate, has one Qua
ker meeting house, 1 grist mill, 1 saw mill, 1 store, 2 taverns, 1 carding and cloth
dressing mill, and 20 dwellings; near the village the country is hilly and broken.
Rodman, taken from Adams, 24th March, 1704, by the name of Harrison; N.-W.
from Albany, 154, from Watertown, S. 10, from Lake Ontario, E. 12, miles; first
settled in 1801, by emigrants from N. England; soil sandy and clay loam, of excel
lent quality, resting on slate in the south and limestone in the north; surface un
dulating; iron ore is found here both bog and mountain, but not in quantity; black
lead is said to be abundant. Several Indian mounds or tumuli are scattered over
it, with remains of ancient fortifications. Whilesville, is a post office, where are
a saw mill, and 10 or 12 dwellings. Rodman, Lying near the confluence of the
Gulf stream with Sandy creek, has a post office, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Baptist,
churches; 2 grist and 2 saw, mills, carding and cloth dressing mill, 2 taverns, 2
storesvand from 30 to 40 dwellings. The Gulf stream, coming in from Pinck-
ney, of Lewis county, is remarkable for the profundity of its valley, having cut
its course for a mile to the depth of at least one hundred feet, through slate rock.
The soil generally is better adapted to grass, than grain, and is well impxoved.-
Rutland, taken from Watertown, Oneida county, 1st April, 1802j N. W. from
Albany 154,. from Watertown, S. E, 6, miles; surface gently undulating; soil
chocolate coloured loam, of excellent quality underlaid by limestone. Rutland,
Tylersville and Lockport are post villages. There are here also remains of an
cient fortifications, situate upon a hill, enclosing about four acres of ground sur
rounded by a ditch; in form, an irregular ellipsis; on one side a triangular projec
tion of 50 paces, surrounded also by an entrenchment, terminates in a point. From
this have been dug human bones, and part of a scull, imbedded in 2 or 3 quarts of
Indian corn, apparently parched to a dark brown colour, but sound and well pre
served. This place was covered with trees of some centuries growth. Rutland,
village, centrally situate, has 1 tavern, a small store, and from 10 to 15 dwellings.
near the village is a pond, worthy of notice from its great depth, which ha» never
.been fathomed. Tylersville, in the S. part of the town, has a grist and saw mill,
a tavern and store, and some 12 dwellings. The lands of the town are all taken
up and generally cleared and thickly settled. There are in the town 1 Presbyte
rian, 1 Methodist, and a Baptist, associations. Lockport, in the N. part of the
town, at the falls upon the river, 8 miles E. from Watertown, has 1 grist, 4 saw,
mills, 1 store, 2 taverns, and about 30 dwellings. Much ofthe business here
consists in preparing White and Norway pine timber for market. There is a post
office called South Rutland.
Watertown, organised as part of. Oneida county, 14th March, 1800; surface
moderately uneven; soil clay and sandy loam, of excellent quality and finely cul
tivated, resting chiefly upon secondary lime. Upon the S. E. the town is crossed
by the ridge we have already described; drained along the N. boundary by the
Black river, and southerly by Stony and Sandy creeks. Mr. Nicholas Low, of N.
York, was originally proprietor of this town, and the first settlements were made
here in 1798. There are post offices at Watertown and Burr's Mills. Watertown,
incorporated village and seat of justice of the county, founded in 1802; distant
N. W. from N. York 325, from Albany 176, from Utica, N. N. W. 81, from Car
thage 16, and from Sackett's Harbour, E. 10, miles, contains 2 Presbyterian, 1
Baptist, 1 Methodist, 1 Episcopal and 1 Universalist, churches; one of the Pres
byterian and the Methodist, churches are of stone, the others of wood, 5 of them
have cupolas or spires; 1 academy, incorporated 1835, 5 select schools, apprenti
ces reading room and library, 4 printing offices, 3 of which issue weekly papers;
a Sunday school arid temperance society; 7 taverns, a large and splendid hotel,*re-
cently erected, 20 general stores, 2 book stores; the Jefferson County Bank, with
a capital of $ 200,000, an insurance company, court house and prison and county
clerk's office, of stone, 550 dwellings and about 3500 inhabitants.
This large and flourishing village owes its existence and prosperity to the great
hydraulic power of the Black river, which is here about 60 yards wide, and has,
from the upper end of the village to the lower, a space of a mile, 88 feet fall,.^

492

TOPOGRAPHY.

which there are 7 artificial dams and five natural cascades. At the upper dams
the river is divided by an island into two channels deep and rocky, uniting again
at the second range of dams; thence flowing about half a mile in one channel, the
stream is .again divided into 2 branches, on which are other dams, and in the
right channel, below the dams, is a natural cascade, over which the whole water of
the river is poured by a fall of 18 feet, and where it" has excavated a basin at tha
foot, more than 100 feet in depth. Below the cascade is a rapid of 8 feet, where
the water is ever beaten into foam. Upon these falls, there are, on the left bank, a
woollen factory, cotton factory, 2 machine shops, an extensive tannery, currying
and morocco factory, a large paper mill, 2 other woollen factories, 2 other grist
mills and saw mill, carriage factory, an iron foundry and a 3d machine shop; on
the right bank, 3 saw mills, a sash factory and paper mill; a machine shop, grist
mill and a large distillery, together with several mechanics' shops on either side.
With all these works the available power here is far from being exh'aasted, and
some of the best sites remain unoccupied. The river is a continued rapid for four
miles, to Brownville. The rocks over which it is precipitated are secondary lime
in which organised remains are very abundant.
There was erected here in 1827, by Levi Bebee and company, a cotton factory,
250 feet long by 50 feet wide, and 4 stories high; of limestone of the most sub
stantial character, with many tenements for the work people. The building was
designed to receive 10,000 spindles, and half that number, with 128 power loomfe
had been put into it when it was destroyed by fire, in 1832. It had cost 120,000
dollars. The flume and pits for the water wheel are excavated in the solid rock,
and so placed as to be safe against freshets. This advantageous site is now un
employed. A company was chartered, in 1836, to make a rail road from the Erie canal at,
Rome, directly to this village, and another company to make a like road from the
village by way of Brownville and Dexter to Cape Vincent; — thus to open an easy
and direct route between the Canadas, the Mohawk valiey and the port of New
York. Should that port become, as is contemplated, the part of entry for Canada,
instead of Quebec, this line of communication will receive the principle freight
and travel to Kingston and the adjacent regions.
Wil«a, taken from LeRay, of this, and Leyden, of Lewis county, 2d April,
1818; N. W. from Albany 151, N. E. from Watertown 17, miles; surface level;
soil on the N. E. sandy, elsewhere clay loam, of medium quality, on lime and
granitic rock; drained by the Black rivsr, having the " Long Falls," extending
through the town, from Carthage village; and Indian river, over which is the natural

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2467
2415
2995
'2970
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380
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600
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Alexandria,
1543
1523
2701
210
497
121
367
145
706
29
61
64
19
16
Antwerp,
1319
2557
2412
2614
191
554
74
329
193
628
12
41
38
23
20
Brownville,
3990
2580
2938
2890
281
552
44
396
219
621
12
48
43
9
14
Champion,
2080
2028
2342
2490
250
534
24
293
253
513
41
44
41
16
18
Clayton,
3344
356
625
225
446
199
776
16
80
89
24
34
Ellisburg,
3531
4733
5292
5029
414
1040
46
624 409
1080
25
104
7fi
36
31
Henderson,
1919
2074
2428
2 70
187
439
30
277 191
' 518
24
35
40
8
13
Hounsfield,
3139
2?69
3415
3558
249
-680
244
493
269
729
27
66
54
29
23
Le Ray,
2944
2556
3430
3668
282
702
175
467
272
850
24
92
80
14
18
Lorraine,
1112
1400
1727
1615
101
316
21
195
128
396
12
38
31
19
13
Lyme,
1724
2565
2872
3816
365
672
343
534
213
901
41
90
9t
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24
Orleans,
3544
3101
2044
221
388
73
283
122
506
15
41
51
15
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Famelia,
1342
1988
2263
2322
201
450
31
317
173
581
35
53
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15
20
Philadelphia,
826
1167
1616
120
329
14
220
94
389
8
37
44
9
12
Rodman,
1735
1719
1901
1698
170
379
8
198
156
' 375
22
24
2"
6
13
Rutland,
1946
2102
2339
2111
181
468
17
271
187
450
11
31
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16
15
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2876
3416
4768
4279
430
'856
100
545
437
898
11
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32
43
Wilna,
648
1126
' 1602
2053
182
375
94
283
123
475
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32952
41650
48515
53088
4669
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1712
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4063
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355
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NoTE.-.Males, 27,190: Females, 35,898; Blacks, 137: Deaf anfl Dumb, 33: Blind,' 15: Idiots, 29: Lu
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JEFFERSON COUNTY.

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783 76

Alexandria,

77844

10003

147170

1680

3092

619

3889

1938 2995

3742

5875

686 24

424 75

Antwerp,

60644

6028

113600

1770

4807

830

6446

2070: 4945

5773

4754

486 67

284 97

Brownville,

34764

16226

271030

1900

3047

823

6337

2950' 4767

2625

2194

952 55

725 20

Champion,

2B109

15608

260950

9030

4034

946

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25461 4833

5296

4438

560 37

689 85

Clayton,

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Ellistiutg, •

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7435 8224

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915 02

1071 93

Henderson,

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3174

757

6144

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5732

4649

520 68

579 98

Hounsfield,

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915

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3698, 3864

4681

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Le Ray,

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707 08

Lorraine,

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735 06

378 08

Pa'melia,

22351

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4896

5670

774 31

501 59

Philadelphia

2319<

5730

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437

2636

1239, 2434

2734

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375 25

258 52

Rodman,

24787

14826

175150

20620

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722

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5877

6433

570 21

484 41

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16378

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bridge, giving name to a small village; bog iron ore abounds. The Count Sur-
villiers purchased 80,000* acres of land here, of Mr. Le Ray, upon part cf which
he erected a large mansion. The town is settled by emigrants from New England
"and from Ireland. Carthage, post village, upon the Black river, at the head of the
Long Falls, above which the river is navigable 40 miles, to the " High Falls,'' for '
steamboats; distant 16 miles from Watertown, contains a Catholic church, an
academy 1 grist, 2 saw mills, 1 nail factory, 1 blastfurnace, making 500 tons. iron
annually, 2 forges, 3 taverns, 6 stores, and 50 dwellings. There are 2 fine bridges.
over the river here, The surrounding country is broken and swampy. At the
Natural Bridge, are 1 grist, 1 saw, 1 carding and cloth dressing, mills, tavern,
postoffice, and about a dozen dwellings. The bridge is about 12 feet wide and 6
»bove the water. There is also a post office" having the name of the town.
494

TOPOGRAPHY.

KINGS COUNTY, an original county, of Long Island, organised by the
colonial assembly Nov. 1st, 1683; bounded E. by Queens county; N. E. by
New York bay, and East River, separating it from Manhattan island; W. by the
middle of the main channel of the Hudson river, from the S. boundary of the
county of New York, through the Narrows to the ocean; S. by the Atlantic
ocean and Jamaica bay; -including Coney island, Barren island, together with all
the islands S. of the town of Gravesend. Greatest length 12, greatest breadth 7,
miles; area about 76 square miles;* situate between 40° 33' and 40° 44', N. Lat.
anrf 2° 53' and 3° 07', E. Long.
The surface on the N. E. for three or four miles back from the river, is hilly
and ridgy; the spine of Long Island terminating with the Brooklyn heights.
Much of this ridge here seems alluvial, consisting of gravel, sand, and clay, im
bedding masses of granite Vsome of which of many tons weight, yet apparently
are water worn boulders. Upon the S. E. a plain of sandy loam and sand extends
to the ocean.
The soil is generally light, warm and when properly manured and cultivated,
fertile, well adapted to horticulture, jnd generally highly improved, supplying a
large portion of the vegetables sold in the New York and Brooklyn markets.
The streams are few and inponsiderable; Gravesend, Gowanus cpve, and Waal-
boght are the chief indentations from the rivers, upon which Redhook and Yel-
lowhook are noted points. Upon the S. Plumb inlet and Rockaway inlet com
municate, from the ocean, with a series of small bays and ponds.
The first settlement in the county was made at Brooklyn, by George Jansen de
Rapelje, in 1625, at the Waalboght, or Waaloous bay, which probably derived its
name from the family, who were Waaloons. Some other families of the same
race may have come in about the same time, but it is supposed that few emigrants
had then arrived in the Dutch territories, with a view to the cultivation of the
soil. The earliest deed known, for lands in the county, was in 1636; in the town
of Brooklyn. The first grant of Jand was to Abraham Rycken, in 1638, and the
earliest deed on record was to'Thomas Besker, in 1639.
In 1641, the Dutch government permitted the English settlers here, upon tak
ing the oath of allegiance to the States General, and the Dutch West India Com
pany. Under this permission, the town of Gravesend was peopled. All the
other towns of the county appear to have been settled by the Dutch.
The right to the soil was purchased by the emigrants from the Canarse tribe of
* As given by Burr: By supervisors returns less than 43 square miles.

KINGS COUNTY. 495
Indians, who inhabited that part of the island, W. of Jamaica, save a small disr '
trict near the, Narrows occupied by a portion of the Nyack tribe. Tradition says,
they were subject to the Mohawks, paying an annual tribute of dried clams and
wampum; and that having, at the instance of the Dutch, withheld payment, they
received from ,the conquerors a chastisenient so severe, that they ever after, fled
from tbe face of an Iroquois. Their territory was called Matowcas. The tribe
has been long extinct.
The settlements here seem to have been made by the casual concurrence of in
dividuals, not by premeditated and' formal associations, as in most ofthe towns in
in Queens and Suffolk counties. Nor was the difference less in the mode of gov
ernment than in the manner of settlement. Whilst the -towns of those coun
ties were governed; by magistrates of their choice, and by laws of their own
enactment, those of Kings, were ruled by magistrates appointed -in the several
villages by the governor, with such powers and titles as -he deemed proper. As
the inhabitants increased in number, they were permitted to choose their own
magistrates subject to his approbation; but these officers held arbitrary and discre
tionary powers until the conquest.
The county has one city and five towns.
Brooklyn City, includes the former town of that name; it is divided from the
city of New York, by the bay and Eas^river, here about three quarters of a mile
mide. Its length N. E. and S. W. is 6, and its greatest breadth 4, miles; giving
an area of 9,200 acres;* a large portion of which in the prevailing spirit of
improvement and speculation has been apportioned into city lots. The surface
is high, hilly, broken, and stony. The elevated points, especially, upon the bay
and river, afford beautiful sites, which are not neglected, for country seats. The
Gowanus creek puts in from the cove in the bay, about 2 miles S. of the
compact part of the city, through an extensive salt marsh, upon which are some
tide mills. Bedford, a pleasant village 2| miles from the river, will soon, by
extension of the city buildings, lose its distinctive character.
On the Waalboght, are the United States navy yard and stores, with extensive
buildings and appurtenances for such an establishment.
On an eminence E. of the Waalboght, stands the U. S. naval hospital, a large
commodious building, having in the rear a grave yard laid out gardenwise re
markable for the neatness with which it is kept. A stone at the head of each
grave, preserves the memory of the individual, however humble, Who rests be
neath it. *
At the Waalboght, were stationed the Jertjey and other prison ships, of the
English, during the revolutionary war, in which, it is said, 10,000 American
prisoners perished, from bad air, close confinement, and ill treatment. In digging
" for the public works, the bones of the sufferers were uncovered; and in May, 1808,
were collected and decently interred, in a spot designated by a small house en
closed with black palings.
With Brooklyn heights is connected the memory of the bloody battle of Aug.
27th, 17716. The Gowanus marsh impeded the retreat of the Americans, and proved
fatal to many. Here Generals Stirling and Sullivan were made prisoners. On
the heights were lately some remains of a fort, erected near the close of the war,
in vthich was a well of fresh water, 120 feet deep.
The shores of Brooklyn, where not defended by wharves, undergo continual
and rapid changes by the velocity of the current, in the East river. . The tide
rises here about 5 feet. It would seem that Governor's Island was formerly con
nected with Redhook point. Previous to the revolution, cattle were driver^from
the hook to the island, then separated, by a narrow channel called Buttermilk
channel, which is now wide and deep enough for the passage of the largest size
merchant vessels.
It is averred that, a general patent for the town of Brooklyn was granted by the
Dutch government, in the. year 1657. It is certain that Governor Nicholls, Oct.
18lh, 1667, granted a patent to certain of the inhabitants, of the town of Breuckelcn,
. for and on behalf of themselves, and their associates, the freeholders and inhabit
ants, for all the lands in the town, (not taken up in severalty.) In 1670, license
was gives, by Governor Lovelace, to the inhabitants to purchase the Indian title.
• * Burr's Statistical Table: By return of supervisors to the comptroller, 1835, the number
of acres improved is 4,624.

496 TOPOGRAPHY. i i
The patent of Nicholls, and his erection of the town were confirmed by Governor
Dongan, 13th May, 1686, subject to a quit rent of 20 bushels of wheat, annually,
which appears to have been regularly paid to the colony arid state of New York,
for a full century. These muniments have grown into great importance, in con
sequence of powers claimed and exercised by New York, relative to certain water
lots and ferry privileges involving pecuniary considerations of great value and
important questions of jurisdiction. The town lands thus acquired were divided
among the early inhabitants.
On April 12th, 1806, the village of Brooklyn was erected and incorporated out
of the town; and on April 8th, 1834, the city was chartered, including the whole
town, by the title of " the Mayor and Common Council ofthe city of Brooklyn."
It is divided into nine wards. The council consists of the mayor, and two alder
men from each ward, annually elected.
Within the last two years, the improvements, here, have been very great. New
and spacious streets have been opened in all directions, and many, very many
^splendid public and private houses have been erected. The great expansion of
the city of New York and the rise in value of property there, are driving to this
city men of business, who find a residence here more convenient than in the dis
tant wards of the metropolis. For foreign and domestic commerce, it has many
of the advantages of the greater city. Vessels of all ranks may moor at its quays,
and in a few years more, no inconsiderable portion of the business of the great
emporium may be done here. As a place of residence, a more charming one
cannot be designated. Its site is high and healthy: In the summer cooled, and
in the winter, warmed, by the breeze from the ocean, and at all times commanding
a delightful view ofthe great city, the busy river, the lovely bay, and the verdant
shores of New Jersey and Staten Island. There are now three ferries between the
cities, and more about lo be established, The spirit of speculation and improve
ment has spread its influence over all the towns of the county. Property has
every where risen greatly in price.
The city of Brooklyn, now contains a municipal court, which sits daily.
Churches — 2 Episcopal, St. John's and St. Anne's; 1 Reformed Dutch, 2 Presby
terian, first and second; 1 Baptist, 1 Baptist congregation, meeting in the Brook
lyn academy; 1 Unitarian congregation, meeting in the Classical hall; Mission
church, meetjng at the district school room; 1 Roman Catholic, 3 Methodist, for
whites, and 1 African Methodist Episcopal.
Literary Institutions — An academy; the collegiate institute for young ladies,
incorporated April, 1829, with a capital of $30,000, the whole of which has been'
expended in land and buildings, designed to afford young ladies the same advan-
tages of education as are enjoyed by the other sex in colleges; seventy-five
pupils may be accommodated as boarders, in the fa/nily of the principal; it has
1 principal, 5 professors, and 7 instructresses; Lyceum, formed October, 1834,
under a charter.granted the 2d of the preceding May; designed for the improve
ment of its members, by essays and lectures on miscellaneous subjects: The
United States Naval Lyceum, composed ofthe officers, and others connected with
the navy; Many select and district schools,
Benevolent Societies — House carpenters, incorporated April 4th, 1833; mechanics
and manufacturers' society, incorporated 1832; .Roman Catholic orphan asylum.
Banks — Long Island,-instituted April 1st, 1824; capital $300,000; Brooklyn,
incorporated 24th February, J832, capital $200,000; Savings bank, incorporated
April 20th, 1832; Atlantic bank, incorporated May, 1836, capital $500,000.
Insurance Companies— Brooklyn fire; Long Island, capital $200,000; Agency
of Jefferson fire insurance, of New York.
Manufactures — Steam cotton factory, in a 3 story fire proof building; spindles
5,700; carding machines 20; hands employed 200; weekly wages $1000: New
York and Brooklyn Crown Glass Manufactory, company incorporated with a capi
tal of $60,000, in full and successful operation: Gilliiand & Co.'s glass manu
factory, making all the varieties of plain and pressed glassware;' four manufac
tories of oil floor cloths, employing a great number of hands; ver,y extensive
saddle and harness factories; 2 mustard and 1 choeolate manufactories; an exten
sive gold and silver pencil case manufactory; 9 rope walks; two morrocco fac
tories, employing 80 hands; two white lead works, 65 hands; 2 cloth finishing
works, one with two steam engines; 1 chain cable and steam engine factory, with
furnace for castings; 7 distilleries, consuming daily, 1,500 bushels of grain; 3

KINGS COUNTY. 497
rectifying distilleries; 3 printing offices, 1 issuing a daily, and the others weekly,
journals. The corporation are about to erect a splendid city hall.
Several turnpike roads lead from the city. A rail road has been constructed
hence to Jamaica, distant 12 miles, by a company incorporated 25th April, 1832,
with a capital of $300,000. The road cuts the line of hills in Howard's woods,
and gaining the plain, continues upon it the remainder of the distance. In 1836,
this company was merged in the Long Island rail road company, incorporated
April 24th, 1834, with a capital of $1,500,000, to construct a road from Brooklyn
and Willi.imsburg, to Greenport, in Suffolk county, with liberty to unite with the
Brooklyn and Jamaica company! The stock. has been subscribed. The road may
be cheaply and permanently made, with inclinations permitting the effective action
of steam locomotives. The distance from Brooklyn to Greenport, is 98 miles.
Th,e design is to open a short and speedy route to Boston, by this road, the ferry
from Greenport to Stonington, in Connecticut, 25 mites; and the Stonington, Pro
vidence, and Boston rail road, 88 miles, making the distance from New York to
Boston only 211 miles. The -estimated cost, with a single tract from Jamaica
and including the Williamsburg branch, is $1,257,000. •'
In 1836, also, a company was authorised to make a rail road from Brooklyn to
Fort Hamilton, Bath and Coney Island. ^
Bushwick, at the N. E. extremity of the county; surface hilly, stony, and some
what broken; it is separated from Williamsburg, in part, by Maspeth creek, which
puts up from the East river. The post village of Williamsburg, centrally situate
upon theriver line, is opposite to the upper part of the city of New York, whence
there is a ferry to Corlaer's hook. The village plat was, in the year 1835, greatly
extended and the lots sold at a very high price. The village was incorporated 14th
April, 1827; and the corporate powers enlarged 18th April, 1835. It grows
rapidly and no description for the current year will be applicable for the succeed
ing one.
Fi.atbcsb., original Dutch name, Midwout, Anglice, Mid-wood; greatest length
N. E. and S. W. 7 miles; greatest breadth upon the E. line, about 4 miles; S.
from Brooklyn-5 miles; surface various, but chiefly flat; Prospect Hill, half a mile
N. W. of Flatbush village, estimated at 200 feet above the plain, overlooks four
of the adjacept towns, and has an extensive sea view. The soil in the W. is a
light loam; and in the E. or "New Lots," light sand, but by the force of good
tillage is rendered generally productive, in field and garden vegetables. Flatbush,
post village, the county seat of justice, until 1832, when, in consequence
of the connagration^of the court house and prison, it was removed to Brooklyn,
contains, on one s'treet, 1 Dutch Reformed church, originally built in 1658;
the present church, the third, is of gray stone, with tower, bell, and spire; 40
dwellings, generally of wood, neat and commodious, inhabited by farmers; 2
stores, and 2 taverns. A cross road passes through the village, on which-are a
few cottages.
The Erasmus Hall academy, here, is a flourishing institution; for statistics of
which, see page 198.
Flatlands, formerly called Amesford; E. from Brooklyn 8 miles; surface level;
soil light sand and sandy loam, made productive by good husbandry: The marsh
upon the bay and Barren island, which pertains to the town, yields abundance of
salt hay. Ftatlands, village, centrally situate, contains 1 Dutch Reformed church,
originally built in 1661; 2 stores, 1 tavern, and 14 dwellings. '
Gravesend, at the S. side of the county, and W. end of Long Island; S. from
Brooklyn 10 miles. Much of the town consists of salt marsh; not more than one
third being returned as improved land; surface, generally level, but near the sea
shore.are some ridges of sand hills. Coney island, which covers the town oh
the ocean, is about 5 miles long by 1 in breadth. Gravesend beach is much ¦¦
resorted to for sea air and bathing. There is an excellent shad fishery annexed
to the town, and the shores abound with clams, oysters, and water fowl. The
landings and harbour are safe for vessels, carrying from 40 to 60 tons. This town
was settled by English patentees, so early as 1643, since which it has borne its
present name. These settlers laid out a village, regularly into streets and squares,
and erected a defence of palisades. The present inhabitants, however, are chiefly
of Dutch descent, and with the language, preserve the. industry and frugality *of
63

498

TOPOGRAPHY.

their ancestors. Gravesend village, centrally situated on a branch of the bay, and
border of the marshes, contains a Dutch Reformed church, originally built in
1655, rebuilt in 1833, a neat building, with cupola and bell; school house, 1
store, 1 tavern, and about 20 dwellings, inhabited by farmers.
New Utrecht, at the W. end of Long Island, opposite the narrows, 9 miles
S. from Brooklyn; length and breadth, about 4 miles; surface on the N. W. and
W. hilly and woody; interior level; the soil light loam or sand. New Utrecht
shad fishery, in this and Gravesend, is much celebrated. The post village of
New Utrecht, pleasantly and centrally situated on a fine plain, contains a Dutch
Reformed church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and 12 or 14 dwellings, inhabited chiefly by
farmers. Bath House, a good public house on Gravesend beach, 10 miles from New
York, is much frequented for the benefit of sea bathing and air, fowling and fish
ing. Fort Fayette, at the narrows, is in the town. Some years since, on digging
a few feet below the surface, near the narrows, several waggon loads of arrow
heads were discovered, of various sizes from 1 to 6 inches in length; some of
them very neatly made, and mixed with unformed blocks of stone, which appeared
to be of the trap cr green stone, of the Palisades.
This town was settled in 1643.

Females.
Births.
Deaths.
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1st ward,
1523
91
227
141
189
257
264
19
19
22
15
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2d ward.
4674
381
811
615
757
453
748
13
99
90
59
43
3d ward,
2764
169
401
69
431
506
515
8
20
15
12
6
4th ward,
5724
4'3
919
J 82
866
740
1067
66
108
124
79
76
5th ward.
4510
326
690
427
806
241
794
2
46
B4
4»
44
6th ward,
2139
109
283
265
366
155
420
9
49
41
33
27
7th ward,
2042
212
344
400
329
14R
390
19
45
48
37
16
8th ward.
487
53
102
82
47
39
71
3
5
7
2
9th ward,
7175
10790
15394
666
32
99
295
67
44
87
2
9
7
2
5
Total,
25312
1786 3876
2776
3858
25H3
4356
141
400
41 R
282
227
Bvishwick,
930
958
1620
3325
449
575
394
464
226
564
9
70
60
41
18
Flatbush,
1027
1049
596
1537
66
211
34
145
154
237
7
'10
14
32
12
Flatlands,
512
491
1143
684
70
114
20
91
45
122
2
12
6
8
4
Gravesend,
534
408
565
695
62
134
31
81
27
123
3
9
16
5
. 7
New Utrecht,
1009
982
1217
1237
99
197
59
149
114
222
18
17
26
15
10
11187
14679
20535
32057
2532 5107
3414
4788
3149
5624
174
518
540
383
278
Note.— Males, 16,550; Females,15,507; Blacks, 1,967; Black voters, 38; Deaf and Dumb, 8; Blind, 8;
Idiots, 7; Lunatics, 3: Paupers, 238.
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Bushwick,
3860
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5777
822120
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4911
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894
319 16
208 78
Flatlands,
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2881
333630
24892
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239
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779 72
78 73
Gravesend,
3179
2587
310150
83550
326
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80
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255
349 46
88 19
New Utrecht,
4729
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775580
28020644
96200
394
338
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415
135
779 72
188 12
*27619
22533
3920288 5160
3355
291
4416
8002
687
28280 00
39090 93
* This area is from the return of the supervisor to the comptroller in 1835. Burr cives 48,800 acres:
improved, 24,426 acres.
LEWIS COUNTY.

499

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LEWIS COUNTY, was taken from Oneida 25th March, 1805, and named in
honor of Gov. Morgan Lewis; bounded N. E. by St. Lawrence; E. by Herkimer;
S. by Oneida; VV. by Oswego and Jefferson; and N. VV. by Jefferson, counties:
Greatest length N. and S. 54; greatest breadth E. and W. 35, miles: Situate be
tween 43° 25' and44° 12' N. Lat. andl° 05' and 1°48'E. Long; area 1122 square.
miles; centrally distant N. VV. from N. York, 275, and from Albany 130, miles.
The Black river divides the county into two nxit unequal portions; 'differing from
each other, greatly, in surface, soil and geological character. The country on the
E. forms part of the great northern primitive district. .The underlying rock,
breaking frequently Jlirough the surface, is granitic; giving to the soil a sandy
character. In the valleys of the streams, the alluvion is fertile. From the river,
the'eountry ascends easterly, and pretty rapidly, to the mountainous tracts in
Herkimer and Hamilton, counties, in which are the sources o( the Sacandaga, of
the Hudson, the W. Canada creek, and other tributaries ofthe Mohawk"; the
Grasse, St. Regis, Racket and Oswegatchie, tributaries of the St. Lawrence. The
principal streams which flow down this inclined. plane to the lilac-k river, .sire the
Moose, river, Otter and Independence creeks, and the Beaver river. On the N. the
country has a northern inolimition; and, here, are the sources of Indian river, and
the western branch of the Oswegatchie. Upon the Black river are broad alluvial
flats, of easy cultivation and highly productive. The whole of this region, com
prehending full one half the county, will, when the forest shall be felled, becoyrte.
si valuable grazing and grain country. .It. is at present sparsely inhabited, having
been recently opened for sale, and merits attention, mostly on account of the ad
vantages it offers to the enterprising emigrant, (he great forests of useful timber
which incumber the soil, the. beds of iron ore-which lie beneath it, and the vast
wnter power which the streams'snpply.
On the W. side of ihe river.-the country is underbid with compact limestone of
excellent quality. In travelling ftom the village of Trenton, in Oneida counly, to
Le Uaysville, in Jefferson county, a distance of CO miles, it appears every v\ here
upon the road, constituting the bottoms and banks of the streams which descend
to ihe Black river from the left, arid rising to the apex of the highest liiMs. hi
the town of Denmark, of this county, it is denuded, in seine places, to the extent
of acres; with a surface rent by .fissures; and along Deer river, which flows upon
H. it is visible here, in perpendicular masses, and there in vast horizontal beds 
The soil of gravelly, sandy and clay loam, which overlays it, is uniformly fertile-
productive in the central and northern towns of wheal, and every v\ here c,t «r.n-s.
1'his section contains the mass of population, lis surface is rolling and frequently
hilly. Along the Black river it inclines for (i or 7 miles W. to the stream On
ihe S. VV. its declination is southward and westward, sending Fish creek to t|lt.
Oneida lake, and Salmon river to Ontario. The streams, (1dm ins to the river, -tint
small. The principal ones are .Sugar run. Whetstone and Martin's, creek1! 'audi
Deer river. ' T "

500

TOPOGRAPHY.

LEWIS COUNTY. 501
We have described Black river under " Jefferson county," we shall here speak
only of the greater tributaries it receives from this county.
Moose river rises in Hamilton county and flows, almost due W. through Herki
mer and Lewis, to its recipient, a few rods above the High Falls. It is a moun
tain torrent, 40 miles in length, fed by numerous lakes, as Beaver, Indian, Squaw
and Moose. It receives a large branch from the N. E. which also has its source
in some ponds. This branch is navigab'e for scows nearly 30 miles through a
chain of lakes into Hamilton county, and unites with the main stream near the
junction of Lewis, Oneida and Herkimer, counties, near the foot of its navigable
waters. Beaver river, also, has its source in Hamilton county, and a course of
about 40 miles across Herkimer and Lewis to the Black river, within 7 miles of
the N. E. line of the latter. There are 20 miles of good navigation on it for scows
into Herkimer and Hamilton counties, and also 5 miles at. its month. Indepen
dence fiver has a shorter course, being about 25 miles long, rising near the centre
of Herkimer county. <
The description of the Oswegatchie and Indian rivers, will be found in " St.
Lawrence county." „
Of the Black river, we may observe here, that, below the High Falls, in Leyden,
which are 63 feet in altitude, it has a tranquil course of near 40 miles, through
the county; in all which, it is navigable for steamboats. The Black river canal,
the construction of which was authoiised in May, 1830, will commence at the vil
lage of Rome, in Oneida county, and pass by the valleys of the Mohawk and
Lansing's creek to Boonsville, in the same county, thence to the High Falls, on
this river, a distance of 37 miles. The feeder which is to be navigable, will be
taken from Black river, 9 miles above Boonville, and continued upon the summit,
to that village. The elevation from Rome to the summit is G1HJ and a halt feet,
and the depression from the summit to the junction with the Black river, below
the falls 387 feet; making the whole lockage 1083 and a half feet. The cost is
estimated at about a million of dollars; including an expenditure of g20.000 to
improve the navigation of the river. ' A boat navigation will thus be opened for 94
wiles, including parts of the tributary streams, into a country abounding » it h ex
cellent timber and iron ore, and vast hydraulic power. A company was incorpo
rated for this object in 1832, with a capital of $900,000; but the work will now
be accomplished by the state.
The whole of thi's county was included in the patent from the state to Alexan
der Macomb, and was sold by him to William Constable, and by the latter in par
cels; the portion west of the river to capitalists in New York city, among whom
Nicholas Low, Richard Harrison and J.osiah Ogden Hoffman, were principal pur
chasers; and the portion on the E. to a French company at Paris. , The latter was
conveyed in trust to Peter, Chassing, and transferred by him, to James Le Ray
de Chaumont. From these sources, the present possessors derive title.
Tbe first settlements commenced here in 1797, by pioneers from Massachusetts
and Connecticut, who with characteristic enterprise and perseverance entered the
wilderness, with a determination, which surmounts the most formidable obstacles.
There were, at this time, small settlements at Utica and at Fort Stanwix, (now
Rome,) whence the settlers made their way into this county,' by a line of marked
trees, to the High Falls, on Black river; and thence floated with the stream to the
town of Lowville, where they established themselves. Their families followed
in the succeeding winter, shod with snow shoes; mothers making their way with
their infants in their arms, whilst their husbands and fathers trod paths through
the snow for their cattle and teams. It was not unusual, some time after, for far
mers to bo 40 miles to mill, and to carry the grist upon their shoulders. Eighty
thousand acres of this region now rejoice under cultivation, and give all the com
forts and much of the luxury of life to 16,000 souls.
Six hundred thousand acres of land here, are now in the market; lying chiefly
on the E. side of the river; for which, from one to four dollars tbe acre are de
manded, and a credit of seven years given. For cash the price is yet less.
The staple products, are wheat, rye, indian corn, peas, beans, oats and barley,
and the whole country is adapted to grass. The limber is chiefly pine, spruce,
hemlock, maple, beech, elm, bass, cherry, &c.
The stage route from Utica to Sackett's Harbour, lies nearly through the centre
of iho county, parallel with the river, and a mail passes daily, each way, in coach-

502 TOPOGRAPHY.
es drawn hy four horses. The roads, except in the spring and fall, are good; the
enterprise of the inhabitants, in this respect, having been aided by the liberality of
the state.
The county is divided into 11 towns.
Denmark, taken from Harrisburg, 3d April. 1807; N. W. from Albany 143,
and from Martinsbnrg 14, miles; surface various; a considerable hill crossing the
town N. easterly, having plains on either side; soil rich loam, underlaid
with limestone; watered by Deer river, which has great descent, falling at one
place, 175 feet, perpendicularly, and at others from 10 to 60 feet. At the High
Falls, the limestone rocks, form banks of 200 feet perpendicular height. The in
habitants, derived from English and Dutch origin, have generally paid for their
lands, and agriculture is here, in a highly progressive state. Denmark and Copen
hagen, are post villages. Copenhagen, near Black river, 12 miles, from Martinsburg,
eight from Lowville," contains 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Universalist, churches; 2
taverns, 2 stores, an academy, and 25 dwellings. Denmark, 14 miles N. from
Martinsburg, has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Baptist, churches; 3 laverns,
3 stores, 1 grist, 1 saw, 1 oil, mills, 1 woollen factory, 2 tanneries, and about 40
dwellings; a large hemp factory, with a capital of $100,000 invested, making
100 Ions of rope per annum and employing 43 hands.
Diana, taken from the N. part of Watson, 16th April. 18'iO; N. W. from Al
bany 150, and N. E. from Martinsburg 22, miles; surface hilly, inclining to the
N.; soil sandy and gravelly loam, adapted to grass and summer crops; drained N.
by the W. branch of the Oswegatchie river, and N. W. by Indian river. There
is a furnace in the town for making iron.
Greig, taken from Watson, April 5th, 1828, by the name of Brantingham,
changed 20th Feb. 1832: N. W. from Albany 150, E. from Martinsburg 18, miles;
surface hilly and broken, with a strong soil near the river, heavily timbered gen
erally; drained on the VV. by Black river and its tributaries, Moose river. Fish
and Otter creeks, and having Fish and other small lakes. The town is much het-
ter adapted to grass than grain. There are two post offices called respectively,
Brantingham and Lyonsdale.
Harrisburg, taken from Turin, as part of Oneida county, 22d Feb. 1803, since
altered; N. W. from Albany 140, from Martinsburgll, from Brownsville 20. miles,
S. E.; surface gently sloping to the E.: soil rich brown loam, underlaid with
lime stone, chiefly employed in grass; first settled in 1803; drained N. E. by
Deer liver. The post office on the road from Lowville tn Whitesville, bears the
name of the town.
Leyden. taken from Stenben, when part of Herkimer county, 10th March, 1797;
N. W. from Albany, 116, from Martinsburg, S. 14, miles; surface hilly; soil san
dy loam, underlaid with limestone and of good quality; drained on the.N. E. by
Sujar run, flowing to Black river, on the W. The post village of Leyden Hill,
centrally located, contains 1 store, 1 tavern, and half a dozen dwellings; near the
village are 1 Union and 1 Baptist, churches. Talcotville, has 1 Universalist church,
2 taverns, 1 store, 1 grist and 1 saw, mills, and 12 or 15 dwellings and the West
Leyden post office. The town is well settled, chiefly by emigrants from Connecti
cut, wealthy and enterprising.
Lowville, taken from Mexico, when part of Oneida county, March 14th, 1800,
named after Mr. Nicholas Low'i distant N, from Albany 132, and, from Martins-
hurg 5, miles; first settled in 1797. This is one of the best towns in the county;
surface rolling; soil on the uplands of good quality, and the lowlands ofthe
Black river, hounding iton the E. very rich. Its staple products are wheat, wool and
peppermint; drained E. by some small bht steady streams. Lowville and Slowe's
Square, are post villages. Lowville, on the great, road from Utica to Sackett's
Harbour, three and a half miles from Martinsburg, in a pleasant valley, handsome
ly laid out in squares, the largest village of tlie county, contains 1 Presbyterian,
1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist, 1 Orthodox Friends, churches; an academy, incorpo
rated and highly flourishing, a printing office publishinga weekly paper, 2 taverns,
5 stores, one large grist and saw mills, and (id very neat dwellings. This place
appears to he, as it is, inhabited by a moral and industrious people. Slowe's
Square, has 1 store, 1 tavern, 1 Presbyterian church, and 6 dwellings. A third post
office is called West Leyden.
Martinsburg, taken from Lowville, Champion and Mexico, as part of Oneida

LEWIS COUNTY.

503

county, 22d Feb. 1803; N. W. from Albany 129, N. from Utica 48, miles; sur
face undulating; soil fertile loam, resting on limestone, abundantly productive of
wheat and other crops; drained easterly oy Whetstone and Martin's creeks; set
tled in 1801, by Gen. Walter Martin and others; the general having purchased
Porcia, one of the townships included within the present bounds of this town,
containing 8000 acres. Martinsburg, post village and county town, centrally sit
uated, having the relative distances above stated, upon a high and commandiug
site, contains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist, churches; court house and prison of
wood, under the same roof; 2 taverns, 3 stores, 1 grist and saw mills, 1 cotton and
1 woollen factory, and 40 dwellings; the Lewis county bank, incorporated 20th
April, 1833, with a capital of $100,000, n printing office issuing a weekly paper.
' West Martinsburg, has 1 Methodist church, 3 stores, 1 tavern and 10 or 12
dwellings, and a post office.
Pinckney, taken from Harrisburg and Harrison, 12th Feb. 1808; N. W. from
Albany 153, and from Martinsburg 14, miles; surface level; soil sandy and clay
loam of good quality; drained by Deer river, and Sandy creek. The post office
is named after the town. The town was settled by Wm. Henderson, Esq. the
jp-iginal proprietor. *
Turin, organised as part of Oneida county and taken from Mexico, in 1800;
N. W. from Albany 121, and from Martinsburg, S. E. 6, miles; surface rolling;
soil fertile loam, better adapted to summer than winter crops, cultivated by indus
trious and wealthy farmers. Turin Four Corners and Honseville, are post vil
lages. Turin Four Comers, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist, churches, 2
grist, I saw, mills, a woollen factory, tannery, 2 taverns, 5 stores, and 30 dwell
ings. Houseville, has 1 store, 1 tavern, 1 grist, 1 saw, mills, and 15 dwellings.
Watson, taken from Leyden, 30th March, 1821; N. W. from Albany 13C, from
Martinsburg, N. E. 12, miles; surface mountainous; soil sandy loam of excellent
quality upon the river and principal streams; drained westerly, on the S. by Inde
pendence creek; on the N. by Beaver river. This town is highly important for its
inexhaustible beds of iron, its forest of valuable timber and its great water power.
The post, and only village, is Dayanville, founded by Charles Dayan, Esq. on the
falls of Chrystal creek, a fine stream, about 2 miles E. of the Black river, 5 from
the village of Lowville, and 9 from Martinsburg, containing 1 saw mill, 1 store,
1 tavern and 10 dwellings. This village is destined to become a place of exten
sive business. Bclfcrt, is a settlement on Beaver river, with a saw and grist mill
and fine water power, and post office. Carterville, is another settlement on the
same stream at the head of navigation, well located for business and possessing
valuable mill privileges.
West Turin, taken from Turin, 25th March, 1830; N. W. from Albany, 130,
from Martinsburg 15, miles, S. W.; surface generally undulating; soil fertile clay
and sandy loam, adapted to grass; its staples are butter and cheese; drained by
Fish creek, Salmon and Deer rivers. Constableville and Collinsville, are post
villages. Constableville, has 1 Episcopal and 1 Union, churches; 1 tannery, 1
grist, 1 saw, mills, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and 20 dwellings, Collinsville, has 1 church,
1 store, 1 tavern, and a dozen dwellings.

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Denmark,
30H34
14199
208710
5200
4232
7013
2433
3658
4610; 4686
555 51
434 47
Diana,
126361'
1692
38567
441
70
409
393
358
466 686
472 19
64 14
Greig,
93827
2507
60907
575
468
123
330
638
383
'502! 911
398 57
115 86
Harriaburg,
23940
22ti4
58386
3444
1180
278
1510
416
1710
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463 13
111 72
Leyden,
20110
114B5
136860
13530
3636
523
*607
1751
2398
2372 4142
364 35
302 06
Lowville,
10862
135.11
195335
36320
2054
781
11238
S217
3420
3678 3406
650 48
516 89
Martinsburg,
4-11175
13902 42R6
231088
109043
3873
805
8170
3119
3545
4020 3718
882 CS, . 715 85
Pinckoey,
23620
43048
1167
U75
131
2031
462
1534
2022 2661
379 02 Q3 16
Turin,
18400
934"
144360
680(
2748
552
3679
2533
2818
2133 2249
'536 59 2S8 65
Watson,
149278
3613
78512
151
885
148
334
645
. 574
1042 1228
786 71 157 23
West Turin,
169917
9329
207120
13301
3471
463
2863
1690
2193
3578 4442
413 62
502 75
3293 72
7M265
86150
1402893
188529 25063
,4684 40234
16197
32591
26621 30607
5902 79
¦¦ 'IT'
504

TOPOGRAPHY.

1

K
01
ccip01
Females.
01beCd
Births.
Deaths.
TOWNS.
01
li .2 §
IS tr
¦P# ¦ss 2 o
-5 cc
3 —
01
¦i-tu
aa a
Cc
co'01
cciVa
1820.
18 5.
1830.
1835.
¦S
O
>
<
ri ccs
5-
a -
es
a
s
s
b
Denmark,
1745
1989
2270
2.552
205
527
86
330
220
514
20
49
45
21
13
Diana,
30.1
449
42
83
11
66
In
129
4
11
6
5
Greig,
K62
538
41
96
5
73
36
126
1-
15
11
3
3
HarrUbnr;,
520
722
712
803
67
158
li
9]
65
171
r
16
16
1
4
Leyden ,
809
1156
1502
1687
169
370
16
232
1SH
344
1!
31
36
10
1
Lowville,
11)43
2107
2334
2097
199
443
21
247
241
376
1
32
31
14
18
* artin^hurg,
1497
1950
2382
2238
316
470
31
253
178
470
17
35
18
14
13
Pinckncy,
507
664
783
796
78
158
2
100
69
178
5
12
12
1
4
1812
2388
1561
1907
190
385
54
238
17(1
423
14
SH
22
10
20
Watsun, Wugt Turin,
334
1193
909
1163
82
182
134
143
52
295
(
22
24
13
7
1534
1843
136
289
236
229
143
391
13
34
37
9
10
9227
11669
14953
16093 1528
3101
604
2002
1359
3417
123
285
248
101
93
Note. Mules, 8,202; Females,
Blind, 9; Idiots, 4; Luuatics, 6.
Blacks, 66; Black voters, 3; Paupers, 27; Deaf and Dumb, J;
TOWNS.
ti
'E 5 4
J2I CO
tn 3
i
o
w a
» .2
z '¦&
s °2
ie -
II
3 3
co
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it uc ae
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h to
ol e
gs.¦S*
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tnm
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Denmark,
14
236
461
733
Diana,
1
b
1
1
C
47
59
127
Greig,
1
13
i
2
-7
109
30
217
Harrisburg,
3
8
110
105
260
Leyden,
2
11
1 1
]
3
13
156
328
473
Lowville,
4
11
i
4 3
j
2
2
1
12
243
567
708
Martinsburg,
1
8
3I l
L
4
i
3
15
248
665
743
Pinckney,
6
I ,
2
6
122
116
322
Turin,
3
11
j
2 3
1
3
3
12
245
403
617
West Turin,
1
ii
1 1
2
1
13
209
277
457
Watson,
2
19
c*.
11
94 31
o
14 12
31 3D
* CO
1
2
2
i
©
1
21
i i
1%
19
3
1 I
a!
10
135
81
295
116
1860
3092
4952
S*
Value of product,
1
s
w
-*
c.
e*
8,0
^
'£
en
---
Numl
er of children above j
and under
t»
©
5S
ao 3
o o
©
©
ses
3
£
16 years
of age, 4,812.
Value of material,
s
sS
•*T>
"j*
w
LIVINGSTON COUNTY, was taken from Ontario and Genesee counties, by
act of 23d February, 1821; bounded N. by Monroe, E. by Ontario and Steuben, S.
by Steuben and Allegany, and W. by Genesee counties. In 1822 a small tract,
the N. W. quarter of township No. 6, in the 7th Range, then the town of Dansville
including the village of that name, was added to this county; the territory be
tween the N. line of Avon, and the Honeoye creek, in Rush, was taken from this
and annexed to Monroe county. Greatest length N. and S. 30, greatest breadth E.
and W. 28, miles; lying between 42° 33' and 43° N. Lat., and 0° 37' and 1° 08'
W. Long.; area 494 square miles; centrally distant N. W. from New York 360,
from Albany W. 224, miles.
The surface is much diversified by plains, hills, and valleyB. In a comprehen
sive view, it will be included in the great western plain, forming part ofthe great
St. Lawrence basin, and probably once part of the bed of the lake which covered
the wide spreading shores of Ontario and Erie, when those, inland seas had no dis
tinctive existence. But the geography of the county has its proper, peculiar, and
strongly marked features. The course of the streams show a northern declivity
of the whole surface, which may be divided into two terraces; the higher, at the
southern extremity of tbe county, is probably 800 feet above the surface of Lake
LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

505

K-OIEOE C?

Ontario; upon which lie the Conesus and Hemlock lakes, elevated from 150 to
200 feet above Canandaigua lake, which is about 440 above Lake Ontario.
But this inclined plane is broken in a transverse direction by the streams
which flow over it. Thus the country upon the west ofthe Genesee river is level,
until we reach its ancient banks, whence is a descent by ledges, in breadth alto
gether from one to two miles. Upon the east side' of the river, the land rises in a
corresponding form and height. A vale has been thus formed by the river, vary
ing in breadth from two to four miles, whose depth in the south part of the county
is more than 400 feet. The views from either bank are every where pleasant, and
frequently of unsurpassed beauty. ,
East of the Conesus lake, the land still rises; there being a strongly marked
ridge between it and the Hemlock lake, precipitous on both sides, but steeper on
the east. This ridge might probably be traced in a N. E. direction into Perrinton,
of Monroe, county, where it compels a deflection ofthe Erie canal around its base.
If this he so, the ridge is not unbroken, for it is traversed by the Honeoye outlet,
in the town of Mendon. East of the Hemlock lake, the surface of the country is
broken by lower ridges, but descends through this and Ontario county to the Ca
nandaigua lake. Thus it would seem that the country east of the Genesee river,
including the greater portion of this county, forms a high and broad ridge, declin
ing to the east, west, and north, and rising to the south, supposed to be a pro
longation of one of the Allegany chains; but we think it difficult to trace the con
tinuity. The great stream is the Genesee river, (described at p. 28.) It is the recipient
of the waters which rise in or flow through the county. Its principal tributaries
here are the Canascraga and the Cashaqua on the south, and the Outlets of the
Conesus and Hemlock lakes. The Canascraga heads in the town of Nunda, Al
legany county, and by a tortuous course flows through a N. W. part of Steuben
county, and through Sparta and Groveland, of this county, to the river at the S.
64

506 TOPOGRAPHY.
W. point of the town of Genesee, within a mile of the village of Mount Morris.
Its course is through a rich, but yet not well cultivated intervale, averaging about
1\ mile in width, with a character much like that of the Genesee flats. Its length
exceeds 30 miles.
The Cashaqua has its source in Grovetown, of Allegany county, and runs
thence by a N. E. course of about 20 miles to the Canascraga, one mile above
its mouth, on the line of Groveland and Mount Morris. A canal about 3 miles
long, in the latter town, connects the waters of the Genesee with the bed of the
creek, and affords a valuable mill power.
Conesus lake, about 9 miles long, and from three-eighths to one mile in breadth,
on the borders of Genesee and Livonia, Groveland and Conesus, towns, receives
some small brooks, and sends forth a mill stream, rendered very valuable more
by its great fall and steadiness than by its volume. It unites with the Genesee
about 2 miles S. of Avon bridge. The lake, it is said, exceeds 300 feet in depth;
its waters are very pure and cold, and well stocked with the muscalonge by the
neighbouring inhabitants.
The Hemlock lake, extending from the southern part of Livonia, S. E. through
Conesus into Caneadea of Ontario, receives its waters from those towns, and
from an inlet, flowing N. through Springwater, and pours its surplus flood, by an
outlet 7 miles long, into the Honeoye creek, in Richmond, Ontario county. The
latter stream, on its way to the Genesee river, forms the eastern bound of Lima,
of this county.
About two-thirds ofthe county, upon the N., compose partof the great western.
secondary lime formation, the rock of which rises in some places so near the sur
face as much to impede its cultivation. The geological constituents of this sec
tion are probably the same which are exhibited at the Genesee Falls below Ro
chester. {See Monroe county.) . In the southern portion, the slate formation pre
vails, but lime is common. The soil in the N. is gravelly or sandy loam, in
which disintegrated lime abounds, and renders it perpetually fertile. Much-of
this portion was " oak opening," highly estimated by the cultivator. Patches of
other timber, similar to that which covered the south, were intermixed with the
oak. The timber of the south consists of oak, maple, elm, basswood, butternut,
walnut, ash, hemlock, white pine, &c.
The Genesee river, in its course through the county, has innumerable small
curves, which embrace, sometimes on the east, at others on the west side of the
valley, fine tracts of alluvion, covered with deep rich and inexhaustible soil.
These flats rest upon quicksand, 20 feet below the surface, and are generally from
one to two miles wide. The river frequently mingles its waters with the quick
sands beneath, and occasionally cuts the base of the hills which skirt the valley.
In this valley will run the Rochester and Olean canal. There are over the river
one bridge, between Geneseo and Leicester, called Jones' bridge, 2\ miles above
the village of Geneseo; another at Fowlersville; and another on the main Buffalo
road, at West Avon. The ascending and descending navigation of the river has
been steadily increasing, but the Genesee canal will shortly be the channel of
commerce. Bog iron is said to abound in various parts of the county, but is no where
smelted. Gypsum has been long discovered in Caledonia, and lately in Leices
ter and Mount Morris, and may, probably, be found in other parts of the lime for
mation within the county.
The great staples are wheat, pork, and cattle; of the first, it is estimated that
there is a surplus productof more than a million bushels annually. About one-third
of the wheat -raised is manufactured within the county; the remainder is sent to Ro
chester by the Genesee river. Large quantities of pork are cured for market by
the farmers and merchants, and annually 4 or 5 droves of cattle, from 3 to 500 head
each, are collected at Geneseo for the Philadelphia and New York markets.
The county is part of the tract ceded to Massachusetts. It is divided into 1%
towns. Avon, organised by general sessions of Ontario county, under act 27th January,
1789, by the name of Hartford; changed April, 1800; W. from Albany 220, from
Geneseo N. E. 10, miles; surface on the west, for 2 miles from the river, hilly,
rising in terraces from the streams; upon the east more level, but with some low
ridges; soil rich sandy, clay and gravelly loam, on lime and calcareous sandstone;
the river alluvial flats are luxuriantly fertile; drained by the Conesus outlet.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

507

Avon, East Avon, and Littel's Mills, are villages. Avon, village, upon the upper
bank ofthe Genesee river, upon a plain to which the ascent from the river is 100
feet, 10 miles N. W. from Geneseo, from Albany W. 233, and 25 W. from Ca
nandaigua, 20 S. from Rochester, 24 E. from Batavia, and 64 from Buffalo city,
laid out by Mr. Wadsworth in 1826, now contains 1 Episcopal church, 1
academy, 2 large and well kept hotels, 3 stores, and about 60 neat dwellings.
The land around the village is fertile, and is valued at 50 dollars the acre. The
river is navigable 20 miles for boats to the Erie canal at Rochester, with which it
is connected by a feeder, and a steamboat runs between the two places occasion
ally. The river is crossed by a substantial wooden bridge.
The Avon springs are rising rapidly in public estimation. There are two within
40 rods of each other, issuing from the foot of a hill about 1 mile S. of the village.
The upper one, by the analysis of Professor Hadley, contains, iii one gallon: car
bonic acid, 5.6 cubic inches; sulphuretted hydrogen, 12 cubic inches; carbonate
of lime, 8 gr.; sulphate of lime, 84 gr.; sulphate of magnesia, 10 gr.; muriate of
soda, 18.4 gr.; sulphate of soda, 16 gr.; and a small quantity of other matter.
Trie lower one, recently discovered, by the report of Dr. Salisbury contains, in
a volume of 100 parts:
Carbonate of lime, - - 5.02 Hydro-sulphuric acid, - - 4.34
United to carbonic acid, 1.70 6.72 Nitrogen,  2.35
Chloride of calcium, - - - 1.44 Oxygen,  25
Sulphate of lime, - - - - 9.83 
Sulphate of magnesia, - - - 8.49 6.94
•Sulphate of soda, - . - - 2.85
28.33
And the presence of small portions of iodine and bromine are vehemently sus
pected. The volumes discharged from these springs are the same at all seasons, and ap
parently independent of atmospheric influence. That from the lower spring is
about 54 gallons the minute. The temperature is invariably 45° Fahrenheit; the
specific gravity, 1.018. As the water issues from the spring it is very limpid,
and somewhat sparkling. It is a powerful remedial agent in all cases in which
sulphureous waters aTe recommended, and is much used by patients under such
disorders, internally and by the bath. There are now three commodious houses
for the accommodation of visitors at the springs, besides those at the village,
from which boarders are taken to the springs, in carriages, without charge. To
the invalid, the scenery ofthe country is scarce less attractive than the springs.
The curative qualities of these waters were known to the Senecas, who, until
within a few years, inhabited a village on the opposite bank of the river, which
they called Canawagus. The distinguished chief Red Jacket ranked them among
his remedies.
There is a. remarkable bulbous root, of the convolvulus, growing on the Genesee
flats, in this town, lying like a log in the earth, from three to four feet long, and
from six to eight inches in diameter, producing a small vine like that ofthe straw
berry; it is called vulgarly the " man of the ground." Upon the flats there is a
singular pond, in form an irregular circle of nearly 2 miles in diameter; a neck of
land runs into, and expands within the circle occupying the centre, on which are
remains of ancient Indian works.
East Avon, 2 miles from Avon, and 11 N. E. from Geneseo, contains 1 Pres
byterian church, 1 tavern, 2 stores, and half a dozen dwellings. LitteVs Mills, 8
miles N. from Geneseo, on the Conesus outlet, has a flouring mill .and saw mill,
a distillery, store, furnace for castings, and about one dozen dwellings. There
is a post office called South Avon.
The town Was settled in 1790, by five families from Farmington, in Connec
ticut. Caledonia, organised as part of Genesee county, March 30th, 1802, by the
name of Southampton; changed 4th April, 1806; W. from Albany 228, from Gene
seo N. 12, miles; surface undulating; soil argillaceous and calcareous loanr, west
of the village of Caledonia, and extending near to the W. line of the town, the
limestone so covers the surface that it is difficult to find a space of six acres which
may be well ploughed. The soil, however, is fertile, forming excellent sheep pas-

508 TOPOGRAPHY.
tures. In the whole town, the rock approaches the surface, and the growth of
, the timber, chiefly oak, is much and injuriously affected thereby; but in the east
the soil is excellent, producing large crops of wheat, inferior in quality and quan
tity to none in the state; 25 bushels the acre being the average crop. The town,
like many other portions ofthe limestone country, is indifferently watered. Near
Caledonia village, however, is a remarkable spring, which sends forth an efficient
mill stream. It is supposed that this is the lost water from Allen's creek, at the
high falls in Le Roy, 7 miles west. If so, they are returned to that stream, in the
town of Wheatland, Monroe county. The post village of Caledonia, centrally si
tuate, contains 2 Presbyterian churches, 1 flouring and 1 saw, mills, 4 taverns,
4 stores, 1 large brewery, and about 60 dwellings, chiefly of limestone.
Conesus, taken from Livonia and Groveland, and organised by the name of
Freeport, 13th April 1819; changed to Bowersville 26th March, 1825, and to
Conesus 15th April, 1825; W. from Albany, 221, from Geneseo S. E. 11, miles;
surface^ hilly, and the descent to the Conesus and Hemlock lakes, is precipitous.
The streams flowing to the lakes, have deep channels. In the S. part ofthe town,
the Calabogue creek, on which are several saw mills, passes between the Conesus
inlet, and the" Hemlock lake, and gives to the surface a broken appearance; and
the soil here is of second quality. The northern partof the town has a more level
surface, of better quality. The Conesus inlet passes through a body of fine land,
but affords no mill sites. The post office, bearing the name of the town, is near
the head of the lake, 10 miles S. E. from Geneseo; where are a saw mill, store,
and some half dozen dwellings. The town is nearly all settled.
Geneseo, organised by general sessions of Ontario county, pursuant to Act,
January 27th, 1789; W. from Albany 226 miles, lying upon the acclivity of the
ridge, which is divided into broad terraces, and dipping somewhat to the
Conesus inlet, lake, and outlet, which bound the town on the east; and the
Genesee river, on the W. boundary, where are broad alluvial flats, of exuberant
fertility: A tract of about 1,200 acres on the bend of the river is called Bigtree,
from an Indian chief of that name, who with his petty tribe cultivated it when the
whites settled here, in 1790. Here are now Wadsworth's farms, celebrated for
their fertility and excellent cultivation. The flats produce fine hemp, which has
also been grown abundantly, in other parts of the county. Some small streams
flow down the plain to the river, and on the principal one, Fall brook, is a cascade
of near 100 feet perpendicular fall. The village of Geneseo, the county seat of
justice, on the terrace above the flats, one mile from the river, incorporated 21st
April, 1832, contains a court house, of brick 2 stories high, with portico; a prison,
of wood; 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Methodist, churches; the Livingston
county high school, of which, Mr. Wadsworth was the chief benefactor, and
which occupies a fine range of commodious brick buildings; 8 dry goods stores, 1
hardware store, 1 druggist, 4 taverns, 1 furnace, for iron castings; 5 attorneys, 2
physicians, 2 printing offices, publishing weekly journals, and 120 dwellings,
many of them nea\, of stone and brick. Mr. Wadsworth's capacious mansion, is
of wood, beautifully situated, and commanding a delightful view of the Genesee
vale, and the hills which bound it on the W. There is not perhaps any seat in
the western country more desirable. His land office is holden here. A bank with
a capital of $100,000, was established in the village, under the act of 7th April,
1830. This town was first settled in 1790, by Wm. and James Wadsworth, the
principal proprietors, from Connecticut. The latter now holds large estates in the
' count}'. Groveland, taken from Sparta, June 12th, 1812; W. from Albany 237, from
Geneseo, S. 7, miles; on the W. there is a high ridge between the Genesee river
and Canascraga creek, and also another ridge descending to the E. and W. These
ridges consist of sand and clay loam, underlaid with slate and sand stone; the
soil, upon the W. and S. is of excellent quality, and the remainder, a small quan
tity, somewhat inferior. Groveland village, has a post office, 1 Presbyterian church,
1 grist mill, store, tavern, and some 8 or 10 dwellings. Groveland centre, is a
post office only. Groveland hill, has 1 Presbyterian church, 2 taverns, 3 stores,
and 20 dwellings.
Leicester, organised March 30th, 1802; as part of Genesee county; since
modified; W. from Albany 232, from Genesee W.5, miles; surface on the E.
descending by terraces to the Genesee river, and on the W. table land; Soil ex-

LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 509
cellent. Moscow, centrally situate, has a post office, a building used for an
academy and church, 2 taverns, 3 stores, 1 distillery, 1 ashery. and from 40 to 50
dwellings. Gibsonville, n--;ar the N. boundary, has a post office, 1 grist, 2 saw,
mills, 1 distillery, 1 carding and cloth dressing mill, and 6 or 8 log houses.
Lima, organised by general session* of Ontario county, pursuant to act of
27ih January, 1789, by the name of Charleston, name changed 6th April, 1808;
W. from Albany 213, from Geneseo N. E. 14 miles; surface rolling; soil clay and
calcareous loam, highly fertile and well cultivated; drained northerly and centrally
by a tributary of Honeoye outlet. Lima, post village, centrally situate, on the
o-reat western road, is an almost continued street from the ii. to the W. line of
the town. It contains 1 Presbyterian and I Methodist, churches; the Genesee
Wesleyan seminary, incorporated 1st May, 1834; placed under the visitation of
the Regents of the university, 2'Jlh Mrirch, 1836; liberally endowed and highly
flourishing; 3 stores, 3 taverns, and nearly 100 dwellings, remarkable for their
neatness and inhabited by wealthy owners. The seminary has a professor of
mathematics, one of langu iges, au English teacher, and two teachers iu the female
department. s
Livonia, taken from Pittstown, 12th February, 1808; N. W. from Albany 217,
from Geneseo 10, miles; surface on the N. rolling; a ridge runs centrally and
northward from the southern boundary between the Conesus lake on the west
and Hemlock lake and outlet upon the E.; the N. is underlaid with limestone,
and the S. with slate. Livonia, post village, centrally situate, has 1 Presbyterian
and 1 Methodist, churches, 1 tavern, 3 stores, 1 saw mill, and 50 dwellings.
This beautiful village consists of very commodious frame buildings neatly paint
ed and surrounded with lawns and shrubbery. Lands around it average $40, the
acre. Lakeville, at the foot of Conesus lake on the W. line of the town, 6 miles
E. from Geneseo, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Baptist, churches, 2 taverns, 1 grist
mill, 1 saw mill, 1 tannery, 2 asheries, 3 stores, and 25 dwellings. Jacksonville,
on the outlet of Hemlock lake, 11 miles from Geneseo, contains 1 grist and 1 saw, .
mill?, a distillery, a carding and cloth dressing mill, and 15 dwellings. South
Livonia is a post office.
Mount Morris, taken from Leicester 17th April, 1818; W. from Albany 236,
from Gi neseo S. W. 11 miles; surface, centrally, table land, 2 miles in breadth,
underlaid with slate, and descending westward to Ihe Genesee riVer, and E. to the
Cashaqua creek; soil clay loam of excellent quality. Tuscarora, on Cashaqua
creek, 12 miles from Geneseo, has 2 grist mills, 3 saw mills, 2 carding and cloth
dressing mills, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and 25 dwellings.
On the bank of the river in this town, an ancient mound or barrow, was dis
covered and opened in 1835, in which were some human skeletons in a very
decayed state, with some stone arrow heads, stone knife and cleaver, and a copper
skewer, about the size of a pipe shank flattened at one end and slightly twisted.
The knife was of fine hard stone of the thickness of a quire of paper with sharp
ened edges. The cleaver was of slate. The articles were of the rudest work
manship. The Gardeau Reservation for the Indians, commonly called the White
Woman's. land, is partly in this town and partly in Nunda and Castile, of Genesee
county; the barrow may have been a burial place of the canton.
Mount Morris village, incorporated 2d May, 1835, is at the head of the boat
navigation ofthe Genesee river, 36 miles S. of Rochester, and by canal line 38^
miles; 6 S. VV. from Geneseo. The site is beautiful, being elevated above the
fertile flats, which border the river, and based on light sand is commonly dry: An
Indian village formerly here, was called Allen's Hill, from its being owned by a
white man of that name, who dwelt here and married an Indian. Other whites
settled here also, about 40 years since, having been attracted by the proposed sale
of land, which did not take place for several years afterwards. About 1804, the
village was founded by families mostly from Connecticut. Its increase until of
late was slow. But the water power obtained by the canal, 3 miles long, con
necting the Canascraga with tbe Genesee river, has given an impulse to its
growth. It now contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Methodist, churches,
3 taverns, 9 drygoods stores, 3 groceries, 2 hatters, 1 tannery, and 2 shoe stores,
3 cabinet makers; 1 chair factory, 1 bakery, 1 iron foundry, 1 hemp factory, 1
plough and waggon factory, 2 blacksmiths, 1 hardware store, and tin factory, 2
saddlers, 3 tailors, 2 drug shops, 1 printing office, issuing a weekly paper, 2 law-

510 TOPOGRAPHY.
yers, 4 physicians, 1 flouring mill, 1 carding and cloth' dressing mill, and has in
the immediate vicinity, 3 saw mills, and more than 100 dwellings. River Road,
Brushville, River Road Forks, andBrooks' Grove, are post offices.
Sparta, organised as part of Ontario county 27th January, 1789; area since
reduced; centrally distant from Albany 231, from Genesee, S. E. 14 miles; sur
face hilly on the E. and W. with the Genesee vajley, 2 miles broad; drained by
the Genesee river, which receives the Canascraga creek and other streams here;
soil fertile clay loam, on the hills, productive of wheat, and in the valley sandy
alluvion favourable to summer crops and grass. The Canascraga swamp partly
in this and partly in Groveland, is about to be drained and will afford a tract of
great fertility. The town has 6 post offices, Dansville, Tuscarora, Union Cor
ners, Sparta, North Sparta, and West Sparta. Dansville village, is at the head of
the Genesee valley, 18 miles from Genesee and 45 from Rochester, by the road,
and 52 ^/fc by the proposed canal line. The valley is continued from Mount
Morris, where it diverges from the Genesee river, by Canascraga creek; a stream
abounding with mill sites, and nearly as large as the river above the point of
junction. It receives at the village Great and Little mill creeks, good mill
streams. The village contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Lutheran, and 1 Methodist,
churches, neat buildings; a society of Episcopalians, 4 paper mills, each having
a double engine, using together a ton of rags per day; 5 grain mills, 3 of which
large and of superior fabric, a clover mill, which has prepared in one season 1,500
bushels of seed for market, 1 blast furnace, 2 trip hammers, 5 tanneries, and
several other manufacturing and mechanical establishments; 3 carding and cloth
dressing, 3 saw, mills, 4 taverns, 6 stores, 1 printing office, issuing a weekly paper,
and about 220 dwellings. A side cut of 10 miles from Mount Morris, is to con
nect this village and the valley of the Canascraga, with the Olean and Rochester
canals. The soil near the village is partly alluvial flats, partly superior bottom timbered
land; and the principal portion of the valley and the highlands which enclose it is
first quality wheat land; S. ofthe village the country is thickly covered with pine
timber of excellent quality. Within the circle of a few miles are 60 saw mills,
which send immense quantities of pine lumber to the markets in the north.
Scottsburg, 10 miles S. E. from Geneseo, has a post office, tavern, store, grist
and saw, mills, and about a dozen dwellings.
Springwater, taken from Sparta and Naples 17th April, 1816;. centrally dis
tant W. from Albany 223, from Geneseo S. E. 18, miles; soil clay loam, on slate;
better adapted to grass than grain; surface on the E. and W. hilly and broken,
descending towards the centre where, in a deep narrow valley, runs the inlet to
the Hemlock lake, a rapid stream, affording mill sites. Springwater, post village,
centrally situate on this stream, contains 1 grist, 2 saw, 1 carding and cloth dress
ing, mills, extensive sash factory, 1 tavern, 1 store, and 25 dwellings.
York, taken from Caledonia and Leicester 26th March, 1819; W.from Albany
237, from Geneseo N. W. 7, miles; surface for 2 miles W. of the Genesee river,
hilly and in terraces; further W. very level; soil clay loam, underlaid on the N.
by limestone; very fertile in wheat; drained by some small tributaries ofthe river.
Fowlersville, York, and Greigsville, are post villages. Fowlersville, upon the
Genesee river and near the N. boundary, 10 miles N. from Geneseo, hasa Pres
byterian church, store, tavern, an ashery, and about 12 dwellings. York, cen
trally situate, has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, and 1 Scotch Presby
terian, churches, 3 taverns, 3 stores, and 30 dwellings. Greigsville, in the S. E.
angle, 4 miles N. W, from Geneseo, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 tavern, 2 stores,
and 6 or 8 dwellings.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

511

' Females.
Births. I
Deaths.
*
-
u CD
tp P
CD CO
¦%« \z °
a ©
SB
B cii
d >-
n3 CO
1
TOWNS.
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
cd
1
en-,Ol o
>
COa 01
a ti
is
rjh
3*
eg.
Vboos
'C CS
g
ccV01OS
s
tntoOS8
Em
en01
CD01S
bo
2633
2301
2362
2754
324
670
25
353
267
478
6
41
42
7
12
1323
1466
1618
1677
171
309
96
171
182
334
7
21
14
- 12
S
1288
1356
. 1690
1690
147
334
1
226
120
378
14
31
43
8
3
1598
2202
2675
2714
318
593
73
365
249
545
T5
57
3(i
15
13
1273
1551
1703
1715
188
319
50
199
143
391
7
37
38
12
17
1331
1772
2042
2135
233
435
22
251
161
478
20
40
41
¦ 10
17
1963
1775
1764
2227
294
532
32
260
295
426
11
32
26
a
6
2427
2417
2665
2659
273
587
13
298
•307
543
31
4b
27
14
13
Mount Morris,
1002
1896
2534
3499
362
740
27
484
371
797
1(
37
17
23
27
Sparta, Springwater, York,
1475
3289
3777
4507
423
886
65
579
36t
111
29
90
88
32
18
1154
1659
2253
2567
184
5U4
3
329
lit",
671
17
55
50
25
27
1729
2176
2636
2948
296
577
147
348
259
672
\c
49
43
20
20
19196
23860
27719
31092
3213
6486
554
3863
2846
6823 18!
I 535
525
186
178
Note. Males, 15",943; Females, 15,149; Blacks, 141; Black voters, 3; Paupers, 42; Deaf and Dumb,
10; Blind, 12; Idiots, 19; Lunatics, 14.
TOWNS.
a
"is
ed ccj
eo'~ *>
d CO
> P
¦p 8
CO " ^
CO
'r.3
0
„*1
rt
Mcd
OS
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- •!
8°
to ° «
Soi2
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<i3
01
D
COCOO
n
p.0101
JOHi
0
01.d
En
2 =
si
0.5
cp0
0
e
25072
21531
476368
63175
2512
983
33380
2945
3450
2347
387
798 78
869 59
26715
1394E
427440
15804
2110
799
9606
2735
3195
2821
364
705 07
306 17
Conesus,
19554
7875
175986
25069
1861
604
6064
1785
2808
3722
2333
297 92
592 68
Geneseo,
26265
20000
525300
1378
3103
966
8583
2485
3159
3270
1695 1223 45
550 78
6roveland,|
.2426!
868C
339766
2467
2322
770
9369
2725
2467
3521
1556
588 58
660 49
Leicester,
20821
12317
332800
12155
186.1
811
5943
2349
2485
3H74
12(19
541 83
723 98
Lima,
18935
12427
397635
1947
876
5885
2660
3492
3119
2493
675 38
212 52
Livonia,
22882
18881
43175E
9127
2637
1119
12015
3003
5485
6433
330(1
704 58
711 41
Mount Morris
2933(
15212
46928C
34671
2826
1095
5837
3600
5750
6032
5399
844 75
872 16
Sparta,
4037S
1888S
484536
49066
4061
1316
1536S
4318
6164
7443
4806
811 94
993 22
Springwater,
32516
9791
24387(
27163
2047
605
5526
2151
4162
5665
5431
409 46
413 03
York,
29515
17973
560785
24761
2984
1239
10602
2992
3682
7303
3478
1106 81
770 44
316251
177531
4865524
206020
30273
11183
127179133748
46712
55550
32457
8708 55
7676 47
„, ti S
K 1
TOWNS-
S
at
- it
§5
Fulling mills. Carding machine Woollen
factorit Iron works. Trip
hammers. Distilleries. Asherias. Clover
mills. Paper mills. Tanneries. Brewery. Number of
Scho districts.
01 >, VSO
.S'S 3 B
01 c
go*3
„ 3
CO P.
*. m
2 «
JO nt
"-S *•
cd co >»
cu CD CD
CO>H
3"o•5tc O6
k S5
Avon,
3
3
1-2 11 1 17
364
806
788
Caledonia, .
1
3
-;ii 1 1 1 1 9
167
657
500
Conesus,
1
5
11 1 11
174
378
511
Geneseo,
1 2 14
517
527
765
Groveland,
2
1
9
265
232
504
Leicester,
2
3
2 1 15
316
822
853
Livonia,
3
3
3 3 2 2 1 17
277
914
806
Lima,
3
3
111 3 10
158
581
-454
Mount Morris,
2
6
3 3 13 2 16
411
751
1020 -
Sparta,
7
5 1
5 5 12214246 21
571
867
1143
Springwater,
31
0
2 2 11 3 15
233
500
830
York,
3
7
2 1 1 13
413
886
1026
30 (
rt c
9 1
16 15 1 6 2 10 16 2 4J20 1 167
1 3866
1 7916
9200
Value of product,
1- c
s
t-cocous?itrust-,cot~us.* Tt1 tt CH tt US US
ier of child
en above £
Value of material,
en t
i
Ts O
I3
| g S {S § 55 8 a § g S W year
s of age, 9,2
58.
512 TOPOGRAPHY.
Long Island, is separated from Connecticut by the Sound, and from the county
of West Chester and Manhattan Island by East river, and from Staten Island, by
New York bay and the Narrows. The Atlantic ocean washes it on the S. and
E. It extends from 40° 34' to 41° 10' N. Lat. and from 2° 58' to 5° 8' E. Long:
Length from the Narrows to Montauk Point 120 miles; with mean range N. 69°
44' E.; the breadth from the Narrows to Peconic bay, varies from 10 to 18 miles,
in a distance of 80 miles; widening for about 30 miles E. of New York, and
thence gradually contracting to that bay. This irregular sheet of water, continu
ed in Gardiner's bay, separates the N. E. part of the Island into two peninsulas,
the longer of which terminates by Montauk Point: The shorter, bending from the
general course, to N. N. E. ends apparently in Oyster Point, but may be consid
ered as continued in Plumb, Gull and Fisher's, islands, to the point of the conti-
nentt S. E. from the mouth of Paucatuck river.
A range of hills, rising, in places, to considerable height, on the northern side
of the island, forms its spine stretching from the W. end to Riverhead, over 60
miles. The country S. and E. of the ridge, comprising much the larger part, is
a plain of uniform level and aspect, elevated little above the ocean, fringed by
narrow bays, stretching from the W. end of the island to Sagg Point, about 100
miles, bordered by long, narrow and low sandy islands. This plain has probably
been formed by the process which makes the islands; and i,n the lapse of time, the
sounds may fill up, and with the islands extend the plain some miles farther into
the ocean. From the sand bars, the land continues to descend beneath the sea,
S. and S. E. to the Gulf Stream, where it terminates abruptly. The declivity
extending from 40 to 50 utiles is very gradual, being about 4S0 feet, giving from 8
to 12 feet to the mile. This coast, is every where inaccessible to ships, by reason
of its flats, shoals and bars. The shore of the main island, within the sounds, is
very irregular, but that of the sandy islets, exposed to the oceanic waves, has a
finely drawn line, as if every asperity were removed by art.
The eastern part of this plain is sand and sandy loam; the latter of which pre
vails in the middle and western parts, where it is mingled with stones. The whole
island is underlaid with granitic rock, which rises high in the spine and breaks out
in the form of gneiss along the E. river, at Hellgate and various places upon the
Sound and its islands. The soil upon the ridge and the narrow helt of undulating
country on the N. is a loam in which clay chiefly predominates.
It is supposed that Long Island was once part of the continent, separated from
it, by the waters of the Sound, breaking through at the narrow strait of Hell
gate, to New York bay. The Indians have a tradition, that their fathers, passed
this strait dry shod, by stepping from rock to rock.
Notwithstanding the simplicity and uniformity of its structure, the island, pre
sents variegated and agreeable scenery. Three roads, northern, middle and south
ern, lead over hill and dale and plain, through cultivated fields, some extensive
forests, now giving a view of the Sound from one point, and then a boundless pros
pect of the Atlantic from another. The middle road, of sand and gravel, is one
of the finest in the United States. The temperature, influenced by the Ocean-and
the Sound is milder and moister than that of the continent. The difference is
greater than could be expected from these agents. The winter in Suffolk county
is strikingly contrasted with the severe and steady frosts of West Chester and
Connecticut. The western end of the island, when settled by Europeans, was, in a great
measure, bare of timber. The Indian practice of burning over the woods, in or
der to clear the land and provide food for deer and other game prevailed; conse
quently there was no underwood, and large trees were so scarce that early and
careful measures were deemed necessary for their preservation, in almost every
town of the island.
Long Island Soundris a bay or inland sea, with two outlets. . If considered as
extending from the Battery, in New York, to Fisher's island, its length is the
same, as that of the island. Proceeding from the city, easterly, it has a tortuous
course of 16 miles, in which it varies from half a mile to two miles in width.
From the Battery to Harlaem river, the course is N. N. E'. 8 miles, and thence to
Tforog's Point, nearly E. 8 more. This portion is known as the E. river. At the
bend, opposite to Harlaem river, is, the notedpass of Helle Gat (Dutch) or the gut
of Hell, narrow, crooked and to the inexperienced, dangerous. The water, here,

LONG ISLAND. 513
when the tide is rising or falling, forms cataracts and vortices, which may dash to
pieces or swallow up the largest vessel coming within their influence. cThe best
times for passing it, are at high and low water.
. Above Throg Point, the Sound, properly speaking, commences and turns to N.
E. 18 miles, between Lloyd's neck and Stamford, in Connecticut. Thus far, Ihe
shores are rugged and tbe channel rocky and much interrupted by small islets, and.
projecting points; bat beyond Lloyd's neck, it opens into a noble elliptical ex
panse, from 8 to 20 miles wide, and with depth sufficient for the largest vessels of
commerce or war; presenting, along its northern shore, a continued picture of
gradually rising hills, hold promontories and commodious havens, which is chased
before the eye, like a brilliant phantasmagoria in the rapid passage of the steam
boats. Besides many of lesser note, it receives from Connecticut, the rivers
Housatonick, Wallingford, Connecticut, Thames, and Paucatuck. The deeply
indented shores, are decorated by the towns of Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk,
Fairfield, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, New Haven, Brandford, Guildford, Kil-
lingworth, Saybrook, New London, and Stonington.
Of the bays and islands which belong to Long Island, we shall speak particu
larly in our description of its several counties.
The principal Indian tribes possessing the Island, when the European settle
ments commenced, were the Canarse, Rockaway, Merikoke, Marsapeague, Seca-
togue and Patchogue, on theS. side; the Matinecocs, Nissaquigue, Satauket, and
Corchaug, on the N.; the Shinecoc, Manhanset, and Montauk, from the Canoe
place to Montauk Point.
The Canarse held that portion of the Island now included in Kings's county,
with a part of the town of Jamaica; the Rockaway, the lands around Rockaway,
with portions of Newtown and Jamaica; the Merikoke and Marsapeague extended
from Rockaway through Queens into Suffolk county; the Matinecocs from Flush
ing, through Queens into Suffolk, at Fresh Pond; the Nissaquague, from Fresh-
pond, to Stony Brook; the Sataukets claimed from Stony Point to Wading river;
the Corchaugs from Wading river through Southold; the territory of the Manhan-
sets, was Shelter island; that of the Patchogues, reached to Southampton; the
Shinecocs, from the Canoe place, to Montauk; and that peninsula was the seat of
the Montauks.
Some other tribes are named in the old patents; but they must have been very
small, since their places of residence are unknown. From those above enumera
ted, the purchases by the whites were originally made.
The Indian settlements were all on the bays, creeks and harbours, on the N. and
S. sides of the island, and were divided from each other, by a middle line. Their
numbers, at the entrance of the whites, were inconsiderable; much less than their
means of subsistence, and had probably been reduced by the interminable and
bloody wars which had long previously commenced the extermination ofthe race.
The shell banks, which still indicate the sites of their villages, on the western half
of the island, are large and numerous, from which it may be inferred that the popu
lation was once great, or had been long stationary.
It has been erroneously supposed, that the Five Nations had extended their do
minion over the whole island; but, the traditionary accounts show only their sub
jugation of the Canarse tribe. The other petty clans were tributary to tbe Pe-
quots, who had never submitted to the Mohawks. Tbe Montauks, the most war
like, had probably obtained a superiority over the other tribes of theis'and,eastof
the Canarse territory; since the Sachem exercised a species of sovereignty which
he claimed by virtue of conquest. Upon this ground, the first settlers sought his
sanction to their purchases, and in 1651, acknowledged his supremacy by consti
tuting him Grand Sachem of the Long Island Indians. Upon the reduction and
dispersion ofthe Pequots, in 1637, by the New E ugland colonies, their tributaries
here, voluntarily repaired to the conquerors, and tendered the accustomed tribute of
wampum, which they continued afterwards to pay. In 1653, the chief of the
Nehantics from the main, commenced a war of several years duration, upon the
Long Island tribes; reducing the Montauks to great distress and compelling them
to seek protection from the white inhabitants of East Hampton, with whom they
resided some years: For their security the commissioners of New England sent
military supplies to the towns of East and South Hampton, and to the Indians;
and stationed a vessel in the Sound to intercept the passage of the Nehantics. In
65

514 TOPOGRAPHY.
one ofthe enterprises ofthe latter, they took, among other prisoners, the daughter
of Wyandance, the chief Sachem of the Montauks, who was ransomed by Lyon
Gardiner; to whom the chief, in 1659, presented, in gratitude, a deed for the terri
tory which now forms Smithtown,
Of all the tribes on the island, there remain only a few families of Montauks
and Shinecocs, scattered upon tbe S. side. Their numbers were diminished ra
pidly by war, inebriety, and by emigration to the Indian settlements upon the main.
In 1761, the Montauks numbered 38 families, and 192 souls. In 1786, that num
ber was much reduced by emigration with Sampson Occum and others to Broth
ertown. Long Island, was claimed by the Dutch and English nations, respectively, by
the right of discovery. The settlements commenced under the Dutch authorities so
early as 1625, at the W. end of the Island. In 1623, April 22d, the Plymouth
company, by order of Charles 1, issued letters patent, to William Alexander,
Earl of Sterling,, for the whole of the island. On April 20th, of the succeeding
year, the Earl empowered James Farret, to sell the lands and the earliest purcha
ses of the English settlers, were made or confirmed under this authority. A cer
tified copy of this power is among the records of the town of Southampton. The
settlement of the English was for a season resisted by the Dutch. In 1640, they
forcibly removed some English settlers from the E. end of the island, but libera
ted them on a written promise not to return. And in 1647, one Andrew Forrester.
claiming to be the lieutenant of Lord Sterling, and who asserted the right of his
principal to the island, was arrested at New Amsterdam and sent to Holland. —
{Dutch Recgrds.)
The first purchase from the Indians, now known, was in 1635; and the earliest
deed for land to individuals, is a patent, from Governor Van Twiller, to Andries
Hedden and Wolphert Garritson, for a tract, in Amesfort or Flatlands, 6th June,
1636. In 1643, the Dutch settlements extended only 10 miles E. and W. and 7
N. and S. The claim ofthe Hollanders, however, was not limited to any definite
portion of the island, but was extended with their purchases and settlements.
The extremities of the island were first settled; the W. under the Dutch and the
E. under English authority. The settlements under both were nearly contempo
rary, were all commenced within the compass of forty years, and made in villages
or towns, whose extent, where settled by the English,, was determined by their
purchases from the Indians; and where, by the Dutch, probably, by gubernatorial
o-rants. In the Dutch towns, the Indian title was bought by the Governor and the
lands granted to individuals by him. In the English towns, in the Dutch territo
ry, they were obtained of the natives by the settlers, by licence from the Govern
or; and in the towns under the English, with the consent of the agent of Lord
Sterling, and after his death, by the people, of the several towns for their common
benefit. Lands granted by the governor to companies, were divided by lot, to in
dividuals, in proportion to their contributions to the purchase or to the patent, com
prising it. The first purchase of Southold, was under the authority of New Ha
ven, and that of East Hampton, by the governor of New Haven and Hartford,
and the lands were afterwards conveyed to the respective settlers of the town.
The line of division between the territories of the two nations, was a source of
constant contention and the public harmony was interrupted by mutual complaints,
of encroachments on tbe island, as on the main. These discords were, for a short
period only, composed by the treaty at Hartford, in 1650; stipulating among other
thino-3, " that, a line run from the westernmost part of Oyster bay, and so a strait
and direct line to the sea, shall be the bounds between the English and Dutch
there; the easterly part to belong to the English, and the westernmost to the
Dutch." • Disputes, however, afterwards arose respecting the westernmost limits
of the bay, and colonies which had millions of acres unoccupied, wrangled about
the placing of a line at points distant from each other not more than a mile and a
half. For some time the settlers around the bay assumed a neutral character in
this dispute, but finally, Jan. 8th, 1662, avowed their allegiance to the king of
England, and resolved to defend any one, who should be molested for exercising
authority among them, at the common expense.
The English towns on the island, in both territories were settled by companies,
most of whose members bad first landed in New England, remaining there only
until they could select a permanent place of residence, and form associations to

LONG ISLAND. 515
prosecute their purposes effectually; thus the settlers of Southold came by' way
of New Haven; of South and Easthampton, by Lynn; of Hempstead by Weath-
ersfield and Stamford. Those of East Hampton were originally from Maidstone,
in Kent; those of Southampton and Hempstead, from Yorkshire; and those of the
other towns, from almost every part of England.
Generally, those companies consisted of a few families; in Easthampton 9;
Southampton 14; Huntington 11; Oyster bny 10: But they were immediately fol
lowed by others. They were principally Independents or Presbyterians, parta
king largely of the puritan spirit. - Many of them were well educated and of re
putable condition, had a competent knowledge of the constitution and laws ofthe
parent state, arid were well acquainted with business. They fled from the homes
and connections of their youth to avoid civil and ecclesiastical tyranny, and to
enjoy uninterruptedly civil liberty and their peculiar religious faith. They held,
that, by the British constitution the people were entitled to share in legislation —
that, their property could be taken from them only by their consent — that, each had
the right to adopt that mode of worship which he believed most consistent with
the scriptures — and that religion was essential to public order and social happiness.
These principles they sought to make the basis of their social and political fabrics.
Under the jurisdiction of no eolonial government, and without political connec
tion with each other, self preservation required, that each town or colony should
assume political powers. Each became a pure democracy, in which every ques
tion of the common weal was determined by the majority of voices in town meet
ing. Many of the colonies, and it is believed all in the eastern division, previ
ously to settlement, contracted formally with each other, to obey the laws enacted
by the major part, and to maintain the authority of the magistrates in their execu
tion. But they did not disdain the aid derivative from the experience of others;
several towns selecting from the laws of Connecticut such provisions as were
adapted to their situation.
The laws are the best testimonials of the character of the law makers. These
provided for — the division of lands — the enclosure of common fields — the regula
tion of fences, highways and watering places— the pasturage of cattle — and the
destruction of wild beasts: For public defence by an organised militia — the education
of youth — the preservation of morals — the support of religion, and the suppression
and punishment of crimes. The teachers in churches and schools were sustained
by general contribution, and whilst immoral or refractory members were ejected,
strict watch was preserved over the admission of accessaries to their associations.
The simple and peculiar character resulting from these regulations, has not yet
been effaced, and the customs and manners of the puritans have been nowhere so
thoroughly preserved as in the seclusions of Suffolk and Queens, counties.
Justice was administered by the town court, composed of three magistrates, a
clerk and constable annually chosen, with power to determine all causes civil and
criminal. Generally its proceedings were governed by the common law. The
jury, however, which either party might require, consisted of seven, who decided
by the voice of the majority. In most ofthe towns, the decisions of the court
were conclusive; but in Southampton, an appeal lay to the town meeting, called
the general court. Frequently the town courts exercised legislative authority
which, if not given, was respectfully acquiesced in, by the people. Intemperance,
the violation of personal security, sabbath breaking, slander, non attendance at
church, wilfullying and improvidence, were subjects of special denunciation and
punishment. In the credulity of the time, the impossible crime of witchcraft was
recognised, and two instances of prosecution for the offence are recorded. In one
case, the accused, a female, was sent to Connecticut, where provers of witches
were more expert, for further trial; in the other, tbe parties, husband and wife, were
acquitted. It would seem, that, these small independent associations were not deemed effi
cient for all political purposes, and a union was early sought with those of Con
necticut, which had been formed on like principles. The several towns joined
Connecticut at different periods — Southampton in 1644 — Easthampton in 1657 
Brookhaven in 1659— Huntington in lf>60— and Oyster bay, probably in 1662:
Southold united wiih New Haven in 1648, and frith that colony was attached to
Connecticut in 1662.
By the union, they became members of that political body; partaking of the

516 TOPOGRAPHY.
benefits and duties of other towns under its jurisdiction, entitled to the protection
of the United Colonies and to representation in the general court at Hartford.—
Deputies were sent to this court, from South and Easthampton; and Southold had
delegates at New Haven. Authoritative jurisdiction could not be exercised by
Connecticut, until she received a royal charter in 1662; nor did she, before that
period, attempt to establish counties, organise courts, or levy taxes in Long Island.
In this charter, Long Island was not mentioned; but the names of some of the
magistrates of one or more of the towns, were inserted among those who were to
administer it. A clause annexing the adjacent islands to Connecticut, also fur
nished her with a pretext, to claim this island, and she was supported by the in
habitants in connection with her, in a construction, which, could it have been sus
tained, would have embraced all the English towns here and the whole island af
ter the conquest. She now exercised legal jurisdiction over such towns as had as
sociated with her, giving to each permission to send, but not requiring, a deputy
to the general court. That court appointed such officers as were not, by the char
ter, to be chosen by the people; levied taxes for defraying the expense of procur
ing the charter; and organised courts on the island in 1664. But before these
measures could be fully completed, they were frustrated by the grant of Long
Island, with the province of New Netherland, to the Duke of York, and the sub
sequent conquest. (See Historical Essay.)
When the Dutch regained possession of the colony, August 1673, the governor,
Capt. Anthony Colve, by proclamation, required the several towns on Long Island,
to send delegates to New York, to make their submission to the states general. —
The towns settled under the Dutch authority complied, but those in the eastern
division, declined, after full consideration of the demand. Soon after, the requi
sition was repeated by officers specially sent to tbe several towns. Oyster bay
submitted. Huntington and Brookhaven proposed to sign an agreement, to be
faithful to the Dutch government, but refused the oath which would oblige them
to take arms against Great Britain. The three eastern towns rejected all compro
mise, and solicited Connecticut to resume her jurisdiction and to aid them against
the Dutch, should force be attempted. Their request was granted. The three
towns were formed into a county, a court was established, judges and other offi
cers appointed and a military force sent over.
Subsequently, Huntington and Brookhaven, on the promise of liberty of con
science, security of properly, the choice of their officers and a like share in the
government as was enjoyed by the Dutch towns, consented that their magistrates
should take the required oath, modified lo accommodate their scruples. Like terms
offered by commissioners, specially delegated to the eastern towns, were unhesi
tatingly rejected, by the inhabitants of Southold, whom they found in arms, and who
expressing the sentiments of their associates, resort to force was had. A Dutch
squadron attempted several descents upon the east end of the island, which were
Tepelled, by assistance from the Connecticut forces. In November, that colony
with her confederates declared war against the Dutch and prepared to commence
hostilities in the spring. But a petty and vexatious war was averted by the treaty
concluded in Europe, 9th Feb. 1674, between the belligerent powers.
The three eastern towns, dreading the renewal ofthe oppressions ofthe Duke's
government, of which we have elsewhere spoken, prayed of Connecticut the con
tinuance of her protection. But Sir Edmund Andress, immediately upon his ar
rival, required the refractory towns to return to his government.
No conflict in arms was had between the settlers of Long Island and the abo
rigines save that known as the " Battle of Fort Neck," which, without undue
severity, might be termed the massacre. In the war between the Dutch and Eng
lish, of 1652, apprehensions were entertained by the English settlers of a design
on the part of the Dutch to expel them from the country, by co-operation of the
Indians. The deportment of the latter corroborated these suspicions; yet it is said
they communicated tho intention of Stuyvesant to the Connecticut colony. He
denied the charge and challenged the proof; none certainly was made. But Capt.
John Underbill, who had served much of his life in the British army, had com
manded in the Pequot war, had the direction of the Dutch forces in a recent war
with the Indians on the main, and had now settled at Flushing, claimed to have
discovered a change in the disposition of the tribes on the island and to have ex
tracted from them the secret of the Dutch machinations. He excited the fears of

LONG ISLAND. 517
•the inhabitants and songht to engage the New England colonies in the war. A
proposition to this end, made to the commissioners at a special meeting at Boston,
was negatived by Massachusetts, much to the dissatisfaction of the other provin
ces. Disappointed in this effort, he turned to the colony of Rhode Island, which
had so far embarked in the war as to issue letters of marque and reprisal against
the Dutch commerce, and now resolved to grant the solicited assistance, giving
him and others a commission to assault the Dutch or other enemies of the com
monwealth of England. But the Dutch made no hostile demonstrations; yet the
military taste of tbe captain, required a bloody sacrifice, and it was deemed ne
cessary to make an example of such of the Indians as were supposed most forward
in their meditated hostilities.
The unhappy natives had offered violence to no one, and if their alleged com
munications be credited, and credited, they were, the most friendly dispositions to
ward their neighbours were apparent.; No record of this transaction has been
preserved. Tradition, however, reports, that a number of Indians supposed to be
hostile, had assembled at the fort, near Marsapeague, since called Fort Neck. —
Thither the captain •' led a party, attacked and destroyed many of them, took the
fort and kept possession of it in order to prevent the reunion of the Indians, to
watch their movements, and to guard the English settlements against their in
cursions."* The late venerable Samuel Jones, a distinguished resident of the Island, and
former comptroller of the state, gives another version of this tradition, little hon
orable to the bravery and less to the humanity of the captain arid his associates.
"The Marsapeague Indians, who lived at Fort Neck, had a meeting with the
Merrick Indians or Rockaway Indians, or both; notice of which being conveyed
to Oyster Bay, intimating that the Indians were about rising or had risen, to inas-
sacree the white people, a captain Underbill, immediately, marched with a com-
panyof armed men to Fort Neck, where they arrived about the break of day 
But not finding any appearance of hostility there, and learning that the meeting of
the Indians was to the westward, they marched that way and met the Indians on
the eastern part of Whale Neck, about four miles from Fort Neck, and immedi
ately attacked them, killing a considerable number of them; the Indians being un
armed and making no resistance. The wind being N. W.and the weather cold,
Underbill's company collected the bodies ofthe Indians and threw them in a heap
on the brow of the hill; sat down on the leeward side of the heap and ate their
breakfast and then returned home, having discovered, that there was no truth in
the story of the Indians rising."f
MADISON COUNTY, taken from Chenango 21st March, 1806; bounded N.
by the Oneida Lake separating it from Oneida and Oswego counties; N. E. by
Oneida county; E. by Otsego; S. hy Chenansro; and W. by Cortland and Onon
daga, counties: Greatest length, N. and S. 33, greatest breadth E. and W. 32,
miles; area 590 square miles; situate between 42° 44' and 43° Iff N. Lat. and 0°
57' and 1° iOf E. Lonsr.; centrally distant N. W. from New York city 250, from
Albany W. N. W. 108, miles.
Surface generally hilly, except, about 8 or 10 miles upon the N., where the
level and swampy ground, whieh borders the Oneida Lake extends. Much of,
this marsh has already been drained by a cut to the lake, and an incorporated
company are successfully prosecuting the draining ofthe remainder, converting it
into a highly productive soil. Its area exceeds 50,000 acres. The hills have,
generally, smooth outlines and easy ascents. A ridge crosses the county, cen
trally, from E. to W. through the towns of De Ruyter, Nelson, Eaton, and Madi
son, rising probably more than 1,500 feet above tide level, inasmuch as the
summit level of the Chenango canal, is 1,226 feet above tide, and 706 feet above
the Erie canal. This ridge is part of the shed, dividing the waters of the Sus
quehanna from those ofthe Mohawk river.
The whole of the county is, probably, based on slate, over a greater part of
which, however, the great central secondary lime formation spreads, covering
the northern half, excepting a strip of sand stone on the lake, and for some miles
•Wood's Sketch of the Settlement on Long Island, whence we have taken much of this
notice of tlie island.
tMem. N. Y. Historical Society.

518

TOPOGRAPHY.

further is seen alternating in Tidges with the slate. Fragments of this Tock are
found, in boulders, from the size of an egg, to masses of many tons, over the
southern portions. Fresh water limestone, containing much quartzose niatter and
fresh water shells, is found in the vicinity of the village of Chittenangq, 2 miles
S. of the Great Swamp.
Water lime is abundant, in Sullivan, and gypsum in that town and in Lenox,
where it is extensively prepared for use. The latter rises into small swells and
ridges, near the Erie canal. Argillaceous iron ore is dug and manufactured in Lenox.
The soil corresponds, generally, with the rock beneath; affected, somewhat, by
the alluvion which may blend with it. The four northern towns, Sullivan, Lenox,
Fenner, and Smithfield, have loamy soils, compounded of clay and sand, in which
calcareous gravel abounds. These are excellently adapted for, and produce vast
quantities of, wheat. In the soils ofthe southern towns, clay predominates, and
they are better adapted for, and are employed in, grass. The greater portion of
the county is subject to untimely frosts. In the middle of August, 1835, we saw
many large tracts of Indian corn, as dry and shrivelled as if the blasts of all
January had swept over them. But this was an extraordinary event. The sum
mer crops generally thrive well in the south.
With some inconsiderable exceptions, the county is abundantly watered. The
Oriskany, Oneida, Cowasalon, and Canaseraga, creeks have their sources in its

MADISON COUNTY. 519
northern declivity, whilst the Chenango, Unadilla, and Otselic, rivers, flow from
the southern. An account of most of these streams, will be more appropriately
given under other heads, and we shall confine ourselves here to the following.
The Cowasalon, rises near Siloam, in Peterboro', and flows N. N. W. through
Lenox and Sullivan, 18 miles to the Canaseraga. In its upper course, it is a use
ful mill stream; its lower is on the level of, and through the Great Swamp.
The Canaseraga, heads also in the town of Smithfield, and has a like course
with the Cowasalon, of 25 miles, crossing for 6 miles through the swamp, to the
Chittenango, in the town of Sullivan, on the N. W. line ofthe county.
The Chittenango, has its sources in Nelson and Fenner, and passes, by a very
devious and rapid course, of 35 miles N. E. into the Oneida Lake; receiving in
its way the overflowings of Linklaen Lake.
v That lake, called by the aborigines, Havjgena, sometimes by the inhabitants,
Cazenovia and Canaseraga, but generally, Linklaen, in the town of Cazenovia, is
4 miles long by 1 broad. It is a beautiful expanse, environed by a gently waving
country. There are several small pends on the dividing ridge, in Eaton and
Madison, but, they do not claim special description.
There arethree turnpike roads, the Cherry Valley; the Seneca, from Albany by
Utica to Buffalo; and the Hampton and Skaneateles, from Madison to Skaneateles,
53 miles. A company was incorporated April 17th, 1829, for making a rail road*
from Chittenango to Cazenovia; capital $200, 000; the road to be made within
ten years. It is proposed to connect it with the Erie rail road at Binghamton.
The Erie canal runs westerly through the northern towns, Lenox and Sullivan.
The county is divided into 13 towns.
Brookfielo, taken from Paris when part of Herkimer county, 5th March, 1795;
W. from- Albany 90 miles; surface hilly, ridges, running N. and S.; soil calcareous
loam, generally, on secondary lime, with some clay slate in the S. The Unadilla
river forms the eastern boundary, dividing the town from Plainficld and Edmes-
ton, of Otsego county, and receiving from it, Beaver creek and other small
streams; Clarksville and Leonardsville are post villages, and West, North, and
South, Brookfield, post offices. Clarksville, centrally situate, on Beaver creek,
incorporated May 5th, 1834, contains 2 stores, 1 tavern, 1 grist, 1 saw,,mills, 1
furnace, and about 50 dwellings. Leonardsville, on the Unadilla river, 22 miles
from Morristown, has a store, tavern, and some 20 dwellings.
Cazenovia, taken from Whitestown and Paris when part of Herkimer county,
5th March, 1795; W. from Albany 113, from Morrisville 11, miles; surface high
and undulating; soil rich gravelly loam, on limestone, suitable for grain and grass;
drained by the Chittenango and Limestone creeks, and containing Linklaen lake.
When erected, this town comprised an area nearly equal to that ofthe county. It
was first settled in May, 1793, by Col. John Linklaen, from Amsterdam, agent for
a company in Holland, who were owners of large tracts in this and the adjacent
towns. Cazenovia and New Woodstock are post villages. Cazenovia village,
founded by Col. Linklaen, about 1795, incorporated in 1810, 8 miles S. of the
Erie canal, 40 W. from Utica, with the relative distances above given, upon the
margin of the lake, and its outlet, and upon Chittenango creek, is beautifully
situated, and contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Congregational, 1 Baptist, and 1 Metho
dist, churches, 2 grist and 1 saw, mills, 2 woollen factories, 1 paper mill, oil mill,
a manufactory of wire harness, for weavers' looms, 3 hotels, 10 dry goods, 2 ex
tensive drug, and 1 book, stores, a book printing office, and bindery; ashery, a
large tannery, and 6 groceries; a seminary, established by the Methodist Oneida
Conference, about 1825, with large and convenient brick buildings, accommodat
ing 125 boarders, and having, fn 1835, 268 students, male and female; the
studies are divided into six departments, forming a systematic and regular course,
from the branches usually taught in common schools to those pursued in colleges.
Students may takejhe whole or any part ofthe course; a high school, a seminary
for young ladies; 1 bank, capital $100,000, incorporated March 14th, 1831; a
land office, of the Holland Land Company, a printing office, issuing a weekly
newspaper, and about 240 dwellings, many of which are remarkably neat, some
of three stories above the basement, some of the stores of brick, on limestone
columns, and some built altogether, of dressed limestone. This village was the
seat of justice of the county, previously to its location at the present more central
site at Morristown., Lands around the village are valued at from 40 to 50 dollars

520 TOPOGRAPHY.
the acre. New Woodstock, in the S. part ofthe town, 15 miles from Morristown,
in a fine rolling country, has 1 Baptist and 1 Methodist, chtirches; an academy,
incorporated May 2d, 1834, capital stock, $2,500; 1 tavern, 1 grist and 2 saw,
mills, carding and clothing works, 1 store, 1 tannery, and 30 dwellings.
Four mdes N. of the village of Cazenovia, at the falls of the Chittenango creek,
are extensive limestone quarries, yielding stone of any desired size; whence much
is taken for the buildings in the village. The falls here of 140 feet, give a valu
able water power.
De RuyTER, taken from Cazenovia 15th March, 1798; W. from Albany 123
miles; surface hilly; soil- clay and sandy loam, underlaid chiefly by clay slate,
with some limestone; drained S. W. by the E. branch of Tioughnioga river, upon
which in the S. W. part of the town, is De Ruyter village, 17 miles S. W. from
Morrisville, incorporated 15th April, 1833, containing 1 Presbyterian and 2 Bap
tist, churches, 1 grist, 1 saw, and 1 carding and cloth dressing, mills, 2 taverns,
5 stores, 4 lawyers, and 5 physicians, 1 printing office, publishing a weekly paper,
and about 75 dwellings. A literary seminary is about to be established here, by
the 7th day Baptists; toward which, $11,000 were subscribed, in 1835. Near
the village, is a sulphur spring in much repute. Lands in this town, on the flats,
are valued at from 25 to 35 dollars, on the hills, at from 10 to 15 dollars, the acre.
Eaton, taken from Hamilton 6th February, 1807, named in honour of General
William Eaton; centrally distant from Albany W. N. W. 100 miles; surface
rolling; soil clay and gravelly loam, very fertile, especially in grass; drained S.
E. by the Otselic creek and its branches. Morrisville, Eaton, and Pratt's Hol
low, are post villages. Morrisville, on Morris' Flats, on the three great western
turnpikes, 102 miles from Albany, 15 S. of the Erie canal, at Canastota, founded
in 1803, by Thomas Morrris, the proprietor of the lands here, incorporated 24th
April, 1833; inhabited principally by emigrants from Connecticut, and their des
cendants, contains 1 Baptist, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Methodist, churches; an
academy, a printing office, issuing a weekly paper; a court house, and clerk's
office, of stone; prison, of wood; 1 grist, 1 saw, and 1 carding and cloth dressing,
mills; 1 furnace two tanneries, 1 ashery, 5 taverns, an extensive comb factory, 5
stores, and 120 dwellings. Eaton village, sometimes called Log city, 4 miles S.
E. from Morrisville, 3 W. from the Chenango canal, 13 S. from the Erie
canal, upon the stage road to Utica, founded in 1790, by Mr. Joseph Morse, con
tains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Baptist churches, a. high school, 1 grist and 3 saw,
mills, 2 woollen factories, employed on cassimers and cloths; 1 furnace, 1 tannery,
1 cotton mill, 1 scythe factory, 3 hotels, 4 general stores, 1 grocery, and about
100 dwellings, many of which are remarkably neat. Pratt's Hollow, 3J miles N.
of Morrisville, has a cotton and woollen factory, a distillery, brewery, 1 tavern, 1
store, and about 50 dwellings. Improved lands in this town, rate from 20 to 30
dollars the acre.
Fenneb, taken from Cazenovia and Smithfield 22d April, 1823; W. from Al
bany 115 miles; surface undulating; soil clay and gravelly loam, chiefly on lime
stone of excellent quality; drained N. by Chittenango and Canaseraga, creeks.
Perrysville and Fenner, are post villages. The former, 15 miles N. W. from
Morrisville, on the line between this and Sullivan, has 1 Episcopal church, 1
grist mill, 1 store, 1 tavern, extensive tannery, and 40 dwellings. The latter,
centrally situate, has a tavern, store, and 20 dwellings, and near it a Baptist
church. Georoetown, taken from De Ruyter, 7th April, 1815; W. from Albany 106,
and from Morrisville S. W. 12, miles; surface hilly; soil clay loam, underlaid
chiefly with slate, highly productive in grass; drained S. by the Otselic creek.
Georgetown, post village, centrally situate on the creek, has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Bap
tist, churches, 1 grist and 1 saw, mills, 1 store, 1 tavern, and 15 dwellings.
Hamilton, originally taken from Paris, when part of Herkimer county, in
1801; W. from Albany 96 miles; surface hilly; soil argillaceous and calcareous
loam, of superior quality; drained S. by the Chenango river and its branches.
Hamilton and Poolville, are post villages. Hamilton, incorporated village, 8 miles
S. W. from Morrisville, in the N. W. angle of the town, upon the Chenango ca
nal and main branch of the Chenango river, contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist,
and 1 Methodist, churches; the Theological Institute, hereinafter described, and
an academy in high repute; 1 grist, 1 saw, mills, 3 taverns, 10 dry goods stores, 4

MADISON COUNTY. 521
groceries, 1 drug, 1 book, stores, 1 printing office, issuing a weekly paper, and 95
dwellings. Poolville, 12 miles from Morrisville, has 1 store, 2 taverns, 1 grist,
1 saw, mills, a woollen factory, and 30 dwellings. Colchester, 12 miles S. E.
from Morrisville, near the centre of the town, has 1 grist, and 1 saw, mills,, 3
stores, 1 tavern, and 15 dwellings. Hamilton Centre has 1 Presbyterian and 1
Universalist, churches, a tavern, and 10 dwellings. _
The Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution, (Baptist,) founded June,
1819, commenced operations ia 1820. The principal building, erected in 1827, of
stone, is 100 by 60 feet, four stories, containing 34 rooms for study,. 34 chambers,
reading and lecture rooms, library, and chapel. There are another large edifice
for the same use, a boarding house, a joiner's shop, and a farm of 130 acres, be
longing to the institution. The regular course of studies is 6 years; 4 in the col
legiate and 2 in the theological department. The usual preparation is necessary
for the collegiate course. An English course embraces only 4 years. Library,
1600 volumes; students, in 1835, 180. For board, washing, and lodging, students
are charged $1 per week; for tuition, $16 the year. There are professorships of
Systematic Theology, Sacred Rhetoric, Biblical Theology, Hebrew and Biblical
Criticism, Intellectual and Moral Philosophy, Latin and Greek Languages, Ma
thematics, and Moral Philosophy; and a principal of the preparatory department.
It is the largest Baptist Theological institution in the world.
Lebanon, taken from Hamilton. 6th Feb. 1807; centrally distant W. from Al
bany 110, from Morrisville S. 9, miles; surface hilly; with extensive intervals
along the Chenango river; soil clay loam, on slate; drained S. by the Chenango ri
ver and its branches. Lebanon Centre, Lebanon, and Smith's Valley, are villages.
The first contains a post office, 1 Baptist, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Universalisi,
churches, a tavern, store, and a dozen dwellings; tbe second has a store, saw mill,
and 10 dwellings, and post office; and (he third, a tavern and like number of
dwellings. Lenox, taken from Sullivan, 3d March, 1809; W. from Albany 118 miles; sur
face generally undulating on the south, and level on the north; resting, in the
south, on slate and lime, and consisting, on the, north, of alluvion; drained by the
Oneida and Cowasalon creeks. The whole town is well adapted to wheat, and
highly productive. Clockville, Lenox, Wampsville, Canastola, and Ridgeville,
are post villages, and there is a post office at Ben-net's Corners. Clockville, 10
miles N. W. from Morrisville, contains 1 Baptist, 1 Episcopal, churches, 1 grist
and saw mill, 2 stores, 2 taverns, and from 60 to 70 dwellings. Lenox, or Qua
lity Hill, 12 miles from Morrisville, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 store, 2 taverns,
and 30 dwellings. Wampsville, 13 miles from Morrisville, has 1 Presbyterian
church, 2 hotels, 4 stores, and from 30 to 40 dwellings. Canastota, 14 miles from
Morrisville, on the Erie canal, 36 miles from Utica, and 124 from Rochester, in
corporated 28th April, 1835, has 1 Methodist, I Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, and 1
Baptist, churches, 4 taverns, 4 stores, many groceries, several forwarding ware
houses,! high school, and about 120 dwellings; a place of much business. Ridge
ville is a post office, in a newly settled part of the county, around which are a few
dwellings. The great swamp bordering the south margin of the Oneida lake,
extends about fourmiles westwardly into the town.
Bog iron ore abounds two miles from Clockville, from which castings are ex
tensively made at a furnace near the bed. There is a salt spring near the
centre of the town, and a few rods from the Erie canal. The brine'is said to be
sufficiently strongfor the profitable manufacture of salt.
Madison, taken from Hamilton, 6th Feb. 1807; W. from Albany 94 miles; soil
clay and gravelly loam; drained centrally by Chenango creek, and crossed S. W.
and S. by the Chenango canal, the summit of which is in the town; N. by the
Oriskany creek, which rises here. Madison and Bouekville are post villages;
Madison Centre is a small village, at which there is no office. Madison, village,
contains 1 Universalist and 1 Baptist, churches, 2 taverns, 3 stores,, and 40 dwel
lings. Bouekville, or Johnsville, 6 miles E. from Morrisville, has 2 taverns, 1
store, and 20 dwellings, upon the Chenango canal.
Nelson, taken from Cazenovia, 13th March, 1807; W. from Albany 109 miles;
surface high, and gently undulating; soil clay and calcareous loam; drained by
Chittenango creekN, W., and branches of the Chenango river on the S. E. Nel
son Flats and Erieville are post villages. Nelson Flats, 7 miles W. from Morris-
66

522 , TOPOGRAPHY.
ville, upon the Chittenango creek, contains 1 Universalist and I Methodist,
churches, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and 6 dwellings. Erieville, 9 miles S. W.from Mor
risville, has 1 Baptist church, 1 grist mill, 3 sawmills, 2 carding and cloth dress
ing mills, 2 tanneries, 1 ashery, and 40 dwellings. Improved lands in the town
range from 12 to 25 dollars the acre.
Smithfield, taken from Cazenovia, 13th March, 1807; from, Albany W. N. W.
108 miles; surface hilly, underlaid with slate and lime, highly fertile'; drained by
Oneida and Canaseraga creeks. Peterboro, Siloam, or Ellingwood's Hollow,
and Stockbridge, or Mann's Hollow, are post villages. Peterboro contains I
Baptist and 1 Presbyterian, churches, a school for the education of blacks, 2 ta
verns, 3 stores, 1 grist and saw mill, carding and cloth dressing mill, and about 70
dwellings. Siloams 6 miles from Morrisville, has a grist mill, 1 tavern, 1 store,
and about 40 dwellings. Stockbridge. 8 miles from Morrisville, has 1 Presbyterian,
1 Methodist, churches, an academy, 2 grist mills, several sJw mills, 2 taverns, 4
stores, a large scythe and axe factory, and, within a mile, 75 dwellings, compris
ing what are called Mannsville and Knoxville. The principal part of this tract
was leased of the Oneida Indians by Peter Smith, in 1794, and purchased by the
state in 1795. The town comprises the larger part of the New Petersburg tract,
and a portion of the Oneida reservation, and New Stockbridge tract.
Sullivan, taken from Cazenovia, 22d Feb. 1803; W. from Albany 129, from Mor
risville N. E. 16, miles; surface undulating on the south, and level on the north;
soil and product like those of Lenox; drained N. by Chittenango an,d Canaseraga
creeks. Chittenango, Perrysville, described under. Fenner, Canaseraga, and
Bridgeport, are post villages. Lime, gypsum, and iron, abound. The Great
Swamp extends centrally across the town.
Chittenango, village, on the Chittenango creek, at the junction of the north and
south Seneca turnpike roads, and extending north along the banks of that stream
and a branch canal, (a private work, with four locks,) to the Erie canal, at which
point there is a tavern, several dwelling houses, a large and convenient basin and
dry dock, with an extensive boat building concern. In the village are a Woollen
factory, (of stone,) in- which about 100,000 pounds of wool are now annually ma
nufactured into broadcloth and kerseymeres; flouring, gypsum, water lime, and
saw, mills, furnace, trip hammer, &c; about 150 dwelling houses, 1 Reformed
Dutch, (a large stone edifice,) 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist Episcopal, churches,
an academy, under the patronage of, and belonging to, the Dutch church, 3 ta
verns, beside the one at the basiti, a number of retail stores and forwarding ware
houses — this being the most convenient point of deposit for much ofthe business
of the country lying south of it. The valley of the Chittenango, between this
place and Cazenovia lake, of which the stream is the outlet, possesses as conve
nient and uniform a water power, as any in the slate. The descent is somewhat
more than 740 feet, with, one perpendicular fall in it of 134 feet. Every part of
this stream, to Cazenovia, a distance of 8J miles, may be conveniently used for
hydraulic purposes.
In this valley, ahout a mile above the village, are two mineral springs; one
mostly sulphur; the other has a large portion of magnesia; both have been found
very efficient in many diseases. The natural slope of the hills, and the easy ac
cess it affords to the canal, has caused the. termination of many roads from the
country here. A hill on the E. is formed on calciferous slate, on the W. and S. W.
sides of which are several small springs, whose waters are so charged with carbo
nate of lime as to convert most vegetable substances with which they come into
contact into petrifactions. Here may be seen trunks of trees, branches, twigs,
leaves, moss, in the various stages of conversion, and in great abundance; and the
laboratory is in constant activity.
Canaseraga contains the post office called after the town; a Methodist church, 2
taverns, 2 stores, and between 30 and 40 dwellings. Bridgeport, 20 miles from
Morrisville, has within two years, from 1834, grown from a hamlet to a thriving
village of 50 dwellings. There is a post office at Joslin corners.

MADISON COUNTY.

523

ecj
a
oa ap.
. . Females. 1
Births.
Deaths.
TOWNS.
c 2 ol
cues
JO —
IS c; 11
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01 V
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tioi
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1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
£
o
>866
<
467
52 330
= 3
3 7=
825
18
eel
s 63
70
00 17
4240
4284
4367
3950
457
18
3909
38110
4344
4647
503
1018
70
537
471
944
30
71
78
36
26
De Euyler,
1214
1419
1447
1562
159
328
9
185
153
233
12
36
22
4
S
3021
3215
3558
3758
298
791
179
446
397
718
23
72
55
17
20
1933
2017
1972
159
40U
9
251
162
430
14
48
21
- 17
8
Georgetown,
824
1044
1094
1177
88
229
3
145
77
270
!l
25
22
5
3
2681
2931
32-iO
4022
646
1007
195
493
442
697
38
67
62
26
21
1940
2059
2249
2337
1911
469
254
162
2211
38i
16
22
24
5
12
3360
4326
5039
5314
.487
1140
69
600: 42E
1184
102
104
110
4(i
46
2420
2488
2544
3655
1H3
571)
699
494 280
('41
16
59
53
14
16
2329
2404
2445
2231
165
¦4!KI
1
263' 2 IS
47B
fl
41
39
17
14
Smithneld,
3338
2553
2636
2750
218
570
17
33.1 230
596
26
69
62
24
21
Sullivan,
2932
3130
4077
4366
467
866
148
575, 338
977
32
97
103
24
34
32208
35G46
39037
41741
4018
8757
1653 50413741
8373
344
774
721
252
-244
Note. Males, 21,572; Females, 20,169; Blacks, 252; Black voters, 3: Deaf and Dumb, 15; Blind, 14;
Idiots, 15; Lunatics, 14. ,
TOWNS.
CO
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Cottons, linens,&c. County tax.
si
Brookfield,
45770
29061 398329
38482
6740
1323
19698
4041
7590
12839
24345 961 02 528 15
Cazenovia,
2884;
20522 502032
234546
4056
1199
1743&
3545
4842
7787
7524 1653 08 .730 87
De Ruyter,
18921
8897 169839
8750
2254
449
9563
1140
-2433
4196
4049 390 57 222 60
Eaton,
25912
16136 338262
20750
4002
953
18125
1702
4334
5344
5452 786 69 445 54
Fenner,
17835
121(09 232822
8480
2263
671
6932
2054
3595
4676
5081 r 528 43
558 80
Georgetown, Hamilton,
2408S
5979 131026
6610
I48U
305
6582
592
1944
29(11
2751, 301 75
53691 919 02
185 89
23734
16765 335649
7841J.
3132
958
8748
21 35
4118
4968
652 65
Lebanon,
27184
18499. 288329
21255
2785
773
25460
1496
3308
4152
4221
679 96
333 98
Lenox,
50557
25138 659984
81642
5023
797
12654
4456
7108
8089
7426
1634 77
1005 26
Madison,
23253
16028 316198
39370
2825
971
17772
1982
2579
5237
2678
783 82
563 98
Nelson,
27051
17681 26484E
13775
3302
709
20574
1846
3417
5047
5766
610 93
552 23
Sullivan,
43618
198561 496226
26020
36111
1327
7775
3128; 4324
4718
3913
1149 52
937 87
Bmithfleld,
20539
145101 256949
23650
3016
852
8582
2563, 3867
5345
4307
619 13
696 91
377309
22314714324930
601745
44488
11287
179903
30680 '53459
75299 82682
11018 69
7414 83
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Cazenovia,
5
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1
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1
I
21
673
736
1166
De Ruyter,
2
10
1
2
2
is
i
3
3
10
165
235
536
Eaton,
4
16
3
3
2
2 *
2
5
16
434
769
1145
Fenner,
1
12
2
1
1
2
12
315
482
725
Georgetown, Hamilton,
1
7
2
1
1
8
168
119
443
4
8
1
«l
1
2
16
394
833
1069
Lebanon,
2
15
3
a
1
1
1
14
328
475
849
Lenox,
3
14
3
3
1
1
3
3
26
499
1154
1654
Madison,
3
9
1
1
1
2
1
3
19
438
531
816
Nelson,
2
10
3
9
1
3
15
370
452
858
Smithfield,
5
15
1
2
1
2
*
2
16
478
439
864
Sullivan,
2
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5364
7485
12688
Value of product.
Nu
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16 years af
ago, 11,389
Value of material,
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1
524

TOPOGRAPHY.

MONROE COUNTY, taken from Ontario and Genesee, 23d February, 1821;
bounded N. by Lake Ontario, upon which it extends, 21 miles W. and 14, E. of
the Genesee river; E. by Wayne, and Ontario; S. by Ontario and Livingston; and
W. by Genesee and Orleans, counties: Greatest length E. and W. 34, greatest
breadth N. and S. 24, miles; area 614 square miles; situate between 42° 56' and
43° 25' N. Lat. and 0° 29' and 1° 07' W. Long.; centrally distant from N. York,
by the way of Albany, N. W. 365, and from Albany 219, miles.
In general character, the surfa 'e corresponds with that of Orleans and Niagara
counties; (see those lilies) having a like rising plain from tbe lake, southwardly,
and being crossed by the " mountain, ridge," distant about 8 miles from the lake,
and preserving here, in a remarkable, manner, an outline corresponding with that
of the lake. The three steppes are distinctly marked, by the falls in the Genesee
river, though not so perceptible upon its banks, the descent from the one to anoth
er, being gradual. The terrace, at Rochester, upon whose level the Erie canal is
sustained from Lockport, is 270 feet above Lake Ontario, and 64 below the upper
terrace, which is level with Lake Erie. „
lri a distant and general view, these Inequalities are not visible; the whole coun
try has the appearance of a plain, broken, only by a narrow ridge/of gravelly
consistence, rising in the town of Brighton and running in a northerly and eastern
direction, like an irregular wave, with several pointed summits; and by another
ridge, in the town of Perrinton coming in from Ontario county, which is suppos
ed, erroneously, as we think, to be the termination of a continued line from the
Laurel Hill of Pennsylvania. A closer inspection, however, shows considerable
diversity of surface. ^
The shore of the lake is indented with numerous bays and inlets, of which

MONROE COUNTY. 525
Irondequoit bay, E, and Braddock's bay, W. of the river, are greatest. On the
border of the former, and of the creek of the same name, which flows into it, are
numerous conical mounds of sand and light earth, sometimes isolated, at Others,
united, rising to an average height of 200 feet, from a level meadow of rich allu
vial loam.
The rest of the county is diversified with gentle undulations, retaining the rem
nants of their dense forests of beech, maple, and oak, on, a deep yellow loam
covered from 6 to 10 inches with black vegetable earth, with some light and san
dy plains, supporting alternately the oak and pine; with portions of land, called,
'" Oak openings," clothed sparsely with oak woods, on solid calcareous gravel
and. sometimes light sand mixed with clay; with occasional patches of black ash
swale, and pine swamp, and along the river and creeks, with winding flats of the
richest vegetable composition.
The general geological character, is also similar to that of the northern portion
of the great western plain, of which it forms part. The deep ravine cut by the
Genesee river at Rochester, displays the order of the strata in a very satisfactory
manner. The saliferous sandrock is the lowest, forming the basis rock of the
whole plain, N. of the ridge steep; upon it, are seen 1, gray band; 2, ferriferous
slate; 3, ferriferous sand rock; 4, calciferous iron ore; 5, calciferous slate, nearly
100 feet thick; 6, geodiferous lime rock or swinestone, about 30 feet thick. The
out croppings of this stratum form the mountain ridge. In the vicinity of Roches
ter, and bed of the river above the falls, its colour approaches to slate, and has a
peculiar fetid odour; the 7th, carniferbus limestone, overlays the latter, in the S.
part of the county; and is itself overlaid further S. by bituminous shale.
In tbe two last mentioned lime formations, sulphate of zinc, barytes, and stron-
lian, with the sulphate of lime, in the variety of snowy gypsum, as also fluate of
lime have been found. There are inexhaustible masses of gypsum in the towns of
Wheatland, Chili and Pittsford. The only metallic ore yet discovered in quanti
ty, is that of iron; in the broad belt of. rich argillaceous oxide passing through
I'enh'eld and the other northern towns.
The soil is highly productive. The deluviou of the secondary limestone, hav
ing perpetual fertility and producing superior wheat; perhaps, also, the moisture
of the climate, from its vicinity to the lakes, contributes to this effect. It is said
that, a chemical analysis of Genesee wheat, developes more saccharine than that
of the southern states; whilst the latter combines with a larger portion of water,
in the composition of bread. This may explain why southern flour is more ac
ceptable to the baker, and Genesee to the consumer. It is common for extensive
farmers to sow from 50 to 200 acres with wheat, and to reap an average crop of
20. bushels to the acre. The product is sometimes 30, 40 and even 50 bushels the
acre. The great stream of the county is the Genesee river. We have described it
generally at page 28, and shall speak more particularly of the portion of it within
the county, when treating of the city of Rochester. Its tributaries from this
county, are the Honeoye, from the E. and Black and Allen's creeks from the W.
The Honeoye creek, is the outlet of Honeoye lake, of Ontario county. Its
course is about 14 miles, N. W. to the town of Mendon, of this county, and thence
9 miles, W. through Mendon and Rush, lo its recipient. Four miles from its
source, it receives the outlet of Hemlock lake.
We have sufficiently described Allen's and Black creeks, under "Genesee
county." Besides these streams, Sandy, Salmon, Little Salmon, Rush and Irondequoit,
creeks, pour their tributes directly into the lake. For a description of Sandy
creek, we refer to " Orleans county."
Salmon and Little Salmon creeks, have their sources and courses wholly within
the county. The one 15, the other 10, miles in length and both emptying into
Braddock's bay, 5 miles long by 4 wide; having from 6 to 7 feet water. Long
Pond, a bay of similar dimensions receives Rush creek, Duck pond and some
streamlets. Irondequoit creek, rises in the town of Bloomfield, Ontario, and runs northerly,
through Perrinton and Penfield, of this county, to Irondequoit bay, being in
length about 20 miles. The Indian name of the bay was Teoronto; given with
that expressiveness which marks primitive and not very copious tongues; meaning

526 TOPOGRAPHY.
the place, where " the waves gasp and expire." It has been called Gerundegut, a
vulgar corruption of Irondequoit. It is 6 miles long and 1 wide, communicating
with the lake by a very narrow opening and has a depth of water of about 8 feet.
The long level of the Erie canal, is sustained through the county, two and a
half miles W. of the Genesee river, where it sinks thirty seven and a half feet to
the Pittsford level, eight and a half miles long: At Pittsford it falls, by a single
lock, eight feet, to the Irondequoit level, which is fifteen miles long, continuing
beyond the E. line of the county, crossing the Irondequoit creek by an embank
ment, the greatest work of the kind upon the canal, whose length is 1650 yards,
and height from 40 to 76 feet; partly natural, partly artificial; extending in a wind
ing direction across the valley.
There are weak sulphur springs in the towns of Rochester, Mendon, Gates and
Pittsford; at all of which are bathing houses and establishments for the enter
tainment of company. That at Pittsford is far the strongest. A salt spring, in
.Penfield, within a mile of Lake Ontario, was worked some years since; but prov
ing unprofitable, has been abandoned.
The towns of Parma, Ogden, Riga, Chili, Gates, and Greece, E. of the Trian
gle, belonged to the great tract, of Phelps and Gorham, together with that portion
of the county E. of Genesee river. Clarkson and Sweden, part of the Triangle,
and Wheatland were of the tract, purchased by Robert Morris, from the state of
Massachusetts. Phelps and Gorham sold out Greece and Gates in fractional
parts, to settlers, and Parma, Ogden, Riga and Chili, in mass, to Morris. The
lands on the E. side of the river, were sold by them, in parcels, consisting of
whole, and parts of townships.
A company was authorised in 1830, to make a rail road from the Erie canal, to
the Hemlock and Honeoye lakes, in Ontario county.
The county was' settled, chiefly, by emigrants from New England, with a few
from Pennsylvania and the lower parts of New York. It contains one city and
17 towns.
Brighton, taken from Smallwood and Penfield, 25th March, 1814; N. W. from
Albany 216, from Rochester, E. 3, miles; surface gently undulating; soil on the
N. sandy and gravelly loam, and on the S. clay loam. Teoronto bay, on the'N. is
much resorted to for fishing and fowling. Blossomsville, centrally situate, on the
canal, has a post office called after the town, a plaster mill, 1 Presbyterian church,
a store and tavern, arid 12 or 15 dwellings.
Chili, taken from Riga, 22d Feb. 1802; N. W. from Albany 230, from Roches
ter S. W. 11, miles; drained by Black creek; S. of the creek are several notable
gravelly knolls, of which Dumplin Hill, near the Genesee river, is the most dis
tinguished; soil fertile clay loam. Chili, North Chili, South Chili, and O'Connels-
ville, are post offices, around which are small hamlets.
, Clarkson, taken from Murray, April 2d, 1819; N. W. from Albany 238 miles;
surface level; soil sandy and gravelly loam; drained by Sandy and Little Salmon
creeks; half of the town is cleared and seated. Clarkson, pqst village, on the
Ridge road, 18 miles from Rochester, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Baptist, churches;
2 taverns, 1 store, and 30 dwellings.
Gates, organised 30th March, 1802, by the name of Northampton, changed,
June 10th, 1812, limits, since much altered; N. W. from Albany 225, from Ro
chester, W. 6, miles; surface gently undulating; soil calcareous loam, indifferent
ly watered. The town meetings are held at a tavern near the centre of the town.
The post office has the name of the town.
Greece, taken from Gates, 22d March, 1802; N. W. from Albany 225 miles;
surface gently undulating; soil chiefly sandy, gravelly, with some clay, loam.
Greece, Port Genesee, and Hanford's Landing, are post villages. Greece, on the
ridge road, near the W. line, 9 miles N. W. from Rochester, has 1 Presbyterian
church, 1 tavern, 1 store, and some 10 or 12 dwellings. Port Genesee, formerly
called Charlotte, which name is still borne by the post office, at the mouth of the
river, 5 miles from the landing, and 7 from the centre ofthe city, has acustom house,
a pier over half a mile in length, for the protection of the harbour, with a light
house, built by the United States; 1 tavern, 2 large warehouses, 1 retail store, and
about 20 dwellings, surrounded by a fertile wheat country. Within the bar, the
port has 30 feet water. Hanford's Landing, 3 miles N. of Rochester, has a post
office, 1 tavern, and a few dwellings. This, formerly a place of considerable bu-

MONROE COUNTY. 527
siness, was the first landing on the river for lake navigation, and here was built
the first dwelling, (1798,) and in 1810, the first' store, on the river, below Avon,
on the west side ofthe Genesee river. There is a post office called North Greece.
Henrietta, taken from Pittsford, when part of Ontario county, 27th March,
1818; N. W. from Albany 228 miles; it is poorly supplied with streams, yet has
aa excellent soil; watered niainly by the Genesee river; the surface of this town is
more wavino- than other parts of the county. Henrietta Corners, post village, "8
miles S. from Rochester, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Baptist, churches, a high
school, a good tavern, 1 store, and abont 15 dwellings. West Henrietta is a post
office only, also 8 miles from Rochester.
Mendon, taken from Bloomfield, 26th May, 1812; N. W. from Albany 209
miles; surface undulating; soil argillaceous and calcareous loam; drained by the
Honeoye. creek. Mendon, North Mendon, and West Mendon, are post villages.
At Mendon, near the eastern line, are 1 Baptist and 1 Presbyterian, churches, 2
stores, 2 taverns, a stage house, half way between Rochester and Canandaigua, 14
miles from each, and 25 dwellings. This village, with an area of 1 mile square,
was incorporated 12th April, 1833. North Mendon is a small hamlet. ' West Men
don, nearly equidistant from Rochester, Geneseo, and Canandaigua, and 10 miles
S. of he Erie canal, on the Honeoye creek, which has here 60 feet fall, 16 of which
are perpendicular, over flint and lime rock, contains 2 large stone flouring mills,
one with 6, and the other with 4, runs of stones, 1 saw, and 1 stave, mills, turning
and machine shop, 1 woollen factory, 1 furnace, an extensive axe and tool factory,
of stone, with 3 trip hammers, and about 120 dwellings, and by the late census
721 inhabitants; Quarries of good stone render building cheap here. It is pro
posed to connect the village with the canal by a rail road.
Ogden, taken from Parma, 27th Jan. 1817: N. W. from Albany 230 miles. At
Ogden, post office, 2 miles S. from the canal, 10 W. pf Rochestsr, are 1 Presbyte
rian and 1 Baptist, churches, 1 store, 1 tavern, and a few dwellings. At Adams
and Spencer's Basins, respectively, are small collections of dwellings, and at the
former a post office.
Parma, organised as part of Genesee county, 8th April, 1808, and taken from
Northampton the original name of Gates; N. W.from Albany 230 miles; sur
face, except the mountain ridge on the south, level; soil sandy and gravelly loam;
abundantly watered by several small streams flowing to Lake Ontario. Parma,
village, on the ridge road, 13 miles from Rochester, has a Universalist church, 2
taverns, 4 stores, and from 25 to 30 dwellings. Parma Centre, 15 miles from Ro
chester, has a Presbyterian church, a school house, and 5 or 6 dwellings.
Penfield, taken from Boyle, 30th March, 1810; N. W. from Albany 211 miles;
surface undulating; the N. sand and gravelly loam, blended on the S. with clay;
drained on the S. W. by Irondequoit creek, and by some small streams running
to the lake. Penfield, village, on Irondequoit creek, has a post office, 1 Presbyte
rian, 1 Episcopalian, and 1 Baptist, churches, a high school, 3 flouring, 2 saw, Toil,
2 carding and cloth dressing, mills, 2 taverns, 4 stores, and 35 dwellings — 8 miles
S. E. of Rochester. In passing through the village the creek has a descent of 90
feet, forming tho high falls ofthe Irondequoit, affording a valuable water power, a
small portion of which only is occupied. North Penfield, on the ridge road, 14
miles N. E. from Rochester, has also a post office, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and
1 Methodist, churches, 1 tavern, 1 store, and 10 or 12 dwellings. West Penfield
is a post office.
Perrinton, taken from Boyle, 26th May, 1812; N. W. from Albany 209 miles;
surface somewhat hilly, the high ridge from Ontario county terminating here, and
causing a remarkable deflection on the line of the canal; drained N. W. by the
Irondequoit creek. Bushnell's,Fullom's and Fairport, are basins and settlements,
on the canal. At the first, 11 miles S. E. from Rochester,- are a post office, 1
Presbyterian church, 1 store, 1 tavern, and 10 dwellings. At Fullom's, at the ex
tremity ofthe ridge, there are a warehouse and tavern. At Fairport, 12 miles from
Rochester, are a warehouse, store, and tavern, and several dwellings. From Ful
lom's Basin to Rochester, by the canal, is 16 miles; by land, 11 only. Travellers
who have seen the great embankment over Irondequoit creek, frequently take the
Stage here; but those who have not passed over this great work should keep the
canal route. There is a post office having the name of the town.
Pittsford, taken from Smallwood, 25th March, 1814; N. W. from Albany 215

528

TOPOGRAPHY.

miles; surface gently undulating; soil calcareous and argillaceous loam; drained
N. by branches ofthe Irondequoit creek. This town and Perrinton have large oak
openings. Pittsford, the post village, incorporated April 7th, 1827, a thriving
place on the canal, 6 miles S. E. from Rochester, has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist,
and 1 Methodist, churches, a saw mill on the canal lock, 2 taverns, 4 stores, 3
warehouses, an extensive tannery, and about 100 dwellings. A company was au-
tKorised, in 1836, to make a rail road hence to Genesee river.
Riga, taken from Northampton, 8th April, 1808; N. W. from Albany 230
miles; drained centrally and easterly by Black creek. Riga, post office, has
around it a Presbyterian church, a store and tavern, and some 4 or 5 dwellings.
Churchville, on Black creek, 15 miles S. W. from Rochester, has a post office, a
church, 1 grist, 1 saw, and 1 clover, mills, an ashery, 2 taverns, 2 stores, and about
a dozen dwellings.

The city of Rochester lies on both sides of the Genesee river, 7 miles S. of
Lake Ontario, 2| from the ridge road, 211 W. from Albany, 141 from Utica, 73
E. from Buffalo, 87 from Niagara Falls, '28 N. W. from Canandaigua, 35
N. E. from Batavia; Lat. N. 43°, Long. W. 40'; founded in 1812 by Nathaniel
Rochester, William Fitzhugh, and Charles Carroll, of Maryland, and named after
the first; incorporated as a village, by name of Rochesterville, 21st March, 1817,
and as a city 28th April, 1834; including an area of 4324 acres; divided into five
wards. It contains 4 Presbyterian, 2 Baptist, 2 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, 1 Roman
Catholic, 1 Reformed Presbyterian, 1 African Baptist, and 2 Quaker, churches —

MONROE COUNTY. 529
of which the first Presbyterian and the Episcopal are sppcially worthy of hate foir
their architecture; a Bible Society, and many religious, moral, scientific, and cha
ritable associations; the county court house and the prison, of stone; a fine building
called the Arcade, 100 feet front, 135 deep, 6 stories high, containing the post of*
fice, Athenaeum, a hotel, and a variety of offices; many hotels, of which the Ro
chester, Clinton, Eagle, Mansion, Arcade, and Monroe, houses, are chief; the
Bank of Rochester, incorporated 19lh Feb. 1824, capital $>250,000; the Monroe
Bank, incorporated 22d April, 1829, capital $300,03)0; the Rochester City Bank,
incorporated 1836, capital $400,000; a Savings Batik; 7 panting offices, from 6 of
which are issued newspapers, 2 of them daily; 3 book stores and binderies; nu
merous stores, and all the handicrafts, which a large and enterprising population
require, but of which our space does not admit an enumeration.
The business portion of the city is compactly built, and contains many fine
houses and stores, 4 stories high, no way inferior to those of the Atlantic cities;
whilst in the remote parts are neat villas, surrounded 'by gardens and shrubbery,
making the rus in urbe. The whole number of buildings exceeds 220Q. The
streets are wid_e, well drained, andinany of them well paved. The east and west
portions are connected by three bridges, and by the great aqueduct ofthe Erie ca
nal — the last 804 ft. long, on 11 arches, costing, $80,000. The material of this great
work has proved defective, and its width insufficient for the trade; and in 1834 the
canal commissioners were authorised to construct anblher, better adapted to the in
creased business ofthe canal.
Rochester owes its rapid growth and present greatness to the water power sup
plied by the Genesee river. Its capacity for manufactures and commerce may be
apprehended from the following description:
From Mount Morris the river is navigable, for boats, to the head of the rapids at
Rochester, fifty-three miles. A feeder, near two miles in length, on the E.
side, connects it with the Erie canal, and gives to the city the best advantage of
its channel. A steamboat, of light burden, plies upon the river between the city
and the village of Avon, 20 miles above. The fall, of the river, between the1 city
of Rochester and the lake, is 271 feef, 268 of which are within the city bounds.
There are three perpendicular pitches, a~nd two rapids. The depression of the
stream commences above the aqueduct, and in the distance of about 500 yards
gives an available fall, for mill purposes, of 12 feet. - The small cataract, once
here, has been almost destroyed by the reduction of the rocky ledges. Canals
have been taken out ofthe river, upon either side, for hydraulic purposes, and are
crossed by the aqueduct. Eighty rods below the aqueduct, is the first great cata
ract, where the stream plunges, perpendicularly, 96'feet. The ledge recedes up the
river from the centre to the sides, breaking the water into three distinct sheets,
unsurpassed in beauty by any waterfall in the state, although those of'Niagara
and Cahoes have more sublimity,* Below this cataract the river is broad, deep,,
comparatively placid and. majestic, occasionally disturbed, however, by rapids, in
the distance of a mile and a half, to the second Fall, where it again descends, per
pendicularly, 20 feet, but with an apparent diminution of its volume. Thence its
course is rapid and noisy, for 25 rods, to the last Fall, over whicri it pours its
flood, perpendicularly, 105 feet. This fall, however, is greatly inferior in effect
upon the spectator to the first. The stream is confined to a narrower bed, atid
much of the water, it would seem, finds a subterranean outlet through the fissures
of the rocks. Below the last fall there are considerable rapids, ending at sloop na
vigation, at Carthage. In part of its course here, the river is narrow, perhaps not
more than 12 feet wide, and dwindles to a brook; becoming however below, pro
bably by the union of its waters, a fine navigable stream, upon which the steam
boats of the lake approach the city. We describe the stream as we saw it, in the
month of August, 1835.
In the whole distance, from the upper to the lowerrfalls, the river flows through
a narrow rocky ravine, having a depth of more than 100 feet. The country, on
both sides, is even, inclining, towards the lake, broken-only by the descent at Car-
* From the Table Rock, in the centre of these falls, the noted Sam Patch, who, on the
maxim, that" somethings could be done as -well as others," spught the bubble reputation,
by leaping from great heights into profound depths of water1, made his Ust jump.
(•> 87

530 TOPOGRAPHY.
thage to the plane of the lake. In progressing east or west, we have no indication
of the existence of the ravine, the river, or its cataracts, until we reach the banks,
when we are impressed with the conviction that the torrent has delved-its deep
bed, having once flowed on the summit of the plain.
These, falls afford a vast hydraulic power, estkhated equal to 1920 steam en
gines, of 20 horse power each, and amounting, according to the valuation of steam .
power in England, to the almost incredible sum of $9,718,272 for its annual use.
We have mentioned the canals taken from the river, at the first rapid, in the city.
At the first great fall another canal is taken out upon the W. side, and is now
more than 1500 feet in'ength, and may be extended at. pleasure, giving the use
of the water under any fall not exceeding 96 feet; and at the falls below, a very
advantageous use may also be made of the stream. This power gave motion, in
1835, to 21 large flouring mills, having 97 runs of stones, competent, at 60 barrels
per day each, (and 100 may be made by each run,) to make 5,820 barrels per day,
and at 300 working days in the year, 1,746,000 barrels annually. The actual pro
duct is about 460,000 barrels, worth $2,700,000. The largest of these flouring
mills, belonging to Mr. T. Kempshall, was built for 16 tuus, and contains 10; it
is 153 by 76 feet, partly of stone, 7 stories high, and partlyof wood, 4stories.
There are also 11 valuable saw mills; 1 extensive cotton factory, 1 large,- and 2
small, woollen factories; 9 large machine shops, in which water power is employ
ed for a variety of purposes, as for turning, stone cutting, (grinding dye woods,
making edge tools, the manufacture of carpets, of excellent quality and great va
riety of patterns, grinding bark for several extensive tanneries, and grain for 3
breweries and 3 distilleries, &c. Of those shops, the Globe building is the largest,
and most remarkable. *
The value of capital invested in mills and machinery, in 1835, was estimated at
$640,000; that employed in conducting them, at 2,000,000; and the gross annual
return, at three and a half millions.
As a seat of commerce the city is most admirably situated. It is the port of en
try of the Genesee collection district, and by Lake Ontario may participate in all
the trade of the St. Lawrence basin. By the Erie canal, it enjoys an active inter
course with the interior, and with the eastern and western extremities ofthe state;
and by the Olean canal it may become the recipient of the products of a vast coun
try on the south part of the state, and also of the great valley of the Mississippi.
The amount of merchandise now (1835) sold here, annually, exceeds two millions
of dollars. The exports, by the lake, are nearly a million. The citizens own stock
in the transportation lines on the canal, to the value of $315,000, and pay about
one-sixth of the canal tolls received by the state. The revenue on imports, by the
lake, was $26,000, and from the post office $10,000.
By the Tonawanda rail road an important link of 47 miles is being made in the
freatrail road line from Albany to -Buffalo, of which 15 miles were completed in 1835.
'his link will be continued by the Attica and Buffalo rail road,' authorised by
the act of 1836, and to Auburn by a company chartered at the same session.
By the proposed rail road to Dansville,, speedy and cheap access will be. ha'd to
one of the richest grain countries of New York.*
Carthage, 2 miles from the Erie canal, is now within the bounds of the city.
The first settlement was made here, in 1812, by Caleb Lyon. It is the port of
steamboats and other vessels from the lake, and contains 3 public houses, several
warehouses, stores, the office' of the customs, and some 60 dwellings. Goods landed
from the quays are drawn to the warehouses on the upper bank, 160 feet above the
river, upon an inclined plane, by machinery. The ascent is by 237 steps. A stu
pendous bridge was erected at this village in 1819, by Messrs. Brainard and
Chapman, consisting of one arch, whose cord was 352, and versed sine 54, feet;
summit 196 feet above the water; length 718, width 30, feet. It stood but a year.
Another was soon after built upon piers, upon a lower level. The Rochester and
Genesee rail road extends from the central point of the city to the port here, and
will be continued to Port. Genesee, or Charlotte, upon the lake, by a company in-
eorporated in 1836.
* This beautiful and prosperous city has been created within 24 years. In 1820 it con
tained 1502 inhabitants— in 1825, 5278— in 1830, 9269— and in 1S35, 14,404.' It is said that
in the population there are not five persons of full legal age who were born in the city.

MONROE COUNTY.

531

Rush, taken from Avon, 13th March, 1818; N. W. from Albany 229 miles; sur
face gently undulating; drained by Honeoye creek. Rush, Sibley's Corners, and
Green's Corners, are post villages.
Rush, formerly called Webster's Mills, 12 miles >S. of Rochester, has a tavern,
store, ,1 grist, 1 saw, 1 carding and fulling, mills, and 12 dwellings. At Sibley's
Corners are a tavern and several buildings, and such is also th6 character of
Green's Corners — each 15 miles S. E., by different roads, from Rochester. West
Rush is the name of a postoffice.
Sweden, taken from Murray, 2d April, 1813; N. W. from Albany 241 miles,
surface undulating; soil, argillaceous loam, moist, and better adapted to grass than
grain, but productive of both; drained north-easterly by Salmon creek, and south
erly by tributaries of Black creek.
Brockport, post village, incorporated 6th April, 1829, upon the canal, 20
miles S. E. from Rochester, contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist,
churches, neat buildingis of stone and brick, with steeples, and an Episcopal con-
gregation; 3 select an(T2 common, schools; 4 lawyers, and 5 physicians; a noble
building, 5 stories high, erected by suhscription of the citizens for a college; 1
grist mill, supplied in part with power from the canal, 2 extensive tanneries, a
machine factory, -4 taveras, 3 stores of various kinds, 7 or 8 commission ware
houses, many handicrafts, and between 300 and 400 dwellings, many pf them three
and four stories, of brick or freestone, compactly built, on one principal street. A
large portion of the business here consists in purchasing wheat for the Rochester
mills; 451,000 bushels were bought here in 1835. There is a post office with the
name of the town,
Wheatland, taken from Caledonia by the name of Inverness, 23d Feb. 1821;
name changed 23d April of the same year; surface gently undulating; soil calca
reous loam, resting on limestone, and productive of grain, settled by wealthy far
mers; drained centrally and easterly by Allen's creek; N. W. from Albany 232
miles. Scottsville, M-umfordsville, and Garbett's Mills, are villages. Scottsville,
"on Allen's creek, 12 miles S. W. from Rochester, near Genesee river, contains I

-,- ,
Females.
Births.
Deaths.-
4
cscci
JO --r
§
TOWNS.
'
ap
is
to p
toCD
1830.
1825.
1830.
1835.
.23
tnMPo
>
cda01
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Rochester city.*
1st ward.
2272
"222
394
174
304
301
398
21
46
43
36
25
2d ward,
3314
272
483
319
430
296
706
57
88
86
57
30
3d ward,
2892
273
443
247
425
307
558
16
52
50
33
ao
4th ward,
3013
393
516
269
459
360
618
8
44
35
23
26
5th ward, !
, 2913
374
458
252
417
233
572
10
27
52
18
12
Total of wards,/
14404
1473
2294
1261
2035
1500
2852
112
255
266
167
123
Brighton,
1972
4375
689,1
2883
252
542
151
351
187
613
27
53
46
16
17
Chili,
1827
.2010
1951
225
387
77
234
164
388
• 14
38
23
12
9
Clarkson,
1612
-2620
3251
3836
378
766
111
497
243
863
15
88
64
26
,v,23
Gates,
2643
4191
7117
1447
121
289
76
177
104
3}7
8
22
17
7
¦6
Greece,,
M547
. 2145
2574
3265
308
C09
110
355
201
732
41
42
37
11
17
Henrietta,
2181
2310
2215
206
474
53
263
190
473
15
i'l
38
19
31
Mendon,'
2012
2777
-3057
3404
456
698
69
453
280
713
16
64
50
23
14"
Ogden,
1435
1922
2401
2434
214
488
27
30!)
202
,,512
13
149
34
'-, 19
4
Farma,
1342
1910
2639
2995
333
617
12
431
203
665
18
70
43
* 15
14
Penfield,
3244
4117
4477
4905
491
1004
48
6131 404
1152
44
se
101
43
37
Perrinton,
1064
2195
2106
2203
207
479
26
292; 170
475
16
41
27
12
13
Pittsford,
1582
1758
1832
1969
188
375
118
248 184
392
11
23
21
18
8
Riga,
3139
1745
1917
- 1905
,96
379
99
264 193
415
24
29
36
14
10
Rush,
1001
1929
2101
2026
265
430
55
2701 151
426
16
45
-29
27
14
Sweden,
1380
2327
2938
3559
380
768
51
499! 300
723
19
68
43
21
28
Wheatland,
1322
1728
2289
2684
'294
552
140
338 198
544
22 52
49| 17
12
>
2(1529
39108
49862
58085
5787
11151
-.'484
7629 4874
12255
431
1067
924
I 467
385
Note— Males, 30,201; Females, 27,884; Blacks,565; Black voter% 23; Deaf and Dumb, 24: Blind, 26;
Idiots, 28; Lunatics, 9: Paupers, 88.
* The census of Rochester city 9269, was included in 1830 in that of Brighton and Gates, of which
towns it then formed a part.
532

TOPOGRAPHY.

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Rochester!-'.

1

1st ward,
.
420
672275
697306
167
172
43
262
40
600 24
3230 69
2d ward,
830
384730
5000
378
17(J
626
19
5819
1200
j 150 92
906 29
3d ward,
, -
376
386546
71050
442
282
405
105
152 13
1064 11
4th ward
A0S
325475
13200
216
154
607
108 00
787 57
5th ward
2295
319880
32950
432
207
135
1021
149 20
Brighton,
27466
11556
430168
19203
1852
816
2696
2818
1998
1732
9,10
927 11
1180 05
Chili,
23981
14636
446485
17850
1869
862
5353
2616
2619
3329
586
868 99
1103 84
Clarkson,
47467
18220
704877
15650
2780
1154
5328
3447
3864
4016
19,18
542 10
1683 87
Gates,
13291
6362
257029
5050
6362
1047
389
1624
1515
1297
1688
385 31
628 59
Greece.
31419
14168
502419
5925
2784
820
3974
3096
2547
300-7
946
843 35
1247 73
Henrietta,
21823
14419
434127
29733
2234
852
5731 2U51
6051
6602
2240
728 26
1078 64
Mendon,
23022
15UH8
418535
10507
2564
11011
7772' 2712
4'.'59
5485
2487
929 28
997- 71
Ogden,
22647
15027
418530
23514
2102
819
5032, 2931
3463
5658
97R
479 64
1028 01
Penfield,
25370
14192
405869
2900
2416
903
4995 2803
4737
4838
2993
617 19
1018 74
Perrinton,
36973
22902
5801)39
. 14978
3767
1073-
9930' '4068
7448
7908
6189.
1634 03
1532 79
Pittsford,
25370
12217
432390
6375
2267
789
3234! 2338
3022
3118
1931
656 28
1020 32
Parma,
14704
10087
245114
'35485
1340
599
3726! 1431
2541
2176
407
535 81
655 69
Knot),
20452
14265
3SU38b
39200
2005
887
5482 2333
3245
• 3961
687
599 97
1012 99
Riga,
18077
12800
332646
47825
2171
679
5580, 2335
2744
4161
2276
626 52
884 77
Sweden,
19736
14712
453 ?08
111775
2053
1010
5593 2119
3766
6245
518
650 01
1314 99
Wheatland.
18731
13500
374586
19250
1753
798
6508, 1866
1970
55490
3262
540
.372 34
965 22
392.982 22:135.1
8905694
1213630
36629
14994
82736 44210
73150
26450
12596 k8241f3 10'
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1
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4 3 11
23 1
:i
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3226
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Rochester City,
1st ward,
Sd .ward,
3d ward,
4th ward,
5th ward,
Brighton,
Chili, Clarkson,
Gates,
Greece, Henrietta,Mendon,Penfield,
Perrinton, Pittsford, Parma,
Rush, Riga,
Sweden;Wheatland,
13121317 8
15 13
17 16
25 15101612
1615
' 9
1021 260 333367 132
438370473 404
464 328 ¦
2f5411283346
460348
2733 713681859350
1021 657987
10051023 732
491 844772734
1006 779
1928 781. 718
1196 433
' 1060 700
10151115
,1627 778
531
1168 703704
1123 ,'
780
7 25
«| 1
242 6723
15387
10420
Value of product,
Value of material
o usn :
§
5
8S
o to
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I IOc>¦o
a
cofSentnOS ©tc
o oo
3
3
'OS
occCOc g
No. of children between 5 and 16 years
of age, 16,514. "
MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

533

Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Orthodox Friends, churches; 2 ta
verns, 4 stores, 2 flouring, 2 saw, and 1 carding and cloth dressing, mills, post of
fice, distillery, ashery, 2 lawyers, 3 physicians, and about 120 dwellings.. The
water power here has been lately much improved by a canal, one mile in length,-
taken from the creek to the Genesee river, by a; company incorporated in 1829,
with a capital of $15,000, by which a head of about 16 feet is obtained. A com
pany was incorporated, in 1836, to make a rail road from this village to LeRoy,
in Genesee, county. Mumfordsville, also on Allen's creek, 18 miles S. W. from
Rochester, has a flouring mill, distillery, brewery, and some 12 or 15 dwellings.
At Garbett's Mills are 1 flouring, 1 plaster', and 1 saw, mills, and several dwel
lings. Gypsum, of excellent quality, is quarried here on both sides of the creek.
Around the Wheatland post office, centrally situated, are a store, and half a dozen
dweUino-s. Beside those above given, there are in the town 2 Presbyterian and
1 Baptist, churches.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY was taken, 12th March, 1772, from Albany, and
named in honour of William Tryon, then the populnr governor of the province.
The name was changed in 1784. It embraced all that part of the state, lyihg W.
of aline running NTand S. nearly through the centre of the present county of
Schoharie. It was divided into five districts; subdivided into precincts. ¦¦ The

534 TOPOGRAPHY.
Mohawk district, included Fort Hunter, Caughnawaga, Johnstown, and Kingaboro;
Canajoharie, embraced the present town of that name, with all the county south
ward, comprehending, Cherry Valley, of Otsego, and Harpersfield,' of Delaware
counties; Palatine, N. of the river, extended over the region so called, and Stone
Arabia, &c; German Flats and Klngsland, covered the most western settlements.
. This spacious area has been reduced to comparatively small dimensions, and
Montgomery cdiinty is now bounded N. by Hamilton; E. by Saratoga and Sche
nectady; S. by Schenectady, Schoharie, and Otsego; and W. by Herkimer, coun
ties: Greatest length N. and S. 36, greatest breadth E. and W. 32, miles; area
1,010 square miles, exclusive of Hamilton county; lying between 42° 47' and .
43° 16', N.Lat.; and 2° 10' and 3° 51', E. Long.; centrally distant N. W. from
New York 190, and from Albany 45, miles.
The surface is much diversified; declining, generally, from N. and S: to the
valley ofthe Mohawk river. The Kayaderosseras range of mountains enters the
county on the N. E. but sinks to the general level, in the town of Northampton.
The Clinton range, here called Mayfield Mountain and Klip hill, stretches S. W.
to thelVIohawk, forming the promontory of Anthony's Nose, in the town of Pala
tine, and extending S. of the river, into the town of Root.* On the N. W. of
this range, in the towns of Bleecker and Stratford, are other lofty hills, which may
be classed as part of the Sable range. Flint Hill lies on the border of this and
Schenectady counties. The Otsquake Hills course the borders of Canajoharie
and Minden, passing, on the one hand, into Otsego and Schoharie counties, and
on the other, into Herkimer." The county S. of the river, and W. of the Nose, on
the N. side as far as the forest, is hilly. Parts of Charleston, most of Root, some
portions of Canajoharie, Minden, and Palatine, may be termed champaign; and
the tract S. E. of Clinton mountain, and between the Sacandaga and Mohawk
rivers, is either champaign or plain.
The mountains and portions of the valleys on the N. side of the Mohawk, are
of primitive formation, but strips of transition and secondary indent them; while
on the S. the transition and secondary prevail, with strips of primitive. Lime
stone is abundant, on the eastern and western portions of the county and along
the valley of the river, centrally and N. of the river, and in the southern portion
of the county, clay slate and graywacke slate prevail.
The great stream of the county is the Mohawk river, which crosses it from W.
N. W. to S. Sv. E. having two thirds of the area upon the N. Its principal tribu
taries, from the N. are East Canada, Zimmerman's, Garoga, Cayadutta, and
Chuctenunda, creeks; from the S., Chuctenunda, Schoharie, Bowman's, and Ots
quake, creeks.
East Canada creek, rises near the W. branch of Sacandaga river, in Hamilton
county, 8 miles S. of Lake Pleasant, and runs S. W. about 35 miles, to its reci
pient, forming, for about 25 miles, the boundary between this and Herkimer
counties; receiving from Herkimer, Spruce creek, and from Montgomery, Sprite
.and Fish creeks, the latter, flowing about 10 miles from Fish lake, and uniting
with the river at the village of Manheim. It is a very rapid stream, and within
the last two miles of its course, falls 200 feet. Its descent near the outlet, is by
six cataracts, which with the intermediate rapids, occupy three quarters of a mile
and is, in that distance, estimated at 180 feet. The bed and the banks are of hori
zontal limestone. The stream, gradually narrowing, gains velocity with its pro
gress. The banks, at first low, become 70 or 80 feet high, and towards the foot
ofthe Falls, are very precipitous; here bare, and there studded with trees.
Zimmerman's creek, rises in the hills of Stratford, and flows S. W. 15 miles, to
the river, near St. Johnsville; aflbnling valuable mill power.
The Garoga has its source in Garoga lake, and by a course of 20 miles, enters
the river, at the village of Palatine, lt is also a fine mill stream with rapid falls;
The Cayadutta or Little Canada creek, rising on the E. declivity of Klip Hill,
passes by the village of Johnstown, and by a S. E. and S. course of 15 miles,
finds the river, about a mile W. ofthe Caughnawaga village.
* The name is derived from the similitude of the promontory to the human nose. Evi
dence of tlie disrupture of this ridge by the water, is apparent in the channels of the rocks,
and in the alluvial plain below, consisting at> the upper end of boulders and large gravel
stones, which diminish to sand at the lower end. The bed is a mile in length and half a
mile wide, and is from 50 to 60 feet above the present level ofthe water.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 535
The Chuctenunda, (Chuctononeda or Ninth hill, Mohawk,) heads in'Providence,
Saratoga county, and by a S. W. course, of 15 miles, reaches the river at the vil
lage of Amsterdam, or Veddersburg, falling over the river bank about 120 feet, in
80-rods. In droughts, the stream disappears through the fissures of the limestone
rocks, at the foot of the declivity.
Another stream of the same name flows into the river, directly opposite to the
mouth of the foregoing; having its source in Maria's Lake, Duanesburg-, Sche
nectady county. This is a beautiful, rapid and useful stream, whose whole length
may be about 12 miles.
A description of Schoharie creek, will be found under " Schoharie county."
The Canajoharie or Bowman's creek, as it is now commonly called, rises by two
branches in the high lands, which form the shed, here, between the waters of the
Mohawk and the Susquehanna rivers. The eastern branch, has its source in Car
lisle, of Schoharie county; and the western, in Cherry Valley, of Otsego county;
interlocking with the sources of Cherry Valley creek. The fall of this stream, in
its course of 20 miles, cannot be less tnan 800 feet. Its valley, seen from the
ridge E. of Cherry Valley, is one of the most delightful, prospects in the state,
blending all that is charming in natural scenery with careful cultivation. The
stream has many cascades and rapids, and pours its waters into the river, at
Canajoharie village.
Otsquake or Otsquaga creek, gushes from three springs in the S. W. part of
Stark and Herkimer county, and has a rapid course of 14 miles, N. E. through
Minden, of this county, to the Mohawk, at Fort Plain. Immediately at its source
it has power to drive several mills; aiid highly charged with calcareous matter,
it has formed in the dell, large masses of tuffa, and some extraordinary petrifac
tions. •
The Sacandaga river, which we have described under "Saratoga county," re
ceives from the N. E. portion of this county, two'' considerable tributaries; West
Stony creek, which enters it a few miles N. E. of the county line, flowing
from the town of Bleecker, and the Sacandaga or May field creek; which, rising in
Amsterdam and Mayfield, seeks its recipient, at the village of Northampton or
Fish House, flowing near its mouth, through a broad and deep marsh.
There are some small sheets of water in the north, as Fish and Garoga lakes.
The first is the largest, and may be about 3 miles in circumference, upon the line
dividing the towns of Bleeker and Stratford.
The Erie canal descends the valley ofthe Mohawk, upon the south side of the
river, and has, within the county, 8 locks with a total descent of 64 feet. On the
N. bank, runs the Mohawk turnpike road, the only one in the county; and parallel
to it, the Schenectady and Utica rail road. Authority has been given, to make a
rail road from Catskill to Canajoharie, and the stock was subscribed; but the
enterprise has not yet been prosecuted.
Companies were also incorporated in 1836, for making, respectively, a rail road
.from Johnstown to the Uticacand Schenectady rail road/ Erie canal, and another
from Montgomery to Saratoga.
The jurisdiction of this county still extends over Hamilton county, which was
taken from it by -act of assembly, 12th April, 1816, to be organised when it should
contain 1,288 taxable inhabitants, qualified to vote for members of assembly.
From appearances the epoch for the independent organisation of that county, is
still remote; the number of voters, by the census of 1835, was 343 only.
The first settlements in this county were made, about the year 1713, chiefly by
the German Palatines and by persons from Albany and Schenectady counties. In
1722, colonies had been extended along the Mohawk valley as far up as the. Ger
man Flats, near the site of the village of Herkimer; but many years elapsed be
fore settlers ventured into the unbroken wilderness, which lay to the north, south,
and west of these settlements. At the time Tryon county was erected, the whole
white population, within the large area we have described, consisted of a few
thousand sbuls. Much of the increase of population, especially within the present
bounds of Montgomery, may be attributed to the enterprise and exertions of Sir
William Johnson.*
The county, excluding Hamilton, is divided into 16 towns.
* William Johnson, was born in Ireland, about the year 1714. His uncle, Sir Peter

536 ' TOPOGRAPHY.
Amsterdam, taken from Caughnawaga 12th March, 1793; N. W. from Albany
110 miles; surface rolling; soil clay loam and vegetable mould, fertile; and the
flats of the Mohawk are proverbially rich; drained by the Chuctenunda creek.
Amsterdam, Cranesville, and Hageman's mills, are post villages. And there is
a post office called West Amsterdam. Amsterdam village, upon the Mohawk river,
and turnpike, and. Utica rail roads and at the mouth of the Chuctenunda creek, 15
miles from Johnstown, and 16 from Schenectady, incorporated April, 1830 — 1831,
contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Universalist, churches; an academy,
a select female school, 4 grist mills, 1 saw mill, 1 woollen factory, a scythe fac
tory, a printing office, issuing a weekly paper, and 125 dwellings. The Erie
canal is on the S. side of the river, over which is a commodious bridge. One
mile W. from the village, on the S, side of the turnpike, is the stone mansion
Warren, having married a sister of chief Justice De Lancey, of New York, purchased a
large tract of land upon the Mohawk, and in the year 17134, sent his nephew to superintend
this estate.
Mr. Johnson first established himself at the mouth of the Schoharie; afterwards erected
a house in the town ot" Amsterdam, and subsequently, the hall at Johnstown. To fulfil his
commission, it was necessary for him to be intimately acquainted with the Indian tribes.
He studied their character, acquired their language, carried on an extensive trade with
them, and by a course of sagacious measures, obtained an influence over them, greater than
was ever possessed by any other white man.
With a constitution unusually hardy, and a mind, coarse, but firm and vigorous, unsus
ceptible of delicate feelings, destitute of refined attachments, and unrestrained by rigorous,
moral sentiments,.he clearly saw, and steadily pursued the path which had been opened for
him, to wealth and distinction; and rose from the station of a common soldier, to the com
mand of an army, and from the class of yeoman, to the rank of baronet.
In the year 1757, he led the provincial army to Lake George, and obtained .the first vic
tory for the British arms, in thewar of that period. A long succession of disasters, more
than the intrinsic service he had rendered, gave much importance to that event, and he was
rewarded by parliament, with a donation of £5,000 sterling,. and by the king, with the
title of Baronet. In 1759, being at the head ofthe provincial troops, employed under Gen..
Prideaux, to besiege fort Niagara, he became, on the death of that officer, Commander in
Chief of the army,, and directed the siege with activity and skill; defeated a body of
French and Indians which attempted to relieve the fort, and on the 25th July, obtained
possession of the post and its garrison.
In 1760, he led 1000 Indians to the army of General Amherst, at Oswego, proceeded
under command of that gallant officer, to Montreal, and concluded his military career with
honour; being present and active, in an eminent station, at the surrender of Canada.
At the time when Sir William came to New York, part of the cultivated, and much of
the uncultivated, land of the province was granted in manorial districts, obtained trom the
government by men of sagacity and influence. He procured for himself vast tracts of valu
able land, from the government and from the aborigines. The following anecdote, often
related, is an instance of his ingenuity and of the influence he held over the latter.
Old king Hendrick, of the Mohawks, was at the house of Sir William, when he received
several rich suits of military clothes. Soon after, the chief came to him, and said, "I
dream." "Well! what did you dream?" "I dream you give me one suit of clothes." Sir
William gave him the suit. Some time afterwards meeting with Hendrick, he said to him,
"I dreamed last night." " Did you, what you dream?" "I dreamed you gave me a tract of
land," describing it. Hendrick paused at the enormity of the demand, but at length replied,
" I suppose you must have it, but I will not dream with you again. You dream too hard for
me:" This tract, 12 miles square, extended from East, to West, Canada creek, inithe now
county of Herkimer. The title was confirmed by the king of England, and was called the
"Royal Grant."
The lands thus granted by the crown, exposed to the incursions of the French and
Indians," were obtained for trifling sums; but subsequently to the peace of Paris, they rose
greatly in value, as Johnson had foreseen, and became the baBis of an immense fortune.
By Lady Johnson, Sir William had one son, and two daughters. One daughter married
Col. Claus, and the other, Col. Guy Johnson. The latter with the son, Sir John Johnson,
took sid^ with the British, in the revolutionary war, and Sir John became the scourge of
the Mohawk valley. The family lived, here, essentially, in the rank and with some of the
splendour of noblemen. But confiscation by the state stript them of the whole of their pos
sessions. Tradition has preserved many accounts of the rustic sports encouraged by Sir William,
and of his influence over the Indians and white Inhabitants. He died suddenly, of bilious
colic, having been a few hours before, engaged in a treaty with the Indians, July 11th, 1774,
aged 59 years. He had returned from England, in the previous spring. Conversing with
Dr. Campbell, an intimate friend, at Schenectady, on the dispute between the colonies and
parent state, he expressed a conviction, that he should not live to see them in a state of open
Tear.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 537
formerly of Guy Johnson, and further W. on the opposite side of the road, that of
Sir John Johnson. Some rude paintings of human figures upon the rocks, in this
town, are said to have been there at the first settlement of the whites. Beside
those in the village, there are in the town, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Dutch Reformed,
and 1 Baptist, churches.
Bleeker, taken from Johnstown 4th April, 1831; N. W. from Albany 53, from
Johnstown N. 13, miles; surface on the W. and S. E. mountainous, the interval
being filled with lesser hills; drained by Garoga and West Stony creeks. West
of the Clinton range lies Fish Lake. The country is wretchedly poor, covered
with small evergreens and contains three inconsiderable settlements only. It
has a post' office with the name of tlie town.
Bboadalbin, taken from Caughnawaga, 7th March, 1793; N. W. from Albany
47, from Johnstown, N. E. 10, miles; surface level or gently undulating; soil stiff
gravelly loam, cold and moist, better adapted to grass than grain; drained by the
Chuctenunda, Frenchman's and Fonda's, creeks; settled in 1776, by Daniel Mcln-
tire and other emigrants from Scotland, but the settlements were broken up during
the revolutionary war. Fonda's Bush, Union Mills and West Galway Church,
are post villages, Fonda's Bush or Rawsonville, has 1 Methodist, and 1 Presbyteri
an, churches, 1 grist, saw, paper and clothing, mills, 3 taverns, 4 stores, and 150
dwellings. Union Mills, has 1 Christian church, 1 paper, 1 saw, mills, a printing
office, issuing a weekly journal, a book bindery, and about 15 dwellings. West
Galway, has 1 Presbyterian church, 2 grist and 4 saw, mills; 1 clothing works, 2
stores, 2 taverns, and about 30 dwellings. There are also in the town, another
Methodist and 1 Baptist, churches. South Broadalbin and Mills' Corners, are
post offices. ,
Canajoharie, (name derived from an Indian word, meaning "the pot that
washes itself," applied to a whirlpool at the foot of one of the falls of the creek,)
organised 7th March, 1788; N. W. from Albany 55, and from Johnstown, S. W.
15, miles; surface hilly, the Otsquake hill extending nearly across the town,
towering 1000 feet above the tide, jet generally arable; soil strong argillaceous
calcareous and sandy loam, underlaid by slate, sand and limestone; drained by
Otsquake and Bowman's creeks, flowing to the Mohawk river; inhabited, chiefly,
by descendants from German settlers, and generally well cultivated. Near the
residence of Col. Frey, in the N. W. are said to be impressions, in the rock, pro
bably slate, of the feet of men and horses. Ames, Freysbush, Salt Springville,
are post .offices. The last in the village, on the county line. Canajoharie, post
village, incorporated 30th April, 1829, on the river and canal and at the mouth of
Bowman's creek, opposite to the village of Palatine, with which it is connected
by a bridge, having the relative distances above given, contains 1 Dutch Reformed
church, an academy, an incorporated library company, 2 printing offices, issuing
weekly journals, 4 taverns, I brewery, 2 distilleries, 2 flouring mills, 2 saw mills,
7 stores, and about 100 dwellings. This is a place of much trade, employing ma
ny canal boats. " The Canajoharie and Palatine Manufacturing Company," for the
manufacture of cotton and woollen goods, was incorporated April 24th, 1833. —
Canajoharie Centre, also a post village, 21 miles from Johnstown, on the head
waters of Bowman's creek, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 tavern, 1 store, and some
10 or 12 dwellings. The Central Asylum, for the deaf and dumb, was located
here. There is in the town also 1 Methodist church.
Charleston, organised by the name of Mohawk, 7th March, 1788, part erected'
into a separate town and the residue called Charleston, 12th March, 1793; distant
from Albany, W. N. W. 40, from Johnstown, S. 15, miles; surface uneven but
generally arable, dipping N. to the Mohawk, S. E. to Schoharie kill; soil clay
sand and gravel loam; drained by Auries kill and the Schoharie creek;" settled
chiefly by emigrants from the eastern states. There is a post office named after
the town and another called Charleston Four Corners, and a third Benton's Bridge,
around each of which are several dwellings. There are in the town, 1 Methodist,
1 Presbyterian, 1 Dutch Reformed, and 1 Baptist, churches.
Ephrata, taken from Palatine, 29th March, 1827; N. W\ from Albany 58 miles;
surfaoe moderately uneven, rising into hills, on the E. and N.; soil sandy loarn of
indifferent quality except in-the S. where there is rich mould on slate; cultivated
by descendants of Germans, who settled here in 1724; drained by Garoga and;
Zimmerman's creeks. Ephrata, Lasselsville and Pleasant valley, are villages.—
68

538 TOPOGRAPHY.
Ephrata, post village, 9 miles W. from Johnstown, upon Garoga creek, contains 1
grist, 3 saw, mills, 2 stores, 2 taverns, 1 Presbyterian church, 1 tannery, and 25
dwellings. Lasselsville, 12 miles from Johnstown, has 1 store, 1 tavern, and 10 or
12 dwellings, on Zimmerman's creek. Pleasant valley, has 1 store, 1 Baptist
church, 2 taverns, 2 grist mills, 1 saw mill, an extensive tannery, and 35 dwell
ings. Florida, taken from Mohawk, 12th March, 1793; N. W. from Albany 35, and
from Johnstown, S. E. 11, miles; surface undulating; soil strong clay loam on
slate and lime, productive in wheat, having yielded great and sure crops for near
a century; drained by the Schoharie kill, the Mohawk river and the Chuctenunda
creek; near Johnson Hall, on both sides of, Schoharie creek, was the principal
Mohawk village; here are still visible the remains of Fort Hunter, distinguished
in colonial history; and here also, on the site of the eastern guard lock, stood
Queen Anne's Chapel, which had a glebe, granted by the Indians, and a bell, for
which they had much affection. The town was settled by some Dutch families
from Schenectady, who, in 1750, were joined by some Germans, subsequently by
some Irish and Scotch, and lastly by emigrants from New England. Minaville or
Yankee Street and Port Jackson, are post villages; Fort Hunter, a post office.
Minaville, 4 miles S. of the canal, upon the Chuctenunda creek, contains a Pres
byterian church, 1 tavern, 2 stores, and about 40 dwellings. Port Jackson, upon
the canal, 11 miles from Johnstown, has 3 stores, 2 taverns, and 20 dwellings. —
There is a considerable public library in this town.
Glen, taken from Charleston, 10th April, 1823; N. W. from Albany 43 miles;
surface hilly, but generally arable, dipping N. to the Mohawk river, and E. to the
Schoharie kill; soil strong loam blended with clay, sand and gravel, on slate, lime
and graywacke; drained by the Mohawk river, the Schoharie, and. Auries kills;
originally settled by the Dutch and now cultivated by their descendants. Fulton-
ville, Auriesville and Vorhees, are post villages. Fultonville, 5 miles S. from
Johnstown, upon the canal, 57 miles from Albany and 53 from Utica, has 1 hotel,
1 tavern, 3 stores, and about 25 dwellings. . There is a basin in the village for the
repairing and building canal boats. Auriesville or Smilhtown, 3 miles E. from- Ful
tonville, also on the canal, and 8,S. E. from Johnstown, has 2 taverns, 2 stores, and
15 dwellings. Vorheesville, 3 miles S. of the canal, near the centre of the town,
upon a high and pleasant plain, has 2 Dutch Reformed churches, 2 taverns, and
about 20 dwellings. The county poor house and farm of 120 acres', are in this
town, upon the canal.
Johnstown, originally organised by the name of Caughnawaga, 7th March,
1798, N. ^V. from Albany 46 miles; surface mountainous, on the N. the Klip or
Rocky ledge of the Clinton range, crossing it in that quarter; elsewhere level or
gently undulating; soij strong and productive argillaceous loam, resting principal
ly on lower secondary slate, upon the S. with some sandy alluvion; drained by the
Garoga, and Cayadutta creeks; inhabited by Dutch, German, Scotch and New
England settlers and their descendants. Johnstown,, Kingsboro', Caughnawaga,
Tripe's Hill, Gloversville and Bennett's Corners, are post villages; and there is a
post office called Pleasant Square.' Johnstown, laid out by Henry Oothoudt, Jere
miah Van Rensselaer and Christopher P. Yates, state commissioners, in 1784, in
corporated, 6th April, 1807, was the shire town, and is centrally situate, upon a fine
plain, skirted on the NTand W. by the Cayadutta creek, and on the S. by a hill of
moderate elevation, 4 miles N. of the Mohawk river. It contains a courthouse of
brick, prison of stone, erected in 1771, the county offices, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Sece-
der's, 1 Methodist, 1 Lutheran, and 1 Episcopal, churches; 1 academy, a bank,
incorporated 15th March, 1831, capital $100,000; 2 select schools, 2 grist mills, 2
clothing works, a manufactory- of comb plates, 6 taverns, 9 general stores, doing a
very extensive business, many smaller stores, a manufactory of flint glass, 2 print
ing offices, each issuing a daily paper; 15 law offices, and 250 dwellings, ma
ny of which are remarkably neat and commodious. By the act 24th May, 1836,
the seat of justice for the county, was directed to be removed from Johnstown, to
some proper place in the village of Fonda, in this town, between the Cayadutta
creek and a line commencing at the Caughnawaga bridge, over the Mohawk and
running thence straight to the N. bounds of the village.
Kingsboro' 4 miles N. E. from Johnstown, has 1 "Presbyterian church, an aca
demy, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and about 50 dwellings. The inhabitants are extensive-

MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

539

ly engaged in the manufacture of dressed deer skin gloves and mittens, making a
quantity said to be greater than is made in all other places of the U. S. exceeding
for many years past, in value, §130,000, annually. Caughnawaga, on the site of
the ancient Indian town of that name, upon the Cayadutta creek, near its' conflu
ence with the Mohawk, directly opposite to Fultonville, contains a Dutch Reform
ed church, 1 grist, 1 saw, 1 plaster, mills, woollen factory, a carding and cloth
dressing mill, 3 taverns, 3 stores, and 30 dwellings. The name is said to mean a
coffin, and is derived from a large black stone in the river, visible at low water,
which resembles the tabernacle of the dead, and has caused the loss of many lives
from canoes wrecked upon it. This place which had not thriven of late, has now
the prospect of much increase, by the mill power on the creek, and the benefits ,
anticipated from the Schenectady and Utica turnpike and rail roads. The river is
crossed here by a toll bridge of wood. Gloversville, two and a half miles N. from
Johnstown, has 2 stores, a carding and cloth dressing mill, 2 saw mills, and 30
dwellings. Bennett's Corners^, has 1 store, and half a ddzen dwellings; Tripe's
Hill, is a hamlet in the S. E. corner of the town, upon the river hill, 5 miles below
Caughnawaga upon the turnpike and rail road.
The mansion of Sir Wm. Johnson, in which he died, built in 1773, is upon an
eminence overlooking the village of Johnstown, and the vicinage. At its foot flows
a small branch ofthe Cayadutta. The house is large, of wood, with a spacious
hall, and four rooms on the floor. It has wings of stone, which were occasionally
used as forts. In some assault, the stair-case of the mansion was disfigured by
the tomahawk, the marks of which are still visible. To Sir William the village-
owes its court house, prison, and Episcopal church. The stone for the two latter
were brought from Tripe's Hill by the inhabitants, each having been assessed a
certain number of loads.
The battle of Johnstown, October, 1781, in which the British and Indians were
defeated by Col. Marinus Willet, was fought on the " Hall farm."
Mayfield, taken from Caughnawaga, 7th March, 1793; N. W. from Albany
40, and from Johnstown N. E.8, miles; surface, on the N., mountainous, the Kaya
derosseras range crossing it; on the S. diversified by hill, dale, and plain, resting
chiefly on limestone; soil sandy and clay loam, productive of grass and summer
crops; drained by West Stony, Fonda's, and Cranberry, creeks, tributaries of the
Sacandaga, and by the Cayadutta, flowing to the Mohawk. Cranberry, Mayfield,
Upper Corners, and East Fonda, are post villages. Cranberry is an agricultural
vicinage, in which are a saw mill, clothing works, a store, and 12 dwellings.
Mayfield has a store, tavern, and about a dozen dwellings. Upper Corners has a
store, tavern, grist mill, distillery, and 20 dwellings. East Fonda has 2 taverns,
2 stores, a grist and saw mill, carding and cloth dressing mill, a paper mill, and
from 40 to 50 families — the settlement extending into the town of Broadalbin.
Some Germans have lately settled in the north part of this town, and east part of
Bleeker, under the auspices of Mr. Bleeker of Albany. There are in the town 2"
Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Quaker, churches.
Minden, taken from Canajoharie, 23d March, 1798; N. W. from Albany 67, and
from Johnstown W. 20, miles; surface diversified by gentle hills and fertile val
leys; soil argillaceous and calcareous loam, with rich alluvial flats bordering on
the Mohawk river, and Otsquake creek. It is inhabited chiefly by descendants of
the primitive Dutch settlers, who still use the language of the Faderland, although
they understand and speak English. Fort Plain, post village, near the ruins of
Fort Plain, upon the canal aiid river, 12 miles S. W. from Jbhnsto,wn, contains 1
Presbyterian and 1 Universalist, churches, 1 printing office, issuing a weekly pa
per, 1 grist, 2 saw, and 2 cloth dressing, mills, 1 distillery, 3 taverns, 10 stores,
and 75"dwellings, rapidly increasing in number. During the revolution the fort
here was surprised by Butler, with his band of savages and refugees, and the gar
rison subjected to the fate of the inhabitants of Wyoming and Cherry Valley.
Hallsville is also a post village, 18 miles from Johnstown, containing a store, ta
vern, a grist and saw mill, and 12 or 15 dwellings. The Minden dam, on the ri
ver, is in this town. It is 11 feet high, and supplies a feeder for the canal about a
mile and a half long, and affords a valuable power for hydraulic works. Near
Fort Plain village, half a mile south, is abed of most perfect bird's eye marble.
There are also, iii the town, 1 Dutch Reformed and 1 Lutheran, churches; and
a post office with the name of the town.

540 TOPOGRAPHY.
Northampton, taken from Broadalbin, 7th April, 1801; surface level; soil sand
and sandy loam of good quality, adapted to summer crops and grass; for the latter
particularly upon the Vlaie; watered by the Sacandaga river, which receives, frbm
the S. W., Vlaie, or Mayfield creek. At the confluence of the streams lies the
post village of " Fish House," where Sir William Johnson had a sporting lodge.
About 1000 acres of the great Fly, {Vlaie, Dutch,) or marsh of 5000 acres, are in
the town, affording in spring a valuable range for cattle, and a resort for the angler
and fowler. Woodcock are abundant there, and . the streams yield trout, perch,
and eels, &c. The great marsh is frequently overflowed by the waters of the Sa
candaga, which drive those of its tributary streams back upon their sources. At
some seasons the flood covers 20,000 acres, and propositions are entertained of
protecting the country against its inroads by banks, or dykes.
Northampton, or Fish House village, 42 miles from Albany, 17 from Johnstown,
contains 1 Presbyterian church, 2 taverns, 2 stores, and about 40 dwellings, upon
a rich alluvial soil. There is a bridge here of wood, of 3 arches, 120 feet in
length, with side walks, costing $60,000. The village is remarkably pleasant,
Northville, on the left bank of the river, 20 miles N. E. from Johnstown, has 1
Baptist and 1 Methodist, churches, 1 store, 1 tavern, and about 20 dwellings.
Osborne's Bridge, on the right bank ofthe river, 16 miles?, N. E. from Johnstown,
has a post office, a tavern, 2 stores, 8 or 10 dwellings.
Oppenheim, taken from Palatine, in 1808; N. W. from Albany 63 miles;
surface on the N. hilly, and soil indifferent; on the S. undulating, and the land of
good quality; watered by Zimmerman's, East Canada, Sprite, and Fish, creeks;
settled in 1724 by Germans, whose descendants now. possess the soil. St. Johns
ville and Brockettsville are post villages. St. Johnsville, 22 miles from Johns
town, has 1 Dutch Reformed church, 1 large tannery, 1 distillery, 1 grist, 1 saw,
mills, 1 carding and cloth dressing mill, 2 taverns, 2 stores, and within a mile, 25
dwellings. Brockettsville, on the East Canada creek and state road, 18 miles N.
W. from Johnstown, is a small hamlet. There is also a post office with the name
of the town.
Palatine, organised 7th March, 1782; the surface rises with gentle acclivity
from the river, becoming hilly on the east, the Clinton range of mountains break
ing here into the promontory called Anthony's Nose. The soil, especially in
Stone Arabia, is of inexhaustible fertility, unsurpassed in the state; settled by the
Dutch in 1724. Palatine, Palatine Bridge, and Stone Arabia, are post villages.
Palatine, on the river and turnpike, and Utica rail road, at the mouth of Garoga
creek^ the only important strearh of the town, 52 miles from Albany, 13 W. from
Johnstown, contains an ancient Presbyterian church, 1 grist, 1 saw, and 1 cloth
dressing, mills, 1 store, 1 tavern, and some 15 dwellings. Palatine Bridge,
also on the river, turnpike, and rail road, 15 miles from Johnstown, has 1 Baptist
church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and 25 dwellings, directly opposite to the village of
Canajoharie, with which it is connected by a bridge over the river. , Stone Arabia,
10 miles from Johnstown, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Lutheran, churches, 1 tavern,
1 store, and 15 dwellings. Spracker's Tavern is a noted stopping place on the
turnpike road, opposite to, and near, Spracker's Basin.
Root, taken from Canajoharie and Charleston, 29th January, 1823; N. W. from
Albany 51 miles; surface, on the N. E. hilly, the Clinton mountain crossing the
river; elsewhere undulating; generally arable; soil fertile loam, on slate and lime;
drained N. by the Plattekill, a small stream. Spracker's Basin and Currytown are
post villages; the former, on the canal, 13 miles from Johnstown, contains a
Dutch Reformed Church, an academy, 1 tavern, 3 stores, and 15 dwellings. The
latter, 14 miles from Johnstown, has a Dutch Reformed church, store, tavern, and
15 dwellings. Two miles distant is a hamlet called Leather Town, from an exten
sive tannery.
In the rocky cliffs of the Nose, near the river, is a remarkable cavern, first ex
plored, we believe, in July, 1821, when the name of Mitchell's cave was given to
it. Fourteen apartments, some at the depth, it is said, of 500 feet, have been vi
sited. The ceilings are ornamented with stalactites, the walls with incrustations,
and the floor with stalagmites. The pleasure of a visit to this souteraine is marred
by the damps which prevail.
On the Plattekill, a mile from the river, there is a waterfall of about 80 feet
in 10 rods, with a perpendicular pitch of 50 feet. A vein of lead ore in a gangue

MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

541

of slate, at the bottom of the creek, three-fourths of a mile above the falls, has been
wrought by aa incorporated company.
Stratford, taken from Palatine, 10th April, 1805; N. W. from Albany 63,
and from Johnstown 15, miles; surface hilly and marshy, the Chateaugua
range .of mountains covering it, clad in evergreens ; generally barren, with
some tolerable grazing lands; drained W. by Ayres and Fish creeks. Nichols-
ville, the post village, 23 miles from Johnstown, on the East Canada creek, and
W. boundary, is a small settlement. More than three-fourths of the town are yet
a wilderness. The post office is called after the town.

1820.

1825.

1830.

1835.

1

ti
a p
a<

Females.

tit
V to
.2

Births.

Deaths.

TOWNS.

ce
S

OJO
>

Married under 45 years
of
age Married
be tween
16 «fc
45

3 u
5 to
'C ^*
£cp s"
eg

co 01B
s

cd to
"3 1
fa

to01
"id S

g OS 1
fa

Amsterdam,

3171

2207

3354

4109

376

852

331

500 353

815

26

72

54

26

37

Bleeker,

332
3(1
BE
fi
43; 26
77
4
11
7
3
Broadalbin,
3438
2400
2657
2721
214
561
3?
321 319
450
34
42
38
12
20
Canajoharie,
4677
2664
434E
4671
416
92b
81
600, 338
1027
26
72
54
16
31
Charleston,
536S
2102
2146
2124
20?
444-
:-
260; 166
454
7
37
46
12
y
Ephrata,
1816
2146
20:
39!
26
282' 125
54b
18
37
49
15
16
Florida,
2743
2689
2836
2896
30(
611
56
352 254
582
34
5bi
42
31
20
Glen,
1975
2451
2612
2S(
56(
21
336
322
StK
16
If
3d
23
22
Hope,
608
696
71b
76*
71
Mil
¦
90
50
182
7
12
15
2
4
Johnstown,
6527
735£
770C
7551
744
153]
241:
848
763
1017
37
137
125
5(1
33
Lake Pleasant,
312
1235
266
336
X
72
.
48
7
at
I
t
7
1
Mayfield,
2025
243!
361<
2908
31<
585
7(
346
302
62t
26
61
54
23
29
Minden,
1954
2085
,2567
2903
31'
lilt)
3!
3(15
25c-
69b
26
54
5!
24
29
Morehouse,
11!
16
1!
2:
17
7
2b
2
Northampton,
1291
1344
1392
136!
96
307
:
170
134
301
14
25
25
11
»
Oppenheim,
3045
3025
366(
3927
372
79!
14:
530
2U4
87b
30
96
84
31
27
Palatine,
3936
4072
2745
2876
394
5c*
161
349
2011
55:
35
05
6b
211
19
Root,
2806
275(
191S
276
594
2!
338
256
(134
25
56
St,
IS
17
Stratford,
407
43!
552
637
5!
142
2
69
3fi
14(
fi
IS
lb
4
Wells,
331
365
340
431
50
91
4
38
15
105
2
11
1
4
38820
40902
44918
48359
4646
9933
1385
59024115 1036b
343
890
834
319
320
Note. Males, 24,583; Females, 23,776; Blacks, 562, Black voters, 8; Paupers; 136, Deaf and Dumb, 47;
Blind, 24; Idiots, 64; Lunatics, 17.
The towns of Hope, Lake Pleasant, Morehouse and Wells, are in Hamilton county.
TOWNS.
.s
a
"*to
cd cd l
•a" .
¦o!
cd cd
> n
¦a S
p 2 oi
M 8 2
to
6
•p
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wcd
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So
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oi ft cd
s ^
O
COO
w
1345
O)
s
tn
a
- 6
m
Is fa .
S e
o'—
O
Po
o
o
Amsterdam,
30576
29S69
266884
25960
3737
5261
3225
4122
4386
7894
1332 66
300
Bleeker,
60377
924
28882
275
238
74
251
158
246
542
443
131 00
332
Broadalbin,
36806
15878
178342
20780
2991
829
6006
2011
4037
4812
6475
897 87
1511
Canajoharie,
33408
25751
330860
23946
3978
1706
5825
3295
3973
7874
6716
1646 96
1019
Charleston,
34908
18834
160437
22160
3192
1058
5474
2104
4028
4956
9644
831 00
332
Ephrata,
19315
9393
104644
24373
1453
569
2319
974
3014
3238
3459
584 82
1105
Florida,
30683
24282
257002
80730
3364
1374
5482
3108
3799
4109
6974
1542 62
630
Glen,
33368
16368
238257
37605
2370
1062
4268
1925
3620
1R92
4604
1242 00
658
Hope,
45028
4936
22875
670
1196
185
1536
529
1476
1498
3596
105 00
175
Johnstown,
70113
42138
642404
217817
7416
2343
9659
5801
8379
7317
5663
3871 00
1650
L. Pleasant,
277544
1315
48675
460
234
60
353
223
218
594
576
221 00
473
Mayfield,
45898
17724
183593
8800
340B
Hill
4309
2114
3458
4597
5801
891 25
522
Minden,
22079
15647
322520
73902
2604
1127
4356
2305
3340
3062
6445
1333 47
860
Morehouse,
119457
278
40150
48
4
8
6
14
113
160 00
675
JVorthampt'n
18243
11085
91215
5800
2036
'408
3967
1014
2631
3207
5396
438 75
462
Oppenheim,
43363
18270
335000
60123
4464
1271
5607
3026
6327
4476
10426
1302 48
1098
Palatine,
21617
17238
238695
38501.
2829
1300
4068
315(1
4337
3516
675C
1247 00
Root,
30311
30481
204552
29827
37fifc
1434
6699
2977
4017
6721
10fi36
1055 20
Stratford,
46381
2916
52989
1650
662
168
779
320
731
1441
1414
275 00
Wells,
238837
3545
40832
1520
451
85
526
219
490
1541
652
190 00
19289 66
333
1227712
305872
3578807
674899
50337
17198
76753138514
62159
69779
101680
13023
542

TOPOGRAPHY.

TOWNS.

tii
a
0 6

ii
1 CO
in18

GO
£
s

£SO
a 2

toCDa
3 o
s
"3 biC3
'J 2

e c .1

o ao

2 o- 2

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CO
1 >
5

1 ce
0.

0101
prt
H 3

0)COCD 1

oo« .
° £
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1-

«0 .
2 ii
egu =
1"fa"

CC C> >l
p
¦g »-2
a o e
Eh

to
"3JO u
tn

Amsterdam,

18

362

732

866

Bleeker,

8

1
3
36
48
56
Broadalbin, *
26
25
1
3
3
2
2
2
3
5
14
276
714
779
Canajoharie,
4
14
3
3
2
1
1
5
1
17
453
1076
1173
Charleston,
1
4
1
1
1
3
11
236
421
747
Ephrata,
3
31
3
2
1
3
5
8
178
814
653
Florida,
5
6
2
2
1
9
1
2
4
12
293
672
711
Glen,
2
4
2
2
1
1
2
10
253
723
648
Hope,
10
1
7
74
92
264
Johnstown,
6
30
6
5
2
1
5
30
764
1807
1638
Lake Pleasant,
6
5
33
2
65
Mayfield,
4
24
1
3
3
2
1
1
2
3
15
273
685
960
Minden,
4
14
1
1
1
3
12
365
897
743
Morehouse,
1
*
Northampton,
2
7
2
2
3
3
11
144
367
482
Oppenheim,
3
27
2
1
2
1
2
6
20
362
695
937
Palatine,
4
11
3
2
6
10
284
1043
578
Root,
1
18
6
14
286
620
727
Stratford,
1
11
1
5
55
S4
213
Wells.
2
9
1
1
4
35
30
112
74
Gt
274 s,
4
CO
31S3
39tn
8
o
13
©
5
5
si
18
o
2
.4
o
5
©
62
2
U0
226
4662
11522
12352
©
t-
t^
CO ©
cca
US
i>
o
CN
CC3
©
r~
Value of product,
to to
5*
xS3
5ll
©8
33
Si
tii31"3*
CO
{•-
©
o
CS CO
"
-H.
—
No.
of children above 5 and under
to
s
oo
© CO
M
¦o
to
S
CO CO
CO
o
CO
¦o
tn
g
16 years of age,
14,145.
Value of material,
ao
00
00
>o
-:¦
us
us
s
a
3
CD <>•
CO
oCO
¦*
o
1--
00
T ITT"
¦o ,©
0O r-l
* Included in Lake Pleasant.
NEW YORK,* original county, organised 1st November, 1683, contains Man
hattan Island, and all the land under water within the following bounds: beginning
atSpuyten Duyvel creek, where the same empties itself into the Hudson, on the
Westchester side thereof, at low water mark; thence along the said creek, at low
water mark on the Westchester side thereof, to the East river, or Sound; thence
across to Long Island, to low water mark there, including Great Barn Island, Lit
tle Barn Island, and Manning's Island; thence along Long Island shore, at low
water mark, to the south side of the Red Hook; thence across the North river,
so as to include Nutten Island, Bedlow's Island, Bucking Island, and the Oyster
Islands, to the west bounds of the state; thence along said bounds until directly
opposite to the first mentioned creek; and thence to the place of beginning.
Manhattan-)- Island is about 14^ miles long from N. to S., varying from half a
mile to two miles in width; area 21f square miles, or 13,920 acres — 1000 acres
more, it is supposed, will be eventually added to this area, by reclamations from
the rivers and marshes. Latitude of City Hall, 40° 42' 43" N.; Longitude W.
from Greenwich, England, 73° 59' 46"— E. from Washington City, 3° 1' 13".
By the charter and laws of the state, the corporation of the city has jurisdiction
over the territory ahove described.
The city proper is, however, upon Manhattan Island, at the confluence ofthe Hud
son and East rivers; nearly the whole island is surveyed into streets and blocks.
Upon the south point these are very irregular, particularly in the portion lying
east of Broadway, in which the streets, anciently laid out with the greatest possi
ble disregard of rule, are still narrow, crooked and incommodious, despite the
many and costly efforts which have been made, of late years, to improve, by
widening and straightening them. Upon the western side, the streets are more re
gularly disposed, and some of them, as Washington, Greenwich, and Hudson, are
* For map of county, see general map in frontispiece.
t We are told that Manhattan is derived from an Indian word, meaning " the place where
men get drunk" — given in allusion to the intoxication of the natives here on the visit of
Hudson.
NEW YORK COUNTY.

543

wide and convenient. North of the Park, or City Hall, the streets running from
east to west, if not straight, are generally of commodious breadth. North of
Houston street, and east of the Bowery, they are named in numerical order, and
extend from East river westerly across the island in proportion as the numbers
advance, until 13th street stretches, with unbroken line, from river to river.
From this point the city plat will have the most perfect regularity. Broad ave
nues run thence northeast, and are numbered in series, commencing with one on
the East river, and terminating with 12 on the North river. These avenues have
narrower streets between them, intersected by others at right angles, numbered
already as high as 156, and called by their numbers respectively. Of this
great area about one-fifth may be densely built on, including three miles in length
along the margin ofthe North river, about the same distance along Broadway, and
about four miles along the East river. B'ltin this fifth is still much ground, not
covered with houses — as much, probably, as would accommodate double the
amount of the present population. The whole island might contain about a mil
lion and a half of inhabitants; and in the ratio of increase which has prevailed
for the last forty years, this great number may be gained in the next half century.
Commercial and marine advantages aside, the site of the city did not seem the most
attractive. The surface was thrown into high aDd stony hills, interspersed with bogs
and marshes; but the hills have furnished material for widening the plat on the
rivers, and filling up the low grounds. Ia the compact part ofthe city, the knolls
have been removed, and the surface rises gradually from the bounding rivers. North
ward the island preserves its original broken surface, over which primitive rock
is seen cropping out in the hills, and lying in boulders in the vales. On both
rivers, the shores are commonly bold and clean, but on the East river, sometimes
marshy. Broadway, the most splendid street of the city, runs N. from the Bat
tery, about 3 miles, with a breadth of 80 feet. It is tbe great and fashionable
resort of every thing which inhabits the city, and at some hours of the day, in
fine weather, is inconveniently crowded with carriages and pedestrians. Upon
this avenue are some ofthe finest buildings of the city, as Grace, Trinity, and St.
Paul's, churches; city hall, city hotel, Astor house, and most of the other great
hotels, and the most splendid retail stores. Wall street is the domain of banks
and brokers, and Pearl street, of importers and jobbers. .
This undulating surface affords delightful sites for country seats, many of which
are tastefully improved; and good roads invite to the enjoyment of the picturesque
views, which a ride over the island supplies. A well constructed Macadamized
road leads from the Bowery along the third avenue to Harlaem, and a rail road
runs on the fourth avenne, designed to terminate at the same place. The company
for making the latter, incorporated in 1831, have authority to invest a capital of
$600,000, and have completed about 4 miles. In prosecution of the work, an ex
tensive tunnel must be excavated at Yorkville, from which there is a gradual
descent to the Harlaem river. There is a fine view of the East river and Hurl
gate, from the hotel at Yorkville. The grade of the rail road being required to
correspond with the regulation of the streets, has caused much deep cutting and
high embankment, which have rendered the work very expensive. The island
contracts on the N. to a point, where the Harlaem river and Spuyten Duyvel creek
unite at King's bridge. Near this point granular lime is substituted for the
granitic rock, lime kilns are erected and marble quarries opened. Besides King's
bridge, Macomb's and Harlaem bridges cross the Harlaem river into Westchester
county. The bay of New York, is not only one of the finest sea ports, but is also, one
of the finest water scenes of the world. It is generally open for vessels at all
seasons of the year, butis, at rare intervals, obstructed for a few days in very severe
winters, by ice. It may be entered from the ocean, by three passages, Long
Island Sound or East-river, the Narrows, and Staten Island Sound. For large
vessels the passage is by the Narrows. In its greatest extent, the bay is 8 miles
long, and has a breadth varying from one and a half, to five and a half miles, (See
p. 27, 28.) It contains Governors, Bedlow's, and Ellis', Islands, upon all of
which are strong fortifications, protecting the approach to the city. Like fortifi
cations on Long and Staten Islands, command the Narrows; and others are erected
on Manhattan Island. The fort on Governor's Island is called Columbus and the
Castle, William; that at Bedlow's, fort Wood; that at Long Island, La Fayette
and those opposite, on Staten Island, Tompkins, Richmond, and Hudson. The

544

TOPOGRAPHY.

harbours on the East and North rivers, are both good; but the former is the better,
being more closely land locked.
" From the Battery, the great promenade of the city, at the S. end of the island,
the view is enchanting. The spectator has before him on the E. the beautiful
and growing city of Brooklyn; upon the S. the broad bay, dotted with islands
and whitened by the canvass of many vessels, and bounded by the wooded shores
of Long Island, the high and richly adorned hills of Staten Island, and the cham
paign of the Jersey shore, terminating in the low mountain of Bergen; on the E.
he has the small city of Jersey and the picturesque heights of Hoboken.
The first settlement made with a view to permanent occupancy, was by the
Dutch, in 1615; in 1656, the city contained 120 houses; in 1677, 368 houses, and
2,000 souls, and in 1699, 6,000, inhabitants; in 1730, the population amounted to
8,638; in 1744, the number of houses was 1,141; in 1756, the inhabitants amounted
to 10,880; in 1771, to 21,865; in 1786, to 23,619; in 1790, to 33,131; in 1800, to
60,489; in 1805, to 75,770; in 1808, to 83,530; in 1810, to 96,373; in 1816, to
100,619. The further progress of the population, will be seen in the table ap
pended to this article.
From the year 1790 to the year 1800, the rate of increase of the population was
about 8 per cent, per annum; from 1800 to 1810, about 6 per cent.; from 1810 to
1820, less than 3 percent.; from 1820 to 1825, nearly 7 per cent. On the 4th
November, 1825, the completion ofthe canals was celebrated at New York. Be
tween the periods of taking the census in 1825 and 1830, the population had in
creased, from 166,086 to 202,957; at the rate of about i\ per cent.; and between
1830 and 1835, at more than 6A per cent. At the last rate on the present capital
the population will double itself in about 15 years.
For 7 years from 1816 to\1824, property, according to the assessments, ap
parently decreased in value; being estimated in the last year, at $52,019,730 —
$5,779,705, less than the valuation of 1816. This diminution was not real. The
value in 1816, was represented in paper, and in 1824, in metallic currency. In
the 7 years, from 1825 to 1831, the increase was $43,706,755.
The annexed table shows the value of property in the several wards, for the
years 1834 and 1835.
Comparative List of the valuations of taxable property in the city and county of
New York, for the years 1834 and 1835.

Assessment of 1834.

Assessment of 1835.

WARDS.

Real Estate.
Persl. Estate.
Real Estate.
Persl. Estate.
First -
$23,632,918
$26,800,391
$26,364,500
$29,885,728
Second
11,454,050
3,078,197
13,108,000
3,263,050
Third -
10,408,800
7,322,220
10,904,200
7,971,450
Fourth
6,927,600
2,849,780
7,749,800
3,180,250
Fifth -
8,745,400
3,124,300
8,961,600
4,198,850
Sixth - - -
5,838,850
4,146,100
6,366,958
4,353,780
Seventh
7,776,130
3,047,040
8,553,037
3,845,030
Eighth
7,727,730
2,403,605
8,501,115
2,949,790
Ninth - - -
5,010,420
1,021,100
6,204,825
1,120,940
Tenth -
4,157,900
1,004,178
4,825,500
1,008,150
Eleventh -
6,220,900
777,393
8,796,100
999,590
•Twelfth -
3,027,000
76,000
5,245,710
116,000
tTwelfth -
6,230,449
928,820
10,424,510
2,398,650
Thirteenth -
2,625,260
415,625
2,993,300
451,850
Fourteenth -
4,927,300
2,099,457
5,514,720
2,561,360
Fifteenth -
7,765,800
4,106,025
9,635,750
6,686,810
$122,476,507
$63,299,231
$143,732,425
$74,991,278
1834.
1
335.
Increase.
Real Estate
$122,476,.'
>07 $14.€
,732,425
$21,255,918
Personal Estate
63,299,5
!31 74
,991,278
11,692,047
Total
$185,775,"
'38 '$218
,723,703
$32,947,965
* South of the Lamp and Watch District. t North of the do. do.
NEW YORK COUNTY.

545

The following table gives a view of the valuations of real and personal estate,
and of the city taxes, for 31 years.

Valuation.

City Tax.

Valuation.

City Tax. .

1805

$25,645,867

$127,946 87

1821

$68,285,070

$299,430 30

1806

26,529,630

127,814 97

1822,

71,289,144

303,105 61

1807

24,959,955

129,155 09

1823

70,940,820

351,814 36

1808

25,118,720

138,984 18

1824

83,075,676

353,329 89

1809

24,782,367

139,027 39

1825

.. 101,160,046

336,868 82

1810

25,486,370

129,727 15

1826 .

- 107,477,78.1

383,758 89

1811

26,045,730

176,978 25

1827

112,211,926

437,692 02

1812

26,245,040

174,920 17

1828

. 114,019,533

485,751 72

1813

27,640,230

174,726 94

1829

112,526,016

.507,107 24

1814

82,901,497

214,225 09

1830

. 125,288,518

509,178 44

1815

81,636,042

197,913 38

1831

139,280,214

562,104 05

1816

82,074,200

180,653 94

1832

146.302,618

665,385 74

1817

78,895,735

216,720 44

1833

166,491,542

971,865 61

1818

80,245,091

255,740 79

1834

186,548,511

835,605 49

1819

79,113,061

250,140 21

1835

218,723,703

850,000 00

1820

69,530,753

270,361 19

i
The city, called New Amsterdam, prior to the conquest by the English, in
1664, appears to have had a corporate character, under the government of a Schout
or Sheriff, and magistrates called schepens and burgomasters, who also formed a
court of judicature. The first formal charter was granted 12th June, 1665, by
Col. Nicholls, vesting its. government in a mayor, five aldermen and a sheriff.* A
second was given by Governor Thomas Dongan, 22d April, 1686, by which the
government was lodged in a mayor, recorder, six aldermen, and six assistants, a
chamberlain or treasurer, sheriff, coroner, clerk, high constable, 7 sub-constables,
marshal, and a Serjeant at mace: The mayor, recorder, and aldermen, formed the
Common Council. A third was given by Governor Montgomery,15th January, 1730,
reciting the preceding ones; dividing the city into seven wards; increasing the
number of aldermen and assistants to seven, respectively: The mayor, recorder,
and sheriff, were appointable by the Governor, the aldermen and assistants eligible
by the citizens. This last charter forms the basis of the privilege's and rights of
the city; but, it has been much changed by acts of the legislature.
At present, the city is divided into 16 wards; each elects, annually, an alder
man and assistant alderman; who form the Common Council of the city; the alder
men meeting in one chamber, and the assistant aldermen in another, and known,
respectively, as the Board of Aldermen, and Board of Assistants. By the present
constitution, the mayor was appointable by the Governor and senate; but, by the
alteration of that instrument and the act of 3d March, 1834, that< officer is now
chosen, annually, by the electors of the city; and in case of his absence or of
vacancy in his office, his duties devolve on the president of the Board of Aldermen.
The recorder is appointed by the Governor and senate. The Council possesses
the legislative power in the city, subject to the approbation of the mayor; but
in case of his veto, any ordinance negatived may be passed by a majority of the
whole number of the members of each board. The mayor is specially charged,
to communicate to the Council, annually, or oftener, a general statement relative
to the condition of the city: To recommend to them the adoption of measures
connected with the police, security, health, cleanliness or armament of the city,
and the improvement of its government and finances: To enforce the laws and
ordinances; and to exercise constant supervision and control of subordinate offi
cers; to examine complaints made against them; and generally, to perform the
duties prescribed to him by the charter, city ordinances, and the laws of the state,
and of the United States. Many of the subordinate officers are appointed by the
mayor, others by the council.
* First officers. Thomas Willet, mayor; Thomas Delaval, OrlafF Stuyvesant, John Brng-
ges, Cornelius Van Ricyven, late seoretary, and John Lawrence, aldermen; Allard Anthony
sheriff. 69
546

TOPOGRAPHY.

The courts of the city are " the superior court;" court of common pleas; court
of general sessions; court of special sessions, marine court; justices' courts, of
whidh there are six; and the police court, in which there are five magistrates; for
the powfrs and jurisdiction of these courts, see page 277, &c.
Among other departments established by the council is that of the Alms house.
Bridewell, and Penitentiary, under the direction of five commissioners who hold
office during the pleasure of the Council, and serve without compensation. The
alms house, a very spacious building, stands upon the East river, at Bellevue;
dependent upon it, are the lunatic asylum, on Blackwell's Island, and the estab
lishment for pauper children, upon Long Island Farms, opposite Blackwell's
Island. The Bridewell, comprehends several places for the detention of prisoners
in the compact part of the city; the Penitentiary or prison for convicts, is upon
Blackwell's Island. All these institutions are maintained at the annual cost of
about $170,000.
The city of New York suffers much in every way, and especially, from con
flagrations, for want of an abundant supply of wholesome water. Water for do
mestic uses is obtained from wells and cisterns. That in the southern portions
of the city is scarce potable, and much is brought from the higher parts of the
island. Wells have been sunk to great depth, as at Holt's hotel, some hundred
feet, without very beneficial results. The Manhattan Water Company raise by
steam engines, a considerable quantity, which is distributed by subterranean pipes
through the city; but the supply is far short of the demand. Under these circum
stances the corporation is about to seek relief from the Croton river, in the neigh
bouring county of Westchester, distant 41 miles — proposing to bring the stream
through a stone aqueduct, inclining 15 inches in the mile, to Murray's Hill, three
miles N. ofthe city; and 114 feet 10 inches above tide, and 7 feet higher than the
highest roof. The minimum supply from the Croton, is estimated at 30 mil
lions, and the ordinary quantity, at 50 millions of gallons, daily. The expense
of the aqueduct is estimated at $4,150,709; and that of pipes for distribution
through the streets of the city below 23d street; say one hundred sixty-seven and a
quarter miles, at $1,261,627. The report of the commissioners was approved
by the Council and by a vote ofthe citizens, April, 1835; and one million of dol
lars has been borrowed for carrying it into effect; but the work has not yet been
commenced. The completion of such a work would have honoured imperial
Rome. The public buildings,, worthy of special notice, are the City Hall; Trinity and
St. Paul's, churches; St. John's Chapel; St. Patrick's Cathedral, and several
other churches; the New York University; Columbia College; the Hospital;
the Custom House; several banking houses in Wall street, the American Theatre,
the Opera House; Astor's, City, and Holt's, hotels.
The city hall, stands near the centre ofthe Park, an area of about 4 acres. The
front of the building is of white marble, and the rear of fjyack free stone; length
816, breadth 105 feet, height, including the attic story, 65 feet. It contains the
council chambers, court rooms, city offices, &c, all of which are properly furnish
ed and adorned. A collection of portraits of distinguished men here, grows yearly
in interest. East ofthe hall, is a neat building, formerly a jail, appropriated also,-
to city offices; and in the rear, is a range of brick buildings, once the alms house,
now called the New York Institution, and occupied by the Literary and Philoso
phical Society, the American Academy of the Fine Arts, &c., &c, and a portion
of it still, by the commissioners ofthe alms house.
Trinity church, on Broadway, fronting on Wall street, founded 1696, enlarged
1737; burned in 1776; rebuilt in 1778; is of stone in gothic style, and has a
steeple 198 feet high; with the only chime of bells in the city, and an excellent
organ. The cemetery around it enclosed with a costly iron railing, where no in
terments have been made for some years, contains by authentic records, more than
160,000 bodies exclusive of those deposited therein during the seven years of the
revolutionary war. Here repose the remains of General Hamilton and Captain
Lawrence. Within the church, is a beautiful allegorical monument, reared to the
memory of the late Bishop John Henry Hobart.
St. Paul's Chapel, opposite the Park, is a superb structure; adorned with a
Dortico ofthe Ionic order, consisting of four fluted pillars of red sandstone, sup
porting a pediment with a niche in the centre filled with the statue of St. Paul.

NEW YORK COUNTY. 547
Beneath the portico is a monument,, erected by order of Congress, to the memory
of General Montgomery, under which his remains were buried in 1819. The
spire of this church is 234 feet high. The building is deemed one of the best
specimens of architecture in the city.
St. John's Chapel, Varick street, is also an elegant edifice, and the most costly
church of the city; more than $200,000 having been expended upon it. Its
spire is 240 feet high.
St. Patrick's, Roman Cathedral, 120 feet long, 80 feet wide, is the largest
church in the city. Many other of the churches are highly ornamental.
The University of the city of New York, on Washington square, fronting west,
of marble .from Sing Sing, is a specimen of the English collegiate style of archi
tecture. It is one hundred feet wide and one hundred and eighty long. In front,
this oblong is divided into five parts, a central building with wings and flanked
towers, one rising on each ofthe four corners of the edifice. The central building,
or chapel, is superior to the rest in breadth, height, and character, and is some
what similar to that of King's "College, Cambridge, (England.) It is fifty-five
feet broad and eighty-five feet deep, including the octangular turrets, one of which
rises at each of the four corners. The two ends are gabled, and are, as<well as
the sides, crowned with an embattled parapet. The chapel receives its principal
' light from a window in the western end, which is twenty-four feet wide and fifty
in height. The doors are of oak, richly pannelled. The principal entrance is
under the great western window, through a richly moulded and deeply recessed
portal. (See p. 194.)
The City Hotel, of brick, 7 stories high, has a fine assembly room, and more
than 100 parlours and chambers; Holt's Hotel, fronting on Water* Pearl, and
Fulton, streets, is of white marble, 6 stories high exclusive of the basement, and
is surmounted by a lofty quadrangular tower, around which is a promenade.
Above the tower, is a spacious rotunda, whence an expansive view of the city and
environs is obtained. The fronts of the first story are divided into stores; the
second story is distributed into dining, drawing, and sitting rooms; the dining
room being 100 feet by 28; the third story contains parlours, &c, appropriated to
the accommodation of gentlemen having ladies or families. A steam engine is
employed to raise the provisions from the kitchens, and the water for the baths.
The house is 100 feet high, from the base lo the foot of the tower; and 140 to the
summit. It contains altogether, 165 rooms, 25 of which are parlours, and 125 bed
chambers. .
The Astor Hotel, erected by John Jacob Astor, opened 31st May, 1836, built of
Quincy granite, in a style remarkably massive, simple, and chaste, five stories
high, fronts 201 feet on Broadway, directly opposite the Park, 154 on Barclay
street; and 146£, on Vesey street. Its height is 77 feet. It contains between
300 and 400 rooms. The dining room, on Barclay street, is 100 feet by 40, and
19t\, high. The house is furnished with magnificence and taste, corresponding to
its grandeur and simplicity, and is certainly the largest hotel in the United States,
and perhaps in the world. The basement story is distributed into stores; and
thus the establishment forms of itself, like the Palais Royal, of Paris, an almost
independent colony.
There are many other large and well kept hotels, but the buildings do not
claim special notice.
The Custom House, now being erected, at the corner of Wall and Nassau
streets, will be a splendid edifice of marble, adapted to the great commercial
business of the city.
Within 20 years, not only has the city doubled its size by new buildings, but a
large portion of the older part has been rebuilt, especially, the stores and ware
houses, which are very commodious; and the late disastrbus fire of December 16,
1835, has afforded an opportunity, not neglected, to make further improvement in
this respect. The buildings in the modern portion of the city, are generally neat
and well constructed; many of them of granite and marble, have great elegance
and the advantages which science and taste bestow. We may refer to the man
sions of marble on La Fayette place; to those on Waverly place, and generally to
tlie buildings' of this vicinage, as illustrative of our remarks. There are, however,
in the city, still, many houses of wood, and many of other materials badly built.

548 TOPOGRAPHY.
From this cause, fires here are very destructive, despite of the praiseworthy dili
gence and activity of the fire department.
The public squares or promenades, in the compact part of the city are too few,
for the health or pleasure of the inhabitants. The Battery, the pride of the city,
is indeed ah admirable spot for enjoying the fresh sea breeze and the most delight
ful prospect; and the determination ofthe corporation to enlarge its area, is highly
commendable. But it is at the extreme south end of the city, far from the centre
of population, and its enjoyments can be purchased, by many, only at an incon
venient expenditure of time. The only other squares or malls, are the Park, St.
John's Park, Washington, and Tompkins, squares. "But St. John's Park is not
open to the public. In the extension of the city, so far as we can judge of the
plat, the matter does not seem to have been sufficiently cared for.
The places of public amusement, are five theatres including the opera house;
two museums, containing many meritorious objects of curiosity; and two public
gardens; that of Niblo, upon Broadway, and Castle Garden, adjacent to the Bat
tery. The latter is formed of the area of Fori Clinton. It has been justly re
marked that the American cities, generally, are illy provided with amusement;
and New York is not an exception. There are, however, in the vicinity of the
city, several places of great resort, during the fine season. The chief of these,
accessible by steam boat, in half an hour's time, are Staten Island, Jersey city,
Weehawk, and Hoboken. At the last, the grounds of Mr. Stevens, liberally
opened to the public, are highly attractive, not only by the natural beauties they
possess, hut by the fine prospects they afford of the city, bay, aiid river. Of
Staten Island and its attractions, we have spoken, under Richmond county. The
rail roads from Jersey city, to Patterson; Newark, Elizabethtown, Rahway,
and New Brunswick, have brought these places within convenient distance for
pleasure excursions.
Harlaem village, 8 miles from the compact part of the city at the commence
ment of the rail road, was founded with the view to the amusement and recreation
ofthe citizens, in 1658. We find in the ancient Dutch records, that "the Gover
nor and council, desirous to form a new village at the end of Manhattan Island,
proposed to settlers grants of land of 45 acres each at 13 shillings the acre, free
from tithes, for 10 years, and to assign 15 soldiers for their defence, to erect a
sub-court of justice when there should be 25 families established, to provide a
clergyman, half of whose salary should be paid by the government, and to make
a road to the city by the company's negroes." This is now a village of some 200
dwellings, much resorted to at all seasons. Manhattan ville and Bloomingdale,
hamlets on the western side of the island, are also much frequented.
The city is well lighted, partly by gas, supplied by incorporated companies and
partly by oil lamps. The night watch consists of 700 persons, and is deemed
vigilant and efficient.
- The city has a large real estate, rapidly growing in value, estimated, in 1836,
at $4,261,047 51; of which $1,754,965 11, were employed for public purposes.
The ordinary expenditures are over a million, annually. In '1835, they amounted
to $1,304,590 90, including expenditures for real estate.
The climate is not unfavourable to health, except to persons predisposed to
consumption. In 1835, the death of nearly one half of the persons over 20 years
of age, was occasioned by this disease. But the disease is not so prevalent here
as in the more northern sea ports. The air is keen and cold in winter; the spring
backward and lingering; the summer heats are tempered by the sea breeze, which
renders the nights commonly comfortable, in the hottest weather.
New York is the commercial metropolis, not only of the state, but of the Union.
We have given some views of its commerce, at page 338. The number of arrivals
of vessels from foreign countries, in 1834, was 1932; in 1835, 2044; ofthe latter,
1565 w«re American; 287 English; 55 Dutch; 40 Swedes; 32 French; 15 Span
ish; 14 Danish-; 10 Austrian; 520 were ships; 124 barques; 938 brigs; 10 galliots;
446 schooners and 6 sloops-: American tonnage, entered 373,465, cleared 289,552.
Foreign tonnage, entered 90,999, cleared 80,038. The tonnage belonging to the
port, was 162,874, registered, and 205,420, licensed. In 5 years, from 1831 to
1835, inclusive, the number of passengers arriving at this port, was 205,493, = to
41,098 per annum. The maximum number, in 1832, was 48,589; the minimum,
in 1831,31,739.

NEW YORK COUNTY. 549
The following statement shows the duties paid yearly for 10 years, on importa
tions into the port:
Amount of duties on goods imported in 1826, - - $11,525,862 22
Do. Do. 1827, - - 13,217,695 89
Do. Do. 1828, - - 13,745,147 21
Do. Do.' 1829, - - 13,052,«V76 36
Do. Do. 1830, - - 15,012,553 29
Do. Do. 1831, - - 20,096,136 60
Do. Do. 1832, - - 15,070,124 30
Do. , Do. 1833, - - 13,039,181 18
Do. Do. 1834, - , - 10,183,152 64
Do. Do. 1835, - - 14,468,116 04
Regular lines of packets are established, to Liverpool five times the month; to
London thrice; to Havre three times; to Hull, Greenock, Belfast, Carthagena,
Vera Cruz, Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, Mobile, Washington, Philadel
phia, &c., which sail at stated periods, with , the most absolute certainty practi
cable. To the Banks of the city, enumerated at p. 275, we are to add the Bank of the
State of New York, incorporated in 1836, with a capital of two millions; making
the banking capital of the city $16,611,200. The Bank of the United States of
Philadelphia, employs an agency and some millions here in the purchase of bills
of exchange. The number of insurance companies, particularly against loss by
fire, was much increased also in 1836.
Literary and Scientific Institutions, and Institutions connected with ihe Arts.
Columbia College, a fine building of stone, is situate on a spacious square between
Murray, Barclay, Church, and Chapel streets. The institution, founded by private
subscription, was established under a royal charter in 1754, confirmed by various
acts of the state legislature, principally by that of 13th April, 1787. The edifice
and grounds attached are extensive; the former contains a chapel, lecture rooms,
hall, library, museum, and dwellings for several of the professors. The college
received from the colonial government some large donations, and from the state,
since 1792, $92,375. Its estate is estimated at more than $400,000.
The faculty consists of a President, and Professors of Moral and Intellectual
Philosophy, Rhetoric, Belles Lettres, and Political Economy — of .the Greek and
Latin Languages — ofthe Jay Professor of the Greek and Latin Languages, who
is also rector of the Grammar School — of a Professor of Natural arid Experimen
tal Philosophy and Chemistry — of a Professor of Law — of a Professor of Mathe
matics, Analytical Mechanics, and Physical Astronomy — of the Italian Language
and Literature — of the French Language and Literature — ofthe Spanish Language
and Literature — of the Hebrew Language and Literature. The number of gra
duates, from the founding of the college to 1836, is about 1700. The trustees are
24 in number.
Commencement following the 1st Monday in October; vacation from August
1st to the first Monday in October. The Peithologian and the Philolexian socie
ties, composed of students and graduates, are connected with the college. A-
grammar school is also connected with it, in which are ordinarily more than 200
students, under the care of a rector and eight instructors, besides teachers of the
French, Spanish,. German, and Italian languages. A primary school attached to
the institution prepares boys, from five to ten years of age, for the- more advanced
classes. •
The New York University, of which we have sufficiently spoken at p. 194.
Numerous select schools, such as the nature and extent of the population re
quire, among which the Mechanics' School, founded in 1821, by the General So-
' ciety of Mechanics and Tradesmen, at Nos. 34-38, Crosby street, (merits special
notice. It has a department for males, and another for females, ' In the former
ordinarily are about 250, and in the latter 200, pupils. The institution is govern
ed by the " School Committee" of the Society, consisting of 13 members, of which
the president of the association is, ex officio, one. There are in the city, also
about 30 distinguished seminaries for the education of females,

550 TOPOGRAPHY.
The Roman Catholics have four free schools, connected, respectively, with St.
Patrick's, St. Peter's, St. Mary's, and Christ, churches, in which there are from
1800 to 2000 scholars, of both sexes.
We have described the free school system at p. 206.
The New York Historical Society, established in 1809, by private contribution,
and legislative assistance, possesses a library of about 10,000 volumes, with a va
luable cabinet of coins and medals.
New York Society Library, founded in 1754, when a subscription of £600 was
made for the purpose by the efforts of Messrs. Philip Livingston, Robert R. Li
vingston, William Livingston, John Morin Scott, and we presume Wm. Smith.
Open daily from 10 A. M. to 3 P. M.; contains 20,000 volumes; is supported by
sales of shares at $25, and an annual subscription of $4 by each shareholder.
New York Athenaeum, founded in 1824, for the promotion of science and litera
ture. Lyceum of Natural History, established in 1818, has a valuable library and mu
seum of natural history.
The American Lyceum, founded in May, 1831, for the promotion of education,
particularly by common schools. One of its leading objects is to establish ly-
ceums, (or associations for mutual intellectual improvement,) in towns, counties,
states, and territories; and through such channels to receive and transmit useful
knowledge on all subjects important to the people of the United States generally.
The annual meetings are held on the Friday preceding the second Thursday of
May, and are attended by delegates from literary associations and institutions, and
friends of knowledge, of different states; and the exercises consist of essays and
memoirs furnished by writers appointed, or volunteers, debates on appropriate to
pics, &c. Their proceedings are published in the official journal, the " Annals of
Education." Measures have been recently taken to embrace within the range of
the society, so much of natural science and the fine arts as is appropriate to their
general objects.
New York City Lyceum, organised in 1834, for the diffusion of knowledge by
popular lectures, has an extensive reading room, at Constitution Hall, Broadway.
Journals. — In January, 1835, there were published: — Daily morning papers,
7; do. evening do. 4; do. small do. 5 — 16, including one French journal; semi-
weekly, 10; tri-weekly, 2; religious, literary, and political, including 1 German,
weekly, 27; republication' of English works, do. 5; including one French journal,
semi-monthly, 3; do. do. do. monthly, 19; every two months, 1; quarterly, 2 —
total 85.
New York Literary and Philosophical Society.
Apprentices' Library, established by the General Society of Mechanics and
Tradesmen, in 1820. More than 1500 apprentices are supplied with books from
this valuable institution.
Mercantile Library Association, instituted 1821, has a library of about 10,000
volumes; reading rooms open daily from 10 A. M. to 10 P. M., where may be
found the principal periodical publications of the United States, Great Britain, and
France. Annual courses of lectures on literature and science, are delivered be
fore the Association. The number of members is about 1600.
New York Law Institute, established 1828, by the members of the bar, for the
formation of a library and professional improvement; incorporated 1830; the li
brary contains 2000 volumes select works, including nearly the whole series of
English and American reporters. Members pay $100 for a share in the Insti
tute. American Academy of Fine Arts, in Barclay street, established in 1808.
National Academy of Design, founded in 1826, and located at Clinton Hall, is
enriched with many productions of American art. It has professorships of Paint
ing, Anatomy, Sculpture, and Mythology.
Clinton Hall Association, instituted 1821, for the cultivation and promotion of
literature, science, and the arts.
General Sooiety of Mechanics and Tradesmen, established for the promotion ofthe
general interests of that class of citizens. The president is, ex officio, a director of
the Mechanics' Bank.

NEW YORK COUNTY. 551
Mechanics' Institute, incorporated in 1833; holds an annual fair for the exhibition
of models, machines, &c. and has a library of about 900 volumes.
American Institute, organised Jan., 1828; incorporated 2d May, 1829, for promot
ing domestic industry in agriculture, commerce,manufactures, and the arts, by grant
ing rewards to those who improve or excel therein. It consists of four departments,
appropriated respectively to the subjects above named. Under its auspices, manu
facturers' fairs and exhibitions are annually holden in October, and addresses illus
trative of the objects ofthe society, delivered. The Institute has also published
reports on various subjects relating to manufactures and commerce; and to encou
rage the culture of silk in the United States, imported in 1829 a quantity of mul
berry seed from France for gratuitous distribution among agriculturists. It has
founded a statistical library upon very liberal terms, in which there are more
than 2000 volumes of great value; and also a depository of the arts, for the per
manent exhibition of machines, models, drawings, and inventions, &c,
The Institution for the Blind, described at page 211, received by acts of 30th
April, and 20th May, 1836, an appropriation of $12,000, on condition that the
managers should raise $8,000, to be applied to the purchase of real estate; and the
Institution was required to receive from each senate district, 4 indigent pupils, in
addition to those previously supported by the state, between 8 and 25 years of
age, in like manner, and at the like expense, as is provided for the indigent deaf
and dumb — and to report 1st February annually, to the legislature, the disposition
ofthe funds received from the state.
Religious, Moral, and Benevolent Institutions.
Gsneral Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church, noticed at page
220. Churches. — Presbyterian, 38; Episcopalian, 28; Methodist,; 20; Baptist, 20;
Reformed Dutch, 13; Roman Catholic, 6; Friends, 4; Lutheran, 2; Universalist,
3; Unitarian, 2; Independent, 2; Jews, 3; Moravian, 1; miscellaneous, 4. Total,
146. The Presbyterian Education Society.
The Board of Education of New York, auxiliary to the above.
American Bible Society — office 115 Nassau street.
American Tract Society — house 150 Nassau street.
American Home Missionary Society — office 142 Nassau street.
American Seaman's Friend Society — office* 82 Nassau street.
American Sunday School Union — Branch Depository N. York, 205 Broadway.
New York Sunday School Union.
Colonisation Society ofthe City of New York, founded 1831.
New York Manumission Society.
General Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union, 1826.
New York Protestant Episcopal Tract Society, 1810.
New York Protestant Episcopal Education and Missionary Society.
New York Protestant Episcopal Press.
New York Auxiliary Bible and Prayer-book Society.
Roman Catholic Benevolent Society.
Society for the Education of Orphan Children of Jewish persuasion.
The Female Hebrew Benevolent Society.
The Hebrew Benevolent Society.
Jewish Society for the Offerings of the Sanctuary.
Society for Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents, 1825.
Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Servants.
Society for relief of poor Widows with small children.
Association for the Relief of respectable aged Indigent Females, 1814,210 Ful
ton street.
New York Asylum for Lying-in-Women, 1823, situated in Orange street above
Prince. Marine Society of the city of New York, 1770.
New England Society.
St. George's Society.
St. Andrew's Society.

552 TOPOGRAPHY.
Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.
French Benevolent Society.
German Society.
Humane Society of the city of New York, 1787.
New York City Temperance Society.
Missionary Society of Reformed Dutch Church in North America,
New York Marine Bible Society.
New York Female Auxiliary Bible Society.
Auxiliary Foreign Missionary Society for New York and Brooklyn.
New York City Tract Society.
New York Female Tract Society.
Education Society ofthe Reformed Dutch Church.
Sunday School Union of the Reformed Dutch Church.
Synod's Board of Missions of Reformed Dutch Church.
Foreign Board of Missions of Reformed Dutch Churchy
American Baptist Home Missionary Society — office, Clinton Hall.
Youth's Domestic Baptist Missionary Society.
Young Men's Baptist Education Society.
Female Baptist Education Society.
The Society for promoting the Gospel among the Seamen of the Port of New
York. American Anti-Slavery Society.
New York Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Society. Thirty-seven schools
are in union with the Society, containing more than 4000 scholais.
New York Protestant Episcopal City Mission Society.
Bible Society ofthe Methodist Episcopal Church.
Missionary Society ofthe Methodist Episcopal Church.
Bible, Tract, and Sunday School Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Sunday School Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Methodist Book Concern, established for the purpose of distributing books and
tracts throughout the United States, the net profits to be appropriated to benevo
lent purposes. This concern had large and commodious buildings for its purpose
200 Mulberry street, but which have been recently destroyed by fire.
Female Assistance Society.
St. Nicholas Society of the city of New York.
Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum, conducted by the Sisters of Charity, supporting
about 200 orphans of both sexes.
St. Joseph Catholic Institution, for the relief of half orphans, and children of poor
widows and widowers, in which there are about 100 children, also under the care
of the Sisters of Charity.
Orphan Asylum Society of the City of New York, instituted 1806, maintaining
about 200 orphans. The society has nine acres of ground five miles from the city,
on the North river, on which a suitable building is to be erected.
Infant School Society, instituted 1827, when the first school was opened, serv
ing as a model school and seminary, where teachers are trained for other schools.
Clerks' Benevolent Association. Miscellaneous Associations.
New York State Society of Cincinnati.
Merchants' Exchange Company.
New York Typographical Society.
New York Typographical Association.
Knickerbocker Society.
Tontine Coffee House Association.
General Trades Union, composed of the organised societies of journeymen me
chanics and artisans of New York, Brooklyn, and vicinity; each society being
represented in the general convention.
Medical Institutions of New York Cily.
College of Physicians and Surgeons, in Barclay street. It has professorships of
Physiology, Anatomy, Principles and Practice of Surgery, Surgical Anatomy and

NEW YORK COUNTY. 553
Operative Surgery, Theory and Practice of Physic, Obstetrics and Diseases of
Women and Children, Materia Medica and Medical Jurisprudence, Chemistry and
Botany. i
The lectures commence on the 1st Monday of November, annually, and conti
nue four months. Deorees are conferred by the Regents of the University, on re
commendation of tlie board of trustees. The institution is in a flourishing condi
tion. The number of students in 1834-5, was J 58; the expense of the full course
of lectures is $110.
Medical Society of the City and County of New York.
New York Hospital, founded and incorporated 13th June, 1771, by the Earl of
Dunmore, the governor of the colony, on the petition of Drs, Peter Middleton, John
Jones, and Samuel Bard, to Lieut. Gov. Colden, in the previous year. The cor
poration is governed by 26 governors, elected by the members; members are cre
ated by election of the governors, and the payment, of $40; and by a provision in
the charter, the mayor, recorder, aldermen, and assistants, of the city, the rector of
Trinity church, President of Columbia college, and the ministers of certain
churches of the city, are, ex officio, members ofthe corporation. The funds for the
original establishment were obtained by donations from individuals in the city and
in London, and by liberal grants from the Provincial Legislature, with which the
lot of 5 acres on Broadway was purchased, and a suitable building commenced.
The latter was destroyed, before it was completed, by fire, in Feb. 1775. This
misfortune, and the troubles of the revolution, delayed the finishing of the house
until 1791. Since the declaration of independence, large donations have been
made to the institution by the state, for the general administration of its affairs,
and for the erection ofthe Lunatic Asylum at Bloomingdale, a branch ofthe insti
tution. The hospital, and its dependencies, are now maintained by an annual donation
from the state of $22,500, pledged to be continued until 1857; by the surplus
funds ofthe lazaretto establishment; by certain fines for breach ofthe port regula
tions; by moneys received from the United States, for aid administered to sick and
disabled seamen in the port of New York; by funds transferred from the Lying-in
Hospital, in consideration of the establishment of a lying-in ward; and by the
initiatory contribution of members, and from pay patients. From these sources,
the receipts amount altogether to about $68,000, the larger portion of which is an
nually expended.
The corporation have the lot above mentioned, on which are erected commo
dious stone buildings, three stories high above the basement, sufficiently large
to accommodate from 300 to 400 patients, and the Bloomingdale Asylum, 7 miles
from the City Hall, on one .of the most healthful and beautiful spots of the island,
to which belong about 70 acres of land. The buildings are of stone, three stories
high, 211 feet long, and afford accommodations for about -200 patients. The cura
tive means employed embrace all the latest and most humane improvements, and
are eminently successful. In the establishment ofthe Asylum, the corporation in
curred a debt of $146,000, nine thousand five hundred of which have been repaid,
and the sinking fund established for the redemption of the remainder now exceeds
$50,000. New York Quarantine Hospital, at Staten Island, established by act ofthe legis
lature, 14th April, 1820.
Hospital at Bellevue, for the sick and insane poor, is a branch of the City Alms
House, and its expenses are included in that establishment.
New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, 96 Elm street.
New York Infirmary for Diseases of the Lnng§ and Heart, No. 542 Pearl 6treet.
New York Dispensary, established in 1790, for the relief of the indigent sick,
gave succour, in 1834, to 23,444 patients expending $3,702.
Northern Dispensary, founded in 1827 with the same purpose, relieved, in 1835,
5000 patients, at the cost of $2,300.
Eastern Dispensary, founded 15th June, 1834, ^relieved, in 1835, 7774 patients.
College of Pharmacy, established in 1829, to prevent errors in the preparation of
medicine; incorporated in 1831. An act of 1832 requires all persons commencino-
business as apothecaries, subsequently to the year 1835, to have graduated at this
or some other regularly constituted college.
The city has frequently suffered greatly from fire; nearly one-fourth of it was
70

554

TOPOGRAPHY.

consumed 29th September, 1776; but the most calamitous visitation of this kind
was on the night ofthe 16th December, 1835, when a fire, commencing about 9
o'clock, raged until noon ofthe next day, during which time a violent N. W. wind
prevailed, and the cold became so intense as to freeze the water in the hose and
engines, so as to render them nearly useless. A great proportion of that part of
the city east of William street, south of Wall street, and west of the East river,
was reduced to ashes. The fire was extinguished at last by blowing up several
valuable houses with gunpowder. The numerous and extensive warehouses were
at the time filled with valuable merchandise of almost every description. FoDr
hundred and thirty houses were consumed, and the loss was estimated at about fif
teen millions of dollars. So rapid and irresistible was the conflagration, that much
of the property which had been removed from the stores was consumed in the
streets, where it had been placed for greater safety. Insurance nearly to the

1825.

1820.

1835.

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Deaths.

WARDS.

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3 a 3o

1st ward,

9929

11331

5655

4725

1567

2208

1263

1334

1549

1373

52

128

117

77

78

2d w ard,

9315

8203

4375

3174

575

1477

811

750

120!)

876

27

65

69

48

24

3d ward.

10201

9599

5422

5462

1294

2211

1067

1161

2-JS4

1504

112

131

113

103

74

4th ward,

12210

1J705

8671

6768

2986

3159

2433

2243

201J

2139

IOC

236

221

167

124

5th ward,

15093

17722

8403

10092

1379

2813

2570

2608

301'

3164

172

331

308

250

194

6th ward,

20061

13570

8239

6588

1762

2216

2026

2535

2574

23fiR

37

264

641

104

57

7th ward,

14192

15873

10080

11401

1726

3611

2191

3238

3090

40211

20fi

452

442

275

241

8th ward,

24285

20729

12968

15602

2386

4245

1669

4438

427S

5204

W

47M

456

272

264

9th ward,

10956

22810

9889

10729

•860

3122

1339

3498

1990

4339

15F

267

332

269

202

10th ward,

2393-2

16438

10040

10886

1839

3684

1246

3114

WW

385f

235

41?

409

2711

231'

11th ward,

7344

14915

12865

13980

2589

4137

28R5

4826

2W0

5666

176

587

612

334

242

12th ward,

7938

11808

13128

11309

861

3288

3713

3216

1910

3240

9S

318

257

451

416

13th ward,

12598

8076

9054

1689

2606

1921

2715

1975

3406

178

272

283

288

208

14th ward,

14238

8130

9176

1327

2444

1469

2344

1964

279S

20S

364

394

230

174

15th ward,

5683
7519
824
1970
1086
1955
2742
2533
38
217
178
117
141
166086
202589
131624
138465
23658
43091
27669
39975
35697
46505
1990
4528
4432
3255
2670
Note. Total population, 270,089; Paupers, 1,799: Blacks, 15,129; Black voters, 6
177; Blind, 106; Idiots, 34; Lunatics, 176.
; Deaf and Dumb,
WARDS.
1st ward,
' 2d ward,
3d ward,
-4th ward,
5th ward.
6th ward,
7th ward,
8th ward,
9th ward,
10th ward,
11th ward,
12th ward,
13th ward,
14th wadd,
15th ward,
Value of product,
Va'.ue of material.
14
2 5 1
2
NIAGARA COUNTY. 555
amount of the loss, had been effected with companies in the city, but the loss,
which could enter into no ordinary calculation, proved too great for their means,
and many of the companies becoming insolvent, expanded the consequences of the
calamity. This heavy infliction was borne with the most exemplary fortitude. Notwith
standing the derangement of business and the severe pressure which ensued, no
failures of importance occurred. The citizens relying upon their own energies,
spught no foreign aid. In six months, the district was nearly rebuilt, with vast
improvements- in its plan and buildings. Many lossesxwere mitigated and some
fortunes made by the advance in the value ofthe ground. Much of the loss fell
upon foreign owners of merchandise. Still the burden of the city was excessive
ly great; yet was far short of the increase in the valueof real estate in the city,
in the current year, which, by reference to the foregoing table appears to have
been about 33 millions. The number of buildings destroyed scarcely exceeded
one third of the number which had been erected in 1835, which was 1257.
The Congress ofthe United States granted some relief by extending the time of
payment on duty bonds given for property destroyed; and the city corporation ob
tained from the state, power to borrow six millions of dollars to be applied in loans
to aid the sufferers. But no effective step was taken pursuant to this authority,
up to June, 1836.
Amnng'the buildings destroyed, was the Merchants' Exchange, on Wall street,
a noble structure of white marble, 114 feet by 150, two stories high exclusive of
the basement and attic, surmounted by a cupola 60 feet high, upon which was
placed a telegraph, corresponding with one on Staten Island. In the basement was
the post office. The exchange room of an oval form was on the second floor, 85
feet long, by 50 wide, adorned with an admirable full length statue of General
Alexander Hamilton. The cost of this fabric including the ground was $230,000.
Preparations are now making for the erection of a new exchange, partly upon the
old site, but of larger area and more magnificent structure.
By the Marshal's returns for 1835, there were 4055 neat cattle, 10,743 horses, 416
sheep, 11,903 swine: And there were manufactured in the domestic way 868,500
yards of cotton and linen cloths.
NIAGARA COUNTY,* taken from Genesee, by act, 11th March, 1808, is
bounded E. by Orleans and Genesee counties; N. by Lake Ontario; W. by Nia
gara river separating it from Upper Canada; S. by the Niagara river arid the N.
side of Grand Island and the Tonawanta creek, dividing it from Erie county:
Greatest length, E.and W. 30; breadth N. and S. 21 miles; area 485 square miles;
situate between 43° and 43° 21' N. Lat. and 1° 35' and 2° 12' W. Longitude.
The surface is divided into three terraces; the first, rising from the shore of the
lake, by an ascent of less than 20 feet to the mile, extends S. to the Ridge road;
whence the second ascends somewhat more precipitously, with a breadth of more
than 3 miles, on the E. tapering westerly to a point, S. of and near Lewiston;
the third is still more precipitous, having an elevation, above the Niagara river, at
Lewiston, of about 345 feet according to the surveys of Mr. Geddes, and the
height is not less at Lockport, and at the eastern line of the county. The upper
most terrace declines, southward, about 3 feet to the mile, to the Tonawanta creek.,
These terraces, therefore, are generally level, so much so, that the country on the
S. E. and N. E. of the county, before the removal of the forest, was deemed too
wet for beneficial culture. This error, however, has passed away, for as the soil
is cleared, the waters evaporate, and the land becomes most fruitful.
The underlying rock of the upper terrace is secondary lime, resting on slate
and sand stone, the slate cropping out upon the second terrace and the sandstone
upon the first; gypsum is blended with the lime, in veins and beds, along the Nia
gara river, and probably, in other localities.
The streams are few, and with the exception of Eighteen Mile, Johnson's and
Tonawanta creeks, and Niagara river, are inconsiderable. The names and courses
of the smaller ones will be sufficiently known by inspection of the map. The
larger ones merit particular description; and Johnson's creek being noticed under
Orleans county, it remains to speak of the others.
t Niagara, is an Indian word, signifying across the neck or strait.

556

TOPOGRAPHY.

Canquagua or Eighteen Mile creek, receives the latter name from its mouth be
ing 18 miles below that of the Niagara river. It rises by several branches, near
the foot of the highest steppe and flows by a devious course northerly and
westerly about 30 miles to the lake, having a fall in that distance of about 300 ft.
The canal crosses two of its branches, upon high embankments. Its rapids and
falls render it effective for hydraulic works.
The Tonawanta or Tonlewanta, as called by the Indians, rises in the southern
part of Cenesee county and runs, by a devious course N. N. W., and W. for more
than 80 miles, to the Niagara river, opposite to Grand Island, 8 miles below Black
Rock. Through the greater part of Genesee county, its course is rapid, with some
falls and it is a serviceable mill stream; but along the S. part of Niagara county,
to its mouth, it is sluggish and deep, with occasional bars. In its natural state,
boats might have ascended it for 30 miles, to a point where the navigation is in
terrupted by falls. The character of the latter portion rendered the stream highly
serviceable in forming the Erie canal. A dam four and a half feet high is erected
at its mouth, raising its water on a level with that of Lake Erie, and converting
its bed into a quiet bay or canal, with a breadth of about 40 yards and an average
depth of 16 feet. The distance by two straight lines from the head to the mouth
of the creek, would not exceed 55 miles.
The Niagara river, forming the western boundary of the county, is among the
most important water courses of the state, whether considered as an object of li
beral curiosity or as subsidiary to commerce. We have given a very full descrip
tion of it and of the Great Falls, at page 16; and of the Ridge Road or Alluvial

NIAGARA COUNTY.

557

way which runs easterly through the towns of Lewiston, Cambria, New Fane,
and Hnrtland, at page 23.
The proposed line for a ship canal from the Niagara rivef, above the Falls, to
Lewiston, lies wholly within the county, commencing near Gill creek, and the
site of old fort Schlosser. .
Eight miles from the falls, and 3 E. ofthe village of Lewiston, is the Reserva
tion of the Tuscarora Indians, comprising an area of four miles in length by two
in breadth; 5000 acres, of excellent land. The settlement contains about 300
souls, a Presbyterian church of 50 members, a resident clergyman and a school
teacher, and a temperance society of more than 100 members. It is under the
care of the American Board for Foreign Missions. The village is pleasantly sit
uate near the brow of the Mountain Ridge, commanding an extensive prospect of
the surrounding country and of Lake Ontario. But the greater part of the In
dians live in a settlement a mile and a half from the village. They formerly held
a very valuable interest in land, in North Carolina, whence they emigrated to join
the Agoneasean confederacy, in 1712. This interest they have recently sold, and
have divided the proceeds equally among themselves. Many of them, are in a
prosperous condition. One, in the year 1834, sowed fifty acres of wheat.
But the greater portion of their lands are wretchedly cultivated, and many of
their dwellings seem the abodes of sloth and misery. The contrast between the
condition of their farms and those belonging to the whites, is painfully striking,
and shows that the distinguishing traits of the Indian character, still prevail; yet
many of the tribe are of mixed breed. It is said, their morals, of their women,
especially, were in no wise improved by the vicinage of the troops in the late war.
Still, there are some intelligent men among the nation, who seek, almost in vain,
to improve their condition. In the very lap of prosperity, with every aid to thrift
and improvement, their numbers yearly diminish and the period of their total ex
tinction seems rapidly approaching.
In 1796, exclusive of the occupants of forts Niagara and Schlosser, there was
. but one white family in the territory now forming this county.
A rail road runs from Lockport and another from Buffalo to Niagara Falls; one
is about to be made, by a company incorporated in 1836, from Lockport to Youngs-
town, at the mouth of the Niagara river, another from Lewiston to the Falls; and
another from Lockport to Batavia, Genesee county.
The county is divided into 11 towns.
Cambria, organised 11th March, 1808, as part of Genesee county, and then
embracing the whole country now forming Niagara county; N. W. from Albany
288 miles; surface level but divided into ledges by the terraces; soil sandy and
calcareous loam, resting upon lime and sandstone; drained N. by Howell's and a
branch of Eighteen Mile creeks, and S. by Cayuga and another tributary of the
Tonawanta creek. Pekin, the post village, upon the line dividing Cambria from
Lewiston, 10 miles W. from Lockport, on the mountain road, has a Methodist
church, a steam grist mill, 3 stores, 2 taverns, and 35 dwellings. The village
stands upon the mountain brow, and affords a beautiful view ofthe second terrace
extending to the ridge road. The greater proportion of the town is cleared, and
settled and its lands are remarkably fertile. Cambria and West Cambria are post
offices. <
Hartland, organised 1st June, 1812, since changed; N. W. from Albany 270
miles; surface level; soil sandy and calcareous loam, on slate, lime and sandstone;
drained by Eighteen Mile and Johnson's creeks. Hqrtland and Johnson's creeks,
both on the Ridge road, are post villages. The first, 10 miles from Lockport, has
a tavern, store, smithery and some half a dozen houses; some salt springs are said
to bo in the vicinity of the village, upon Eighteen Mile creek. Johnson's, 14
miles from Lockport, has 1 Methodist church, 2 stores, 2 taverns, and 20 dwell
ings. There is a Quaker meeting house in the town.
Lewiston, taken from Cambria, 27th Feb. 1813; N. W. from Albany 293 miles;
surface divided into two plains, by the mountain ridge; soil calcareous, argillace
ous and sandy loam of good quality, very indifferently watered by the Tuscarora
creek and a branch of the Cayuga creek. The post village of Lewiston, upon the
river, 7 miles N. of Niagara falls, 27 from Buffalo, and 7 S. of Lake Ontario 18
W. of Lockport, 80 from Rochester, and opposite to Queenstown, of Upper Cana
da; the port of entry for the Niagara collection district, lies on the Ridge road

558 TOPOGRAPHY.
elevated about an hundred feet above tbe level of the river, at the foot of the
mountain ridge portage and at the head of the navigation; it contains the custom
house, 1 Episcopal arid 1 Presbyterian, churches; an academy, a large, commodi
ous building of stone, a grist mill, 4 taverns, and about 70 dwellings, among
which are some very neat mansions. The chief export is lumber. Steamboats
from the lake, touch at the landing daily. There is a ferry across the river to
Queenstown, the passage of which, though safe, is somewhat appalling'by reason
of the rapidity and eddies ofthe stream. Companies, incorporated in 1836, in
this state and in Canada, are about to construct a chain bridge over the river; and
stages run daily from the village to Rochester by the Ridge road, to Lockport, and
by the Mountain road to the Falls.
From the high bank of the river, a fine view is had of the shore of Canada, in
cluding Queenstown and the heights, on which is Brock's monument. The
heights are 370 feet above the river, and the monument, a massive circular struc
ture of free stone, resting on a broad and lofty base, has an elevation of 126 feet.
The top is attained from the inside, by a flight of 170 steps. The labour of as
cent, however, is abundantly repaid, by a view of the country, from the summit,
extending more than 50 miles. The base bears the following inscription:
•'The legislature of Upper Canada has dedicated this monument to the many civil and
military services of the late Sir Isaac Brock, Knight, Commander, of the most honorable
order of the Bath, Provincial Lt. Governor, and Major General commanding his Majesty's
forces, therein. He fell in action, on the 13th October, 1812, honoured and beloved by those
whom he governed, and deplored by his sovereign, to whose service his life had been devo
ted. His remains are deposited in this vault, as also, those of his aid de camp, Lt. Colonel
John Mc Donald, who died of his wounds on the 14th of October, 1812, received the day
before in action."
Lewiston, with other frontier villages, was laid in ruins, during.the late war,
and was deserted by its inhabitants from December, 1813, to April, 1815.
In passing from Lewiston, to the Falls, the traveller gains the top of the moun
tain ridge, at the distance of two miles, whence he has a fine prospect of the wide
expanse below. The course of the river may be traced to its outlet, where are
distinctly seen forts Niagara and George, the waters of the distant lake, and the
broad adjacent country. By a liberal grant from the state, the village has a school
fund exceeding 6000 dollars capital. At the confluence of the river with the lake,
called by the Indians, Lake Cadarackui, the French under Mons. De Nonville
built the fort, Oniagara, in 1685.
Lockport, formed from Royalton and Cambria 2d February, 1824; centrally
distant N. W. from Albany, by canal 333, from Rochester W. 63, from Buffalo
E. 30, miles, by road 24. So much of the town, as lies S. of Lockport village,
is upon the Upper terrace, and nearly all the remainder upon the second; soil cal
careous and sandy loam, indifferently watered.
Lockport village, was founded in the spring of 1821, by Mr. Sherard Comstock,
deceased, who surveyed his farm, of 100 acres, into town lots. The first house
was erected by Joseph Langdon. Additions were soon after made to the village
plat, and it became the county town, in June, 1822; was incorporated 26th March,
1829, comprehending a parallelogram of If by 1£ miles, or 1680 acres. It con
tains a court house, of stone, large and substantial, including the prison; a fire
proof clerk's office; 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Baptist, 1 Episcopal, 1 Roman
Catholic, 2 Quaker, churches, all of stone or brick, except those of the Quakers,
which are of wood; 1 Episcopal and 1 Presbyterian, associations which have not
yet built churches; an academy (about to be established;) a seminary for males and
females, in high repute; and many select and common schools; a lyceum for im
provement in literature and science; 1 circulating library, 2 book stores, many
dry goods and grocery stores; 4 flouring mills, containing 24 runs of stones; 1
mill for sawing stone, 1 cotton factory, (Lockport Manufacturing Company;) 1
woollen factory; 2 double and 5 single saw mills; 2 furnaces for casting iron; 1
machine shop, and another for making flour barrels; 1 window sash factory, 1
carding and cloth dressing mill, 4 waggon maker's shops, 1 coach factory, 6 turn
ing lathes, for wood; 2 chair factories, 3 printing offices, 2 of which issue weekly
papers; 10 smith's shops, 2 gunsmiths, 2 manufactories of tin, copper, and sheet
iron, and about 500 dwelling houses, including several spacious and well kept

NIAGARA COUNTY.

559

hotels, and many very commodious private mansions; a bank, with a capital of
$100,000 was incorporated here, 22d April, 1829.
In the year 1834, there were manufactured at Lockport, 47,000 barrels of flour,
valued at $235,000, and 4 millions feet of lumber, worth $24,000; and $6,000
worth bf lumber, was imported from Canada. The village is in a very thrifty
condition. The village is partly upon the upper, and partly upon the second terrace. The
canal passes centrally through it, being excavated through the mountain ridge for
a distance of three miles, at an average depth of 20 feet, in limestone rock. It de
scends in a natural ravine from the higher to the lower plain, by five double locks
of 12 feet lift each; so that, whilst one boat ascends, another may descend the
steep. These locks are of excellent workmanship, with stone steps in the centre,
and at either side guarded with iron railings for the convenience of passengers.
The canal being supplied, by Tonawanta creek, from the inexhaustible reservoir,
Lake Erie, (distant 30 miles,) affords an abundant supply for hydraulic purposes,
whence the village derives, chiefly, its prosperity. From the foot ofthe steps the
canal continues upon one level of 65 miles, ending 2 miles east of Rochester.
In excavating the canal, many fine mfneralogical specimens were discovered
here, such as dog tooth spar, sulphuretof stronlian, crystallised gypsum, various
species of marble, &c. some of which are highly ornamental. The- lime stone of
the vicinity is an admirable building material, and much used in the village, but is
scarce superior to the beautiful white sand stone obtained from the second ter
race. Hickory Corners is a post office, around which are some dwellings.
New Fane, taken from Wilson, Hartland, and Somerset, 20th March, 1824-
N. W. from Albany 276 miles. The much larger portion of the town lying north
ofthe ridge road, its surface is a gently inclined plane, dipping at the rate of 20
feet in the mile towards the lake. The soil is productive sandy and argillaceous
loam; drained by Eighteen Mile creek. Kempsvilte, and Charlotte, are post vil
lages. The former, on Lake Ontario, at the mouth of the creek, 12 miles N. of
LoSkport, has 2 taverns, 4 stores, and about 25 dwellings, and is a place of co'nsi-

560

TOPOGRAPHY.

derable trade for lumber, wheat, &c. Vessels lie from half a mile to a mile off the
village to receive their cargoes. From this point, a ship canal to Lockport has
been proposed by the valley ofthe creek. Cliarlotte, or New Fane Centre, 7 miles
from Lockport, also on the creek, has lately been founded, and has a flouring mill,
2 saw mills, and 12 or 15 dwellings.' There is a third post office having the name
of the town.
Niagara, taken from Cambria. 1st June, 1812, by the name of Schlosser; name
changed 14th February, 1816; N. W. from Albany 290 miles.
Lying, wholly, on the mountain ridge, the surface is somewhat undulating, but
descends towards the Tonawanta creek. The soli is calcareous gravelly loam,
resting on lime and gypsum; a vein of the latter, running near the margin of the
Niagara river. Niagara Falls and Tonawanta are post villages. Clialmers and
Shawnee are post offices.

The village of Niagara Falls, formerly called Manchester, is at the " Great
Cataract, 20 miles from Lockport, 20 from Buffalo city, Lat. 43° 6' N. Liing.

NIAGARA COUNTY. 561
2° 6', W. upon a level plain, bounded by some gently swelling ground upon the
east. The major portion of the village plat, with a large tract in the vicinity, in
cluding the falls, belongs-io Messrs. A. and P. B. Porter and B. Rathburn, who,
in May, 1836, for the first time, proposed to seil a large number of the village lots.
Its site combines more of the natural advantages, which invite, collect, sustain,
and adorn a great population, than that of any city in the world. In a latitude
favourable to energy and enterprise; in the centre of a vast country of great fer
tility and beauty — easily acceesible, by an extraordinary combination of water and
land routes — possessing a water power unparalleled for extent, uniformity, or
safety, it has facilities for commerce and manufactures, which cannot be surpass
ed. It is now 7 miles only from ship navigation, at Lewiston; whence there is
a continuous navigation to the Atlantic, through Lake Ontario, the Rideau canal,
and the St. Lawrence river, in one direction; in another, to New York city, by
Oswego, the Erie canal, and the Hudson. It may be said to include the harbour
on the Niagara river, formed by Conner's Island and the American shore, 1^
miles above th&Falls, between which, and Black Rock and Buffalo two steam
boats, and other vessels ply daily. By this route communication is had with the
whole of the Upper Basin 0/ the St. Lawrence, and the vast and improving coun
try bounding on the lakes. The canal around the Falls, commencing at Conner's
harbour, passing through the village, and terminating at Lewiston, will complete
the ship navigation, through the whole of the St. Lawrence basin. But should
this great work not be speedily commenced, the proprietors propose to make a
ship canal, without lockage, from the harbour to the centre of the village. At that
point; three rail roads will terminate, one from Buffalo, one from Lockport, and
another from Lewiston.
The fertility and beauty of the country, the grandeur of the Falls, and above all
the extraordinary salubrity of the vicinage, are attractions already visible in the
country seats which are about to be established on both sides of the river, and
cannot fail to draw to this favoured spot, many residents of taste and fortune.
For manufactures, what place cart be more propitious! There is scarce a limit
to the power which may he employed. The factories instead, as is usual, being
crowded along precipitous ravines and exposed to floods, may be disposed upon
the plain in well built streets. There are now two spacious canals for mill pur
poses opened, which may be extended as the improvements require.
The village now contains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Union churches, 1 grist, 2 saw,
1 paper, 2 carding and cloth dressing, mills; 2 hotels, kept by General P. Whit
ney, the Eagle and the Cataract; the latter, more particularly, for private parties;
and a third, lately erected; and about 100 dwellings. The proprietors are about
to make further extensive improvements. ' Building materials, as clay, for bricks,
excellent stone, and lime, abound. A company was incorporated in 1829, for
supplying the village with pure and wholesome water. Stage coaches run from
the village in all directions and the mail passes through it twice daily.
Directly opposite to the Falls, on the Canada side, a company have laid out, on
the property late of Mr. Forsy the, the " City of the Falls." The table land on the
river bank below the Falls, and opposite the ferry, has been surveyed by Captain
Creighton, into lots for a village called " Clifton." The only important build
ings, however, now in the city and village, are the " Pavilion" and two other
hotels, a splendid ball and concert room, and a museum. A sulphuretted hydro
gen spring 1 mile above the Falls, emits a stream of gas, which burns with bril
liant flame, and might be used to light the neighbouring buildings.
Haifa mile below the Falls, under the bank, are Catlin's caves, in which vast
quantities of calcareous tuffa are found in all the stages of petrifaction. On the
other side of the river, nearly opposite, is Bender's cave. Two miles below, is a
mineral spring containing sulphuric and muriatic acids, lime, and magnesia,
whose waters are said to be highly medicinal. From the stage road, near the
spring, is one of the most striking views of the Falls, which can be any where
obtained. For a description of of the Falls, see page 17.
Before the Erie canal was made, much of the 'western trade passed by this
route over the portage, from Lewiston to Schlosser.
Tonawanta village, lies at the mouth and on both sides of the Tonawanta creek,
16 miles S. W. from Lockport, and 11, E. from Buffalo, and contains 2 saw mills,
3 taverns, several stores, and about 40 dwellings. From the dam here, there are
71

562 TOPOGRAPHY.
outlet locks from the Erie canal to the Niagara river. The East Boston Com
pany proprietors of Grand Island, have purchased a large interest in the village
plat, and are about to improve its harbour, already good, and to increase the
number of dwellings. The place has the prospect of becoming one of much busi
ness. Pendleton, taken . from Niagara 16th April, 1827; N. W. from Albany 284
miles; surface gently undulating; soil calcareous loam of good quality; drained
by a tributary of the Tonawanta creek. Pendleton, post village, 7 miles S. W.
from Lockport, at the junction of the canal, with Tonawanta creek, has a canal
lock, 2 stores, 2 taverns, and 20 dwellirigs. The canal leaves the bed of the
creek at this point, and runs northeasterly, by a deep cut of 7^ miles to Lockport.
Near the canal, in the N. part of the town, is a mineral spring impregnated with
sulphur and iron, supposed to possess some valuable curative powers, but its
waters have not been analysed.
Porter, taken from Cambria 1st June, 1812; N. W. from Albany 304 miles;
surface nearly level, gently inclining to lake Ontario; soil sandy and argillaceous
loam; drained by the Tuscarora creek and other small streams. Youngstown,
post village and port of delivery, on the Niagara river, 1 mile above the lake, 19
miles N. W. from Lockport, has 3 taverns, 2 stores, and about 35 dwellings.
There is a ferry across the river to Fort George or Newark village, on the Canada
shore. Near Youngstown is Fort Niagara first built by the French; it was
captured by Sir Wm. Johnson, in 1759, and finally passed into the hands of the
British, on the conquest of Canada, and was surrendered to the United States, in
1796. It was surprised and taken by the British, during the late war. The
works are now in a state of decay. So early as 1679, the French commandant,
La Salle, the explorer of the Mississippi, enclosed a small spot here, with pali
sades, which served as a military and trading post. There is a post office called
Ransom ville.
Royalton, taken from Hartland 5th April, 1817; N. W. from Albany 268
miles; surface undulating, dipping to the north and south; soil calcareous loam
of excellent quality; drained by Eighteen mile, Johnson's, and Tonawanta, creeks.
Middleport, post village, on the canal, near the E. line, 12 miles from Lockport,
contains 2 or 3 warehouses, 1 Methodist church, 4 stores, 2 taverns, and about 40
dwellings. Gasport, also, on the canal, 6 miles E. from Lockport, has its name
from an inflammable spring, which rises in the canal basin, contains a warehouse,
tavern, store, and a few dwellings. The' town is well settled, and deemed one of
the richest and best cultivated of the county. Royalton and Royalton centre are
post offices.
Somerset, taken from Hartland 8th February, 1823; N. W. from Albany 280,
from Lockport N. E. 14, miles; surface plain, inclining northwardly; soil sandy
and clay loam; drained by Golden Hill creek and another small tributary of the
lake. Somerset, the post village, contains a tavern, store, and 6 or 8 dwellings,
near the lake shore.
Wilson, taken from Porter 10th April, 1818; N. W. from Albany 294 miles;
surface an inclined plain, dipping towards the lake; soil sandy and gravelly loam,
mingled with clay; drained by Howell's and Tuscarora creeks, each having a
course of 15 miles. They unite near the lake. Wilson, post village, named after
the postmaster, below the junction of the above streams, 13 miles N. W. of
Lockport, has a Presbyterian church, grist and saw mills, carding and cloth
dressing mill, a store, tavern, and 8 or 10 dwellings, about li miles from lake
Ontario, and upon the lake road.

NIAGARA COUNTY.

563

females.
Births.
Deaths.
at
tp
.PUSjotr
E
TOWN3.
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1820.
1825. 1239
1830.
1835.
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Cambria,
1134
1712
2070
162
394
34
281
156
500
24
45
39
19
15
Hartland,
1448
1415
1584
2195
158
406
133
382
148
485
8
45
42
fi
7
Lewiston,
869
1255
1528
2302
275
4'.'3
93
3-'5
160
503
34
fil
40
26
12
Lockport, , 4
3007
3823
6092
621
1051
306
845
570
1151
24
111
110
60
48
New Fane.,
919
1448
2148
229
-442
31
286
127
530
7
44
52
fi
7
Niagara,
484
1807
1401
2013
aw
386
149
268
131
453
8
33
48
15
13
Pendleton,
577
1069
120
191
93
143
56
219
11
25
26
17
14
Porter,
850
.925
1490
1838
163
316
75
232
123
455
4
50
30
fi
5
Royalton,
1849
3458
3138
3397
314
710
31
432
216
801
16
51
65
12
14
Somerset,
569
871
1730
155
360
6
271
84
407
13
37
31
7
9
Wilson,
688
475
913
1636
194
321
21
233
99
363
17
40
28
20
6
7322
14069
18485
26490
2609
5000
973 3697
1870
5867
166
542
517
194 1 150
Note. Males, 13,870; Paupers, 33; Deaf and Dumb, 7; Blind, 9; Idiots, 15; Lunatics, 4.
TOWNS.
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Cambria,
24094
10337
359061
9600
2308
868
3200
2648
3782
6157
548
351 51
743 62
Hartland,
31939
8895
432658
1200
1904
697
2846
2164
3113
3934
1482
578 82
-879 84
Lewiston,
22730
7729
400501
4250
2187
748
3132
2276
2015
3417
3RR
406 89
835 21
Lockport,
33561
15313
1067107
179046
2829
1051
3001
6630
1593
3092
911
873 34
459 16
New Fane,
28727
8790
338864
1125
1833
524
2102
1836
217fi
2878
1135
2514 00
943 fil
Niagara,
37008
7309
430742
1018
484
2088
2326
1392
1490
467
655 81
719 46
Pendleton,
15451
4160
181492
450
941
244
778
1270
724
1065
1240
280 09
379 67
Porter,
18388
6298
252385
2640
1785
601
1805
2231
2067
1870
151
755 98
548 36
Royalton,
44850
16094
6253511
10600
3002
1151
507fi
3R24
4513
5461-
2282
818 10
1300 63
Somerset,
22713
7108
291163
2500
1522
382
2333
1446
2008
2553
2121
289 14
589 58
Wilson,
29201
6297
354601
400
1570
391
1936
1859
2218
2455
794
583 85
739 89
308662
98330
4733924
211810
21835
7141
29197
28510
24601
34379
11519
10123 60
6122 96
Amount of debts to non-residents subject to taxes, $307,475 97.
nes. nes-
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ig 8
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Cambria,
11
165
629
689
Hartland,
4
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12
168
510
595
Lewiston,
S> 4
1
16
159
891
516
Lockport,
4 10
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19
510
687
938
New Fane,
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a
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177
515
565
Niagara.
1 4
i
1
1
1
10
231
385
541
Pendleton,
7
73
275
. 312
Porter,
a
9
262
233
t4B-
Royalton,
S 9
1
I
17
483
868
1170
Somerset,
2
1
11
133
358
496
Wilson,
1 4
3 51
6
6
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2 2
t ©
17
6 2
IStt Ci
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1
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12
173
482 .
418
1
136
2534
5833
6654
Value of product, g
s en
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c*s c
si
r
i ¦— *
o3
. No. of
hildren aboi
e 5 and und
er 16 years
u
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3 O
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3 3
o
of agf 7,1"
6.
Value of material, £ c
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gb
j" 5
S|g|8t|
3 3
*
564

TOPOGRAPHY.

ONEIDA COUNTY,* was taken from Herkimer, 15th March, 1798; since
much reduced by the formation of other counties; bounded N. by Lewis and a
small part of Oswego; W. by Oswego; S. W. by Madison; S. by Madison and
part of Otsego; and E. by Herkimer, counties: Greatest length, N. and S. 47;
greatest breadth, E, and WT. 40, miles; area 1101 square miles; situate between
42° 51' and 43° 35' N. Lat.; and 1° 03' and 1° 51' E. Long.; centrally distant
from New York, N, W. 252, from Albany 107, miles.
The surface is much diversified. The first striking feature of the landscape is
the valley which divides the county into two almost equal sections forming partof
the great Oneida and Seneca vale. Its western portion including the head of the
Oneida lake, is from 10 to 12 miles broad; contracting along the Mohawk, fo a
width of from 2 to 6 miles. Its length is about 40 miles; extending from the W.
line of the county, about 20 miles to Rome and thence E. 20 more. The western
.portion includes the Great Swamp, S. of the village of Rome, nearly 3 miles
broad, timbered with cedar, and partly submerged, the waters draining off slowly
to the Oneida creek and lake. From the head of the Oneida lake to the Rome
* Oneida, is corrupted from the Indian word, Oneiyuta, upright or standing stone.

ONEIDA COUNTY. 565
snmmit, ea9twardly, a distance of 13 miles, the ascent is only GO feet, nor is it
much greater for several miles on the N. and S. sides ofthe lake.
To the northward, the -general surface rises, in the distance of 23 miles, about
690 feet, and on the N. E. still higher; the Chauteaugua mountains penetrating
the county in that direction, and having in Remsen, between Trenton falls ana
Black river, an altitude of 840 feet; S. of that, the Hassencleaver mountain, ex
tends westerly in this, from Herkimer county, over the towns of Deerfield and
Marcy, some 18 miles, with a base 8 or 9 miles broad, and an elevation of from
800 to 1200 feet.
Upon the south, the land also rises, by swells, for some 20 miles, to the ridge
which divides the waters ofthe Susquehanna, from those of the Mohawk; attain
ing, between the Unadilla and Chenango rivers, a height of 1629 feet above tide.
The summit level ofthe Chenango canal, at the head of the river, is 706 feet, above
the Erie canal and the descent from the hill to it, is 669 feet.
The streams which descend these planes, from the N. and S. form deep and
lateral valleys, as Fish creek, the Mohawk, Lansing creek, Canada and Nine Mile
creeks, on the N. and the Sadaghquida, the Oriskany, and the Oneida, creeks,
upon the S. These valleys are generally broad and beautifully picturesque; and
great falls in the streams render them highly serviceable for hydraulic uses. On
the W. this general character of surface and streams is modified, with the expan-
sion of the greater valley. The ridges between the streams are diminished, and
near the Mohawk rise little above the surface of the latter. Such is the swell in
the valley, three fourths of a mile in width, which divides Wood creek from the
Mohawk; and the marsh S. of Rome, is nearly a dead level. Formerly, before
the county was cleared along the Mohawk, and before its bed was freed from drift
wood, in high floods, its waters spread over the swamp and flowed partly into
Wood creek. A ditch of 12 feet, drawn from the Mohawk to Wood creek, might
divert all the water of the former to Oneida lake.
Besides the streams already named, West Canada creek and Black river, partly
belong to the county. The former indents it on the N. E. and receives from it,
some tributaries. Here are the celebrated Trenton Falls, which, with the creek,
we have described, under " Herkimer county." Black river, described under
"Jefferson county," also enters Oneida, on the N. E.from Herkimer, and deflect
ing, N. W. crosses the town of Remsen, into Lewis county.
The Mohawk river, rising in the highlands of Lewis county, takes, a S. E.
course of about 28, and thence a S. W. one, of 14, miles, to the village of Rome;
where it turns to S. E. and pursues that course throuyh the county, with consid
erable descent.
Lunsing's creek, a tributary of the Mohawk, rising near the village of Boonville
and having a course of about 10 miles, has acquired importance, by its valley be
coming the route of the Black river canal, which will also pass by the valley of
the Mohawk, to the Erie canal, near Rome.
Fish creek, rises in Martinsburg, Lewis county, and flowing through Turin, en
ters Oneida, forming in part, the boundary between the towns of Annsville, Lee,
Boonsville, Vienna, and Rome; and receives Wood creek upon the line between
Verona and Vienna, about 2 miles from its mouth, in Oneida lake. Its W. branch, '
has its source in the N. W. angle of Wjlliamstown, Jefferson county, and runs
through Camden, of the same county, and Annsville of this, S. E. 25 miles to the
main stream, 8 miles above its mouth. The length of the main stream is about
50 miles.
The Oriskany, rises in the town of Augusta, and runs a short distance S. in
Madison, of Madison county, thence deflecting N. E. its course is through Mar
shall, Kirkland, and Whitestown, to the Mohawk river, 25 miles, at Oriskany vil
lage. It is a powerful mill stream; receiving from Westmoreland, Dean's creek,
its most important tributary. The valley of this* stream is one of the most inter
esting portions of the state. Its flats are exuberantly fertile and are adorned by
several beautiful, busy and thriving villages. lis banks forming one of the finest
grazing countries of the world, are crowned with vestiges of the ancient dense
forests, lor decked with comfortable farms, houses and gay villas.
Oneida creek, heads in Eaton, Madison county, N. of Morrisville, and flows by
a N. W. course of about 25 miles, 'to Oneida lake, at the S. E. corner; forming,
for 18 miles, the boundary between Madison and Oneida counties. For about 16

566 TOPOGRAPHY.
miles, it affords mill sites; the remainder, 9 miles from Oneida village, it is said,
is, or may be made, navigable for boats. The Erie canal crosses the creek three
and a half miles from its mouth upon an embankment and aqueduct, about 400 ft.
in- length, the aqueduct alone 120 feet.
The Chenango canal, follows the valley of the Oriskany to the village of Clin
ton and thence crosses Kirkland and New Hartford, to Utica.
Saghdaquida, or as it is commonly called, Sauquoit creek, rises in Paris and flows
N. W. through that, New Hartford and Whitesborough, about 18 miles, to the
Mohawk river. It is a very fine mill stream, bordered by fertile lands.
The Unadilla river, is described under " Otsego county."
Oneida lake, is 21 miles long from E. to W. and from 3 to 5, wide. Its shores
and adjacent country are low and swampy, but susceptible and in course, of drain
age. It is fed by many streams, of which Chittenango, Oneida and Fish creeks,
are chief. Its surface is 376 feet higher than the ocean, and 145 above Lake On
tario, into which it discharges its waters by the Oneida and Oswego rivers. Its
area is between 70 and 80 square miles. It abounds with salmon, bass, pike, cat
fish, from 4 to 50 lbs., dace, suckers, perch, eels, &c. At the entrance of Wood
creek, formerly stood Fort Royal Block House; and at the W. end of the lake,
Fort Brewerton. Oneida river, the outlet, is very crooked, having a length of 16
miles through a space which, in a direct line, maybe crossed in 8 miles. Its junc
tion with the Seneca, forms the Oswego river.
The navigation of this lake is now connected with the Erie canal, by the Onei
da Lake canal, constructed by a company incorporated March 22d, 1832, with a
capital of $40,000, increased in 1835 to $70,000; extending from the Erie canal,
in Verona, to Wood creek, three and three-fourth miles; whence a tow path is
constructed on Wood and Fish creeks, two and a fourth miles to the Oneida lake.
This canal has 1 guard and 7 lift locks; fall fifty-seven and a half. feet, at low wa
ter in the lake; locks 96 feet long by fifteen and a half wide, and the canal has
the same breadth and depth as the Erie canal, from which it is supplied with wa
ter; the company providing an equivalent, by a navigable feeder from the Oneida
creek, at Oneida Castle, three and a fourth miles long, upon which is a lock of 4
feet lift, and a guard gate, near the Castle. The feeder intersects the Erie canal,
5 miles, W. of the Oneida Lake canal.
The county, within the great secondary formation, is based upon graywacke
slate, upon which rests, sandstone and lime. In the N. the slate crops out, in
many piaces,-as in the Hassencleaver mountain, the highlands of Black river and
the bed and shores of Fish creek. The sandstone here, also, approaches the sur
face in places; but, upon the N. E. limestone is generally the overlaying rock;
extending N. W. from the Hassencleaver mountain, over the towns of Deerfield,
Trenton, Remsen, Western, Boonville, &c. Centrally, along the Mohawk, with
a breadth of 15 miles, N. and S. and extending N. W. over Annsville, Vienna,
Camden and Florence, the sandstone prevails. The order of the strata, here is,
said to be, 1 graywacke slate, 2 gray sandstone, 3 red sandstone. The gray is
seen in the towns of Whitestown, Westmoreland, Vernon, Verona; the red, in
Paris, Kirkland, Augusta, &c. South of this, is the great central limestone for
mation, which generally covers the surface, but is notunfrequently broken through
by the slate. It must be observed, however, that the lines of demarcation, be
tween the several formations, are not distinct; that they run into each, and that
lime may probably be found in larger or smaller quantities in almost every town.
Iron ore is abundant, in the N. and S. The great belt of argillaceous oxide, de
scribed at page 49, extends across the county.
The soil, formed by disintegration of these rocks, variously mingled, by floods
and streams with each other and with vegetable mould, is, everywhere fertile and
in the valleys of unsurpassed richness. The hills, in the N. and S. are deemed
most suitable for grass; and the .stock, dairy and sheep farms, are nowhere excel
led. Some attention has been given, with probable success, to the culture of
mulberry and silk. The mulberry serves a double purpose. It feeds the worm
and makes a durable live fence. For the latter, the sugar maple, in the S. parts
of the county, is, in some places, extensively used.
An agricultural board for the county, was formed, in April, 1834, consisting of
from 1 to 3 members from each town, with the view of encouraging efforts at ex
cellence, by premiums of gold«and silver medals, money or honorary notices.

ONEIDA COUNTY.

567

The county in all respects ranks among the first in the state, and it may be well
doubted whether a greater sum of happiness can be found on the face of the globe,
than is apparent here. Among the public works are many turnpike roads, the rail
road from Schenectady to Utica, the Oneida Lake canal above described, and the
Chenango canal. Among those in progress are the Black river canal, described
under Lewis county; a rail road from Rome to Watertown, in Jefferson county,
and others from the Mohawk through Lewis to the St. Lawrence at Ogdensburg;
a rail road from Utica, by the valleys ofthe Sauquoit creek, Unadilla and Susque
hanna rivers, to connect with the Erie rail road; a rail road to unite with the Uti
ca and Schenectady rail road and with the rail road from Syracuse and Auburn,
thus continuing on the rail road line from Albany to Buffalo,
The cotton and woollen manufactures are carried on here more extensively than
in any other county of the state. The annexed table shows the condition of the
cotton manufacture.

Name of Establishment.

Location.

ot
"3

6

,i.s

COao

oca h

«

'a.tn

>
< 40

c
c
tJ

ft.

pi

*. co 01

New York Mills,

Whitestown,

8976

268

400

1100000

300000 lbs

Oneida Cotton Factory,

Whitestown,

4500

16

126

175

1100000

,350000

Whitestown Cotton Manufacturing Company,

New Hartford,

2880

26

70

100

460000

140000

Utica Cotton Factory,

New Hartford,

2592

16

60

128

537500

. 200000

Sangerfield Cotton Factory,

Waterville,

1038

16

24

44

200000

50000.

Paris Cotton Factory,

Paris,

1600

11]

54

65

450000

140000

Franklin Cotton Factory,

Paris,

3004

11

82

100

650000

140000 -

Rome Cotton Factory,

Rome,

800

15

20

32

70000

New Hartford Cotton Factory,

New Hartford,

3000

16

80

100

fiOOOOO

175000

Half Century Cotton Factory,

New -Hartford,

516

15

14
50000
Eagle Cotton Factory,
New Hartford,
1852
10
42
60
300000
80000
Mechanics Cotton Factory,
New Hartford,
500
15
17
50000
Allen S. Sweet's Cotton Factory,
New Hartford,
250
8
12
12000
John Curtiss' Cotton Factory,
Paris,
108
8
6000
Manchester Cotton Factory,
Kirkland,*
1368
14
38
30
300000
80000
Hovey's Cotton Factory,
Whitestown,
250
33234
14
13
20000
Total capital about $800,000. Mills, 19.
864
1290
5697500
1863000
Cosby manor, 42,000 acres, granted in 1734, lies partly in this and partly in
Herkimer, counties.
There are 53 post offices and 26 towns, in the county.
Annsville, taken from "Lee, Florence,' Camden, and Vienna, April 12th, 1823;
distant N. W. from Albany 112, from Rome 10, miles, and from Utica 26 miles;
surface gently undulating; soil sandy and gravelly loam; drained by the east
branch of Fish creek; the Indian meadows on this stream, formerly reserved to
the Oneidas, are deemed highly fertile. Taberg, post village, contains some 20
dwellings, a blast furnace, and 2 grist mills, and several saw mills- About half
the town may be settled. The country abounds with perennial springs affording
much and valuable water power. It is_ proposed to take a free navigable feeder
from Fish creek near Taberg, to the Erie canal.
Augusta, taken from Whitestown 15th March, 1798; N. W. from Albany 110
miles; surface rolling; soil of medium quality; drained by Oneida, Skanandoa,
and the Oriskany, creeks, excellent mill streams. Settled in 1794, and now
divided into small farms, containing from 50 to 100 acres, including the portions
lately owned by the Stockbridge Indians. Augusta and Casety Hollow are post
villages, the former upon Skenandoa creek, and the latter upon the Oriskany.>
The village of Augusta, 18 miles from Utica, and 21 from Rome, contains, 1
Presbyterian church, 1 grist mill, 1 store, 1 tavern, and about 25 dwellings.
Casety Hollow, now Oriskany Falls, 21 miles from Utica, and from Rome 23, has
1 large grist mill, 1 saw mill, 2 taverns, several stores, and from 50 to 60 dwel
lings. The falls of the Oriskany, from 50 to 60 feet here, furnish abundant mill
power, and the Chenango canal passing through the village will afford easy access
to the market. A sulphur spring bursts forth in the village. The town' more
favourable to grass than grain, is stocked with cattle and sheep.
Boonville, taken from Leyden, of Lewis county, 28th March, 1805; N. W.
from Albany 110, from Rome N. E. 20, miles; surface hilly, but admitting gene
rally, of cultivation; soil clay loam, on lime, covered with a heavy growth of
evergreen and deciduous trees; drained by the Black and Mohawk rivers, and
568 TOPOGRAPHY.
Lansing's creek; the last of which falls within a few miles, 75 and 50 feet. The
The post village of Boonville, on the Black river road, 31 miles from Utica, con
tains 1 church, common to Presbyterians, Methodists, and Universalists, 1 Bap
tist church, 1 grist mill, 1 distillery, 1 tannery, 2 taverns, 1 ashery, 4 stores, and 40
dwellings. About one quarter of the town is yet unsettled. Wild lands may be
had here, at from 3 to 4 dollars the acre. Argillaceous iron ore abounds on the E.
side of the Black river, whence the furnaces at Carthage are supplied. Ava is
the name of a second post office, 29 miles from Utica.
Bridgewater, organised 24th March, 1797, as part of Herkimer county; dis
tant N. W. from Albany 81, from Rome 22, miles; surface, generally, hilly, and
on the W. comparatively much broken, yet furnishing excellent pasturage, and on
the E. good grain lands. A pleasant vale, about a mile in width, runs centrally
N. and S.; drained by the Unadilla, whose head forks unite in it. The post vil
lage of Bridgewater, incorporated, upon the stream and turnpike road, 18 miles
from Utica, contains 1 Presbyterian church, an academy, 2 taverns, several stores,
and about 40 dwellings.
Camden, taken from Mexico, Oswego county, 15th March, 1799; distant N.W.
from Albany 127, from Rome 20, and from Utica 35, miles; surface hilly, but
arable", with extensive flats along the streams; soil sandy loam, easy of tillage and
fertile; drained by the western branch of Fish creek. Settled about the year 1808,
by emigrants from New England. The post village of Camden, incorporated 2d
May, 1834, on the road from Rome to Pulaski, near the centre of the town, con
tains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist, churches, 2 grist and 1 saw mills,
clothing works, 3 taverns, 4 stores, and about 50 dwellings. West Camden post
office is 38 miles from Utica.
Deerfield, organised March 9, 1798; N. W. from Albany 100, from Rome E.
15, from Utica N. E. 5, miles; surface hilly, having the Hassencleaver mountain
upon it; soil in the N. E. clay loam, in the S. first and second alluvion. That
on the uplands rich, and that ofthe river flats unrivalled in fertility. Indifferently
watered by a branch of Nine mile creek, and some small brooks. Deerfield village,
on the second river bank, connected with Utica, by a good bridge and causeway,
a mile in length, contains 1 Dutch Reformed church, 2 stores, 2 taverns, and about
20 dwellings. The post office of North Gage is 11 miles from Utica. '
Florence, taken from Camden 16th February, 1805; N. W. from Albany 121,
from Rome 28, and from Utica 43, miles; surface gently undulating; soil sandy
loam; drained by tributaries of Fish creek. The post office is called after the
town, and has around it, some dwellings. About two-thirds of the town are un
settled. The lands are well adapted to grass and sheep culture, and may be pur
chased at from 2 to 4 dollars the acre. There is here, a large tannery conducted
on the improved process.
Floyd, so called from William Floyd, one of the signers of the Declaration of
Independence, who dwelt and died in the adjacent town;* taken from Steuben as
part of Herkimer county 4th March, 1796; N. W. from Albany 100, from Rome
E. 6, miles; surface rolling; soil on the N. clay marl, adapted to grass. Along
the river are extensive rich alluvial flats, above which, the second bottom rises to
moderate height, and extends inward about 1\ miles, with a soil of sandy loam,
highly fertile, and protected from the floods of the river. Nine mile creek is on
the eastern border. The post village of Floyd corners, 12 miles from Utica, has
1 Presbyterian church, 1 tavern, 1 store, and 15 dwellings.
Kirkland, taken from Paris 13th April, 1827; N. W. from Albany 105, from
Rome S. 12, miles; surface diversified, with knolls, hills, and fertile vales; soil
rich calcareous loam. Iron ore abounds. Drained by Oriskany creek. Clinton,
Franklin, and Manchester, are post villages. The town was settled by Moses
Foote, Esq., in company with ten other families, in March, 1787.
Clinton village, on the Chenango canal, 9 miles from Utica, has 1 Presbyterian,
1 Baptist, and 1 Universalist, churches, 2 academies, 2 seminaries, for females,
1 on the manual labour principle; 4 taverns, 6 stores, 1 grist mill, 2 clothing
works, a worsted factory, and about 50 dwellings. The Hamilton College is on
the hill, about a mile and a half W. from the village. Franklin, 2 miles above
* It is said he preserved the pen with which he wrote that signature, until the day of his
death.

ONEIDA COUNTY. 569
Clinton, upon the Oriskany creek, and Chenango canal, has 1 saw mill, 1 tavern,
2 stores, and 15 dwellings. Manchester, at which is Kirkland post office, 9 miles
from Utica, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 cotton manufactory, 1 grist mill, clothing
works, 2 taverns, 2 stores, and 35 dwellings.
The buildings, of Hamilton College are beautifully placed on an eminence,
W. of the Oriskany valley overlooking the village and commanding an extensive
and charming prospect. The corner stone of the first edifice was laid by Baron
Steuben. The institution was established in 1812. The faculty consists of a
president, 4 professors — of Ethics and Political Economy — Natural Philosophy
and Chemisiry — of Languages— and of Mathematics and Astronomy — and a
tutor. The number of students, 1st January, 1835, was 115. The college, in
1834, raised by subscription, the sum of $50,000; forming a fund for the payment
ofthe salaries of the officers. William H. Maynard, of Utica, who died in Sep
tember, 1832, bequeathed to it, $20,000, to endow a 'professorship of law; and S.
Dexter, Esq., of Whitestown, in 1836, gave $15,000, for endowing a professor
ship. The college edifices consist, principally, of three stone buildings of four
stories each and a chapel of stone. The last is a fine specimen pf architecture,
and the whole group is in good taste. Commencement on the 2d Wednesday in
August. The " Clinton Liberal Institute," at the village of Clinton,, established in 1831,
incorporated 29 April 1834, and placed under the visitation of the RegenJs of the
University, in 1836, has a principal, who is the professor of languages; a profes
sor of Mathematics; a professor and assistant professor of Law; an assistant
teacher, and a principal of the female department. There is a farm for the benefit
of such students as may wish to defray the expense of their education, by manual
labour. The library is open gratuitously, to all persons. Theological professor
ships are forbidden; " one of its objects being to guard against ihe sectarian
character, generally assumed by. literary institutions." The building for the
female department is of wood, '40 by 25 feet, 2 stories; "that for males is of stoiie,
96 by 52 feeV 4 stories above the basement, containing 44 students' rooms, a
large lecture room, chambers for, the professors, and accommodations for about
100 students. Number of students, (1834,) males 70, females 30. The law pro
fessorship was established in 1834. The professors are practising attorneys of
the Supreme Court; and the time spent under their tuition, is allowed as so much
clerkship. Lee, taken from Western, 3d April, 1811; N. W. from Albany 115, from Rome,
N. 8, from Utica 24, miles; surface undulating; soil clay and sandy loam; drain
ed by Fish and Canada creeks, and the Mohawk river. Stokes or Nisbet's Cor
ners and Portage are villages. Stokes, has a post office, 1 tavern 1 store, and
some 12 dwellings. Portage, has a fine grist mill, 2 taverns, 3 stores, and within
a circle. of three-fourths of a mile from 30 to 40 dwellings. Lee and Delta are
names of other post offices.
Marcv, taken from Deerfield, 30th March, 1832; centrally distant from Utica,
7 miles, N; surface hilly, having upon it part of the Hassencleaver mountain; soil
clay and sandy loam, underlaid chiefly by graywacke slate and sandstone; drained
by Mohawk river and Nine Mile creek: Its character is similar to that of Deer
field. The post- office has the name of the town.
Marshall, taken from Kirkland, 21st Feb. 1819; distant N. W. from Albany
HO, from Rome, S. 16, miles; surface diversified; soil fertile sandy loam; drained
by the Oriskany creek. Marshall and Deansville, are post villages. Ma-shall,
centrally situate, contains 1 Presbyterian church, 1 tavern, 1 store, 20 dwellings.
Deansville, 13 miles from Utica, has a large school house used as a church, 1 tavern,
2 stores, and a dozen dwellings, on the Chenango' river. Canning, 16 miles from
Utica, has a blast furnace, supplied with ore from Westmoreland and Kirkland; a
forge, making bar iron, 1 saw mill, 1 tavern, 1 store, and 20 dwellings. The Wa-
terville branch of the Oriskany falls here, within half a mile; 50 feet. The rem
nant of the Brothertown Indians have farms in the valley which are held in se
veralty. The number of persons here, is about 150, but is continually decreasing
by emigration to Green Bay. Some of them are comparatively civilised and
wealthy. New Hartford, taken from Whitestown, 12th April, 1827; distantN. W. from
Albany 100, from Utica, S. W. 4, from Rome, S. E. 16, miles; surface agreeably
73

570 TOPOGRAPHY.
diversified; soil rich calcareous loam; drained N. by the Sauquoit creek, upon
which centrally situate lies the post village of New Hartford, on the line of the
Chenango caual, containing 1 Presbsterian and 1 Episcopal, churches; the Utica,
New Hartford, Half Century, (so called from the term of its charter,) Eagle, Me
chanics', and A. S. Sweet's cotton factories; dyeing and printing factory, producing
goods to the value of $83,200 annually; 2 saw mills, 2 plaster mills, 1 paper mill,
consuming 50 tons rags per annum; 3 taverns, 4 stores, and about 120 dwellings.
Middle Settlement, six and a l^alf miles from Utica, has 2 taverns, a tannery, and
some half dozen dwellings.
Paris, taken from Whitestown, 10th April, 1792; N. W. from Albany 85,
from Rome, S. E. 18, and from Utica, S. 12, miles; surface undulating; soil san
dy and calcareous loam, of easy tillage; drained by Sauquoit creek. Paris Hill,
Paris Furnace, Sauquoit, and Paris Hollow, are post villages; one of the post of
fices is called Cassville. This town was named by the inhabitants in grateful
acknowledgement of the kindness of Mr. Isaac Paris, a merchant of Fort Plain,
who in the year of scarcity, 1789, supplied them with Virginia corn on a liberal
credit, and finally accepted payment in such produce as they were enabled to sup
ply. Famine is now least dreaded here, of all evils. Paris Hill, on a branch of
the Sauquoit creek, contains 1 Episcopal, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Baptist, church
es, on a public square; 2 taverns, 3 stores, and about 30 dwellings. Paris Fur
nace, has a blast furnace making pigs and' castings, a trip hammer; a large iron
screw and scythe factory, a tavern, and 20 dwellings, on Sauquoit creek. Paris
Hollow, 15 miles from Utica, contains a saw and a grist, mills, 1 tavern, 2 stotes,
a distillery, and a dozen dwellings. Sauquoit, 9 miles S. from Utica, On the
creek, has 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Methodist, churches; the Franklin, Paris. Curtis,
and Fanner's cotton, factories; 1 grist, 1 carding and cloth dressing, mills; two
taverns, 6 stores, and more than 100 dwellings. Near the village is a sulphuretted
hydrogen spring, the gas from which when inflarned burns long. The limestone
of this town, abundant and regularly stratified, is taken out in large blocks, used
for building and paving at Utica and elsewhere. In the N. and W. are large beds
of rock iron ore.
Remsen, taken from Norway, 15th March, 1798; since modified; distant N. W.
from Albany 100, from Rome, N. E. 23, miles; surface somewhat hilly; soil of
tolerable quality, resting upon limestone; drained westerly by branches of the
Black river, and southerly by Cincinnatus creek, a tributary of W. Canada creek.
Settlements were made in this town in 1798, by 22 families; yet that portion of it
which is N. ofthe Black river is almost uninhabited and the settlements are sparse
upon the south border of the river. The S. portion is thickly populated. Rem-
sen, post village, on the Cincinnatus creek, 17 miles from Utica, contains 1 Baptist,
and 1 Presbyterian, churches; 1 grist, 1 saw, mills, and clothing works, 2 taverns,
3 stores, and 40 dwellings.
Rome, taken from Steuben, as part of Herkimer county, 4th March, 1796; sur
face level or gently undulating; soil clay and sandy loam; drained by the Mohawk
river, and by Wood and Fish creeks. On the Mohawk, the land is excellent; on
Wood and Fish creeks, it is wet and better adapted to grass than grain. On the
W. there is an extensive sandy plain, yielding valuable yellow pine lumber. The
town is generally settled by emigrants from New England or their descendants.
Rome, village, the half shire town, incorporated 26th March, 1819, on the site of
Fort Stanwix, erected here in 1758, at the cost of $266,400; rebuilt during the
revolutionary war, under the name of Fort Schuyler, on the summit level between
the ocean and Lake Ontario, having the Mohawk river on the E.- and Wood creek
on the W., near the Erie canal, from which a branch extends through the village,
2 miles to the Mohawk, including part of the work of the W. Navigation Com
pany; distant N. W. from Albany 112, from Utica 15, miles; Lat. 43° 12'; Long.
1° 27' W. from New York, contains 1 Episcopal, 2 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and
1 Baptist, churches; an academy incorporated 28th April, 1835; several select
schools, court house of brick, and prison of wood; the U. S. Arsenal of stone,
and barracks of wood, sufficient for a regiment; a cotton and a woollen factory,
flouring, saw, mills, and about 350 dwellings; a bank incorporated 16th April,
1832, with a capital of $100,000. This is a fine and prosperous village. In
.1836, a company was empowered to make a rail road hence to Watertown,

ONEIDA COUNTY. 571
Jefferson county. Hawley's Basin, 3 miles W, from Rome, on the canal, has half
a dozen dwellings.
Sangerfield, taken from Paris, 5th March, 1795; N. W. from Albany 94, S.
S. W. from Utica 18, from Rome 21 miles;- surface hilly; soil rich loam on lime;
drained S. by the Chenango and N. by the Oriskany creeks; settled in 1793, and
named after Judge Jedediah Sangerfield, one of the primitive settlers; annexed to
Oneida county in 1804. Sangerfield, village, centrally situate, has 1 Presbyterian
church, store, tavern, and 12 dwellings. Waterville, near the N. line, contains 1
Presbyterian and one other church; 3 large distilleries, with mills, 3 taverns, 6
stores, a handsome, public square, and about 70 dwellings.
Steuben, taken from Whitestown, when part of Herkimer county; N. W. from
Albany 110, from Utica 20, and from Rome N. E. 15, miles: Surface hilly; soil
moist clay loam, adapted to grass, yet not unproductive in grain; settled by Welsh
emigrants, who are largely engaged in the dairy business and who make, for mar
ket, great quantities of butter; drained by Cincinnatus and Steuben creeks, and a
tributary of' the Mohawk. Near the post office, having the name of, the town,
there are a store, tavern, academy and several dwellings. No spirituous liquors
are vended in the town. The principal part of this town was granted by the state
to Barcn Steuben, for his services during the revolutionary war. He was buried
here in 1796, beneath an evergreen, he had selected to overshadow his grave. A
new road having been laid over this spot, his remains were removed to a neighbour
ing grove and are protected by a neat tomb. A monumental stone is erected' to
llis memory, in the German Reformed church, in the -city of New York.
Trenton, organised 24th March, 1,7.97, as part of Herkimer county; N. W.
from New York 238, from Albany 93, from Utica, N. 13, from Rome 20, miles;
surface hilly but generally arable; soil clay loam, of good quality, underlaid by
limestone; early settled1 by the Dutch, but inhabited now, chiefly, by emigrants
from the eastern states, and their descendants; drained by West Canadi, Cincin
natus and Nine Mile, creeks. The celebrated Trenton Falls, are in part in this
town. Trenton, Holland Patent, South Trenton, and Prospect, are-post villages.
Trenton or Oldenbarheveldt, village, is pleasantly situated on the Cincinnatus
creek, in the north eastern part of the town, two miles west of West Canada
creek falls, and on the road , to Martinsburg, incorporated April 9th, 1819, and
March 6th, 1820, 26th April, 1833, and contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Unitarian,
churches; 2 stores, % taverns, and about thirty dwellings. South Trenton, 9 miles
from Utica, has 2 stores, 2 taverns, grist and saw mill, plaster mill, clothing works,
tannery, and about 20 dwellings. Holland Patent, has 1 Presbyterian church, 2
stores, 2 taverns, an academy, incorporated ,24th April, 1834, and some 30 dwell
ings. Prospect, village, 16 miles from Utica, at the head of the valley in which
are the Trenton Falls, has 2 taverns, 2 stores, grist, and saw, mi)ls, and 25 dwell
ings. There is also a post office called "Trenton Falls." In 1836, a. company
was empowered To make a rail road from Herkimer to Trenton.
Utica City comprehends the formertowu and village, rf that name, taken from
Whitestown, and incorporated 7th April, 1817. The city charter of 13th Feb.
1832, establishes the government in a mayor, 12 aldermen, 4 justices, &c, and, di
vides the city into 4 wards; distant from New York 241, from Albany 92, from
Rochester 140, from Buffalo 202, from Ithaca 96, from Cooperstown 46, from Pu
laski 60,- from Qswego 76, from Watertown 81, from Sackett's Harbour 94, from
Ogdensburg 145, from Cazenovia 40, miles. It is a point whence direct roads
and commodious stages run to many interesting parts of the state. Itjies upon
the Erie canal, from which it has a valuab e hydraulic power. Two daily pack
ets ply hence to Schenectady, an'd westwardly along the line ofthe canal.
'I he city contains 2 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, "2 Baptist, 1 Congregational, 4
Methodist Episcopal, including 1 African, 1 Cath&lie, 1 Universalist, 1 Calvinistic
Methodist, 1 Dutch Reformed, and 1 Quaker, churches; many of which are large
and costly buildings; numerous religious, moral, and charitable associations; the
Medical Society of the county; a lyceum; an academy, incorporated by the re
gents in 1814; the gymnasium; a high school; the Classical and Commercial Ly
ceum, another high school; tire Female Institute, in which the French language
is the common medium of conversation; the Young Ladies' School; the Utica Li
brary; the Mechanics' Association, for the promotion of manufactures and the
mechanic arts, by popular lectures, models, and premiums; Apprentices' Library,

572

TOPOGRAPHY.

founded by that association, containing 600 volumes; Young Men's Association
for mutual improvement, having a valuable reading and news room, a library of
700 volumes, and exercising its members by public debates and lectures upon lite
rary and scientific subjects — the reading room and- library of this valuable associa
tion are griituitously opened to all strangers; a museum, in a building specially
erected for the purpose; Bank of Utica, chartered 1st June, 1812,capitaF$600,000;

ONEIDA COUNTY. 573
Ontario Branch Bank, capital $500,000; Savings Bank; Oneida Bank, chartered
May, 1836, capital $400,000.
The city is beautifully situated upon a gently inclined plane, rising from the Mo
hawk river southward, from the highest points of Which there are some handsome
prospects. The buildings are generally very good, the stores large, and splendid
ly finished and furnished, and; many of the dwellings highly ornamental and
commodious. There are 6 enginp, 2 hose, and 1 hook and ladder, companies; an
aqueduct company, chartered 1826 to supply the city with pure water.
Insurance Company, chartered 29th March, 1816; vested capital $200,000.
Newspapers; — Political and commercial, 3; religious, 3, published weekly; the
Youth's Miscellany, published monthly; the Talisman, monthly, conducted by
the senior class of Hamilton College.
There is a building appropriated for a theatre, but the drama meets with, little
encouragement. The following statistical list is given for 1835: — 1 apothecary store, 4 auction
stores, 2 axe manufactories, 9 bakeries, 2 bandbox manufactories. 3 banking com
panies, 1 bathing house, 16 blacksmith shops, 2 boatbuilders' yards, 4 bookbind-
eries, 5 book stores, 16 boot and shoe stores, 1 braid machine,2 brass foundries, 2
breweries, 1 brush manufactory, 7 butcher yards, 9 cabinet maker shops, 1 calico
print cutter, 17 carpenter shops, 25 carters, 2 carver shops, 3 chair maker shops, 4
chandleries, (tallow,) 15 churches, 1 cider refinery, 4. cigar manufactories, 25
clergymen, 2 clothing stores, 1, clock manufactory, 3 coachmaker shops, 1 comb
manufactory, 4 confectionaries, 7 cooper shops, 3 copperware manufactories, 2
copperplate printing offices, 3 crockery stores, 5 cut stone manufactories, 2 den
tists, 1 distillery and steam mill, 7 druggists and grocery stores, 3 dry docks, 21
dry good stores, 2 fancy dyer shops, 2 flouring mills, 2 flour stores, 8 forwarding
houses, 2 furriers, 4 fur stores, foreign and domestic; 1 garden, (public,) 18 gene
ral assortment Stores, 1 glovery, 1 glue and glass paper manufactory, 50 grocery
stores, 2 gunsmith shops, 5 hair dresser shops, 9 hardware stores, 4 hat and cap
manufactories, 5 hat stores, 6 importers of hardware and crockery, 21 inns, 8 in
surance agencies, 4 iron foundries, 2 joiner tool manufactories, 2 last and boot tree
manufactories, 55 lawyers, 4 leather stores, 3 libraries, 3 livery stables, 1 lock
smith shop, 1 looking-glass store and manufactory, 4 exchange offices, 4 lumber
merchants, 4 machine shops, 1 malt house, 2 mathematical instrument manufacto
ries, 6 merchant tailor shops, 3 military goods stores, 30 millinery and dress ma
kers stores and. shops, 1 millstone manufactory, 2 morocco-manufactories, 1 mu
seum, 5 music stores, 3 musical instrument manufactories, 1 nail maker, 21,000
newspapers issued weekly, 1 organ builder, 28 packet arrivals weekly, 2 paint
stores, 1 paper hanging manufactory, 18 physicians and surgeons, 3 do. Thomp-
sonian, 1 plaster mill, 1 plough and cradle manufactory, 1 portable clay furnace
manufactory, 7 printing offices, 1 rope manufactory, 6 saddleries and harness, 1
sash and blind manufactory, 3 -raw mills, 1 scaleboard manufactory, 43 schools,
1 screw dock, 1 silverplater shop, 2 spectacle manufactories, 86 stage arrivals
weekly, 1 starch manufactory, 1 steam engine manufactory, 6 stocking looms, 3
Stone ware manufactories, 11 tailoress shops, 4 tanneries, 1 thimble manufactory,
6 tin ware manufactories, 2 turner shops, 3 upholsteries, 1 vinegar manufactory,
8 wagon maker shops, 7 watch and jewelry stores, 1 weigh bridge, 1 weigh lock,
1 white smith shop, 3 willow basket makers.
The Schenectady and Utica rail road terminates at this city. Its route is mostly
on the N. side of the Mohawk river, at the base of the hills which skirt ihe val
ley, and for more than half the distance over fertile flats, so near the grade line as
to offer few obstructions. The application of stationary power is no where requi
site, the greatest inclination being less than 24 feet to the mile. The curves, ge*
nerally, are upon such extended radius, as little to impede the velocity of a loco
motive. The bed ofthe road, designed for double tracks, is 24 feet wide. Red
cedar is exclusively used for the timber superstructure, which resembles that of
the Saratoga road. The road was first opened on Monday, 25th July, 1836. The
first train of cars, drawn by a locomotive, ran the whole distance twice on that day.
Twenty-two months only were consumed in the construction of the road. Cost,
$1,500,000, or $20,000 per mile; distance 77 milesv The first trip was made in 4
hours and 25 minutes; 53 minutes of which were consumed in stoppages; running

574 TOPOGRAPHY.
time, 3 hours and 28 minutes. The road passes through a highly picturesque and
fertile country.
Vernon, taken from Westmoreland, 17th February, 1802; N. W. from Albanv
116, and from Rome S. W. 14, miles; surface undulating; soil fertile clay and
, sandy loam; drained hy the Skanandoa creek. The first settlement, by whites,
was made here in 1797, who piirchased their lands from the stale. About a fifth of
the town belongs to the Oneida Indians, forming part of their reservation, and
comprising their principal settlements near the Oneida village, on the Oneida
creek. In the pursuits and manners of the whites, this vestige ofthe race seemed
to have' found the secret of perpetuation; but growing weary of the labours which
civilisation demands, they are selling their farms and removing to Green Bay;
provision having been made by the legislature, for the purchase from those dis
posed to sell, and for their removal; aiding but not compelling, their departure.
Oneida Castleton, laid out by the state in 1817, Vernon, and Vernon Centre, are
post villages. r
Oneida Castleton, S. W. 22 miles from Utica, 16 from Rome, has 1 Presbyte
rian church, a church belonging to the Indians, 2 taverns, 2 stores, many groce
ries, too much haunted by the red men, of whom about 200 remain in the vicinity,
and about 25 dwellings. On the S. side of the tnrnpike road, at the entrance of
the village, is the ancient Council Grove of the Six Nations, consisting of about
50 large white, walnut trees, still in full vigor, having endured longbeyond the con
federacy. Permission was given by the slate, 24th April, 1822, lo the inhabi
tants to erect churches and schools on the public, square.
Vernon Village, upon the Skanandoa creek, 113 miles N. W. from Albany, 17
S. W. from Utica, incorporated 6th April, 1827, contains 1 Presbyterian and 1
Baptist, churches, an academy and a seminary for females, under the direction of
one board of trustees, 1 grist mill, an extensive tannery, 2 large glass works, one
exclusively employed on cylinder window glass, and the other on window and flint
glass, 3 taverns, 12 stores, and about 80 dwellings. Vernon Centre, 2 miles S.
from Vernon village, 15 from Utica, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Baptist, churches,
2 taverns, 2 stores, and 25 dwellings.
Verona, taken from Westmoreland and Augusta, 17th February, 1802; N. W.
from Albany 113 miles; surface level, with much swampy land, which becomes
dry and arable when cleared; soil rich mould, variously blended with black and
yellow sand; portions of the latter are extensively employed in the manufacture of
glass; drained N. by some tributaries of the Mohawk. The graywacke here is
adapted to building, and some of it sufficiently coarse and firm for "mill stones.
There is a landing on Wood creek, at the site of Fort Royal. The town formed-
part of the Oneida Reservation, but was purchased from the Indians by the state, in
1796. Skanandoa, Verona, Verona Centre, New London, Andover, and Durham-
ville, are villages. The four first have post offices. Skanandoa, 13 miles from
Rome, 22 from Utica, has a cotton factory, saw mill, 2 stores, 2 taverns, and about
90 dwellings. Verona, village, centrally situate on Stony creek, 113 miles from
Albany, 16 from Utica, 13 from Whitesborough, 9 from Rome, contains 2 Presby
terian churches, 2 stores, 2 taverns, and about 50 dwellings. Verona Cenlre,'on
the Erie canal, 2 miles S. of Wood creek, 9 S. W. from Rome, has a warehouse,
store, tavern, and half a dozen dwellings. New London, also on the canal, 7
miles from Rome, 22 from Utica, has 2 taverns, 4 stores, and about 40 dwellings.
It 19 the great depot for lumber from Salmon river and Fish creeks. Andover, 14
miles from Utica, 7 from Rome, has a tavern, store, and about a dozen dwellings.
The Oneida Sulphur Springs, half a mile S. W. from the village, at which is a
very extensive hotel for Ihe accommodation of visitors, are in high repute. Dur-
hamville, 30 miles W. of Utica by the canal, from Rome 14, has an extensive wa
ter power, derived from the Erie canal,. a grist mill, several saw mills, 2 taverns,
4 stores, and about 50 dwellings.
There is a'glass factory in the town, at which $20,000 worth of glass is an
nually produced.
The greater portion of the town is taken up, but not thickly settled.
Vienna, taken from Camden, by the name of Orange, 3d April, 1807, changed
to Bengal, 6th April, 1808, and subsequently, to that which it now bears; distant
from Albany 125, from Rome W. 17, and from Utica N. W. 32, miles; surface

ONEIDA COUNTY. 575
undulating; soil, on the lake shore of good quality, and well watered. Settled in
1802, by emigrants from New England. Vienna and Black Rock are post vil
lages. Vienna, contains a store, tavern, and a dozen dwellings. Black Rock, or
McConnellsville, on the lake shore, has a grist mill, saw mill, and 10 or 12 dwel
lings. There is another post office in the town called " Pine."
Western, taken from Steuben, as part of Herkimer county, 10th March, 1797;
N. W. from Albany 109, from Utica N. 20, and from Rome N. E.'8 miles; sur
face hilly, but generally arable; soil riqh moist loam. The lands on the Mohawk
river are highly fertile. Drained by the Mohawk river, and its tributaries, of
.which Lansing's creek is chief. Western, post village, in the S. part of the town,
on the Mohawk river, and on the road lo the Black river, contains, 1 Presbyterian
church, grist and saw, mills, 2 stores, 2 taverns, and a dozen dwellings; an agri
cultural vicinage. There is another post office called Big Brook.
1 Westmoreland, taken from Whitestown 10th April, 1792; N. W. from NeW
York 250, from Albany 105, miles; surface level; soil rich loam, on calcareous
sand and limestone; drained by the Oriskany creek, and. Deane's and Slicker's
brooks. Hampton and Lairdsville are»villages. The first settlement was made
here, by James Dean, an interpreter among the Oneidas, who presented him a
tract of land two miles square; and he, also, was the first settler of the county of
Oneida, having preceded Judge White, one year.* The oldest son of Mr. Dean,
now living, was the first white child born in the county. -Rock iron ore of good
quality, is abundant, and is extensively wrought at the Westmoreland furnace,
into castings. Hampton village, 9 miles from Utica, 7 from Rome, contains 1
Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, cfmrches, 3 taverns, 3 stores, a tannery, and about 40
dwelli gs. Lairdsville, 12 miles from Ulica, and 10 from Rome, has 1 Methodist
church, 1 Union church, for Baptists and Universalists; 2 ta"erns, 2 stores,-l saw
mill, and 15 dwellings; There is a third post cffice called " Republican."
Whitestown, organised 7tli March, 1788; N. W. from Albany 98 miles; sur
face undulating, with broad and fertile valleys; soil calcareous loam; drained by
the Oriskany and the Sauquoit creeks, whose waters drive an hundred mills.
Oriskany, Whiiesborough, and Yorkville, are post villages. The first settler here,
at Whitesborough, was Mr. While, from New England, in 1784, who died in
1812, 80 years of age, much respected for his integrity and usefu'nes. He was
the grandfather of Canvass White, the highly distinguished engineer. Whites
borough villpge, and hall'shire town, lies at the confluence of the Sauquoit cfeek
and Mohawk river, and on the Erie canal, 4 miles N. W. from Ulica, 100 from
Albany 12, S.E. from Rome, incorporated 26lh March, 1813; contains 1 Presbyterian
and 1 Baptist, churches, a cotton manufactory, (Harvey's,) 5 taverns, 1 distillery,
court house, of brick, prison of wood; 4 stores, an academy, the Oneida Institute,
and 100 dwellings, many of which are remarkably neat and commodious.
The Oneida Institute, was founded in 1827, incorporated 1829. Three hours,
per day, of productive labour, are required" from each student, for the purpose of
relieving his stud es, by bodily exercise. It has a farm of 114 acres, on the left
bank of the Sauquoit. The chief building on it. when purchased, was a large 2
story frame house, to which a wing has been added, and is occupied by the juve
nile department. The other principal buildings, of wood, on stone basements, are
two of 82 by 32 feet; one 48 by 48, all, three stories high. The last includes the
chape), in which, there are seats for 250 persons; the lecture room, library, and
* Mr. Dean was born in Hillsdade, Columbia county, and was placed, when 9 years of
age, with the family of an Oneida chief, where he continued until his 18th year, and be
came well versed in the Indian language. He afterwards graduated at Dartmouth college;
studied Theology, at Andover, and was licensed as an Indian Missionary. In 1774 and
1775, the colony of New Hampshire employed bim in negotiations, with the Canadian In
dians. Daring the whole revolutionary war, he was the Indian agent of the government,
of the confederation, exercised a great influence over, and secured the support of the Oneida
Nation. Subsequently, he was the interpreter, in the negotiation of various treaties on the
N. W. frontier. He, afterwards, engaged iu agricultural pursuits; held the office of judge
ofthe county court, for several years; was a member of the legislature, and of the conven
tion to amend the constitution of the state. He lived a patriot and Christian, and died in
1823; leaving three sons, and two daughters, all of whom, in 1835, resided in this county.

576

TOPOGRAPHY.

Females.
ti
Births. '
Deaths.
TOWNS.
c. cc,
to
¦8,
01US
JO *r
T3<$J
P ti
p 2
¦o ¦
.5
2 at
CDs
3 at
t >¦
a P
5 at
*-cs?ee rt
St
toCS
09Ol
DO atOSfi
OS at
COat Fi
1820.
1855.-
1830.
1835.
S
o
>
<
E*
= i
eg
(3
S 11
s 19
at
Pa 19
s 13
b,
Annsville,
1161
1482
1352
102
286
21
174
111
297
8
Augusta,
3771
3911
3053
3347
308
671
70
411
326
695
37
64
42
27
24
Boonville,
12M
2071
3746
3012
197
510
1WI
413
94
716
10
49
45
iit>
12
Bridgewater,
1533
1525
1608
1449
137
330 23
151.
174
2B5
13
38
19
13
10
Camden,
1772
15J8
1945
2114
240
-444
230
196
454
16
41
33
15
16
Deerfield,
2346
3331
4182
2536
19!)
401 131
617
440
1036
30
101
60
30
34
Florence,
64U
678
1557
964
1106
107
230 56
14(1
85
215
9
35
19
7
3
Floyd,
1498
1699
1795
107
289 140
226
122
402
10
32
37
li!
15
Kirkland,*
2505
3497
2 6
686 304
44U
3H2
654
16
69
57
32
26
Lee, I
3186
2077
2514
2616
237
575 3J
337
302
578
24
41
46
18
14
M arcy,
1730
toll
372 88
20.i
134
423
12
36
39
8
4
Marshall,
1908
a57S
228
474 307
35*
226
455 26
82
84
28
20
New Hartford.t
3549
3909
240
<625 453
436
511
737, 2«
38
49
15
13
Paris,
6707
7810
2765
2849
265
595 51
361
356
1671 20
19
411
18
2(1
Remsen,
912
1070
1400
149E
105
3r0 68
173
99
319! 4
50
21
11
14
Rome,
351S9
3531
4300
4805
229
778 309
52«
431
877 26
54
56
33
21
Sangersfield,
2011
1986
2272
2242
267
499 77
297
208
443 26
40
40
11
13
Steuben,
1461
1674
20J4
215i
124
338 79
225
146
166' 2
33
34
9
16
Trenton,
2617
2233
3221
3220
257
658 165
3H7
293
653 25
38
43
1*
23
Utica city.
2972
5010
8333
10183
904
1529 1086
13911
121)5
3069 84
196
207
114
96
Vernon,
2707
2807
3045
21-27
211
5S2 85
361
•29
553 15
36
35
13
13
Verona,
2447
2845
3739
4155
265
822 136
m?,
321
938 35
61
61
» 3
19
Vienna.
1307
1479
1766
2172
210
47Q 75
27H
144
461 17
44
50
24
14
Western,
2237
32 JO
2419
250
265
485 36
297
203
582 1
40
45
18
21
Westmoreland,
2791
3270
3303
3140
218
637 157
789
268
617 30
- 54
52
27
25
Whitestown,
5219
6003
4410
5022
393
870 27H
555
716
1085 48
77
43
37
31
50997
47847
71326
77518
6251
1142o
419b
1031S
7422
15857| 574
1367
1266
597
515
Note. Males, 38,880; Females, 38,638; Blacks, 530; Black voters, 30; Deaf and Dumb, 33; Blind, 41;
Idiots, 47; Lunatics, 39.
* Taken from Paris in 1837.
f Taken from Whitestown in 1827.
TOWNS.
S
'"¦ci
CS
¦o P
at at ¦
es'cs> p
¦si .
S?2
3
P tt,
d
at at
ataf
1039
Cfl
. tp >*
¦a 3
c at
tn —
?.2
ci
4
ii
oa
MCS
a
M
cse
z*
ffijjS
<5«
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=
tn
bx
£ =
rj-
o
o
£
Utica city,*
3817
2041758
915612
•959
592
1018
209
390
1840
6190 64
737 74
Annsville,
5893
123610
5401
1494
371
2175
1043
1066
1759
2049
296 97
563 23
Augusta,
17739
358575
69685
4147
1097
10532
2631
5514
9195
7620
871 96
900 97
Boonville,
12939
213191
13680
5034
592
3512
2203
3207
3611
4619
487 66
510 19
Bridgewater,
10495
238.000
29910
1639
549
14477
1745
1895 3063
2374
870 50
180 04
Camden,
6588
157860
7230
2431
452
2534
1650
2.142 2940
3109
350 39
656 30
Deerfield,
11159
212655
6425
3317
618
3796
1160
3228
2164
3645
455 01
543 09
Florence,
4066
, 70497
4777
1472
203
1218
658
1204
1231
2170
171 52
492 09
Floyd,
10757
148820
4270
3090
650
5593
3781
2271
3077
SJil
322 18
255 49
Kirkland,
11177
478570
91440
3462
758
550.
1939
1288
3167
2873
1187 57
662 30
Lee,
11313
210260
16020
3506
783
4112
2240
3649
4751
5946
457 30
60S 37
Marcy,
10288
184440
4110
2656
432
2846
1683
1046
1861
2438
396 91
618 32
Marshall,
12215
324805
32350
2747
649
8113
2178
2149
4018
3773
772 22
308 65
New Hartford,
13481
608124
52740
2784
762
63U0
2224
2205 2842
991
1362 90
443 33
Paris,
13217
408225
68935
2937
630
6933
2-262
2980. 5308
33-26
983 73
497 58
Remsen,
7665
98608
13300
2002
43-2
1591
1536
1777, 1968
802
336 19
288 58
Rome,
15771
551678
166804
3389
1081
5632
2452
3604 1983
1765
1471 27
1277 67
Sangersfield,
12739
259803
61650
2858
687
13413
2036
3239 3099
3936
678 95
260 80
Steuben,
9459
143075
8200
4380
645
3600
1820
3117
3403
2393
329 11
439 84
Trenton,
15733
334980
46451
5525
975
5000
2821)
3738
3823
3343
802 79
967 29
Vernon,
15809
390430
74080
3380
811
11087
2002
2751
427
3262
657 34
417 96
Verona,
14942
299135
16100
3893
2026
5330
3037
4020
6445
6576
673 37
807 23
Vienna,
7281
138248
4940
19-24
461
3820
1346
2464
3023
3614
311 22
565 33
Western,
17399
266100
32650
5476
8110
5914
3008
3367
386!)
7870
'545 10
734 44
Westmoreland,
17289
379800
55390
4111
1006
11538
2562
3081
4721
4031
888 21
481 53
Whitestown,
11450
604950
104850
2716
736
3937
1978
1234
2038
6311
1461 59
938 03
300682
9176167
1907000
81799
18778
147342
51033
6554584075
91587 22930 06
15143 38
* We are unable to give the area of the towns in acres for want of the supervisor's re'urn. Much
change litis been made in the towns since the censuB of 1835, when the wliole area of tbe county
was given at 704,740 acres.
ONONDAGA COUNTY.

577:

TOWNS.

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Utica city,

3

3

1

1

867

380

AnnsviJle,

1

11

1

1

1
2
1
,
.9
230
179
467]
Augusta,
6
9
3
3
1
2
4
1
17
318
644
1019,
Boonville,
1
20
2
1
1
4
3
23
303
332
719,
Bridgewater,
2
1
1
11
217
279
480
Camden,
5
10
2
2
2
1
2
l
13
332
219
' 648
Deerfield,
7/
1
1
1
2
1
12
262
483
699
Florence,
8
1
2
10
150
131
359
Floyd,
Kirkland,
1
5
47
2
6
1
2
1
1
2
12 16
247260
407661
582, 744
Lee,
3
13
3
2
1
1
1
1
2
6
13
392
384
1031
Marcy,-
5
*
1
1
'2
' 10
173
351
489"
Marshall,
3
10
1
1
2
3
1
1
4
16
201
401
536
New Hartford,
3
6
1
5
1
3
17
" 370
762
95t
Paris,
H
12
2
2
4
2
3
1
1
3
i
1
16
288
845
835
Remsen,
1
'6
3
1
9
255
252
499
1079
Rome,
2
9
2
1
1
1
3
19
347
608
Sangerfield,
3
7
1
1
3
1
1
i
1
12
352
400,
649
Steuben,
TrentoW,
1
4
n
3
15
218
521
749
6
14
5
5
1
I
5
1
18
358
786
948
Vernon;
3
11
4
1
3
1
1
1
3
1
1
2
i
16
378
810
1022
VerdtinV \,
Viemia,
2
13
1
1
1
4
1
19
363
701
1185
2
24
2
2
I
14
180
-402
725
Western,
3
12
2
3
-2
1
3
18
378
459
840
Westmoreland,
1
9
1
1
1
1
1
14
342
655
1050
Whitestown,
3
62 C5tCO otti>
5
241 "i 5 P3
1
37 ^cera
c%
1
35ct UStrCO
3
14
ao 1—l>
1
13
CO 3
OlPStn
13o
7
©g
1
18
US t-tr-
toS3
28 co c-iCO
1
o o
oCO 1-1
1
4
CCS
2
65!
8
s
3
o
3
§ l— 1
CO
1
4
10
452
984
1118
360
8223 , 12656
19793
Value of product,
oUSCS
Numl
er of children above 5 Sc
©
8
o
S3 ©
CD
&
S3
£
o
3
©o
¦cf
US
XI
Tf
o
COo
1
under 16 years of age, 24,376.
Value of material,
s
00
oat
•o
CO
CO
$
E2
© SO
oao
CO
tn
Oo
CO
¦*
¦* \us
01
^<
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CO
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CO
5*
tO iH
tn n rl
f
reading room; the dining hall, and rooms ofjhe superintendent. Attached to thia
• building, is another 40 by 28 feet, for the kitchen and residence of the steward.
The library consists of about 1,000 volumes, and in1 the reading room, are files of
26 newspapers, from various parts- of the Unifed^tates. Students under 15 years
of age* are not admitted into the young men's department; and the age of students
in the juvenile department, is from 10 to 15 years. -¦
Yorkville, on the Sauquoit creek, three and a half miles from Utica, has 1 Pres
byterian, 1 Methodist, churches, 3 stores, 1 tavern, 3 large cotton manufactories',
1 machine shop, and 100 dwellings. Oriskany, 7 miles from Utica, on the Oris
kany creek, has 1 Episcopal, 1 Presbyterian, churches, 3 taverns, 6 stores, 2
woollen factories, viz.the Oriskany, first incorporated in 1804, manufacturing fine
cloths; and the Dexter, having a capital of $100,000; grist mill and saw mill,
and about 60 dwelling's.
ONONDAGA J30UNTY, taken from Herkimer 5th March, 1794, since modi-
fied, by the formation of other counties from it. Bounded by Oswego on the N.,
Madison onthe E., Cortland on the S., and Cayuga on the W. Greatest length N.
and S. 3,6, breadth E. and W. 28, miles; area 826 square miles; situate between
42° 40/ and 43° 12', N. Lat.; and 1° 55' and 2° 32', W. Long. Centrally distant
N. W. from New York 280, from Albany W. 135, miles.
Surface diversified; the northern portion, Including the towns of Lysander, Clay,
Cicero, Van Buren, and the northern parts of Manlius and Dewitt, is level and
underlaid, at great depth, by saliferous sand stone; but has few stones of any kind
upon tne surface; the soil is of good quality, making fair returns for judicious
culture: Centrally^ comprehending the southern part of Manlius and Dewjtt, the
towns of Elbridge, Camillus, Onondaga, and Salina, the surface is rolling, rising '
in. places, into hills^the soil, commonly, a very fertile, sandy, and clay loam,
underlaid with sand stone, lime stone of various qualities, and gypsum, with, ,
73
578

TOPOGRAPHY.

some slate; thickly settled and highly cultivated: In the S. the country is hilly,
but universally arable, resting principally on slate; the soil clay loam, fertile in
grass and grain, hut most profitable tor the former.
The limestone seems to he made up, almost wholly, of shells, and runs into
marble of excellent quality, taking from the encrinites it contains the form of
beautiful bird's eye marble. It is an excellent building material, is preferred for the
locks and other masonry on the canal, and is sent in large quantities to Oswego,
Rochester, ll«ffaJo, and other places, accessible by the canals. The gypsum of
fine quality, readily procurable, sold at the mills, ground, at $1 50 per ton, proves
the most valuable manure for tin* soil, particularly in the north. These minerals
are in inexhaustible .quantities, and in the interior of the county, are frequently
found together upon the farms- Argillaceous iron ore in small quantity, is found,
as in the N. part of Manlius, But the great deposit of salt whence issue the
celebrated Salt, Springs, is the naost interesting mineral feature of the country.
Wheat is a certain crop, averaging 20 bushels, and Indian corn, 30 bushels the
acre. Both are greatly aided hy-the use of plaster. Through the centre of the
county, farms, under good cultivation, sell at from 25 to 40 dollars the acre; in
the N. and S. at from 0.") lo 60 dollars. The greater proportion of the land is
taken up, and most of it improved.

ONONDAGA COUNTY. 579
' Formerly, the northern part of the connty was covered with dense forests of
pine and hemlock, blended with deciduous trees; but the greater portion has been
cleared. In the centre and south, beech, maple, and basswood, prevail.
The county is abundantly watered. The streams o-i the somh, numerous; but
small, are tributary to the Susquehanna. On the E. Limestone and Butternut
creeks, have almost their whole course in the connty, descending to the N. with
much fall, and uniting on the N. E. boundary with the Chittenango creek, flow
into the Oneida Lake. From that lake, forming a part of the northern boundary,
runs the Oneida river, in length 16 miles, having a very tortuous course, to the
Seneca river, at Three river point. The Seneca River winds through the north
west portion of the county, abont fifty-two miles; flowing through Cross Lake,
upon the western boundary. The Skaneateles lake forms in part the S. W.
boundary, and has its whole length, 15 miles, upon or in the county, sending forth
the Skaneateles creek, which unites with the Seneca river, in Cayuga county, near
the western boundary, after a N. course of 10 'miles. The Otisco lake, in the S.
W. 4 miles by 1, receives a creek about 6 miles in length, and gives forth the Nine
mile creek, an important tributary of the Onondaga lake, having a course of about
18 miles. The Onondaga creek, also a tributary of that lake, rises in the high
lands in Tiflly town, and flows N. about 30 miles. With the exception of the
Seneca and Oneida rivers, all these streams have rapid courses, and afford abun
dant mill power.
The county forms part of the military tract, and settlements were first made,
here, in the spring of 1788, whilst composing part of Whitestown, of Montgomery
county. A rail road is being made from Auburn to Syracuse; and in 1836, companies
were authorised, respectively, to make such roads from Syracuse to Brewerton
bridge; to Benedict's stone quarries; to the Onondaga stone quarries; to Bing
hamton, Broome county; and to Utica.
The county is divided into 18 towns, of which Lysander,. Manlius, Marcellus,
Onondaga, and Pompey, were organised by General Sessions, pursuant to act,
Jan. 27th, 1789.
Camillus, organised 8th March, 1799; W. from Albany 141 miles;, surface
rolling; soil calcareous loam. Camillus, Belleisle, and Amboy, are villages.
Camillas, upon Nine mile creek, and intersection of the north turnpike with the
road from Marcellus to Seneca river, has a post office, 1 Presbyterian and I Metho
dist, churches, 1 grist mill, 1 saw mill, carding and cloth dressing mill, 3 taverns,
4 stores, and about 50 dwellings. Near the village is a quarry of .gypsum, the
first found and opened in the state. An incorporated company had conducted
the water of the creek to the village with the view "of applying it there to mills;
but in 1835, sold their rights to the canal commissioners, who have made their
improvement part of a feeder to the Erie canal. The length of this feeder is about
one and a half miles; and thus the village may have a navigable communication
with the canal. Belleisle, upon the Erie canal, 6 miles from Syracuse, and near
the E. line of the town, has a post office, a store, tavern, and 12 or 15 dwellings.
Amboy, upon Nine mile creek, 7 miles from Syracuse, has a saw mill, 1 tavern,
1 store, and from 15 to 20 dwellings.
Cicero, organised 20th February, 1807; from Albany 143, from Syracuse N.
E. 10, miles. The Oneida lake is upon the N. E. and the Chittenango river on
the E.; beside these, the town has no streams, but water is readily procured from
wells at 20 feet depth, and above the sand stone, which underlays the country.
The village of Cicero; centrally situated, at the junction of the state roads to Rome
and Sackett's harbour, contains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Baptist churches, postoffice,
a benevolent lodge, 2 stores, 2 taverns, and 15 dwellings. There is a body of
low land in the centre of the town, erroneously supposed to be marsh, but which.
is in truth, covered with a heavy growth of timber, and may be readily drained of
the waters, occasioned by temporary overflows. Brewerton, is a post office, in
the N. part of the town, upon Oneida river, here 20 rods wide, over which "is a
toll bridge, opposite to the old French Fort, the remains of which are distinctly
visible. Clav, takeu from Cicero 16th April 1827; from Albany 151, from Syracuse N.
11, miles. Clay Corners or Euclid, is a post office, at which, there are a tavern,
store, and several dwellings. About two-thirds of the town are settled, and set-

580 TOPOGRAPHY".
tiers are fast coming into this, and the town of Cicero. The lands having proved
much better than they were originally estimated, as has been the case generally,
with soils resting on the saliferous sand stone. Another post office in the west
part of the town, is called by the name of the town. The Seneca river, on the
west line forms part of the Oswego canal, the towing path is in this town.
Dewitt, taken from Manlius 12th March, 1835; N. W. from Albany 128 miles;
drained by Butternut creek. Orville village, on the N. branch of the Seneca turn
pike, on the Erie canal, and on Butternut creek, contains a Presbyterian church,
several stores, tavern, and some 30 dwellings, and the post office called after the
town. In the neighbourhood are inexhaustible quarries of water lime, vast quan
tities of which are exported. Jamesville, 4 miles S. of Orville, 7 from Syracuse,
also, upon the creek, has a Presbyterian church, several stores, post office, some
mills, and about 40 dwellings. Near the village, a cavern of considerable extent,
was some years since discovered, when digging a well. It has been explored
more than 80 rods. Dewitt, is a hamlet.
Elbridge, taken from Camillus 26th March, 1829; from Albany 169 miles.
There are Indian remains near Elbridge village, the largest of which, upon a hill
may Have had an area of, three acres, surrounded by a ditch and wall of earth. It
is said that a large lime stone was found here, having writing upon it in an un
known character, and that from a well within the wall, many mouldering human
bones have been taken. The town is drained N. by the outlet of Skaneateles
lake and by Carpenter's creek; the former, affording valuable water power. El
bridge, Wellington, and Jordafi, are post villages. Elbridge, 15 miles W: from
Syracuse, has 1 grist, 1 saw, 1 carding and cloth dressing,, mills, 3 taverns, 3
stores, and about 60 dwellings; 1 Baptist and 1 Presbyterian churches. . Welling
ton, near the E. boundary, 11 miles W. from Syracuse, has some 6 or 8 dwellings,
and 1 tavern. Jordan, on the canal, near the W. boundary, 12 miles from Syra
cuse, incorporated May, 1835, has 1 Methodist and 1 Presbyterian, churches, 3
grist mills, having together', ten runs of stones; 3 saw mills, sash factory, pail
factory, clothing works, distillery, 5 taverns, 7 general stores, 5 groceries, 2 drug
stores, 1 tannery, and 150 dwellings. At Peru, there is a store and tavern, and
a few scattered dwellings? upon the Erie canal.
Fabius, organised 9th March, 1798; from Albany 125, from Syracuse S. E. 18,
miles; surface hilly and somewhat broken, resting on slate, lime, and marl. In
the N. E. corner, there is a marly marsh, having the quality of changing wood,
immersed in it, to stone. Remnants also of ancient fortifications are found here,
and beneath the earth, remains of human bones. Franklinville, has 1 Baptist, 1
Methodist, and 1 Presbyterian, churches, 3 or 4 stores, 3 taverns, a tannery, and
from 35 to 40 dwellings, and" the post office, called after the town. Apulia, is a
post office in the western portion of the town.
Lafayette, taken from Pompey and Onondaga, April 15, 1825; from Albany
134, from Syracuse S. 11, miles; surface- hilly; soil clay loam,'on slate and lirne.
Lafayette and Cardiff are post villages. At the former, are 1 Presbyterian church,
2 stores, 1 tavern, and 12 or 15 dwellings; at Cardiff, 1 Methodist church, 1 ta
vern, 2 stores, and 10 or 12 dwellings.
Lysander, distant from Albany 152 miles; drained by the Seneca river on the
south boundary. Baldwinsville, Plainville, Lysander, Belt's Corners, and Little
Utica, are villages; the first three have post_pffices, and there is a post office called
Jack's Reef. Baldwinsville, on the Seneca river, 12 miles N. W. from Syracuse,
contains 1 Presbyterian church, 2 flouring, 3 saw, mills, two of which have four
saws each, a mill for sawing curled maple veneers, and" a machine factory — a
dam has been erected here across the river, with two locks, whence the water
power of the village is derived, and which is competent for a much greater number
of mills — 3 taverns, 4 stores, and from 80 to 100 dwellings. A canal has been cut
across a neck of land in the S. W. corner of the town, formed by a bend in. the
Seneca river, with the view of draining the Montezuma' marsh. This cut, 40 feet
at the water surface, 35 feet deep, and three-fourths of a mile in length, was made
at the expense ofthe state. Plainville, 16 miles from Syracuse, has 1 Dutch Re
formed church, 2 taverns, 1 store, and 12 or 15 dwellings. Bett's Corners, 21
miles from Syracuse, has 1 Dutch Reformed and 1 Methodist churches, 1 tavern,
3 stores, 1 tannery, and about 40 dwellings. Little Utica, 17 miles from Syraouse,

ONONDAGA COUNTY. 581
has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 tavern, 1 store, 1 saw mill, and some 10 or 13 dwel
lings. ,
Manlius, from Albany 137 miles; surface level on the north, rolling on the
south; soil sandy and clay loam of excellent quality, underlaid by wgA and lime
stone; drained by the Chittenango creek, whichforms theN. W. boulraary,and its
tributaries, Limestone creek, running .centrally across the town, and Butternut
creek, crossing it from the west. One mile S. of Manlius village, on both
branches of the Limestone, are high falls; on the W. branch 100 feet, and on the
E. 50 feet; in the angle between them is a sulphur spring, which with other wa
ters of this vicinage, have extraordinary petrifying qualities. Green Pond is a re
markable sheet of water, one and a half miles long by three-fourths wide, sunk
200 feet below the common level of its rocky shores, and having a depth of water
of 200 feet. The water from the bottom has a strong smell of sulphur, and many
of the trees around its margin are blasted by lightning. The surface ofthe pond
presents a mirror of- deep green. Manlius, Fayetteville, and Kirkville, are post
villages. Manlius, incorporated village, on Limestone creek, at the junction
of several tnrnpike roads, 10 miles S. E. from Syracuse, and 40 W. from Utica,
contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Episcopal, churches, 1 printing office,
issuing a weekly paper, an academy, incorporated in 1835, 1 cotton factory, 2
grist, several saw, mills, 6 stores, 2 taverns, and 150 dwellings. Fayetteville, on
the N. branch of the Seneca turnpike, and upon the feeder of the Erie canal, 8
miles from Syracuse, has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist, churches, 1
grist mill, 1 saw mill, 4 taverns. 6 stores, and 75 dwellings. Kirkville is a thriv
ing village, on the canal, in the N. E. part of the town. Hartsville and Manlius
Centre are post offices.
i Marcellus, from Albany 157, from Syracuse S. W. 14, miles; surface hilly; soil
fertile loam, on blue limestone and slate; the Seneca turnpike crosses the town.
Marcellus, post village, has 1 Presbyterian, , 1 Episcopal, and 1 Methodist,
churches, the last of stone, 1 stone flouring mill, 1 saw mill, a woollen factory, 2
paper mills, 2 taverns, 4 stores, and about 80 dwellings. South Marcellus. is a
post office only, kept at a tavern. A mile below Marcellus is a hamlet, contain
ing a grist mill, saw mill, paper mill, a woollen factory, clock factory, store, and
15 dwellings, at Marcellus Falls. 'On the bank of the Otisco outlet, which runs
centrally through the town, are some eurious petrifactions of wood, in part covered
by limestone, which has either been formed by precipitation, since the transmuta
tion, or has slipped down from above. Clintonville is the name of a post office.
Onondaga, W. from Albany 135 miles; surface very hilly; soil clay loam, en
riched with vegetable mould, fertile and well cultivated; drained by the Onondaga
creek, forming two-thirds of a circle within the town, in a deep broad valley, exu
berantly fertile, bordered by high ridges on either side, and known as Onondaga
Hollow. Gypsum, shell limestone, and water lime, abound. The Onondaga
Castle, or Council House, the chief dwelling of the remnant of the Onondaga
tribe of Indians, is in the Hollow, upon a small reservation, 3 miles S. of this vil
lage; where are about 50 Indian cottages, and 100 souls, whose number annually
decreases. This was the favourite region, and the centre of the great Indian con
federacy. Onondaga West, or Howlit Hill, Onondaga Hollow, South Onondaga,
and Navarino, are post villages.
Onondaga West Hill, formerly the seat of justice of the county, upon a distin
guished eminence so called, 4 miles S. W. from Syracuse, incorporated, has 1
Presbyterian and 1 Episcopalian, churches, the old court house, prison, and clerk's
office, 2 taverns, 4 stores, and from 40 to 50 dwellings, some of which are fine
buildings, inhabited by old and respectable residents ofthe connty: There is a
fine view of the country from this village, including Onondaga lake-, and the vil
lages of Syracuse and Salina.
Onondaga Hollow, incorporated, 4 miles S. from Syracuse, 2 E. from WTest Hill,
hasl Presbyterian and'l Methodist, churches, 1 grist and saw mill, an academy,
3 taverns, 1 store, and about 60 dwellings.
South Onondaga, in the south part of the town, 10 miles S. from Syracuse, has
1 Presbyterian church, l'store, 1 tavern, 12 or 15 dwellings. Navarino, in the S.
W. angle,> 14 miles from Syracuse, at the intersection of the state road with the ,
road from Amber to Marcellus, contains 1 store and about a dozeu dwellings.
The first white settler in the county was Mr. Webster, (in 1786.) He was an

582 TOPOGRAPHY.
interpreter to the Onondaga tribe, fn 1788 he obtained their permission for
Messrs. Asa Danforth and Comfort Tyler to establish themselves at Onondaga
Hollow. Otisco, tpl*Bn from Pompey, Marcellus, and Tnlly, 21st March, 1806; W, from
Albany 1407"from Syracuse, S. W., 14, miles; surface hilly; soil clay loam, on
slate and lime, well cultivated; drained by the Otisco Inlet; inhabited chiefly by
emigrants from New England and their descendants. The Otisco lake on the N.
W. is four miles long by a half wide, and is the source of the Otisco or Nine Mile
creek. Its name is derived from an Indian word, meaning " decreased waters."
Amber, and Otisco Centre, are post villages. The former, in the N. W., near the
lake, has 1 Methodist church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and 10 or 12 dwellings. The
latter, centrally situated, has 3 Presbyterian church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, 15 dwel
lings. There is also a post office called Vesper.
Pompey, W. from Albany 146, from Syracuse S. E. 14, miles; surface hilly; soil
fertile sandy and clay loam; drained northward by Limestone»creek and its tribu
taries. Pompey, Pompey Centre, Oran, and Delphi, are post villages. Pompey
Centre, on an eminence, which overlooks the country for a great distance, contains
1 Baptist and 1 Presbyterian, churches, a flourishing academy, with a fine stone
building, 2 taverns, 4 stores, and about 50 dwellings. Oran, in the N. E., on the
Manlius and Cazenovia turnpike, is merely a post office, near which is a dilapidated
Presbyterian church and several dwellings. Delphi, in the S. E. corner, contains
some 40 dwellings. Near this village are two falls, 70 feet perpendicular each, on
the main branch of Limestone creek, within 20 rods of each other, on which are
many mills. Three qOarters of a mile from the village, are also the remains of
three ancient Indian works, the largest of which is of a triangular form, inclqsing
about six acres, having pickets and a gateway. There are many graves within the
fort, over and around which were trees 200 years old. With human bones, there
have been dug up here, axes, knives, brass kettles, gun barrels, Spanish coins, curi
ously wrought bones, &c, iron chains, and part of a church bell, with the tongue en
tire. The settlements in this town commenced in 1788, but tradition has not pre
served the time whert those articles were deposited here. Watervale is the name
of a post office.
Salina, taken from Manlius and Onondaga, 27th March, 1809; N. W. from
New York 275 and from Albany, W. 130, miles; surface rolling; soil clay and
gravelly loam, upon sandstone, lime, and gypsum; watered by the Onondaga
creek and lake. Upon the margin of this lake are the celebrated salt-springs. (See
page 50.) The red saliferous sandstone, underlays the marsh and swamps, plain
and lake, and forms a brim around the last. The shoal waters and marsh rest on
this margin, while the deep waters are within it. The declivity of the brim drops
almost perpendicularly 60 or 70 feet, which is a little under the ordinary depth of
the lake. The marshes formerly occasioned this country to be very unhealthy;
but pursuant to an act of assembly, of 1822, the canal commissioners connected
the side cut of the Erie canal, by five locks, descent 38 feet, with the lake; open
ed and deepened the outlet of the lake so as to lower it to the level of the Seneca
river, and made a new cut, giving a depth of water at all times of not less than 3
feet; thus improving the navigation to the river, and lowering the level of tt)e lake,
nearly 2 feet, which has so drained the marshes, as to remove the cause of disease.
Salina, Syracuse, Liverpool and Geddes, are post villages.
Salina, one and a half miles N. of Syracuse, was formerly a very thrifty vil
lage, but has been overshadowed by its younger sister, Syracuse, where now the
principal portion ofthe commerce of this region centres. So rapid, however, will
be the increase of population at both villages, that a very few years must blend
them into one. The village lies upon a plain rising near the centre of the marsh
and extending S. eastwardly and southerly, limited on one side by the Cedar
swamp along Onondaga creek, and on the other by a marsh and swamp upon the
same stream, running into the lake. It contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Catholic, and 1
Methodist, churches; 3 taverns, 9 stores, 1 bank, with a captial of $150,000, and
77 salt manufactories; and the great salt spring which supplies the works here,
at Liverpool and Syracuse; the water being conveyed in subterranean logs. The
brine is forced to the top of a reservoir 85 >feet high, by pumps driven by the sur
plus waters of the Oswego canal, at the rate of 300 gallons per minute, whence it
is distributed to the factories. The salt is manufactured by evaporation, solar or

584 TOPOGRAPHY.
artificial. By the slower process of the former, the coarse salt is made and the
fine by the rapid evaporation produced by fire. In the latter case, the factories
contain from 16 to 40 kettles, placed in two rows, and under each row, is a furnace
where an incessant fire is preserved; the kettles are filled with brine from time to
time, by pipes conducted between them; there are some establishments in which
the water is boiled by hot air introduced into vats by metallic pipes. The quantity
of fuel used in the manufacture of salt from this spring, exceeds 400 cords per
day. The solar evaporation from vats, is made principally at Syracuse and Ged»
des. A light roof is constructed to each vat, which can be shoved off and on at
pleasure, to permit the rays of the sun to act upon the water or to avert the rain.
As the salt precipitates, it forms large and massive crystals, which are removed
from the vats, from time to time.
Syracuse, one of tbe magnificent canal creations, is situated near the centre of
the county, (of which it is the seat of justice,) at the point where the great Sene
ca turnpike crosses the Erie canal, and at the junction of that canal with the Os
wego canal, 278 miles N. W. from New York, 133 W. from Albany and by the
canal 171, from Utica,61, and from Rochester 99 miles; the meeting of the canals
and turnpike render it the great thoroughfare to Canada. The village; incorporated
in 1825, extends on both sides of the canal, and contains 1 Episcopal, 1 Presby
terian, 1 Methodist and 1 Baptist, churches; the court house, prison and clerk's of
fice, commodious buildings; 2 lyceums, 2 printing offices, each' issuing a weekly
newspaper. 2 book stores, 1 incorporated high school, " Syracuse Academy," 16
lawyers, 11 physicians, 16 general stores, 22 grocery and provision stores, 4 drug
stores, 2 hardware, 4 clothing and 5 large shoe stores, 3 furnaces and machine
shops, 2 flouring, 1 lumber, mills, 1 planeing machine, 3 tin and copper, 2 leather,
1 morocco, 2 carriage, 3 cabinet, 3 marble, 1 soap and candle, manufactories, an
extensive manufactory of steam engines and other castings; 1 brewery, 1 distillery,
2 tanneries, 1 boat yard and dry dock; the Onondaga Bank, (capital $ 150,000,)
2 fire companies with engines, 1 hookand ladder company; 2 companies, each with
a capital of $150,000, for the manufacture^ coarse salt, making 163,000 bushels
annually; and 15 salt blocks, for making salt-by fire.. The increase of this village
is most rapid, and it already assumes a city like appearance, presenting many and
spacious streets and large blocks of four storied stores; near the canal is one of the
most splendid hotels in the state, of brick, four stories high. The number of
dwellings is about 700; population in 1830—2565; in 1835—4103. The Onon
daga creek, affording valuable water power, runs through the village, over which
the canal is carried, in a stone aqueduct of 4 arches. One mile E. terminates the
Utica long level of sixty-nine and a half miles.
Liverpool, on the lake and Oswego canal, four and a half miles N. of Syracuse,
contains 2 taverns, 4 stores, and abourXSO dwellings chiefly of wood. During the
year 1834, a large reservoir was constructed between this village and Salina, up
on the high ground, midway for the accommodation of the factories at the former.
Geddes, very pleasantly situated at the head of the lake, upon its left bank and on
the Erie canal, 2 miles W. of Syracuse, has recently acquired additional impor
tance from the discovery of new salt springs here, which supply the salt works.
The village contains an Episcopal church, 2 stores, 2 taverns, and 50 dwellings.
From the heights around it, are fine views of the lake, Salina, Syracuse and the
Onondaga hill and village.
Fopr fifths of this town, excluding 250 acres at Syracuse and part of the village
lots at Salina, were held by the state, until 1822, for the use ofthe salt works;, the
manufacturers being permitted to cut the timber at discretion. When the forest was
removed, these lands presented a very unfavourable appearance and were sold by
the state in 1822 — 27 — 29, at an average of 7 dollars the acre, (a very low price
compared with other lands,) reserving the springs and necessary lands for salt
works. These lands are now worth 40 dollars the acre. For the quantity of salt
manufactured here, the reader is referred to page 51. The following table shows
the number of salt works at the several villages.

ONONDAGA COUNTY. 585

Manufac

Kettles

Superfi

Gallons

VILLAGES.

tures.

and

cial feet

in

69

Pans.

of Vats.

Kettles.

Salina, F. S.

1,822

174,415

do. C. S.

8

146

34,271

13,780

Syracuse,

15

390

189

36,190

Liverpool,

25

600

54,710
Geddes, F. S.
15
463
3,170
45,680
do. C. S.
1
2
5,175
15,000
133 3,423 42,805 339,775
Coarse Salt Companies' Vats.
Onondaga Salt Company 618,000
Syracuse do do 668,488
H. Gifford's do 119,808
S. C. Brewster's do at Geddes, 67,198
1,473,494. superficial feet.
The means for the manufacture of salt in the town of Salina, (with a sufficient
supply of brine,) are supposed competent to produce 3 millions bushels annually.
The best springs, however, do not yield a sufficiency for the works. To manufac
ture from inferior brine, is unprofitable.
^Skaneateles, taken from Marcellus, 26th Feb. 1830; centrally distant S. W.
from Syracuse 18 miles. The northern and broadest part of the Skaneateles lake,
lies centrally in the town, and the outlet, leaves it by the N. W. atlgle. Skanea-
tales, Mottville and Mandana are post villages. Skaneateles, on the Seneca turn
pike, at the foot of the lake, 145 miles N. W. of Albany, contains 1 Presbyterian,
1 Methodist, 1 Baptist and 1 Episcopal churches; an academy, public library; 5
grist mills, making near 40,000 barrels of flour annually; 4 saw, 4 carding and
cloth dressing, mills, 2 woollen factories, 2 furnaces and foundries, 2 machine
factories, 4 tanneries, 2 extensive manufactories of carriages, ¦- printing office,
publishing a weeklyjournal, 2 taverns, 8 stores, and about 250 dwellings, and ma
ny and various mechanics and artisans. The site of this village is one of sur
passing beauty, commanding a view of the pure waters of the lake, for 7 or 8
miles, and of the country which rises gently from the shore into hills of 100 feet
in height,- having their slopes highly cultivated and richly variegated with woods,
meadows and cornfields, and their tops crowned with neat white farm houses. The
lake is 16 miles long, and from a half a mile to 2 miles broad, and .abounds with
trout, salmon trout, and other fish. The water is deep and remarkably pure, its
bottom gravelly and its shores bold and picturesque, rising towards the head of the
lake abruptly several hundred feet. Under the cliffs, on the E. and on a level with
the water, are organic remains, including the cornu amfmonis, imbedded in a stra
tum of slate. Three miles N. of the village, the Skaneateles creek falls over a
bed of rocks about 70 feet in a short distance; but, except in freshets the water
sinks in limestone crevices and appears in part, at the distance of half a mile be
low; efforts have been made in vain to check this drainage. Mottsville, upon the
outlet of the lake, 2 miles below Skaneateles, has 2 churches, 1 grist and 1 saw,
mills, a furnace for casting iron, and about 30 dwellings. Mandana, is merely a
post office in a compact agricultural vicinage. Rhodes, is a post office in the N. E.
angle of the town. A rail road, four and a half miles long, is proposed to connect
this village with the Auburn and Syracuse rail road; and it is also proposed to
continue the road 10 miles from the lake to Homer, in Cortland county.
Spafford, taken from Tully, 11th April 1811, since which a portion has been
added from Marcellus; from Albany 157 miles; first settled in 1806; surface hilly
and broken in the south; rolling on the north, where the soil is of better quality
than in the south. Upon the W. it is bounded by the Skaneateles lake. On the
E. theland descends steeply towards the vale of the Otisco lake, whose inlet and
outlet form the principal streams. In this valley the soil is generally good 
,Spafford and Borodino, are post villages. The first, 20 miles from Syracuse, is
74
586

TOPOGRAPHY.

rather a closely settled agricultural district. The second, near the margin of Ska
neateles lake, contains a church, 2 taverns, 2 stores, and about 20 dwellings. Ma
rietta, 14 miles from Syracuse, has grist, and saw, mills, clothing works, tanne
ry, 2 taverns, and within the space of a mile some 20 dwellings.
Tully, taken from Fabius, April 4th, 1803, since altered; from Albany 128
miles; surface generally level, including extensive flats; soil clay loam, well
adapted to grass. Tully, in the south portion of the town," 18 miles soutfi from
Syracuse, contains the post office, 3 stores, 2 taverns, 1 Baptist, 1 Presbyterian,
churches, and from 25 to 30 dwellings. There is another post office calledTully
valley. There are extensive beds of marl in the northern part of the town. Two
small lakes, one of 100, the other of 400 acres, send forth, south, Tioughnioga
creek; and the Onondaga creek, runs northerly through the town. -Settlements
commenced here in 1796.
Van Buren, taken from Camillus, 26th March, 1829; N. W. from New York,
302, from Albany 147 and from Syracuse 14 miles; surface rolling; soil clay and
sandy loam; drained by Camp brook, which runs N. to the Seneca river on the N.

'

Females.
V
Births.
Deaths.
TOWNS.
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1825.
1830.
1835.
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COs
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Camillus,
5791
7108
2518
2006
637
695
26
. 1303
2462
1808
2181
235
439
3(1
2»n
87
5115
15
36
31
13
1(1
Clay,
2095
2538
285
513
28
329
150
616
23
58
51
21
14
De Witt,
2716
283
562
54
3J2
1H5
636
IK
65
46
25
18
Elbridge,
3357
3599
366
747
64
459
330
786
1
76
77
35
30
2494
2596
3071
2852
211
557
4
379
225
639
46
54
15
13
La Fayette,
2560
2592
247
567
11
323
220
548
22
55
43
16
14
Lysander,
1723
2279
3228
3838
383
797
27
532
223
911
7
102
76
31
31
Marcellus,
6503
7045
2626
2456
511
1081
177
769
491
1222
50
116
89
40
43
5372
6005
7375
5594
253
523
57
303
213
511
16
40
35
16
17
Onondaga,
5502
5888
5668
4789
428
970
148
581
419
984
60
89
74
40
50
1726
1862
1938
1863
166
401
2, 238
160
417
18
23
33
11
19
6701
6517
4812
4521
314
981
38! 564
399
893
36
57
89
26
24
Salina,
1814
3833
6929
7793
883
1540
488 1162
671
1632
74
189
193
102
67
Skaneateles,
3812
3575
396
726
148 453
370
675
39
53
47
24
31
Spa fiord,
1294
1450
2647
2404
206
489
6
294
202
539
31
43
34
16
16
Tully,
1194
1390
1640
1610
176
355
12
221
140
332
11
32
40
14
19
Van Buren,
2890
2963
213
5909
524
5
396
147
4869
614
25
516
55
1206
53
1130
13
487
13
41467
48435
58974
60908
12409
1323
8036
13155
455
Note.— Males, 31,210: Females, 29,65
21; Blind, 26: Idiots, 43; Lunatics, 20.
; Paupers, 127; Blacks, 405; Black voters, 14: Deaf and Dumb
TOWNS. '
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Camillus,
21100
14719
472644
45800
2148
896
5365
2532
2809
4110
1684
1831
1130
Cicero,
29000
6289
309337
2730
1620
550
2011
1276
2110
2012
J544 4501
1016
680
Clay,
295O0
8678
377604
2945
2111
705
2717
1864
2499
2734
459
829
De Witt,
23400
10661
549126
18250
1846
728
3518
2175
2110
3040
878
1368
1243
Elbridge,
22200
12884
532806
37500
2303
914
4114
2622
3935
3063
4308
sm
1237
Fabius,
3O0O0
16394
384004
31425
4156
886
8431
2261
5134
6809
8261
55?
905
La Fayette-,
22200
15075
331524
41695
2759
921
5672
2516
3760
5285
4024
714
813
Lysander,
38000
16393
526939
7450
2950
1021
8100
3700
5220
5692
6275
674
1165
Marcellus,
17400
17170
371204
33834
3989
1308
8113
3408
3350
4781
2287
459
883
Manlius,
30300
13014
711047
103400
2012
1853
5786
2413
2558
3636
3273
9018
1775
Onondaga, '
41100
28541
876808
68150
4586
773
11883
5638
6541
9576
5267
1735
2060
Otisco,
15500
12879
214936
14395
20H0
1735
5888
19119
3759
4889
4411
387
500
Pompey,
39000
30196
748808
31005
4881
1671
22936
4260
6399
8056
4755
1068
1700
Salina,
15500
11407
1521082
431166
2423
1239
2935
3010
.1932
3888
435
9,715
4257
Skaneateles,
22700
18326
581125
226950
3218
1196
8870
3976
1659
4898
3326
1563
1762
s-pafford,
21000
14391
304537
19531
2852
839
7129
2640
4739
5552
9513
517
706
Tully,
15600
9728
199682
13310
2026
493
3482
1360
2501
3249
4258
422
464
Van Buren, '
21600
13580
414725
32600
2273
892
4895
2722
4404
5829
6298
587
975
155100 270335
9427938
1162036
49533117620 121845
50234
66412(870981 77298
18601
23084
ONTARIO COUNTY.

587

TOWNS.

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Camillus,

16

363

673

1002

Cicero,

6

3
1
^
2913
526
714
Clay,
4
1
1
lS
229
246
711
De Witt,
3
4
1 1
2
4
*
Elbridge,Fabius,
2
14
1 i
! 3
1 1
1
2
4
15
375
1 383
953
4
15
! 5
3
5
21
476
776
1187
La Fayette,
2
16
'
! 3
1
3
15
521
440
819
Lysander,
5
17
2
1
4
3
26
471
649
1205
Manlius,
6
10
(
! 2
3
2
1
4
35
1551
1449
2085
Marcellus,
3
10
¦
! 2
2
<
1
1
3
12
490
676
891
Onondaga,
2
9
! 2
2
3
29
692
1271
1580
Otisco,
2
6
! 1
2
3
13
352
474
777
Pompey,
3
12
2
1 6
2
i
2
1
5
i
24
835
1094
1390
Sftlina,
4
7
3
1
2
1
l
17
772
794
947
Skaneateles
5
3
1
! 2
4
2
1
4
14
457
453
843
Spafford,
1
5
1 1
2
3
15
861
596
1277
Tully,
4
8
1 1
1
2
1
2
2
12
260
346
563
Van Buren,
2
52at
6
162
42
us tc
1 1
5 34
ot
3
S
10
co -q
3 4
o
11
2
35 to
2
54
2
o
15
295
574
915
304
9396
11420-
17859
ot
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CO
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rH 0
CO
CO
o
Value of product,
3
1
cc a
t-< if
oo CO
o to
US
ii
Ol
1
^
M
Number of children between 5 and 16
*
_
years
of age, 17,73:
.
Value of material,
USoCO
at | p-
3
o
o 1
s 1
t os
1
s 2
O?0
ao
** Included in Manlius.
boundary. Canton, in the S. W. on the Erie canal, and Macksville, in the N. up
on theriver, are post villages. The former, 12 miles from Syracuse, has 3 stores,
9 taverns and some 15 dwellings. The latter has a tavern, 2 stores, a large grist
mill, saw mill, and about 30 dwellings; a wooden bridge over the river connects
it with Baldwinsville.
ONTARIO COUNTY was taken from Montgomery, 27th January, 1789. It
then extended from the Pre-emption line, 1 mile E. of Geneva, to the western,
northern, and southern bounds of the state, and was known to the early settlers
by the genera] appellation of the " Genesee country." The census taken in the
following year, gave a population to this great territory of 1081 souls. From it,
there have .since been formed, the counties of Steuben, Genesee, Allegany, Nia
gara, Chautauque, Cattaraugus, Monroe, Livingston, Erie, Yates, Wayne, (the
eastern half from Seneca,) and Orleans. The whole of this territory was included
in the cession to Massachusetts, and by that state sold to Gorham and Phelps in
1787. In the following spring, Oliver Phelps, of Granville, Massachusetts, pre
pared, with men and means, to explore this far distant and unknown country. The
enterprise was deemed one of great hazard, requiring extraordinary resolution and
intrepidity. His family and friends, with the minister of the parish, assembled to
witness and bless Ms departure, and to weep over him as one whose return could
scarce be hoped from a wilderness, inhabited by savages lately at war with the
whites, and hardly yet pacified.
Mr. Phelps penetrated the forest, from the German Flats to Canandaigua, dis
tant, by the present improved road, 128 miles; and collecting the representatives of
the Six Nations, in July, 1798, with the aid of the Rev. Samuel Kirkland, state
commissioner and Indian missionary, purchased from them their right to two and
I a half millions of acres; bounded E. by the Pre-emption line; VV. by a meridional
line, running from a point in the north line of Pennsylvania 42 miles W. of the
82 mile stone, to an elm tree, in the forks of the Genesee and Canascraga rivers;
thence by the Genesee river to a point 2 miles N . of the Canawagus village, (near
Avon bridge;) thence due VV. 12 miles, (1J S. of Le Roy village, Genesee coun-
588

TOPOGRAPHY.

ty;) thence parallel to the general course ofthe Genesee river, N. 24° E. to Lake
Ontario, which course forms the E. line of the tract called the Triangle.
The reason of this remarkable offset, may be given as illustrative of the change
of value ofland here in less than half a century. The Indians were disposed to
confine Mr. Phelps to the Gepesee river for his western bounday. He proposed
the erection of mills at the Falls, now Rochester, and asked this offset, making a
quadrangle of 12 by 24 miles, for a mill yard.
After Ebenezer Allen had erected his mill at the Falls, (near the W. end of the
canal aqueduct,) and the Indians came to see it, and the quantity of ground re
quired for a mill yard, they uttered their usual interjection of surprise, quaoh! and
added Kauskonchicos, {waterfall,) which became their name for Mr. Phelps.
The kindness and good faith, however, which he observed towards them, se
cured their confidence and affection; in testimony of which, they adopted him and
his son, Oliver L. Phelps, members of their national council.
The leading chiefs and warriors concerned in this negotiation, were Farmer**
Brother, the grand sachem, renowned for his political wisdom, and Red Jacket,
their celebrated orator.
Of the manner Mr. Phelps disposed of these lands for sale, we have already
spoken. (See p. 149.) In 1789, he opened, at Canandaigua, the first land office in
America for the sale of forest lands to settlers. His system of survey by town
ships and ranges was adopted in all the new lands of the United States, as was,
also, his mode of making sales to settlers by articles, by the individual proprietors
who succeeded him.

ONTARIO COUNTY. 589
The article was a device of American origin, granting the possession but not the
/eeyfacilitating frequent changes among settlers; enabling them to transfer their
possessions by assignment, yet securing the reversion to the proprietor, in case
the lands were abandoned. The sales were allodial. The restraining and oppres
sive leasehold was repudiated, and the Genesee farmers, becoming absolute pro
prietors ofthe soil they tilled, have never feared to expend their full energies upon
its culture.
The whole, or nearly the whole,, of the lands of this county, were thus sold out
in small portions to actual settlers, five-eighths of whom are derived from New
England, and the remainder from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland, with
the exception of some emigrants, in the town of Seneca, from England.
Ontario county is now bounded N.by Motiroe and Wayne; E. by Seneca; S. by
Yates and Steuben; and VV. by Livingston, counties. Greatest length E. and W.
35; greatest breadth N. and S. 30, miles. Area 653 square miles. - Situate be
tween 42° 36' and 43° 03' N. Lat.; and 0° 2' 30" and 44' W. Long.; centrally, dis
tant N. W. from New York 267, and from Albany N. of VV. 195, miles.
Its surface is much diversified. East of the Canandaigua lake is a fine cham
paign country, rising jnto hills towards the south, but having some broad and
beautiful plains; such as the central space lying between Seneca and Canandaigua
lakes, in which there is scarce a hill to be seen that is not caused by the abrasion
of the streams, which is inconsiderable. West of the Canandaigua lake, the sur- •
face rises gradually into ridges, being deeply cut by the streams; and these ridges
attain considerable elevation between that lake and the Honeoye, Caneadea, and
Hemlock lakes; although the three last are said to lie lower than the first, which
is given at 670 feet above the ocean. On the S. W. the town of Naples reaches
to the high lands, upon which the northern and southern streams divide, and may
probably have an altitude upon the southern line of from 1200 to 1400 feet.
The great substratum rock of the county is slattj( but almost every where cover
ed with secondary lime, and with patches of graywacke upon the higher hills. In
the northern parts of the county the slate sometimes crops out, but it is common
ly beneath the lime, which contains most, perhaps all, the varieties of the secon
dary formation, such as the corniferous, the shelly, the siliceous, or water lime,
and gypsum. In the south, the clay slate is more usual at the surface, and is
frequently seen in ridges, and along the streams, between the Seneca and Canan
daigua lakes. In the west, it alternates, often, with the lime, and in the S. VV. it
is the prevailing surface rock. These constituents make fertile soils. Fruits of
all kinds congenial with the climate are excellent and abundant; apples and
peaches particularly so.
In or near the plaster beds of Manchester, are some sulphur springs, which we
have regarded in the notice of that town. In the towns of Bristol, Canana'aigua,
and Middlesex now in Yates, are some notable sulphuretted hydrogen springs;
fondly, but we fear falsely, supposed to be certain indications of the presence of
fossil coal.
The springs of Bristol are situated in a ravine, on the west side of Bristol Hol
low, 'about half a mile from the North Presbyterian cjiurch, 8 miles S. E. from
Canandaigua. The ravine is formed in clay slate, and a small brook runs throuo-h
it. The gas rises through fissures of the slate, from the margin and bed of the
brook; where it passes through the water it is in bubbles, and flashes only when
the flame is applied; but where it flows directly from the rock, it burns with a
steady and beautiful flame, continuing until extinguished by storms or desio-n.
The springs in Canandaigua are on both sides of the lake, and within 3 miles of
the village. The gas emitted from them, like that from the preceding, is inflam
mable, but is not in such large quantities.
Those in Middlesex lie from one to two miles S. W. from the villao-e of Rush-
ville, along a tract nearly a mile in length, partly at the bottom of Federal Hoi
low, and partly at an elevation 40 or 50 feet S. from it. The latter, discovered
withiii a few years, are very numerous. Their places are known by little hillocks
a few feet in diameter, and a few inches high, formed by dark bituminous mould'
apparently deposited by the gas, and through which it finds its way, in one or
more currents, which will burn with steady flame. In winter they form openings
among the snow, and being set on fire, exhibit the novel and interestino- phenome
non of a steady and lively flame in contact with snow. In very cold weather it is

590 TOPOGRAPHY.
said, tube's of ice are formed around these currents of gas, probably from the freez
ing ofthe water in them, which sometimes rise to the height of two'or three feet,
the gas issuing from their tops; the whole, when lighted in a still evening, pre
senting an appearance more beautiful than the former.
Analysis shows the gas to consist of a mixture of the light and heavy carburet-
ted hydrogen, the former greatly preponderating, with a small portion of carbonic
acid. It seems, also, to contain some oily or bituminous matter, burning with a
lambent yellowish flame, slightly inclined to red, with small scintillations of
bright red at the base. It has the odour of pit coal, produces no smoke, but depo
sits whilst burning a smalj quantity cf bituminous lampblack. The hillocks
through which the gas rises are destitute of verdure. Whether it be directly dele
terious to vegetation, or indirectly, by interrupting the contact of the atmospheric
air, it is certain that no plant will live within its influence.
There is a similar spring in East Bloomfield, near a bed of gypsum, and another
at the town of Richmond.
The principal streams are Flint creek, Canandaigua outlet, and Mud creek, all
of which are described in the article on Wayne county.
The lakes are the Canandaigua, Honeoye, Caneadea, and Hemlock.
The Canandaigua lies 14 miles W. ofthe Seneca lake; is 14 miles long from
N. W. to S. E.; and from one to two miles broad; and is elevated, as we have al
ready observed, 670 feet above the ocean. It is navigable throughout, and its
banks afford diversified and beautiful scenery. Its inlet is a small stream of some
5 or 6 miles long.
The Honeoye lake, 12 miles W. of the former, extends N. and S. 5 miles, with
the breadth of one, and its outlet flows N. W. to the Genesee river.
The Caneadea, 2 miles W. ofthe Honeoye, is but 3 miles long, and half a mile
wide. , It sends its surplus water N. W. to the outlet ofthe Hemlock.
The Hemlock lake, forming part of the western boundary, is 6 miles long, vary
ing from one to two in breadth. ' Its outlet unites with that of the Honeoye. A
company was incorporated in 1836, to make a rail road from the Honeoye and
Hemlock lakes, to the Erie canal, in Monroe county.
The disposition of the inhabitants to promote moral culture, is evinced in the
many and excellent schools they have founded; and perhaps in nothing more than
in the establishment of a county lyceum, with branches in every town, charged
with the improvement ofthe common schools.
The poor are provided for in a county poor house, on a fertile farm of two hun
dred acres.
The county is divided into 14 towns, all of which, not otherwise noted, were
organised by general sessions pursuant to act of 27th January, 1789.
Bristol, from Albany 203 miles; surface, on the north half, hilly, ridges run
ning nearly north and south, underlaid principally by lime, and, said to be in all
seasons the most certain and productive district of the county; on the south moun
tainous; soil clay loam on slate, with some lime and gypsum, and iron ore; por
tions barren, and hard of tillage, selling at two dollars the acre. North Bristol,
Bristol, and South Bristol, are post villages. North Bristol, 8 miles W. from Ca
nandaigua, has 1 Baptist church, 1 tavern, 1 store, and 6 dwellings. Bristol,
about the same distance from the county town, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 ta
vern, 1 store, and half a dozen dwellings. South Bristol, 14 miles S. W. from
Canandaigua, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 tavern, store, and likenumber of dwel
lings. Mud creek rises in the south part of the town, and affords good mill sites.
Along its valley are rich bottom lands, from half a mile to a mile wide. The hills
of this town afford very diversified and delightful prospects; and from a point cen
trally near the western line, Lake Ontario may be distinctly seen, distant 24
miles. "
Canadice, taken from Richmond, 15th April, 1829; from Albany 216; S. W.
from Canandaigua, 24 miles; surface hilly, rising into a high ridge between the
Honeoye, Caneadea, and Hemlock lakes; the last of which lies on the S. W. boun
dary, and the others, centrally in the town; soil clay loam and sand, covered with
shrub pine, chiefly on slate and graywacke; portions ofthe country are productive
in grain and grass. The post office near the middle of the town bears its name.
CANAftnAiGUA, west from Albany 195, from Rochester 28, from Utica 111,

ONTARIO COUNTY. 591
Buffalo 88, Niagara Falls 108, Sodus Bay, on Lake Ontario, 30, from Philadel
phia 300, and from Washington City 365, miles; surface diversified with beauti
ful plains and gently swelling hills; soil every where fertile, and generally under
excellent cultivation by opulent farmers; drained by the Outlet of the Canandai
gua lake upon the E., and by 'Mud creek on and near the western boundary.
About 8 miles of the northern part of the lake lie in the town. Canandaigua,
Cheshire, and Centrefield, are post villages.
Canandaigua Village, having the relative distance above given, 15 miles a little
N. of W. from Geneva, 12 miles S. from the Erie canal at Palmyra, 31 E. from
Geneseo, lies at the termination of the Utica turnpike road, and at the Outlet of
the lake, on a gentle ascent, commanding a fine view of that beautiful sheet of wa
ter, and fextending N. from it about 2 miles. It is built, chiefly on two parallel
streets, running north and south, crossed jat right angles by several others. Of the
latter, Gibson and Bristol streets are the only ones much improved. This village
was laid out in 1788 by Messrs. Gorham and Phelps, in lots fronting on the main
street 23 rods, and extending back so as to include 40 acres; numbering from the
public square, centrally situate, north and south. The original allotment is still
preserved in a few cases. Upon the public square are the court house, of brick;
the prison, inclosed by a high wall, of stone; the county clerk's and surrogate's
offices; the town house, and the Eagle hotel. The village contains, also, a state
arsenal, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Baptist, churches, of brick; 1 Methodist and 1 Epis
copal, churches, of wood, all neat, and three of them elegant structures; an acade
my for males, 80 feet in length, 40 in breadth, 3 stories high, comprising 2 school
rooms, one 30 by 40 feet, 2 recitation rooms, 21 rooms for students, and apart
ments for the principal and his family. The expenses ofthe student here, includ
ing tuition, board, &c. are about $100 annually. The institution has been select
ed by the Regents of the University as one of the schools for the preparation of
school teachers, and a department has been established for that purpose. To give
students in this department the opportunity of enabling themselves to prosecute
their studies, and to qualify themselves thoroughly for teachers, they are allowed
the privilege of teaching some district school during four months of the winter;
and to indigent young men, the trustees give a credit for their school bills, if de
sired, till they may have taught school one season. To enter this department, the ap
plicant must present satisfactory testimonials of good character, and give assur
ance of his intention to pursue,for some years, the business of teaching. The
number of teachers who passed the regular course, in four years, ending Janu
ary, 1834, was 60.
This praiseworthy institution was founded by the munificence of Messrs. Gor
ham and Phelps, and is amply sustained by the liberality of the inhabitants. For
its condition see page 188.
There is also here the Ontario Female Seminary, founded by the subscriptions
of the inhabitants, incorporated 14th April, 1825, located on a beautiful site, and
with very commodious buildings.
Here also, are the " Ontario Bank," incorporated 12th March, 1813, with a
capital of $250,000; charter extended April 29th, 1829, to the year 1856; a
branch of the Utica bank, with a capital of 150,000; a safety fund bank, incorpo
rated 20th April, 1830, and having an average deposit of $40,000; a large steam
grist mill, a windmill, a furnace for castings, 2 tanneries, 1 brewery, 2 asheries,
3 fire companies, 8 public houses, including 2 large and very commodious hotels;
13, general stores, 3 drug stores, 2 book stores; 3 printing- offices, each issuino- a
weekly paper; 1 gunsmith, 2 tin manufactories, 2 hat factories, 17 law offices, 10
physicians, 500 dwellings, and 3,000 inhabitants.
The beauty of this village is unsurpassed by any in the state, Geneva, perhaps,
excepted by reason of its- admirable position. South of the public square, the
buildings are devoted to business, and are well adapted to their purpose; north of
the square, upon a spacious avenue, lined with umbrageous trees and commodious
walks, are the principal mansions; many of them, very large, and splendidly fur
nished, surrounded with smiling gardens, odoriferous shrubberies, and fruitful and
various orchards. The society corresponds with these prepossessing external
circumstances. It is cultivated, liberal, and characterised by well regulated and
elegant hospitality. Descendants of Messrs. Gorham and Phelps, to whom the
village and the county are so deeply indebted, reside here.

592 TOPOGRAPHY.
The commercial advantages of the village are great, derived from the lake and
its vicinage to the Erie canal. Cheshire village, 5 miles S. W. from Canandaigua,
contains 1 tavern, 2 stores, 1 grist, 2 saw, and 1 carding and cloth dressing, mills,
and 12 dwellings, at the head of a small tributary of the lake. Centrefield, 3 miles
N. W, from the shire town, upon the western road, has 1 Episcopal and 1 Presby
terian, churches; a steam distillery and mill, 1 store, and about 20 dwellings.
East Bloomfield, from Albany 203 miles; surface undulating; soil fertile clay
and sandy loam. East Bloomfield village, 9 miles N. W. from Canandaigua, has
1 Presbyterian and 1 Congregational, churches, 2 taverns, 2 stores, 1 tannery, and
about 30 dwellings, upon Mud creek.
Farmington, distant from Albany 205 miles; surface level; soil, in greater
part, hard stiff clay, difficult to labour, but productive in grass and, when suffi
ciently pulverised, also, in wheat. The lime formation here, contains extensive
tracts of siliceous or water lime. A large proportion of the inhabitants, are
Friends, who, here, as every where, compel the soil to yield its wealth, and enjoy
eminently the comforts of life. New Salem, Brownsville, and Farmington, are
post villages. New Salem, 12 miles N. W. from Canandaigua, has 1 Quaker
meeting house, a store and tavern, and from 12 to 15 dwellings. Brownsville, 14
miles from Canandaigua, on a branch of Mud creek, has 1 grist, 1 saw, and 1
carding and cloth dresssing, mills; a store and tavern, and 10 or 12 dwellings.
At Farmington, post office, centrally situate, are some 3 or 4 houses.
Gorham, organised by the name of Easton, name changed to Lincoln 4th April,
1806, to Gorham April 6th, 1807; limits much altered; surface gently undulating;
soil very fertile, and well cultivated. Centre Gorham, Bethel, and Rushville,
are post villages. Centre Gorham, has 1 tavern and 6 or 8 dwellings. Bethel, S.
W. 10 miles from Canandaigua, has 1 Methodist church, 1 grist and 1 saw, mills,
2 taverns, 3 stores, and about 35 dwellings. A woollen factory was erecteoV here,
in 1835, by an incorporated company, with a capital of $50,000. Rushville, a very
thriving village, partly in Ontario and partly in Yates counties, 10 miles S. W.
from Canandaigua, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist, churches, 2 steam grist
mills, 1 grist and 1 saw, mills, lurned by water; 6 or 8 stores, 3 taverns, 3 fur
naces for castings, and 60 dwellings.
Hopewell, taken from Gorham 29th March, 1822; W. from Albany 190 miles;
surfade rolling; soil clay loam, underlaid with lime; drained N. by the outlet of
Canandaigua lake, by Derr's brook, and one smaller stream. The town is highly
productive in wheat, grass, and fruit. Chapinsville, Hopewell Centre, and Hope
well, are post villages. Chap;nsville, on the outlet of the lake, 3 miles N. E.
from Canandaigua, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 grist, 2 saw, 1 carding and cloth
dressing, and 1 oil, mills; machine shop, 1 store, 1 tavern, and about 15 dwellings.
Hopewell Centre, has a Methodist church, 1 tavern, 1 store, and 10 dwellings.
Hopewell, 7 miles W. of Canandaigua, has a Methodist church, and 10 or 12 dwel
lings. Manchester, taken from Farmington 31st March, 1821, by the name of Burt;
name changed 16th April, 1822; W. from Albany 201 miles; surface gently un
dulating; soil clay and sandy loam, on lime; very fertile. Manchester, Shorts-
ville, Coonsville, and Port Gibson, are villages. Manchester, 7 miles N. E. from
Canandaigua, has 1 Baptist church, 1 tavern, 2 stores, carding and cloth dressing
mill, and about 40 dwellings. Shortsville, 6 miles from Canandaigua, hasl grist,
1 saw, and 1 paper, mills; 1 distillery, 1 tavern, and 25 or 30 dwellings. -Coons
ville, 9 miles N. E. from Canandaigua, has 2 taverns, 1 store, 1 grist and 1 saw,
mills, carding and cloth dressing factory, and about 20 dwellings. Port Gibson,
upon the Erie canal, 12 miles N. E. from Canandaigua, has 1 Methodist church,
1 forwarding establishment, 3 taverns, 3 stores, 1 steam mill and distillery, 1
ashery, and 40 dwellings. Beds of plaster lie on the banks of the outlet of the
lake, and several quarries are worked. Some sulphur springs flow from this for
mation, near the eastern boundary, which are resorted to for medicinal purposes,
and are growing into repute. The depositions of sulphur here, are said to be very
extensive, and are visible upon the plants and stones around the springs.
Naples, organised by the name of Middletown; name changed April 6th, 1808;
from Albany W. 211 miles; surface mountainous, indented by the valley of the
inlet ofthe Canandaigua lake, 5 miles in length by 1 in breadth, running from S.
W. to N. E.; soil clay loam, underlaid with slate. The inlet to Honeoye lake

ONTARIO COUNTY. 593
has its source in the west part of the town. Naples, post village, 22 miles S. W.
from Canandaigua, on the road to Bath, from the head of the lake, extends 2 miles,
and contains 1 church, 2 taverns, 2 stores, 1 grist, several saw, and 1 carding and
cloth dressing, mills, and about 40 dwellings. A place of much business.
Phelps, W. from Albany 185 miles; surface gently undulating; soil clay loam,
underlaid with lime, exuberantly fertile. Gypsum abounds and the quarries are
extensively worked upon the Canandaigua outlet; drained by Flint creek and the
outlet, Vienna, Orleans, and Phelps, are post villages. Vienna, 10 miles N. E.
from Canandaigua, 8 from Geneva, has 2 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist, churches;
3 flouring, 3 plaster, several saw, mills; an edge tool factory, 3 taverns, 8 stores,
a printing office, issuing a weekly paper, and 140 dwellings. This is a beautiful
village lying at the junction of Canandaigua and Flint creeks deriving from the
streams an advantageous water power. A company was incorporated here, 19th
April, 1833, for supplying the village with water, by means of conduits. And in
183G, a company was incorporated, for making a rail road hence by Newark and
East Ridge of Wayne county, to lake Ontario. Orleans, 8 miles from Canandai
gua, upon Flint creek, has 1 flouring mill, 2 taverns, 1 store, and 30 dwellings.
Phelps, 12 miles from Canandaigua, 6 from Geneva, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1
store, 1 tavern, and 15 dwellings.
Richmond, organised by the name of Pittstown, changed to Richmond, 10th
March, 1815; VV. from Albany 211 miles; surface hilly; soil clay loam, underlaid
by slate and lime, in alternate ridges, the lime predominating in the N. and the
slate in the S. On the north end of Honeoye lake, is much alluvial land, which
extends along the outlet, through the town. Allen's Hill, West Richmond, Rich
mond Centre, and Pitt's Flats, are villages. Allen's Hill, on the road to Geneseo,
14 miles W. from Canandaigua, contains an Episcopal church, an academy, 1
hotel, 2 stores, and 15 dwellings. West Richmond, on the same road, 4 miles VV.
of Allen's Hill, has also, about 15 dwellings. Richmond Centre, 16 miles from
Canandaigua, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 store and 6 dwellings. Pitt's Flats,
at the foot of Honeoye lake, 18 miles from Canandaigua, on the old Geneseo road,
has 1 tavern, some half dozen dwellings, 1 grist mill, 1 saw, carding and cloth
dressing, mills, and woollen factory.
Seneca; surface gently undulating, swelling into hills upon the south; soil
clay and sandy loam, upon lime; drained, chiefly by Flint creek. Geneva and
Castleton are post villages.
Geneva village, founded in 1794, by Messrs. Anhin and Barton, and incorporated
June 8th 1812; distant W. from Albany 179, from Catskill, by turnpike 200, from
Utica 98, from Auburn 23, from Buffalo 105, from Canandaigua E. 16 miles; 30
S. from Sodus bay, on lake Ontario, and 58, N. of Elmira; is built upon the side
and summit of an eminence, at the N. W. corner of Seneca lake, which is here,
about 2 miles wide. The plain on which it lies may be elevated more than 100
feet above the la'ke; and from it, there is a flue view of this beautiful expanse of
water, the high and sloping shores beyond it, and the valley of its outlet. Upon
the west it is bounded by low hills, rising by terraces, which may have once
formed, successively, the banks of the lake, highly cultivated and occasionally
adorned with handsome buildings. The* principal street of the village runs near
to, and parallel with the lake shore, and the mansions on the eastern side have
hanging gardens, reaching to the water's edge. The buildings in this portion are re
markably good, generally detached from each other, and encompassed by gardens
and shrubberies, vying in taste and decorations, with those of Canandaigua. The
business part of the village is compactly built upon the lower ground, and contains
many well finished and well furnished stores, mechanics' and artists' shops.
This was once, and is still a place of much business; but the canals which have
do'ne so much for other portions ofthe state, have served, by opening new depots
rather to check the trade of this; at least, they have not contributed so rapidly to
its extension. In the' year 1833, however, there were purchased here, for the
eastern markets, 184,000 bushels of wheat, 17,000 bushels of barley, 25' 000
pounds of wool, 14,000 gallons of whiskey, 1,500 bushels of dried peaches/and
large quantities of pearl and pot ashes, pork, beef, butter, flour, grass seed lum
ber, glass, &c, to the amount of $300,000. Still, we should say, this is rather
the place to enjoy, than to make a fortune. A more charming retreat for the re
tired merchant, the student, or the gentleman living on a fixed income can
75

594 TOPOGRAPHY.
scarcely be selected. "The best enjoyments of a country life, are within his reach;
and the daily stages which arrive here from all points would keep him as inti
mately acquainted with the stirring world as he would desire. The village contains
1 Episcopalian, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Baptist, 1 Associate Reformed, 1 Re
formed Dutch, 1 Roman Catholic, and 1 Universalist, churches; a college, found
ed by the inhabitants, and incorporated, in 1825, by the Regents of the Univer
sity, having a president; a professor of Mathematics and Philosophy; of the
French, Spanish, and German, languages and literature; of Chemistry and
Mineralogy, and their application to agriculture and mechanic arts; of Engineer
ing and Statistics, (4) and 2 tutors, lt has a medical department.with professors
of Chemistry, Anatomy, and Physiology; of the Institutes and practice of Medi
cine; ofthe principles and practice of Surgery; of Obstetrics and Materia Medica;
of Medical Jurisprudence and Botany. This college was one of the first, if not
the first, to adopt a course of studies, affording to those indisposed to the classics,
the advantages of a scientific and literary education. Besides the classical course,
similar to that of other colleges, there is an English course, in which the modern
languages of Europe are substituted for the ancient languages. The senior class,
has the privilege of attending the lectures on Anatomy, Botany, and Chemistry.
The income of the institution, from permanent funds and tuition money, in 1834,
was $3,711; while the salaries of its officers were $2,95Q, only. The number of
students was 53. The buildings are of stone, and tolerably commodious, but new
and more appropriate ones are proposed, and authority has been obtained to apply
the necessary funds.
P Besides this institution, there are a seminary for ladies; 3 grammar schools, 2
district schools, 7 common schools; and in all about 600 pupils.
The village, also contains a land office, ofthe Holland Land Company, a bank,
incorporated 28th March,' 1817, with a capital of $400,000; charter extended 22d
April, 1829, to 1853; a canal collector's office, Supreme Court clerk's office; 1
steam grist mill, 1 saw mill, 1 air furnace, 2 machine shops, 1 steam engine
manufactory, 2 printing offices, each issuing a weekly newspaper; 2 book stores,
2 book binderies, 1 museum, 11 law offices, 1 insurance office, 15 dry goods stores,
5 druggists and paint stores; 2 hardware stores, 12 groceries, 9 taverns, 9 shoe
shops and stores, 2 confectioners, 5 tailors, 9 smiths, 1 edge tool factory, 3 sad
dlers, 4 carriage makers, 2 hay scales, 6 milliners, 2 chair factories, 4 silver
smiths and watch makers, 1 patent plough manufactory, 2 threshing machine
factories, 1 burr millstone factory, 2 tin factories, 1 rifle manufactory, 2 bakeries,
1 upholsterer, 1 tallow chandler, 1 lead pipe factory, 1 metal pump do., 1 marble
do,, 1 stocking weaver, 3 hat manufactories and stores, 1 auction store, 3 barbers'
shops, 1 sash factory, 5 cabinet makers, and 1 artist.
There are 474 dwellings, 23 stores, 20 storehouses, 73 workshops, 10 offices —
600 buildings and 3,000 inhabitants.
A company was incorporated 12th April, 1828, for constructing a rail road to
Canandaigua, and another, April 9th, 1832, to make a railroad between this vil
lage and Ithaca, to be commenced within 5 years.
Castleton village, upon Flint creek, in the N. W. angle ofthe town, 9 miles N.
VV. from Geneva, has 2 taverns, a store, 2 flouring and 1 saw, mills, and about a
dozen dwellings. There is a post office at Hall's Corners, and another called
Flint Creek.
Victor, taken from Bloomfield 26th May, 1812; centrally distant W. from
Albany 203 miles; surface hilly; soil sandy loam on the N. and clay loam on the
S., underlaid with lime. Victor, post village, centrally situated, on a plain sur
rounded with hills, 9 miles N. W. from Canandaigua, has 1 Presbyterian and 1
Methodist, churches, 2 taverns, 2 stores and about 10 dwellings. A joint stock
company was incorporated April -6th, 1830, for erecting a high school in the
town. West Bloomfield, was taken from Bloomfield 11th February, 1833; distant
from the county town, 16 miles; surface hilly and soil mostly clay, on slate and
lime, alternating. The post village of the same name, is on the outlet of Honeoye
lake, and upon the great west road. It contains 2 churches, a grist mill, 1 tavern,
2 stores, and about 20 dwellings, in a very fertile country.

ONTARIO COUNTY

t)
yt>
Females.
Births.
Deaths.
QtlC5
JO ^f
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TOWNS.
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Bristol,
2439
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288
605
28
397
192
IB
Canadice,*
1386
1515
irs
291
4
191
186
39
6
35
40
7
11
Canandaigua,
4680
4297
5162
5452
536
1090
141
673
bill.
1170
46
9.1
83
44
26
East Bloomfield,
3021
3702
3861
1952
250
460
33
231
231
367
28
33
20
7
11
Farmington,
4214
1773
1773
1843
203
367
- 3b
234
155
434
14
29
29
11
fi
Gorham ,
399H
2957
2977
2684
264
561
12
337
235
574
¦2(1
32
38
18
17
Hoppwell,
'2158
2202
2058
. 207
428
21
229
224
382
14
25
26
17
16
Manchester,
265fi
2811
2085
249
598
20
364
209
574
17
52
60
11
21
Naples,
J036
1376
1943
2156
168
424
4
282
134
517
22
52
36
22
14
Phelps,
5688
4740
4798
4786
499
1004
76
591
448
1053
31
71.
86
32
35
Richmond,
2765
3033
1876
1786
213
3Hc
. 15
205
164
335
17
34
36
9
12
Seneca,
4802
5847
- 61C1
6608
Btifi
1162
273
866
674
1325
57
107
-90
65
41
Victor,
!iQS4
3164
2965
2265
271!
51S
'11
301
1!'5
479
31
3B
42
. 12
Ifi
West Bloomfield.ft
2075
209
453
23
254
215
434
8377
21
357
35
699
23
655
11
283
17
323 12 1 374221 40167
40;<70 4339 8344
697
5154
3866
959
Note —Males, 20,865; Females, 20,005; Blacks, 570; Black votors,17; Deaf and Dumb, 8; Bliind, 19;
Idiots, 39; Lunatics, 10. - * Erected in 1829. f Included in East Bloomfield until. J833.
p a
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Bristol,
46186
20356
508347
46278
8544 i 12300
3441
5033
9003
6722
751 65
" 745 ,92
Canadice,
24320
9205
15973S
24180 1814 48l«
1703
2812
3631
4191
249 25
614 78
Canandaigua,
36087
25363
1353339
639902' 3824
11367
4540
5939
7741
3708
2701 35
2065 14
l-'nst Bloomfield
20573
15772
647950
70417| 1975
16554
3213
1763
2995
1274
973 56
293 31
"Farmington,
25527
14363
633633
38666: 2437
5664
27S8
3093
5368
3848
911 12
472 23
3ll 17
(ilorham, -
3026!
20932
744000
40812' 2660
11387
2498
4840
6720
3249
1063 64
Hopewell,
22311
14776
636871
19030 ' 2159
6445
1628
3143
3777
1918
889 71
718 66
Manchester,
23316
13970
739059
28124! 2427
5901
2936
4462
5774
3689
1026 19
583 51
Naples,
23897
, 8636
184330
15530J 2167
4097
1718
3246
4i22
3063
270 87
452 79
Phelps,
39457
26007
1352094
373841 3819
7763
4508
7220
.8253
3453
1883 10
1195 98
Richmond,
21627
15669
579759
57563
675259
215H
17693
2421
2699
4808
3549
863 72
631 81
Seneca,
44724
18132
2940220
43!)0
15824
4968
5454
7054
3218
4899 84 897 02
Victor,
21780
14663
470850
26371
2202
4870
2604
3524
5194
1412
673 85
501 64
WostBloomueld
15033
12830
. 446444
64285
1590 6927
2130
2389
3623
1921
692 15
551 74
395107
231076
11386629
1784401 37166|131606
41036
55617J78163
45215
17850 00
10035 70
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Bristol,
3
25
298
324
323
Canadice,
4
9
135
323
562
Canandaigua,
1
I
a
1
1
2i
627
1489
1354
East Bloomfield,
5
5
2
a
1
1
j
2
14
300
766
580
Farmington,
1
4
i
i
a
1 a
13
184
528
632
Gorham,
2
4
1
1
a 1
a
3
17
405
765
865 ''
Hopewell,
2
6
J
j
1
,1 i
1
10
228
817
771
Manchester,
4
.8
3
3
1 a
1
'.
15
289
839
924
Naples,
3
15
a
a
1
3
2
13
194
436
HOT
F helps,
11
13
4
4
1
1
24
495
1577
1590
'Richmond,
2
3
1
j
a
J
a
b
1-'
194
676
546
Seneca,
3
4
a
a
1
a
2
1
21
638
1340
1492
\ ictor,
4
4
a
a
1
a
1
1
14
355
965
897
West Bloomfield,
4
44 so
b
87
1
0
21
i
23
a 9
1
17
]
2
23
2
9
302
666
637
6 12
218
4644
12011
11780
Is
"* CO
•3n
Value of product,
8
s
CO
00
Xi
US
CMto
Ot
c-
/
\umt
er of childr
jn above 5 a
a
m
§
f-
:n
3
L-3
years of
age, 11,876.
Value of material.
r-1
9
s
JO
-T"
tLi
Cf*
596

TOPOGRAPHY.

3PTT T3rA.ai C? VDTJTCELESS C?

ORANGE, an original county, organised 1st November, 1683; since modified
by the subtraction of Rockland county, and additions from Ulster county; bounded
E. by the Hudson river, separating it from Putnam and Dutchess counties; S. E.
by Rockland county; S. W. by New Jersey; W. by the Delaware river, dividing
it from Pennsylvania, and by Sullivan county. Greatest length E. and W. 37,
greatest breadth N. and S. 30 miles; area 760 square miles; lying between 41°
10' and 41° 36' N. Lat.; and 2° 27' and 3° 03' E. Long.; centrally distant N. W.
from New York 65, and S. E. from Albany 85, miles.
The surface ofthe country is much diversified, varying from the high and rug
ged mountain to the level plain. Its predominant character is hilly. The Mat
teawan, Highlands or South, Mountains, cross it diagonally, on the S. E. and the

ORANGE COUNTY.

597

Kittatiny or Blue Mountain, taking here the name of Shawangunk, runs on the
W., whilst a chain of low hills, called the Comfort Hills, runs parallel with the
Shawangunk, continued in Ulster county, across the western towns. Asubordi-
nate valley is formed by the high lands upon the S. E. of the Wallkill, drained
N. E. by the Murderer's kill, and S. W. by the Wawayanda creek. From the
southern inclination of the Matteawan Hills, flow the Ramapo and the Rin/w ood
rivers. West of the Shawangunk mountains and between it and the hills which
border the Delaware, is the valley of the Nevisink river, and Bashe's kill.
The eastern shore of the county is, as we have seen, laved by the Hudson river,
upon whose banks are some of highest points of the Highlands; Bare Mountain
being 1,350 feet, the Crow's Nest 1,418 feet, and Butter hill 1,529 feet above tide.
Between the last hill and Newburg village, the river expands into a capacious
bay, and the shore ascends with gentle acclivity, for several miles; but on the N.
E. anijle, at and below Hampton, the limestone rock rises high and precipitously,
from the water's edge. \
The principal streams of the county, are the Murderer's kill, the Wallkill,
the Shawangunk, and the Nevisink.
Murderer's kill, so called from a homicide committed near it, by the Indians,
upon some Dutch settler, draining the valley immediately on the N. W. of the
Highlands, rises in the town of Warwick, interlocking its sources with those of
the Wawayanda, and winding through a hilly conntry in Blooming Grove, Corn
wall, and New "Windsor, enters the Hudson in the S. E. angle or the last town,
after a course of more than 25 miles. Its principal tributary is the Otterkill,
which, also, rising in Warwick, runs a semi-circular course, of about 14 miles,
through the towns of Goshen and Hamptonburg, and unites with its recipient near
Washingtonville, in Blooming Grove. Both streams afford valuable mill power.
The Wallkill, or more properly the Waal-kill, so called from the Waal river, of
the Netherlands, rises in Byram, of Sussex county, New Jersey, and flowing 24
miles through that state, enters Orange county, in Minisink, and flows thence, by
a N. E. course of 65 miles across this- county and the county of Ulster, uniting
with the Rondout, about 8 miles from its mouth, on the line between the towns
of Hurley and Esopus. The valley of this stream, very narrow in New Jersey,
widens as it crosses this country. So level is its bottom, for 20 miles, in this
and the adjacent state, that the waters from the bordering hills have formed a deep
marsh varying in width from three lo five miles, and having an area estimated at
50,000 acres, and an altitude of 325 feet above tide. Through this marsh the
river flows with a current scarcely perceptible, and its waters swollen by the
Spring freshets, annually, submerge it. Tlhe marsh, known as the "Drowned
Lands," consists of accumulated vegetable matter, whose surface imperfectly
converted into soil, abounding with carbonaceous substances, empyreumatic oil,
and gallic acid, is covered in midsummer, with rank and luxurious vegetation,
which occasions during the autumn, much malaria. The ditches made through
it in forming roads, disclose peat of excellent quality. Several islands are encir
cled by this equivocal lake; the largest oi which, contains 200 acre's of fertile
land; the smaller ones, uninhabited, are covered with wood. The rocks on the
islands and borders of the morass, indicate that it reposes onabluecherty limestone.
But in one place, at least, the island near Woodville, primitive limestone, the
rock of the neighbouring country ,_ appears. No effort has yet been successful
wholly to drain this swamp. Partial endeavours have shown, it is said, that the
soil is adapted to hemp, and the general objects of agriculture. But much the
larger portion of -the unclaimed "marsh, is abandoned as pasturage to cattle, on the
subsidence t)f the Spring inundations, for a few weeks, and is for the remainder of
the year, a desolate waste.
The marsh ceases near the village of Phillipsburg, where the river falls about 6
feet, and affords a valuable mill power. The stream, however, is still sluggish,
until it reaches Walden village, in the town of Montgomery, where it becomes a
eataract, havinga fall, withih two miles, of some 60 feet, and thence onward its
course is a rapid one. Before it unites with the Shawangunk, it has other falls
of much rapidity, in Shawangunk and New Paltz towns, Ulster county; at Dash-
ville, in the latter, it falls 70 feet, within a mile. Above Walden, it has a muddy
bottom and is famed for the- quantity and quality of its eels, which are said u> pos
sess a peculiar, delicate flavour.

598 TOPOGRAPHY.
The tributaries of the. Wallkill, most notable, are t'he Wawayanda creek, which,
rising in a small lake of the town of Warwick, in the South mountains, runs W.
about 8 miles, into New Jersey, and thence N. about 5 miles, re-enters the state,
and unites with its recipient, in the "Drowned Lands," in Minisink town: The
Shawangunk, flowing from that town, N. E. along the Minisink mountain, form
ing in, part, the boundary between this and Sullivan county, and blending with
the Wallkill, on the line between Shawangunk and New Paltz towns, in Ulster
county, having a course of about 30 miles. The Rondout, has sometimes been
called the tributary, and sometimes the recipient, of the Wallkill. Warwick,
Pochuck, and Rutger's, creeks, are also tributaries of this river.
The Neviiink river, has its source in Ulster county, amid the wilds of the Cats-
kill mohntains, and flows by a tortuous, but generally, S. E. course of about 60
miles, through Sullivan county, to the Delaware, at Carpenter's point, in this
county, where the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, are con-i
tiguous. It receives Bashe's kill about 8 miles above its mouth. The latter
stream rising on the N. E. border of Mamakating town, of Sullivan county, runs
S. W. about 20 miles, to its recipient, in the town of Deerpark, near Cuddyback-
ville, in this county. Its waters are deep, and its course generally sluggish.
These streams are remarkable, beca*use their valleys afford, for 20 miles, a pas
sage for the Delaware and Hudson canal.
Some small streams of the county, are noticed under the description of the
towns. Small natural ponds abounding with small fish, as perch, pickerel, and pike, are
numerous in the southern and western portions ofthe county.
The South Mountain or Highlands, which cover the S. E. border of the county,
are of primitive formation, and contain the granite, sienite, hornblende, lime, mar
ble, and other rocks common to this formation. The remainder of the county
may be classed as transition, having the s)ate, limestone and graywacke, pertain
ing to this class, the first and last commonly underlaying the high grounds, and
the second, the valleys. But these rocks alternate in such a manner as to render
regular specification of localities, extremely difficult. It may he observed, how
ever, that generally, a strip of primitive lime bounds the granitic formation of the.
Highlands, and carboniferous slate occupies the country between the southern
and the northern mountains; whilst the Shawangunk is composed chiefly of gray
wacke, in -which the mill stone grit prevails.
The soil formed from such materials is various, but clay and gravelly loam, are
most common; where lime blehds with the soil, wheat may be productively raised,
and treated with lime, most parts would in grain culture repay the labours of the
husbandman. But at present, Orange must be considered a grazing' county, de
voted chiefly, to the raising of cattle and sheep, and to the making of butter. In
the last, it has a high and justly merited reputation. Dairies of 30 or 40 cows,
are common, and it is usual for proprietors, when letting farms, to furnish a stipu
lated number of cows, receiving a return of 80 or 100 lbs. of butter from each, one
half the increase of the stock, and one half of the other products of the farm.
Large flocks of sheep are kept; some farmers having from 600 to 1,500 head. The
flocks are wholly or in part Merino, and the fine wool commands the highest price
ofthe market.
Tbe beauty and fertility of the county, is ever the grateful theme of the travel
ler. Its hills, rarely abrupt, have those graceful roundings and gentle slopes
which ordinarily belong to the slate formation; and the verdure of the broad val
leys, carried undiminished to the hill tops, is blended with the overhanging forest,
into one brilliant but varying emerald hue. Every where abundance prevails, and
-if tbe inhabitants lack the enterprise of their neighbours, they have the valuable
possession of content, secured by industry, sobriety, and general good morals.
From the annexed statistical table, it will be seen that the cotton and woollen
manufactures have taken root here.
A very large trade in general merchandise is carried on, from Newburg, where
centres th« business of the eastbrn portions of the county, and of some parts of the
adjacent county of Dutchess; and where it is estimated, there are sold, annually,
one and a half million of imports, and more than two millions of exports. In the
latter are included large quantities of brick and lime, made upon the margin of
the Hudson. From the western towns large quantities of lumber and agricultural

ORANGE COUNTY. 599
produce find a market by the Delaware river, and by the Delaware and Hudson
canal. The line of the Erie rail road crosses the towns of Monroe, Blooming Grove,
Goshen, Minisink, Mount Hope, and Deer Park, into Sullivan county; with it
will probably be connected a rail road, from Newburg to the Delaware river, for
making which, a company was incorporated 21st April, 1835, capital $500,000;
time limited, for commencement, td 2 years.
The county is divided into 14 towns.
Blooming Grove, taken from Cornwall 23d March, 1799? N. W. from New
York 55, from Albany S. 96 miles; surface undulating, and in jiart hilly. The
Scunnemunk and Woodcock mountains, part of .the Highlands, covering the
southern and eastern parts; soil clay and sandy loam, underlaid with slate and
limestone, and highly productive; drained chiefly by Murderer's kill. Salisbury
Mills, Washingtonville, Blooming Grove, Craigsville, and Oxford, are villages, of
which, those in italics are post towns. Salisbury, 9 miles S. W. from Newburg,
11 E. from Goshen, on Murderer's creek, surrounded by hills, contains a grist
mill, small cotton factory, a paper mill, a tavern, 3 stores and 40 dwellings.
Washingtonville, 11 miles from Newburg, at the point of junction of New Wind
sor, Blooming Grove, and Hamptonburg, towns, and near the union of Otter's
with Murderer's, kill, has 2 taverns, a grist and plaster mills, driven by a small
tributary of Murderer's kill; a large tannery, 3 stores, an academy, and from 40 to
50 dwellings. The lands around it are of excellent quality, and sell at from 50
tp 80 dollars the acre. Blooming Grove, near the western boundary, also, upon
Murderer's kill, in a hilly country, 2 miles S. W. from Washingtonville, has a
Presbyterian church, a tavern, and some 8 or 10 dwellings. Craigsville, on the
same creek, 15 miles from Newburg, has a grist, a saw, and a paper, mill, a
store, and some 15 dwellings, almost buried in a deep ravine. Oxford, is an agri
cultural vicinage, 16 miles from Newburg and 8 from Goshen, stretching for about
lj miles along the road, containing a tavern, a store, and from 15 to 20 dwellings.
Cornwall, organised hy the name of New Cornwall 7th March, 1788; chang
ed 3d March, 1797; distant from Albany S. 98, from Newburg 10, miles; surface
hilly, and in great part mountainous, being chiefly within the Highlands, and hav
ing in its area, Bare Mountain, the Crow's Nest, and Butter Hill. From the top
of the last, so perpendicular is its face, some officers of Putnam's regiment, during
the revolutionary war, threw into the river, the high rock, which bears his name,
still visible above the tide; vessels pass between it and the shore; drained prin
cipally by Murderer's kill, winding through a broad and crooked valley of re
markable fertility. Upon the S. of West Point is Buttermilk creek, which pours
its waters by a beautiful cascade into the Hudson, giving motion to several valu
able grist mills, of Mr. Lydig, on the bank of the river.
This town is highly reputed as a grazing country, and containing tbe forts of
West Point, Clinton, and Montgomery, is notable in the history of the revolution.
Cornwall, Canterbury, and West Point, are post villages. Cornwall village, and
landing, 4 miles S. of Newburg, on the Hudson river, has a tavern, 2 stores, 2
-extensive brick yards, and 12 or 15 dwellings. A steamboat and two sloops,
owned here, ply between this place and New YoA, to which, the business ofthe
neighbourhood, gives full employment.
Canterbury, pleasantly situated on a creek, bearing its name, tributary to Mur
derer's kill, 5 miles S. from Newburg, surrounded by a beautiful and fertile coun
try, contains a Presbyterian and Methodist churches, 2 Quaker meeting houses, a
small woollen factory, a. cotton 'factory, having 2,176 spindles, and 60 power
looms, employing 75 hands, including those in a machine shop; 6 stores, 1 tavern,
an axe factory, and trip hammer, with 15 hands, 3 smiths, 3 extensive shoe fac
tories, 2 tailors, 2 saddlers, 2 milliners, 1 weaver, 2 physicians, 1 lawyer; 2 tan
neries and 1 morocco factory, employing 25 hands; and about 100 dwellings,
inhabited by nearly 1,000 persons, chiefly engaged in mechanical employments.
West Point, the site of one of the most important fortresses, erected during the
revolutionary war, and now of the famed military school, established by the Na
tional government, is 51 miles N. of New York, 280 from Washington, city, and
94 S. from Albany.
The importance of this post'during the revolutionary war, will be apparent from
the following considerations. The river admitting vessels of heavy burden to,

600 TOPOGRAPHY.
Hudson city, and affording In connection with.Wood creek and lake Champlain,
a ready boat navigation to Canada, was emphatically the key of the country.
Traversing the settled portion of the state, the Hudson divided it into two parts of
unequal surface, dependent on each other. If the British became masters of the
river, they would have prevented communication between its banks, and operating
on either at pleasure, would have been opposed only by a divided American force.
On one side ofthe river, were the arsenals and the park of artillery, on the other,
magazines and stores; the country on one shore, abounding in cattle produced
little grain, on the other, grain was the staple; hence it was impossible to main
tain an army long upon one shore without unrestricted communication with the
other. After the capture of Forts Washington and Lee, the British ascended the river
freely in their armed ships. But in the execution of Washington's design, of
shutting up the enemy in New York, by the assistance of the French naval and
military forces, it became necessary to exclude him from the Hudson. Skilful
engineers sent out by the French monarch, selected West Point, as the most ad
vantageous position for commanding the river.
The hill, composed of huge crags and blocks of stone, fantastically heaped by
nature, protrudes to the middle of the river, impelling its waters to the opposite
bank, and narrowing the channel to less than half a mile in width.
The cliff selected for the fortress, rests against a lofty ridge broken into small
eminences, that form a species of amphitheatre, washed below by the river. It
rises in terraces, the first of which, is very narrow and nearly level with the rivej;
the second, approachable by a steep ascent of 80 or 90 feet, and the third, rising
188 feet above the water, spreads into a plateau of more than a mile in circumfer
ence, on which the principal works were constructed; the chief of which, was
fort Clinton. The declivity is exceedingly steep nearly all around, and the only
side on which the enceinte was accessible, was thickly palisaded, and defended.
by batteries. An escalade, the sole mode of carrying the works was subjected to
extreme hazard. There were several redoubts upon the eminences, which com
manded Fort Clinton, of which Fort Putnam was the most important. These
covered each other, and the girrisonand ammunition stores were under bomb proof
casements. The works partly hewn in the rock, and partly constructed of enor
mous trunks of trees, felled on the spot, communicating by defiles, formed a group
of strong holds, connected by a common system of defence. The upper forts
were secured from assault hy the ruggedness of the ground, thick woods, and
numerous abbatis, which made the transport of artillery impracticable, whilst they
gave full protection to the lower ones.
But, another work besides these impregnable fortifications, was necessary to
the command of the river. Constitution Island divides the bed of the Hudson
unequally, at the bend round the Point; the western branch being a marshy shal
low. The island, a mass of rock, was defended by batteries on a level with the
water, and the glapis formed in the rock, bade defiance to trenches.
A heavy chain cramped into the rocks at either end, supported by buoys, stretch
ed across the angle made by the river, and formed an effectual bar.
The great object of the works on both sides, was to protect this chain. Twenty
pieces of heavy ordinance, discharging grape, menaced those who should attempt
to cut a link, and would have inevitably sunk their boats. If a vessel, iron
beaked, impelled by wind and tide, should attempt it, the chain moving on a roller
would grow slack, and the shock thus broken, would be again strained to its due
tension, and the vessel turned aside, must be stranded on one or the other shore,
and remain exposed to the fife of the batteries, which might be poured upon all
points of the Strait.
These forts provided with necessary munitions, were defended by four thousand
men. They had been built in the course of a single year, almost without cost;
the soldiers who laboured at them received no pay, and the French engineers
superintending, in the minutest detail, the execution of their own plans, had no
emolument whatever.
This post was much desired by the British commanders, and its surrender was
to have been the first fruit of Arnold's treason.
The Academy was first organised here, in 1802, under the direction of the late
General Williams.

t

ORANGE COUNTY. - 601
' The plain is now approached* upon the north, by a good carriage road, from the
steamboat landing, and the pedestrian may mount to the hotel by another path,
with some little labour and loss of breath. The view, from the plain, southward,
is not particularly attractive, being closely confined by the mountains. Upon the
east, the country rises gradually from the river, and its western inclination for
nearly 10 miles, bounded S. by Anthony's Nose, and N. by Bull Hill, is spread as
a map before the spectator, upon which are seen Beverly house, once the head quar
ters of Arnold, the West Point cannon foundry, the Highland school, with a small
collection of buildings around it, and the pretty village of Cold Spring. North
ward the scene 'is enchanting. The vision is carried for ten miles, through a
vista formed by the towering mountains upon either bank of the river, over Pollo-
el's Island, the bay and village of Newburg. The western view is terminated
y the hill, upon whose side, at a precipitous point, 598 feet above the river, are
the ruins of fort Putnam; amid which are some arched chambers, formerly used
as magazines and prisons, comparatively- entire. The ascent to this work is steep,
but the labour of overcoming it, is richly repaid by the prospect obtained of the
plain below, and the country adjacent.
Nearly on the level of the Fort, a granite quarry has been opened where the
building stone for the public works is procured; the rock being here, more mas
sive and compact than at lower points. A rail way of great inclination has been
partly constructed, to facilitate the portage. Upon this hill, also, is a pond sup
plied with springs, whence the water tor the use of the schools, barracks, and
dwellings, is taken by subterranean pipes.
The chief buildings at the Point, consist of the Academy, Barracks, Quarters
of the commandant, officers, and teachers, and the Hotel; all of which, well
adapted to their objects, are substantial, neat, and some of them elegant. The
Quarters of the officers and teachers are spacious, placed amid grounds plant
ed with fruit trees and ornamental shrubs. The hotel, of stone, is surrounded by
extensive piazzas for promenade, commanding, in front, a full view of the plain
and its buildings, and in the rear, a delightful prospect of the river and High
lands. Near the N. E. extremity of the grounds, at the projecting' point, forming the
abrupt bend of the river, is a monument of white marble, consisting of a base and
short column, on the former of which, is the simple inscription, " Kosciusko,''
"Erected by the corps of Cadets, 1828." Another monument, upon a hillock, at
•he N. W. corner of the plain, a neat obelisk of 20 feet high, was reared by
Major General Brown, to Colonel E. D. Wood, a pupil of the Institution, who
fell, leading a charge at the sortie, from Fort Erie, on the 17th Sept., 1814.
On the river bank, at the S. E. extremity of the parade ground, upon a lower
level, is Kosciusko's garden, whither the Polish chieftain was acccustomed to
retire for study or reflection. Marks of cultivation are perceptible, in the disposi
tion of the walks and trees, and the beautiful seclusion of the spot still invites
to thought or repose.
Upon the low interval between the West Point plain and the next mountain, is
Camp town, where dwells a portion of the United States troops, commonly kept
here, and where are the buildings necessary for the accommodation of their fa-
Batteries which surmount the several terraces upon the river, give to the Point a
military aspect, and indicate how readily and effectually, the post could again be
converted into a key for locking the passage between the lakes and the ocean.
Crawford, taken from Montgomery 4th March, 1823; surface hilly; soil clay
and sandy loam, resting on slate, favourable to grass, and tolerably well cultivated;
drained by the Shawangunk creek and the Dwaskill. Crawford, Hopewell, Bull-
ville, and Searsburg, are villages; at the first three of which, are post offices.
Crawford, formerly Pine Bush, 14 miles N. from Goshen, 92 S. from Albany, in
a valley, on the N. line of the town, with a sandy warm soil, well cultivated, has
a grist mill, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and 8 or 10 dwellings. Hopewell, in the valley of
the Shawangunk, 11 miles from Goshen, has a store, tavern, some mechanic
shops, and about a dozen families. Bullville, (late Cadiz) on the Coshocton turn
pike, 9 miles N. of Goshen, 21 from Newburg, contains a store, tavern, distillery,
smith shop, and half a dozen dwellings. Searsburg, on the Dwaskill, 11 miles
76

602 TOPOGRAPHY.
from Goshen, has grist and saw, mills, store, tavern, a school house, in a rough
cold country, much better suited to grass than grain.
Deerpark, taken from Mamakating 16th March, 1798; from New York N. W.
77, from Albany S. W. 110, miles; surface on the E. mountainous, having the
Shawangunk upon that border, westward, to the Delaware, remarkably level; the
soil upon the mountain gravelly loam, generally arable and susceptible of benefi
cial cultivation; on the plain, alluvial yellow sand and vegetable mould, which,
treated with plaster, becomes highly productive. Bashe's kill unites with the
Nefisink river, centrally in the town, and the Hudson and Delaware canal fol
lows its valley, and that ofthe united streams to Port Jarvis or Carpenter's point,
on the Delaware river; thence curving it ascends the east bank of that river, about
10 miles within the town. An ancient road, from Carpenter's Point to Kingston,
on the Hudson, runs through the valleys of the Nevisink and Bashe's kill. The
* settlements here, are among the oldest of the county, and were made by Hugonots,
from Holland, among whom, were the ancestors of our De Witts, and other dis
tinguished families. Tradition asserts, that, the road above mentioned, was made
for the purpose of transporting some valuable ores, dug in this vicinity, and ship
ped from New Amsterdam to Holland. Cuddebackville, Port Jarvis, and Hones
ville, are post villages. Cuddebackville, an agricultural vicinage, extending from
3 to 4 miles, has a post office, near which is a store, 2 taverns, and from 20 to 30
dwellings; distant 25 miles N. W. from Goshen, and 51 miles from Eddyville, by
the canal. Port Jarvis, comprehending three distinct hamlets, known, locally, as
Port Jarvis, Carpenter's Point, and Minisink Point, 60 miles by the canal, from
Eddyville, and 24 W. from Goshen, 120 S. W. from Albany, contains within a
square mile, 1 Dutch Reformed and I Presbyterian, churches, several school
houses, 5 taverns, 7 stores, 2 grist mills, with 6 runs of stones, a saw mill, and
about 50 dwellings. The Nevisink river is here, about 25 yards wide, and is
crossed at Minisink Point, by a wooden bridge. This village grows rapidly, and
carries on au extensive trade, in lumber and general produce, by the Delaware,
with the towns of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and by the Hudson and Dela
ware canal, with New York and other towns on the North river. The valley in
which it lies is very fertile. Honesville, 25 miles W. from Goshen, and by the
canal, 63 from Eddyville, has a grist mill, a small store, a tavern, and 8 or 10
dwellings. There is also, a thickly settled vicinage in the centre of the town,
known as Hugonot.
Goshen, organised by act 7th March, 1788; 60 miles from N. York, 100 south
from Albany, 20 W. of the Hudson, at West Point and at Newburg; surface hilly
upon the E. flat and marshy on the west; soil loam underlaid with slate and lime
stone, highly productive in grass; much butter is made here, which has the high
est repute in the market. A large proportion of the " Drowned lands," lies in the
town. Otter creek, a branch of Murderer's kill, crosses the town. Goshen and
Chester, are post villages. ThrS -town, originally settled in 1703, embraced all the
county S. E. ofthe Wall kill, now included in the towns of Minisink, Warwick,
part of Wallkill, Blooming Grove, and partof Cornwall. Goshen, village, found
ed in 1722, incorporated March 28th 1809, having the relative distances above giveh
and lying in a beautiful valley; contains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Episcopalian, church
es, with steeples, both of wood; an academy for males, and 1 forfemales; a school
for females, called the Institute; 4 taverns, 10 stores, 2 printing offices, each is
suing a newspaper; 1 bank, established 1812, capital $105,000, and 70 dwellings,
generally of wood, neat and several of them elegant, built chiefly upon cross
streets, at whose intersection is the court house and prison of limestone, 3 stories
high, surmounted by a cupola. The first court was holden here in 1727.
Chester, lies on the stage road from Goshen to N. York, 4 miles S. E. from
the former and 18 S. W. from Newburg, in a rfth and picturesque country, pro
ductive of grass, grain, and fruits, and famed for the excellence of its butter, beef,
and pork. The village is divided into two sections, known as E. and W. Ches
ter, which together contain a post office, 3 taverns, 3 stores, a Presbyterian church,
and from 80 to 100 dwellings. Sugar Loaf is the name of a post office.
Hamptonburg, taken from Goshen, Blooming Grove, New Windsor, Mont
gomery, and Wallkill, 5th April, 1830; south from Albany 94 miles; surface un
dulating; soil clay and loam highly productive and universally well cultivated;
lime is burned here, but not used as manure; drained on the N. W. boundary by

ORANGE COUNTY.

603

the Wallkill; centrally by the Otter kill, and on the S. E. border by Murderer's
kill. Campbell Hall, Little Britain, and Hamptonburg, are villages or rather
closely settled vicinages. Campbell Hall, 6 miles N.-E. from Goshen and 15 S.
W. from Newburg, has an Associate Refornied church, a school, a tavern, store,
and 8 dwellings. Little Britain, 8 miles N. E. from Goshen, 12 S. E. from New
burg, has a postoffice, a grist mill, on the Otter kill, a store and some half dozen
dwellings. But this name is given to a district of about 4 miles square, in Hamp
tonburg and New Windsor, settled in 1722 by Col. Charles Clinton (the progeni
tor of the distinguished family of Clinton of this state) and his associates, emr-
grants from Ireland, who thus named their settlement. Hamptonburg, 4 miles N.
E. from Goshen and 16 S. W. from Newburg, has a post office, tavern, store, and
6 or eight dwellings, in a most luxuriant grass country. This has been famed as
a market for lean cattle, since the year 1718; at which there are now sold, annu
ally, about 6000 head, to the farmers of the neighbourhood. Horace is the name
of a second post office.
, Minisink, organised by act 7th March, 1788, and subsequently modified; from
Goshen, W. 15 miles, 114 S. W. from Albany; surface hilly on the W., the
Shawangunk ridge running through it. Upon the E. is a valley through which,
and the " Drowned lands," sluggishly steals the Wallkill. The soil is various,
superimposed on slate and limestone. The Shawangunk creek, a large branch of
the Wallkill, rises in a pond at the E. foot ofthe mountain, and flows northward,
and another pond near Mount Hope, sends forth another branch to the same river,
southward. Slate Hill, Wells' Corner or Centreville, Ridgebury, Westtown,
Unionville and Greenville, are villages, at each of which except the last is a post
office. Tradition says, a bloody battle was fought here between the Whites and
Indians, on the 22d July, 1669. The bones of the slain, it seems, lay scattered
oyer the country until 1821, when a committee was appointed by the inhabitants,
to collect and entomb them. In the colonial records of 1659, \here is a notice of
the discovery of a copper mine, which is reported to have been extensively
wrought; the ores being sent to Holland. Indicia of copper are seen in several
places on the W. of the Blue mountain, and E. of the Delaware, to which Mini-
sink formerly extended. Slate Hill, 7 miles from Goshen, contains a Baptist church,
a printing office, issuing a newspaper, 1 store, 2 taverns, a schoolhouse, and 8-
* dwellings. Centreville, 10 miles from Goshen, has 1 Presbyterian meeting house,
1 tavern, 1 store, a post office, school house, and 6 dwellings. Ridgebury, 7 miles
from Goshen, has 1 Presbyterian meeting house, 1 store, 1 tavern, and 4 dwell
ings. Greenville, 15 miles from Goshen, has a Baptist meeting house, 1 store, 1
tavern, and 3 or 4 dwellings. Westtown, 12 miles from Goshen, has 1 Presbyte
rian church, 2 stores, an academy for males, 2 taverns, and 8 dwellings. Union
ville, 15 miles S. from Goshen, contains 1 Presbyterian meeting house, 1 tavern, 2
stores, 1 school, and 5 dwellings.
Monroe, organised 23d March, 1799, by the name of Cheesecocks, and taken
from Cornwall; name altered in 1800, to Southfield and in 1801, to Munroe,
in the revised slat. Monroe; 115 miles S. of Albany, 19, S. of Newburg; surface
broken and hilly; the highlands spreading over its area; there are, however, several
extensive vales which are cultivated and tolerably productive; it is well watered,
and several natural ponds from one to three miles in circumference send forth mill
streams uniting to form the Ramapo river, which works its way S. through the
hills, and across the west part of Rockland county, into N. Jersey. These streams
afford power for forges and furnaces, to which the iron in the hills, and the wood
on their sides furnish employment. Townsend's, Monroe and' Augusta works have
been distinguished for the extent of their operations. This portion of the state
suffered greatly during the revolutionary war, being haunted by traitors, tories and
robbers, called Cow-boys. Monroe, village, 11 miles south from Goshen, contains
a post office, 1 Presbyterian church, 1 tavern, 1 store, and 6 dwellings.
At the extreme easterly point of this town, upon the Hudson river, and south
side of Poplopen's kill, stood Fort Clinton, and upon the opposite bank of the
creek, now in Cornwall, was Fort Montgomery. These forts were erected on
high ground, for the defence of the river pass here, which was also obstructed by
chevaux de frize, boom and chains, and guarded by a frigate and several galleys
stationed above them. The forts were deemed almost impregnable. They were
too much elevated to be battered from the water with effect, and the hills on which

604 TOPOGRAPHY.
they stood, were too steep to be ascended by troops, and the mountains com
mencing 5 miles below them, so lofty and rugged and the. defiles so narrow, that
the approaches might be easily defended.
With an immediate view to the relief of Gen. Burgoyne, Sir Henry Clinton,
left New York, Oct. 4th, 1777, to attack the posts on the Hudson. On the 6th, at
dawn of day his troops debarked on the west side of Stony Point and march
ed through the mountains to the forts. General Putnam, who had command of
this district was aware of the debarkation, but mistaking the object of the enemy,
sent no reinforcement to the garrisons, until apprised of the attack by the report of
the cannonade. Five hundred men were then ordered over the river, but before
they could cross, the forts were taken by storm.
The enemy having left a battalion to maintain the Dunderburg pass, marched to
the neighbourhood of Fort Clinton, driving in the parties which Gov. George Clin
ton had thrown out to impede his progress. There he divided his force; Colonel
Campbell,with 900 men made aeircuit round the forest of Deane, to the rear of Fort
Montgomery, while Gen. Vaughan, with 1200, accompanied by Sir Henry Clinton
and followed by the rear guard under General Tryon, advanced on Fort Clinton.
The assault commenced about 5 o'clock P. M. The works were resolutely de
fended until dark, when the enemy having entered them at several places, further
defence was impracticable. Part of the garrisons was captured; 4he remainder
escaped, including the Governor and his brother Gen. James Clinton, although the
latter had been wounded. Lt. Cols. Livingston and Bruyn and Majors Logan and
Hamilton, were among the prisoners. The loss sustained by the garrisons was
about 250 men: That of the enemy was not less: Among his dead were Lt. Col.
Campbell and two othei\field officers. The whole force of the enemy was 3000;
that of the garrisons did not exceed six hundred; yet had Putnam been aware of
the design the enterprise might certainly have been defeated. The resistance of
the forts would have been longer had the garrisons been sufficient to man the lines.
— The forts at Peekskill and on the river fell into the enemy's hands. Continen
tal village was burned, and subsequently Kingston, and a large quantity of stores
were destroyed or taken.
Montgomery, originally organised as part of Ulster county, 7th March, 1788;
since variously modified; from Albany S. 100, from Newburg W. 12, and from
^Joshen N. E. 10, miles; surface hilly; soil clay and gravelly loam, resting on
slate and lime stone, fertile in grass and grain, and highly cultivated; drained cen
trally and north-eastwardly by the Wallkill, which affords admirable mill power.
A tamarac swamp, near the village of Montgomery, is noted as the spot in which
bones of the mammoth were first discovered in this state. Some 40 years since,
it was soft, and almost impassable, but is now rich arable land, Testing on marl,
with a vegetable mould from 3 to 18 feet deep. Montgomery and Walden are post
villages. Montgomery, village, incorporated 17th February, 1810, on the Newbnrg and
Conhocton turnpike road, at the intersection of the northern state road, and on
the right bank of the Wallkill, having the relative distances above stated, contains
2 grist and 1 saw, mills, and a factory for the manufacture of wood screws, all
driven under a head of 6 feet water in the river; 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist,
churches, an academy, and a seminary for young ladies, well conducted and sus
tained; 4 taverns, 7 stores, and 160 dwellings; 3 clergymen, 4 lawyers, and 4 phy
sicians. The buildings, generally of wood, are neat, some of them large and com
modious. The village forms a road district.
The incorporation of the " Montgomery Iron Company," for Hie manufacture of
iron and steel into merchantable articles, was authorised 23d April, 1835, with a
capital not to exceed $1 00,000, to be employed in the town.
Walden, village, on the Wallkill, 12 miles N. W. from Newburg, 14 N. E.
from Goshen, and 4 from Montgomery, at the falls of the river, surrounded by a
rich and picturesque country, under high cultivation, takes its name from
the late proprietor of the soil, and owes it3 birth to the valuable water power
which the river affords, by two considerable falls. The upper, or Great Falls, are
at the bend of the Tiver, near the centre of the village plat, and their descent, in
cluding the cascade and rapids, ia 42 feet, of which the former has 20 feet over a
ledge of slate rock. Viewed from the foot bridge, which crosses the stream below
it, and within reach ofthe spray, the scene is one of great beauty. The placid

ORANGE COUNTY. 605
pool above pours out its waters at your feet, in one broad sheet of foam, which
soon resuming their denser form, run sparkling and murmuring from you through
their narrow channel, overhung with towering trees, to the lower pool, whence
they are precipitated about 15 feet. Immediately at the Upper Falls is an exten
sive cotton manufactory; thence a canal has been excavated through the slate rock
on the E. side of the river, nearly half a mile in length. Between this canal and
the river, are sites for other mills, and where already some woollen factories and
other works have been erected, near the lower end of the canal; but which leave
still a vast power unoccupied. The woollen factory of Messrs. Scholfield, Capron,
& Co. produces 325,000 yards of flannel, employing 100 hands, and a capital of
}j!60,000. That of the Orange Company makes about 30,000 yards of low priced
broad cloths; and the cotton manufactory of Messrs. Woods & Co. gives above
300,000 yards of sheeting, annually. In 1832, the "Walden Company" was in
corporated, with authority to employ a capital of §500,000 for purchasing, holding,
and improving the water power and mill sites here, and for manufacturing pur
poses. This company has recently laid out a large addition of lots to the village,
for which they invite purchases upon attractive terms. The village lies upon a
plain, surrounded by hills which overlook it on all sides, and contains, beside the
mills we have mentioned, 1 Episcopal and 1 Presbyterian, churches, an academy,
and a select school; 2 taverns, one of which eschews the sale of ardent spirit; and
about 150 dwellings, distributed over several streets, and containing about 1000 in
habitants. There is a post office called St. Andrews.
Mount Hope, taken from Wallkill, Minisink, and Deer Park, by the name of
Calhoun, 15th February, 1825; from Albany S. W. 121, and from Port Jarvis, on
the Delaware, about 10 miles; surface hilly, being covered by spurs of the Shawan
gunk mountain; drained by the Shawangunk river; soil gravelly loam, not very
productive. Finchville, Mount Hope, and Otisville, are post villages.
Mount Hope, village, 12 miles from Goshen, contains 1 Presbyterian meeting
house, 2 taverns, 3 stores, 1 school, 10 dwellings. Finchville, 15 miles from
Goshen, has 1 store, 1 tavern, 1 school, 4 dwellings. Otisville, 14 miles from Go
shen, has 1 store, 1 tavern, school house, 1 Presbyterian meeting house, 10 dwel
lings. Newburg, organised 7th March, 1788; surface hilly, broken and stony, but
generally arable; soil clay and sandy loam, on granite, clay slate, and limestone,
adapted to grass, and much of it under high cultivation; drained by Chambers'
creek, and some smaller streams. Big and Little ponds, have, respectively, a cir
cumference of 4 and 3 miles. Excavations were made in the town in 1835, in
search of gold, for which, probably, iron pyrites was mistaken. At Hampton, a
village of some 10 or 12 houses, much lime is burned for export, and a horse ferry
boat plies hourly to Hamburg, of Dutchess county. Coldenham is an agricultural
vicinage, on the Western turnpike, 8 miles W. of Newburg village, in which are
a post office, 2 taverns, 2 stores, 1 Convenanters, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Dutch
Reformed, churches, and 15 dwellings, upon a pleasant and fertile plain. The first
settlement was made here, and the name given, in 1755, by Dr. Colden. Mid
dle Hope, 4 miles N. of Newburg, is a post office, around which is a Methodist
church, 2 taverns, a store, and a dozen dwellings.
Newburg village, upon the Hudson river, N. from New York 61, -from West
Point 8, S. from Albany 84, and from Goshen, the other half shire town, E. 20,
miles, incorporated 25th March, 1800, lies upon the acclivity of the river hill,
which has an elevation upon the third terrace of about 300 feet. The hill undu
lates on the river line, and falling off on three sides, the town plat is thoroughly
drained. The river margin, about 600 feet wide, affords space for convenient
quays and docks. The village is most advantageously seen from the river. It
was originally settled by the emigrant Palatines in 1708. It now contains 1 Epis
copal, 1 Baptist, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Associate Reformed, 1 Dutch Reformed, 1 Co
venanters, and 1 Methodist, churches; an incorporated academy, with an endow
ment of lands; a high school, incorporated with the district school; another school
maintained from lands-originally pertaining to the glebe, and now under the con
trol of the inhabitants of the German patent within the town; another academy for
males, one for females, conducted by private enterprise, together with several se
lect schools; 2 printing offices, issuing weekly papers, 2 extensive and commodi-

606 TOPOGRAPHY.
ous hotels, 14 taverns; a whaling company, authorised to employ a capital of
$200,000, of which $115,000 are paid in, having 3 ships of 350 tons, a large
wharf, and storehouse; 2 banks; 40 general stores; an extensive hat manufactory;
a brewery, making the far-famed Newburg ale,t of which 14,000 barrels were
brewed in 1834; a large iron foundry and machine shop; comb factory, 2 morocco
factories, and 1 tannery, and about 800 dwellings, many of which claim notice
from their large size, and the good taste displayed in them.
Near the village, upon Chambers' creek, are 2 paper mills, 4 plaster mills, a
factory for cotton and woollen machinery; Rogers' powder manufactory, whose pro
duct is well known throughout the union; very extensive brick yards, from which
vast quantities of brick are exported. A large business centres here from the
neighbouring villages of Ulster, Dutchess, and Putnam counties; two steam ferry
boats ply constantly to Fishkill. The main street of Newburg presents, on mar
ket days, the thronged appearance of a busy metropolis, being crowded with
teams, and its large stores filled with dealers. The trade with New York
employs continually 7 sloops and 5 steamboats, owned here, and many other ves
sels, occasionally.
From the upper terrace of the village, a wide and beautiful prospect embraces,
on the south, West Point, the Crow's Nest, Butter Hill, and the two Beacon
mountains; on the S. W. Pollopel's island, at the N. entrance of the Highlands; on
the E. the fertile and picturesque valleys of the Matteawan and Wappinger's
creeks, and the village of Fishkill Landing; on the N. the Newburg bay, and a
broad champaign country. South of the village yet stands an old stone house,
the quarters of General Washington, when the celebrated Newburg Letters made
their appearance.
New Windsor, organised 7th March, 1788; from Albany S. 88 miles, from New
burg 6 miles; surface billy, but generally arable; soil loam, underlaid with gneiss,
slate, and limestone, fertile and well cultivated; drained by Chambers' and Mur
derer's creeks. The post village of New Windsor, lies at the confluence of Cham
bers' creek with the Hudson, in the N. E. angle of the town, in a deep glen,
opening into Newburg bay, 2 miles S. of Newburg, and contains 2 docks, a Pres
byterian church, with steeple and bell, 2 taverns, 5 stores, and about 40 dwellings.
A steamboat and sloop ply twice a week between this village and New York. This
is the oldest village in the county, and is celebrated as having been the head quar
ters of General Washington in 1774, who then occupied the house of a Mr. Ellis-
ton. From Mr. Bullus's residence, back of the village, there is a delightful pros
pect of the country for many miles around.
Wallkill, organised March, 1788; from Albany S. 100, from Newburg, W. 20,
and from Goshen N. 6, miles; surface on the S. E. undulating, and elsewhere
hilly; soil comprising gravelly and clay loam, andclay, resting on clay slate, and
graywacke. On the west the country is stony, but adapted to grass. The staple
commodities are butter and hemp. The Wallkill forms a part of the S. E. boun
dary, and the Shawangunk river of the N. W.; between these streams run the
Comfort Hills. Middletown, Phillipsburg, and Scotchtown, are post villages.
Phillipsburg, called after the principal proprietor, on the Wallkill, 4 miles N. W.
from Goshen, at the outlet of the " Drowned Lands," contains a grist mill, 2
woollen factories, a store, and 10 or 12 dwellings, in a level and fertile country.
Middletown, 7 miles N. W. from Goshen, has 1. Congregationalist and 1 Presbyte
rian, churches, 1 grist and 1 saw, mills, a district school, 2 taverns, 6 stores, and
about 60 dwellings, pleasantly situated upon a hill. The village is compactly
built, and rapidly improving. Scotchtown, 6 miles N. from Goshen, on very ele
vated ground, contains a Presbyterian church, district school, 2 taverns, 2 stores,
and 12 or 15 dwellings, inhabited chiefly by agriculturists.
Warwick, centrally distant 54 miles N. of New York, and 1 10 miles S. W. of
Albany, 10 miles S. of Goshen, 30 from Newburg, organised by act 7th March,
1788; surface generally uneven, and ia the S. E. mountainous, being covered by
the Highlands; westwardly the country is rolling, and better adapted to agricul
ture; the soil is various, beingbased upon granite and limestone. On the west
border lies a portion of the "Drowned Lands." Fruit is very abundant, and the
apple orchards here, particularly, are very fine, and provide abundant food for the
distilleries. On the border of the " Drowned Lands," are two noted hills, known
respectively as Adam and Eve. Among the hills of the south are several. natural

ORANGE COUNTY.

607

ponds, whose waters congregate into the Ringwood river, a tributary of the Passaic;
more centrally and westerly flows the Wawayanda creek, a branch of the Wallkill.
" Sterling Works," for making iron, have been in operation for nearly 80 years.
Warwick, Amity, Florida, Bellville, Sugarhaf, and Edenville, are villages, and
those in italics are post towns. >
Warwick, village, on the Wawayanda creek, 12 miles S. of Goshen, and
28 from Newburg, contains 1 Dutch Reformed and 1 Baptist, churches, 1 school, 4
stores, 2 taverns, from 20 to 30 dwellings, in a delightful and fertile valley, highly
improved. Amity, 12 miles from Gosheu, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 store, 1
tavern, a school-house, and 6 or 8 dwellings. Florida, 6 miles S. W. from Go
shen, has 1 Presbyterian meeting, 1 tavern, 3 stores, from 15 to 20 dwellings, 2
grist mills, 2 saw mills. Belleville, 12 miles from Goshen, at the foot of the
mountain, has a small store, tavern, and a few dwellings. Sugarloaf, on the N.
E. boundary, 8 miles S. from Goshen, contains 1 Methodist meeting, 1 tavern, 2
stores, from 8 to 10 dwellings. Edenville, 9 miles from Goshen, has 1 Methodist
meeting house, 1 tavern, 1 store, a school, and 6 dwellings.

Females.
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Deaths.
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Blooming Grove,
2219
2258
201)9
2001
216
364
32
240
210
402
17
40
34
17
20
Cornwall,
3020
3020
3486
3289
242
526
1SH
354
313
-662
25
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52
34
31
Crawford,*
2S19
2011
2007
192
411
26
216
235
442
2t
29
31.
7
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Deerpark,
1340
963
1167
13-29
169
27S
28
172
82
386
5
36
31
9
8
Goshen,
3441
3022
3361
2967
282
601
74
336
356
lii.)
19
63
47
41
38
Hamptonburg,t
1365
1319
13fi
367
2."
139
163
25!)
12
24
19
12
5
Minisink,
5053
4710
497!
4439
519
921
W
591
4115
987
31
RH
96
27
35
Montgomery,
5541
3712
3885
4016
328
76/
14f
431
498
216
783
21:
59
64
30
19
Monroe,
aiiBi
3186
367s
, 3712
419
781
31
479
892
26
73
76
43
25
Mount Hope, J
1335
1484
153
3(14
4
184
149
346
15
29
23
11
5
Newburg',
5812
6168
642t
7683
963
141C
fifllt
92ii
929
1495
137
124
144
77
49
New Windsor,
2425
2255
23l(
2460
231
4MB
91
293
278
502
11
49
«
19
18
Wallkill,
4887
432c
405ti
3714
2R6
711
3!
397
419
741
If
51"
6(
27
24
Warwick,
4306
4635
5009
4676
476
935
ie
554
359
4603
1006 9411!
3C
39£
69
70
33
33
41213
41732
4536C
45096
4614
8873 126£
530L
| 791
791
387
324
Note. Males, 22,652; Females, 22,444; Blacks, 2,178; Black voters, 20; Paupers, 209; Deaf and Dumb,
26; Bliud, 26; Idiots, 27; Lunatics, 43.
* Erected in 1823.
t Erected in 1830.
\ Erected in 1823.
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Blooming 6.
30000
17796
529347
114384
3157
470
11484
21S7
558
729
1258 70
637 40
Cornwall,
32500
9990
344836
50900
4217
480
1923
1800
524
556
Hi
773 78
662 24
Crawford,
20500
15519
429535
46504
3624
658
4333
3333
2462
1867
5053
630 80
589 00
Deerpark,
40000
6219
149712
13811
I23h
256
682
10711
926
678
940
319 74
366 32
Goshen,]
36500
26515
724378
169564
4672
75D
5786
3873 1566
1775
1026
1747 93
830 70
Uamptonb'g
12785
41054C
56452
2467
39e
673e
2538 1052
896
1578
913 11
587 18
Mini.-ink,
44500
47252
832522
52618
8087
1205
3667
•4187 4247
2710
6353
1730 72
1080 65
Montfiom'ry
32500
23006
75247S
118945
3786
881
7464
37621 2401
1698
2907
',•013 54
Monroe,
52657
18536
519521
G0235
4554
715
1666
3280 123(
I 1345
2081
1703 90
1034 67
MountHope,
3450(1
10542
23841:
28420
2317
395
1404
1682 1426
1 1081
2194
521 76
307 87
Newburg,
32000
23584
1336325
545225
4169
1265
2(1-11
4198, -1698
i 731
1697
3679 00
1215 16
New Winds.
235O0
21406
463815
59042
3166
523
5854
2918 742
soe
1413
1022 35
850 49
Wallkill,
3450(1
265G6
901742
140475
601S
1012
6296
3006 2441
1355
5838
2037 86
774 46
Warwick,
C4000
35248
933965
224861
8060
1305
3941
5943: 3321
- !
237E
4947
2226 75
1640 24
486500
294966
8567133 1661436
59532
10322163883
43777 24722 18436
36938
20000 00
11282 66
608

TOPOGRAPHY.

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,~ cu
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•sis £8 <u °
g-9
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Blooming Grove,
J5
236
1463
699
Cornwall,
4
2
1
1
1
i
8
357
767
533
Crawford,
3
6
1
a
12
210
811
639
Deerpark,
7
8
6
121
458
334
Goshen,
1
16
326
1821
745
Hamptonburg,
1
4
1
2
]
7
142
431
285
Minisink,
5
5
2
H
2
1
23
518
1807
1543
Montgomery,
4
6
1
a
1
2
3
1
14
404
1844
971
Monroe,
8
7
3
16
355
706
728
Mount Hope,
4
6
2
a
2
3
4
6
155
720
555
Newburg,
7
1
2
a
1
2
1
J
1
14
797
1017
New Windsor,
3
3
1
1
2
10
230
1020
449
Wallkill,
3
8
a
y
17
447
1232
1234
Warwick,
5
60 CO
7
70CO
2
10
a
22
2
o
i
12
1
|18
3
1
33
© cr:
> 1
1 2
iO
1
24
523
1437
1203
4 123
188
4821
14515
10935
s si
Value of product,
Cs
S4
©
^
©
l,IJ
Ci
Number of children abc
ve 5 and
s
a
*
P5
o
t>
« O W3 O
o
O OC
8
©
under 16 years af age, 13,158.
Value of material
£
s
!*»
©
"fli
to
Note. The returns ofthe valuations are very imperfect. They are omitted in many instances,
especially in the distilleries. m
ORLEANS COUNTY, taken from Genesee, 11th November, 1824; is bound
ed N. by Lake Ontario; E. by Monroe; S. by Genesee; and W. by Niagara,
counties. It is in form a parallelogram, whose longest side, E. and W., is 24,
and shortest, N. and S., 18, miles; centrally distant N. W. from Albany, by post
route, 257, and from N. York 302, miles. Situate between 43° 7' and 43° 20" N.
Lat. and 1° 8' and 1° 36' W. Long.
The Mountain ridge of Ontario, passes through the county, and divides its sur
face into three steppes or terraces, of unequal breadths; the first, rising from the
shore of the lake, very gradually, 130 feet, has a breadth of 7 or 8 miles, and is ter
minated by the Ridge Road; the second, rising from the ridge, somewhat precipi
tously, may gain an elevation of nearly 130 feet, and has a breadth of from one to
ORLEANS COUNTY. 609
three miles; and the third with an ascent, also rapid, of about 140 feet, extends in
to Genesee county, some miles. The highest terrace has therefore an elevation
above the lake of about. 400 feet.
The northern portion of the county, embracing nearly two-thirds of its breadth,
rests upon variegated sandstone; which, in many places, affords an admirable ma
terial for building. The southern portion, comprising the highest terrace, and per
haps, part ofthe second, is based chiefly on secondary limestone, including various
species of that formation. It has been asserted to us, however, that limestone is
found in every town of the county. The sandstone is of the same character as that
at Salina; and contains salt springs, at various depths, in the towns of Murray and
Ridgeway. The locality in the latter is between the Erie canal and the Ridge Road.
The brine is neither so strong nor so abundant as at Salina; but salt may be made',
here, in sufficient quantities for the consumption of the inhabitants. Unsuccessful
efforts have been made to procure better brine, by boring; in one instance, to the
depth of 140 feet. In cutting the canal, near Sandy creek, in Murray, several
springs were opened, yielding salt water of superior quality.
The soil, mostly clay and argillaceous loam, is highly fertile. The surplus pro
ducts for market were estimated, in 1833, in wheat, at @700*,000; in neat cattle and
pork, at ,$100,000; in lumber, at $100,000; in ashes, more than 3,000 barrels; and
in grass seed,' 8,000 bushels. At that period, there were 60 stores in the county,
whose business operations exceeded a million of dollars, annually. The amount
pf postage received at the village of Albion alone, for the yearending January 1st
1834, was $1007 43. The exports from Albion, and the villages within 15 miles
west of it, were, 253,375 bushels of wheat, and 19,844 barrels of flour. And the
quantity from the country, 15 miles east of Albion, was supposed to be equally
great. These exports did not include large quantities of wheat, shipped by the
lake for manufacture at the Oswego mills.
Farms under careful improvement, sell at from 30 to 50 dollars the acre; and the
general average of improved lands is given at $25 the acre. Near Albion visage
such farms rate at from 70 to 100 dollars the acre.
The county is well, but not superabundantly, watered. The principal streams
are Oak Orchard, Johnson's, and Sandy, creeks.
Oak Orchard creek, rises on the upper plain, upon the line dividing the towns of
Barre and Clarendon, and flows about 15 miles, near to, but south of, the county
boundary, re-entering the county in the town of Shelby; whence it pursues a north
erly and northeasterly and tortuous course, of about 35 miles, to Fish Bay, of
Lake Ontario, flowing through the Great Tonawanta Swamp, lying in the counties
of Genesee, Orleans, and Niagara, but mostly in the two former. This swamp
25 miles in length, from east to west, and from two to seven in breadth, is bound
ed on all sides by plains, a little elevated above its surface, and exhibits great
sameness of aspect. In the season of floods, the waters overspread the greater
part of it, and drain off very slowly. Its area, estimated at nearly 50,000 acres
consists of soil of various qualities, which may, it is said, be drained at compara
tively inconsiderable expense. The Tonawanta creek, in its course to the Niao-a-
ra river, approached within a mile of the swamp. Its bed is three feet higher
than the marsh; and the intervening ground is five feet higher than the bed. This
elevation has enabled the canal commissioners to increase the water of the feeder
taken from Oak Orchard creek, by an open aqueduct of four and a half miles in
length, cut( the greater part of the way, through solid rock, by which the upper
waters of the Tonawanta are turned into the former creek. Through the marsh
the Oak Orchard creek is a sluggish, and, before its junction with the Tonawanta'
was, in the summer season, an inconsiderable stream. Its volume has been great
ly increased, and is now highly valuable for hydraulic uses; after rjreakino-
through the lower barrier on the north, it becomes rapid, and flows over a smooth
rocky bed; and, in its passage over the ridges, forms some notable cascades
The Erie canal crosses it at Medina by a stone aqueduct of 60 feet chord. The
whole fall of the creek to Lake Ontario exceeds 400 feet.
Johnson's creek, rises in Royalton, of Niagara county, and, by a course of about
20 miles, flows N. E. through the towns of Ridgeway, Yates, and Carlton of
this county, to the lake. Sandy creek, has its course in the declivity of the upper
ridge, and flowing N. E. some miles on the second steppe, crosses the Ridge Road
in Murraytown, and thence runs through the town of Clarkson, of Monroe countv
77 y'

610 TOPOGRAPHY.
to the lake, 9 miles E. of Oak Orchard creek; having alength of about 20 miles.
Both streams have considerable falls.
The Erie canal runs centrally through the county upon one level, keeping whol
ly upon the second steppe. In Ridgeway and its vicinity, are remains of Indian
fortifications, of a character similar to those which are common along the lake
shores. The whole county was included in the grant to Massachusetts. The towns of
Barre, Carleton, Gaines, Ridgeway, Shelby, and Yates pertained to the Holland
Land Company; whilst Murray and Clarendon formed part of the Pulteney pur
chase. The timber, similar to that which prevails along the western boundary of the
state, consists of beech, maple, linden, elm, red, black, and white oak, white wal
nut, hemlock, pine, black and white ash, &c. The upper steppes are more heavily
wooded than that which is contiguons to the lake.
Authority was given April 17th, 1832, for incorporating a company to make a
rail road from the village of Albion to the Tonawanta creek, at the village of Ba
tavia in Genesee county, with a capital of $200,000; the road to be commenced
within three, and completed within five years. And on May 5th, 1834, authority
was also given to incorporate a company with $100,000 capital, for making a like
/road from the village of Medina to the Alexander and Buffalo road, to be com
menced within two, and completed within five, years.
There are in the county 8 Methodist, 6 Presbyterian, 6 Baptist, 4 Universalist,
and 1 Episcopal, churches — 25.
The county is divided into 8 towns.
Baere, taken from Gaines 6th March, 1818; N. W. from Albany 260, from
Albion S. 6, miles; surface gently undulating; soil argillaceous and calcareous
loam; drained north-easterly by Sandy creek, and S. by some small tributaries of
Oak Orchard creek. , It contains the villages of Albion, Barre Centre, South
Barre, and the post office of Farmi ogham.
Albion, founded in 1823, by Nehemiah Ingersol and George Standart, Jr.; the
county seat of justice, incorporated 21st April, 1828, lies near the centre of the
county, upon the Erie canal, distant from Albany by canal 305, from Rochester
35, from Buffalo 58, from Lockport 28; and by post road, from the first 257, from
the second 38, from the third 60, and from the fourth 24, miles; from Batavia N.
18 miles, and from Lake Ontario S. 10 miles. It contains 1 Presbyterian and 1
Methodist, churches; a high school and seminary for females; a court house of
brick, a neat edifice in which are the county offices, erected upon a public square;
a prison of hewn logs; a bank incorporated 30th April, 1834-. with a capital of
$200,000; 4 forwarding and commission houses; 13 dry goods stores, 1 wholesale
hardware store, 2 druggists stores, 2 shoe and leather stores, 1 book store, 2 tan
neries, 1 ashery, 2 grist mills, 3 saw mills, 1 carding and cloth dressing mill, 1
furnace for casting iron, 5 taverns, 1 wholesale, and several retail, groceries, vari
ous mechanics, 9 lawyers, and 5 physicians; 2 printing offices, each issuing a
weekly journal; 220 dwellings of brick arid wood, many of which are large, neat,
and commodious; surrounded by a fertile country abounding in fruit, such as
apples, pears, peaches, apricots, nectarines, grapes, &c. South Barre, 6 miles Sj
of Albion, has 2 stores, 1 tavern, and about 25 dwellings. Barre Centre, 3 miles
S. of Albion, has a Presbyterian church, steam saw mill, 3 stores, 1 tavern, 1
ashery, and from 20 to 25 dwellings. The lands ofthe town are generally seated
and improved.
Carlton, taken from Gaines and Ridgeway 17th April, 1822, by the name of
Oak Orchard, which was changed in 1825; N. W. from Albany 265, from Albion
N. 8, miles; surface level; soil sandy and gravelly loam, resting on saliferous
sandstone; drained northerly by Oak Orchard creek, and its tributary Marsh
creek. A village has been laid out at the mouth of Oak Orchard creek, on Lake
Ontario, proposed to be called Manilla, where i£ a good harbour, but a warehouse
only has yet been built. Steamboats stop here occasionally. Oak Orchard creek
is navigable from the lake 3 miles for sloops to Stillwater Landing; at which are
a warehouse, 2 saw mills, 1 grist mill, 1 carding and cloth dressing mill, a tavern,
and half a dozen dwellings. Carlton and East Carlton are post offices.
Clarendon, taken from Sweden, of Monroe county, 23d February, 1821; N.
from Albany 251 miles; surface high and somewhat broken, but generally arable;

ORLEANS COUNTY. 611
soil argillaceous and calcareous loam, based chiefly on secondary lime; drained
N. E.-by a branch of Sandy creek, which has its source in the upper terrace, and
S. W. by a tributary of Oak Orchard creek. Clarendon village, or Farewell's
Mills, 9 miles S. E. from Albion, has 1 Baptist church, 3 stores, 2 taverns, 1
tannery, 1 grist mill and saw mill, and about 20 dwellings. ,
Gaines, taken fromRidgeway 14th February, 1816; since altered; N. from Albany
260 miles; surface level on the north, gently rising to the south; soil sandy and
clay loam, of excellent quality; drained northward by Otter and Marsh creeks.
Gaines, Gaines' Basin, Eagle Harbour, and Fairhaven, are villages. Gaines, post
village, incorporated 26th April, 1832, 3 miles N. W. from Albion, has l.Presby-
terian and 1 Methodist, churches, an academy, 2 taverns, 4 dry goods stores, 1
tannery, 1 ashery, and about 50 dwellings. ,Fairhaven,2\ miles N. of Albion, has
1 Universalist church, 1 store, 1 tavern, and 15 dwellings. Gaines' Basin, on the
canal, 1 ' miles N. of Albion, has 1 warehouse, 3 stores, and 10 or 12 dwellings.
Eagle Harbour, 3 miles W. of Albion on the canal, has 1 Methodist church, 3
stores, 1 warehouse, and 15 dwellings; on the line separating Gaines from Barre.
Murray, taken from Gates April 18th, 1808, then called Northampton; since
altered; from Albany 245 miles; surface generally level, but rising towards the
south, and comprising the lower, and a portion of the second, terrace; drained by
- Sandy creek and its branches, and some smaller streams. Jefferson lake, is a
pond containing not more than 50 acres. Holley, Sandy Creek, North Murray,
and Scio, are post villages, Holley, 10 miles E. of Albion, 25 W. of Rochester,
on Sandy creek, founded in 1823, by Elisha Johnson, and named after the acting
canal commissioner, has 1 Baptist and 1 Presbyterian, churches, 2 grist and 1
saw, mills, a furnace for casting iron, a woollen factory, making flannels and
cloths; 2 taverns, 5 general stores, and about 70 dwellings, upon 6 spacious
streets, many of them of brick, and remarkably good. It is a very thriving village,
pleasantly situated npon a gentle ascent. A short distance E. ofthe village is
the Holley embanknent, one of the greatest on the canal, elevated 76 feet above
the creek. Sandy Creek^ miles E. from Albion, at the junction ofthe two main
branches, has a grist mill and 2 saw mills, 1 carding and cloth dressing mill, 4
stores, 3 taverns, 1 tannery, and 25 dwellings. North Murray, 12 miles from
Albion, has 1 Baptist church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and 10 dwellings. Scio, on the
canal, 6 miles E. from Albion, has 1 Methodist church, 1 grist mill, 1 store, 1
tavern, and about 20 dwellings.
Ridgeway, taken from Batavia June 8th, 1812; since altered; distant N. W. from
Albany 267 miles; surface level; highest on the south, comprising portions ofthe
first and second terraces; drained by Oak Orchard and Johnson's creeks. The
former stream, has a fall near the canal, at Medina, of about 30 feet. Knowles-
ville, Medina, Ridgeway Corners, and Oak Orchard, are post villages. Knowles-
ville, on the canal, 6 miles W. from Albion, has 1 Baptist and 1 Presbyterian,
churches; 2 taverns, 4 dry goods stores, 1 drug store, 1 tannery, 1 ashery, and 30
dwellings. Medina, incorporated 1st March, 1832; 10 miles W. from Albion, has
1 Baptist, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Episcopal, churches; 2 grist mills,
1 brewery, 1 tannery, 1 carding and cloth dressing mill, 1 shingle factory, 10 dry
goods stores, 3 taverns, high school, and seminary for ladies, a printing office,
issuing a weekly paper, and 250 dwellings, mostly neat buildings. This is a
growing village of much business. A company was authorised, in 1835, to make
a rail road hence to Lake Ontario. Ridgeway Corners, on the Ridge road, 13
miles N. W. from Albion, has 1 Universalist church, 1 tavern, 2 stores, 1 tannery,
and 10 or 12 dwellings. Oak Orchard, 9 miles N. W. from Albion, has 2 taverns!
1 store, 1 grist, 2 saw, mills, and 10 dwellings.
Shelby, taken from Ridgeway 6th March, 1818; from Albany 260 miles; sur
face high but [level; soil calcareous loam; drained by Oak Orchard creek." Shel
by, Shelby's Basin, and Millville, are post villages. Shelby, or Barnegat, 13
miles S. E. from Albion, centrally situate, has 2 saw mills, 1 grist mill, 1 card
ing and cloth dressing mill, 2 stores, 2 taverns, and 15 dwellings. Shelby's Basin
on the Erie canal, 13 miles W. from Albion, has 1 Universalist church, 1 tavern'
2 stores, a tannery, and 10 or 12 dwellings. Millville, 10 miles S. W. from Albion'
has 1 Methodist church, 2 saw mills, 1 store, 1 tavern, 1 tannery, 1 ashery and
10 or 12 dwellings. - "' ' "
Yates, taken from Ridgeway, by the name of Northton, 17th April, 1822-

612 TOPOGRAPHY.
name changed 1823; from Albany 270 miles N. W.; surface level; soil sandy
and clay loam; drained by. Johnson's creek running N. E. and diagonally across
it. Linden, 14 miles N. W. from Albion, the post village, has 1 Baptist and 1
Methodist, churches; 2 saw mills, 2 taverns, 5 stores,' 1 tannery, 1 ashery, and 25
dwellings. The County was settled chiefly by emigrants from New England.

Females.
Births.
Deaths.
l- Ol
us
1
G m
-
¦o a
s*
TOWNS.
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
' a
1
Ol o
>
P 01
3
25»9
' B
"St ,.
at g
'gg a £
£5 *"
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laeg
CD bo
a
V. a
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CO
3 a
S
ui
at
73 E01
b,
i al .
cd
3 aa
r"
Barre,
1767
3681
4801
5182
524
1098
62
690
402
1205
45
87
88
37
36
Carlton,
709
1168
2080
230
424
19
301
109
465
11
46
47
13
11
Clarendon,
1381
1912
2025
1842
149
360
li
253
96
413
2
29
29
9
6
Gaines,
1134
1607
2121
2230
227
480
12
311
186
447
»
56
37
12
4
Murray,
1561
2202
3136
3592
498
728
34
471
204
768
32
71
5b
28
18
Ridgeway,
1496
1310
1939
3349
451
716
117
489
243
737
21
74
66
29
iU
Shelby,
1156
1969
2043
2440
216
457
58
319
197
595
9
51
35
23
14
Yates,
1070
1538
2178
207
433
25
301
140
535
14
51
29
16
9
8497
14460
18773
22893
2502
4696
333
3135
1637
5165
143
465
387
167
121
Note. Males, 11,891; Females, 11,002; Paupers, 20; Persons of colour, 50; Deaf and Dumb, 9; Blind,
6; Idiots, 15; Lunatics, 6. i
6
'MT3
aa'> at
a a
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u
41
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TOWNS.
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o
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Barre,
49578
26151
1137015
172622
4144
1605
9846
4214
7756
9616
26R4
2476
1397
Carlton,
Clarendon,
26541
10358
149768
2389
1651
444
3274
2162
2576
3198
1306
861
764
21514
11033
358714
5670
1722
635
3830
1241
3396
son
242
764
574
20867
11649
387913
14534
1845
723
3685
195(1
3209
482H
1090
8116
503
Murray;
38000
15569
759357
20300
2777
922
5325
2674
4798
4079
1084
1258
984
Ridgeway,
30410
16961
555976
24299
2677
963
4037
2906
3493
4531
1849
1356
914
Shelby,
28336
13921
509232
17842
2596
941
4470
31115
4877
5070
1738
1019
790
Yates,
22908
11942
320191
2000
2090
706
3581
1973
3239
4467
2559
740
606
238154
117584
4178166
259656
19502
6939
38048 20135
33344
38803
12552
9280
6532
m
0)
ii
"o
!»
TOWNS.
ti
VO t,
21
s I
3 a
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0 1
cua
o l
uoo
oaaoh 1
a
X5 P.
0101
.5e
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< 1
oi -01ac
rt
Eh 3
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XI* m
° «
. tn
a S-a
G> u a ,
(5°
at 01 trip.
Eh
DOCS
1as
Barre,
25
761
1329
1734
Carlton,
3
3 2
4
1
1
1
11
188,
430
564
Clarendon,
1
4
1
1
12
311
695
751
Gaines,
1
4
1
1
2
11
220
777
784
Murray,
3
5 2
3
1
25
491
1026
1428
Ridgeway,
4
8 1
1
1
3
1
3
2
a
14
346
541
845
Shelby,
1
4 1
J
15
206
890
913
Yates,
1
16.
8
5 1
13 8
O CD
1
12
3
1
1
3
o1
3
o
1
S
1
8
co
1
11
s
2
9
238
538
669
122
2761
6226
7688
Value of product,
g
D tr
i as
trio
*r
o
s
¦ar-t
SI
i- 1
No.
of children above 5
and under
Value of material.
sS
-5 ©
S
e©8
ooto
© &
1
3
3CO
CO
16 yea
i-b of age, 6,844.
OSWEGO COUNTY.

613

OSWEGO COUNTY, was taken from Oneida and Onondaga counties, 1st
March, 1816; bounded by Jefferson county, on the N.; by Lewis and Oneida on
the E.; by Madison, Onondaga, and Cayuga, on the S., the boundary being in part
the Oneida lake and river; Cayuga on the W.; and Lake Ontario on the N. W.
Greatest length E. and W. 37, greatest breadth N. and S. 30, miles; area 907
square miles; situate between 43° 12' and 43° 42' N. Lat., and 0° 18' and 1° 10*
E. Long.; centrally distant from New York - N. W. 295, and from Albany 150,
miles. The surface is level upon the west, south, and south-east; in the interior roll
ing, and on the north rising into hills. A ridge of land elevated 110 feet above
the Oneida, runs, about 8 miles N. ofthe southern boundary, westerly through the
county, forming the water shed, which is broken through only by the" Oswego ri
ver, at the Great Falls.
The soil, generally, is of medium quality, but some of it highly fertile, better
adapted to grass than grain; but experience has taught that it becomes more pro
lific as it is stirred with the plough; lands which had been abandoned as exhaust
ed, having become fruitful under judicious treatment, even without manure. The
fruits adapted to the climate thrive admirably.
This county is underlaid on the N. E. by lower secondary carboniferous slate-
centrally by quartzose rock, and on the W. by variegated saliferous sandstone!
Weak salt springs are said to exist in the towns of Constantia and Richland. Red

614 TOPOGRAPHY. t
sandstone, of excellent quality for building, is abundant and easily procured, in
Volney and Granby, along the Oswego river.
The streams are numerous, but with the exception of the Oswego river, none of
them are large. Passing westerly, we cross the Little Sandy, creek, Salmon ri
ver, Salmon creek, Catfish creek, and the Oswego; all of which flow into Lake
Ontario. Scriba and Bay creeks are tributaries of the Oneida lake; and Scott's
creek, and some smaller streams, run to the Oneida river.
Little Sandy creek rises on the south border of Lorrain, of Jefferson county, and
runs about 12 miles, westerly, through Boylston, and Sandy Creek towns, of
this county, into the small land locked bay, called Sandy creek bay.
Salmon river rises in the S. W. corner of Lewis county, and runs westerly, by a
devious course of about 45 miles, into Mexico bay of Lake Ontario. It has some
notable falls in the town of Orwell; from thence to its mouth, 14 miles, its width
is about 10 rods; it was formerly boatable at high water, and there are now some
stretches of a few miles above the falls where boats may be used. In ordinary
seasons, however, it is navigable only a mile from the lake. The name of Mexico
Bay is given to an indentation of the lake, 10 miles broad, between Six Mile
Point and the mouth of Little Sandy creek.
Salmon creek flows from the town of Amboy, north-westerly, about 25 miles,
also into Mexico Bay, and is a useful mill stream. Catfish creek rises in the south
part of Palermo, and runs northerly into the same bay, about 15 miles.
Of the Oswego river, we have already given a description at page 30, and of the
Oswego canal, at p. 82. •
Of the capacity of this county for dairy productions, we may mention, that in
1835, Mr. Meacham, of Sandy creek, made ten cheeses, nine of which weighed
about 700 pounds each; the tenth, of 1400 pounds, was designed as a present to
the President of the United States; and that while at New York with his cargo,
his wife sent him a " roll of butter" weighing 400 lbs.
The towns west ofthe Oswego river, constituted apart ofthe " Military Tract,"
and all titles therein are derived through patents from the state to the officers and
soldiers of the New York line. The towns east of the river constitute a part of
" Scriba's Patent." These lands were originally granted hy the state to Nicholas
Roosevelt, of New York, who not complying with the terms of sale, a large por
tion of them were sold to George Scriba, a native of Germany, then an opulent
merchant of the city, and who now, (1835,) resides, at an advanced age, at the
village of Constantia, on the Oneida lake, which forms part of the southern limits
of the patent.
The town of Richland, a large part of Volney, about one-half , of Scriba, and the
town of Vienna, in the county of Oneida, upon a sale of part of Mr. Roosevelt's in
terest, by process from chancery, were jointly purchased by Gen. A. Hamilton, John
Lawrence, and John B. Church. The titles in these towns, therefore, are derived
through their heirs or representatives.
The county contains 20 towns.
Albion, taken from Richland, 24th March, 1825; distant from Albany 150
miles; surface undulating; producing white pine, mixed with maple, hemlock,
and beech, indicating a deep, warm soil; drained by Salmon river, and a branch
of Salmon creek. The inhabitants are much employed in preparing lumber for
market, which is carted to the Erie canal, at New London, distant 30 miles. The
agricultural product is chiefly of summer crops. There is a post office in the north
ern part of the town called Sand Bank, where there are a tavern, store, grist, and 2
saw, mills, and some 12 dwellings, on the Salmon river, 8 miles S. E. from Pu
laski. The greater part ofthe town is uninhabited.
Amboy, taken from Williamstown, March 25th, 1830: distant from Albany 130,
from Pulaski S. E. 22, miles; surface level; soil moist rich loam, better adapted to
grass than grain, but producing both abundantly; drained by Salmon and Scriba
creeks; a post office, centrally situate, is called after the town, at which are a
store, tavern, and several dwellings. There are three small lakes. A small por
tion of the town only is cleared and settled.
Bovlston, taken from Orwell, 7th Feb. ,1828; distant from Albany 140, from
Pulaski N. E. 10, miles; surface hilly, and in parts stony; soil gravelly and sandy
loam, underlaid with slate, and productive; drained W. by Little Sandy creek,
and S. W. by Trout creek, a tributary of Salmon river. The inhabitants are

OSWEGO COUNTY. 615
-chiefly agriculturists; but some are employed in preparing- or transporting lumber
to market. The far greater part ofthe town is covered with primeval forest.
Constantia, taken from Mexico, 8th April, 1808; from Albany 145 miles;
surface low and level; soil sandy loam and sand, a portion of which is of tolera
ble quality; drained S. by Scriba and Bay creeks. Bog iron ore is abundant, and
is worked at Constantia furnace. Constantia and Cleaveland are post villages.
Constantia, or Rotterdam, on the Oneida lake, at the mouth of Scriba's creek, 28
miles W, from Rome, 36 E. from Oswego, and 26 from Pulaski, contains the foun
dry and works ofthe American Iron Company, one ofthe most extensive establish
ments ofthe kind in the state; an Episcopal church; a grist mill, and several saw
mills, and from 25 to 30 dwellings. Cleaveland, village, at the extreme S. E. point of
the town, upon Black creek, has an extensive tannery, several stores and taverns,
and about 20 dwellings. Not more than one-third of the town is settled, and it is
generally covered with a dense forest.
Granbv, taken from Hannibal, 20th April, 1818; from Albany W. 158, from
Oswego S. 12, miles; surface undulating; soil of sandy loam, fertile; pine and
oak forests skirt the bank ofthe Oswego river, and the interior produces maple,
beech, bass, ash, butternut, and hemlock, of lofty growth. On the south the town
is drained by Ox creek. Centrally, lies Fish Lake, a beautiful sheet of water,
2 J miles long, by 2 miles wide, which pours its surplus through a creek to the
Oswego river, affording some good mill sites. Philips' village lies centrally in
the town on the Oswego river, Opposite to Fulton, where the " Oswego Falls,"
also, furnish great water power. Here are 1 grist mill, 2 saw mills, 1 tavern,
store, and some 12 dwellings. The Falls are 800 feet wide. Not more than one-
third of the town is settled. ¦
Hannibal, originally taken from Lysander, as part of Onondaga county, .Feb.
28th, 1806; distant from Albany, 168 miles; surface undulating; soil fertile sandy
loam; drained N. by Nine Mile and Eight Mile creeks. Hannibalville and A7ji-
ney's Corners, are post villages. The first, about 11 miles S. of Oswego, contains 1
Baptist and 1 Presbyterian, churches; an academy, 1 grist, and 2 saw, mills, 2 ta
verns, 2 stores, and some 20 dwellings, Kinney's Corners, 6 miles south from Os
wego, is an agricultural vicinage, where are a store, tavern, and several dwel
lings. About three-fourths ofthe town are under improvement. A mile N E.from the
Corners is a salt spring in a marsh, called Burr's Salt Works. The water ofthe
spring is strong, but some difficulty exists in keeping out the fresh water. Salt
has been made from it.
' Hastings, taken from Constantia, 20th April, 1825; N. W. from Albany 150,
from Oswego S. E. 25, and from Pulaski S. 17, miles; surface level; soil moist
sandy loam of good quality, particularly for grass; drained on the north by Salmon
creek, and on the south by some small streams, which empty into Oneida lake.
Central Square is the post village. At the head of Oneida river, are the remains
pf Fort Brewerton, opposite to Brewerton village. Central Square has 1 store, 1
tavern, and about 15 dwellings. About half the lands of the town are in their ori
ginal wilderness state.
Mexico, originally taken from Whitestown, and organised as part of Herkimer
county,, 10th April, 1792; W. from Albany 154, from Oswego E. 19, miles; sur
face undulating; soil gravelly and clay loam, of excellent quality, adapted to
grass and grain, and improving rapidly under cultivation; drained by Salmon and
Sage creeks, and some smaller streams. Mexico, Prattsville, Union Square, and
Colosse, are villages. Bog iron ore is found here.
Mexico, village, on Salmon river, 6 miles from its mouth, 10 S. W. from Pulaski
has a large grist mill, oil mill, carding and cloth dressing mill, 2 tanneries, 2 ta
verns, 3 stores, and about 40 dwellings; 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Bap
tist, churches, and an academy. Prattsville, 9 miles S. W. from Pulaski, is an
agricultural vicinage, at which there area store and 15 dwellings. Union Square
8 miles from Pulaski, at the intersection of the stage roads from Watertown to
Syracuse, and from Utica to Oswego, has a store, tavern, and 17 dwellings.
Four mail stages pass through the village daily. Colosse, on the S. E. part ofthe
town, 10 miles from Pulaski, has 1 Baptist church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and 20
dwellings. New Haven, taken from Mexico, 2d April, 1813; distant from Albany 157
miles; surface undulating; soil sandy loam, very productive in grass; drained N.

616

TOPOGRAPHY.

by Catfish creek and some smaller streams. New Haven, post village, 10 miles
E. from Oswego, and 12 S. W. from Pulaski, contains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Bap
tist churches, 2 taverns, 2 stores, 2 grist, and 1 saw, mills, 1 clothing works,
pocket furnace, and 20 dwellings. Butterfly, in the S. E., is a post office only.
Orwell, taken from Richland, 28th April, 1817; distant from Albany 139, and
from Pulaski E. 9, miles; surface hilly; soil gravelly loam underlaid with slate;
tolerably fertile in grain; drained W. and S- W. by Salmon river, and its tributa
ries. The falls of the river here, are a subject of just curiosity. They are 20
miles from the mouth; the current, 10 rods wide, rushes over rocks for two miles,
and then pitches perpendicularly 107 feet. At high water, the sheet is 250 feetin
width, but in drought does not reach half that extent. The height of the banksim-
mediately above the fall is estimated at 80 feet, below at about 200 feet. At the
foot of the cataract is a deep pool, abounding with salmon, trout, &c. At high
water, the river was once navigable from the falls to the lake, but the navigation
is now impeded by dams erected in 1834-1835. A small portion only of the town
is settled.
Oswego, taken from Hannibal, 20th April, 1818; centrally distant N- from N.
York 312, from Albany 167, from Pulaski S. W..30, miles; surface level; soil
sandy loam of medium quality; watered by Oswego river, and Rice's, and another
small creek, flowing N. W. to Lake Ontario.

Oswego Village, post, and half shire town, port of entry and delivery for Oswego
district, 45 miles W. from Sackett's Harbour, 60 from Kingston, Upper Canada,
60 from the mouth of Genesee river. 140 from the mouth of Niagara river, and
150 from Toronto in a straight line, 38 from Syracuse, on the Erie canal, and
32 from Jordan, lies on both sides of the Oswego river, at its confluence with Lake .
Ontario. Its situation affords great facilities for commerce, and manufactures,
commanding the markets of the lakes and the St. Lawrence rivdr, and ofthe inte-

OSWEGO COUNTY. 617
rior of the state, and the city of New York, by the Oswego and Erie canals.
The great power of the river has, within a few years, been applied to manufac
tures. About three-fourths of a mile from the mouth of the river was a rapid, on which
the state has erected a feeder dam 7\ feet high, for -supplying the canal with wa
ter. On the E. side of the stream, the Oswego Canal Company, pursuant to
agreement with the commonwealth, have a right to the full use of the waters
of the river from the canal, and have, by a subsidiary canal, conducted them
to the village, where they have a fall of 19 feet. Mr. Abraham Varrick
has constructed on tho W. side, under the direction of Mr. John McNair, civil
engineer, (1835,) on the margin of the river, a wall, 18 feet high, forming a canal
along the bank 7 feet deep, 62 feet wide, at an estimated cost of §75,000, giving
also a fall of 19 feet at the village. Upon these canals, are, 6 very large merchant
grist mills, 2 cotton factories, 3 machine factories, mill for sawing and polish
ing stone, tobacco factory, 3 extensive tanneries, 4 saw mills, 1 mill 4 stories,
for sawing cedar stuff, and a large foundry and'iron works. There is yet a vast
power unemployed.
The two portions of the village are connected by a bridge, of wood, 700 feet
long, resting on 8 piers, built by a joint stock company, at the cost of §6000, pay
ing an annual dividend of 80 per cent. The charter of this company has about 6
years to run from 1835.
The harbour here is formed by a pier or mole, of wood, built by the United
States, 30 feet broad, filled with stone, and protected by stone cast into the water
on the lake side, extending in length 1219 feet, with an entrance for vessels 250
feet wide. The water within the pier has a depth of from 10 to 20 feet. The
cost of this work was §93,000.
A marine railway for the repair of vessels, having a length in the water of
300 feet, and on land 200 feet, the latter cut through the sandstone rock 12 feet,
adapted to vessels drawing 13 feet water, has also been constructed here by Mr.
Varrick, by the agency of Mr. McNair, and extensive warehouses are about to be
built by that gentleman and Mr. Dezing.
The village is laid out on streets 100 feet wide, running at right angles. The
court house is of wood on the E. side of the river, where is also the Oswego Ho
tel, a large and commodious building. There are also 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal,
1 Methodist, 1 Baptist, 1 Congregationalist, and 1 Catholic, churches; an incor
porated academy; the Bank of Oswego, capital §150,000, and the Commercial
Bank of Oswego, incorporated in 1836, capital §250,000; 7 taverns, 21 general
stores, 4 storing and forwarding establishments, many small retail stores, 1 book
store, 3 printing offices, 2 weekly newspapers, and about 600 dwellings, chiefly
of frame, but also some very neat ones of brick and stone. There is a light house
on the hill near the fort, on the E. side ofthe river, and another on the pier on the
W. side, of freestone.
Next to Sackett's Harbour, this is the best port on Lake Ontario. The imports
of 1834 ascertained, were — salt, 106,426 barrels — wheat, 487,220 bushels— mer
chandise, 10,436,000 pounds. Exports for Lake Erie, by the Welland canal-
salt, 61,604 barrels— merchandise, 1,742,000 pounds; for New Yoik, by the Os
wego and Erie canal — flour, 95,887 barrels.
In 1835, there arrived 9469 tons of goods, aDd 138,616 barrels salt, by the canal;
4041 tons, and 82,028 barrels salt, went to the upper lakes; and 5428 tons, and
55,596 barrels salt, were distributed on the shores of Lake Ontario: Wheat re
ceived, 624,723 bushels, of which 275,362 bushels came from the upper lakes;
109,381 from the Canada shore, and 239,990 from the American shore, of Lake
Ontario. There were sent eastward by the canal, 137,959 barrels flour, and 76,437
bushels of wheat.
In evidence of the growing value of property in this village, we may observe,
that, at a late sale of state' property, a lot of less- than three acres, next to the har
bour, brought §108,175; and six lots, not upon the harbour, comprehending less
than two acres, §48,000; and in May, 1836, eleven acres, principally wharf lots,
are said to have been sold for one million of dollars.
The following is the report of transactions at the custom house, from the 1st
of April, to the 1st of November, 1835: —
78

618

TOPOGRAPHY.

American vessels entered from foreign countries, - - Tons, 29,871
Do. do. do. ports of the United States, , 58,170
Foreign do. . do. foreign ports, ... 65,208
Total amount of tonnage entries, .... Tons, 153,249
American vessels, cleared for ports of the United States, „- Tons, 62,021
Do. do. do. for foreign ports, - 25,873
Foreign do. do. do. ... 65,016
Tons, 152,910

Total, foreign and domestic entries and clearances, Tons, 306,159
Amount of duties collected, - - - >. . . §35,649 02
Sixty vessels, (including steamboats,) nearly all built within the last two or
three years, are owned at 'this port. The merchants of the place are also largely
interested in tonnage enrolled at other ports. Oswego has, in fact, become the
common port for most of the navigation owned on the southern shore of Lake On
tario, and prosecutes, besides, an immense trade through the Welland canal, with
the ports upon the upper lakes. It is believed that one-fourth of all the transporta
tion, during the year 1835, between the city of New York, and the western states,
passed through the port of Oswego, notwithstanding the imperfect state of the
Welland canal. The augmentation of the business, as compared with the trans
actions of 1834, exhibits the almost incredible increase of more than thirty-five
hundred per cent. >
A portion of this increase must be assigned to extraordinary importations of
wheat from Canada in this year.
The town and forts fell into the hands of the British, during the late war; but
the dishonour continued only 12 hours. The enemy was expelled with the loss of
100 men; whilst 16 only were killed, and 32 wounded, on our part.
The fort here was of great military importance during the colonial wars. A
factory was established by the New York government in 1722; and a fort erected
on the west side of the river, in 1727, and enlarged in 1755; which with Fort
Ontario, built on an eminence on the E. in the latter year, were on the 14th Au
gust, 1756, reduced by the French under Montcalm. This victory left the Mo
hawk Indians wholly exposed to the inroads of their most active enemy. This was
one of the military posts surrendered to the United States by the British, under the
treaty of 1794.
Parish, taken from Mexico, 20th March, 1828; N. W. from Albany 149, and
from Pulaski S. 12, miles; surface undulating; soil sandy loam, of pretty good
quality; drained by Salmon creek and its tributaries. The post office is called
after the town. Not more than one-half the lands of the town are peopled. Bog
iron ore, found here, is worked at Constantia furnace.
1 Palermo, taken from Volney, April 4th, 1832, centrally distant S. E. from Os
wego 14 miles; surface undulating; soil sandy loam; drained N. by Catfish and
S. by Scott's creek. The post village named after the town, contains 2 stores,
a tavern* and 'some 10 or 12 dwellings. Not more than one-fourth ofthe town is
settled. Redfield, taken from Mexico, 14th March, 1800; distant N. W. from Albany,
131, from Pulaski, E. 15, miles; surface gently undulating; soil a dark moist
loam, well adapted to grass; drained southerly and westerly by Salmon river and
its. tributaries. The turnpike road from Rome to Brownville, in Jefferson county,
runs N. W. through the town. The post office named after the town is in the
southern part. The town contains about 50 families, engaged chiefly in the dairy
business. Richland, taken from Williamstown, Feb. 20, 1807; N. W. from Albany 153,
from Oswego N. E. 27, miles; surface moderately uneven and handsomely diver
sified; soil sandy loam, moist, and better adapted to grass than grain; drained by
Deer and Grindstones creeks, and Salmon river, all good mill streams. Richland,
or Pulaski, village, half shire town, incorporated Ja 1833, centrally situated on

OSWEGO COUNTY.

619

Salmon river, 4 mile3 from Its confluence with Lake Ontario, 36 N. of Salina,
60 from Utica. Theriver here affords grpat water power, which is but little used;
there are, however, established, a large merchant grist mill, 2 smaller grist
mills, a large machine shop, a woollen manufactory, cloth dressing and clothing
works, a furnace, several saw mills, and an extensive tannery. Here are the
court house and prison, in one,building of brick, and public offices; a printing of
fice, issuing a weekly paper, 2 taverns, and 80 dwellings. The mouth' of the
river affords a good harbour for vessels of 60 tons burthen.
Sandy Creek, taken from Richland, 24th March, 1825; distant from Albany
159, and from Pulaski 5, miles; surface,' gently, undulating; soil sandy loam,
of pretty good quality; drained by Little Sandy and Deer creeks. The post office
is at Washingtonville, 6 miles N. of Pulaski, where are 1 Presbyterian, 1 Metho
dist, churches, 1 grist, 1 saw, and 1 carding and cloth dressing mills, 2 taverns, 3
stores, and from 25 to 30 dwellings. The greater portion of the town is cleared
and settled, and lands sell here at from 10 to 20 dollars the acre.
Sohroeppel, taken from Volney, 4th April, 1832; surface rolling; soil sandy
loam; distant 21 miles S. E. from Oswego; drained by Scott's and other creeks.
Phoenix is the post village, on the Oswego river and canal, where are a dam for
the canal feeder, 6 feet high, about 500 feet long, 1 tavern, 2 stores, 1 grist, 2 saw,
mills, and 10 or 12 dwellings. About one-third ofthe town is settled.
Scriba, taken from Fredericksburg, the original name of Volney, 5th April,
1811; distant from Albany 167, from Oswego, E. 5, miles, and from Pulaski 22
miles; surface hilly; soil sandy loam of indifferent quality; drained by Black
creek. Oswego village, lies partly in this taWn. Aboutthree-fourths of the town
are taken up, and half of it under improvement.
Volney, taken from Mexico, March 21stj 1806, by the name of Fredericksburg;
since altered; distant from Albany, N. W. 160, and from Oswego S. E..10, miles;
surface undulating; soil sandy loam adapted to grass; drained by Black creek and
some smaller streams. Fulton and Volney, are post villages. Fulton, at the Os
wego Falls, is a thriving place, incorporated 29th April, 1835. The river forms a
cascade here of 12 feet perpendicular height. The rock at the top is continuous
and even, except upon the west side, where it is broken or cut through to the bed
of the river below. About half a mile down the stream is the feeder dam for the
canal, 18 feet high, affording an invaluable water power, from which Fulton is
supplied. There are 1 Methodist and 1 Presbyterian, churches; an academy, 1

•
Females..
Births.
Deaths.
oi \ pus
-a \J0 ¦*
ca
f
TOWNS.
5 h=*i
•p p
cdCD
cd
CO
1620.
1825.
1830.
1835.
al
cdo
t-
cdGP
<
.- ccj cS G
7* P C 0>
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8 P
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b,
CD
P
s
g as 8 p
b,
Albion,
371
(169
945
95 192
18
123
58
211
6
22
17
5 2
Amboy.
669
707
6l! 142
46
102
39
183
6
4
2
4. 6
Boflston,
388
368
30 73
1 1
50
22
100
2
7
11
4 4
Constantia,
767
1355
1193
1967
199 ' 404
79
290
122
450
31
58
70
21 23
Granby,
555
932
14Jy
¦ 2049
195 404
22
293
115
490
24
40
45
11 9
Hannibal,
935
1340
1794
-2204
200 409
14
311
155
543
19
47
43
7 14
Hastings,
1494
isaa
1U5 335! 61 250
103
423
9
37
39
14 15
Mexico,
15S0
2408
2671
3138
250 580 128
403
2)2
074
13
73
54
31 22
New Haven,
890
1218
1410
1551
127 312' 9
210
162
358
11
25
27
18, 10
Orwell,
488
741
501
H79
71 139 2
95
39
175
5
21
16
14,! 7
Oswego,
992
1182
2703
4802
529 943 582
737
357
1002
40 111
115
39 j 43
Palermo,*
1655
1291 3V4 5
240
38
384
3
23
30
4 15
Parish,
908
1295
101. 251
33
1S6
52
316
11
28
35
111 9
Richland,
2728
1989
3733
3461
253: 676
78
443
261
785
18
52
67
13 21
Redfield,
336
295
341
412
561 97
48
40
74
2
3
1
2
Bandy Creek,
1615
JeJj
2100
18(1 433
6
269
170
995
12
37
47
18
10
Schrceppel,*
1191
158
241
23
155
78
282
2
22
17
8
3
Scriba,
741
1071
2073
4180
371
774
234
585
308
843
26
116
80
43
23
Willianistown,
652
986
606
658
60
151
3
81
48
139
6
8
3
4
2
Volney,
1691
2372
3629
2895
289
581
37
'394
275
617
13 55
Si
19
257
12374
17875
27104
38245
3519
7467
1381
5271 2594
9044
257, 788
773
289
Note. Males, 19,782; Females, 18,463; Blacks, 196; Black voters, 11: Paupers, 34; Deaf and nnmh
SO; Blind, 18; Idiots. 28; Lunatios, 10. . '"immo,
* Erected since 1830.
620

TOPOGRAPHY.

TOWNS.

a

ii

to O OS

a cs
•e 2

¦3 >.
83
Mto
V
« B
P M
u P
<
is
<
co P V
«; > »
p p.p
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O
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IS
d Vp
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m
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Ex
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Sp
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aft
Albion,
31028
2784
82000
1560
719
133
90(1
444
. 755
780
1723
225 68
529 40
Amboy,
23332
2112
44000
1700
713
118
872
350
688
1079
1997
123 59
198 60
Boyiston,
24068
1366
20000
150
450
97
672
290
710
787
1662
. 53 74
420 47
Constantia,Granny, '
54906
4237
173000
2533
1216
278
348
1040
1732
2583
2581
480 91
780 49
-.18076
6445
210000
1735
1475
414
2124
1581
1792
2366
2596
566 89
519 96
Hannibal,
-27570
8264
216000
8250
2204
6113
4093
2135
3519
3512
6386
601 82
593 64
Hastings,
27585
5981
175000
825
1731
428
2488
1575
2043
2029
4271
472 80
653 93
Mexico,
26517
12007
23700(1
19920
3-250
816
5273
2719
3713
5152
6720
698 54
5182 07
New Haven,
19217
6867
12600C
2450
1724
424
3305
1382
2640
2484
3601
351 96
720 91
Orwell, *
24766
2215
35000
695
133
791
530
779
1001
1401
94 on
472 50
Oswego,
20779
4227 105700C
349700
1849
706
2618
1634
2567
2403
I860
3780 08
1152 98
Palermo,
25308
6207
13300C
500
1706
329
2821
1211
204(1
2492
4201
357 33
373 95
Parish,
24584
4176
5800C
2755
1166
322
1609
802
1251
1850
2776
174 63
458 65
Redfield,
58728
2060
5500C
2329
844
117
474
367
674
731
622
153 14
653 34
Richland,
33947
11848
3060W
631C
355f
831
6294
2359
4B7.1
6073
7357
838 25
1018 00
SandyCreek,Schroeppel,
23662
9186
158001
1055C
2846
622
5940
1989
3951
3898
7147
454 16
838 43
26196
2434
16200C
670C
SBC
144
910
582
775
922
1282
454 11
515 18
Scriba,
26365
6645
70700(
10850C
ik«:
671
4721
2276
243i
3121
2903
1934 42
813 28
Volney,
29797
7824
29800(
250C
2127
55'
4035
1610
291!
2845
3114
8Q6 01
503 42
Williamst'n,
24487
3299
56000
703
624
214| 786 469
728
969
1064
153 14
653 39
580978
110184
4308O0C
432020
31616|7956|52074|25345
40376 47077165273
12775 25
12852 68
TOWNS.
Albion,Amboy,Boyiston,Constantia,
¦ Granby, Hannibal,Hastings, Mexico, New Haven,
Orwell, Oswego,Palermo,Parish, Redfield, Richland,
Sandy ' 'reek,
Schroeppel,Scriba, Volney,
Williamstown,
Value of product,
Value of material
H Q
15 15
-,, or.
Oi «J
c~.2 © .-
7
7
4
16 16 131215 10 5
18 1010 5
21 13 8
1714 5
105
104 60
187
289276 159
278 146 72
496 136 101 65
429 273 94
324 187 85
¦Me
4363
95
133 26
255336 iifl7274571 312 90
297 354 157 50
604 287 142
425 599 101
O «
S p
p-"
sb
5405
205240 173
470 710
673548946 527
' 205 704 531 3H8 72
1117 724 2559H 716 192
10347
No. of children between 5 and 16 years
of age, 1(1,317.
grist, 3 saw, nulls, clothing works, trip hammer shop, 2 taverns, 5 stores, and
about 100 dwellings. Volney, 14 miles S. E. from Oswego, contains a tavern,
store, and 15 dwellings. Not more than one-third 'ofthe town is settled.
Williamstown, taken from Mexico, March 24th. 1804; distant from Albany
137, from Pulaski, S. E. 37,' and from Oswego, E. 31, miles; surface level; soil
moist and sandy loam adapted to grass; drained W. by a branch of Salmon creek,
S. E. by the west branch of Fish creek, of Oneida county. The post village
having the name of the town, contains a tavern, 1 grist, 1 saw, mills, clothing
works, store, and 8 or 10 dwellings. The greater proportion of the lands is un
settled.
OTSEGO COUNTY.

621

OTSEGO COUNTY, was taken from Montgomery, 16th Feb. 1791; since
much reduced; bounded N. by Oneida, Herkimer and Montgomery; E. by Scho
harie; S.S. E. by Delaware and Schoharie; and W. by Chenango and Madison,
counties: Greatest length, N. and S. about 40: Greatest breadth, E. and W. 35;
miles; area 921 square miles; situate between 42° 20j and 42° 54' N. Lat. and 1°
29' and 2° 17' E. Long. Centrally distant from New York city, N. W. 200, and
from Albany, W. 66, miles.
The surface is diversified by mountains, hills, valleys, and some small cham-

622 TOPOGRAPHY.
paigns, The Kaatsbergs extend along the eastern boundary, upon the border of
Schoharie county, connecting 3 miles N. of Cherry Valley village, with Mount In
dependence; from whose summit, more than 2000 feet above tide, and 1700 above
the valley of the Mohawk, a beautiful prospect opens, in some directions, nearly
100 miles in extent. Tbe Mohawk valley, with a large portion of the northern
part of the state, is spread out as a map, whilst far in the N. E. are dimly seen
the tops of the Green mountains, blending with the horizon. At this elevation, a
narrow table land, the western continuation of the Kaatsbergs, ruos N. W. upon
the confines of this, Montgomery, Herkimer, and Oneida, counties, forming the
watershed, between the Mohawk and Susquehanna rivers. From it, the surface
of this county declines southerly, but is cut into high ridges and deep valleys,
whose general inclination is W. Of S., terminating in the valley of the Susque
hanna river, which after a southerly course of about 20 miles, turns S. W. and
forms the southern boundary of the county, for nearly 25 miles.
Thus, the country on the E. of the Otsego lake and the Susquehanna river, hav
ing an altitude varying from 2000 to 1500 feet, is deeply indented by the Cherry
Valley, Elk and Schenevas, creeks. Cherry Valley is about 16 miles in length,
and varies from one quarter to a mile in breadth, At the village, 'it is 1335 feet,
and at its head, about a mile N., 1418 feet above tide. The valley of Elk creek,
is shorter and more elevated, whilst that of the Schenevas is more depressed.
The valley of the Susquehanna, commencing at the Summit, or Mud, Pond, is
1346 feet above tide. That pond, lying in a ravine, its waters in seasons of flood,
flow also to the Mohawk. The valley includes the Otsego lake, which is 148 feet
below the -pond, and 1188 feet above the ocean; and Schuyler's lake is little less
elevated than the summit pond. Below the Otsego lake, the valley expands, ra
pidly, to the width of several miles, with gentle descent, and waving aspect. Up-
on the west of the lakes and river, the configuration of the country is like that of
the east, presenting about the same elevation, to the north, and descending by simi
lar gradations towards the south; and is also cut by the streams into beautiful roll
ing hills." Between the valley of the Susquehanna and the Unadilla river, the
Otegoaud Butternutt, creeks, divide the surface into three ridges, broken by the
tributaries of the creeks, and having broad valleys along the main streams.
Thus, every river and streamlet has its valleys and its hills, (he latter gaining
elevation as the stream advances.
The county is underlaid with clay slate, over which, is graywacke, slate,
and sandstone, and in the north, limestone, comprehending the various species of
the secondary formation. The limestone here, is from three to five miles broad,
extending to the head of the Otsego lake. In the towns of Cherry Valley and
Springfield, it runs into marble of good quality, and which may, probably, be
found, ajso, in the other northern towns. The marble field explored in Cherry Val
ley, extends along the valley near the village N. and S. more than a mile; its
breadth seems less, being apparently limited by the hills. The rock cdntaius
magnesia, manifest, on the surface of the layers, which are from one to three' feet
thick and horizontal. The fissures are latitudinal and longitudinal; and masses
may be obtained fifty feet in length. The colour is gray and it is susceptible of
high polish. It abounds with animal remains, as zoophiles, madreporites, cornu-
ites. and pectenites. It is a durable fire stone, and is extensively used for
architectural purposes. The graywacke in many parts of the county also supplies
an excellent building material.
The lakes, are Summit, of which we have sufficiently spoken; Canaderaga or
Schuyler's, Otsego and Cromhorn.
Schuyler's lake, is 5 miles long and from one to two wide; surrounded by hills,
and abounding with the fish common to the fresh waters of the state. Its outlet
unites with the Susquehanna, 3 miles below Cooperstown.
Otsego lake, is 9 miles long from N. to S. and from one to three wide. The hills
which encompass it, have an elevation of from 400 to 500 feet above its surface.
The purity of its water and the rich and varied scenery about it, give it the high
est claim to the attention of the lovers of natural beauty. It is replenished by
several small streams and numerous springs, and affords an abundant supply of
salmon trout, pike, pickerel and bass. The last have a remarkable delicacy of fla
vor, and are said to be peculiar, to this lake. Before the course ofthe Susquehan
na was interrnpted by mill dams, shad and herring made their way to the lake. It

OTSEGO COUNTY.

623

is usually assigned as the source of the Susquehanna river. Mr. Cooper's ro
mance "The Pioneers," has made this lake widely known.
Cromhorn pond, on Cromhorn mountain, in the town of Maryland, is among the
most elevated waters of the state. Its circumference is three miles, and the thick
dark groves which environ it, give a sombre shade to its crystal waters.
We have described the Susquehanna riverat page 37. We may remark here,
however, that the length of its course, in this county, following its meanderings,
is about 45 miles; and that, though lively, it is not a rapid stream. Its fall, in that
distance, does not, probably, much exceed five feet to the mile. This circum
stance renders it highly beneficial for navigation.
The Unadilla, a considerable tributary of the Susquehanna, rises in the town of
Bridgewater, Oneida county, near the source of the Sauquoit, of the Mohawk,
and runs S. nearly 50 miles, to its recipient at the S. W. point of this county. It
is a fine stream, bounded by fertile flats, receiving Wharton's creek, in Pittsfield
and Butternutts, on the N. W. line of Unadilla; the former having a course of 20,
and the latter of 30, miles.
Portions of this county were settled at an early day. In 1738 a patent for
8000 acres of land lying 10 miles south of the Mohawk river, and 52 west from
Albany, was granted by George Clark, Lt. Governor, to John Lindesay, Jacob
Roseboom, Lendert Gansevoort, and Lybrant Van Schaick.
Mr. Lindesay, having obtained an assignment from the other patentees to him
self and Governor Clark, in 1739, caused the patent to be surveyed and subdivided
into lots; choosing for himself, the farm afterwards successively 'Owned by Mr.
John Wells and Judge Hudson, and gave it the name of Lindesay's Bush. In
the following summer, he left New York with his family, consisting of his wife
and father-in-law, Mr. Congreve, a Lieutenant in the British army, and a few do
mestics, and settled on his farm. He was a Scottish gentleman of some fortune
and distinction, having held several offices under government, and anticipated
much pleasure from a residence in a country whose features reminded him of the
wild scenery of his native land.
This was then a favorite hunting ground of the Mohawks, and Mr. L. as all the
early settlers, found it useful to cultivate their friendship; and he soon received an
important service from their gratitude. His farm was 15 miles from any other
settlement, and in the winter of 1740, he had failed to lay in a sufficient stock of
provisions. The snow fell to great depth; the paths were choaked, communica
tion with the settlers on the Mohawk was stopped, and his family were famishing.
At a most fortunate moment, an Indian, on snow shoes, came to the house, and
learning their situation, undertook to relieve it. He brought them provisions on
his back from the Mohawk and continued his kind offices during the remainder of
the Winter; thus preserving the lives of the first inhabitants of the county.
At New York, Mr. Lindesay had formed an acquaintance With the Rev. Samuel
Dunlop, whom he induced by the offer of a tract of several hundred acres to set
tle here, himself, and to persuade some of his friends to accompany him. Mr.
Dunlop was au Irishman, but had been educated in Scotland. Several of his
countrymen were settled at Londonderry, in New Hampshire, whom he influenced
to remove; and in 1741, David Ramsey, William Gallt, James Campbell, William
Dickson and one or two others with their families, in all, about 30 persons, pur
chased farms and immediately commenced their improvement. They had emi
grated from the north of Ireland several years anterior to their removal hither  .
some of them were originally from Scotland, and they were ranked with the Scotch
Irish. Soon after the arrival of these settlers, measures were taken for the erection of
a grist and saw mill, and a building for a schoolhouse and church. Thus before
the ground Would yield them bread, provision was made for moral culture. Mr:
Dunlop went to Ireland to fulfil a marriage pledge, and immediately returned with
his wife. A log house had been erected to the north of Mr. Lindesay's, on the
declivity of the little hill on which his house was situated where Mr. D. resided.
Most of the adult settlers were members of the church. The clergyman received
ten shillings on the hundred acres of land; a mere pittance, by reason of the small
number of inhabitants; but he lived frugally, and had .presents of provisions from
his flock, which, with the avails of his own farm, yielded him a competent sup
port. V

624 TOPOGRAPHY.
During the ten subsequent years, not more than four families came to the set
tlement. Among them was Mr. John Wells, grandfather of the late John Wells,
of New York'city. He also was an Irishman, and came in 1743; and in '44, pur
chased the farm which Mr. Lindesay had chosen for himself.
Mr. Lindesay was not qualified for the enterprise he had engaged in; and after
expending his property, was compelled to abandon it. His father-in-law resigned
his commission in his favor, and entering the army he served for several years, and
died in New York, childless. The amiable disposition and great integrity of Mr.
Wells, rendered him the arbiter ofthe little colony; and he afterwards became the
first justice of the peace of the town, and one of the judges of Tryon county, —
Mr. Dunlop, having received a classical education, opened a school for boys, who
came from the settlements on the Mohawk, from Schenectady and Albany. This
was the first grammar school in the state, west of Albany. The scholars often
recited their lessons as they followed their instructor in his usual avocations up
on his farm. Several individuals along the Mohawk, who became conspicuous in
the revolution, thus received the rudiments of their education.
The tranquillity of the inhabitants of this, as of the other frontier settlements,
was disturbed by the colonial contests with France, and many of them were en
gaged in the northern combats under Johnson, Webb, Monroe and other command
ers; still the population increased and small settlements were made in various di
rections around Cherry Valley. A family of Harpers, afterwards distinguished for
courage and ardent attachment to the revolutionary cause, removed from Cherry
Valley to Harpersfield, in the new county of Delaware. The Rev. William John
stone planted a flourishing little colony on the E. side ofthe Susquehanna, be
low the forks ofthe Unadilla, and several families were scattered through Spring
field, Middlefield, then called New-town-Martin, and Laurens and Otego, called
Old England district. The population of Cherry Valley, however, was short of
three hundred and the wliole county of Tryon, when formed, in 1772, including all
the state, west of a line running nearly through the centre of Schoharie, amounted
to a few thousand only.*
Portions of the county, upon the N. are productive of wheat, and winter grain
may be profitably grown, upon the slate and graywacke lands; but altogether, the
county must be considered as a grazing one; and in this character it is inferior to
none in the state. Many cattle are fed and large quantities of wool grown and
the culture of sheep rapidly extends. The largest quantity and best quality of
wool are produced in the town of Exeter. In the towns of Otsego, Hartwick
and Springfield, hops form an important crop.
As will be seen, from our account of the towns and villages, and from the table
annexed, much attention is given to manufactures, and the cotton and woollen
branches have taken deep root. The preparation of lumber for market is still an
important occupation of many of the inhabitants; and large quantities of oak,
white pine, hemlock, beech and maple are sent to market by the Susquehanna and
its tributaries.
Far the larger proportion of the inhabitants are derived from New England.
The following is a schedule of the cotton manufactories in the county.
COTTON MILLS. Spindles.
Phoenix Co. Middlefield, 2000
Cocketts's, Hartwicke, 1600
Oakesville factory and printing, Otsego, 2000
Printing about 1 million of yards per annum.
Union factory, Hartwick, 2700
Hope do. Otsego, 2500
Butternut do. Butternuts, 2200
Hargrave do. Butternuts, 3000
Arkwrightdo Pittsfield, 3350
Wharton do. Burling, 700, spinning yarn only.
WOOLLEN FACTORIES.
One at Butternuts, and 1 at Milfbrd.
The county is divided into 22 towns.
*For the historical memoranda we have used here and in the article on Montgomery
county, we are indebted to the valuable annals of Tryon county, by Wm,W. Campbell, Esq.

Looms.

Cloth— Yards.

50

300,000

35

260,000

40

300,000

70

540,000

65

500,000

55

430,000

75

460,000

80

500,000

OTSEGO COUNTY.

625

Burlington, taken from Otsego, April 10th, 1792, distant from Albany, W.
78, and from Cooperstown 12 miles ; surface generally arable ; soil productive ;
sandy loam ; drained S. by Butternuts and Otego creeks ; grazing and wool grow
ing are the chief objects of the farmers. The post villages are; Burlington, 11
miles from Cooperstown, containing a Presbyterian church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and
15 dwellings; Burlington Flats, 14 miles from Cooperstown, on Wharton's creek ;
having a Presbyterian church, a cotton factory, 1 grist and 1 saw mills, 2 stores, 1
tavern and 25 dwellings; West Burlington, 14 miles from Cooperstown, which
has 1 Baptist church, some mills, 2 stores, 1 tavern and 20 dwellings. There are
also in the town, 1 Union and 1 Quaker churches.
Butternuts, taken from Unadilla, 5th Feb. 1796; W.from Albany, 87, S. W.
from Cooperstown, 25, miles; surface hilly; soil red shale on slate and sand stone,
the latter of which is adapted to architectural purposes; drained by the Unadilla
and Butternuts creeks. Louisville or Butternuts and- Gilbertsville are post vil
lages; at the former, are an Episcopal church, grist mill, 2 taverns, 3 stores and
30 dwellings; the latter, 30 miles from Cooperstown, has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Me
thodist, 1 Baptist churches, 1 tavern, 4 stores and 20 dwellings. Wharton Manor,
(47,000 acres,) granted Dec. 23d, 1769, to 47 associates, divided into several
tracts, called Wharton's manor, Wharton creek, Gratzburg or Jews, tract, and Hil-
liugton, lies in Butternuts, Burlington and Pittsfield.
Cherry Valley, so called by the first settlers, from its abundance of wild
cherry trees; taken from Canajoharie, 16 Feb. 1791; surface hilly; yet generally
arable; with fertile valleys; soil argillaceous and calcareous mould; drained S. by
Cherry valley creek, which by a course of 18 miles, unites with the Susquehanna,
and N. E. by a branch of Bowman's creek, running to the Mohawk. This valley
suffered greatly 11th Nov. 1778, from the cruelties perpetrated "by a party of In
dians and tories under Joseph Brandt, and the greater savage Walter Butler.
Thirty of the inhabitants were massacred, and all the buildings conflagrated.
Cherry Valley, post village, incorporated June 8th, 1812, is situated upon the creek,
where five roads centre, among which are the first, second and third great West
ern turnpikes, 13 miles S. W. from the Erie canal at Canajoharie village, 53 W.
N. W. from Albany, and 13 N. E. from Cooperstown, contains- a bank, incor
porated 29th Aprtt, 1829, with a capital, of $120,000; an academy, incorporated;
a Lancaster school; a printing office, issuing the Cherry Valley Gazette; 1 Epis
copal, f Presbyterian and 1 Methodist churches, 1 grist and 1 carding and cloth
dressing mills, 2 taverns, 6 stores and 125 dwellings, many of which are neat and
commodious. There is a post office in the town called South valley.
Decatur, taken from Worcester, 25th March, 1808; distant from Albany, 64,
from Cooperstown, S. E. 12 miles; surface high and hilly; soil sandy loam; drain
ed W. by Elk creek, S. by Oak and Parker's creeks. The only post office bears
the name of the town.
Edmeston, named after an extensive land holder, taken from Burlington, 1st
April, 1808; from Albany 84 miles; surface hilly; soil sandy loam; drained by the
Unadilla river and Wharton's creek. Edmeston, West Edmeston, are small post
villages; and there is another village on the Western turnpike and Unadilla river.
.Edmeston manor is a post office. Edmeston, village, has a grist mill, tavern, 1
store and 6 or 8 dwellings. West Edmeston, 20 miles from Cooperstown, has a
grist mill, saw mill, store and 8 or 10 dwellings. At the village on the river there
is a store, tavern, grist and saw mill, and 13 dwellings,
Exeter, taken from Richfield, 25th March, 1799; irom Albany W. 73, and from
Cooperstown, N. W. 10 miles; surface high and hilly; soil, calcareous mould. The
country is celebrated for its dairy, and its great product in wool, some farmers re
ceiving $2,000 a year from this source; drained S. by Butternuts and Wharton's
creeks, which have their sources in the town. Le Roy and Exeter are post vil
lages. Le Roy, at the outlet of the Canaderaga lake, 10 miles from Cooperstown
has 2 stores, 1 tavern and 12 dwellings. The post office is called Schuyler's lake.'
Exeter, 12 miles from Cooperstown, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 store, and 10 or
12 dwellings.
Hartwick, taken from Otsego, 30th March, 1802; distant from Albany, W. 70
and from Cooperstown, S. W. 5 miles; surface hilly, but almost universally ara
ble; soil sandy loam, fertile in the valleys; drained on the E. by Oak creek and
the Susquehanna river, and S. W. by Otego creek. The Hartwick Lutheran The-
79

626 TOPOGRAPHY.
ological and Classical Seminary is pleasantly situated on the bank of the river,
near which is a post office and a number of dwellings. West Hartwick and Todds-
ville are villages. West Hartwick, 9 miles from Cooperstown, contains 1 Baptist
church, 1 tavern, 1 grist, 1 saw,and 1 oil, mills, 4 stores, and^aboutSS dwellings.
Toddsville, 3 miles W. of Cooperstown, has the Union cotton factory, 1 grist, 1
saw, and 1 paper, mills, 2 stores, 1 tavern, 30 dwellings. Cockett's cotton factory
is also in the town. There is a post office having the name ofthe town.
Laurens, taken from Otego, 2d April, 1810; from Albany, W. 78 miles; surface
high and hilly; soil of fertile sandy loam, well cultivated; drained by Otego creek
and its branches; an elevated ridge on the east is covered with valuable timber, as
pine, oak, chesnut. &c. A mineral spring has attracted some attention. Laurens-
ville, incorporated 22d April, 1834, the post town, 18 miles from Cooperstown,
upon the creek, contains 1 Presbyterian church, 1 grist mill, 2 taverns, 5 stores,
from 30 to 40 dwellings. Jackson, alsp, on the creek, 14 miles from Coopers
town, has a store, tavern, and 15 dwellings. The inhabitants of the town are chiefly
engaged in grazing cattle, sheep, and in the dairy business.
Maryland, taken from Worcester, 25th March, 1808; W. from Albany 66
miles; surface hilly, with fertile valleys; soil of sandy loam. The Cromhorn
mountain is wild and barren, yet chiefly settled. The Schenevas creek crosses the
town S. W. to the Susquehanna, having a course from Worcester of about 15
miles, and receiving its chief tributary, Elk creek, from the north; which, rising in
Decatur, flows through Westford, to its recipient in the centre of Maryland. Mary-
land and> Jacksoabarough are post villages. The former, 14 miles from Coopers
town, has 1 Presbyterian church, grist and saw mill, I tavern, 2 stores, and 6 or
8 dwellings. The latter has 1 tavern, 2 stores, and 12 or 14 dwellings.
Middlefield, taken from Cherry valley, 3d March, 1797; from Albany, W. 63
miles; surface hilly; soil of sandy calcareous loam. Otsego lake extends 6 miles
along the western boundary, sending forth the Susquehanna, which, at the S.
point of the town receives the Cherry valley creek, running for about nine miles
near the eastern boundary. Middlefield, Middlefield Centre, and Phoenix are the
post villages. The county poor house is in this town. Middlefield, or Clarksvile,
5 miles from Cooperstown, has 1 Baptist and 1 Methodist churches, grist and saw
mill, 2 taverns, 4 stores, and 25 dwellings.* Middlefield Centre, 7 miles from
Cooperstown, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 tavern, 1 store, and 12 or 15 dwell
ings. Phoenix, 3 miles S. from Cooperstown on the Susquehanna, has 1 cotton
factory, 1 grist, 1 saw and 1 oil mills, 1 tavern, 1 store, and about 20 dwellings.
Milford, taken from Unadilla, by the name of Suffrage, 5th February, 1796;
name changed April 8th, 1800; from Albany W. 76 miles; surface hilly, and in
places broken; the valleys, however, have a soil of rich strong loam; along the
streams are some narrow flats of alluvion. Upon the N. E. boundary the Susque
hanna river and Cherry Valley creek unite, and run by a S. W. course through the
town. Milford and Portland, or Milford Centre, are post villages, and there is a
post office at the S. E. angle called Collinsville. Milford, upon the river, 8
miles below Cooperstown, contains 1 Presbyterian church, 4 taverns, 2 stores, an
extensive tannery, clothing works, and from 35 to 40 dwellings. Portland, 14
miles from Cooperstown, has 1 Baptist church, 1 tavern, grist and saw mills,
woollen factory, tannery, 2 stores, and 15 dwellings.
New Lisbon, taken from Pittsfield, 7th April, 1806; from Albany W. 76 miles;
surface hilly, with broad valleys on the E. and W.; in the one flowing the Otego,
and in the other the Butternuts creek. The hills are either arable, or afford good
pasturage; soil, generally, fertile sandy loam; thickly settled and well culti
vated. Garretsville and Nobleville are post villages. The post office called
after the town is at the latter, and there is another post office in the S. E. angle at
Mount Vision. Garretsville, 16 miles from Cooperstown, contains a store, taveiG,
and about a dozen dwellings. Nobleville, 18 miles S. W. from Cooperstown, has
1 grist mill, 1 store, tavern, and 12 or 15 dwellings. The inhabitants are chiefly
employed in the dairy and grazing business.
Oneonta, formerly Otego, taken from Unadilla, February 5th, 1796; name
changed 17th April, 1830; from Albany S. W. 80 miles; surface generally hilly
and broken, but with extensive and fertile flats upon the river, and some rich val
leys well timbered, and its lumber, in large quantities, seeks a market by the Sus
quehanna, which flows S. W. across the southern section, receiving the Otego

OTSEGO COUNTY.

627

creek and other tributaries from the north. The post village of Oneonta,, 22 miles
S. from Cooperstown, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Baptist churches, 3 taverns, 1
grist, 1 saw, mills, clothing works, 3 stores, and 50 dwellings. There is a bridge
here over the river called McDaniel's bridge.
Otego, formerly Huntsville; name changed 17th April, 1830; taken from Una
dilla and Franklin, 12th April, 1822; centrally distant S. W. from Albany 86,
from Cooperstown 25, miles; surface hilly, but with extensive flats along the
Susquehanna river, which crosses the t'own in the south, and receives from it the
Otsdawa creek. The soil is a sandy loam, generally, of good quality, especially
in the vales, and is heavily timbered. The post village of Otego, on the river, 31
miles from Cooperstown, has 3 taverns, 3 stores, 1 Episcopal, 1 Baptist, and 1
Presbyterian, churches, and about 35 dwellings. Otsdawa is the name of a post
office. Otsego, originally organised as part of Montgomery county, 7th March, 1788;
since altered; surface hilly, but arable; soil clay, gravelly, and sandy loam; adapt
ed to grain and grass, but better to the latter; watered by small streams flowing
respectively to Schuyler's and Otsego lakes, and by Oak creek, a fine mill stream,
popring the flood of the former lake across the town to the Susquehanna river.
Cooperstown and Oaksville are post villages.
Cooperstown, the shire town, distant from New York by way of Catskill 200,
of Albany 211;, from Albany 66, and from Utica S. E. 36, miles, lies at the south
end of Otsego lake, at the head ofthe Susquehanna river, containing 1 Episcopal,
1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Universalist, and 1 Baptist, churches; a bank, with
a capital of 8100,000; 7 taverns, including 2 large and commodious hotels; 7 dry
goods, 1 book, 2 apothecaries, and 4 grocery, stores; 1 grist and 1 saw, mills; 1
furnace for castings, 2 tanneries, 6 law offices, 4 physicians; 3 printing offices, 2
issuing weekly papers, the third engaged in book printing and stereotyping, em
ploying 7 presses and 40 hands; and 220 dwellings, chiefly of brick and stone,
most of them neat, and some of them elegant. From the village, there is a fine
view ofthe lake for its whole extent, and of the mansion of Mr. Clarke at its head.
The Susquehanna, at the outlet of the lake, is a lively stream, some 40 or 50 feet
broad. The length of the river, from this point to the head of Chesapeake bay, is
about 400 miles. '
Oaksville, 4 miles N. W. of Cooperstown, upon Oak creek, has a cotton factory,
and printing works, printing about 1 million yards cloth annually, around which
are some 15 or 20 dwellings for the work people. Hope Cotton Works are on
the same stream, 3 miles south of Cooperstown, where are also a saw mill, store,
and 20 dwellings.
Pittsfield, taken from Burlington, 24th March, 1797; from Albany W. 81,
and from Cooperstown S. W. 18, miles; surface hilly, with very fertile valleys,
having a soil of sandy loam; well watered with springs and brooks, and drained
by the Unadilla and its tributary, Wharton's creek. The post office has the name
of the town, around which are a tavern, store, and a few dwellings. The town is
a grazing one, and thinly populated.
Plainfield, taken from Richfield, 25th March, 1799; from Albany N. W. 77
miles; surface on the south hilly, on the north undulating; soil sandy and calca
reous loam, every where fertile, but highly so in the valleys; drained S. and W.
by tributaries of the Unadilla. The town is divided into large farms, employed
in grazing and the culture of sheep. Plainfield and Lloydsville are post villages.
Plainfield, on Unadilla Forks, 16 miles N. W. from Cooperstown, has 1 Presby
terian church, 1 store, 1 tavern, and within a mile about 25 dwellings. Lloydsville,
also 16 miles from Cooperstown, has 1 tavern, 1 store, and 15 dwellings. The
post office here has the name of the town.
Richfield, taken from Otsego, 10th April, 1792; since altered; from Albany
N. W. 72 miles; surface high, and somewhat hilly, or rolling; soil sandy and
calcareous loam, of excellent quality, well cultivated, and well watered, with
springs and brooks; settled in 1791, by emigrants from New England, with a few
Dutch from the Mohawk. Schuyler's lake forms the E. boundary. Canade-
raga Springs, Brighton, and Monticello, are villages; at the first two are post of
fices. Canaderaga contains some sulphur springs, in repute, and much frequent
ed; the East Richfield post office; 3 taverns, 3 stores, grist and saw mill and
from 25 to 30 dwellings, 1 Presbyterian and one other church. The water of the

628 TOPOGRAPHY.
mineral spring issues from a gentle eminence, depositing in its course a whitish
substance. It emits a strong odour, not unlike that of bilge water; when drank,
it occasions a sense of fulness and slight eructations, and operates as a mild pur
gative, exciting a moderate appetite. There are respectable accommodations for
visitants here. Brighton, 17 miles from Cooperstown, has 1 Episcopal church
and several dwellings. Monticello, 16 miles from Cooperstown, has the Richfield
pbst office, 1 church-, 1 tavern, 3 stores, and about 25 dwellings.
„ Springfield, so called from a large deep spring; taken from Cherry Valley, 3d
March, 1797; from Albany W. 58 miles; surface hilly, embracing the highest
land of the county, and the Otsquake Hill dividing the waters of the Mohawk
from those of the Susquehanna; soil fertile, especially in the valleys, resting on
lime chiefly, running into marble of good quality. Summit Pond, at the south
foot ofthe hill, sends forth a durable mill stream to the Otsego lake, 2 miles of
the north end of which are in the town. This town was settled by the Dutch pre
viously to the revolution, but is now possessed chiefly by emigrants from New
England and their descendants. Springfield, East Springfield, and Salt Spring
ville, are post villages. Springfield, 12 miles N. E. from Cooperstown, has a
Baptist churcn, a tavern, 3 stores, and about 20 dwellings. East Springfield, 10
miles from Cooperstown, has 2 Presbyterian churches, one of which is Scotch, 1
Methodist church, 1 grist, 1 saw, and 1 clover, mills, 2 taverns, 2 stores, and 15
dwellings. Salt Springville, partly in this and paTtly in Montgomery cOunty, 14
miles from Cooperstown, contains a store, tavern, and about a dozen dwellings.
It has its name from a small brine spring near it, which, though weak, afforded
salt during the revolutionary war. The spring merits attention on account of its
distance and height from the region in which the great salt springs are found in
this state. Halkville, upon the outlet of Summit lake, a mile above the Otsego
lake, contains a grist and clover mill, 2 stores, and about a dozen dwellings. At
the head of the latter lake, most beautifully situated, are the magnificent mansion
and grounds of Mr. George Clarke, an extensive land owner here, the heir and
lineal descendant, we believe, of Lt. Gov. Clarke. The mansion, perhaps the no
blest private dwelling of the state, is built of Cherry Valley marble, at an expense
said to exceed $50,000. '
The Chyle is a noted 'limestone sink in this town, about 2 miles W. from the
springs, on the summit of the limestone formation. The country around it is
beautifully diversified, with moderate swells and ridges, whilst in the back
ground, to the south, the Otsego hills rise into grandeur. The sink is oval in
form, measuring about 80 yards in circuit, sloping inwardly and near 12 feet
deep. After heavy rains, or thaws, this basin is filled with water, discharged
slowly by the small orifices below, which give, however, to the contents a gyra
tory motion. The issue from the subterranous passage is unknown.
Unadilla, taken from Otsego, 10th April,, 1792; from Albany W. 100, and
from Cooperstown S. W. 40 miles; surface hilly and broken, but on the streams
which bound it, and their tributaries, of which there are several flowing from the
town, there are tracts of rich alluvion; and the uplands, having a soil of fertile
loam, afford abundance of grass. Sandstone quarried here is used for grindstones.
Much lumber has been, and some is still, sent to market by the Susquehanna.
Unadilla, and Unadilla Centre, are post villages. Unadilla, pleasantly situate qn
the Susquehanna river, contains an Episcopal church, 2 handsome, covered toll
bridges, 250 feet long, resting on three arches, built by a chartered company, 2
taverns, 6 stores, and within a mile and a half about 50 dwellings. Unadilla Cen
tre has a store and 8 or 10 dwellings.
Westford, taken from Worcester, March 25th, 1808; from Albany, W. 56,
from Cooperstown, E. S. E. 9, miles; surface hilly, but the uplands afford good
pasturage and abundance of hay, whilst the valleys have deep, rich, warm, sandy
loam adapted to grain; well watered with springs and brooks, and drained cen
trally by Elk creek, a branch of Scheneva's creek, and by Cherry Valley creek.
The forest contains much maple, from which large quantities of sugar are made,
formerly adequate to the domestic consumption. Westford and Westville, are post
villages. Westfo'd, 10 miles from Cooperstown, has 1 Presbyterian church,
2 stores, 1 tavern, and about 20 dwellings. Westville, 6 miles from Cooperstown,
has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 grist mill, 1 store, 1 tavern, and 20 dwellings, on the
Cherry Valley creek, partly in Middlefield.

OTSEGO COUNTY.

629

Worcester, taken from Cherry Valley, 3d March, 1797; since altered; from
Albany, W. 56, and from Cooperstown 15, miles; -surface hilly, but generally
arable with fertile valleys and flats;1 soil red sandy loam, adapted to grain and
grass; drained on the south by a branch of Charlotte river, which flows centrally
to its recipient on the south border, and westerly by Scheneva's creek. Worces
ter and East Worcester, are post villages; the one, 16 miles from Cooperstown, has
1 Presbyterian, and 1 Baptist, churches; 2 taverns, 2 stores, and 30 dwellings; the
other, 20 miles from Cooperstown, has 2 taverns, '2 stores, 1 Baptist church, and
about 30 dwellings. South Worcester is the name of a third post office.

Females.
COCD
Births.
Deaths.
TOWNS.
p
•p G
i so
£us
p ,-
ts p
p p
'C *>
r/i
oi
C«
09UP
COG
g p
ti R
J3{D FU
.£
cdCD
p
« 8
a"b*
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
s
o
>
<
PUS
sr
Si
eg '
CO
s
E
£
g
Burlington,
2457
2281
2459
2227
225
496
52
280
215
450
15
33
> 39
8
6
Butternuts,
3601
3766
3991
4323
371
851
!13
467
479
916
49
57
57
26
35
Cherry Valley,
3684
3874
4098
3876
323
759
83
438
374
890
,21
72
66
28
22
Decatur,
908
1061
1110
975
H4
19fl
123
59
222
9
22
15
7
11
Edmeston,
1841
1960
2087
2044
224
46F
2
249
1X1
436
21
42
40
8
7
Exeter,
1430
1588
1690
1462
126
312
8
181
133
290
9
29
22
17
10
Hartwick,
2579
2625
2772
2586,
2011
542
23
280
337
504
36
45
41
27
19
Laurens,
2074
2148
2231
2235
201
474
25
276
IMP
490
25
34
24
11
11
Maryland, Middlefield,
1439
1749
1834
2015
165
421
SI
254
126
477 13
52
42
20
IB
2579
2832
3323
2163
27!)
646
44
376
286
704 10
42
59
42
42
Milford,
2505
2842
3025
2112
20D
461
F
277
16fi
416 12
44
29
10
6
New Lisbon,
2221
2085
2232
200E
154
411
25
253
209
437 20
37
31
11
9
Oneonta,
?1031
1759
1762
127
34f
2
228
163
411 10
38
33
18
ti
Otego,
1416
1527
1148
212!
156
436
4
257
171
473 12
29
28
5
6
Otsego,
4186
3917
43Q!
4276
526
912
50
474
569
864 24
71
54
24
19
Pittsfield,
830
90S
1005
i3ie
102
237
14
159
153
317 13
21
24
H
SI
Plainfield,
1611
1636
1626
1531
160
325
6
189
12!)
324 1
24
35
7
5
Richfield,
1772
1893
1752
167;
177
392
16
194
216
300 18
29
21
13
11
Springfield,Unadilla,
2065
5572
2816
2548
221-
545
34
3211
266
540 28
35
43
17
14
2194
1905
23 1;
2415
171)
4«t
7
296
153
530, 17
47
4$
31
15
WeBtford,
1526
I486
1645
154;
U3
noi
7
20(1
mi
3471 11
32
as
11
9
Worcester,
1938
2210
2093
2210
181
417
li 263
153
516' 31
- 33
40
16
15
44856
47898
51372
50428
4510
10434 534 '6034
4857
10854 395
868
811
365
303
Note— Males, 24,954; Females, 25,474; Paupers, 94: Blacks, 240;' Black voters, 4; Deaf and Dumb,
30: Blind, 18; Idiots, 68; Lunatics, 37, * Say Huntsville.
TOWNS.
a
S
¦8"r1
CB 13
> p
¦p 3
£2 .
CO
- s.
%
MA>,
s
' 3
O
CO
to f>
2%
- >
»o2 & »
Sop
<3
¦ DO,
• »S
co „, ™
CO P *£
<3 P
g ao
O
CdM
O
m
P. a-1 .
a to
p
s
%'VI
IP p
lo b,
2&
rj —
1
Burlington,
28370
18272
246063
15326
3530
766
15050
2306
3909
8158
£34 36!
485 05
Butternuts,
49129
27338
369546
92540
HHB8
955
10484
2406
5355
8065
718 31
875 56
Cherry Valley,
42738
29017
381095
158469
4445
1504
10566
3060
5795
12172
540 86
1022 23
Decatur,
13011
7659
83100
60901
1728
355
2894
902
2218
4954
143 27"
169 10
Edmeston,
27491
14409
169407
52572
3488
759
W099
1961
4380
9938
311 95
420 58
Exeter,
18134
12368
168888
33210
1820
437
20504
10IR
2078
4142
238 15
382 91
Hartwick,
25168
16653
290771
77827
3311
778
11914
1920
3924
7525
590 92
698 38
Laurens,
25316
16675
203926
26850
3707
771
7929
3282
3861
7695
296 43
437 25
Maryland,
29662
13161
125032
17633
2533
650
4842
1757
3397
8805
242 34
270 31
Middlefield,
33699
21264
287696
30870
•ma
10(19
7150
2071
5119
7544
637 16
603 58
Milford,
28665
13069
101353
26130
2676
623
6511
1527
2517
10128
305 63
412 06
New Lisbon,
26397
16616
182737
22760
3918
688
11472
1840
4193
8815
309 33
389 35
Oneonta,
19820
9571
100522
19707
206(1
553
3929
1761
3136
5171
353 68
227 80
Otego,
26084
13931
128085
14073
3096
680
5678 2032
3851
6587
307 74
269 34
Otsego,
30968
20982
530610
223269
3345
1091
15378
2086
4590
6020
826 10
1428 39
Pittsfield,
20220
6582
119354
31271
1488
332
3615
997
1803
3217
309 23
285 33
Plainfield,
17325
11090
194793
18050
2018
526
13832
1457
2756
5883
179 51
395 16
Richfield,
18550
14331
247305
42807
1928
570
22853
1363
249S
2613
221 84
549 68
Springfield,Unadilla,
26591
19433
314355
50225
2701
1025
10733
1788
4507
6898
475 87
690 70
21287
13327
151622
17895
2443
587
7831
157f
4985
5536
423 31
321 18
Westford,
20439
11063
150510
24160
2446
567
7149
155S
2961
5744
175 60
330 94
Worcester,
27237
14668
151437
7980
3572
742
5736
1716
4460
9739
318 53
302 05
589300
341479
4788285
1009714
63307
15968
216149
40388
82300
155354
8659 62
10967 11
Note— For want of room, the column of unfulled cloths is omitted. Total for county, 109,366 yds.
630

TOPOGRAPHY.

1

IB 1

CO

I i .1
>•
goSf'-s
=
P
PJO
TOWNS.
oia
tn
8i
cS
¦Si-
Zi a
a1- O CJ
S <2
tig c9 c
3 «
e s
3)s
E
cd
JO O.
jstilleries. sheries. ope
fact. ying&Prin lovermills. aper mills. anneries. reweries. dumber of :hool
distr
e
.s§
*C0 s s >.
p
2CO
*oJO u
o 3
tn 9
O
b, 2
0,0
S
(xiPsaaniH m
a. v
E-(
tn
Burlington,
3
1
2 2 3 13
234
608
859
Butternuts,
6
17
1
3
2
2
12 6 30
406
991
1380
Cherry Valley,
5
26
1
1
2 13 3 23
415
628
1209
Decatur,
1
5
1
1 7
110
166
369
Edmeston,
3
15
3
2
2 4 17
• 458
. 287
771
Exeter,
1
9
2
3
4 9
186
201
529
Hartwick,
2
12
1
3
2
2
1
1
12 3 15
306
670
845
Laurens,
6
17
4
4
112 16
232
468
886
Maryland,
3
18
2
3
1
1 3 2 13
190
352
675
Middlefield,
4
16
1
3
3
1
1
2 5 20
341
519
1105
Milford,
4
26
3
3
1
3 16
204
316
768
New Lisbon,
3
5
2
2
1
1
2 14
231
580
773
Oneonta,
2
13
1
1
1
2 2 9
190
341
549
Otego,
2
14
4
2
2 15
230
510
798
Otsego,
6
12
1
1
2
2
1 1 1 1 1 22
456
884
1104
Pittsfield,
12
1
8
109
223
353
Plainfield,
1
4
1
1
3
1
1 2 9
169
387
5C0
Richfield,
2
6
1
1
1 3 12
182
556
607
Springfield,
4
10
4
4
1 2
1 3 2 14
293
605
784
Unadilla,
3
21
1
1
1 1 16
244
623
822
Westford,
3
5
2
2
1 1 8
174
356
550
Worcester,
4
70
13
285 oct
4
co
2
46
g?
2
45 —
10
¦O C
2 6
. 3
5|
o ¦
Ui
1 1 16
216
391
876
15 15 1 1 12 1 48 1 322
5596
10662
17172
Value of product,
r-ClOOOOMO ¦OCDe 3CCSOOO
§
CO
-*
o
¦v
-h c
1 73
S3
-cr~m"3.a,t---H©
t~
t~
tn
**<
Cl c
< F-|
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u$
¦n
o
^f
|
¦- - CT *C
CS
,-,
ct
1
ber of children
above 5,
o
s
to
n
IO
en
CS c
co t,
— 1
CI
§'feSSSmSS§ and under 16 years of age, 15,278.
Value of material,
to 72
o
-r
— .
CO
©CO
n c
n t
OtOr-iGQCOCtClCO -, US CT -t tj, c3 oo
n
US
r>
— ,
r
1 F- Ct ZQ
¦i 1
PUTNAM COUNTY, taken from Dutchess, .Tune 12th 1812; bounded S. by
Westchester county; E. by Connecticut; N. by Dutchess county; and W. by the
Hudson river: Greatest length 21, greatest breadth 12, miles; area 216 square
miles; situate in 421° N. L. and between 2° 56' and 3° 26' E. Long.
The surface is hilly. The Highlands extend across the western part, present
ing distinguished eminences known as Anthony's Nose, Sugar Loaf, Bull Hill,
Break Neck Hill, High Peak, &c. This range commences at the river in the S.
W. angle of Philipstown, and runs N. E. across that and Kent, into Dutchess
county, becoming broader, but lower in its course. In Putnam, the highest point
is about 1580 feet above the Hudson. The remainder of ths county though gen
erally uneven, has some handsome plains, with a soil various and some of it fertile.
PUTNAM COUNTY. * 631
The mountains abound with magnetic iron ore of good quality, especially In
Philipstown, in Kent and in Southeast. The mines which are wrought are prin
cipally in Philips, about 5 miles E. of Cold Spring works. Iron pyrites suitable
for copperas, is also abundant, and plumbago is found.
Scarce any portion of the state is less generally known or more misrepresented
than this county. Mountainous and hilly and wholly of primitive formation, ex
cept a small strip of transition slate, underlaid with granitic rocks and crys
tallised lime, it is supposed to be sterile, and its population, generally, in a state of
wretchedness. Nothing can be more unreal than the inference. Grain it is true,
is not a staple commodity; enough is not produced for the consumption of the in
habitants; but, the whole tract is eminently adapted to grass, and, treated with
Slaster, blue grass, herd grass and white clover grow luxuriantly and become a
urable source of wealth, demanding comparatively little care for its preservation.
The hills are no longer objectionable; the "ridges" are everywhere held the
most valuable, being free from the morasses, which sometimes infest the vales. —
The use of the plough, therefore, is almost discontinued upon many farms, whilst
the fields are dotted with cattle or whitened with sheep. Due attention is given
to the dairy; and butter, beef, wool, calves, lariibs, sheep, fowls and the many other
species of " marketting," are poured into the great metropolis, and their returns
are rapidly enriching the producer. The evidences of prosperity are every where
visible. Neat farms carefully fenced with stone, and freed from brush and under
wood, large barns, well stored, numerous and well constructed out-houses, com
modious dwellings, painted white and surrounded by verdant lawns and painted
palings, in good condition, show that the occupant not overworked, has leisure to
cultivate his taste and the means for enjoyment. Within a few years, lands here,
have doubled in value and in price. If other counties of the state exhibit greater
wealth, none displays mere competency and contentment.
The poor of the county are few and are generally maintained at the county poor
house, upon a farm of 195 acres? in the S. part of the town of Kent, with the aid
of a tax of $1500 per annum.
The incorporation of a company for the manufacture of iron, within the county,
was authorised 11th May, 1835, capital $50,000.
The county is watered easterly and centrally by the main branches of Croton
river. One of which rises in Dutchess county and the other in Kent, of this
county, uniting on the S. border of the county. A third but smaller branch cal
led the Muscoot, flows from Mahopackpond, in Carmel, and joins the main stream
in Somerstown, Westchester county. The Peekskill, which rises in the High
lands, drains Philipstown on the W. There are many natural ponds, the chief of
which are Mahopack and Shaw's, in Carmel. The first is a beautiful sheet of wa
ter, about 9 miles in circumference, having two islands; the other covers about
300 acres.
The county is divided into five towns.
Carmel, taken from Frederickstown, 17th March, 1795; centrally distant north
from New York 106, and S. from Albany 55, miles, 16 E. of the Hudson, at West
Point, and 18 from Peekshill; surface hilly; soil clay and sandy loam, watered
with numerous streams, including several branches of the Croton river, which
have their sources in small ponds, of which there are eight. Carmel and Red
Mills, are post villages; and the former the county seat of justice, where are the
court house and prison, in the same wooden building, the county offices, 1 Metho
dist and 1 Baptist, churches; an academy, a select school for females, a district
school, a mill on the outlet ofthe lake, 1 tavern, 3 stores, and 30 dwellings, upon
a small and pleasant plain and on the shore of Shaw's lake, to which several of
the gardens descend. No village of the state, has a more healthy, and few a
more picturesque position than Carmel, upon its Highland lake. Red Mills, on
the Muscoot river, at the outlet of Mahopack pond, 8 miles S. W. of Carmel has
a grist, saw, and cloth dressing, mills and much mill power, (offered for sale or to
rent,) derived from the lake, 1 Baptist and 1 Presbyterian, churches; 1 tavern 2
stores, and about 20 dwellings.
Kent, organised by the name of Fredericktown, 7th March, 1788, name changed
15th, April, 1817; 60 miles N. from New York, and 101 S. from Albany, has a
mountainous surface, much of which is rough and broken, but the hill sides and
lower ridges are productive in grass. The western branches of Croton river flow

632 TOPOGRAPHY.
from the hills on the N. White Pond, is the largest of several little lakes, covers
perhaps about 200 acres. Milltown,m the N. and Cole's Mills, in the S. are villages,
The former, 7 miles N. W. from Carmel, has a church, post office, a fine grist
mill, a saw mill and clothing works, a store, tavern, and about 20 dwellings. The
west branch of the Croton, has a great fall here, affording a valuable mill power,
for the more extensive employment of which, great preparations are making. Coles
Mills, on the same branch of the Croton, 3 miles N. from Carmel, has 1 grist and
1 saw, mills, clothing works, tavern, store, and some half dozen dwellings. —
There are beds of coloured marble in the northern part of the town.
Patterson, S. E. from Albany 93 miles, N. E. from Carmel 6 miles; orgatiised
by the name of Franklin, 17th March, 1795; on the E. and W. are high hills —
The intervening valley, about 3 miles in width, drained by the Croton river, pos
sesses a fine soil and based on lime, is well cultivated. The Great Swamp, the
source of the Croton, is in this valley and extends into Pawling, Dutchess county.
Patterson, post village, or "The City" formerly called Fredericksburg, in the-N. part
of the town, in the valley above described and upon the Cold Spring turnpike
road, contains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Episcopal, churches; an academy, 1 gristmill,
2 stores, and within the circuit of a mile, about 20 dwellings.
Philipstown, organised 7th March, 1788; centrally distant N. from New York
53, from Albany, S. 95, from Carmel, W. 15, miles; comprises some ofthe high
est and most rugged hills of the Highlands, as Sugar Loaf, Breakneck, Bull Hill,
Anthony's Nose, &c; drained southerly by branches of the Peekskill, flowing
through well cultivated valleys, and having several small ponds, well stocked with
fish. The Cold Spring turnpike road runs from the Landing, on the North river,
N. E. through the town. The mountains abound with iron ore; and the West
Point Foundry, in this town, about a mile from the village of Cold Spring, is
one of the most extensive in the United States, consisting of 1 blast furnace ma
king about 850 tons of iron annually, 3 air furnaces and 3 cupola furnaces, melting
about 2500 tons. Value of manufactured articles $280,000. The.number of work
men employed here, is about 200; but the proprietors Messr. Kemble, have other
extensive, works in Orange county and in New York, connected with this, in
which they employ about 300 hands.
The Anthony's Nose, at the entrance of the Highlands by the river, is not, as
is generally supposed, the mountain which resembles the profile of the human
face. The derivation of its name is lost, unless' it be that given by the equally
veracious and verisimilitudinous Knickerbocker, who assures us that the name was
given by the redoubtable Stuyvesant in commemoration of the death of a sturgeon
slain by a sun beam reflected from the nose of his trumpeter, Anthony Van Corlear.
The mountain is said to be 1228 feet high; but the measurement of Captain
Partridge, gives only 935 feet. It is wholly primitive. From the foot of this
mountain, across to Fort Montgomery, was, during the revolutionary war, a large
boom and chain, said to have cost £70,000 sterling. It was partly destroyed by
Gen. Sir Henry Clinton, in Oct. 1777.
Southeast, organised 17th March, 1795; distant from Carmel 6, from Alba
ny, S. E. 113, miles; surface hilly. Joe's Hill, a noted eminence extends W.
from Connecticut into the centre of the town? the soil is, however, fertile in grass
and not unfruitful in grain. It is well watered by the Croton river and tributaries.
There are five natural ponds; Peach pond, partly in this, and partly in Westches
ter county, the largest, is two miles long by one broad; from this pond, the law
forbids the taking of fish, in any other manner, than by single hook and line, un
der penalty of five dollars, to any one who will sue therefor. Iron ore of good
quality abounds. Milltown and Hatsville, are post villages on the Croton river.
Milltown, contains a tavern and 2 stores; 1 grist, 1 saw and 1 oil, mills; 8 miles E.
of Carmel village. Hatsville, formerly called Sodom, near the centre of the town,
where the town business is usually done, has a small woollen factory, 1 tavern, 2
stores, and 16 dwellings.

QUEENS COUNTY.

633

, '

Females.
Births.
Deaths.
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TOWNS.
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,1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
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Carmel,
2247
2192
2371
2163
213
502
254
198
454
4
29
45
7
9
Kent,
1801
1794
1931
1661
155
354
191
105
388
7
29
24
11
2
Patterson,
1578
1572
1529
1347
115
296
151
147
277
H
14
17
12
5
Philipstown,
3733
4418
4761
4562
347
887
940
302
1104
42
85
74
29
2fi
Southeast,
1909
1890
2036
1818
134
370
205
176
351
12
33
24
7
12
^
11268
11866
12628
11551
964.
2409 1741 ( 928
2574
71
190
184
66
54
Notb. Males, 5,809; Females, 5,742: Blaok voters, 6: Paupers, 68; Deaf and Dumb, 6; Blind, 5;
Idiots,, 18; Lunatics. 6: -Aliens, 67, .
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22786
22063
434798
126460
3210
469
3895
2854
2220
2084
2431
787 33
756 92
Kern,
20100
12765
206635
23794
2493
244
2724
1R99
1903
1019
1434
246 7«
310 75
Patterson,
19276
13527
353896
42329
2387
342
2614
2111
176?
1964
3359
167 78
541 09
Philipstown,
52984
21364
535774
105950
4212
802
3328
3067
179SI
•tfiOO
1126
572 93
865 44
Southeast,
20206
2064U
434798
66302
301U
413
2459
2418
2037
1969
2415
186 30
675 80
115352
89765
1970901
3C4834
15312
2270
15020
12349
9707
963li
10705
1921 04
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Carmel,
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248
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. 510
Kent,
4
5
2
2
1
10
213
351
517
Patterson,
3
i>
2
y
i
11
160
508 -
448
Philipstown,
6
13
2
I
4
5 1
21
501
1499
1051
Southeast,
5
20
7
33
8
18
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1
2 2
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13
212
908
557
xi4
68
1334
3854
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of age 3,514.
'e 5 and under 16 years
a a
Value of material,
'1
<-l O
*
QUEENS, an original county of Longlsland, organised Nov. 1st, 1683; bounded,
N. by the East river and Long Island Sound; E . by Suffolk county; S. by the Atlantic
ocean; and W. by Kings county; including Loyd's neck or Queen's village; and
the islands called the Two Brothers, Hallet's or Blackwell's island, and all the
islands of the Sound opposite the said bounds, and S. of the main channel- s-reat-
 . 1  *L no. 1  A.U on — :i   nnct  __ ci _ _ - ¦ ,. . '-»
The surface on the north, is' hilly and somewhat broken, yet generally arable-
the granitic ridge through the island, having a base here, extending from the
sound, S. about six miles in average width; on its S. side a plain spreads with
little irregularity to the ocean. The soil ofthe hills is a' clay loam, generally drv
and when well manured productive in wheat, corn and grass; and seems well J
adapted to the apple, pear, cherry, and like fruits. The timber consists of oak
hickory, chestnut, and an abundance of locust. The soil of the plain, except that
80
634

TOPOGRAPHY.

of Hempstead, is a light sandy loam, which, also, when manured, especially, with
spent ashes, becomes tolerably fertile in grass, small grain, pulse and vegetables.
The streams are few, short, and of small volume. The springs commonly dis
charge their waters into ponds, and rarely supply more than the waste by evapo
ration. There are, however, several creeks and ponds which yield sufficient water
for mills. The bays, inlets and coves are numerous; in which the tide also gives
motion to mills for the manufacture of flour. Flushing, Little Neck, Cow, Hemp
stead, Oyster and Cold Spring Bays, are on the north; Jamaica, Rockaway and
Great South Bays, on the south; the last, stretching from Rockaway to South
ampton, eastward, about 80 miles. These bays abounding with a great variety of
excellent fish, oysters, clams and muscles, and with wild fowl, afford as abun
dant means of subsistence and wealth, as are yielded by the land; and invite many
persons from the great city to their shores, for health and exercise, whose expen
ditures aid, not inconsiderably, the gain ofthe inhabitants.
In no part of the state are the people more moral, religious, economical or
thrifty. Strict temperance, unceasing industry, and close frugality, assure them
independence. Few are very rich; none abjectly poor; and if luxury and splendor
be rarely seen, want is a greater stranger. Numerous and neat churches, with
their white and graceful steeples or belfries, evince a religious and simple taste;
and the latter is not less displayed in the generally commodious and cleanly dwell
ings. For historical notices ofthe county we refer to the article " Long Island."
Three turnpike roads cross the county, known as the Northern, Middle, and
Southern, all of which are level, and generally kept in good order; and being made
at little cost, of earth, the tolls are low, not exceeding one cent per mile for a car-
riao-e horse, and half that rate for a horse in teams, or business uses. A new im
pulse has been given to business and property by the incorporation of a com
pany, and their preparations for making the railroad through the island. The
county is divided into six towns, all organised 7th March, 1788.
Flushing; surface level, except on the S. where is the ridge, and in many
places very stony, affording sufficient stones for fencing; the sbil is sandy loam,

QUEENS COUNTY.

635

alternating with clay, generally well cultivated. Flushing creek, the boundary
between this and Newtown, has some mills upon it, and there are several tide
mills in the town. Flushing Bay, on the E. and Little Neck Bay, on the W. are
considerable indentations from the E. river. There still remain two white oaks,
which with others long since destroyed, formed a shade, beneath which George
Ftjx held a religious meeting, in 1672, and tboy are, therefore, held, especially by
the Quakers, in much reverence. Near these trees is the house of Mr. Bowne,
built in 1661, who early became a member ofthe society of Friends, and suffered
much persecution. Flushing, village, at the head of Flushing Bay, 5 miles from
the Sound by water, 2 1-2 by land, 9 miles E, from the centre of New
York, 11 W. from North Hempstead; contains 1 Episcopal, 2 Methodist churches,
1 for white and 1 for coloured worshippers, 2 Quaker meetings, Orthodox and
Hicksite; the Flushing Institute; a respectable seminary for ladies; 6 extensive
stores, 3 hotels, 1 tide grist mill, the extensive and celebrated garden and nur
sery of Messrs. Prince, known as the " Linnean Garden," and about 140 dwell
ings, some of which are neat, and several magnificent; two sloops belong to the
village, and a steam boat runs thence twice a day to New York, and stages to
Brooklyn. The facility of conveyance, the attractions ofthe Linnean garden, and
the delightful voyage, whether by land or water, make this a favourite place of re
sort to the citizens of New Yo*rk. '
The Linnean Botanic Garden was commenced about the year 1750, by William
Prince, the father of the present elder proprietor; including the nurseries, it covers
more than 40 acres of ground, and contains about 10,000 species and varieties of
trees and plants; much attention has been given to the vine and mulberry; the
green house has about 30,000 plants: Here may be obtained a great variety of
fruit and ornamental trees; indigenous and exotic shrubs; herbaceous, flowering
and medicinal plants; bulbous and tuberous flowers. Visitors have free access to
the garden on all days except Sundays.
The Flushing Institute, incorporated 16th April, 18'27, is a flourishing school,
established by a joint stock company; the building of wood, neat and spacious, is
pleasantly located at the S. end ofthe village. The principal, the Rev. Mr. Muhlen-
burg, has lately purchased a large farm, upon the Bay and Sound, where he is
about to erect a school, at a cost, farm included, of §60,000.
At Whitestone, on the Sound, 7 miles N. W. from the Court house, are 12 or
15 dwellings. A ferry was formerly kept here to Westchester. The place call
ed the Alley, at the head of Little Neck, 5 miles from the Court house, is a land
ing, whence wood is shipped, and manure obtained.
Hempstead, including the lands called the Gore, between the patent of Hemp
stead and patent of Oyster Bay, Rockaway Neck and Beach, running W. 12 miles
from Rockaway Bay, and S. of Jamaica and Flatlands; surface level; soil, sandy
loam, and much of it rendered highly productive by judicious cultivation. The
" Barrens," known as " Hempstead Plains," fill a large portion of the northern
part; several small mill streams rise in these plains, and flow S. to the ocean, none
of them having a course exceeding in length 8 miles. The " Great South Bay,"
of L. I. commencing at Hog Island inlet, or Rockaway beach, covers nearly 10
miles ofthe S. bounds, portions of which bear special names; as Rockaway, Par
sonage, Merrick and Jerusalem Bays. The beach, bounding the great bay, is
penetrated by Hog Island, New, Crow, and Jones' inlets, which form it into
islands, and the bay contains Hog, Lyons and Crow Islands, pertaining to the
town. Hempstead, Rum Point, Raynortown or Raynor South, Jerusalem, near
Rockaway and Far Rockaway, are villages. Hempstead, post village, centrally
situate upon the S. side of the " Plains," and upon a turnpike road, 21 miles E.
from New York, 172 S. E. from Albany, 3 S. from North Hempstead, 18 W."
from Babylon, 10 from Bethpage, 6 from Jerusalem, and 7 from Jerico; contains
1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist and 1 Episcopal churches, 4 schools, 4 clergymen
3 lawyers, 4 physicians, 8 stores, for general merchandise, 1 druggist, 2 carriage
makers, 2 printing offices, issuing weekly papers, and the usual "handicrafts per
taining to a thriving village; and within a mile square, 130 dwellings. The town''
is improving fast, and under the present excitement relative lo real estate, (1835 1
property has risen greatly, having within two years more than doubled in value
and lots in the best positions have been sold at the rate of §18,000 per acre.'
¦Twenty dollars per foot are asked for lots on the main streets, having a depth of

636 TOPOGRAPHY.
v 100 feet. A stream rising by two branches in the village,. flows S. about 4 miles
v to Rockaway Bay, and within a mile of its source turns' a grist mill, and in its
course several others. There is in the town a Branch Bible Society, a Lyceum,
a Literary and Scientific Association, and a Fire Insurance Company has been au
thorised by law; a company was authorised in 1836, to make a branch railroad
hence to the Long Island railroad.
The town of Hempstead, extending from the Sound to the Ocean, was settled
in the year 1644, by English emigrants, with license from the Duch authorities.
The soil was purchased by them from the Rockaway, Marsapeague, and Secataug
Indians. In 1659, the town contained 62 families; it was incorporated under the
Dutch government; the inhabitants had secured to them the rights of property, of
religious freedom, and of choosing their magistrates, with the approbation of the
Governor. The magistrates were empowered to hold courts, civil and criminal,
with limited jurisdiction, and to provide by ordinance for the general welfare. In
the infancy of their settlement, they provided for the support of the gospel among
them; were careful to enforce attendance on public worship, and observance of the
sabbath, punishing absence from church, unless upon reasonable excuse, by fine,
for the first absence, of five; for the second, often; for the third, of twenty, guild
ers, and further repetition of the offence by aggravated fines, corporal pains, or
banishment. A house for public worship was erected about the same time, 40 by
26 feet. The first clergyman, Presbyterian, was Mr. Richard Denton, who with
Matthias Mitchell, Thomas Raynor, Andrew Ward, Robert Coe, Richard Gilder-
sleeve and others of his congregation, were among the first settlers. Mr. Denton
continued minister of Hempstead until 1663; his progeny on the island are nume
rous and respectab'e. "
The "Hempstead Plain" extends E. from Jamaica to Oyster Bay 15 miles,
with an average breadth of about 4 miles; it lies at the foot ofthe Great Ridge, is
much elevated, yet so level, as to render drainage in places difficult. The soil is
a black mould, apparently very rich, and was eagerly sought by the primitive
settlers, until they discovered that their agricultural skill and means were inade-
s quate to render it productive. It was, then, as now, covered with a luxuriant
growth of coarse grass, with patches of dwarf shrubbery. Of late, experience has
taught, that this is indeed a rich soil; treated with spent ashes,. it produces crops
of grain and grass scarce inferior to any in the Union; and there is no where seen
greater evidences of agricultural prosperity, than on the lands so reclaimed. That
portion ofthe tract lying in North Hempstead, having been gradually inclosed by
the inhabitants, and their possession having been duly legitimated, is no longer in
" common;" but, the larger portion in Hempstead, still belongs to the inhabitants
by common right, their title having been established by the judicial tribunals, and,
., being uninclosed, is used by all for pasture. A similar right exists to the salt
meadows upon the shores and islands of the bay. The " Plains" are divided,
nominally at least, into two unequal portions; the " Little Plains" comprehending
that lying in Jamaica and the "Great Plains," including the remainder. Rum
Point, is a close vicinage, 2 1-2 miles S. E. from Hempstead village, containing a
store, 2 taverns, and some 12 or 15 dwellings. Raynurtown, or Raynor South, lies
5 miles S. E. from the village, near the bay, and has a grist mill, a store, 2
taverns, some 15 or 20 dwellings; and is much resorted to by sportsmen in pur
suit of fish and fowl. A stage leaves this village every morning for Brooklyn.
Jerusalem, is a Quaker settlement, 6 miles S. E. from Hempstead, where are three
stores, and some twenty dwellings, neat without, and comfortable within, whose
inhabitants are all thrifty, and some of them rich. Near Rockaway is 5 miles S.
W. from Hempstead village, and is one of the principal landings of the town,
from which constant intercourse is maintained by 6 or 8 vessels, carrying fish,
clams, &c. to the city, and bringing back manure, lumber, and general merchan
dise. There are, here, a grist mill, driven by tide, a store, 3 taverns, 10 or 12
dwellings, and a Methodist church. The Hempstead creek empties into the bay
near the village.
Far Rockaway has lately grown into great importance as a watering place. A
splendid pavilion was erected here in 1834, upon the beach, 70 rods from the
ocean, by an association of between 70 and 80 of the most distinguished families
in the city of New York. The house has a front of 230 feet, is 3 stories high,
and has proportionate wings. It is finished and furnished in a style befitting its

QUEENS COUNTY. 637
object as a resort for splendid and fashionable company, and is appropriately kept
by the hosts, Messrs. Blake and Reed. The road from Brooklyn by way of Jamaica .
to the beach is excellent. The distance from New York to Jamaica is 19 railes^,
by railroad, and thence, 8 miles by excellent stages. ¦s
Jamaica; surface levels except that the hills which form the spine of the island,
run along the northern boundary. There are several mill streams, as Hook creek,
on the S. E. line, Maspeth creek, on the west line, and one creek which flows S,
through the town from the vicinity of the village. Jamaica bay on the S, pene
trates the town about ten miles, and embosoms several islands, which, with the
margin of the main land around it, produce abundance of salt meadow grass.
Beaver pond is a small but beautiful sheet of water near the village, and in its
vicinity is the Long Island race course. The soil is generally sandy loam, em
ployed for the culture of grain, vegetables and fruit, for the Brooklyn and New
York markets. Near the foot of the ridge, the soil having more clay, is, when
manured, more productive of wheat and clover than that on the south. -
The town was settled by the name of Rustdorpe, about the year 1656, by Eng
lish settlers, with license from the Dutch authorities. The soil was purchased
from the Canarsee and Rockaway tribes of Indians. A church, (Presbyterian,)
was then, or soon after, established; and in 1663, the town contracted, with Zach-
ariah Walker, their minister, to pay him £60 per annum in wheat and corn, at a
stated valuation. In 1673, upon the re-establishment of the Dutch government,
68 persons, probably the heads of families, were summooed to take the oath of al-
, legtance. Multiplying this number by 6, for each family, we have 408, as the-
number of inhabitants at that period. Soon after the conquest from the Dutch,
several persons of the Episcopal faith, encouraged by the colonial government,
settled on the island, and at Jamaica, but do not appear to have been sufficiently
numerous to erect a church, and the people of this town continued to be very gene
rally, Presbyterians, or Independents. In 1676, they set apart a tract of " land and
meadow" for a parsonage, to be at the disposal of the town; and in 1700, they
built a stone church, but did not restrict its use to any denomination. In 1702,
however, the Episcopalians, oountenanced by Lord Cornbury, obtained possession
of the church and parsonage, which they appropriated exclusively to their use.
This injustice was not remedied for 30 years.
Jamaica, on the turnpike road leading from Brooklyn to Hempstead, and on
the Long Island railroad, so far completed; distant from Brooklyn 12, from North
Hempstead, W. 9, from Albany, S. 157 miles; immediately at the foot of the
Granitic ridge; is a neat and pleasant village, approached by roads running through
a distriot highly cultivated and richly adorned, with splendid country seats and
productive farms. The village is built upon five streets; the main, or Fulton street,
running E. and W., crossed by Division, Church, Beaver, Union Hall and Canal
streets. It contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Dutch Reformed, churches,
each with its tower and belfry, giving grace to the town, and 1 small plain Metho
dist meeting house, all of wood, as are most of the dwellings. Two academies,
incorporated; the Union Hall, for males; the other, for females; the fire proof
office of the county clerk and surrogate, established here by special act of as
sembly; 2 printing offices, publishing weekly journals; 2 physicians, 3 lawyers,
7 stores, 4 inns, and the usual handicrafts, and 140 dwellings, generally two stories
high, many of them large and commodious, surrounded by grass lots and shrub- _-
bery; inhabited by retired merohants from New York. For many years this vil
lage has been much resorted to by the citizens of New York during the summer
season; the completion of the railroad to Brooklyn renders it still more desirable
as a summer retreat, and as a permanent residence for men of husiness in the great
oity; and the construction of the Long Island railroad must greatly increase its
importance. In consideration of these advantages, property here has risen great. ^-
ly in value. The Long Island Bible Society hold semi-annual meetings at the '
village, and a Town Temperance Association is established here.
Newtown, includes all the islands of the Sound opposite to the town, and in
Queens county among which is Blackwell's island; centrally distant E. from N. York
8, and W. from North Hempstead 15, miles; surface in the N. and W. hilly and
stony, with soil of clay loam; on the S. and E. sandy and level; generally well culti
vated; well adapted to fruit. Maspeth, or Newtown creek sets in from the East
river, 3 or 4 miles, on the S. W. border, and receives from the town several small

638 TOPOGRAPHY.
streams from either hand; over this creek is a toll bridge, on the road to Middletown.
Flushing creek and Bay form the E. boundary, and tributaries ofthe two creeks
interlock at or near Newtown village. Wood for fuel is scarce, and peat taken
from an extensive bog near that village, is used for that purpose. The granitic
rock of the ridge, assumes here the form of gneiss and micaceous schist. New
town, Middletown, New Landing, and Hallet's Cove, are villages. Newtown
village on the turnpike road from Brooklyn, to Flushing, 7 miles from the one, and
Sfrom the other, contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Dutch Reformed,
churches, neat frame buildings with spires and bells; a large and commodious
town hall, 3 stores, 3 taverns, and from 70 to 80 dwellings, chiefly of wood. New
town Landing is at the head ef Newtown creek; whence, the inhabitants of the
town commonly have their manures, and send their products to, the city of New
York; there is a small collection of houses here. Middletown, centrally situated,
contains a tavern, and some half dozen dwellings.
Hallet's Cove, named after the original patentee, 6 miles E. from New York,
upon the East river, is a pleasantly situated and thriving village, containing a new
Episcopal Church, a Presbyterian congregation, about to erect a house for wor
ship, a flourishing carpet manufactory, a wool card manufactory, and some 20 or
30 good dwellings. A convenient steam ferry boat plies between the village, and the
city of New York, at the foot of 86th street, and the Flushing steam boat stops
at the landing four times daily. Mr. Grant Thorburn the post master, has retired to a
florist establishment here conducted by his sons, which promises to hold a place
among the first of the kind in the country. With the extension of New York city,
this village will partake of the advantages enjoyed by Brooklyn, and may now
be deemed a suhurb of the great city. A great national improvement is proposed
here by opening a passage for ships through Blackwell's Point, avoiding thereby
the delays and dangers of Hell Gate, passing from the secure harbour of Hallet's
Cove to Pott, Cove, or by removing by blasting under water, the rocks which
obstruct the pass. The completion of this work would give a safe passage to
the ocean, to vessels of any burden. The Hallet's Cove railway company was
incorporated April 15, 1828, with a capital of §50000, and power to make and use
a railway, docks &c. for hauling up, docking, careening, repairing, and rebuilding
vessels; and were further authorized, April 11, 1832, to construct, within 5 years,
a canal with tow paths, to enable vessels to reach the railway, without passing
through Hell Gate. The shores along this village high and bold, offer fine sites
for country seats; and we have seen a plan for very tasteful improvements here.
This town was settled by English emigrants with permission of the Dutch go
vernment about the year 1651, and then bore the name of Middleburg. The soil was
purchased of the Rockaway tribe. The first settlers were puritans, probably from
Massachusetts, and their first church was erected about the year 1670, the inhabi
tants being assessed for this purpose, the sum of 40s. each payable " half in corn
and half in cattle." The inhabitants, though received as Dutch subjects, governed
themselves, choosing their own magistrates who were submitted to the approbation
of the Governor,, and, appointing a species of town legislature under the designa
tion of "townsmen;" with power to regulate the town interest generally; excepting
the admission of settlers, and the granting of lands, which were reserved to the
people in general town meeting. The Episcopal church of this town was estab
lished about the year 1734.
North Hempstead; surface hilly, the ridge running E. and W. through it and
N. of Hempstead plain which extends from the S. line N. from one to two miles.
"Harbour Hill," the highest poin't ofthe ridge rises 319 feet above the ocean, and
is said to be the highest land on the Atlantic coast, from the E. end of Long
Island to the capes of Florida: It is 12 miles from the ocean, and may possibly
be visible 25 miles distant at sea: The soil loamy and generally carefully culti
vated. Some small mill streams run N. into the bays penetrating from the Sound,
as Little Neck Bay, Cow Bay, and Hempstead Harbour, which form the interven
ing lands into strips, known respectively as Cow, and Great Necks. On Sands
Point, on the former, stands a light house erected in 1809. Success Pond and
Hamlet, lie on the W. boundary. Th§ pond, about a mile in- circumference,
is on a high hill, and was stocked by Dr. Mitchell, with yellow perch, in 1790,
brought from Ronconcoma Pond, of Suffolk county, distant 40 miles. Success
Pond is a favourite resort of the angler. It is deep and clear, and steadily fed by
springs. North Hempstead, Hempstead Harbour, Success, now called Lakevills

QUEENS COUNTY. 639
Herricks, Head of Cow Neck, are villages or vicinages. At those italicized, there
are post offices. North Hempstead, is the seat of justice of the county, on the
road from Jamaica, through the middle of the island, and upon the S. boundary
of this town 9 miles E. from Jamaica, 21 from New York. The county
court housd and prison have been placed here as the geographical centre. The
court house is a frame building about 60 ft. square, 2 stories high, in the lower of
which is the prison; there are here also, 2 stores and 2 taverns, and a small collec
tion of houses. Herriclcs is an agricultural vicinage about 2 miles N. W. of the
court house. Lakeville, at Suceess Pond has some 10 or 12 dwellings. Hempstead
Harbour, at the bottom of Hempstead Bay 8 miles S. ofthe sound, and 5 N. from
the court house, is a thriving village, containing two paper mills worked by the
springs which rise in the pond; 3 stores 1 tavern; a methodist meeting house;
an extensive Lumberyard, and between 40 and 50 dwellings. Several sloops ply
between this place and New York, and a steam boat runs daily from Glen Cove,
an arm of the bay in the adjacent town of Oyster Bay. Plandome at the bottom of
Cow Bay was the country seat of Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell.
Ovsteb Bay, includes Lloyd's Neck, or Queen's village, and Hog Island, and
extends on the S. from the S. K. point of Oyster Bay meadows S. 3° W. to the
ocean; surface on the N. hilly; having the ridge extending from the Sound S.
about 6 miles, with loamy and stony soil; on the S. level and sandy. Running
streams are few; but one in the N. through Mill Neck, and another on the S. W.
boundary, have power for mills; on the N. Cold Spring, Oyster Bay, and Hemp
stead harbours, make in from the Sound, whilst at the S. end, which is 4 miles
wide, there are 5 necks of land, of which West, Unkawa, and Fort necks, are the
chief; the last ha3 its name from some remains of Indian fortifications. When
the country was first known to the Europeans there were two forts here; one, the
remains of which are still visible, was on the S. point of land, adjoining the mea
dow. It was a square, whose sides were 30 yards in length, the parapet of earth,
surrounded by a ditch 8 feet wide; the other was on the S. point ofthe Salt Mea
dow, adjoining the bay, and consisted of palisades. The tide has worn away the
meadow where it stood. In the bay, between the meadow and beach, are two
islands, called Squaw, and the tradition from the Indians is, that the forts were
erected by their ancestors tor defence, and that, upon the approach of an enemy,
they sent their women and children to these islands. The inhabitants of the vil
lage show a rock on which George Fox stood to preach in 1672. Oyster Bay,
Glen's, formerly called Mosquito, Cove, Norwich, Wolver Hollow, Cold Spring,
Wheatly, Jerico, Bethpage, and South Qyster Bay, are villages; those in italics
have post offices.
Oyster Buy. village, on the S. of Oyster. Bay harbour, 3 miles from the Sound,
28 N. E. from New York, 12 from North Hempstead, 5 E. from Glen's Cove,
arfd 5 W. from Cold Spring, contains an academy, incorporated by the Regents, 1
grist mill, 3 stores, 2 taverns, and about 50 dwellings, generally neat buildings; a
stage runs hence to NewYork, tri-weekly, and the steamboat from Glen's Cove
and Cold Spring, daily. The oysters and clams ofthe bay are abundant, and high
ly esteemed. Glen's Cove, on an arm of Oyster Bay, 8 miles N. E. from North
Hempstead, 30 from New York, contains an Episcopal church, recently built, a
Friends' meeting house, from 20 to 30 dwellings, several stores and taverns; a
thriving village.
Wheatly is a rich agricultural neighbourhood, containing, witnin a mile square,
some 25 or 30 dwellings, upon the clay loam ofthe ridge, 5 miles N. E. from the
court house. Waiver Hollow, 7 miles N. E. from the court house, is also a compact
agricultural vicinage, comprehending from 40 to 50 dwellings, whose inhabitants
are chiefly of Dutch descent; and Norwich contains a cluster of houses, 9 miles
N. E. from thecourt house, inhabited by farmers of "English derivation. Jerico
8 miles N. E. from North Hempstead, is notable as the residence of thelateElias
Hicks, the apostle of a larg£ Quaker sect, in the history of Quakerism second
only to,its founder, Fox. The village contains some 12 or 15 dwellino-s l
store, 1 tavern, 2 tanneries. Several of the houses are built round a small^pond
of pure spring water, and are supplied from it by means of leaden pipes. Beth-
page, 13 miles S. E. from North Hempstead, has a Quaker meetino- house and
some 10 or 12 dwellings. Dosoris is a settlement 05 the Sound, 12 miles N. of

640

TOPOGRAPHY.

the court house, near Mattinecock Point. There is also a post office in the town
called Buckram.
Settlements were attempted in this town on the W. side of Cow Neck, in
1640, by some English,emigrants under the direction of Daniel How, by license
from the Earl of Stirling, and lands were then purchased from the Indians; but
the Dutch authorities, on the 15th May of that year, arrested the settlers and com
pelled them to abandon their design, taking from them a written pledge to that
effect. How and his associates established themselves, in the following year, at
Southampton. About 12 years after, permanent settlements were made here by
10 families, (1653,) the lands having been purchased from the Mattinecock
Indians.

j
Females.
Births.
Heaths.
CD
to
iccj
ja -a-
CO
TOWNS.
B
•2
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tn
.2
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COGp
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g V
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1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
%
OlO
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is
G P
£ G
26
as 76
"cd
s 35
8p
b.
Flushing,
2303
2325
2820
3643
220
537
275
406
359
615
30
Hempstead,
5939
5295
6215
6654
711
1400
21
874
495
1324
27
98
105
51
49
Jamaica,
2292
2401
2378
2885
2(ifl
557
24
315 247
504
10
25
14
- 6
9
Newtown,
215S
247£
281(1
3505
253
512
254
373
452
601
3
29
25
6
5
North Hempstead,
3249
2827
3091
3360
322
646
45
36(i
277
631
10
59
40
18
14
Oyster Bay,
5518
5005
5348
5083
874
1145
17
628
39b
94i
24
64
82
50
54
21519
20331
22460
25130
2649
4797
636
2962
¦2206
462:.
100
351
320
166
161
Note. Males, 12,550; Females, 12,280; Blacks, 2,801; Black voters, 21; Paupers, 571, including the
establishment for the children of the New Yotk poor house; Deaf and Dumb, 15; Blind, 17; Idiots,
20; Lunatics, 6.
cc!
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_
M
TOWNS.
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0-
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16395
13090
1122000
353850
1852
816
3605
2718
291
216
293
1037 79
986 40
29402
29501
833300
294100
3800
1691
2820
293f
2605
137
718
1218 38
776 62
18060
12264
890150
421450
1558
79fl
115
117c-
12
78
330
706 74
. 876 20
10261
10683
1303450
305450
1716
861
225
1572
,
1294 &&¦
1034 96
North Hempstead,
29726
29736
1044700
3111900
2655
1132
8177
443t
548
MS
1245
1196 73
959 56
Oyster Bay,
33334
34261
1338250
671900
4727
1866115147
50'A
1756
135(
2699
2696
1147 15
1263 56
137178
129537
6531850
2438650
16308
7165130089
18456
15212
5282
5897 30
6601 67
TOWNS.
Flushing,
Hempstead,Jamaica,Newtown,,
North Hempstead,
Oyster Boy,
Value of product,
Valu* of material,
40
8
17 88
10
77
81
296644248
245
311 734
at
649
13561247
1545 648
2199
7644
-977 375426
311886
No. of children between 5 and 16 years of age,
6,102.
RENSSELAER COUNTY.

641

RENSSALEAR COUNTY, taken from Albany, 7th February, 1791, is
bqunded E. by Vermont and Massachusetts; S. by Columbia" county; W. by the
Hudson river, including the islands nearest to the east bank; and N. by a line be
ginning at the mouth of Lewis creek, and running thence S. 84° E. to the middle
of the Hoosick river, thence by the same until intersected by the said line, and
thence by said line to the E. boundary of the state, separating it from Washington
county; greatest length 30, greatest breadth 22, miles; area 631 square miles;
lying between 42° 27' and 42° 55' N. Lat., 3° IO7 and 3° 41' E. Long.; centrally
distant N. from New York 15G, and from Albany 10, miles.
Surface diversified, but generally hilly. The two ridges which run nearly pa
rallel from Putnam, continue their northerly course through this county. The
Taghcanic, here called the Williamstown, mountain, preserves its station on the
eastern boundary ofthe state; but losing its primitive character, is composed of
transition clay and wacke slate. The Peterborough mountain, composed of gray
wacke, holds its usual distance of from one to three miles on the west, forming a
valley of very uneven surface, through which the waters have opposite courses
being divided by the high grounds of Berlin. This valley is underlaid by an un
broken ridge of metalliferous limestone. The western ridge presents the high
est summit near the centre of the connty, and subsides into moderate hills at
either extremity.1 The country on the west of the ridge is high' and rolling, until it
sinks precipitously more than 200 feet into the valley of the Hudson, where is a
81

642

TOPOGRAPHY.

Tich alluvial flat, resting on slate, frequently at a depth exceeding 30 feet, varying,
but nowhere exceeding a mile, in breadth.
The county is wholly of transition formation, except two small tracts in the
towns of Schaghticoke and Greenbush, which are secondary. The basis rock is
clay slate, upon which lies lime, graywacke, and some red sandstone; the last
appearing only in the towns of Nassau, Grafton, and Sand Lake. Roofing slate
is quarried at Hoosiek, Stephentown, and Troy, and the graywacke of the last is
extensively used for building. Iron, in pyrites and other forms, is found in seve
ral places, but is not wtoagfet heTe. Marl of superior quality is dug in the N. W.
corner of Sand Lake and Schaghticoke. Epsom salts effloresce on the day banks
of the Hudson, in Lansingburg.
From the nature of the roek, the soil necessarily has much variety; generally,
however, sandy and clay loam prevails; wheat may be profitably cultivated, but
the uplands, in the N. and E. parts of the county, are more favourable to grass
and the usual summer crops. In no part of tbe state, it is said, is the grazing and
dairy business better understood, ot more beneficially pursued.
Tlie county is abundantly watered, and though most of the streams are short,
they possess, from their great fall, much hydraulic power. Tbe prineipal, on the
north, are the Hoosiek and its tributaries, the Little Hoosiek, and Tomhenickt on
the south Kinderhook, and its branches, Taekawasiek and Valitie creeks; and on the
west, thePoesfenaud Wynant kills, and Moordenaar's creek.
The Hoosickriver, rising near the north line of Pittsfield, in the N. W. corner of
Massachusetts, runs through Williamstown, thence N. W. across Pownal, the
south-west town of Vermont; thence into Petersburg, of this county, where it
receives the Little Hoosiek creek, from the south at Petersburg Corners; thence
west into Hoosiek town by Hoosiek Corners and Hoosiek Falls village; thence it
curves northward, -and is, in part, the boundary between this and Washington coun
ty, and returns into Rensselaer county, through which it pursues a W. course
to the Hudson, near tbe north boundary of Schaghticoke town. It is a rapid
stream, breaking through the two ridges on the east, and subject to sudden Swells
from the mountainous country through which it flows. Its whole length may be
about 45 miles, 27 of which are in this state.
Hoosiek creek, or Little Hoosiek river, drains the line valley of that name, extend
ing N. through Berlin and Petersburg, in length about 12 miles.
The Tomhtnick has its source in tbe western declivities of the Peterborough
Hills, in Pittstown, and flows thence by a semicircular course of about 10 miles
west, to the Hoosiek river, within two miles of its mouth.
We have described the Kinderhook, and its tributaries, under "Columbia
county." The Moordenaer's creek flows from several ponds in the towns of Sand Lake and
Greenbush, S. W. about 8 miles to the Hudson river at Castleton.
The Poestcn and Wynant's kills are fully noticed in our account of Troy.,
There are several small and inconsiderable lakes, or ponds, scattered over the
county; some nitrogen springs in Hoosiek town; and weak sulphuretted hydrogen
springs in various places.
The whole of the county except the towns of Schaghticoke, Pittstown, and
Hoosiek and north part of Lansingburg and part of Troy, is comprised within
the Rensselaerwyck patent, leased under the ordinary rent, in farms, at 10 bush
els of wheat the hundred acres.
The county contains 13 towns and the city of Troy.
Berlin, taken from Petersburg, Stephentown, and Schodack, 21st March, 1806;
distant from Albany and from Troy E. 20 miles. The Taghcanic mountain co
vers the east and the Peterborough the western portions. The hills are generally
stony and sterile, clad in evergreen forests, and not unfrequently marshy, but pro
duce grass for sheep, and occasionally offer some fertile glades. The Great Val
ley and some transverse vales have good soils, well cultivated, and deciduous tim
ber. Lime abounds, and sand adapted to the manufacture of glass. Drained N.
by Hoosiek, S. by branches of Kinderhook and Taekawasiek creeks, and W. by the
Poesten kill. There are 4 small ponds, each about half a mile long. The east
ern turnpike from Albany to Massachusetts, crosses the town, on which lies
Berlin post village, in Berlin Hollow, near Hoosiek creek, containing a small pub
lic library, 1 Seventh Day Baptist church, and one other church, 8 grist mills, 2

RENSSELLAER COUNTY. 643
saw wills, a tavern, 3 stores, and about 50 dwellings. The vilfeg&of Berlin Cen
tre, also on the creek, 2 miles S. of Berlin, has a post office, Baptist church, store,
tavern, and 16 dwellings. Settlements were first made in this town fay some
German families in 1764.
Brunswick, taken from Troy, 20th March, 1807; from Albany N. E. 12 miles;
surface hilly, in places rough and broken; soil various, chiefly clay, gravel, and
loam, tolerably cultivated; drained W. by the Poesten kill, and its tributary
Quicken kill, and on the N. by the Tomhenick creek. The Macadamised road
from Troy to Hoosiek Falls, runs N. E. through the town, on, which, near the N.
line, is Ramerion, a smalt village, partly in this and partly in Pittstown, having
1 Presbyterian church, 1 store, 1 tavern, and about 30 dwellings. Millville, 4 miles
from Troy, has 1 grist, 1 saw mills, i tavern, 1 store, and 10 or 12 dwellings; fast
increasing. Grafton, taken from Troy and Petersburg, 20th March, 1807; distant from Al
bany N. E. 20, from Troy E. 14, miles; surface hilly; soil clay loam, underlaid
with slate, but tbe stone trear and on the surface is graywacke; heavily timbered
with hemlock, white pine, fir, spruce, beech, white oak, and with much sugar ma
ple: Agriculture good, and improving. Fourteen ponds cover together several
hundred acres, which were some years since stocked with pickerel, and the fishing
protected by law; the largest is not more than a mile in length. The Quicken
kill flows W. through the town, and branches of the Tomhenick run N. W. from
it. There is a church built by the Patroon, free to all denominations. The post
office, bearing the name ofthe town, is at the village called Patroon's Mills, where
are 1 grist mill, tavern, store, and from 10 to 15 dwellings.
Greenbush, taken irom Rensselaerwyck, 10th April, 1792, and 17th March,
1795; distant from Troy S. 6 miles; surface hilly, having on the E. the Peterbo
rough mountain, and on the W. high hills and ridged to the river. Along the ri
ver are some fertile flats, and the valleys have some good soil. The upland is
generally clay loam, mixed with tracts of gravel, clay, and sand. Lead ore, in
small quantities, has been discovered here. The Tierken kill rises in the town,
and flows into the Hudson, by a crooked course of 7 miles, opposite to Albany;
Wynant's Kill crosses the north-east angle. Greenbush, Bath, Wynant's
Kill, and Blooming Grove, are villages, each of which, except Bath, has a
post office. Greenbush, village, on the E. bank of the Hudson, opposite to the S.
point of Albany, incorporated 14th April, 1815, contains 2 grist mills on Mill
creek, a distillery, Presbyterian church, a flburishing'academy, 4 hotels, 8 stores,
and from 80 to 100 dwellings. The tunnel under the Hudson river will connect
this village with Albany city. Bath, opposite to the N. point of Albany, has 1
store, 1 tavern, and about 20 dwellings. These villages are suburbs of Albany,
separated from it only by the river. Blooming Grove, now called Defriestvilk, 3
miles from Albany, has 1 store, 1 tavern, 1 Dutch Reformed church, 6 dwellings.
Wynant's KM contains 2 taverns, 1 Dutch Reformed church, and a dozen dwel
lings. Hoosick, originally organised as part of Albany county; distant N. E. from Al
bany 28 miles; surface hilly; soil on the hills schistic gravel; elsewhere clay,
sand, or loam; slate quarries are extensively wrought, affording good plates for
roofs, and some fine enough for schools; Warren's is the most celebrated.
Hoosick river enters the town from Vermont, and flows N. into Washington coun
ty, receiving the St. Coic, or Walloomscoic river, from Vermont, and White
creek, near the northern boundary, near Hoosick Corners. There are several nitro
gen springs on the farm now or late of John Bratt, in the S. E. corner of the
town, from which aaotic gas rises in bubbles through the water; the water contains
muriate of lime and common salt. Hoosick Falls, and Hoosick Four Corners, are
post villages; Mapleton is a thickly settled vicinage; Barker's Mills and McNa-
mara, manufacturing stations. This town contains a portion of the field on which
the battle. of Bennington was fought 16th August, 1777. Hoosick Falls, 24 miles
from Troy, on the right bank of the river, which has a fall here of 40 feet within
12 rods, affording fine water power, nearly all of which is unemployed, contains 1
Baptist and 1 Presbyterian churches, grist, saw, oil, carding and cloth dressing,
mills, 2 large cotton factories, a manufactory of shearing machines, which supplies
with, that article almost the whole of the United States; 1 tavern, 4 stores, and
about 60 dwellings. Hoosick Corners, about the same distance from Troy, upon

644 TOPOGRAPHY.
the Macadamised road, has 1 Baptist church, 2 taverns, 3 stores, and some 30
dwellings. At Barker's Mills, 27 miles from Troy, on the St. Coic river, are 1
grist mill, store, large cotton factory, and about 20 dwellings; at Macnamara, or
North Hoosick, on the same stream, are a large flannel factory, scythe factory, store,
tavern, and some 20 dwellings. The village of Buskirk's Bridge lies on both
sides ofthe Hoosick river, on the Northern turnpike, partly in Washington coun
ty, 22 miles from Troy, and contains a Dutch Reformed church, 2 stores, 1 ta
vern, and about 40 dwellings.
Lansingburg, taken from Troy and Brunswick, 20th March, 1807, and subse
quently enlarged by a portion from Schaghticoke; extending along the Hudson
river, with a breadth varying from one to two miles. On the E. the river hills, in
some places broken and rough, rise to great height, especially, on the N. E. On
the S. E. the hill is crowned by the celebrated petro-silex rock, part of a consid
erable vein, and which is, from its reflection of the sun's rays, known as the
"Diamond." This vein excepted, the rock ofthe hills is chiefly fragile schistus;
and their soil clay loam, under careful culture. The broad alluvial flats of the
river, of gravel, sand and mould are, as usual, fertile. Much of them is converted
into vegetable gardens, furnishing supplies for. the neighbouring cities and villages.
Two small mill streams cross the town to the Hudson. The northern turnpike
runs through the town. Lansingburg, Speigletown and Batestown, are villages.
Speigletown, 3 miles N. from Lansingburg, has a tavern, store, and 30 dwellings.
Batestown, 1 mile S. of Lansingburg, has a store, tavern, and 20 dwellings; and
contains the basin supplying the city of Troy with water.
Lansingburg, village, originally called the "New City," incorporated 2d April,
1801, on the bank of the river, 3 miles N. of Troy, 9 from Albany and 1 S. from
Waterford, is regularly laid out, on squares 400 by 260 feet, bounded by capacious
streets, intersected by commodious alleys. Its length is two and a half miles by
half a mile in breadth, extending to the high river bank, on the east; amply sup
plied with pure water by springs from the hills. The Mohawk river empties into
the Hudson by its three "Sprouts" or mouths, opposite to the village; and the
roar of the Cahoes Falls, may be distinctly heard in the stillness ofthe night. A
short distance above the village, the Hudson is crossed to Waterford by a commo
dious wooden bridge; the second from the Ocean. The village contains 2 Pres
byterian, 1 baptist, 1 Methodist, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Universalist, churches; an
academy in high repute, 6 select and 1 district, schools, several public libraries,
a printing office, whence issues the Lansingburg Gazette; 4 public houses, 6 gene
ral wholesale, and some 40 retail, stores; and the following jaanufactories, 2 ex
tensively engaged in making oil cloth for carpets &c, 1 for brushes and bellows,
surpassing it is said in quantity and quality any other in the world, 1 of tin, 1 of
guns and rifles, much employed; 2 breweries with malt houses on a large scale,
3 independent maltsteries competent to make 60,000 bushels of malt per annum;
a grist mill driven by water and another by steam, factories for making machine
cards, paints, glue, leather, ropes, nails, stoneware and brass castings; a bank,
with $120,000 capital; several extensive slaughtering and packing houses, one of
which puts up 16,000 barrels of meat'annually; and about 500 dwellings, most of
which are neat and commodious and'some of them elegant. This is a place of
much business, commercial and manufacturing. By means of the dam and lock
at Troy river, sloops ascend to the village. Many omnibuses and post coaches,
run, hourly to and from Troy; and a company was authorised in 1836, to make a
rail road between the two places.
Nassau, taken from Petersburg, Stephentown and Schodack, by the name of
Philipstown, 21st March, 180G; namechanged 6th, April, 1808; the surface though
hilly is generally arable; the valleys fertile; Soil warm loam and gravel underlaid
with slate and limestone; there is an extensive pine forest on the east, the wes
tern border of the " Greenwoods;" drained by the Taekawasiek and the Valitie,
creeks. Nassau, East Village, or East Nassau, Brainerd's Bridge, and Alps, are
post villages. Nassau, formerly called Union village, incorporated 12th March,
1819, in a pleasant vale, on the turnpike road from Albany to New Lebanon, llj
miles S. E. of the former, 18 from Troy, and on Valitie creek, has 1 Baptist, 1
Methodist, and 1 Presbyterian, churches; an academy incorporated in 1835, a grist
mill and saw mill, 1 tavern, 2 stores, and about 40 dwellings. Nassau East, at
the confluence of the Kinderhook and the Taekawasiek, creeks, 16 miles S. E. of

RENSSELAER COUNTY. 645
Albany, 19 from Troy, contains 1 Methodist and 1 Baptist, churches; 1 cotton,
1 woollen, and 1 stoneware, factories; tannery, 2 taverns, 4 stores, and from 50
to 60 dwellings. Brainerd's Bridge, upon the Kinderhook creek, 24 miles from
Troy, has a cotton and a woollen, factory, 1 tavern, 2 stores, and about 40 dwell
ings. Over the creek is a toll bridge. Alps, upon the mountain, in the N. E. an
gle of the town, 16 miles from Troy, has 2 taverns, a store, and about 20 dwell
ings. Petersburg, taken from Stephentown, 18th March, 1791; surface upon the E.
and W. mountainous; and on the W. lies Greenwood forest. The intervening
valley is fertile, with a soil of loam on slate and limestone; drained by the Little
Hoosiek creek. Petersburg Corners and Rensselaer's Mills, are post villages.
Petersburg Corners, at the junction of the Little Hoosick creek with the Hoosick
river, 33 miles N. E. from Albany, 27 from Troy, contains 1 tavern, 2 stores, 1
Methodist church, and 16 dwellings. Rensselaer's Mills, on the Little Hoosick
creek, 20 miles E. from Troy, has grist, saw, oil, carding and cloth dressing,
mills; 3 stores, 1 tavern, 1 Methodist and 1 Baptist, churches; and 20 dwellings.
The post office here bears the name of the town.
Pittstown, organised 7th March, 1788; surface uneven but generally arable;
the low Peterborough ridge crossing it from S. W. to N. E.; soil gravel, clay and
loam underlaid by slate. The Hoosick river forms the northern boundary, receiv
ing the Tomhenick creek. The Northern turnpike runs near the northern bounda
ry and the Macadamised road through Hoosick, upon the southern. The first set
tlements were commenced here in 1650. The land in general is holden in fee.—
Pittstown, Tomhenick, Johnsonsville, and Sherman's Mills, are villages. Pitts
town, village, on the Macadamised road, in a pleasant vale, 13 miles from Troy,
contains 1 Baptist church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and about 20 dwellings. Tomhenick,
on the Northern turnpike, 13 miles N. E. from Troy, has 1 grist mill, 1 Presbyte
rian and 1 Methodist, churches, 2 taverns, 3 stores, and about 20 dwellings. John-
sonville, on the Hoosick river, 19 miles from Troy, a mile N. W. from the
Northern turnpike, has 1 tavern, 3 stores, 1 grist, and 1 saw, mills, a woollen fac
tory, and about 20 dwellings-. Tlie post office called Prospect Hill, is near the
village. Sherman's Mills, 13 miles from Troy, near the Macadamised turnpike,
has 1 grist, and 1 saw, mills, 1 cotton, 1 woollen, factories, 1 store, and from 15
to 20 dwellings.
Sano Lake, taken from Greenbush and Berlin, 19th June, 1812; distant E.
from Albany 11 miles; surface hilly and broken, with much land, valuable only
for its timber, but also with some arable and fertile tracts; drained by Poesten and
Wynant's kills. The former rises in Bowman's lake, near which is another pond
ofthe same name, which in ordinary seasons pours its waters into the Taekawa
siek creek; but in floods, these sources are confounded. Six small lakes, the
largest of which, Crooked and Sand lakes, scarce exceed one mile square, feed
the streams; the lakes supply pike and pickerel, and the streams excellent trout;
several turnpike roads cross the town; marl abounds; the principal employment of
the inhabitants is preparing charcoal and lumber for market. Poestenkill, Sand
Lake, Ulines, Rensselaer, are villages. Poestenkill, on the road to Berlin, 8 miles
from Troy, has a saw mill, store, tavern, and 20 dwellings. Sand Lake, near the
centre of the town, on the eastern turnpike, 10 miles from Troy, contains 1 Pres
byterian and 1 Baptist churches, post office, 2 sattinet factories, 2 cotton factories,
1 grist and 1 saw, mills, a furnace, large tannery, tavern, 2 stores, and about 40
dwellings. Rensselaer, 12 miles from Troy, has a Methodist church, a select
school, post office, a glass manufactory, making cylinder glass, saw mill, tavern,
2 stores and 50 dwellings. Ulines, 7 miles from" Troy and Albany, upon Wy
nant's kill, has 1 Lutheran and 1 Methodist, churches, 1 grist and 1 saw, mills, 2
stores, 2 taverns, and about 50 dwellings.
Schaghticoke, said to be- corrupted from the Indian words Scacoghwank, sand
slide; and the Dutch word, Hook, or Point— anglice Sand Slide Point; the name
is also said to be derived from an Indian clan, called Sca-kooks or Scha-ti-cooks.-
Organised March, 1788, but since modified; Surface undulating; soil loam, clay
and sand, underlaid with slate, of good quality; the flats on the river have been
long noted for fertility. The Hoosick river runs westerly across the north part of
the town to the Hudson, receiving two miles from its mouth the Tomhenick creek.
The northern turnpike passes through the towfc, on which is a post office; 15 miles

646 TOPOGRAPHY.
from Albany, and 9 from Troy. About the commencement of the 17th century
some Dutch and German fanatics seated themselves here, upon -the flats, among
the Indians. Schaghticoke Point, a fine post village, on the Hoosick river, 4 miles
from its mouth, and 13 from Troy, contains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist,
churches, 4 large cotton factories, and an extensive duck sail cloth factory, 1
flouring and 1 saw, mills, 2 machine shops, 2 taverns, 8 stores and groceries, and
about 150 dwellings. Another village, for which we have no other name than the
Valley, lies on both sides of the river, partly in this and partly in Pittstown, where
are 3 large cotton factories, a grist mill, saw mill, and cloth dressing works, 2
stores, 2 taverns, and some 40 dwellings; The portions of the village are con
nected by a wooden bridge, of about 300 feet long.
Schodack, taken from Rensselaerwyck, 17 March, 1795; surface hilly, upon the
E. rough; the Hogeberg or High Hill and Prospect hill are noted objects on the N.
W.; soil clay, loam, sand and gravel; there are some extensive pine plains; the
turnpike road from Albany to Lebanon, runs S. E. across the town; Valitie creek
forms, in part, the E. boundary; Moordenaer's creek crosses it S. W. to the
Hudson, at Castleton; below which, two miles, another mill stream enters the
Hudson. A large proportion ofthe inhabitants are of Dutch origin; Schodack Centre,
Schodack Landing, and Castleton, are post villages.
Schodack Landing is on the river, 9 miles below Albany, 15 below Troy, and
contains 1 Dutch Reformed church, 3 forwarding stores, and some 20 dwellings;
Schodack Centre, is 7 miles S. E. from Albany; Castleton, on the Hudson, has
a number of dwellings; a company was incorporated in 1834, to. make a road
from this point to West Stockbridge, in Massachusetts, where it is to unite with
the great road proposed from Boston westward. Capital $300,000.
Stephentown, (from the Christian name ofthe Patroon,) organised 7th March,
1788; surface mountainous on the E. and W.; the lattercovered by the "Greenwood"
forest; the intervening valley, drained southerly by the Kinderhook creek and its
branches, has a fertile soil, of gravelly and clay loam on lime and slate, very well
cultivated, producing among other things large quantities of excellent cheese;
good roofing slate may be obtained near Lebanon springs, and lead Ores are found;
limestone abounds in detached ridges; a turnpike from Albany crosses the town
to Massachusetts. Stephentown Hollow, North Stephentown and South Stephen-
town, are post villages. , Stephentown Hollow or Centre, 21 miles fronvTroy and
Albany, contains 4 woollen factories, 1 grist and 3 saw, mills, 1 Cotton factory, 3
wool carding machines, 1 tannery, 3 stores, I tavern, 1 Presbyterian and 2 Bap
tist, churches, and from 50 to 60 dwellings. North Stephentown, 20 miles from
Troy, has a woollen factory, store and tavern, and some 20 dwellings, near Black
Brook, which drains several saw mills, and two extensive turning establishments.
South Stephentown, 24 miles from Troy, upon Kinderhook creek, has. 1 cotton fac
tory, 1 grist 2 saw, mills, tannery, store, tavern, and 30 dwellings.
Trot City; seat of justice of the county and port of delivery, lies on the Hud
son river,6 miles N. of Albany, and 157 from New York, lat. 42° 44' at the junc
tion of the Mohawk and Hudson valleys, and at the head of tide. Previous to
1836, the charter limits included an area of 3840 acres, extending 3 miles on the
river, With a breadth of l| miles. By, the act, 24th May, 1836, all that part of the
town of Lansingburg, S. of a line commencing at the N. W. corner of a 20 acre
lot, formerly of Aaron B. Hinman, and running thence due E. to the E. boundary
ofthe town of Lansingburg, was annexed, to the fourth ward of the city, and by
act 26 May, 1836, about 630 acres from the southern portion were transferred to
the town 8f Greenbush. The original patent from the Holland E. I. company, is
dated 1657, and the Indian title was extinguished in 1659. The patent was trans
ferred to Mr. Vanderheyden, in 1707. In 1787, some lots were leased on ground
rent, when within the limits of the first four wards of the city, there were but 4
dwellings, and the ground was covered with shrub oak and pine. The first house
built in the village of Vanderheyden, is still standing at the corner of Rivet and
Division streets. The village was incorporated by the name of Troy, in 1796, and
on April 2d, 1801. The city charter was granted, 12th April, 181-6, when the
plat was divided into six wards.
Mount Ida, directly in the rear of the improved part of the city, and Mount
Olympus, in the northern part, are distinguished eminences, affording command-

648 TOPOGRAPHY.
ing views of the country. The latter Is an isolated mass, 120 feet high, and may
have been an island of tlie river.
The city plat includes the river hills, with the alluvial flats. The latter hare
an average width of three-fourths of a mile, and rest on slate, at a depth of 28
feet, and below the source of most of the wells. The fine mill streams, the Po-
esten and Wynant's, kills, empty into the river within the city bounds; the former,
in the border of the compact part, and the latter, about 2 miles further sooth.
These streams combine the useful with the agreeable in an eminent degree. In
their way over the high river bank to the plain, they have a descent by cataracts
and cascades exceeding 270 feet within the city, and within4 miles, 400 feet.
The gorge, in .Mount Ida, through which the Poestenkill rushes, is very narrow,
and lined with almost perpendicular rocks, overhung with trees and shrubs of
various hues. Its steep sides have hitherto forbidden the making of a road, ex
cept for a short distance through the mountain, and will require much labour and
expense to render one practicable. The falls within view, by the road, are three.
The two upper ones have a cascade of 20 feet each, the lower one of 8 feet, with a
long and quick rapid; short rapids also intervene between the upper falls; and
the whole available fall is about 100 feet. The scenery is wild, picturesque and
beautiful. The Wynantskill has a wider valley, admitting a road through it to
the upper level of the country. It partakes, however, of the rocky rugged preci
pitous character, but with more softness than belongs to the neighbouring stream.
The compact portion of the city is built N. ofthe Poesten kill, and follows the
course of the river, which having a curve here,, has given that form to the street
immediately on its nank, for a considerable distance. The other strpets, however,
are rectangular and some of the principle ones terminate in River street. They
form blocks of 400 by 280 feet, intersected by alleys. A more convenient city
plat does not exist,and perhaps, there is none more beautifully improved. The
streets are 15, running N. and S. and 19, E. and W. generally with a width of 60
feet, have their carriage ways, covered with gravel, except River street, which is
paved with stone, and the foot ways, paved with brick or stone flags, and are com
monly planted with umbrageous trees and well lighted at the city expense. The
houses commonly built of excellent brick, and some of them of marble, are large,
neat and commodious, and the numerous public buildings, are notable for elegance.
Among the latter, attention may be particularly called to the court house, a large
marble building, with a Greciau front, and the Episcopal church, said to be one of
the finest specimens of modern Gothic architecture in the United States. The
city is abundantly watered by subterranean pipes of iron from a basin, in the
neighbouring town of Lansingburg, 72 feet above the city plain, receiving the
water from Piscawen creek. The height and volume of water are sufficient to
to furnish jets oVeaux in the city and to throw large streams, in case of fire, through
hose, without the intervention of engines. The supply of water is one and a half
millions of gallons per day; the cost of the works, $120,000, for which a large
debt still hangs on the city.
The spirit which has erected and is rapidly extending this beautiful city, is that
of trade, alike active in commerce and manufactures. For the first, it has availed
itself of the facilities afforded by the river and by the Erie and Champlain canals.
The tides of the Hudson ascend to the Poesten kill, and frequently to a dam
thrown across the river, about one and a half miles above the centre of the city,
and river sloops and small steam boats approach the wharves opposite the centre
of the city; the river isabout 700 feet wide between the wharves of East and West
Troy, hut grows broader above. By tht» pool, created by the dam which is 9 feet
high and more than 1100 feet long and a lock 114 feet long, 25 feet wide, sloops
pass to Lansingburg and Waterford; and boats may descend to Troy, after having
passed through the outlet locks of the Champlain canal, at Waterford; or they
may reach the city by the side cut in the junction canal at Watervliet, which com
municates directly with the Hudson river.
Power for manufactures is found in the Wynant's and Poesten, kills, which
has been much improved, and in the waters of the Hudson and Mohawk rivers,
under the head afforded by the dam, across the river. On the Poesten kill, there
are 1 cotton factory, of 3348 spindles, 92 looms, employing 130 hands and making
T500 yards of printing cloths per week, 4 flouring mills, competent to make 100,000
barrels of flour annually; and some distilleries. The power at the 2 upper falls is

RENSSELAER COUNTY. 649
wholly unemployed. The available fall, on the Wynant's kill, within two miles
of its mouth, is 200 feet, upon which there are 10 dams, and 2 unoccupied sites.
Commencing at the river, the works upon this stream are a grist mill with 8 runs
of stones, the Albany nail, and spike factory, and rolling and slitting mill; 2000
tons of iron may be rolled here annually, and the company make 1000 tons of nails
and 500 tons spikes, and have much power unemployed. The Troy iron and nail
factory company have the next site, and are engaged in the same business, still
more extensively; the next two sites at which there are, respectively, 10 and 15
feet fall, have no mills on them; at the 6th fall, is an extensive paper mill; at the
7th, two grist mills, one of three and the other of two runs of stones; and the 8lh,
Which is at Albia village, drives the Troy wool and cotton factory, having above
2000 spindles and 60 looms, making half a million of yards of cloth per annum; and
the Troy woollen factory working up about 12,000 lbs. of wool per month, in the
fabric of sattinets and flannels. This village, however, is not within the city
bounds. It contains, besides the mills, 1 tavern, 2 stores, 1 Methodist and 1 Pres
byterian, churches, a district school, and about 40 dwellings. About the two iron
works, within a mile, there is a village containing some 60 dwellings, to which
the appropriate name of Cascadilla has lately been given.
There are some inconsiderable hydraulic works upon a small stream which
flows from the hills across the city plat; and a mill has lately been erected upon
the dam over the Hudson.
Upon the dam, on the E. side, 12 mill sites have been prepared and more may
be added, employing half the water of the Hudson; and like power may be had
on the W. side on Green or Tibbett's island; to which point also the waters of the
lower sprout of the Mohawk are about to be directed, and will greatly increase
the water power here.
But the manufactures of Troy are not confined to such as require the aid of
water power.
Among the manufacturing and mechanical establishments in the city, are two
air furnaces, which melt annually about 600 tons of pig iron; two steam engine
factories and machine shops, very extensive and full of employment; four tallow
chandler factories which work up 700,000 lbs. of tallow yearly; one shovel and
spade factory, the annual products of which are about 500 dozen; three breweries,
annual products averaging 15,000 barrels of beer; four tanneries, I morocco facto
ry, and other leather establishments, their annual products averaging in amount
about {$375,000; two burr mill stone factories, employing a capital of about
$20,000; three plaster mills, employing a capital of at least $20,000; two estab
lishments for bleaching and calendering; one rope walk, which works up a yearly
average of about 120,000 lbs. of flax and hemp; two extensive carriage factories,
which have made 150 stages and other carriages the past year; one extensive bell
and brass foundry. There are about 100 vessels owned in this city, transporting
annually to and from Troy, 232,000 tons of produce and merchandise — 5 of which
are steam boats, 1,400 tons burthen, and ten are tow boats of 1,500 tons burthen.
These tow boats transport annually to and from the city, property to the amount
of more than 66,000 tons. The canal trade of Troy has nearly doubled since
1829, and the general trades of the city have increased from 1830 to 1835,
about 50 per cent. The trade of Troy by land is with an extensive range of
country E. and N. and within which there are 67 cotton factories, using annually
more than 3,500,000 lbs. of cotton; 40 woollen factories, making up annually
more than 1,000,000 lbs. of wool. The merchants and millers have in one season
purchased more than 500,000 bushels of wheat, 150,000 bushels of other grain,
35,000 barrels of provisions, besides large quantities of lard, butter, cheese, and
other kinds of country produce.
The liberal enterprise of the inhabitants is in no subject more conspicuous than
in their roads. The Troy and Sand Lake turnpike, leads S. E. from the city to
wards Lebanon Springs, Massachusetts and Connecticut. The Brunswick and
Pittstown road, runs easterly in the valley of the Poesten kill. The Northern
turnpike passes hence into Washington county: And from W. Troy, the Troy and
Schenectady turnpike, (14 miles) connects wjth the great Western turnpike.
The Troy Macadams and Rail, road, leading from Hoosick Street, N.- E. to
Bennington and Pownal, in Vermont; paved upon the Macadams plan, and hav
ing' many fine stone bridges, is nearly completed. The Company have power and
82

650

TOPOGRAPHY.

propose to lay rails upon it, to connect with a rail road from Bennington by Brat-
telboro and Lowell, to Boston.
The Rensselaer and Saratoga rail road, 24 miles to Ballston Spa, has been
completed: — Crossing the river, from the end of Federal street, by a bridge 1600
feet in length, resting upon eight piers of cut stone, and adapted to carriages of
ordinary construction as well as to those peculiar to the rail road, with a capa
cious draw way, and raised 30 feet above high water. The superstructure is of
timber, and 34 feet wide, covered. From this bridge to Waterford, four and a half
miles, the road passes three sprouts of the Mohawk river, upon bridges with stone
abutments. From Waterford it follows the margin of the Hudson, to Mechan
icsville, 8 miles; thence, turning W. runs 12 miles to Ballston Spa. The
greatest ascent in any one mile is 25 feet. On the first 12} miles the average as
cent is less than 10 feet per mile, and steam locomotives are consequently used with
great advantage.
A bridge about to be erected from Tibbett's Island to the shore, on the S. will
directly connect East and West Troy. These means of intercommunication have
made Troy a great thoroughfare between the country on the E. and W. N.and S.
Companies were authorised, respectively, in 1836, to 'make rail roads, from
Troy to Schenectady — from West Troy to Schenectady — from Troy to Lansing
burg — and from Troy to West Stockbridge.
The city proper, contains 2 Episcopal, 3 Presbyterian, 1 Scotch Presbyterian, 1
Baptist, churches; 1 Methodist church for whites, and one for colored persons, 1
Universalist, 1 Catholic, churches, -and 2 Friends meeting houses; 2 seminaries
for females, one much noted as the "Troy Female Seminary," under Jhe care of
Mrs. Willard, in a house erected specially for the purpose by the city; the
Rensselaer Institute, founded by Mr. Stephen Van Rensselaer; a Lyceum of Natu
ral History, having an extensive and valuable mineralogical cabinet; an academy
incorporated. May 5th, 1834, a Lancastrian school, competent for the reception
of 360 pupils, and a full proportion of public and select schools; 3 daily and two
weekly papers; an orphan asylum, incorporated, 10th April, 1835, with authority
to receive, inter alia, children chargeable to the county; a house of industry, and
the county prison. Its hotels are large and commodious and we may name the
Troy House, the Mansion House, Mechanic Hall, National Hotel, Washington
Hall, Frankiin House, and Northern Hotel as the most distinguished.
There are four banks, whose aggregate capital is gl,318,000; (see page 275)
and 3 insurance companies, aggregate capital, $801,731, (see page 271.)
There are 155 canal boats, of from 30 to 40 tons burthen, owned by the several
transportation companies in the city, beside many owned by individuals.
West Troy, comprising Gibbonsville, Watervliet and Port Schuyler, upon the
Albany side of the river, is properly a suburb of Troy. This village was incor
porated in 1836. It contains more than 500 dwellings, and by the late census
"3299 inhabitants; the Watervliet Bank, incorporated in 1836, capita! $150,000;
an India rubber manufactory, incorporated in 1835. It has a valuable water
power, derived from the Junction canal, and used at the U. S. Arsenal and at other
points. Outlet locks connect the canal with the river. Many of the inhabitants
of Troy conduct business here, and a constant communication is kept up by three
steam boats, plying over the narrow channel. This village enjoying all the ad
vantages of navigation possessed by Troy, grows rapidly. The Arsenal com
prises several extensive buildings of stone, and brick, in which there is a large
quantity of arms'with work shops for their repair. The arms are arranged with
taste and kept in fine order. Among the cannon in the yard, are some pieces ta
ken at Saratoga; others captured at Yorktown; others presented to the U. S. by
Louis XIV. with some cast in New York and Philadelphia, during the revolution.
Another suburb of Troy, called "North Troy," has been laid out upon Tibbett's
Island, which must soon become a place of milch importance, as it is the main
depot of the rail road, and has the advantage of a vast hydraulic power.
RENSSELAERWYCK OR MANOR OF RENSSELAER. This princely
estate was purchased, in 1630, from the aborigines, by Killian Van Rensselaer,
under the provisions ofthe charter granted by the Dutch East India Company,
in 1629. It extends 24 miles north and south along the Hudson river, with a
breadth of 24 miles; of which area the city of Albany, is near the centre. It com
prises, we believe, the greater part of Albany county, except the city of Albany;
all Rensselaer county, except the townB of Schaghticoke, Pittstown and Hoosick.

RENSSELAER COUNTY.

651

The purchases from the Indians, were, from time to time, duly confirmed by the
Dutch authorities, and by letters patent under the English government, granted by
Governor Dongan,4th March, 1685. The Patroons of the manor claimed, under the
Dutch administration, the right to exercise extensive and exclusive political powers,
which was a source of frequent disputes with the governor; but this pretensions
does not appear to have been preferred after the English conquest.
The annual value of this estate has been stated, (we know not how correctly,)
at much more than $100,000. The entire estate has descended under the entail
ment to the present distinguished possessor, who purposes, it is said, to break the
entail, and distribute it among his children. Much of the land is granted on
permanent leases, rendering rent in wheat, payable at the Manor House, in Albany.

Females.
Births.
Deaths .
p
13
PUS'',
jotr i
= £
TOWNS.
¦CcM !
t3 M
CCJ
ca
cdp
03ap
¦a |j
g p
•cftij
¦E>> S3 fi*.
Oil
co
cap
cag
crjP
CO
313
1820.
1815,
1830^
1835.
S
o
>
<
Si\
t=-°
CS
s
CO
b,
s
p
b,
Troy City,
1st ward,
2598
3837
337
712
230
573
499
679
2
42
5!)
22
21
Sd ward,
2865
3593
322
562
242
518
575
6H9
39
63
69
26
32
3d ward,
1435
2451
210
445
90
330
363
370
9
11
23
8
14
4th ward,
3344
5447
416
979
451
940
564
996
68
172
144
79
57
5th ward,
739
683
19
103
42
79
124
124
10
13 11
2
8
tit!* ward,
'575
948
29
108
137
138
51
180
9
33
27
51
36
Total,
5264
7859
11556
16959
1333
2909
1192
2584
2176
3038
130
334
338
188 168
Berlin,
1986
1989
2019
1757
181
413
6
214
163
366
2(1
34
33
14
13
Brunswick,
2318
2478
2575
2679
260
557
39
317
251
564
26
39
34
32
15
Grafton,
1611
1593
16S1
1682
146
385
245
109
408
2(1
56
41
30
14
QreRnbnsh,
2764
2914
3216
3345
2(i0
667
104
413
283
692
13
64
55
33
22
Hoosick,
3373
3481
3584
3325
364
'720
46
413
332
698
34
63
51
29
Hi
Lansingburg,
2035
2423
2663
3268
269
694
163
428
369
628
28
7(1
77
40
25
Nassau,
2873
2935
3255
3227
328
681
30
428
345
733
3f
fi(i
49
22
21
Petersburg,
2248
2088
2011
1950
152
440
6
235
195
394
1£
34
36
11
19
Pittstown,
3772
3746
3702
3919
341)
827
137
496
389
817
44
7f
74
3S
26
Sand Lake,
3302
3426
3650
3840
299
781
80
493
313
834
27
51
69
27
28
Schaghticoke,
Schodack,
2522
2924
3002
3243
306
586
125
377
380
737
If
fit
¦74
34
22
3493
3506
3794
3793
361
816
124
442
349
771
3J
(it
53
3(1
17
Stephentown,
2592
2703
2716
2528
251
543
29
321
225
534
16
40
52
23
16
40153
44065
49424
55515
4859
11018
2081
7406
5879:112141 456
1069
1036
54b
422
Note.— Males, 27,45b'
Females, 28,059; Paupers, 182; Blacks, 1009; Black voters, 13: Deaf and Dumb,
22; Blind; £6: Idiots, 29; Lunatics, 30.
TOWNS.
e
S - p
3*
CS CS
o. p
Assessed va lue ofper sonal
estate.
3 p
O
Cltno
a
do ty
js\tn
01GS
tn
tp >,
tp 3~p
b,
pio p
a"
p
«8
co" ti,
G G
o P
-_- 9
O —
O
soa >.Gp o
O
CO
Troy City,
1
1st ward,
138
75 ' 188
27!)
2d ward,
33:
69 163
1
151
3d ward,
23 96
35
3
4th ward,
55
244
204
600
475
1 5th ward,
770
179
64
113
190
40
134
45
6 th ward.
1235
286
103
295
263
35
63
Total,
3840
2539
2551047
2327194
876; 818
1009
1393
84
197
45
14982
1936
Berlin,
44735
18164
190123
19095
2432 575
10542
1391
3100
8270
41743
642
650
Brunswick,
28048
21604
391731
47730
2983
1149
5710
432;
3753
3994
4588
1349
737
Grafton,
28943
11745
123007
19591
1802
500
4569
1021
2721
2498
6766
437
256
Greenbush,
27269
18326
-436304
43300
2425
1042
3683
1860
23:3
1593
2472
1472
590
Hoosick,
37170
30696
530998
106779
3287
1119
37807
5014
3180
4643
6130
1957
641
Lansingburg,
*5345
5472
319230
368172
627
425
3676
1138
465
432
174
2110
609
Nassau,
26638
19208
276625
39425
2732
865
5358
2482
3532
4472
5542
970
854
Petersburg,
26846
16387
167787
19317
2322
652
9666
1723
4233
4942
32024
574
851
Pittstown,
38734
31056
557461
14639E
3532
1322
19697
5081)
5299
5610
9552
2161
634
Schaghticoke,
26414
19774
309606
57177
2273
896
8116
4790
2912
3120
3352
1372
851
Schodack,
33465
27664
53544(
10440C
2321
1291
7625
4174
4468
6179
4706
1964
825
34992
20129
226680
19607
2698
709
11933
1738
4247
5683
5421
756
666
Sand Lake,
41507
20555
374498
31772
3272
1166
5822 2747
i
4167
5694
5821
1247
739
403946
263319
7070S37
3350957
34582
12529
135213 38882
44474 56327
128336 31995
10839
* Supervisor's return.
652

TOPOGRAPHY.

TOWNS.

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s s
- CS
5 02
4
22
8 3 5
2 12
1 30
2 2
5 4
2 2 7
1 5
5 21
5 27
2 7
I 8
1 16
1 144
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Troy City,
1st ward,
3d ward,
3d ward,
4th ward,
5th ward,
6th ward,

Total,
Berlin,
Brunswick,Grafton,
Greenbush,
Hoosick, Lansingburg,
Nassau,
Petersburg,
Pittstown,Sand Lake,
Schaghticoke,Schodack,Stephentown,
59
15
1012
21 3
1416171913
21 17
1203 208267 174
334
359
280319211381377311
397282
472502286309975
1014 193
845411
1298 844'
12201104 584:
979
546 743
515815
1005 376
1015 652
10771013 693375774
i 4
Value of product, -
2 1 127
192
5103 10057
11078
E
sa.
Value of material, jgctnezCO
3 O CO
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DO©
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Number of children above
5 and under 16 years of
age, 13,824.
* Nothing done.
RICHMOND,* an original county, organised 1st November, 1683, comprises
Staten Island, Shooter's Island, and the islands of meadow on the west side of
Staten Island, with all the waters, and lands under water, of the state, around the
same, situate southward and westward of the middle of the main channel of the
bay and harbour of New York, as far as the bounds of the state extend. Staten
Island is about 14 miles long, and its greatest breadth is 8; mean breadth 5 miles.
It is centrally distant 12 miles from New York. The* southern extremity is in
40° 29' N. Lat.; and its western, 16' W. Long, from that city. It is separated
from Long Island on the east, by New York bay and the Narrows, and from
New Jersey on the N. and W. by the Kill van Kull, or Arthur Kull (Achter Kul,
Dutch,) sound, and by Staten Island sound. The Kill, from Bergen Point, in
New York bay, to Newark bay is 3, and the Sound, from the latter bay to Raritan
bay, 15 miles, long. The whole strait has a breadth, commonly much under, and
no where exceeding, half a mile. Its course, though devious, is generally S. E.
It is the ordinary passage for the steamboats plying between New Brunswick,
Amboy, and New York; and as tin tide flows from both bays into the strait, and
from it into both bays, the navigator never has the current with him through the
whole length ofthe channel.
The shores of the Kill are bold, rocky, and high; but from Newark bay, for
several miles, that of the island is covered by a broad marsh, to the Old Blazing
Star ferry, or Rossville, where it again becomes high, clean, and rolling; and so
continues, with little exception, to and around Raritan and Sandy Hook bays to
the Narrows; and upon New York bay preserves this character. There are seve
ral ferries across the strait.
Staten Island is based upon primitive rock, which rises near its centre, into a
ridge, with a breadth varying from 1 to 2 miles, running longitudinally through
* For map of Richmond, see page 494, and the general map.
RICHMOND COUNTY. 653
it, approaching, at either end, to the Sound. Tompkins Hill, above the quaran
tine ground, is 310 feet high; but the ridge sinks suddenly 7 miles on the east,
near the courthouse; and has, thence, an inconsiderable elevation to the south
west end ofthe island.
A species of steatite, containing veins of common, indurated, and scaly talc,
amianthus, and most of the varieties of asbestus, and some chromate of iron, con
stitutes the nucleus ofthe whole mountain range and elevated ground of the eastern
division of the island. This steatite approaches in most places within a foot and
a half of the surface, an* appears in small angular loose blocks, wherever the soil
has been removed. Its colour is a greenish yellow; it is brittle, very adhesive to
the tongue, but little unctuous, and probably contains more alumine and less mag
nesia than steatites in general. Much of it decomposes when exposed to the air
and moisture, and forms a good mould, whenever the descent of the ground per
mits an accumulation of earth. It is not improbable, that in most places of the
Staten Island hills, where magnesia constitutes a considerable ingredient of the
rock, it will be found saturated with carbonic acid, obviating the objection to
common magnesian minerals in agriculture.
The minerals observed on the surface of the northeast part ofthe chain of hills
are, secondary greenstone, asbestoid, sandstone, granite, and gneiss, sparingly
scattered in rolled masses. In addition to these rocks, in the middle and western
partof the chain, a mineral of uncommon appearance is observed. It is composed
principally of quartz, rough, with numerous cells of various forms, in which small
siliceous crystals are generally found: the veins, or plates of quartz that intersect
each other, often embrace talc and oxide of iron, which, decomposing, give some
specimens the appearance of volcanic origin. Associated with cellular ferrugi
nous quartz, brown haematite is often observed; this valuable ore often yields
eighty percent, of iron of best quality; its fibres assume a variety of shapes; they
were observed at Staten Island straight and curved, radiating Irom a centre, and
exhibiting the stalactical, cylindrical, and botryoidal forms, often displaying a
black polished surface and glistening lustre. Ferruginous minerals are abundant
on the mountain for several miles. A granular oxide, called by miners shot-ore,
from its being principally composed of spherical grains of various sizes, was often
noticed, and appears in some places in extensive beds: it is easily fused, and af
fords a large per centage of good iron for castings. A heavy ore with a smooth
surface, and some lustre, bearing a considerable resemblance to native iron, is
often seen. Of these ores, some thousand tons are annually exported to the Jersey
and other furnaces. Banks of white sand, resembling the siliceous particles of
the seashore, are noticed on the mountain tops, containing masses of compact,
heavy ferruginous sandstone, similar to the rocks of our alluvial seaboard. Large
beds of water-worn siliceous pebbles, in no way differing from those washed by
the ocean, are seen on the height of the ridge, in which excavations have been
made several feet, leaving the depth of the mass uncertain. On some of the emi
nences, for a considerable extent, vegetation is entirely excluded by an iron-bound
soil. Iron ore, imbedded iii an earth coloured by, and partly composed of, oxide
of iron, occupies the surface; and chalcedony and radiated quartz are sometimes
observed on the primitive ridge. The ridge is much covered with forest trees,
oak, hickory, walnut, and chestnut, but they are small, and chiefly of after growth.
The district between the mountain and the Narrows, the thickly settled and
well cultivated plain bordering Amboy bay, and much of the western division of
the island, are alluvial. Adjacent to Fort Tompkins, detached pieces of copper
ore have been found. Petrifactions of marine shells in rocks excavated in that
neighbourhood, twenty feet from the surface, and sixty above the ocean, have been
observed. Except at the primitive range, there are in no part of the island large beds of
rock in place; but rolled masses of greenstone, sandstone, gneiss, granite, red jas
per, and indurated clay, appear in general sparingly, but sometimes in abundance
on the surface. Lignite has been found in small quantities in the western part.
A chalybeate spring, of no great strength, is the only mineral water in Richmond
county. The ponds, wells, and streams contain a soft water, holding no lime in
solution. (See Mr. Pearce's Mem. 1 Silliman's Journal 54.)
The higher and naked points of the hill, afford varied and delightful prospects.
Hence, in a clear day, may be seen the ever growing city with its painted steeples

654 TOPOGRAPHY.
and gilded spires, hemmed in by a forest of masts ; the broad bay, studded with
fairy islands, and whitened by the canvass of an hundred ships, overhung by
small dark clouds, strongly relieved against the-deep blue skyv which proceed from
the many steam boats moving upon the waters, like things of life — Long Island
with its swelling hills and richly cultivated farms ; the coast of New Jersey in a
circular sweep of 40 miles, from Paulus Hook to the Nevesink hills and Sandy
Hook light house ; and last, but not least, the wide Atlantic, opening between the
Hook and Long Island.
These beautiful sites were long neglected, but have attracted notice of late years,
and some of them have been, and others are about to be, built upon. Lands on the
island, generally, have risen much in value, and lots upon the sound and bay are sold
at, apparently, extravagant prices. The lands on the bay and Kills have been laid
out, in village lots, and many new buildings and commodious landings have been
constructed thereon. From the point atNew, York Bay, along the Kills, to a point
nearly opposite to Elizabethtown landing, a distance of five miles the shore has
an almost unbroken street, in which neat country seats and snug boxes of the
citizens blend with the cottages of farmers, mechanics, fishermen and watermen,
who are the permanent inhabitants. This village containing between three and four
hundred houses, is divided into three portions, having separate names. The
southerly is called Northfield; the central, F.iCtoryville, from an extensive dyeing
and bleaching establishment, which au incorporated company of New York city
have founded here, and at which are employed from 150 to 200 hands; and the third,
upon the heights, overlooking the bay, where are many new and ornamental
dwellings, has received the name of New Brighton. From landings along the
sound, communication may b<- had almost hourly with New York by steam boats,
rendering this part of the island a convenient residence for men of business.
Upon New York Bay, lie the villages of Tompkinsville and Southfield.
The soil of the island consists of clay and sandy loam, and with due husband
ry produces good crops of oats, corn and grass. Little wheat is raised, much less
than is required for the use of the inhabitants : large quantities of hay are sent to
the city, few cattle being fed on the island. The fish called Moss Bankers are
much used for manure, being taken in great abundance upon the southern coast.
The island produces little fruit, not enough for domestic supply. The price for
land, in farms, ranges from 50 to 100 dollars the acre; but in small portions is
much greater.
Many of the inhabitants subsist by the fisheries. The muddy bottom of
Staten Island Sound produces an inexhaustible supply of oysters; which, though
not originally of good quality, being transported to ihe beds in Raritan Bay, soon
grow large and acquire a fine delicate flavor. The Raritan Bay affords also excel
lent clams, and those from the Great Kills, an inlet from the bay in Southfield, are
in high repute. The Shad and Herring fisheries are productive.
In a military view, the island is one of the most important positions upon the
coast; its possessor having the command of New York bay and the adjacent
country. It was so deemed by the British, in the revolutionary war, and was the
first place seized by Sir William Howe, (July 4, 1776.) It was retained by the
royal forces during, the whole contest. Preparatory to the war of 1812, there
were erected very extensive and efficient fortifications, known as forts Tompkins,
Richmond and Hudson, at the Narrows opposite to Fort Fayette, on Long Island.
These forts completely protect the strait, which is but 1760 yards wide. Upon
Signal Hill, back of the forts, overlooking the Harbour, Sandy Hook, and a great
extent of sea, is a telegraph communicating with the city.
Staten Island was purchased from its Indian inhabitants for Michael Pauw,
one of the directors of the West India company, together with an extensive tract in
Bergen county, in New Jersey, by deed dated August 10, 1630, and the whole
tract received the name of Pavonia.
It was a very desirable spot with the primitive Dutch settlers, and the Indians,'who
seem never to have considered themselves to lose right of possession by sale, were al
ways willing to convey for a consideration, sold the Island, about the year 1638, to
the Heer Melyn with the permission of Governor Kieft; and subsequently, in 1657,to
the Baron Van Cappellan. Melyn and Van Cappellan, both made improvements;
but the colony settled by the latter, was broken up by the savages from the Raritan,

RICHMOND COUNTY. 655
who murdered his people. Melyn subsequently obtained the exclusive title, and
claiming to be independent of New Amsterdam gave Governor Stuyvesant much
trouble. On the 14 June, 1659, he conveyed his rights to the company. This Island
was again purchased from the Indians by Governor Lovelace, April 18, 1670.
The post offices, are. City ville, Richmond, Richmond Valley and Tompkinsville.
A company was incorporated,iu 1836,for making a rail road over the Island, which,
will form a connecting link between the Long Island and the Camden and Amboy
rail roads.
The county is divided into four towns, all of which were organised 7th March
1788. Castleton, upon the Kills and New York bay, has a length of 6, and breadth
of 3 miles, and is the most hilly and broken town of the county. It contains the
village cf Factoryville, where are about 100 dwellings, the dyeing and printing es
tablishment above mentioned, and a manufactory of gum elastic cloths; the
material used in the former for one year is valued at $820,000, and the product at
{§976,000; the material used in the latter for four months of 1835, valued at
{57000, and the product at $15,000; the beautifully situated village of New Brigh-
ton, above noticed; and the post village of Tompkinsville, upon the bay, distant 5.35
miles from New York. At the last are the Quarantine ground and three hipspi-
tals, one appropriated to cases of pestilence, and the others for patients suffering
under ordinary diseases. ' These buildings, contained in a spacjcus inclosed area,
are finely situated on the slope of the hill, and show to great advantage. The
village has several streets, and the older portions of it near the water, are compact
ly built. It contains several public houses, among which the Pavilion, upon the
brow of the hill, is most conspicuous; several stores, about 140 dwellings, 1
Dutch Reformed and 1 Episcopal, churches. A fine cove below the village aft
fords excellent anchorage ground for shipping, and a supply of pure water for
ships' use may be obtained in the village. The seat of the late Vice President
Tompkins is upon the apex ofthe hill above the Quarantine establishment.
Northfield, on the N. W. end ofthe island, and upon the Kills, of which we
have already spoken, has upon the S. W. some pleasant plains well cultivated,
bordered by broad marshes, and upon the ridge are some well managed farms. A
well constructed road runs over the ridge to the New Ferry across the Sound, and
another follows the Kills near to the marshes, and thence runs to the court house.
We have already noticed the village upon the Kills, and shall merely add here,
that it contains 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, and 1 Presbyterian, churches, several ta
verns and stores, 2 tide grist mills, and 3 fresh water mills. Here, also, is a beau
tiful building of stone, with marble front, portico, and columns, appropriated to an
eleemosynary institution for decayed seamen, called the " Sailor's Snug Harbour."
This charity was founded by the testament of Robert Richard Randall, in 1801,
who bequeathed to it a landed estate in the city of New York, which has greatly
improved in value. The income of the fund in 1834 was $32,315. The Asylum
on the island was opened on the 1st August, 1833, from which time, to the 31st
December, relief was afforded to44 disabled seamen. There are in the town 4 grist
mills; material used valued at $14,500, and product at $16,000; 2 saw mills;
product $ 1000.
Southfield, on the S. E. side of the island, has a diversified surface, hilly on
the N. and level on the S. There is an extensive tract of marsh, or salt meadow,
around the " Great Kills;" a celebrated shad fishery at the Narrows, where are
also Forts Tompkins, Richmond, and Hudson, and the Signal Hill. The village
of Richmond, 13 miles from New York, lies partly in this town and partly in
the towns of Northfield and Westfield, and contains 1 Episcopal and 1 Presbyte
rian churches; the county court house, a small ancient building of wood; the jail,
also small, of brick, which happily is rarely tenanted; 3 taverns, 2 stores, and 12
dwellings; a printing office, publishing the Richmond County Free Press. Ves
sels approach within three-fourths of a mile of v the village by the Fresh Kills
Near the Narrows, a new village has lately been laid out, in which there are some
30 or 40 dwellings, a very large and magnificent hotel, and in the vicinity the
Commercial Navy Hospital, a noble stone edifice erected by the state. Upon the
heights around the village are numerous country seats.
Westfield, at the S. W. extremity of the island, is separated from Northfield,
by the inlet qalled the " Fresh kills;" the snrfaoe is comparatively level; soil

656

TOPOGRAPHY.

sandy loam, mixed with clay. There is a ferry at the S. W.r point over the Sound
to Perth Amboy, and another at Rossville, formerly known as the Old Blazing
Star Ferry. Rossville, a growing village, has its name from the proprietor of a
considerable tract of land here, and of a large frame mansion, built in the gothic
style. The village contains one other fine mansion, a large and conftmodious ho
tel, store, and steamboat landing, and some 25 small dwellings. Prince's bay,
an inlet from Raritan bay, noted for the excellent qnality of its oysters, affords a
safe harbour for vessels headed by a N. E. storm. There are in the town 2
grist mills; material used, $7125; product, $8312.

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Note. Males, 3,913; Females, 3,778; Blacks, 429; Black voters, 3; Blind, 6; Idiots, 8; Lunatics, 5.
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ROCKLAND COUNTY, taken from Orange, 23d February, 1798; bounded
S. and S. W. by the line of Westchester county, where it crosses the Hudson
river, and the division line between this state and the state of New Jersey; E. by
the middle of Hudson's river; N. and N. W. by a line drawn from the middle of
the river, west, to the mouth of Poplopen'S kill, and running thence on a direct
course to the 26 mile stone standing in the said division line, between this state
and the state of New Jersey. Greatest length 23, greatest breadth 18, miles, area
151 square miles, by the supervisor's returns; situate between 41° and 41° 19' N.
L.; 2° 42' and 3° 2' E. long. It forms a triangle, having' the Hudson for its base
on the E. Orange county on the N. W. and Bergen county, of New Jersey, upon
the S. E.
This county, comprising the extreme southern angle of the state, upon the W.
of the Hudson, has generally a broken surface, which in the W. and N. W. be
comes mountainous; the Highlands or Matteawan ridge crossing it there.
The Closter mountain, or Palisade range, enters the county from Bergen, N. J.
on the margin of the river, and sinking into a low ridge recedes westerly, and form
ing a curve, resumes the margin of the river above Verdrieteje's hook. This ridge,
known as the Nyack hills, is remarkable for its excellent brown red sand stone,
abundantly used in the cities of New York and Albany. North of the hook the ridge
rises to the height of 668 feet, and further towards the N. VV. some of its sum
mits attain 1000 feet. Near the village of Nyack, the bones of land animals have
been found beneath the stratum of sandstone, eight feet thick, in a stratum of loam,
upon which was placed one of arable soil four feet thick.
Between these hills and the highlands is a tolerably fertile valley, in which the
Saddle river has its source, and through which it flows south some 8 or 10 miles;
whilst a creek runs N. E, into the Hudson, at the head of Haverstraw bay. Be-
ROCKLAND COUNTY.

657

ORANGE C?

tween the Nyack hills and the Hudson is a champaign country, known as the
Nyack valley; and N. of the hills, between Verdrieteje's hook and Stony Point lies
the plain of Haverstraw.
The Nyack hills are of secondary formation, based on old red sand stone, and
capped with green stone; but the Matteawan ridge, here called the west or Ramapo
mountain, is of primitive, in which are found, granite, gneiss, mica, feldspar, horne-
blende and other rocks belonging to the class. Limestone abounds in the val
leys, and magnetic iron ore in the hills; upon the south of the Highlands, the
whole country is underlaid with red sand stone; and the soil under careful culti
vation produces fair crops of wheat and, grass. Arable lands range from 40 to 60 dol
lars the acre. Some traces of copper have been discovered.
Besides the Saddle river, which is a tributary of the Passaic, Rockland county
sends forth the Hackensack river, and several of its branches, which drain the
Nyack valley. The Ramapo river, also a branch ofthe Passaic, rising in Sterling
mountain, Orange county, crosses this county in Ramapo town, winding its way
through the Highlands. There are some small ponds on the mountain, which
abound with fish.
Dobb's Ferry, Stony Point, Fort Clinton, and the Pass, were notable fortified
positions during the revolutionary war. The Erie railroad will probably commence
atTappan landing, on the Hudson, though other points near it have also been re
garded in the surveys.
This county includes all that part of Orange, which was settled when that
county was erected, except so much thereof as fell to New Jersey, upon the de
termination ofthe boundary. Orangetown, now in Rockland, was the capital of
the county, until 1737, when a court house and jail were built at Goshen, in
Orange, and tfhe courts were holden at the two places alternately. About 1774, the
court house and jail at Orangetown having been destroyed by fire, and part of the
village having been transferred to New Jersey, public buildings were erected at
the " New City," then in the precinct of Haverstraw.
By an act of 1836, the superintendents' ofthe poor were authorised to purchase
a farm, and to erect a county poor house thereon.
The county is divided into four towns.
Clarkstown, taken from Haverstraw, 18th March, 1791; on the W. bank of
83

658 TOPOGRAPHY.
the Hudson river, 117 miles S. from Albany; 28 N. ..from New York; surface
generally hilly; the Nyack ridge running on the W. and N. Between the hills and
the river on the W. is the valley of the Hackensack river; the stream rising from
some springs near the N. boundary, bears the name of Demarest's kill. Tappan
and Haverstraw bays bound the town on the E. New City and Clarkstown are
post villages; near Verdrieteje's Hook is a natural pond, about a mile broad, which
abounds with pike and other fish. The town is inhabited chiefly by descendants
of the primitive Dutch settlers, who maintain the simplicity, industry and thrift
of their ancestors. Clarkstown, village, on the W. side of the Hackensack river,
about 5 miles from the Hudson, to which there is a direct road, contains 1
woollen and cotton factory, 1 Dutch Reformed church, 1 grist and 1 saw, mill, and
some 12 or 15 dwellings. The New City contains the court house and jail in a
stone building, the county offices kept in the dwellings of the officers, 2 taverns,
1 store, and 10 or 12 dwellings, chiefly of wood, 1 grist and 1 saw, mills. Nyack
and Nyack turnpike are the names of post offices.
Haverstraw, organised 7th March, 1788; 109 miles S. from Albany, and 36 N.
from New York; surfacemountainous, with fertile valleys; on the S. E. however,
there is some level land in the neighbourhood of the village of Warren; the soil on
the W. and generally in the vales, consists of clay or clay loam, underlaid with gra
nite; but at the foot of the Highlands, in the N. it rests upon granular limestone.
The country was early settled by the Dutch. Stony Point, gallantly captured from
the British during the revolutionary war, on the night of the 15th July, 1777, is at
the N. W. extremity of Haverstraw bay; north of which is the Dunderberg or
Thunder mountain. There are several landings upon the river, but the only vil
lages ofthe town are Warren and Sampsondale. The streams are numerous, but
small; yet from their great fall, furnish good mill seats. Warren* upon the river,
near the S. line, upon a handsome flat, contains 2 Methodist churches, 1 academy,
5 stores, 3 taverns, and between 50 and 60 dwellings, 1 printing office, issuing a
weekly paper, a ship yard, 2 extensive brick yards, a steam boat, and 2 sloops
plying to New York; the place increases steadily. Sampsondale, 2 miles from tlie
river, has 1 Presbyterian church, an academy, Phelps's iron wire factory, on an ex?
tensive scale, a rolling and slitting mill, at which large quantities of sheet iroa
and zinc are made, a large chemical factory, 3 stores, and about 30 d wellings, prin
cipally for the accommodation of the workmen at the factories. Grassy Point,. 2
miles N. of Warren, is a landing for the steam boats, where is a large, commo
dious hotel, much frequented in the summer season by boarders from New York.
About 2 miles above the point are some beds of variegated marble, said to be yery
beautiful and highly valuable. There is a light house on Stony Point.
Haverstraw bay is an expansion ofthe Hudson river, forming a beautiful sheet
of water, 4 miles broad, by about 6 miles long; extending from Teller's to Ver-
plank's Points. It is about 36 miles N. from New York, and is divided bora
Tappan bay by Teller's Point. There are two post offices in the town, called re
spectively, Haverstraw and North Haverstraw.
Orangetown, organised 7th March, 1788; 28 miles N. of New \ork; 142 S,
of Albany; surface somewhat hilly, the Nyack hills running near the E, boundary;
drained by the Hackensack river. The soil is clay, blended with red shale, and
tolerably productive. Tappan, Slote landing, Nyacic and Middletown, are villages.
The grave of Major Artdre was in this town, but his remains have been conveyed
to England. Tappan, village, about 3 miles S. W. from Slote landing, contains
1 Dutch Reformed church, 2 taverns, several stores, and between 30 and 40 dwell
ings, 1 grist mill; surrounded by a fertile and well cultivated country. Slote, oi
Tappan landing, on the river, 25 miles above New York, has 1 Baptist church,
2 grist mills, 5 taverns, 6 stores, and about 40 dwellings, extending to the
New landing on the river, and along the creek. The line of the Erie railroad
commences here. Middletown, 6 miles from Slote landing, has 1 store, 1 tavern,
and 8 or 10 dwellings, and 1 Baptist church. Nyack, on the river, 28 miles from
New York, is a thriving village, containing 3 taverns, 3 stores, 1 Presbyterian, 1
Methodist, churches, and about 50 dwellings. A steam boat and several sloops
belong here; and much trade is carried on in stone, &c. The post offices of the
town are called, respectively, Tappan, Tappantown and Blauveltville.
Ramapo, taken from Haverstraw, 18th March, 1791, and called New Hemp- '
stead; altered March 3d, 1797, to Hempstead, and by the revised statutes to Ra-

ROCKLAND COUNTY.

659

mapo} centrally distant N. W. from New York 33, and from Albany, S. 116 miles;
surface hilly, generally, and on the W. mountainous; the Ramapo mountains covering
it in that quarter. East of these mountains is a plain, extending into Haverstraw,
through which runs the Moway creek, a tributary of the Passaic; and winding
through the mountains, flows the Ramapo river, another tributary of the Passaic.
Ramapo is a village; Ladenton, Mechanicsville and Kakiat, are agricultural vici
nages. There are post offices at, Ramapo, West Hempstead, and Scotland, similar
Vicinages. The Orange' turnpike road runs through the W. angle of the town,
along the Ramapo river. There are extensive iron works at Ramapo, and others,
2rV miles higher upon the same stream. Ramapo, post village, lies in the deep
valley of the Ramapo river, 2 1-2 miles above the Jersey line, on the stage road
from Albany to New York, and in the Pass, which was fortified during the revo
lutionary war.
The Ramapo Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1824, with a capital of
§400,000, have here an extensive rolling and slitting mill, and a manufactory of
cut-nails, in which are employed near 10O men; a cotton mill of brick, having 500O
spindles and 80 power looms, in which are about 200 hands; 1 woollen factory,
and 2 forges, with 2 fire places each; 2 iron foundries, a grist and saw mill. The

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Value of product,
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Number of children between 5 and
16 years of age, 2,514.
660

TOPOGRAPHY.

village, whose site is remarkably pleasant, contains a church, school, and about 150
dwellings, and above 800 inhabitants. The buildings are generally of wood, neat
ly painted, and are ranged on either side of the river, upon a narrow and fertile
intervale.

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY, was taken from Oneida, 3d March, 1802, and
is bounded N. and N. W. by the river St. Lawrence, and the line ofthe state; E.
by Franklin county; S. by the north bounds of Totten and Crossfield's purchase,
Hamilton and Herkimer counties; S. W. by the division line of great lots, 3 and
4, of Macomb's purchase, a small corner of Herkimer county, and by Lewis and
Jefferson counties. Greatest length on the St. Lawrence 6G, greatest breadth 64,
miles; area 2717 square miles, heing the largest county in the state; situate be
tween 44° 03' and 45° N. Lat., and 1° 05' and 2° 25' E. Long.; centrally distant
from New York 350, from Albany 206, miles.
Its surface is greatly diversified. Along the river it rises in easy swells, or
spreads into extensive plains, with a soil of argillaceous loam. Below Ogdens
burg the soil is more sandy, light, deep, warm, and productive, and equals in
quality any of the upland of the state. On the E. and S. E. the country is fiat,
and covered with immense forests. Advancing southward from the river it rises
into hills, which finally attain the character of mountains. The St. Lawrence ri
ver is studded with islands belonging to the county, of which Indian Hut, Isle au
Gallop, Isle au Rapid Plat, Goose Neck Island, Isle aux Chats, Sault, Lower
Long Sault, and Barnhart's Islands, are the chief.

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY. 661
About half the county on the N. W. pertains to the transition formation, the re
mainder to the primitive. It is not easy to ascertain the line of division, as tho
country is very thinly settled, and has been very little explored.
Iron ore is abundant in the hills of the south, and iron has been extensively ma
nufactured at Rossie, Canton, Norfolk, Oswegatchie, &c.
The county is very abundantly watered. The St. Lawrence laves the whole
northern boundary, and- is the great recipient of all its streams. Passing from west
to east, we cross Indian, Oswegatchie, Grasse, Racket, and St. Regis rivers, and
their many tributaries.
Indian river, rises in the north-east part of Lewis county, hear, but
north-west of the source of the West Branch; flows N. W. about 17 miles,
N. E. 5, S. W. 6, N. E.,8, S. W. 15, and N. E. 23, miles, to the S. W.
end of Black lake, a fine basin of about 20 miles in length; whence it issues with
increased volume and N. E. course of about 2 miles to unite with the Oswe
gatchie proper, 6 miles above Ogdensburg. Its course is very crooked. From
the mouth to the head it may be, in a direct line, about 50 miles; but by the sinu
osities of the stream the distance is not much less than 100, through parts of
Lewis, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence counties. It is navigable for boats of twelve
tons to Rossie, above the head of the lake, where they are impeded by a cascade
of many feet. At Theresa, in Jefferson county, there are falls, said to be sixty
feet perpendicular.
Oswegatchie river has its sources in three small lakes on the N. W. part of Hamil
ton county, near those of Beaver river; running N. E. 16 miles, it dilates into
Cranberry lake; thence flows W. about 12 miles, where it receives a considerable
branch from the south, which rises near the sources of the main stream; thence
N. W. 10 miles, where, near Edwardsville, it receives the West -Branch from
Lewis county; thence, by the same, about 20 miles, where it makes a long,, but
¦ sharp turn, called the Oxbow; thence by a N. E. course of 27 miles to the natural
canal, which connects this with Grasse river, 6 miles distant on the east; and
thence N. W. 11 miles to its confluence with the St. Lawrence, at Ogdensburg.
By its windings it has a length of nearly 120 miles; but a direct line from its
mouth to its source will not exceed more than half that distance. At the west end
of the Oxbow it approaches within 4 miles of Indian river. Nearly the whole course
of the Oswegatchie is in St. Lawrence county. Its bed is broken by many falls
and rapids, between which, commonly, its course is sluggish. The strip of land
within the Oxbow is 8 miles long, and from 1 to 2J broad. The natural canal
varies from 5 to 10 rods in width. The current is from Grasse river, with a de
scent of about 8 inches to the mile, and in freshets has water for loaded boats, and
may be made at small expense and labour at all times navigable. The West
Branch rises in the N. part of Herkimer county, pursuing a N. W. course of 13,
and thence a N. E. one of 17, miles, mostly in Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.
Grasse (fertile, French,) river, rises near the S. E. extremity of the county, and
flows by a semicircular course of about 125 miles to the St. Lawrence, near the
head of Cornwall island, and 3 miles above the mouth of Racket river, watering
the towns of Hopkinton, Parishville, Pierpont, Russell, Canton, Madrid, Louis
ville, and Massena. Fifteen miles of its course in Louisville and Massena, are
between, and parallel to the St. Lawrence and the Racket rivers, and scarce more
than two miles distant from either. Below Canton, Grasse river has a breadth of
from 12 to 20 rods, with many rapids and excellent mill sites.
Racket River, flows from a lake 9 miles long and 3 broad, in the N. W. part of
Hamilton county, and running E. 5 miles, expands into a lake 10 miles long by
one wide, stretching N. W. and S. E.; thence by a N. E. direction, of 9 miles>,
it crosses into the S. W. part of Franklin county, where turning W., it flows 10
miles to Tupper's lake, on the line between Franklin and St. Lawrence counties;
thence, 3 miles, to a smaller lake on the N. E.; thence N. W. through St. Law
rence county 35 miles; and thence, N. E. about the same distance to the river
St. Lawrence, having through the greater part of its course, the semicircular-route
which characterises the Grasse and St. Regis rivers. The entire length of the
Racket, hy its windings, is estimated at 160 miles. For two thirds of that dis
tance, it is said to be a deep sluggish stream. Fifty miles from its mouth, and
thence downward, it becomes impetuous, and, »t Atwater's Falls descends 200
feet in a very short distance; thence for 20 miles to its mouth it resumes a placid

662

TOPOGRAPHY.

course, and affords good navigation for boats of 5 tons burden. Boats of lighter
carriage may navigate it above the section of the rapids, which is about 30 miles
long. The river is about 100 yards broad at its mouth, and in Potsdam, it is said
to expand to 250 yards. After the Hudson, the Racket has the greatest length
and volume of any river rising in the high country between Lakes Ontario and
Champlain. St. Regis River, flows from some small ponds in the S. part of Franklin connty,
near Saranac lake, and thence N. W. 40 miles to the line of Stockholm and
Lawrence towns, St. Lawrence county, to join the west branch, which rises in the
same region; thence it pursues a N. E. course of about 35 miles, crossing the N.
W. part of Franklin county, to the St. Lawrence river, 4 miles below' the mouth
ofthe Racket, at the Indian village of St. Regis, immediately N. of Lat. 45° and
the boundary ofthe state. It is a rapid stream, exceeding 80 miles in length; but
is navigable only a short distance from its mouth, where its breadth exceeds 120
yards. The South Branch has a course of 40 miles. About 6 miles above Parish-
ville, there are falls upon it 150 feet perpendicular.
* The whole of this county, 40 years since, was covered with a dense growth of
timber, whose size was not exceeded by that in any partof the state, and much of this
mighty forest still encumbers the country, r.nd will for years, render the lumbering
business the principal one of many inhabitants. Yet the difficulty of reaching a
market, and the limited means of the new settlers must compel them to devote to
the fire thousands of logs which would pay well in boards and plank, and to look
for a scanty remuneration from their ashes. The trees consist, chiefly, of oak,
maple, beech, basswood, butternut, elm, ash, hemlock, white and Norway pine,
&c. In the S. E. are large swamps covered with every thing usually found in
tamarac and black ash swamps.
The progress of population has been very great; the numbers having been more
than 'doubled in the decennial period from 1820 to 1830. Yet the country has
every where still the appearance of a new one. A large proportion of the lands
in the northern moiety.is of excellent quality, covered with deep vegetable mould,
and in many places resting on lime and marl. Like all new countries, the surface
is wet, and in some parts marshy; but, these deformities disappear with the
general improvement, and clearing off the forest. Wheat is raised upon the new
lands, but there is always danger of its being winter killed, in the long and almost
unmitigated frosts. Complaints are made, that this crop becomes less productive
upon lands which have been some years laboured. This is probably true, and is
to be accounted for more by ill husbandry than by any want of fertility in the soil.
Lime abundantly used as manure and a corrective for sour soils, would do much
to restore the wheat growing quality. Rye, grass, and all the summer crops,
flourish luxuriantly; and it is obvious, that the great source of wealth here will be
found, in grass farming, and the culture of sheep.
The climate is excellent and is said to be more uniform, than in any other part
ofthe state, being free from the variations caused by the N. W. winds ofthe lakes
and their contests with the air currents from the ocean. The air is elastic; the
¦seasons, well defined, follow each other closely and conspicuously; their steadi
ness and certainty well compensating for the severity of the winters.
The roads are numerous, and have in some instances been constructed at great
expense by enterprising land holders.
The county has 24- towns.
Bra-hbr, taken from Massena, 21st April, 1805; N. W. from Albany 250, and
from Canton N. E. 39, miles; surface rolling, with a soil of sandy loam, but
much of it swampy, with bog ore; timber upon the rivers, white pine, affording
spars from 80 to 100 feet in length. Upon the uplands, the wood is beech, maple,
linden, &c. The St. Regis river runs diagonally across the town, from S. W. to
N. E. receiving in the N. Deer river, -a considerable tributary. Upon both
streams are noted " Falls" and rapids, which give great hydraulic power. In
this fork, lies the post town of Helena, where are a saw mill, grist mill, cloth
ing works, and some 10 or 12 dwellings.
Canton, organised 28th March, 1805; N. W. from Albany 206, and from Og
densburg S. 18, miles; surface level or gently undulating; and on the S. E. roll
ing; soil clay loam of a chocolate colour, strong and durable, underlaid chiefly by
a«»lcareous sandstone, from which, lime is sometimes burned, with which stea-

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY. 663
tite or soapstone, ia plentifully blended, and in which, iron and plumbago are
found. White marble highly crystalline, susceptible of fine polish, is quarried 3
miles S. of Canton village. A large bed of sulphate of iron, lies near the High
Falls, on Grasse river, from which the copperas and alum of commerce, are exten
sively manufactured. Of copperas, 400 tons have been made in a year, equal to
English copperas. The Grasse river runs centrally through the town, and is con
nected by the natural canal with the Oswegatchie. Near the.S. E boundary, are
the " High Falls" of Grasse river, and near the N. W. angle, the " Falls" of the
Oswegatchie. Lead ore is said to be taken by the Indians, from deposits here,
the location of.which is unknown to the whites.
Canton village, the seat of justice of the county, centrally situated upon the
Grasse river, contains 1 Presbyterian church, of stone, 1 Methodist church, of
wood, I church of brick, called the Union church, common to Episcopalians, Bap
tists, and Universalists; a classical academy, toward the maintenance of which,
the inhabitants of the town have, under an act of May 8th, 1835, raised a principal
fund of $500; 1 grist, 1 saw, and 1 oil, mills; cloth dressing works, tannery,
marble yard, and mill for sawing the stone; a sattinett factory; there is a head
here of about 19 feet, and a large mass of water afforded by the river; 3 hotels, 3
general stores, a large bridge over the river, of stone piers and wooden super
structure, and about 150 dwellings; the court house, prison, and clerks' office,
are of white free stone, neatly constructed. The unimproved lands of this town,
belong to Mr. Stephen Van Rensselaer, and are now in the market, at five dollars
the acre.
De Kalb, taken from Oswegatchie, 21st April, 1806; from Albany, N. W. 193,
from Ogdensburg, S. E. 15 miles. Surface hilly; soil indifferent generally, rest
ing on limestone, in which there is some iron ore. Marble of superior quality
and varied colours is found upon the bank ofthe river, 4 miles north ofthe village.
The Oswegatchie river flows N. E., and centrally across the town, and the ex
tensive flats upon it are compared for fertility to those of the Mohawk. A
sulphuretted hydrogen spring here, has excited some attention. This town was
purchased, in 1803, by the late Judge Cooper, of Otsego county, and is inhabited
chiefly by emigrants from Connecticut and Vermont, and their descendants.
De Kalb, formerly Cooper's village, near the falls of the Oswegatchie river,
having the relative distances above stated, contains 2 taverns, 1 store, and 8 or 10
dwellings; at the falls, are 1 grist and 1 saw mills. The river is navigable hence
to Ogdensburg. There is a post office oalled Richville, in the S. W. corner of the
town; at which, are a tavern and store, and 9 or 4 dwellings. There are in the
town, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Congregationalist churches.
De Peyster, taken from Oswegatchie and De Kalb, 24th March, 1825; from
Albany, N. W. 200, from Ogdensburg, S. 9 miles, and from Canton, E. 15 miles.
Surface diversified with gentle undulations and fine lawns; soil underlaid with
lime, light, easily cultivated, and grateful to good husbandry. Black Lake and
Oswegatchie river bounding the town on the north, are navigable to the St. Law
rence, and are united' by Indian river. The post office of De Peyster is centrally
situated, where are a Free church, 1 store, and a few dwellings. There are also
in the town 1 Presbyterian and 1 Congregationalist churches. '
Edwards, taken from Fowler, April 7th, 1827; N. W. from Albany 194, and
from Ogsdensburg, S. E. 30 miles, comprising township No. 8 of Great Tract,
No. 3, of Macomb's purchase. Surface moderately uneven; soil, clay-loam, moist,,
and well adapted to grass. The E. and W. branches of the Oswegatchie unite
in the eastern part of the town. The post village of Edwardsville is on the right
bank of the river, and in the N. E. angle. There is another post office called
South Edwards, and also 1 Presbyterian and 1 Christian churches.
Fowler, taken from Rossie and Russel, 15th April, 1816; N.W. from Albany,
106 miles, comprising townships No. 7 and 11 of Great Tract No. 3, of Macomb's
purchase. Surface moderately uneven; soil various, but chiefly clay and sandy
loam, generally of good quality, heavily timbered, watered on the S. E. by the
west branch of the Oswegatchie river, which enters the town from Lewis county,
and N. W. by the main body of that river, increased by the union of its branches
in Edwards. These streams having much fall, afford abundant hydraulic power.
Iron ore is said to be abundant.
Fowlerville, post village, on the west branch of the Oswegatchie, 35 miles from
Ogdensburg, has a blast furnace, and several dwellings. The town is chiefly

664 TOPOGRAPHY.
owned by Tbeodorus O. Fowler, who has a mansion of marble built from stone
dug in the vicinity. There are in the town a public library and a Presbyterian
church. In this town, 12 miles from Gouverneur, is a bed of bog ore, which contains
perfect impressions of the leaves and strobiles, of the hemlock, and both hemlock
and birch roots, from one to two feet in length, and several inches in diameter,
which, although completely converted into bog ore, retain their original appear
ance. Ten miles south of the furnace at Fowlerville, is a rich deposit of iron ore,
known as the Wilson bed. Here are red oxide, and granular micaceous oxide of
iron. The last contains numerous cavities studded with thin brilliant crystals,
resembling specimens of the same ore from Elba. The proprietor attempted to
work this ore, but owing to some unknown cause, did not succeed. When at
tempting its reduction, the furnace was filled with offensive fumes, which, it is
supposed, caused the sickness of several workmen, and in consequence, the ore,
which is undoubtedly very rich, was abandoned. No odour is perceptible when
this mineral is struck with a hammer, nor when submitted to the flame of a lamp,
urged with a blow-pipe.
Gouverneur, taken from Oswegatchie, 5th April, 1810; N. W. from Albany,
180, from Ogdensburg, S. 25, from Canton, S. E. 21 miles. Surface various, hut
mostly level; soil also varying in quality, but generally good. The Oswegatchie
river forms the " Ox-bow" here. Upon the borders of the river there is much first
rate interval land. The town was named after Gouverneur Morris, to whose son
a large proportion of it belongs, and the present village of Gouverneur was origi
nally called Morrisville, This village, on the Tight bank of the river, contains 1
Presbyterian and 1 Baptist churches, a public library, a high school, 1 tavern, 4
stores, 1 grist mill, 1 saw mill, clothing works, and other water works, and about
30 dwellings.
One ofthe ancient Indian works of fortification, is in this town, on a farm now,
or late, of Captain Washburn, consisting of an embankment enclosing three acres,
in which there are some remains of rude sculpture.
Hammond, taken from Rossie and. Morristown, 30th March 1827; centrally dis
tant from Albany 184, from Ogdensburg, S. W. 22 miles; surface, level ; soil
loam composed of clay and sand, highly fertile, producing in some cases 50
bushels of wheat the acre, and well adapted to grass, resting on lime and sand
stone, and it is said much steatite, which lies often near the surface yet not so as
to impede its culture. Some islands in Chippewa bay belong to the town.
Oak island is the largest. Five miles of the S. end of Black Lake lie in the
E. part of the town, into which flow Indian River and Black Creek, the latter from
S. W. having a course of 7 miles within the town. Chippewa Creek 6 miles
long runs S. \V. to the St. Lawrence. In the S. is Grass Lake, a small pond.
Hfimmond or Smithville, on the St, Lawrence turnpike road, 3 miles S. E. from
Chippewa Bay and near the centre of the town, 6 miles N. from Rossie Ironworks,
contains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist Churches, post office, a store and 15
dwellings, and 4 mechanics' shops.
Hermon, taken from Edwards and De Kalb April 17, 1830, organised by the
name of Depau ; name changed Feb. 28, 1834. N. W. from Albany 180, from
Ogdenshurg S. E. 23, and from Canton S. W. 16 miles; surface gently rolling;
soil, clay loam, underlaid, in places, by lime, and generally adapted to grass.
Depauville, the post village, lies in the N. E. section of the town. The country is
comparatively high and, sends forth small streams in every direction, but possesses
no large one, save a branch of the Oswegatchie which crosses the S. W. angle.
Hopkinton, organised 2d March 1805 ; from Ogdensburg S. E .40, from Canton
25 miles; comprehending townships, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, and parts of 14, 15, of Great
Tract No 2, of Macomb's purchase, having much diversity of surface and soil.
In the North the lands are level, with rich loam, producing abundantly the fruits
and crops common to this part of the State. On the small streams are extensive
intervales, but few on the large ones. In the south, the country is hilly with
hemlock timber ; has several small ponds or lakes, and an, indifferent soil; three
miles south of the village of Hopkinton, it is wholly unsettled. The whole
tract has a heavy growth of beech, maple, elm, bass, butternut, with some
oak and walnut, upon the plains. The Grasse, the Racket, and the two branches
of St. Regis, rivers, cross north-westerly, and on the South Branch of the last are

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY. 665
fells of 150 ft. The first settlement in the town was made in 1803, by Roswell
Hopkins, Esq. who founded the village of Hopkinton, lying on Lyd Brook, 234
miles N. from Albany, 25 E. from Canton, 7 from Parishville, 23 W. S. W.
from Malone, containing 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Baptist, churches, a public library,
2 hotels, 2 stores, grist and saw mills, and 25 dwellings. Nicholville is a
small village 2 miles E. from Hopkinton, at which are 1 grist mill, 1 saw mill,
and clothing works, a tavern and two stores, and 10 or 12 dwellings. The east
branch ofthe St.' Regis river, on which it lies, flows here through a deep and narrow
valley, bounded by precipitous banks. There are in the town 1 Congregation
alist and 1 Universalist societies.
Lawrence, taken from Hopkinton and Brasher, 21st April, 1828; N. W. from
Albany 232, from Ogdensburg S. 50, and from Canton 30, miles; surface moderate
ly uneven; soil clay loam of good quality, resting on limestone; drained on the S.
W. by the St. Regis river, and on the N. E. by Deer river, its tributary. Law-
renceville, upon Deer river, has 1 tavern, 2 stores, grist and saw mill, and 10 or
12 dwellings.
Lisbon, organised 7th April, 1801; from Albany 211, from Ogdensburg, E.
7, and from Canton N. W. 10, miles; surface gently undulating; soil rich choco
late coloured loam, heavily timbered with pine, hemlock, oak, linden; drained E.
by Great Sucker Brook and Brandy creek and Grasse river. There are several,
islands in the St. Lawrence pertaining to the town, of which Isle au Gallop is the
largest, near which are the first rapids which obstruct the navigation of the river
below Lake Ontario. The Gallop islands divide the river into two rapid currents,
whose bottoms are paved with schistose limestone. On .Stony island a strong fort
was built by the French, which was destroyed by Gen. AmheTSt, in 1760. Three
miles below Ogdensburg was an Indian village of the Oswegatchie tribe, but it is in
rains, and, like the race which erected it, scarcely discoverable. The post office is
named after the town, and is at a place formerly called Red Mills, now Rensselaer-
burg. There were erected here,in 1835, a wing dam of 500 feet long, 10 feet
high, at the head of the rapid, for the purpose of obtaining hydraulic power; a
large stone flouring mill, 4 runs of stones, a saw mill, 2 saws, clothing works, &c.
There are in the village 2 taverns, lostore, 1 Presbyterian church, and from 20 to
30 dwellings. The country along the St. Lawrence is thickly settled and rapidly
improving. Unimproved lands are sold by Mr. Van Rensselaer, the proprietor of
the town, at $5 the acre; improved lands, on an average, bring $10 the acre.
Louisville, taken from Massena, 5th April, 1810; from Albany 231, from Og
densburg E. 27, and from Canton N. E. 22, nales; surface gently undulating;
soil rich loam, underlaid with limestone; well watered, Grasse river flowing N.
E. through it. Williamsburg, in Canada, memorable as the battle ground of No
vember Uth, 1813, lies opposite. Of the several islands in the river, belonging
to the town, Goose Neck, the Isle anx Chats, and Long Sault island, are the
chief. The first settlements were made in 1803, by emigrants from various parts
of New York, and the Eastern states. The post office, in the east part of the
town, bears its name. On the river the settlements are dense, but sparse elsewhere.
A little village, called Churchville, is growing up on the St. Lawrence river, at
which the steamboats stop.
Madrid, organised 3d March, 1802; from Albany 227, from Ogdensburg 16,
from Canton N. E. 15, and from Montreal W. 88, miles; surface gently undulat
ing) soil rich loam, underlaid in part by limestone; drained E. by the Trout
branch of the Racket river, Grasse river, Brandy creek, and Great Sucker brooks.
Several islands of the St. Lawrence pertain to the town, of which Isle au Rapid
Plat is the largest. This town belonged to Messrs. I. Waddington, D. A. Ogden,
and T. L. Ogden, to whose enterprise and liberality the inhabitants are much in
debted. The trade of the country, consisting of lumber, ashes, beef, butter,
cheese, cattle, follows the river St. Lawrence to market. The town is compara
tively thickly settled, but much of it is yet unimproved. Rye, grass, potatoes,
barley, and Indian corn, are sure and productive crops. Waddington and Colum
biaville are post villages. Waddington, centrally situate on the St. Lawrence,
and opposite to Isle au Rapid Plat, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Episcopal churches,
1 Methodist and 1 Presbyterian societies, having no houses for public worship, 1 se
lect school, a public library, 2 grist mills, one having 5, the other 4, runs of stones,.
3 saw, 1 paper, 1 card i no- and cloth dressing, mills; 5 stores, 1 tavern, scythe fac-
84

666

TOPOGRAPHY.

tory, and 120 dwellings. To obtain hydraulic power here, a dam of stone, 1400
feet in length, has been erected on the arm of the river between the main and the
island, giving a head of 12 feet, at the cost, in its present condition, of $20,000;
a stone dyke crosses the pool, with passages for the water, serving as a via
duct, and designed as "a substitute for the dam below, in case of its failure.
There is a bridge below the dam for the accommodation of the mills. These
improvements have been made by Mr. David A. Ogden. A canal from the dam ex
tends down the bank of the river about 30 rods, on which are a tannery, trip ham
mer, and blast furnace for making iron. Bog iron ore is abundant in the town. Colwm->
biaville, on the Grasse river, 11 miles N. E. from Canton, 22 E. frbm Ogdens
burg, contains 1 Presbyterian church, 1 society of Baptists, 1 grist, 1 saw, mills,
clothing works, in a fine agricultural district, extensively cleared.
Massena, organised 3d March, 1802; N. W. from Albany 238; from Ogdens
burg, N. E . 36; and from Canton, 30 miles; surface gently rolling; soil rich brown
loam, underlaid with lime; drained by the Racket and Grasse rivers. Near Lay's
Falls, is a sulphur spring, on the bank of the Racket river, less than a mile from
Massena village; and as the keeper of the hotel here avers, " in the midst of one
of the most beautiful tracts of country in the state of NewYork, which for the ad
vantages of pleasant and picturesque scenery, and also for the healthful exercises
of hunting and fishing, is without parallel in the United States." The water
evolves large quantities of sulphuretted hydrogen gas, and contains carbonates of
soda, lime, magnesia, sulphur, and probably iron. The medical qualities of the
water are said not to be surpassed by any mineral water of Europe or America.
The timber on the rivers is mostly white pine, of excellent quality; on the uplands,
beech maple and linden. Lower Long Sault, Barnhart's and Cornwall islands, in
the St. Lawrence, belong to the town. The St. Regis reservation is partly in this
town, and the Indian right to these islands has been sold to Mr. D. A. Ogden.
Massena, post village, lies on the right bank of Grasse river, having the relative
distances above named, and contains 1 Baptist church, 1 tavern, 4 stores, 1 grist
mill, and about thirty dwellings. At Massena Point, on the St. Lawrence river, is a
small hamlet, having a store and several dwellings; 6 miles north from Massena.
Opposite to the point, on Barnhart's island* are 2 stores and 8 or 10 dwellings.
There is a post office in the town, called Racket river.
Morristown, taken from Oswegatchie, 27th March, 1821; N. W. from Albany
190; from Ogdensburg, S. W. 13; and from Canton 30 miles. Black or Oswe
gatchie lake, extends centrally N. E. and S. W. across the town about 8 miles;
on the E. of the lake the surface is undulating, and the soil indifferent; on the W.
the ground swells gently, and the soil of clay loam, is divided into many well cul
tivated farms, belonging to emigrants principally from the Mohawk flats. Morris
town, post village, upon the St. Lawrence river, 10 miles above Ogdensburg, 42
below Kingston, at the mouth of Mill creek, opposite to Brockville, in Upper
Canada; distant 1 1-4 miles; contains 1 Episcopal church, a Presbyterian society,
2 taverns, 3 stores, and from 15 to 20 dwellings.
The land rises here by a gentle acclivity from the river, and the summit of the
swell discloses a landscape of surpassing beauty. This place is notable as that
ofthe embarkation of the army of General Wilkinson, at the commencement of the
campaign of the autumn of 1813. The lands W. of the lake are holden princi
pally by Messrs. Chapman, Averil and Stocking, grantees of the late Gouverneur
Morris; and those E. ofthe lake belong to the present Gouverneur Morris.
A vein of lead ore on Black lake, in this town, was discovered and opened, on lands
of S. Gilbert and E. Dodge, in July, 1836; where first opened, it was 2 feet, and
at 80 rods distant, from 3 to 4 feet wide; the ore is said to yield 80 per cent, of
metal, and the quantity to be inexhaustible.
Norfolk, taken from Louisville, April 9th, 1823; N. W. from Albany 224; from
Ogdensburg, E. 26; and from Canton, N. E. 20 miles; surface gently undulating;
soil rich loam, underlaid with clay slate and limestone; drained by the Racket
river, which flows N. E. and centrally through the town; distant from two to three
miles from Grasse river, in Louisville. " Atwater's Falls," on the Racket river,
have a descent of about 50 feet within a mile, affording excellent sites for mills.
There is a village here at the head of boat navigation, 24 miles from the St. Law
rence, containing the post office, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist, churches, 1 grist
and 1 saw, mills, clothing works, blast furnace, 1 pocket furnace, 1 forge with 2,
fires, 2 trip hammers, 2 smith shops, 1 sattinet factory,^ stores, 2 taverns, 1 tan-

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY. 667
nery, 1 ashery, 1 wheelwright shop,. 1 cabinet maker's shop, and about 30 dwell
ings. At " HalFs Mills," 3 miles lower on the river, are 1 grist and 1 saw, mills,
clothing works, small sattinet factory, 1 trip hammer, 1 store, and 10 dwellings.
The town is yet very sparsely settled. The principal landholders are Mr. Edward
Vicar, John Constable, and Gouverneur Morris. The price of land varies from 2 to
10 dollars the acre.
Oswegatchie, organised March 3d, 1802; from Albany 200; and from Canton,
E. 18 miles; surface gently undulating; soil clay loam, of medium quality, and
well cultivated, resting on lime and calcareous sand stone. Black lake extends,
N. E. about 6 miles; Ogdensburg and Huevelton, are post villages. Settlements
were made here in 1796; and much is due to the enterprise of Judge Ford, an
opulent proprietor and agent, for the subsequent population of the town, which
consists principally of emigrants from New England, and their descendants. At
the mouth of the Oswegatchie, there formerly stood a fort, a place of much im
portance. Huevelton, 7 miles S. E. from Ogdensburg, on the Oswegatchie river,
contains a free church, 1 grist and 1 saw, mills, 2 taverns, 1 store, 1 grocery,
furnace and plough factory, and about 50 dwellings. The village was founded by,
and named after Mr. Van Huevel, in 1820. A number of families from Eng
land have settled here, and a quarterly fair has been established, for the disposal
of cattle, produce, &c. There is a valuable mill power on the stream near the

Ogdensburg, port of entry and delivery of Oswegatchie district, upon the
St. Lawrence river, at the confluence of the Oswegatchie river with that stream;
204 miles. N. from Albany; 60 below Kingston; 130 from Montreal; 120 W. from
Plattsburg; 63 N. E. from Sackett's Harbour; and 18 N. from Canton; lies
upon a beautiful plain, and is laid out with much regularity. Its streets are spa
cious, and many ofthe buildings are very good, of lime and calcareous sand stone,
and some of them highly ornamental. There are here, 1 Episcopal, 1 Presby
terian, 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, 1 Catholic, churches, and 1 Unitarian society,
which has no house erected for public worship, 1 academy, incorporated 20th
April, 1835, 2 select schools; a bank, with a capital of $100,000; 3 extensive for
warding establishments, 21 general stores, 16 grocery and provision stores, 3
hotels,! grist mill, 1 saw mill, furnace for castings, carding and fulling mill, 2
extensive tanneries, a large distillery, an extensive machine shop, driven by the
waters of the Oswegatchie river, 1 brewery, 3 asheries, 2 printing offices, each
issuing a weekly paper, 1 bindery, 2 book stores, 3 druggist shops, 1 hardware
store, and about 400 dwellings.
This is a place of much trade. The harbour is an excellent one, considered as
at the foot of the Ontario lake, because the river at this point has little descent,
although in truth it is 60 miles below the outlet. The exports are lumher, ashes,
beef, pork, butter and cheese. The steam boats, United States, Black Hawk, and
Prescott, are owned here, as well as the Paul Pry, which plies between this vil
lage and the village of Prescott, of Upper Canada, on the opposite shore, and ano
ther running 40 miles down the river to the Long Rapids.
The advantages for manufacturing are very great upon the Oswegatchie river;
where, a short distance from the mouth, is a natural dam, upon which additions
have been raised to give a fall of 14 feet. A shute in this dam admits the passage
of boats and rafts. This property was not brought into that activity of which it
is susceptible; but having lately changed owners, water privileges are offered
for sale on reasonable terms, and much improvement is anticipated. A company
have constructed a canal of 1200 feet, with, a lock of 12 feet lift, connecting the
pool with the river below; and another company propose to avoid the rapids in the
river, 4 miles above Ogdensburg, by another canal, so as to make a facile naviga
tion with Black lake, &c.
The town was, during the late war, for a few hours, in possession of the enemy;
and the court house received a single cannon ball during the sitting of the court,
thrown from Fort Wellington.
A canal has been projected from die St. Lawrence river, near Ogdensburg
through St. Lawrence, Franklin, and Clinton counties, to Lake Champlain; length
130 miles; summit level 1245 feet above Lake Champlain; whole lockage 1650
feet. .The summit level it is said, may be abundantly supplied with water from
the Chateaugua lake, lying 305 feet above it.
Parishville, taken from Hopkinton, March 18th, 1814; from Albany 195; from

668

TOPOGRAPHY.

Ogdensburg, S. E. 50; and from Canton. E. 20 miles; surface on the N. foiling,
with a warm productive soil of sandy loam; on the S. more hilly; every where
well watered, and better adapted to grass, corn and rye than to wheat; traversed
by the St. Regis, Racket, Grasse and Oswegatchie rivers; iron ore is found in
various places; the underlying rock is quartzose, sometimes flinty, and at others
running into sand stone; the strata of which, from 1 1-2 to 4 inches thick, furnish
good building material. Parishville, village, on the St. Lawrence and Malone turn
pike, pleasantly situated on the W. branch of the St. Regis river, 30 miles from
its mouth, 220 N. from Albany; 39 S. E. from Ogdensburg; 20 E. from Can
ton; 30 W. from Malone; contains 1 Baptist and 1 Congregational, churches,
1 Methodist Society, a grist mill, saw mill and distillery, 2 carding and cloth
dressing mills, trip hammer, a pocket furnace, tannery, a very large hotel, 2 smith
shops, 2 wheelwrights, 2 shoe makers, 2 tailors, 1 cabinetmaker, 1 physician, and
28 dwellings. The mills, hotel, and greater partof the buildings, have been erect
ed by Mr. Parish. The falls of the river are about 33 feet, and the river passes
through a chasm of the rock about 12 feet wide and 56 deep; there is a very good
wooden bridge over the stream.
The town and village of Parishville were settled under the auspices of Mr.
David Parish, who expended large sums in making roads, building mills and
dwellings, and other improvements. At the Lower Falls, 3 miles below Parish
ville, there are a saw mill, carding and cloth dressing works, sash factory and
turning shop, a store, trip hammer, and 9 dwellings. Matildaville is a settlement
on the Racket river, 9 miles S. E. from Parishville, where are a forge for making
iron, a store, and 6 or 8 dwellings, a tavern, a trip hammer, saw mill and smith-
ery. Lime and iron abound in the vicinage.
Pierrepoint, taken from Hopkinton, March 18th, 1814; N. W. from Albany 190;
from Ogdensburg, S. E. 28; from Canton, 10 miles; surface diversified, and soil vari-v
ous; drained by the Oswegatchie and Grasse rivers. The lands in the N. part of the
town are chiefly owned by Hezekiah B. Pierrepoint, and the heirs of Richard Har
rison, deceased. There is a small post village bearing the name of the town, in
the north.
Potsdam, taken from Madrid, 21st February, 1806; from Albany 216; from
Ogdensburg, E. 23; from Canton, N. E. 10 miles; surface gently undulating; soil
rich sandy loam; drained by the Racket and Grasse rivers; lime stone and red sand
stone underlay the soil; roads numerous and good. Potsdam, post village, is situated <
at the falls of the Racket river, on Parishville turnpike, 3 miles from the S. line
of the town; above the village the river has a breadth of near a mile; at the village
it is contracted to 75 yards, embracing an island of seven acres, and has a fall of
10 feet; below its width is 80 yards. The village contains 1 Universalist, 1 Pres
byterian, 1 Methodist and 1 Episcopal, churches, a large academy, at which are
100 pupils, 4 select schools, 1 hotel, 7 stores, 1 grist and 1 saw, mills, an exten-
sive woollen factory and furnace, and about 100 dwellings, many of brick and stone.
Improved lands around the village sell at 10 dollars the acre.
Rossie, taken from Russell, January 27th, 1813; from Albany 178; from Og
densburg, 27; from Canton, S. W. 30 miles; surface various; on the E. gent
ly undulating, elsewhere broken; soil also various, but generally loam of good
quality, resting on lime, granite and sand stone; drained by the Oswegatchie river,
which doubles across the town, and makes the Oxbow; and by Indian river, which
runs N. across the W. end. Yellow lake, 3 miles long, and from 50 to 60 rods
wide, lies between the rivers. Iron ore is abundant here, and that from the Cale
donia bed, on the E. is said to be of very superior quality, and has much lime
blended with it. The Rossie iron works were established in 1813, by Mr. David
Parish, on Indian river, in the W. part of the town, 26 1-2 miles from Ogdens
burg, near which is a wooden bridge, half a mile in length, over the river.
Rossie, village, has a post office, a tavern, and many dwellings, erected for the ac
comodation of the workmen, fast going to decay. Lands Sere are low, varying
from 2 1-2 to 5 dollars the acre, payable in six annual instalments.- A steam boat,
a few years since, plied between Huevelton, on the Oswegatchie, and the iron
works at Rossie; but the obstruction, on the latter river, below Huevelton, not
having been removed, the use of the boat has been discontinued. Caledonia is a
settlement, on the E. branch of the Oswegatchie, near the falls, where is a grist
mill, and where it is proposed to erect iron works. There is a post office in this

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

669

partof the town, called Somerville, where are 11 dwellings, 2 stores, &c. A va
luable lead mine was discovered in this town in 1835, (for a notice of which, see
p. 43.) The vein is said to be the largest yet discovered in America, and the
quality of the ore equal, if not superior to that of the Galena mines. Shares of
sixteen under the lease, for ten years, ofthe 160 rods, opened in July, 1836, were
sold for |120,000 each; a price supposed far short of their true value. Other lead
mines in the same region were about to be opened.
Russell, so called from Russell Atwater, by whom it was settled in 1805; or
ganised 27th March, 1807; N. W. from Albany 194; from Ogdensburg, S. E. 28;
and ftom Canton, S. 15 miles; surface moderately uneven; soil sandy and clay
loam, well suited for grazing; drained on the S. and centre by the Oswegatchie
river, and northerly by the Grasse river; iron ore and pyrites abound; Lake George
is a small sheet of water, near the E. boundary, 4 miles S. E. from Russell post
office, yielding tribute to the Grasse river. Russell, village, lies at the intersection
of the St. Lawrence turnpike and a road from Ogdensburgh, 12 miles S. of
Canton, where there is a grist mill, and few buildings in a state of dilapidation.
A state arsenal is established here for the deposit of militia arms. A road passes,
or formerly passed, across the town, through the wilderness into Hamilton county.
South ofthe village of Russell, this town has scarce an inhabitant.
Stockholm, taken from Massena, 21st March, 1806; centrally distant N. W.
from Albany 227; from Ogdensburg, S. E. 40; from Canton, 20 miles; surface
hilly and stony; soil rich mould, underlaid with limestone; heavily covered with
beech, birch, linden, oak, ash, and some pine; drained N. E. by the St. Regis
river, whose two main branches enter from the S. E. and curving through the
town, unite midway on the N. E. line. East Stockholm and West Stockholm are
Sost offices; at the latter, there are a store, a Presbyterian church, and several
wellings; bog iron is found here; Southville is the name of a post office near the
S. line, upon the W. branch of the St. Regis river, where are a saw mill and a
few dwellings.

Females.
ti
Births.
Deaths.
TOWNS.
P
to G .
3 co
oi vi
jo •*
3 2
3 t.
•O cd
P p
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
as
1
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io
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£ 4
cd
CO
73 20
p
73 8
-bi 17
tdCO
73s 5
COp
73 a
bt
Brasher,
401
826
929
85
141
76
143
67
234
1
Canton,
1337
1898
2439
2412
227
459
90
290
242
550
13
36
23
21
16
De Kalb,
709
766
1268
1200
104
222
29
163
66
308
6
20
24
9
5
Depeyster,
787
813
788
69
136
96
85
65
171
3
18
2
2
Edwards,
633
739
58
105
64
108
47
174
9
25
15
6
3
Fowler,
605
1671
1447
1571
133
315
9
210
96
387
1
32
39
6
6
Gouverneur,
765
1267
1430
1796
179
354
42
238
120
427
14
39
44
15
16
Hammond,
767
1327
113
210
174
187
82
338
8
31
34
7
3
Hermon,
668
870
62
164
9
107
35
246
3
11
28
3
5
Hopkinton,
' 581
884
827
910
81
183
10
120
74
217
8
16
20
7
7
Lawrence,
1097
1241
123
254
13
193
70
295
5
24
25
5
11
Lisbon, ,
930
1474
1891
2411
166
381
180
310
148
609
6
53
55
18
23
Louisville,
831
864
1076
1315
96
182
181
167
95
298
7
28
23
8
6
Madrid,
1930
2649
3459
4069
398
543
366
533
274
1020
30
80
43
32
31
Massena,
944
1701
2068
2288
180
353
220
272
141
584
37
51
'51
18
20
Morristown,
827
1723
1600
23311
207
421
160
32C
120
545
18
53
58
19
15
Norfolk,
755
1039
1373
110
250
34
179
113
314
1
33
25
14
6
Oswegatchie,
1661
3133
3993
4656
386
684
549
641
386
1016
67
100
103
51
30
Parishville,
594
959
1477
1657
127
312
15
221
112
433
8
32
36
14
11
Pierrepont,
235
558
749
922
90
176
2
135
60
234
1
21
23
7
5
Potsdam,
1911
3112
3661
3810
325
728
55
501
306
859
26
70
53
28
21
Russell,
• 486
480
541
655
53
112
19
87
50
173
4
10
14
4
.3
Rossie,
869
1074
641
722
58
122
50
84
51
158
8
21
5
7
10
Stockholm,
822
1449
1944
2047
191
427
20
262
139
493
10083
W
297
35
859
36
794
15
321
12
16037
27595
36354
42047 3621
7234
2459
5562
2959
268
Note. Males, 21,335; Females, £0,712; Persons of colour,
17; Blind, 19; Idiots, 25; Lunatics, 16; Panpers, 53.
; Coloured voters, 4; Deaf and Dumb,
670

TOPOGRAPHY.

a .
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4
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TOWNS.
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P £
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D
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O
S
VCO
JOtn
pe
'% in
?tCO
~Pb,
elprz
.? G
in «T
H
5 s
HG
*
e§
Brasher,
60000
2775
64905
3496
1186
178
1060
719
930
1273
619
475
'271
Canton,
64000
11640
260005
14361
3119
652
6707
1852
489(1
5253
6819
761
1132
De Kalb,
45000
4800
66246
1450
2272
249
2747
776
217fc
2991
2285
502
306
Depeyster,
36000
2231
59971
2721
1672
239
1839
879
1764
1557
1144
464
S71
Edwards,
65000
2742
22775
1428
1050
13H
938
388
979
893
737
37t
w
Fowler,
75000
6305
60023
5845
2172
387
2431
1121
2881
3227
4250
3252
5311
259
Gouverneur,
64000
7249
107908
3490
3390
451
4071
1130
29%
2716
896
4511
Hammond,
36000
5445
60277
1225
1571
305
1671
1141
1906
2083
1315
348
253
Hermon,
• 2607
34174
1021
1190
134
1224
420
1036
123?
1576
402
133
Hopkinton,
280000
3129
80501
4809
1294
s>60
2953
771
1881
2169
2262
518
434
Lawrence,
30(1111)
6235
58777
1380
1835
320
2814
863
2015
2600
3684
340
248
Lisbon,
64000
8523
153996
3150
2701
633
3331
1325
4312
4391
4006
579
680
Louisville,
25000
14413
54085
2280
1362
316
2441
1124
2324
267S
15-26
498
223
64000
15748
230569
5475
5207
991
8401
510O
6676
9592
5257
930
11)88
32000
6389
81494
11548
3125
579
4386
1771
3634
4009
2965
637
312
62000
9161
113838
2135
S!736
591
4040
1867
3875
4254
3143
671
478
Norfolk,
39000
5371
90596
4710
1614
277
2331
864
2106
2949
2644
544
355
Oswegatchie,
47000
11556
258901
152481
3765
763
4214
2702
4285
4237
1274
1145
2358
Parishville,
193000
7982
75434
580
1836
417
4249
1711
2953
3784
2525
535
344
Pierrepont,
165000
3797
63310
1040
1024
200
1783
535
1308
2223
2914
761
265
64000
10567
270301
12685
5533
1087
9741
2940
7332
9053
39«i
979
1197
Rossie,
24000
2652
34943
3150
1498
271
2373
636
1932
2075
1436
312
141
Russell,
140500
1169
60932
630
778
114
1355
266
1146
1571
1689
589
246
Stockholm,
64000
8995
109858
4532
2651
488
4679
1536
4207
4203
4201
690
485
1738500
151481
2373819
244622
54581
10040
81789 32437
68676
82547
64366 14449
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446
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De Kalb,
2
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311
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394
Depeyster,
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336
Edwards,
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98
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250
257
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191
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123
96
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232
117
322
Lawrence,
2
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1
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158
186
398
Lisbon,
1
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219
205
608
Louisville,
1
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196
128
369
Madrid,
3
13
2
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26
607
580
1096
Massena,
1
4
1
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386
480
698
Morristown,
3
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1
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289
375
550
Norfolk,
2
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244
177
430
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1 2
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232
351
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183
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SARATOGA COUNTY.
MB

671

SARATOGA COUNTY, was taken from Albany, Feb. 7th, 1791; bounded N,
by Warren; E. by Rensselaer and Washington, from which it is separated by the
Hudson river; W. by Hamilton t^pd Montgomery; S. W. by Schenectady; and S.
by Albany, counties: Greatest length, N. and S. 47; greatest breadth, E. and W.
30, miles; area 787 square miles; lying between 42° 47' and 43° 22' N. Lat.; and
2° 47' and 3° 20' E. Long.; centrally distant N. from New York 181, and from
Albany 36, miles.
Its name is supposed to be a corruption of the Indian word, Sah-rah-ka or " the
side hill," and has been extended from the country between the lake and the Hud
son, to which it was appropriate, to the whole county.

672 TOPOGRAPHY.
The greater part ofthe lands in this tract, were originally granted, by the Eng
lish crown, to a company of 13 individuals, by the title of the Patent of Kayade
rosseras. Smaller portions were included in other patents. Thus Van Sehaiek's,
of an earlier date, inoluded the town of Waterford and adjacent country. The
Saratoga patent embraced six miles square on the Hudson river, north of Van
Sehaiek's; and the Apple patent, located on the Mohawk, extended " three miles
back into the woods,'' towards Ballston lake.
The first recorded grant of lands in the " Kayaderosseras patent," was made
26th Aug.. 1702, by two " Maquaes Indians, owners and native proprietors ofthe
land," called Ter-jen-nin-ho-ge or Joseph, and De-han-och-rak-has or Hendrick.
The grantees were David Schuyler and Robert Livingston, and the consideration,
divers goods. Much of the land of the county is now holden under a rent charge
of from 15 to 20 cents the acre, derived originally under the Kayaderosseras patent.
Settlements were made in 1715, under that patent; and some probably earlier,'
along the Hudson, upon the patents of Van Schaick and Saratoga, but there was
then none north of Fish creek, now Schuylerville, and few between that and the
Mohawk; and the country was very slowly settled, until the conquest of Canada
had rendered the frontier secure. In 1747, the hostile Indians, destroyed a settle
ment at Fish Creek, burning the village and slaying thirty families. After the
conquest, settlements were rapidly made, but were confined, for some years, to the
banks ofthe Hudson and Mohawk rivers.
The .county is divisible into the mountainous, the hilly, and the level, portions.
The northern and northwestern parts are mountainous. The. Palmertown moun
tains enter a few miles west of Glen's Falls, in Moreau and Corinth, and pursu
ing their S. W. course sink to the level of the country near Saratoga Springs. It
is^his ridge which forms Hadley's and Jessup's Falls, in the Hudson river. —
It presents, an abrupt front, to the east, in many places precipitous, and rises
to the height of 500 feet. The western descent is gradual for several miles, to
the foot of the Kayaderosseras range. That range crosses the N. W. angle through
the towns of Edinburg and Day, and in the latter, is broken through by the Sa
candaga river: South of that river, a lateral ridge or spur, runs southwardly through
Edinburg, Providence, Galway and Charlton, connecting with Flint Hill, of
Schoneotady, but penetrated by the Mohawk river. . These ridges, especially to
wards the N. have a soil light, thin and generally barren. Directly E. of the
mountains, iathe hilly portion, of which the soil is fertile vegetable mould. The
level portion lies between the hills and the Hudson river. Immediately along the
streams are some alluvial bottoms, highly fertile; but, heTe, as elsewhere, along
the Hudson, these tracts are narrow. Back from the river, are broad plains, known
as the Pine Plains; with soil commonly sandy, But, at times, blended with vege
table mould and alternating with clay.
The timber of the uplands, is oak, hickory, and chestnut; of the plains, where
clay prevails, maple, beech, ash, elm, and butternut; and where sand predomi
nates, some white and much yellow pine.
The greater proportion of improved lands is now under careful cultivation. —
Formerly the great quantity of fine timber, its proximity to market, and the facili
ties afforded for its preparation by mills on steady streams, induced the settlers to
devote themselves chiefly to the lumbering business. But this trade has passed
away with its food, and the inhabitants now apply themselves to the cultivation
and improvement of their farms; and at present, the science and practice of agri
culture are respectable, and are becoming annually mere profitable.
The county is abundantly watered, having the Hudson on the N. E. and E.
boundaries for 60 miles, and the Mohawk on the S. for 16 miles, uniting with the
former, at the extreme S. E. angle.
The Hudson receives from the county, the Sacandaga river, Jessup's creek,
Snook kill, the Kayaderosseras or Fish creek, and Anthony's kill. The Aelplaas
and the Chuctenunda flow to the Mohawk. *
The Sacandaga, rises in Johnsburg, Warren county, and runs S. W. about 23
miles, to receive the outlet of Lake Pleasant of Hamilton county, from the West,
which nearly equals it in size; thence pursuing the same course 6 or 7 miles re
ceives the West or Oxbow branch, heading near the sources of West Canada
Creek, flowing S. E. about 30 miles to the union; thence the united streams have a
S. E. course of about 30 miles to the mouth of Sacandaga creek; whence, turning

SARATOGA COUNTY.

673

N. E. it rans 10 miles and thence easterly, about the same distance to the Hud
son. At the junction, its volume is scarce Jess than that of its recipient, and by
some, it is said to be the larger stream. Its course is very crooked, its current
strong and its bed broken by many rapids and some falls. Its whole length may
be about 80 miles.
Jessup's Creek, is about thirty miles long and flows from the N. W. part of
Warren county, by a direct S. E. course to the Hudson in the N. E. angle of
Hadley. Snook Kill, has a course of about 10 miles N. E. from Greenfield, through
Wilton, Northumberland and Moreau to the Hudson, below Fort Edward.
Fish Creek, rises in and flows through Greenfield, to the centre of Milton, and
thence by an eastern course to Saratoga lake, near its foot, and issuing from the
lake, changes the name of Kayaderosseras, for that of Fish creek and flows thence
8 miles to the Hudson, at Schuylerville. From Ballston Spa to Saratoga lake, its
banks are low, and bordered by extensive flats, which in places have the breadtb
of a mile. Within a course of ten miles, above the lake, it is said to have a fall
of 400 feet, affording many valuable mill sites, a large portion of which are unoc
cupied. It is a steady and powerful stream.
The Mjilaas Kill, rises in Galway and runs S. E. about 12 miles through the
town of Charlton into Schenectady county and thence to the Mohawk. It is a
mill stream of inconsiderable power.
The Chuctenunda, is described under " Montgomery county."
There are several small lakes, of which, Saratoga, Round, Long, and Owl,
are chief. Saratoga lake, is 9 miles long by 3 wide; 6 miles S. from Saratoga
and the same distance E. from Ballston spa, at the junction of the towns of Malta,
Stillwater, Saratoga, and Saratoga Springs, lt is much resorted to, by company
at the watering places, for fishing, fowling and boating. Visitants find excellent
accommodations at the public houses, one 4, the other 6 miles from Saratoga
Springs, on the' western shore of the' lake. This shore is accessible in a few
places only, on account of the marshes which border it. Beside excellent fish,
much game is found on the lake and marshes. The country around the lake rises
gradually into elevated ridges, forming a vast amphitheatre of picturesque land
scape embellished by cultivation. The borders of the lake are chiefly argillace
ous slate. On the eastern shore, three miles above the south end, Snake
Hill projects into the basin and rises 200 feet above its surface. The rock strata,
argillaceous and graywacke slate, containing organic remains, are very singularly
contorted, apparently by some great force from beneath.
Round Lake, upon .the line between the .towns of Malta and Clifton Park, six
miles S. E. of Ballston Spa, is 4 miles in circumference and discharges Anthony's
kill E. to the Hudson. It is surrounded by a hard stony soil, curiously tossed in
to hillocks and has a hamlet on its borders called " Slab City."
Long Lake, of Ballston, 5 miles S. from Ballston Spa, is a beautiful sheet of,
water, 5 miles long by 1 wide, abounding with fish, and the country about it, with
game, and very agreeable scenery.
Owl Lake, is an inconsiderable pond of Saratoga Springs, about a mile in cir
cumference, 3 miles S. E. from the viUbge, and 1 N. from Saratoga lake.
The Champlain canal enters the county at the N. E. angle of Saratoga town,
and follows the valley of the Hudson 25 miles, to the Mohawk river, which it
crosses to the junction with the Erie canal, running some 8 miles on the S. W.
bor ler of the county.
Upon the Hudson river, on the N. line, are Baker's, Glenn's, Hartley's and Jes
sup's, falls, fine natural cascades.
The geological formations of this county are peculiarly interesting; combining.
the primitive, transition and secondary, with extensive tracts of alluvion, they af
ford the most favourable opportunity to the student of geology of obtaining a
knowledge of this science. '
The mountains comprise the primitive formation, of which we have spoken at
page 41.
This primitive region appears to have undergone important changes. Fragments
of rocks, corresponding with those in place, are strewed abundantly over the
Country in the form of sand,,, water worn pebbles and boulders, some weirrhinor
85 6 *

674

TOPOGRAPHY.

many tons, at the distance of miles from the parent rock, resting on earth which
, covers secondary limestone.
The transition formation borders the primitive upon the east and south, and ap
pears in the valley between the great mountain ridges. The rocks found here be
longing to this class are puddingstone, saliferous sandstone, limestone, argillace
ous slate, graywacke and graywacke slate, siliceous and calcareous sandstone.
Argillaceous slate underlays the greater part of the county not included in the
primitive region, lt forms the bed of the Hudson to a little above Baker's falls,
opposite Moreau, and that of the Mohawk to a point above Schenectady; and is
observable in the interior at the bottom and along ihe shores and streams which
pass southward of the secondary formation, but is not apparent between that and
the primitive rocks. The seams and fissures of this slate are frequently rilled
with calcareous spar; and at Baker's falls, large masses of this substance are im
bedded in it. The slate is fragile, liable to disintegration and in some places
breaks into rhombic tables, evincing a crystalline character. Some specimens
are glazed with black lead, soiling the fingers, and have been mistaken for bitu
minous shale. Masses of chlorite, milky quartz and sometimes of red jasper are
likewise found imbedded or passing through it in veins, and the sulphuret of iron
in beautiful golden coloured crystals of various forms occurs in great abundance
in seams or beds. Siliceous slate seems imbedded in the argillite, rather than
forming a separate stratum. The graywacke where found here, resis on or alter
nates with the argillaceous slate. It forms the summit of most or the insolated
elevations in the S. occupies a considerable space along (he highlands of the Hud
son, in Saratoga and Stillwater towns, enters largely into the composition of Be-
mus Heights, and is visible along the southern parts of Ballston and Charlotte,
where it runs into graywacke slate. Siliceous and calcareous sandstone, occur on
the eastern and southern termination of the primitive; as on the Hudson, below
Glenn's Falls, in the S. part of Greenfield, at the foot ofthe Kayaderosseras, ex
tending to Galway; along the eastern base of the mountain, in Greenfield and Co
rinth, and along the Sacandaga mountains of the adjoining county. Of this stone
the piers of the fine state bridge over the Sacandaga river, near the Fish House,
are built. Some' of the rocks here, assume the character of compact limestone
and contain organic remains. Hornstone in abundance, is found in thecalcareous
sandstone, and beautiful crystals of calcareous spar, variously coloured and six
sided crystals of quartz in the siliceous and calcareous stone. The latter are in
great abundance among the calcareous sandstones around Saratoga Springs.
The rocks of the secondary formation are compact limestone, shell limestone,
and oolite. This formation passes into the county at Glenn's Falls, and holds a
narrow space S.W. along the course ofthe primitive region, through the towns of
Moreau, Wilton, Saratoga Springs, Milton, and Galway, into Montgomery county.
Along the river, below Glenn's Falls, it alternates with calcareous and siliceous
sand stone, and with the graywacke and graywacke slate. The compact
shell limestones occur in the same series of strata, in distinct layers, upon each
other, at irregular intervals. They are dark blue in colour, and the former runs
into marble, which takes a high polish. The oolite, first discovered in the United
States, occurs near the granite rocks at tfte southern termination of the Palmer
town mountain, 2 miles N. of the Saratoga Springs, and thence stretches across
the valley separating the Palmertown from the Kayaderosseras mountain, resting
upon transition rocks.
Diluvial and alluvial deposits cover a great proportion of the secondary and
transition rocks in thick beds of sand, clay, and rounded fragments of stone. The
diluvial includes the pine plains extending from the northern to the southern
limits. Little is known of the depth and interior of this mass. Almost the only
mode of inspection is by digging wells for water, which is usually obtained at the
depth of from 10 to 25 feet, in a coarse loose sand, resting on aluminous marl, or
between strata of this substance. When water is procured over the marl it is com
monly soft and pure; but when between the strata, is hard, containing lime and
magnesia,. in combination with sulphuric or muriatic acid. This formation has a
stratified structure, well defined, of different coloured sand or earth, or gravel, re
gularly arranged; sometimes separated by thin layers of marl or clay, or argilla
ceous oxide of iron. Marl underlays and is a constituent of, the whole mass; it is
mostly argillaceous, but sometimes contains sixty per cent, of lime. Bog iron ore
is common.

SARATOGA COUNTY. 675
The alluvial formation borders the streams, and consists of beds of clay or marl
interrupted at intervals by quicksands, and sometimes vegetable remains. The
appearance of this diluvial and alluvial region leads, almost irresistibly, to the
conclusion that it was once the bed of a lake, in which were deposited the lime and
other secondary rocks, containing the abundant animal remains.
But the most remarkable possession of the county consists in its numerous sa
lubrious and perennial mineral waters, of which the acidulous, saline, chalybeate
is most celebrated.
Tfcese waters appear along the southern termination of the secondary, and in
the immediate vicinity of, the transition formation, upon a line running nearly east
and west 20 miles. At Ballston Spa they rise, in some places, through the al
luvial clay, marl, or sand, and in others through the slate rock, which has been
penetrated by boring to great depths. Between these and the Saratoga Springs
are others of less note in the transition and secondary formations; and at the latter
place, the fountains are most numerous, and diverse in their sensible qualities,
issuing in a space, along the valley, of more than a mile, from marl, resting on
secondary lime. They occur also in the S. E. part of the old town of Saratoga, at
tho Quaker Springs, in the transition slate.
These springs, and their medicinal qualities, were known to the aborigines; but
with a selfishness which they have every where betrayed in relation to mineral
treasures, they Iqng kept this knowledge to themselves, even after theyhad dis
posed of their right in the soil. Affection towards Sir William Johnson, at length
induced them, during a protracted indisposition, to communicate to hiin the vir
tues of the fountains. In 1767, he visited the High Rock spring, under the
guidance of his Indian friends, stopping, over night, at the hut of one Michael
M'Donald, a Scotch adventurer, who had settled on the margin of the Ballston lake.
Sir William was borne to tbe spring in a litter; but a few weeks use of the
waters enabled him to return in excellent health, on foot. The fame of this ex
traordinary cure soon rendered the springs a place of great resort.
In 1773, an unsuccessful attempt was made by one Dirk Scowton to establish
a house for the accommodation of visitants. In the following year one John Ar
nold prosecuted the project, and opened a rude tavern upon the high bank west of
the "High Rock." At this time, the High and Flat Rock springs were the only
ones known. The forest abounded with wild animals. Bear, deer, wolves, and
moose were seen daily, and the small stream of the valley was the abode of {he
beaver and salmon trout; and Indian huts .were strewed around the valley.
Arnold was succeeded by one Norton, who abandoned his possessions during
the revolutionary war, and joined the British army, but they were resumed by his
son, in 1783; who sold to Morgan, who sold to Bryant; and the last must be con
sidered the first permanent settler here. In 1783, General P. Schuyler, opened a
road from the mouth of Fish Creek, to the springs, and erecting a tent near the
High Rock, dwelt there with his family several weeks; and in the succeeding
year built a small frame house on the high land S. W. ofthe High Rock, where
he, annually, spent five or six weeks during the remainder of his life. In 1789,
Dr. Blakesley and Gideon Putnam removed hither; and to the latter, very much
is due for the early improvements of the village. The reputation of the waters
and the accommodations for visitors, grew with the population *and wealth of the
country. Fashion has appropriated them as a mean of display and enjoyment, and
they contribute now, by the great ease and economy with which they may be
visited, very much to the health and^-pleasure of thousands. The wealthy and
luxurious may find here the gratifications they desire; and he who seeks health
only, may purchase it at a moderate price.
The Congress Spring, the most celebrated of the fountains, was discovered in
1792, by Mr. Gillman, issuing from an aperture in the side of a rock, the face of
which formed the border of the brook, and was named, by the acclamation of the
visitors, the Congress Spring; the discoverer being a member of Congress. It
is situated on the west side of a narrow strip of low marshy ground, close to the
loot of a miniature cascade upon a limped stream which bursts from the earth,
50 rods to the west. For several years after its discovery, the mineral water was
received, in tumblers, as it fell in a small stream from the rock. Bu-t being insuf
ficient to supply the wants of the visitors, efforts were made to obtain a larger
quantity, which obstructing the passage of the water, the spring was supposed to

676

TOPOGRAPHY.

have been irretrievably lost. Not long after, however, Mr. Putnam observed bub
bles of gass rising through the water of the brook, a few feet S. and E. from the
late fountain. Inspired by the hope of recovering it, he turned the stream from
its course and excavating" the earth to the depth of 8 feet, through a stratum of
indurated marl in which rounded pebbles and indurated gravel are imbedded, —
Over these small issues he placed a tube of plank 10 inches square, rising to the
surface, which is preserved in place by filling the well around it, whence now
flows an abundant supply of the finest mineral water in the world.
The water rises a few inches above the surface of the brook, which point must
be near.the level of its source. Below this point, it is suffered to escape through
a small aperture in/the side ofthe curb, whence,, when undisturbed it issues at the
rate of nearly » gallon per minute. The quantity, however, seems inexhausti
ble; for on removing the pressure by lessening the column in the curb, the water
rushes in so rapidly that it is difficult to empty the well.
The surface of the spring is constantly agitated by the escape of gas in fine
globules. When firstdipped, the water is limped and sparkling. It becomes tur
bid, however, by short exposure to the atmospheric air, and forms upon the sur
face a delicate white pellicle, which subsides in a redish brown sediment, similar
to that observable on the curb, and along the surface over which the water flows
to the brook, Glass vessels in which the water stands long, or which are habitu
ally used in it, become tarnished, and receive an irridescent stain, which is irre-
removable. The sajine and gazeous properties of the water, are perceptible to the palate,
and to most persons, when moderately taken, are agreeable. Its effect depends
upon the state of the stomach, and the quantity taken. It operates as a cathar
tic and diuretic commonly by drinking from four to six half pints in the mor
ning, before breakfast; producing, soon after swallowed, frequent eructations of
fixed air, slight giddiness, and a slight disposition to somnolency, which pass
away, however, with the copious discharges that follow, leaving an invigorated
appetite for food and exercise.
The gas affects the respiration of animals when near the surface of the fountain,
and is immediately fatal to such as are immersed in it. Fish and frogs survive
but a short time, when placed in the water. Bread made ofthe water, fresh from
the spring, and immediately baked, is tolerably light, whilst warm, but becomes
clammy and heavy like unleavened bread when cold. The country people use the
water in preparing hot cakes, in which sour cream is an ingredient. The cake is
palatable and may be expeditiously prepared.
The temperature of the water at all seasons, at the bottom of the well, is 50° F.
Its specific gravity at 60° the barometer ranging 29.5, is 1009.7, and repeated ex
periments, at different periods and under various circumstances, for more than 20
years; have not given a variation of more than 0.5, of a grain.
From careful and repeated analysis by Dr. Steele, it appears that the gallon or
231 cubic inches of water from the spring, contains:
Chloride of Sodium, (sea salt) 385. Carbonic acid gas, 311.
Atmospheric air 7.
Cubic inches 318.

Hydriodate of Soda,

3.5

Bi-carbonate of Soda,

8.982

Bi-carbonate of Magnesia,

95.788

Carbonate of Lime,

98.098

Carbonate of Iron,

5.075

Silex,

1.5

597.943 grs.
The property of this fountain has, within a few years, passed from the heirs of
the late Henry and John Livingston, to Messrs. John Clarke, and Thomas Lynch,
of N. York; to whom the public are indebted for the convenient and cleanly man
ner, in which the water is presented at the well, and for the improvements around
it. They have reserved to themselves, the right of bottling and vending the wa
ter, which has been introduced into almost every part of the world.
When bottled, the water loses much of its pungency and agreeable flavour, and
its iron is entirely deposited. Its aperient qualities, however, remain in tolerable
perfection. The salts obtained by evaporation have, from their insoluble nature,

SARATOGA COUNTY. 677
proved not only disagreeable, but frequently irritating and offensive to the sto
mach, and further preparation of them has been very properly prohibited by
the proprietors.
The Columbian spring, a few rods S. W. from the Congress, rises a few inches
above the earth, and escapes from a hole in the side of the curb. The well is
about six feet deep, and so copious is the supply that the volume can scarcely be
reduced with the use of a bucket. The surface of the fountain has not that sim
mering appearance ofthe Congress, but the gas breaks through it in large bubbles.
at irregular intervals, giving the resemblance of violent ebullition. In its current
from the fountain, the water leaves a deep brown ferruginous deposit. It is lim-
fid, has a strong chalybeate taste, and "a pungency indicating much carbonic acid.
ts temperature is like that of the Congress water, arid the specific gravity is
0002.4 less. Although the two springs have the same substances in solution, the
froportions vary; this water having much less of the saline matter than the other,
t is seldom cathartic, unless taken in large quantities, or in irritable stomachs^
but in proper doses is diuretic, operating favourably upon the secretions and excre
tions generally, mildly stimulant and tonic.
The Washington spring is 50 rods S. W. from the Columbian, by the side of a
rill of very pure water, flowing from the adjacent sand bank. This fountain is
much more elevated than the others, and rises through a 'bed of argillaceous blue
marl. The water is, limpid, sparkling, and acidulous, and has the same tempera
ture and specific gravity as the other waters.
The Hamilton spring, discovered by Mr. Putnam soon after the discovery ofthe
Congress, lies about 50 rods N. E. ofthe latter, and directly in the rear of Con
gress Hall. The surface is much agitated by large quantities of gas. In appear
ance, temperature, and gravity, it differs little from the other waters.
It ranks first as a diuretic, and is most valuable in gravelly and calculous affec
tions. Next to the Congress, in its saline qualities, it is substituted for the wa
ters of that spring in cases where their drastic effects render their use inadmissi
ble; and in scrofula, and other indolent swellings of the glands, this water, with
that of the Columbian, is preferred. Connected with the spring, is a commodious
bath-house, where are mineral and pure water baths.
Flat Rock spring is in the valley, 100 rods N. E. from the Hamilton, in the rear
ofthe Pavilion hotel. The well is 15 feet deep, protected by a square plank tube,
in which the water rises to the surface of the earth, covered by a small Chinese
temple, lt much resembles the Columbian.
The High Rock spring is in the same valley, 100 rods further north, near a ledge
of calcareous rock. The rock which gives name to the spring, surrounds and in
closes it, and rests, apparently, on the surface of the marl, or is but slightly con
nected with it,, It narrows, rapidly, as it rises from the earth in a conical form,
and in the centre of the rounded top is a circular opening to the interior cavity,
widening as the rock enlarges, leaving its walls of equal thickness throughout.
The water rises in the cavity some feet above the surface ofthe soil, and is inces
santly agitated by the escape of carbonic acid gas, for which the rock forms a ca
pacious and secure reservoir, where, at any time, the experiment may be made of
its deleterious effects on animal life.
This rock of tuffa lime, is a most extraordinary production of the water. It is
composed of the carbonate of lime, magnesia, and the oxide of iron, with a pro
portion of sand and clay, and exhibits, when broken, Ihe impression of leaves and
twigs of trees. It is undulating on its surface, and more compact at the top than at the
bottom. Its height is 4 feet; circumference at base, 26.8; length of line drawn
over the top, from north to south, 11 feet, 7 inches; length of such line from E. to
W. 10 feet 9 inches; from the tep of the rock to the surface of the water, 2 feet 4
inches; depth of water 7 feet 8 inches; diameter of opening at top, 10 inches.
lt may scarce be doubted, that the water, at some period, issued from the ca
vity, and descended upon the sides of the rock. The manner in which the rock
was formed, or the time when the water ceased to flow over it, is not obvious; we
may conjecture, however, that the deposits of the water have formed the wall
which imprisons the spring, and that the volume rose in the vessel until it coun
terbalanced the power which had propelled it, or had reached the level of its
source; and that the motive power was subsequently diminished, or the source re
duced. ¦ ,

678 TOPOGRAPHY.
So far back as a knowledge of this spring may be traced, it has not overflowed
the rock; but, in support ofthe opinion of the reduction of its source, it may be
observed, that when visited by Sir Wm. Johnson, in 1767, the water was but a
few inches bplow the top of the rock. The Indian tradition is, that the water
flowed over the present opening. An aged chief of the St. Regis tribe informed
Chancellor Walworth that he visited the spring when a boy, and was told, that in
consequence of the Indian women bathing in it when they should not, the water
sunk into the rock and never re-appeared.
The President's spring, similar in quality to that of the High Rock, in all re
spects, is about 30 rods north, and is probably from the same source.
The Red spring, 70 rods N. E. from the President, makes large ferruginous de
posits, and when agitated has numerous particles of fine sand stained with iron,
which give the red appearance and its name. The water has no sensible differ
ence from that of the other springs, save that its saline and gaseous qualities are
less. There are other fountains of less notoriety around the village, among which are
the Barrel spring, near the High Rock; the Walton spring, back ofthe Columbian
hotel; and the Monroe spring, 20 rods N. of the Flat Rock. The, two first, how
ever, are entirely neglected? but near the latter are baths of mineral and fresh
water. The Ten springs, one mile E. from the High Rock, were discovered in 1814,
and some efforts made to direct public attentoin to them, which hitherto have
proved unsuccessful.
Ellis's spring, named from the proprietor, in a deep alluvial valley S. W. 2
miles from the Congress spring, on a principal branch of the Kayaderosseras
creek, differing from all others, flows from the bank in a horizontal direction, dis
playing its qualities at the surface by its sparkling appearance and deposition of
iron. Its temperature is 48°; it is remarkably clear, acidulous, and chalybeate;
affords 316 grains solid contents, similar in kind to those ofthe other springs, and
of iron in as great abundance as any of the waters at Saratoga or Ballston.
It is on this account highly esteemed.
The Quaker springs are in the town of Saratoga, 10 miles S. E. from the Con
gress rising from marl in the bottom of a deep vailey, surrounded by graywacke
and slate. Partaking ofthe ingredients of the other springs, they are less potent
and but little visited.
The mineral springs of Ballston Spa, 7 miles S. W. from Saratoga springs, are
scarce less celebrated than those we have described. They were discovered dur
ing the survey and partition of the patent of Kayaderosseras, in 1769. In 1772,
Benajah Douglass, who had lived near Lebanon spring," then growing into repute,
erected a small log house here for the accommodation%of visitants, and a few
years afterwards, a frame building over the creek opposite to the spring. At this
period, the springs were resorted to by many persons from the surrounding coun
try, some bringing in their waggons their provisions, and remaining several days
with no other shelter than their vehicles afforded. During the revolutionary war,
the settlement of the country Was suspended; but in 1791 Mr. Douglass enlarged
his accommodations, and in 1792 Nicholas Low, Esq. erected a large, and com
modious house close to the spring, others were subsequently built for the re
ception of visitors, and in 1803-4 he raised the well known and much admired Sans
Souci hotel.
The spring first discovered is at the north end of the village. The citizens at
one time deeorated it with a marble curb and flagging, and protected it by an iron
railing. Tbe latter still remains, but the flagging and curb have been removed,
under the erroneous impression, that the spring suffered in its properties from their
pressure. About the year 1807 other springs were discovered in the vicinage, having the
same general character, excepting the sulphur water, near Low's well, one ofthe
Sans Souci springs.
Swollen by the rains, the small stream which flows through the village, in the
summer of 1817, made for itself a new bed, and in its old one a new mineral spring
was discovered, issuing from a circular opening, several feet in diameter, pouring
forth an immense volume of water. To preserve it from the impurities it might ac
quire in passing through a stratum of clay, a tube was forced into the aperture, to

SARATOGA COUNTY.

679

the depth of 30 feet, in, which the water rose 5 feet above the level of the brook
and fell over its sides. A second but shorter tube was inserted near the first, from
which the water, rising above the surface of the earth, was suffered to escape.
Two wells were thus formed, issuing apparently from the same source, in which,
however, the portions of muriate of soda, (common salt,) differed, whilst" they
nearly corresponded in other constituents.
The water as it flowed from the fountain immediately deposited iron and lime,
and these substances might be traced a mile along the brook into which it emptied.
This admirable fountain retained its properties for about two years, when the car
bonic acid which supplied it became exhausted, or took another course, and all ef
forts to reclaim it have been unsuccessful. The water still flows abundantly, but
has now little other mineral quality than the chalybeate. This was called the
Washington spring.
In 1822, the spring, equidistant between Low's and the Sulphur spring, and now
the most used of the Sans Souci springs, was rediscovered beneath an old build
ing attached to the bath-house, lt is the most agreeable as a beverage and effec
tive as a cathartic, and little, if any, inferior in any respect to the Congress spring
of Saratoga.
In, 1827, an effort was made to penetrate the secrets of the mineral deposit here,
and to obtain a further supply of water, by boring on the flat opposite to Aid-
ridge's boarding house. Operations were commenced in a public well, 14 feet
deep, 8 of which were in the slate rock. At the depth of 80 feet, a vein of level
acidulous mineral water was discovered, which rises through a tube, fitted to the
aperture, in a copious stream, and is known as the New Washington spring. The
excavation was continued to the depth of 137 feet, without any addition to the wa
ter in quantity or quality, save a slight charge of sulphur.
Soon after the completion of this fountain, it exploded with great noise and
force, throwing the whole column of water many feet in the air, and leaving for.
some minutes a sulphurous odour. The spring, for the moment, disappeared, but
soon filled again, and now flows from a basin adjusted to the top of the fountain;
but from the period of the explosion, the sulphuric quality of the water has
ceased. •
A similar experiment was made in the Park, near the Sans Souci, with like
results. The rock was struck at 30 feet depth through blue marl, and at the
depth of 80 feet, a vein of mineral water was opened, like to that last de
scribed. The boring was continued for 240 feet. The waters of the fountain now
rise several feet above the surface of the earth, and are discharged from a small
basin, tastefully secured to the head of the tube. It is an acidulous chalybeate of
the first quality, and is distinguished as the Park spring.
These waters have the same qualities as those of Saratoga; but it is said, that
the saline matters are in less proportions.
Analysis ofthe Waters of Ballston.
Sans Souci Spring. — At the time of examination, temperature of atmosphere 20°;
water from well 50°; specific gravity at 60° 1005.7.
One gallon, (231 cubic inches,) gave,
Chloride of sodium  143.733
Bi-carbonate of soda - - - - - - - 12.66
Bi-carbonate of magnesia  - 39.1
Carbonate of lime  43.407
Carbonate of iron -------- 5.95
Hydriodate of soda  1.3
Silex  1

247.15 grs.
In this quantity, the hydro-bromate of potash, though known to' exist, is not de
tected. Low's Spring. — By analysis presents like results.
Park Spring. — The specific gravity is less than that ofthe Sans Souci or Low's
Spring. It affords much less quantity of saline substances than the other springs
but is saturated with iron. One gallon yields 4.5 grains of pure oxide, equal to
6 1-2 grains of the carbonate of iron, a quantity unexampled in any of the other

680 TOPOGRAPHY.
springs; constituting it one of the best acidulous /chalybeate waters kngwn; pre
ferable in all cases to the simple chalybeate.
The Public Well. — Once the most distinguished, has suffered in public opinion,
but is undoubtedly an excellent chalybeate. It is said, erroneously, that Sir Wil
liam Johnson, in selling the land, reserved this spring for public use. But he
never owned land here.
The New Washington Spring —
Chloride of sodium  89.93
Bi-carbonate of snda ------- 18.057
Bi-carbonate of magnesia ------ 42.042
Carbonate of lime - - - - - - , - 41.51
Hydriodate of soda ------- 0.77
Carbonate of iron ------- 3.71
Silex and alumine -..--.. 1.25

Total 197.099 grs.
Besides these acidulous chalybeate waters, the country is enriched with some
valuable sulphurous springs, rising near the argillaceous slate formation, probably
from the decomposition of iron pyrites abounding in the rock. The most impor
tant fountain of this class is on the E. border of Saratoga lake, 1 mile S. of Snake
Hill; it yields sufficient quantities for bathing.
A spring of nearly similar character is found in a valley of another branch of
the Kayaderosseras creek, 2 miles W. from Saratoga springs. Its temperature is
50°, while that of a fountain of pure water issuing near it from the same bank is
at 46°.
The sulphur spring at Ballston is a weak saline chalybeate, containing a small
quantity of sulphuretted hydrogen gas. It is much used for bathing in a great
variety of cutaneous affeclions.
The moderate use of the mineral waters by a person in health is never perni
cious, and in all diseases to which they are applicable, they prove indeed a kind
dispensation of providence when»prudently used; but, they may be abused by all
partakers, and especially by those whose stomachs are enfeebled by disease. Ef
fects the most distressing, and sometimes fatal, result, from taking large quantities.
The use of the waters is especially beneficial in all those affections termed bili- '
ous and dyspeptic, in calculous and nephritic complaints, in chronic rheumatism,
gout, in ulcers and cutaneous disorders, scrofula, in mercurial diseases and stru
mous affections, in recent dropsy, paralysis, chlorosis, &c. &c.
Much interest has been excited relative to the source of these valuable waters.
The salt they contain may be accounted for, as that mineral iscommonly found in
similar geological formations; but the production of the unexampled quantity of
carbonic acid gas, the medium by which the other constituents are retained in so
lution, is not easily understood. The low and unvarying temperature of the water,
opposes the conjecture that it is caused by subterranean heat, whilst the absence
of all mineral acids, except the marine combined with soda, renders any combina
tion of that kind impossible.
With Saratoga county are connected many interesting events of our history, and
especially of the revolutionary war. Here were made, by General Schuyler, those
dispositions, which led to the success of the battles of Stillwater, of the 19th Sep
tember and 7th October; and subsequently to the surrender of the British army, of
6000 men, under General Bourgoyne, which had such beneficial and decisive in
fluence upon the subsequent events ofthe revolution.
The county is divided into 20 towns.
Ballston, organised 7th March, 1788; distant from Albany 25; and from Ball
ston Spa, 4 miles; surface high and undulating, upon the southern extremity of the
Palmertown mountain, and affording a very extensive view of the surrounding
country; soil chiefly strong gravelly loam, blended with sand and clay, adapted
better to grass than grain, but productive of both. The Mourn.kill, a tributary of
the Kayaderosseras, drains the northern portions; Long lake, 4 miles long, and not
-exceeding 90 rods wide, lies between the railroad and east boundary, and its out
let, flowing to Round lake, gives motion to some mills. The Saratoga and Sche
nectady railroad runs through the town, and the Troy and Saratoga railroad enters

SARATOGA COUNTY. 681
it near the northern boundary. The first settlement here was made in 1763; by
two brothers ofthe name of M'Donald. There are in the town 2 Presbyterian, 1
Baptist and 1 Christian, churches, 2 post offices, Ballston Centre and Burnt Hills.
The town has its name from the Rev. Eliphalet Ball, from Bedford, Westches-
tercounty, who, with a number of his congregation, settled about2 1-2 miles S.from
the Springs, on a tract of land sold to defray the expenses ofthe company in sur
veying the Kayaderosseras patent.
Charlton, taken from Ballston, 7th March, 1792; distant from Albany 25; and
from Ballston Spa, S. W. 8 miles; surface undulating and gently descending to
wards the south; soil in the N. clay and clay loam; and in the S. sandy l'oam,
generally well cultivated; drained S. by Aelplaas creek and its branches. Charlton,
village, centrally situate, contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Universalist and
1 Methodist, churches, 2 taverns, 2 stores, and 32 dwellings, in a pleasant valley.
Besides the above, there are in the town, 1 Episcopal and 1 Seceders', churches,
and a post office called West Charlton.
Clifton Park, taken from Half-moon. 3d March, 1828; distant from Albany 15;
and from Ballston Spa, S. 15 miles; surface undulating; soil sandy loam and clay,
productive when carefully cultivated; drained N. and S. by small streams, which
interlock centrally. The Mohawk turnpike runs N. W. acros3 the town, and the
Erie canal follows theriver. Willow Spring is a small village on the canal.
Rexfnrd Flats, contain a post office, a tavern, fetore, and 10 or 12 dwellings. The
canal crosses the river by an aqueduct here. Clifton Park, yisehers Ferry and
Jonesville are post offices, near which are dense vicinages.
Corinth, taken from Hadley, 20th April, 1818; distant N. from Albany 44; and
from Ballston Spa, 18 miles; surface on the E. rolling; S. E. flat; soil sand and
sandy loam. The Kayaderosseras mountain extends N. across the western part,
the Palmertown upon the S. E.; soil clay loam, very stony, wet and better adapt
ed to pasturage than tillage. Corinth, formerly called Jessup's Landing, is a post
village, where much business is done in the lumber trade; rafts descending the
Hudson from the sand bank, 1 1-2 miles below the village. There are here 1
store, tavern, post office, and about 20 dwellings, and a Presbyterian church.
There is another post office, called South Corinth.
The " Great Falls" of the Hudson are in this town, 18 miles N. of Ballston
Spa. There is here a rapid a mile in length, with a fall of about 30 feet, terminat
ing in a cataract 30 feet perpendicular; one hundred and twenty yards above the
perpendicular fall, is a remarkable sluice, 12 yards long, and four in breadth,
through which in dry seasons all the water of the river passes with great velocity.
In freshets the water rises above it. Lime stone of indifferent quality abounds,
and oxides of iron which are or may be used as pigments.
Day, taken from Edinburg and Hadley, April 7th, 1819, by the name of Con
cord; name changed by the revised statutes; from Albany 60 miles; and from Ball
ston Spa, N. W. 35 miles; surface hilly; the Kayaderosseras mountain extending
N. E. across it; most of the arable land and settlements are in the valley of the
Sacandaga river. The lumber trade furnishes the principal business of the inha
bitants. There are 2 post offices, Concord and West Day, both in the valley. The
valley is so narrow, and the stream so sluggish above the rapids on the E. of the
town, that a dam of 20 feet would render the river navigable for boats for 20 miles.
Edinburg, taken from Providence, and originally organised by the name of
Northfield, 13th March, 1801; name changed 6th April, 1808; distant from Al
bany 50, and from Ballston Spa, N. W. 30, miles; surface on the W. level, or gen
tly undulating; on the E. hilly; the Kayaderosseras, here called Greenfield moun
tain, runs N. across the town. The soil is good in the west and centre, consisting
of stiff loam, mingled with yellow sand, especially thnt of the alluvial flats along
the Sacandaga river. The post office is on Beecher's Mill creek, where is a vil
lage, containing 1 Presbyterian church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, grist mill, saw mill,
carding and cloth dressing mill, and from 15 to 20 dwellings, and several mechanic
shops. Galway, taken from Ballston, 7th March, 1792; distant from Albany 30, and
from Ballston Spa N. W. 10, miles; surface hilly; soil clay loam, underlaid by
clay slate and limestone, which sometimes protrudes above the surface. The ag
riculturists ofthe town are celebrated for their enterprise and success, having left
scarce an acre of waste land in it. Much credit is due to Earl Stimpson, Esq.
8«

682 TOPOGRAPHY.
for this state of things. Having a large farm, (1000 acres,) he has devoted him
self to the introduction of beneficial modes of culture, raising, it is said, 4 tons of
grass, and over 100 bushels of Indian corn, to the acre, and other crops in propor
tion. He is not less distinguished as a horticulturist. His house, open to board
ers, and adapted to the accommodation of 50 persons, 11 miles from Ballston and
14 from Saratoga Springs, is situated on the spur of the Kayaderosseras mountain,
and affords a very extensive prospect, embracing' the Sacandaga mountains on the
N., the Kaatsbergs on the S., the plains extehdingto the Green mountain on the
E.,and the Mayfield mountain of Montgomery county on the W. It is a favourite
excursion from the several watering places. The town is drained E. by Glowe-
ger's or Kayaweeser creek, a small tributary of the Kayaderosseras, and on the N.
W. by the Chuctenunda flowing S. W. to the Mohawk: both give mill power. Gal
way, West Galway Church, and North Galway, are post offices, and the first two;
villages. Galway Corners, including Stimpson's settlement near it, contains 1
Presbyterian and 1 Baptist churches^ 4 stores, 2 public houses, several mechanics'
shops, and about 40 dwellings. West Galway Church, 14 miles W. of Ballston
Spa, contains 1 Presbyterian church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, several mechanics' shops,
and ahout 20 dwellings.. There are also in the town 1 Baptist and 1 Quaker
churches. Greenfield, taken from Saratoga and Milton, 12th March, 1793; centrally dis
tant from Albany 36 miles; surface hilly; on the W. are ridges of the Kayaderos
seras, and on the N. E. ofthe Palmertown mountains; the intervening valley un
even, is drained S. by the Kayaderosseras creek. Much of the soil is stony, but
strong, being a heavy loam, in which lime is minutely mingled, with sand and
vegetable mould, and with due cultivation, which is general, is highly productive.
The surface stone is used for fencing and building. The inhabitants are chiefly
New England men or their descendants. There are three public libraries in the
town. There are three post villages. West Greenfield, near the centre of the S.
boundary, 8 miles N. from the Spa, contains 1 tavern, store, several mechanics'
shops, 7 dwellings. Porter's Corners has a Universalist church, 1 store, and
some half dozen dwellings. Greenfield Centre, 10 miles N. from the Spa, has a
Baptist church, tavern, store, and about 12 dwellings. Besides the churches
named, there are a Presbyterian church on the S. boundary, and near it a Method
ist church.
Hadley, taken from Greenfield and Northumberland, 27th February, 1801; dis
tant from Albany 57, and from Ballston Spa 27, miles; surface generally covered
by the Kayaderosseras mountain, broken and rough. The lumber trade forms the
chief employment of the inhabitants. The Hudson is here a mill stream. From
Rockwell's Mills, where are falls, lumber is carted five miles, whence it descends
in rafts to the feeder ofthe Champlain canal. The Sacandaga river flows through
the town by a due E. course to the Hudson, which also receives Jessup's creek
front theN. E. corner. Hadley, post village, at Rockwell's Mills, opposite to Lu
zerne village, with which it is connected by a toll bridge, has a grist mill, 2 saw
mills, store, tavern, and about a dozen dwellings.
Halfmoon, organised 7th March, 1788; from Albany 15, from Ballston Spa S.
16, miles; surface level; soil sandy loam and light sand, with some clay; produc
tive by good husbandry. Anthony's kill, the outlet of Round lake, flows E. to
the Hudson, on the northern boundary. The Champlain canal, and the Troy rail
road, run along the Hudson; and the Erie canal flows on the S. E. part for a few
miles, and crosses the Mohawk river from the town by an aqueduct. Middletown,
Halfmoon, and Mechanicsville, are villages, and the last two post towns. Me
chanicsville is on the line separating this from Stillwater town.
Malta, taken from Stillwater, 3d March, 1802; distant from Albany 25 miles,
surface on the west undulating, with a soil of stiff clay loam, on the east partly le
vel, and partly broken by irregular hills, with soil of light sand; centrally there is
a strip of sandy loam of easy tillage, and tolerably productive. Long, orBallstont
lake, sends forth a mill stream called Ballston creek, which flows S. E. across this
town to Round lake in the S. E. corner, whence flows Anthony's kill, E. to the
Hudson; Saratoga lake forms three miles of the boundary on the N. E. corner;
the Troy and Ballston rail road crosses the town north-westerly. There is a post
office at Dunning Street, which bears the name of the town, and another at Malta-
ville, 6 miles from the Spa, where are 1 grist mill, a fulling mill, a 6mall woollen

SARATOGA COUNTY.

683

factory, 1 Presbyterian church, 1 store, 1 tavern, and about a dozen dwellings.
Dunning Street, 4 miles S. E. from Ballston Spa, has 2 taverns, 1 store, and half
a dozen dwellings. There is also a hamlet called Chare's Corners, where are 2
Methodist churches, 1 tavern, and several dwelling^.
Milton, taken from Ballston, 7th March, 1792; from Albany N. N. W. 30
miles; surface generally level, with occasional undulations; soil commonly stiff
clay loam, alternating with sandy loam; but in the E. light sand covered with pine;
drained by the Kayaderosseras creek. The prevailing rocks are siliceous sand
stone and lime, on clay slate, fragments of which in many places cover the sur
face, and are frequently used in field wall. Ballston Spa, Factory village, and
Rock City, are villages. The last, near the north line of the town, on the Kaya
derosseras creek, 6 miles N. W. of the Spa, has a grist, saw, oil mill, woollen
factory; and about 25 dwellings, and a fine stone bridge over the creek. Bridges
of this material are common in the county. The Factory village, on the same
creek, 3 miles N. W. from the Spa, contains 2 large woollen factories, a furnace,
an extensive paper mill, a trip hammer, a store, and 25 dwellings. There is here
also a good stone bridge. There are in the town 2 Episcopal, 2 Baptist, 2 Pres
byterian, and 1 Methodist, churches, and a post office at Whalen's store.
Ballston Spa, post village, and seat of justice of the county, incorporated in
1807; 171 miles N. of New York, 26 from Albany, 15 from Schenectady, 18 from
Waterford, and 7 S. W. from Saratoga springs, in a valley, bounded on the north
and west by high sand hills, and on the south and east by a low ridge which gra
dually slopes inwards, upon the Kayaderosseras creek, a small tributary of which
flows through the village. The location is pleasant, though not remarkable for
great natural beauty. The fall on the creek, which is altogether about sixty feet,
has supplied, by artificial means, some pretty cascades. The village contains 1
Episcopal, 1 Baptist, and 1 Presbyteriau, churches, select academy, school, read
ing room, library, 2 printing offices, each issuing a weekly paper; a large brick
building, 6 stories high, originally built for a cotton factory, a grist mill and fac
tory, and 2 saw mills, upon the creek; a large brick court house, and prison under
the same roof, a fire proof office for the county clerk; 6 hotels and taverns, 7 or 8
stores, and numerous mechanics' shops, and about 200 dwellings. The price of
board at the several boarding-houses, varies from three to eight dollars. The
Sans Souci house is of wood, three stories high, 160 feet long, with two wings
extending back 153 feet, and can accommodate comfortably 150 guests. The
grounds around it are neatly disposed and ornamented.
This place has now much business, and its inhabitants look forward to its rapid
increase, a new spring having been given to enterprise by some late changes in
property. When the village was founded, the soil belonged to.Mr. Low, of New
York, who sold lots subject to ground rent. In 1823 he conveyed his interest to
Mr. Loomis, in whose hands the estate remained, with little improvement, few
lots being sold, in the spring of 1833, he conveyed his interest to Mr. J. S.
Beach, for the sum of $25,000, who is now offering lots for sale, and improve
ments progress rapidly. But Ballston Spa derives its importance and celebrity
from its mineral springs, already described. See pages 678, 679, 680.
Moreau, taken from Northumberland 28th March, 1805, from Albany N. 50,
and from Ballston Spa, N. E. 21, miles; surface on the E. hilly, on the W.
level; soil diversified, with tracts of sand, clay, and loam, of good quality, resting
on sand stone, secondary lime, and slate; lying in the great bend of the Hudson
which embraces two sides and part of a third; it has part of Baker's and Glenn's
falls, and the great dam at Fort Edward and at Queensburg, made for the accom
modation of the Champlain canal. The post village called Reynold's Corners,
centrally situated, contains a church common to Baptists and Presbyterians, a
store, tavern, and 12 or 15 dwellings.
Northumberland, taken from Saratoga, 16th March, 1798; N. from Albany 40,
and from Ballston Spa N. E. 12, miles. On the W. is an extensive pine plain,
bordered by a fine tract of sandy loam, and on the E. a waving surface, and soil
of sandy loam, alternating with clay and gravelly loam. Cold brook, a branch of
Snook kill, is the only mill stream of the town. There is a post office named after
the town, and another at Gansevoortville. The north stage road from Albany lies
along the Hudson, and across the river is Fort Miller bridge, nearly opposite to
Old Fort.

684 TOPOGRAPHY. t.
Pro.videnCk, taken from Galway, 5th Feb. 1796; from Albany N. W. 36, from
Schenectady 28, and from Ballston Spa 18, miles; surface hilly, the Kayaderos
seras mountain extending across it; soil clay and loam, better adapted to grass than
grain, and affording remarkably fine pastures; the mountain lands are sterile. The
Sacandaga river touches the N. W. angle, and receives St. John's creek, a small
tributary. Hanse's and Hagedorn's creeks run westerly through the town, form--
ing several valuable mill seats; the Chuctenunda has its source in the south. The
post office, having the name ofthe town, is at Hagedorn's Mills, 16 miles N. W:
from Ballston Spa, where are 1 grist and 4 saw mills, store, and about a dozen
dwellings. Greensboro', in the south, and Johnsboro', in the north, are small ham
lets, or dense vicinages,
Saratoga, organised 7th March, 1788; distant from Albany N. 32, from Balls-
ton Spa E. 15, miles. The surface is, generally, but moderately uneven. Along
the Hudson are some alluvial flats of clay and mould, and theriver hills, of mode
rate height, have a soil of gravelly loam, timbered with oak, walfmt, &c. Sara
toga lake forms part of the western boundary, and Fish creek flows N. E. across
the town to the Hudson, and at the confluence is the post village of Schuyler
ville, near which (at Fort Hardy) Gen. Burgoyne surrendered his army, Oct. 17,
1777. This was the residence of Major-General Schuyler. It is a thriving vil
lage, upon the Champlain canal, 36 miles from Albany, and 37 from Whitehall,
containing some 60 dwellings, several grist and saw mills, 1 cotton and 1 woollen
factories. A company was incorporated in 1836 for making a bridge over the river
here. There are post offices at Quaker Springs, Bemis Heights, and Grangerville
Saratoga Springs, taken from Saratoga, 9th April, 1819; N. from Albany 32
miles; surface diversified, the Palmertown mountain running into the town; except
this ridge the surface is level or undulating; soil light sand, or sandy loam, which
with- the aid of gypsum and clover has been made highly ptoductive in many
parts. Limestone and marl abound, the former particularly about the Springs,
The Kayaderosseras creek flows along the south border to Saratoga lake, upon
the E.; Ellis creek runs across the S. W. corner, and Bog Meadow brook, one
branch coming from Wilton, and the other from the Springs village, runs S. to
Owl pond, which discharges to Saratoga lake. Barhydt's fish pond is 2 miles
E. of the village, and contains many fine trout. The Schenectady and Saratoga
rail road runs E. and N. through the town.
Saratoga Springs, post village, 65 miles from Ballston Spa, 36j from Albany,
181 from New York, incorporated in 1827, on an elevated, dry, and sandy plain,
salubrious and fertile, contains 1 Episcopal, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, 1 Method
ist, 1 Universalist, churches; about 250 dwellings: an academy, and scientific
institute, incorporated 28th April, 1835, 2 common schools, a printing office, at
which is published the Saratoga Sentinel; a book store; reading room, well sup
plied with newspapers, and other periodicals; public library, containing several
thousand volumes, and 'an extensive mineralogical cabinet, neatly and scientifi
cally arranged by Dr. J. H. Steele. At the reading rooms, a register of visitants
is kept, whose numbers have exceeded 8,000 in a season.
This village is built chiefly upon one broad street, and the numerous large
houses for the accommodation of visitors, give it an imposing appearance. The
boarding establishments of the first class, are Congress and Union Halls, at the
S. end of the village; the Pavilion, at the N. and the United States Hotel, cen
trally situate. On a less extensive scale, the most noted are Montgomery Hall,
and York House, in the S.; the Columbia Hotel, and Washington Hall, in the N.
and Prospect Hail, about 1 mile N. W. of the village. Besides these are others
adapted to the accommodation of guests of all descriptions. In each of the larger
houses, from 200 to 300 persons may be, and frequently are, entertained. The
price of board varies with the style, and is from 3 to 10 dollars the week.
The amusements here, during the season, consist of the pleasures derived from
a continual succession of company, from promenades, music, dancing, loitering in
the reading rooms and library, and from excursions by the rail road and otherwise
to the neighboring lakes, and over the adjacent country.
We have already given a full description of the Springs. The village has no
advantages for manufacturing or mercantile pursuits, and depends wholly, upon its
fountains for its prosperity. The facility with which it is now visited, by rail
roads from Albany and Troy, and the new attractions which will be given to it

SARATOGA COUNTY.

685

when Lakes George and Champlain shall be reached by rail roads from the Springs,
now being made, cannot fail to promote its rapid growth.
* Stillwater, organised 7th March, 1788; centrally distant from New York 167,
from Albany 22, and- from Ballston Spa, S. E. 10, miles; surface generally level;
soil on the east, clay loam; on the west, sand and sandy loam, under good and im
proving cultivation; drained on the west, by the Hudson river and several small
streams, and on the S. by Anthony's kil\ Mechanicsville, on the S. E. point,
Stillwater and Ketchum's Corners, are post villages. The Northern stage road
runs along the river, and the Troy and Ballston rail road, on the S. boundary. —
This town claims distinction in history, as containing the battle ground of the ar
mies respectively commanded by Gates and Burgoyne, in 1777. Here are shown
Bemns' Heights, and Freeman's farm, on which the principal battles were fought,
the meadow where General Frazer, the second in command of the British army,
fell, the hill on which he was buried, and the spot where Col. Cilley bestrode a
brass 12 pound cannon, exulting in its capture, Mechanicsville, upon the rail road
and Champlain canal, 20 miles from Albany, 9 from Waterford, and 53 from
Whitehall, contains a cotton factory, several grist and saw mills, and about 60
dwellings; partly in this, and partly in Half Moon town. The water power is
given by Anthony's kill, by means of a-short canal. Stillwalef, village, also up
on the canal, 4 miles above Mechanicsville, has 40 or 50 dwellings. Ketchum's
Corners, has a few dwellings only. Dean's Corners, has also a post office1 and a
few dwellings.
Waterford, taken from Half Moon, 17th April, 1816; in the S. extremity of
the county; surface undulating; soil generally alluvion on clay, well cultivated;
watered by the Hudson and Mohawk rivers, at whose junction lies the village of
Waterford, upon the Champlain canal and on the Rensselaer and Saratoga rail
road; distant from New York 155, from Albany 10, from Troy 4, from Ballston
Spa 20, and from Saratoga Springs 24, miles; connected with Lansingburgby the
Union toll'bridge, over the Hudson, 800 feet long, costing $70,000: There is an
outlet here from the canal, by three locks, each 11 feet drop, to the Mohawk river.
Sloops navigating the Hudson, ascend by the lock at Troy, to the wliarves here.
The village, on a gravelly flat, frequently called Half Moon Point, origin
ally incorporated in 1794, contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Dutch Reform
ed, and 1 Methodist, churches; a Baptist congregation, an academy for males, one
for females, several select schools; bible, missionary, tract, education, and coloni
sation, societies; a lyceum, in which monthly lectures are given on moral, literary,
and scientific subjects; 1 printing office, issuing a weekly paper, 4 flouring mills
competent to make 65,000 barrels of flour annually; a twine factory, an ink facto
ry vending to the value of $7000 annually: 2 large machine shops in which are
made cotton and woollen machinery, wrought nails, steam engines, various kinds
of turner's work, nuts and rivets, screw plates, and dies; horse mills and threshing
machines; reacting water wheels; carpenter's planes, and other tools; Rogers' pa
tent balance, fire engines of which great numbers are made and are in high repute;
centrifugal percussion water wheels, &c. &c. There are also 2 furnaces, one
worked by water, the other by steam, making iron castings to the Value of $20,000
annually; a cotton factory making goods annually, to the value of $40,000; an
extensive tannery, three saw mills, annual sales $30,000; a mill for grinding wa
ter cement and plaster; 16 general stores, 2 drug, and 1 paint and oil stores; 8
taverns, 1 slaughtering establishment, at which, in the autumn of 1835, 5217 bar
rels of beef were packed; the Saratoga bank, capital $100,000; 8 attorneys, 5
physicians, 200 mechanics, and about 200 dwellings. The dam at Troy gives
here 9 feet water. The agricultural and manufactured products exported from the
village annually, are estimated at one million of dollars. The water power is de
rived from the Mohawk.
Wilton, taken from Northumberland, 17th April, 1818; N. from Albany 44
miles; surface hilly on the W.; the Palmertown mountain, running along the W.
border and across the N. W. corner, occupying nearly one eighth of the whole
area; on the N. and N. W. are some tracts called " hard land," of heavy, com
pact clay loam, tolerably productive; the E. and larger portion is level, with a
soil of sandy loam, originally covered with pine, but the timber has been very
closely cut. Wolf Swamp, on the plains, sends forth 2 small mill streams, Cold
Brook, N. to Snook kill, and Bog Meadow Brook, flowing s. to Saratoga lake.

686

TOPOGRAPHY.

Wilton and Fortvilk, are post villages; the former, near the western bound of the
town, 15 miles from Ballston Spa, contains a tavern, store, Baptist church, and
4 or 5 dwellings.*" The latter, 19 miles from the Spa, named after General Fort, the
proprietor, has a small woollen factory, a tavern, store, and about 20 dwellings.

Females.
cd
Births.
Deaths.
TOWNS.
», p
g M
¦p a
Cc«p p
US
a*
| ti
P t-
to M
a oi
;
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
.2 1
COOJO
>
sp
<
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.2* i- CD
Is
'P7^ P ?
.-. Ol
£ £
M P
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bi
Cfi CD
S
tn
3 98
b
Ballston,
2407
1852
2113
. 2001
IBS
414
42
209
252
361
9
22
27
9
20
Cqarlton,
1953
1912
2023
1981
168
442
69
235
198
396
14
28
39
14
12
Clifton Park,"
2494
2282
202
47(1
43
250
241
47(1
39
33
48
12
16
Corinth,
1490
1341
1412
1261
144
291
1
136
107
303
6
27
17
9
«
Day,
571
790
758
829
83
157
4
110
39
204
5
14
30
.8
12
Edinburg,
1469
1590
1571
1447
14'2
307
10
173
105
336
14
23
23
9
13
Galway,
257S
2505
2710
2638
242
562
76
9.98
298
495
15
55
37
24
17
Greenfield,
3024
3298
3144
2927
•217
649
8
vm
314
646
23
35
32
25
25
Hadley,
• 798
943
829
862
52
175
116
51
242
5
12
25
8
9
Halfmoon,
4024
4232
2042
2146
186
442
69
259
194
447
21
43
32
15
12
Malta,
1516
1518
1517
1386
119
313
34
164
157
278
12
34
33
11
7
Milton.
2796
-2746
3079
3020
25R
605
156
345
346
57(1
26
51
38
16
32
Moreau,
1549
1613
1690
1502
139
305
37
164
133
310
7
24
17
5
10
Northumberland,
1279
1042
1606
1547
151
332
22
187
140
335
14
23
21
11
12
Providence,
1515
1582
1579
1497
129
r336
2
195
117
322
10
33
31
11
4
Saratoga,
2233
2010
2461
2435
224
513
73
262
314
479
13
42
33
20
19
Saratoga Springs,
1909
2054
2-204
2438
28(1
512
30
327
296
554
3
17
19
8
16
Millwater, '
2821
2552
2601
2565
251
535
90
288
MM
528
17
42
36
16
21
Waterford,
1184
1323
1473
1998
170
374
86
269
246
411
27
18
40
15
10
Wilton,
1293
1392
1373
1250
104
277
9
150
94
264
8
17
23
6
10
36052
36295
38679
38012
3436
8011
861
4419
3896
7945
288
593
605
252
283
Note Males, 18,946; Females, 19,066; Blacks, 507; Black voters, 7; Paupers, 160; Deaf and Dumb,
12; Blind, 19; Idiots, 35; Lunatics, 18.
G
a
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to
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p.pp
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8
Ballston,
18207
14984
349997
31300 2354
663
6700
2072 2665
3041
• 9525
767
601
Charlton,
20560
15945
304639
70467 2692
788
4881
2018 2495
2990
3685
753
336
Clifton Park,
30098
28338
526519
139150 2341
907
5162
3280 3812
3236
2167
1336
510
Corinth,
37017
10988
155356
3500 1411
375
3088
023 2354
3066
2377
319
2-20
Day,
41339
3729
68469
755 884
141
1442
377 1033
1864
1599
138
166
Edinburg,
37249
10262
105300
11905 2455
378
3780
869
1963
3773
4614
235
221
Galway,
27544
20987
417342
48877 3292
876
6348
2235
4233
6290
8099
935
272
Greenfield,
43783
24593
452982
22450 3406
992
8522
2805
5375
6908
5909
954
393
Hadley,
21225
6451
55507
5423
1135
169
1569
518
1465
1937
407
122
164
Halfmoon,
20734
17937
374228
90550
196H
726
63H5
2767
2751
3015
1165
933
417
Malta,
17121
11525
253350
22422
teas
518
3753
2016
226i>
3116
2285
•wa
492
Milton,
22923
22237
408038
85500
2081
724
4860
2673
2613
3287
3438
99(1
,1075
Moreau,
27582
13641
179792
8750
1250
469
4521
1330 2019
2319
1266
37P
235
Northumberland,
19796
11668
208000
7100
1714
511
5264
2117, 2566
3094
1604
431
414
Providence,
26464
10194
106116
12425
1314
381
2H59
759| 2465
3203
4468
9.37
173
Saratoga,
23658
17710
367141
79561
2237
746
9861
2995! 2680
3339
2255
896
478
Saratoga Springs,
16449
10802
282548
35435
1130
512
2536
1650, 1764
1301
H62
638
750
Stillwater,
24714
20936
401260
40742
2417
874
8259
3158 3432
3317
1068
887
381
Waterford,
3769
3448
239551,241800
352
200
95(1
7S3| 340
330
966
151
Wilton, '
21822
11848
149330 11550
1290
421
2803
1635! 1633
2520
61946
2433
52226
322
357
502704
288223
5405468 970662 37408
11371
93547
36900
49920
12790
7806
SARATOGA COUNTY.

687

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oi
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Ballston,
n
221
798
638
Charlton, '
3
9
2
3
1
1
2
9
211
707
584
Clifton Patk,
2
5
2
2
13
246
819
740
Corinth,
5
17
2
2
1
1
10
147
221
415
Bay,
1
8
5,
93
56
260
Edinburg,
2
6
1
1
3
2
12
196
167
475
Galway,
2
11
4
4
2
1
1
1
5
15
282
526
777
Greenfield,
1
8
2
1
1 1
I
5
22
328
623
945
Hadley,
1
4
1
1
1
B
77
23
241
Halfmoon,
1
3
2
1
11
317
788
582
Malta,
2
4
2
2
3
1
8
157
449
509
Milton,
7
11
3
3
4
1 1
1
5
12
318
eoo
682
Moreau, ,
2
8
2
i
1
12
170
465
590
Northumberland,
2
5
1
1
1
2
9
170
462
434
Providence,
3
27
2
5
11
164
310
. 481
Saratoga,
5
5
2
1 1
2
12
287
, 834
, 663
Saratoga Springs,
2
1
1
1 1
1
8
227
400
598
Stillwater. WaterforaV
3
4
3
2
1
1
3
13
271
, 832
733
4
2
1 2
1
2
153
627
380
Wilton, '
12
1
1
1
l
1
6
136
361
369
46o
155 CIento Oi
27
89 a -
3 11 3
3 © O
4 6 5
— •oa
1,1
1
s
431
207
4172
10277
11096
-
-
Value of product,
3 1
3CD
a i
3
S
Number of children above 5 & under
:
—
16 years of age, 3,165.
Value of material
53 S
USto a
3
— c
5 =
11400 19554 951 "2245 3317
s
58
Note. One brewery and 2 oil mills, in Milton.,
SCHENECTADY COUNTY, taken from Albany, 7th March, 1809; is bound
ed on the E. and N. E. by Saratoga; S. by Albany and Schoharie; W. by Schoharie;
and N. W. by Montgomery counties; greatest length 35; breadth 20 miles; area 186
square miles; situate between 43° 48' and 42° 58' N. lat.; and 52° 37' and 3° 1'
E. long.; centrally distant N. from New York K-3; from Albany 18 miles. The
surface is much diversified with hills, plains and valleys. Flint Hill runs along
the E. side of Schoharie kill, through Duanesburg, and part of Princeton, and
thence to the Mohawk, ending in the town of Rotterdam. The soil along this ridge
is commonly stiff clay, resting on compact and ponderous hard pan, with ledges
of lime, slate and graywacke. The town of Glenville is mostly covered by a
spur from the Kayaderosseras range, extending within three miles of the city of
Schenectady. _ Generally, it may be observed, that the soil along the river and other streams is,
rich alluvion; on the hills, light sandy loam, sometimes fertile; and on the plains,
clay and clay loam, and sand, sometimes barren. The county belongs to the trans
ition formation.
, Wherever practicable, the country is w€ll cultivated, chiefly by descendants of
the primitive Dutch settlers, among whom are many wealthy farmers.
., The Mohawk river runs S. E. through the county, and receives from it on the
N., and near the E. line the Aelplass creek. On the south, Norman's kill, Davi-
ties Gat and Boza kill flow to the county of Albany. The Schoharie kill, on the
W. affords abundance of mill power, particularly at the State Bridge, on the Cherry
valley turnpike. Maria lake, of Duanesburg, sends forth the Chuctenunda, which
reaches the Mohawk in Montgomery county, opposite to the village of Amsterdam.
The Albany and Schenectady, the Cherry Valley or Western, the Mohawk and
jSacandaga, and the Troy Schenectady and Ballston turnpike roads; and the
Mohawk and Hudson, the Rensselaer and Saratoga, and the Utica and Schenectady
railroads cross the county.
It may be proper to remark, as highly honourable to this county, and exemplary
to others, that there is not a store in the county at which spirituous liquors are
sold.
688

TOPOGRAPHY.

The county is divided into 5 towns, and the city of Schenectady.
Duanesburg, called after the late Judge Duane, taken from Schenectady, 7th
April, 1801; surface hilly, elevated nearly 500 feet above the Hudson, at Albany;
soil clay and loam, well watered; better adapted to grass than grain. Schoharie
creek is on the N. W. boundary, and Norman's kill, and its tributary, Boza or
Mad creek rises in the town. On the latter, in the grounds now or late of General
North, is a perpendicular fall of 70 feet. Lake Maria is a beautiful sheet of water,
2 miles in circumference, in the N. E. angle, upon the highest grounds of the town,
abounding with fish, and near the seat late of G. W. Featherstonehangh, Esq.
From this spot is one ofthe most commanding views in the state, comprising near
an hundred miles around the compass. The surplus waters of the lake through
the Chuctenunda creek, give motion to many mills. Duanesburg, post village, lies
in a valley upon the turnpike road from Albany to the Cherry valley, 20 miles W.
N. W. from Albany, and 12 S. W. from Schenectady, contains 1 Quaker meeting
house, 1 Episcopal Reformed, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist Episcopal, churches,
2 taverns and a store, from 12 to 15 dwellings. Eaton's Corners, an agricultural vi
cinage, has a post office.
Glenvillk, taken from the city of Schenectady, of which it was the 4th ward,
14th April, 1820; named after the Glen family, early and large proprietors; cen
trally distant N. from Albany 20; and from Schenectady city, N. W. 5 miles; sur
face somewhat hilly; soil light sandy loam, of improveable quality, and generally

SCHENECTADY COUNTY.

689

under careful cultivation. The Aelplass creek runs near the E. boundary about
10 miles, to the Mohawk river, near the city of Schenectady. Sander's lake, named
after the owner of the land on which it lies, about 1 mile in circumference, is plen
tifully stocked with fish. The village of Scotia, on the W. margin of this lake,
half a mile from the city, has a Diitch Reformed church, 3 stores, 2 taverns, and
about 30 dwellings. Ghnville Church, village, 9 miles from Schenectady, contains
the post office, a Dutch Reformed chureh, store, tavern, and 6 or 8 dwellings.
Neskayuna, whose name is derived from the Indian appellation, Con-nes-ti-gu-
ne, " a field covered with corn," is a very small town, taken from Watefvli6t,
Albany county, 7th, March, 1809; centrally distant from Albany, N. W. 12; and
from Schenectady S. E. 6 miles. This name was formerly borne by an extensive
tract, on both sides of the Mohawk, granted partly by the Nestigione, and partly
by the Connestigione patent, and which together, embraced portions of Clifton
Pafk and of Half Moon, towns, of Saratoga county, and1 Watervliet, of Albany
county. Hence the name of Neskayuna, still in use among the descendants of the
primitive Dutch settlers, is also applied to a tract in Watervliet, at which is the
Shaker settlement. The surface is hilly along the river, and soil productive, but
the greater portion of the town is of light sand, of very indifferent quality. There
is a hamlet near the river, bearing the name of the town, where is a church, and
some few dwellings.
The Ballston turnpike crosses the Mohawk at Alexander's bridge, 4 miles bglow
the city of Schenectady, where are some falls, and a low rolling dam across the
river, and several mills. The Erie canal is carried over the river here by an aque
duct, 748 feet long, 25 feet above the stream, and falls immediately after, by 3
locks,-21 feet. A company was incorporated in 1836, with a capital of §6,000, to
make a toll bridge, at or'near this aqueduct.
Princetown, taken from Schenectady, 26th March, 1798; from Albany, N. W.
20 miles; surface hilly; soil clay sand and loam, underlaid with slate; drained S.
by Norman's kill; N. by a small creek, flowing to the Mohawk. The post orBce
is at Netterville, on the turnpike road leading from Albany to Cherry valley, 16
miles from the former, and 7 from Schenectady, at which there are 1 Dutch Re
formed church, 1 Reformed Presbyterian church, 2 taverns, 1 store, 8. dwellings.
The country is highly picturesque.
Rotterdam, formerly the, 3d ward of Schenectady, taken from the city, 14th
April, 1820; surface rolling; soil sandy loam and alluvion, generally of excellent
quality, and especially so on the extensive river flats and islands. Of the latter
there are 9, varying in area from 2 to 120 acres, separated from the main by a
branch of the river, called Binne kill or Middle creek. The E rie canal, by 3 locks,
passes the flats. Two small streams drain the town eastwardly. Rotterdam, vil
lage, 22 miles N. W. from Albany, and 4 from Schenectady, contains 2 Dutch Re
formed churches, one furnace for casting iron, 1 carpet factory, 4 grist mills, 3 of
which are employed on merchant work, 3 runs of stones, each, 2 carding and cloth
dressing mills, the cotton factory of the " Schenectady Manufacturing Company,"
containing 2,000 spindles, 50 looms, making 400,000 yards of cotton goods, and
30,000 pounds of yarn annually; and some 25 dwellings.
Iron ore, (yellow oxide,) is abundant in the S. part of the town, and quantities
are transported to the state of-Delaware, to mix with the mountain ore. It is sold
in the bed at 50 cents the ton.
Schenectady, or Schagh-nack-taa-da — " beyond the pine plains" — a name ori
ginally applied to Albany, is a city still of very extensive area, although the 3d
and 4th wards have been taken from it. The flats upon the Mohawk river are ex
tensive and rich, and the uplands, undulating, have a sandy loam soil upon clay
slate; watered by the Mohawk and its tributary, the Sandkill, a steady and valua
ble stream, which unite near the compact portion of the city. The city is supplied
with water for domestic uses by an aqueduct from the spring on a neighbouring
hill, It had a considerable corporate estate, formerly vested in trustees, by letters
patent granted in 1684. Portions have been sold, but the residue, between
sixteen and seventeen thousand acres, has been leased in perpetuity to individuals
at fixed fents, giving an annual revenue of §5000, in which the towns of Rotter
dam and Glenville have an interest.
This city is on the site of the ancient Indian village, Oron-gugh-hariet— literally
" a great multitude collected together." It was a seat of the Mohawks, even be-
87

690

TOPOGRAPHY.

SCHENECTADY.

„ Jerences.
I CourtEouse.g a li 'Mohawk Sank.
ZFreshmans fflollegc, ISSchenectaiySank
sRecitation BRomn. li Mavis 'Hotel.
4EpiscopalSCh. IS City Motel.
SDutchRclBClv. 16 Tedder's.
6Presbyterjnan Ch. 17 Topping's.
IBaptist HCh. ' 18 BaURoad House.

Scale of Feet.

18 RailRoad House

ISOimcroSnianCh. 19Mar7cet.
9MethoMstCh. 20Fcmalc Sem?
lOUmveVrsaUst Ch.. 21 Fust Office.
11 Rom. 9Ca£kolic Ch .

fore the confederacy of the Five Nations, and was abandoned by them long before
the American revolution. Some fifteen or twenty Hollanders are said to have set
tled here in the fur trade so early as 1620, and they and their descendants to have
lived in peace until the period of the colonial wars between Great Britain and
France. It would appear, from the Dutch records, that the first grant of lands was
made here in 1661, to Arent Van Corlaer and others, on condition that they pur
chased the soil from the Indians. Surveys were made of such lands by the sur
veyor, Cortelyan, in July, 1664. The object of this advance into the wilderness
was to obtain advantages in the fur trade, which Albany exclusively claimed, and
sought to engross, by prohibitions on the Schenectady settlers. In 1664-5, the
settlement had acquired some consideration, and was the residence of Corlaer,
when it was visited by the French in an excursion against the Iroquois. The in
vaders, having lost their way, had become weak from fatigue and famine, and would
have been cast upon the mercies of their enemies had not Corlaer interfered, and
enabled them to return safely to Canada. On the 8th February, 1690, the town,
then consisting of 63 houses and a church, was burned by a party of French and
Indians by a night surprise; 60 ofthe inhabitants were slain, 27 made captives, and,
of those who fled to Albany, 27 were crippled by the frost. In 1748 tho place was
again carried by the enemy, and 70 of the citizens slain. On the 17th November,
1819, the city suffered greatly from fire; 170 buildings were destroyed, and a loss

SCHENECTADY COUNTY.

691

sustained equal to $150,000. Before and during the revolutionary war, there was
a good grammar schpol here, under the care of the Rev. A. Miller, in which the
late Governor Tichenor, of Vermont, and several other geillemen who, attained
high celebrity, acted as assistants," and in which the "late John Wells, of New
York, received the rudiments Of science.
The compact portion ofthe city is on the S. E. side of the Mohawk river, 16
miles N. W. from Albany, and 15 S. W. from Ballston Springs. On the E. are
hills of a moderate height, with a soil of light sand. The plat is laid out on 20
streets, crossing each other, and running half a mile in one direction and a mile in
another, eight of which are intersected, diagonally by the Erie canal. It contains
the court house, county offices, and prison, in one neat building; 1 Episcopal, 1
Dutch Reformed, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, 1 Cameronian, 1 Methodist Episco
pal, 1 Universalist, 1 Roman Catholic, churches, and one Seventh Day Baptist
society; the Union College, lyceum, an academy for males, a flourishing seminary
for the education of young ladies, a Lancaster school, several select and district
schools; 6 newspapers; the Schenectady Bank, capital $150,000, and the Mohawk
Bank, capital $105,000; the Schenectady and Schoharie Insurance Company, ca
pital $100,000, charter limited to 1864; an alms house, with farm annexed; 1 mar
ket house, 1 furnace for casting iron, a brass foundry, tobacco factory, a paper
mill, making, annually, 5000 reams, a carpet and sattinet factory, and 1200 houses.
There is a good covered bridge over the Mohawk, 937 feet in length,
The Saratoga and Schenectady rail road, constructed in 1832, commences near
the Erie canal, (where it connects with the Mohawk and Hudson, and Utica rail
roads,) and extends across the city to the bridge, on which1 it is laid, without in
terruption to the ordinary travel; thence the road runs northerly across the Mo
hawk Flats, for about three-fourths of a mile; thence takes a north-easterly course,
in full view of the river, for about four miles; thence a northerly course, along the
verdant banks of Ballston lake, and enters the village of Ballston Spa on a curva
ture of considerable extent. Leaving the village; it crosses the Kayaderosseras
creek by a substantial bridge, and continues, in nearly a straight line, to Saratoga
Springs, near the centre of the village.
The road is about 21^ miles long. The scenery along the whole line is beauti
ful, and the country remarkahly level: the greatest inclination on the railway being
only 16 feet in the mile. About three miles ofthe road, near Saratoga Springs, is
laid on stone blocks, and the remainder is constructed of substantial wooden ma
terials, with the usual iron rail plates.
The entire cost of the road, including locomotive engines, carriages, horses,
wagons, land, fixtures, &c. was about $300,000.
Tlie city was incorporated 26th March, 1798,. by the title of the mayor, alder
men, and commonalty, &c. It wasformerlya place of much business, when goods
were carried across by the turnpike to the batteaux on the Mohawk, which were
prevented by the Cahoes falls from prosecuting their course to tide; but after the
opening ofthe canal, much ofthe trade which centered here was transferred to Al
bany. The prosperity of the city has received a new impulse by the rail roads
leading to Albany and Saratoga, and to Utica, and the establishment ofthe packet
boat lines on the Erie canal; and in the last five years the inhabitants have in
creased nearly one third. One line of boats leaves at 7| o'clock in the morning, and
the other at 6J in the evening, daily, and run to Ulica, 80 miles, in about 18 or 20
hours. This is the point of embarkation for all travellers proceeding westwardly
by the canal. Owing to the length and tediousness of the way, by the canal, to
Albany, there are no passage boats from that city.
The Union College was incorporated by the Regents in 1794, and has reached
its pjefent flourishing condition from a small germ. In 1785 an academy was
erected here by the consistory of the Reformed Dutch church, which after the es
tablishment of the Union College, was presented to its trustees, and used as a
grammar school. Liberal donations from individuals, raised a suite of edifices in
the heart of the city, the principal one of which was afterwards used as a court
house, but having been re-purchased by the institution, is now devoted to colle- ¦
giate objects. In 1814 the trustees bought a site, on the high grounds east of the
city,iipon which are the chief buildings of the college, consisting of two struc
tures of brick, each 200 feet long, 4 stories high, standing in a line 600 feet asun
der." To complete the original plan, 6 other buildings are necessary. The situa-

692

TOPOGRAPHY.

tion has been chosen with much taste. It commands a fine view of the city, the
Mohawk valley, and adjacent country.
This institution has been largely endowed by the state by the following grants:
In 1795, .... ... $ 3,750 00
In 1796, . - 10,000 00
In 1797, $750 annually, for 2 years, - - - - 1,500 00
In 1800, - -  - 10,000 00
Also 10 lots in the military townships, of 550 acres each, which ap
pear, by the report of the trustees, to have been sold for 23,985 46
In 1802, one-half of the garrison lands granted by the Regents ofthe
University, 1449 acres, which produced probably, - - 3,000 00
By act of 1805, raised by four successive lotteries, - 80,000 00
By act of 1 814, $200,000, with interest, to be raised by lotteries, 200,000 00
$332,135 46
*In 1835, the college faculty consisted of a president and seven professors, an
instructor of the French and Spanish languages, one tutor, and two fellows. The
number of graduates admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Arts was 65, and the
whole number of students, matriculated for the year, 261.
Candidates for admission must be 16 years of age, of good moral character, and
if from another college, have a regular dismission or letter of request, and may
enter any class for which they are qualified. There are three terms in the year,
the expenses of which are payable in advance. Moneys for the use of the students
are transmitted to the college register, who acts as their fiscal guardian, and ac
counts, quarterly, with the parent at the end of the term. The annual expense con
sists of the college bills, including board in the hall, $98; fuel and light, $8;
washing, $6; students boarding out of the hall, or remaining during vacation, in
cur additional expenses.
The governor, lt. governor, chancellor, judges of the supreme court, attorney ge
neral, surveyor general, secretary of state, comptroller, treasurer, are, ex officio,
trustees, and there are eight others.

1

Females.
Births.
Deaths.
1
*HV
13
aiui
M
TOiyNS.
B3 m
•S*f
a> >,
a,01
cd
cd
CO Gp
<
"go Z, 03
£co
p
g
m
to
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
1
0> o
>
fil-
B v
Si
eg
£> 3
co
3
CD
"id&
8 01
bi
"as
ap
b
Schenectady,
1818
2300
245
455
Di
26*
246
405
31
52
56
33
44
2d. ward;
2450
3972
508
820
222
488
466
723
31
59
58
57
40
Total,
3939
4068
4268
6272
753
1275
315
756
712
1128
62
111
114
90
84
35K
3384
2837
328]
313
6511
47
359
310
732
26
57
63
23
19
2514
2373
2947
3027
374
575
27'
319
228
611
14
42
52
17
18
516
506
452
565
47
116
1(
61
50
110
3
7
8
7
6
107:
1042
812
975
101
206
<
95
109
19(1
ia
20
10
8
5
Rotterdam,
1529
1503
1481
2110
180
468
73
265
ISO
432
, 21
33
42
11
22
13081
12876
12347
16230
1767
3290
72e
1846
1589
3203| 139
270
289
156
154
Note. Males, 8,355; Females, 7,875: Paupers, 6(
; Blacks, 429: Black
voters
, 5: Deaf and Dumb,
17; Blind, 15; Idiots
21; Lunatics. 6. '
TOWNS.
G .
•-. top
cd p
a
'"tp » p
CD >
CCJ
1 £ p
to -£
¦eg m fe OJ
3
ti03
G.
6G
cd
to >,
to p
ci
ii
cd tt,
5
M
cdS
<
^
•3--S
m -; "-'
O
a
JO
tn
S
'li
b>'
£3
<s
a
Schenectady,
1st. ward,
9A9.3
1703
157660
197969
377
1H3
460
576
210
266
124
1286
1301
2d. ward,
3276
2016
453100
238200
393
418
140
040
15
¦231
22
2490
2211
Total,
5699
3719
610760
' 436169
770
601
600
3516
225
497
146
3783
3512
Duanesburgh,
43071
29312
367736
60269
4760
1319
8582
2983
4627
5904
9701
1546
491
Glenvile,
29399
. 19396
363739
171O0
2811
10511
4706
2995
31103
3011
2621
1376
845
Neskayuna,
6900
3831
83450
6550
587
232
H57
SRd
673
592
369
325
209
Princetown,
14399
9996
121887
14294
1620
50f
246S
1164
1574
2119
2523
492
228
Rotterdam,
20097
11942
267991
43840
.1827
741
2221
1524
2039
2045
2738
1126
382
119565
78196
1815623
578222
12375
4451
19429
10762
12141
14168
18098
8648
5667
SCHOHARIE COUNTY.

693

TOWNS.

Schenectady, 1st ward,
2d ward,
Duanesburgh,
Glenville, Neskayuna,
Princetown, Rotterdam,

Value of product,

Value of material,

29

1 2 1
1 3

g §
ails

20 13 35
10

si

68

4676
152

893

% a.

ci"0

196
796410 112
221263

1998

140
1177 778 84
202 355

2736

No. of children between 5 and 16 years of age,
3,165.

SCHOHARIE COUNTY, taken from Albany and Otsego counties, April 6th,
1795; is bounded N. by Montgomery; E. by Schenectady and Albany; S. by
Greene and' Delaware; and W. by Ot\sego, counties: Greatest length, N. and S.
30; greatest breadth, E. and W. 25, miles; area 621 square miles; lying between
42° 2C and 42° 50' N. Lat. and 2° 12' and 2° 45' E . Long.; centrally distant, N.
W. from New York 150, from Albany, W. 42, miles.
This is, emphatically, a mountain region, divided into two unequal sections by
the Schoharie kill, which, entering the county, centrally, on the S. runs N. E.
through it, throwing the larger section, on the west. The main branch of the
Kaatsbergs, crosses the S. part of the county, northwesterly, through the towns of
Broome, Blenheim, Jefferson, and. Summit, broken and penetrated by the creek.
Its height is given, at from 2000 to 2600 feet, and it maintains this elevation, into
Otsego county. It detaches a ridge from the county of Greene, through Broome,
Middlebury, and Schoharie, towns, of this county, over Schenectady into Mont
gomery county, terminating at' the Mohawk river; or, perhaps it might be said
with more propriety, that, though pierced by the river, it continues northward, and
connects with the Kayaderosseras range: South of the Mohawk, in Schenectady
and Montgomery, it has the name of Flint Hill. In Schoharie county, it is in
nominate, and for sake of perspicuity, we shall call it the Middleberg, because of
its relation to the Helderberg, of Albany county, on the east, and the ridge on the
west of Schoharie kill. It covers the whole of the county E. of that stream; -de
clining much to the north. Its summit is generally undulating, but in places level.
At the southern extrenjity of the county, it rises 1705, above tide*, and above the
Schoharie kill 1045, feet. At the marsh, called the Vlaie or Fly, in Middleburg,
the source of the Cattskill, it is 1153 feet above tide, whilst Flint Hill is suppos
ed to be 800 feet only; its western declivity is generally steep and often precipi
tous; its eastern, in Albany county, is gentle, subsiding into the lower ridge of
the Helderberg. It has, however, a more rapid inclination to the S. E. down
which pours the Cattskill; and upon the N. E. whence issues Norman's kill.
The main brjnch of the Kaatsbergs, changing its course near the line of Mont
gomery county, runs N. westerly into Otsego, blending with the Otsquake hills.
In this county, it has a treble inclination, sending E. many tributary streams to
the Schoharie; to the S. VV. branches of the Delaware and Susquehanna; and to
the N. Bowman's creek, and other feeders of the Mohawk.
The geological composition of the county, is of the more recent formations;
having the rock strata imposed -in the following order; slate, graywacke, second
limestone, corniferous limestone, and upon the highest summits, third graywacke. '
The limestone, however, is very abundant, and in the N. W. part of the county^
most frequently the overlaying rock. The order of the strata, is conspicuous in
the mural banks of the creek, west of Schoharie village.

694

TOPOGRAPHY.

i c o xr x t t ^ppi &ani! w :e

The water lime, occupying a large area in the central and northern portions of
the county, resting on compact lime rock, containing favosites, has very in
teresting localities of strontianite, arragonite, heavy spar, and calcareous Spar.
The strontianite is found in various forms, in aggregate crystals, in geodes; but
the most important is the massive, which, for 20 years, has been known as marble,
and is seen in large beds on the west side of the Schoharie river, some three miles
below the court house. Iron pyrites is also abundant on both sides of the creek,
in the same vicinity. Bog iron ore in large quantities is found two miles south of
the court house, in marly clay. About a quarter of a mile S. of the court house,
14 feet below the surface, the water lime was excavated and found to be similar
in fracture and not inferior in quality to the lithographic stone of Papenheim, in
Germany. Novaculite in large boulders, colour greenish gray, highly esteemed
for hones, is common. Calcareous tuffa abounds on the sides of the mountains,
from 5 to 15 feet deep, containing fine impressions of leaves and covering grasses
and mosses with incrustations, preserving every fibre. Portions of the favosite
limestone are polished for ornamental purposes, exhibiting a finely variegated
surface. The principal streams are the Schoharie, Fox, Coble, and Breakabeen, creeks.
Schoharie* Creek, the largest tributary of the Mohawk, is the main stream of
*An Indian name for Driftwood.

SCHOHARIE COUNTY.

695

the county; it rises in Hunter, Green county, hy three great branches, which flow
ing from the Kaatsbergs, unite in Lexington; thence, the stream flows N. W. and
N, through Schoharie and Montgomery counties, 70 miles, to its recipient, at Fort
Hunter, 20 miles W. of the city of Schenectady. It receives in its course, which
is, for the greater distance, impetuous and through a deep and winding valley,
Batavia kill, from Greene county, the Breakabeen and Cobles kills, from the west,
and the Fox creek from the E. in this county. There are upon it, however, some
of the richest flats fif the state, which sometimes extend from one to two miles in
breadth. The Erie canal crosses it near its mouth, by means of a dam.
Fox Creek, rises in Bern, of Albany county, and flows, W. N. W. 17 miles to
Schoharie creek, near the court house; its volume is considerable and its great
fall makes it a valuable mill stream.
Cobles Kill, rises in Sharon, interlocking its sources with those of Bowman's
creek, and runs by a southeast and east course of 20 miles, to its recipient, three
miles below the court house.
The Breakabeen Creek, has its source and course wholly within the county. Its
length does not exceed 10 miles. There are several smaller tributaries to the great
creek, but they merit not more notice than may. be given in our description of the
towns. The soil of the county varies much with its components; generally fertile,
where resting immediately upon lime, or where lime blending with sand and vege
table mould is the chief constituent; such is commonly the character of (he cen
tral and northern towns; rand their staple product is wheat. In the south, the slate
frequently crops out, and disintegrating, blends with lime and the sand of the
graywacke, forming a loam, in which clay and sand predominating, is adapted to
grass; where sand prevails, it is sterile.
The timber consists of oak, maple, elm, linden, ash, poplar, hickory, walnut,
white pine and hemlock; the two last prevailing in the southern towns. f*
The towns of Schoharie, Cobleskill, Sharon, Fulton, Middleburg, and portions
of Blenheim and Broome, have a population of German origin. The German
language prevails among the older inhabitants, but their children are educated and
converse in English. The remainder of the county is settled chiefly by emigrants
from New England. .
In the towns of Summit, Jefferson, Blenheim, Broome, and the uplands of Mid
dleburg and Fulton, the tenure of the soil is generally leasehold; the fee simple
being in proprietors of large tracts; but in these towns, there are many tracts upon
the creek, which the Germans have taken up in fee; the common tenure of the
northern towns.
The early settlers suffered much from Indian hostilities, and during the revolu
tionary war, the country was swept with the besom of destruction by Sir John
Johnson, Brandt, and Walter Buller.
There are several turnpike roads; some have been thrown open, and others are
in projection; the principal ones, are the Western, crossing the north, the Catskill
and Ithaca, on the south, and the Cherry Valley and Lunenberg, running from
S.E.toN. W. B
The county is divided into 10 towns.
Blenheim, organised 7th March, 1797; from Albany, W. 44, and from Scho
harie, S. 25, miles; Mineral Hill, a mass of red sandstone, some hundred feet
thick, is a noted eminence, and the Bear's ladder, composed of globular masses of
graywacke, is a geological curiosity. The mountain is covered with hemlock fur
nishing bark for extensive tanneries, with some fine groves of white pine and va
rious deciduous trees; The rock supplies an excellent material for grind stones,
and an extensive slate quarry, affording superior hones and whet stones; drained
by Schoharie creek and many small tributaries. Blenheim and North Blenheim,
are post villages. Blenheim, centrally situate, has 1 Dutch Reformed church, 2
taverns, 2 stores, and 20 dwellings. North Blenheim, 15 miles from Schoharie,
has 1 grist and 1 saw, mills, an extensive tannery, 1 tavern, 2 stores, and 15
dwellings. There are also in the town I Methodist, 2 Baptist, 1 Catholic, and 1
Christian, societies.
Broome, organised by the name of Bristol, 17th March, 1797; name changed,
April 6th 1808; from Albany, S. W. 35 miles; covered by the Kaatsbergs, here of
diminished height; timbered with deciduous trees, white pine and hemlock; soil

696 TOPOGRAPHY.
light sandy loam, becoming rich mould in the valleys; drained by Schoharie creek
and its tributaries Manor kill, Plattekill and Keyser's kill, on the west, and a
branch of the Catskill, on the east, all of which have considerable falls and cata
racts. The banks of the Schoharie have many picturesque scenes. Broome,
Gilboa, Livingstonville, Smithton, and Strykersville, are villages, each, except
the last, having a post office. Broome, village, on the Catskill and Ilhaca turnpike,
24 miles south from Schoharie, has 1 Dutch Reformed church, 1 tavern, 1 store,
and 10 dwellings. Gilboa, upon Schoharie kill, 24 miles south from Schoharie,
has 1 grist and 1 saw, mills, 1 furnace, 2 -taverns, a woollen manufactory, 3 stores,
2 tanneries, and 30 dwellings; also upon the tnrnpike. The creek is crossed here
by a fine bridge. Livingstonville, on the Cherry Valley and Athens turnpike, 14
miles south from Schoharie, 30 E. from Athens, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Metho
dist, churches; 1 saw mill, 1 tavern, 3 stores, and 10 dwellings. Smithtown, is a
hamlet, near the centre of the town, lately founded. Strykersville, on Manor kill
and Ithaca turnpike, 23 miles south from Schoharie, has three tanneries, 1 tavern,
2 stores, and 10 dwellings. There are in the town 1 other Dutch Reformed and 1
other Methodist, 2 Baptist, 1 Universalist and 1 Orthodox Quaker, churches.
Carlisle, taken from Cobleskill and Sharon, 31st March, 1807; from Albany,
W. 40, and from Schoharie 10, miles; soil sandy loam, underlaid with sand and
limestone. In the limestone, are numerous caverns, some of which serve as natural
ice houses. Sulphate of barytes and arragonite are found here in large quantities.
The post village of Carlisle, on the Western turnpike, contains a Presbyterian
church, a select school, 3 taverns, 2 stores, and 20 dwellings. Grosvenor's Corners,
has a free church, 1 store, 1 tavern, 10 dwellings. There are in the town 1 Lu
theran and 1 Methodist, churches. The fibrous sulphate of barytes, is found in this
town, about 8 miles N. W. from the court house, 3 W. of Schoharie kill, 3 _S. W.
from Sloansville, and 34 W. from Albany; in the N. E. face of a hill, about 80
feet high, and three fourths of a mile in extent, on the farms now, or late of Jacob
Dickinson, Andrew Griffin, and A. Mosier. It lies in slate, overlaid by compact
limestone, containing impressions of shells. The strata seem coextensive with
the hill.
Corleskill, taken from Schoharie, 17th March, 1797; from Albany, W. 38
miles; the valleys are fertile: Drained E. by Cobleskill, having on its banks fine
tracts of alluvion. Near the Brick Meeting House, is one of those subterraneous
streams, common to limestone countries, which has a hidden course of 7 miles.
It affords mill power, above and below, its occlusion. It issues from a natural
well, 20 feet in diameter, to fathom which all efforts have hitherto been vain.
Cobleskill, Lawyersville, Punchkill, Mann's Valley, and Richmondville, are post
villages. Cobleskill village, 10 miles W. from Schoharie, has 1 Lutheran, and 1
Dutch Reformed, churches; 1 saw mill, 2 taverns, «3 stores, and 15 dwellings.
Lawyersville, 12 miles N. W. from Schoharie, has 1 Dutch Reformed, and 1 Uni
versalist, churches; I tavern, 3 stores, and 15 dwellings, 1 grist, 2 saw, and 1
carding and cloth dressing, mills; 1 woollen factory. Punchkill, 5-mtles from
Schoharie, has 1 tavern, 1 store, 10 dwellings, and a free church. Mann's Valley,
13 miles from Schoharie, contains a tavern, a store, tannery, 1 grist mill, and 12
dwellings. Richmondville, 16 miles W. from Schoharie, has a Lutheran church, 1
carding and cloth dressing mill, 1 tavern, 3 stores, and 15 dwellings. Grindstones
are made from the rock at Crosses Hill, which are used at the extensive edge
tool factory at Brunswick, Albany county. There is in the town 1 Methodist
society. Fulton, taken from Middleburg, 15th April, 1828; centrally distant from Al
bany; W. 42, and from Schoharie 10, miles. The hills, and the town general
ly, are overlaid with third graywacke, containing petrified animal remains. From
this rock, grindstones are made. The soil is fertile in the valleys: Drained, on
the E. by Schoharie creek, and its tributaries. Stoney Creek, the principal, has a
fall of near 100 feet perpendicular, and abounds with trout. Fultonham, Byrn-
ville, and Breakabeen, are post villages. Fultonham, 8 miles S. from Schoharie,
has a grist mill, 1 tavern, a store, and 10 dwellings. Byrnville, 14 miles S. W.
from Schoharie, has a free'church, 1 grist, and 1 saw, mills; 1 store, 1 tavern, and
10 dwellings. Breakabeen, has I Dutch Reformed church, 1 saw, 2 grist, mills;
1 tannery, 1 tavern, 3 stores, and 12 dwellings. In 1832, an act of assembly for-

SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 697
bade the hunting of deer with dogs, in this town and Fulton, under penalty of
$12 50, to be recovered for the use ofthe poor.
Jefferson, taken from Blenheim, 12th February, 1803; from Albany W. 57,
and from Schoharie S. W. 20, miles; surface mountainous; soil poor sandy loam,
except in the valleys. Inhabited by emigrants from the eastern states, and their
descendants, who first settled here about 1795, and are extensively engaged in the
grazing and dairy business. The hills form the watershed between the Delaware
and Hudson rivers. Lake Utsayanthe, a small pond, deep, but a few yards only
in diameter, abounding in trout, lies at the foot of the ridge, and is the source of
the Mohawk branch of the Delaware. This lake is 1886 feet above the Hudson,
and the hills around it, from 600 to 700 feet higher. From the east flows a hrancli
of Schoharie creek. Jefferson and Morseville are post villages. Jefferson village,
centrally situate, contains 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Methodist churches, an academy,
2 taverns, 2 stores, and 15 dwellings. Morseville, in the north, is a hamlet, at
which a post office has lately been established. The town has one other Metho
dist, and 1 Baptist, churches. ,
Middleburg, taken from Schoharie, 17th March, 1797;, W. from' Albany 37,
from Schoharie S. 10, miles; surface hilly; the Middleberg extending over it;
soil in the valleys, alluvial, sandy, and calcareous, loam, proverbially rich along
Schoharie creek; on the uplands sterile, graywacke capping them. There
is much waste land, including the marsh, called the Vlaie, comprehending 500
acres. This swamp sends forth, on the N.-W. a smart mill stream, to the Scho
harie kill, and on the S. E. the Cattskill. The streams have been dammed, and
form a lake, which has been stocked with fish, by the neighbouring inhabitants,
from Copake lake, in Columbia county, The Schoharie courses the W. boundary
ofthe town. Middleburg, Huntersland, and Franklinton, are post villages. Mid
dleburg village, on the Schoharie kill, 6 miles above Schoharie court house, and
on the Athens and Cherry Valley turnpike, contains 1 Dutch Reformed, and 1
Lutheran, churches; 1 grist, and 2 saw, mills; 3 taverns, 4 stores, 2 tanneries, 1
carding and cloth dressing mill, 1 furnace for casting iron, and 40 dwellings.
Huntersland, has 1 Methodist church, 1 grist, and 2 saw, mills; furnace for cast
ings, 1 tavern, 1 store, and 12 dwellings. Franklinton, 12 miles S. E. from Scho
harie, has 1 grist, 1 saw, 1 plaster, mills; 1 tavern, 1 store, and 8' dwellings.
There are in the town 4 other Methodist, 1 Baptist, and 1 Christian, societies.
Schoharie, originally organised as part of Albany county, 7th March, 1788;
from Schenectady S. W. 22, and from Johnstown S. 24, miles; surface hilly,
the Middleberg stretching over it, hut having extensive valleys, along the
Schoharie and Fox's creeks. The former has a devious but north-east course,
through tho town. The flats on this stream are from one to two miles wide,
and of exuberant fertility, having been cultivated for a century without per
ceptible diminution of their productiveness. Schoharie, Gallupville, Sloansville,
and Esperance, are post villages. Schoharie village, founded in 1800, the shire
town, lies on the flats, near the conHuence of Schoharie and Fox's creeks, 32*
miles ,W. from Albany. The former creek is here about 10 rods wide; and,
though fordable, is passed by an excellent bridge. The village contains the
court house and prison, in a stone building, three stones high, a fire-proof office
for the county clerk, 1 Lutheran, and 1 Dutch Reformed, churches; an academy,
1 select school, a mutual insurance company, incorporated 22d April, 1831; a
printing office, issuing a weekly newspaper; 1 grist, 3 saw, and 1 carding and
cloth dressing, mills; 5 stores, 3 taverns, and 120 dwellings. It is supplied with
water by an aqueduct, brought about half a mile from the hill, by an incorpo
rated company. The old stone church here served as a fortress, when, during the
revolutionary war, the settlement was entered and destroyed by Johnson and
Brandt. About four miles N. E. from the court house, is the celebrated cave dis
covered by Mr. Ball, the proprietor. It was first explored in 1831, by John Geb-
hard, Esq. with Messrs. Hubbard and Branch, and since by the first named gen
tleman and others. It contains numerous apartments, at the depth of more than
200 feet, most of, them small, covered with incrustations of lime — a lake, extend
ing nearly half a mile, with a depth in places, of 30 feel; beyond which is an am
phitheatre 100 feet in diameter, and 100 feet high, the floor descending on all
sides to the centre, and the roof apparently horizontal — its walls rich iu stalac-
titic decorations. The entrance to this cavern is by a perpendicular descent of
88

698

TOPOGRAPHY.

75 feet, and is effected by ropes. There are in the town also, 2 Methodist, 1
Baptist, 1 Christian, and 1 free, churches. Gallupville, 6 miles E. of Schoharie,
on Fox's creek, has 1 Dutch Reformed church, 1 grist, 1 saw, and 1 turning,
mills; 1 tavern, 2 stores, and 20 dwellings. Sloansville, on Fly Creek, 7 miles N.
of Schoharie, 4 miles W. of Esperance, on the turnpike, has 1 Baptist church, 3
taverns, 3 stores,' 1 grist, 6 saw, mills; and 42 dwellings. Esperance, on the
¦western turnpike, and Schoharie kill, 8 miles N. of Schoharie, 26 W. from Al
bany, lias 1 Presbyterian church, 1 grist, 1 saw, and 1 paper, mills; 3 taverns, 3
stores, 1 carding and cloth dressing mill, a printing office issuing a weekly jour
nal, and about 70 dwellings. There is a commodious toll bridge here, across the
creek. Smithville, is a small village lately founded, on the Schoharie creek, 4
miles N. of the court house, where the stream is crossed by a new bridge; con
taining a store, 2 taverns, and 15 dwellings.
- Sharon, taken from Schoharie, 17th March, 1797; N. W. from Alhany 40 miles;
surface high and undulating, resting upon corniferous lime, which almost every
where crops out and is seen beautifully stratified, in the ridges through which the
great western road has been cut." A ridge, bounding the town on the west, has an
elevation of more than 1400 feet above tide, and 800 above Schoharie creek. The
view from this hill, on the western turnpike, of the valleys of Bowman's Creek
and Mohawk, is one of the most extensive and beautiful of the state. The soil is
generally good, and some of it of admirable quality, celebrated for a century for its
great product in wheat. It is said, that, of late years, the crops have failed. This
must be due to adverse seasons, for the source of fertility in the due commixture
of lime with the soil, is inexhaustible: Drained S. by Cobleskill, and N. by Bow
man's Creek. Sharon, Leesville, Gardinersville, and Argusville, are post villages.
Sharon, 20 miles N. W. from Schoharie, upon the western turnpike, contains 1 In
dependent church, 1 grist, and 1 saw, mills; tannery, 2 taverns, 1 store, and about
20 dwellings. Leesville, 24 miles from Schoharie, has 1 Universalist church, 2
taverns, 2 stores, and 20 dwellings. Near the village, half a mile N. of the turn
pike, are several mineral springs; one a strong chalybeate; another highly impreg
nated with sulphur, having the character of the Virginia springs. The waters of
the latter form remarkable sulphureous tuffa, converting vegetable substances into
mineral forms. For one-fourth of a mile from their source, though flowing with
fresh water, they preserve their distinctive character, to a ledge of rocks over
which they fall perpendicularly 60 feet, and have volume sufficient to drive a grist
mill. The emanations from the sulphur spring are so strong, that they cover, in
damp weather, the clothes of visitants with slight efflorescence, and change the
colour of the metals they may have about them. Anhydrite is found near the
springs. The proprietor has built a convenient house and baths for the accom
modation of visiters. Argusville is a hamlet, near the east line, and south of the
western turnpike. There are in the town 1 Methodist, 1 Dutch Reformed, 2 Lu
theran, and 1 Baptist, churches.

Females.
Births.- iDeaths.
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1879
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544
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Broome,
2680
3111
3133
3342
309
678
, 9
405
250
759
22
55
60
18
16
1583
1638
1748
1743
164
342
4
223
144
425
19
34
36
14
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Cobleskill,
2440
2765
2988
3261
300
667
18
393
248
736
33
60
88
40
34
Fulton,
1604
1758
156
367
7
225
118
450
15
36
36
12
13
Jefferson,
1573
1669
1743
1851
130
380
1
228
137
444
16
37
52
18
13
lv iddleburg,
3782
4551
3278
3139
234
647
5
435
235
727
19
64
69
22
24
Schoharie,
3820
4499
5157
5066
480
1051
24
689
387
1181
15
63
-. W
20
16
Sharon,
3082
4214
4247
4363
384
878
10
564
335
1026
30
95
75
31
21
Summit,
1468
1600
2733
1519
105
309
2
201
111
425
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29
, 31
i)
15
23154
25926
27902
28508
2477
5781
101
3654
2116
6717
219
528
564
202
178
Note. Males, 14,235; Females, 14,273; Blacks, 498; Black voters; 10: Paupers, 97: Deaf and Dumb,
11; Blind, 11; Idiots, 25; Lunatics, 12.
SENECA COUNTY.

699

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Blenheim,

36442

12539

110000

10600

3819

864

8026

1947

4068

4748

.7039

337 72

241 20

Broome,

47595

21367

140000

5732

3576

960

7164

1337

4855

5735

14062

606 88

300 40

Carlisle,

20685

12804

13000O

4700

2287

860

391 H

1732

3067

3193

8186

354 07

269 40

Cobleskill,

35041'

20634

235000

25254

3922

1359

6612

3252

5070

7340

10263

861 76

520 50

Firiton,

28381

11584

155000

32200

2107

652

3866

1566,

2527

2949

7039

365 81

374 40

Jefferson,

27407

13134

70000

2100

3315

546

4512

1723

3723

5986

7885

217 62

144 20

Middleburg,

42813

19846

260000

30665

3173

-1071

5903

2673

4303

4161

9811

752 92

581 33

Schoharie,

45703

27593

417500

63025

4U51

1754

8055

3815

6712

6286

12574

838 72

961 05

Sharon,

47382

33160

417500

12493

5466

2150

10397

4475

75H5

7612

17872

374 40

113 15

Summit,

21850

11160

55000

1575

2360

548

3833

1377

29/8

3892

7093

853 08

859 98

353279

183821

1990000

188344

34976

10764

62286

23897

44868

51902

101824

4365 61

9926 59

TOWNS.

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Blenheim, Broome,Carlisle,Cobleskill, Fill ton,
Jefferson,
Middleburg,
Schoharie, Sharon,Summit,

14
23 9
1512 1316
2422 14

232 323201310 157180332506439 196

536 789442,804365358675
11821260 214

688
1140 483835587
728788
1245 1148 405

*
Value of material,
Value of product,

162

2875

6625

8047

t— 1
Oi t— 1
0QO

r- O

No. of children between 5 and 16 years
of age, 9,141.

Summit, taken from Cobleskill and Jefferson, 12th April, 1819; W. from Al
bany 52, S. W. from Schoharie 18,miles; surface high, and hilly, comprising the
highest mountains of the county, and forming part of the water shed between the
Susquehanna and Mohawk rivers, sending the Charlotte river to the one, and some
tributaries of the Schoharie creek, to the other; soil sandy loam, on graywacke,
better adapted to grass than grain. Summit Four Corners, and Charlotteville,
are post villages. Summit Corners, 20 miles S. W. from Schoharie, has a Me
thodist church, a tavern, 2 stores, a grist mill, and 10 dwellings. Charlotteville,
•25 miles from Schoharie, has a Lutheran church, 1 grist, and 1 saw, mills; 1 ta
vern, 2 stores, and 15 dwellings. There are also- in the town, two other Metho
dist, and 1 Presbyterian, churches.
SENECA COUNTY, taken from Cayuga, 24th March, 1804; since which
other counties have been formed from it. It is now bounded N, by Wayne; E.
by Cayuga lake and county; S. by Tompkins; and W. by the W. shore of the Se
neca lake; and from the N. end of that lake by the Preemption line, dividing it from
Yates and Ontario counties; greatest length N. and S. 36; medial width, 12 miles;
area 309 square miles; situate between 42° 33' and .43° 01' N. lat., and 0° 04' and
0° 17' Y?. long.; centrally distant from New York, N. W. 317; from Albany, W.
172 miles.
This county forms a narrow strip of land, bounded for more than three-fourths of
its length by the Seneca and Cayuga lakes, and is in truth upon the S. a high and pe-
ninsulated mountain, which maintains itslevel almost through Tompkins county,and
deslines upon the E., Vfv and N. to the level of the lakes, rising somewhat again

700

TOPOGRAPHY,

on the N. of the Seneca river, which crosses the towns of Waterloo and Seneca
Falls. The level of the Seneca lake is estimated at 431 feet above tide, that of
Cayuga at 371, consequently there are about 60 feet fall upon the Seneca outlet,
between the two lakes; which in the Seneca canal, following the outlet, is over
come by nine locks of various lifts. The height of the ridge between the lakes is
given at from 1250 to 1380 feet above tide. The county has no stream of impor
tance, other than the outlet; which, from the Seneca lake to Waterloo, is sluggish,
and its great fall is Irom this town to the Cayuga lake, in a distance of about-8
miles. The connty is wholly of secondary formation, resting upon slate, sand stone,
lime and gypsum. The latter occurs in beds in almost every part of the county.
A bed of it near Seneca Falls is extensively wrought, and being in an advantageous
position for the supply of the county, and for exportation, there is little induce
ment to open others. Large quantities are exported by way of the lakes and
canals. The soil is generally of excellent quality, and adapted- to wheaj.
The lands of this county formed part of the military tract; and the titles there-
ore are derived from the state, through patents to the soldiers ofthe revolution.
The great western turnpike road crosses the town of Waterloo and Seneca Falls;
but the gates are removed.
The county is divided into 10 towns.
Covert, taken from Ovid, 7th April, 1817; from Albany, W. 177; from Ovid,

SENECA COVNTY. 701
S. E. 9 miles; surface high, but level; drained by some small tributaries of Cayuga
lake. Covert, village, is centrally situate; containing a tavern, store, and half a dozen
dwellings. Fayette, organised by the name of Washington; and taken from Romulus, 14th
March, 1800; name changed 6th April, 1808; from Albany, W, 178; from Water
loo, village, S. 4; and from Ovid, 18 miles; surface high, but level; several small
streams flow northerly to Seneca outlet; and Canoga warm spring sends forth a fine
mill-stream to the Cayuga lake. Settled by Germans from Pennsylvania, in 1789.
West Fayette, Canoga, and Beafysville are post villages. West Fayette, has 2
taverns, 1 store, and' some 20 dwellings. Canoga, 2 stores, 2 taverns, an ashery,
a grist mill, driven by the warm spring, half a mile distant, and 25 dwellings.
Bearysville, has 1 Dutch Reformed church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and 15 dwellings.
Part ofthe village of Waterloo, formerly known as Seawas,lies in this town.
Junius, taken from Fayette, then called Washington, 12th February, 1803; since
altered; distant from Albany, W. 173; surface on the N. uneven, being studded
with low hills of sand and gravel, covered with dwarf pines; in the S. the land is
level and of better quality than in the N. but there are intervals throughout of fer
tile character. It is poorly watered. There is a post office called after the town,
centrally situate; -and Dublin is a village, in the N. W. 7 miles from Waterloo,
where are a store, tavern, and 10 dwellings,
Lodi, taken from Covert, 27th January, 1826; from Albany, W. 175; from Ovid,
S. W. 7 miles; surface rolling, inclining toward the Seneca lake; soil of clay loam,
resting on slate and lime; drained by small streams. Lodi, village, near the N.
boundary, partly, in Ovid, 4 miles S. from Ovid village, has 3 stores, 1 tavern, a
post office, a Dutch Reformed church, and, 30 dwellings. There are post offices
at Ingersoi's and Miller's stores respectively, with a few dwellings around each.
Ovid, organised pursuant to act 27th January, 1789; since altered; centrally dis
tant from Albany, W. 171; from Waterloo, S. 18 miles; surface high in the centre,
declining gently to the Cayuga and Seneca lakes; soil excellent., Ovid and Far-
mersville are post villages. The first is the half shire town, on the Newburg
turnpike road, delightfully situated, commanding a view of both lakes, and pf the
adjacent country for many miles, contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist,
churches, an academy, the court house and prison, clerk's office, steam grist mill,
extensive tannery and clothing works, 3 taverns,-7 stores, lath factory, furnace for
casting iron, and about 80 dwellings. It grows slovi'ly. Farmersville, 2 miles
W. of Cayuga lake, on the Geneva and Ithaca turnpike, contains 1 Baptist, 1 Dutch
Reformed, churches, 2 taverns 4 stores, and about 30 dwellings.
Romulus, organised January 27th, 1789; centrally distant from Albany, W. 176;
from Waterloo, village, S. 12 miles; and from Ovid, N. 6 miles. Romulus and
Hoyt's Corners are post villages. Romulus, has 1 Presbyterian church, 1 tavern,
2 stores, and 15 dwellings. Hoyt's Corners, has 2 taverns, 2 stores, and 12 dwell
ings; 16 miles from Waterloo, and 2 from Ovid. Bayleytown, 3 miles W. from
Ovid, upon the Seneca lake, has 1 store, 2 taverns, 1 warehouse, and 12 dwellings,
and ferry to Dresden, tjt which a steam boat plies.
Seneca Falls, taken from Junius, March 26th, 1829; centrally distant from Al
bany W. 167; from Utica 85; from Waterloo, village, E. 4, miles; surface undulating;
drained centrally and N. eastwardly by Seneca outlet. The village of Seneca
Falls, founded in 1816, by Col. Mynderse, who settled here in 1795, lies upon
both sides of the Seneca river, 3 miles W. of Cayuga lake, where within three-
fourths of a mile, the river has a fall of 47 feet, over 4 dams, which have been
erected to obtain the use of the water power. The village contains 1 Baptist, 1
Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Catholic, and 1 Methodist, churches, 1 printing office,
issuing a weekly paper, a large and flourishing academy, 7 extensive flouring mills,
24 runs of stones, which made in 1835, 85,000 barrels of flour, 6 saw mills, 4
plaster mills, 3 clover mills, 2 oil mills, clothing works, a clock factory, making
clocks to the value of $540,000 per annum, cotton factory, built for 4,000 spindles,
dyeing and bleaching works, 1 furnace, paper mill, sash factory, 2 factories making
sash and window blinds, 1 large tannery, 1 distillery, machine shop, 4 taverns,
some 20 stores, 6 lawyers and 5 physicians, and about 450 dwellings, and the
number is rapidly increasing. Three-fourths of the hydraulic power here are yet
unemployed; the whole is estimated to be competent to drive 200,000 spindles.
Lands in the vicinity sell a* from 50 to 70 dollars the acre. In 1827, this village

702

TOPOGRAPHY*

contained 265 inhabitants only; in 1835,, including the inhabitants within half a
mile of the corporate limits, 3,000. At Chamberlain's Mills, 2 miles from the Falls,
and 1 from Waterloo, are a flouring mill, clothing works, plaster mill, and a dozen
dwellings. Bridgeport, formerly called West Cayuga, contains a store, 2 taverns,
and some 30 dwellings, at the W. end of Cayuga bridge. It was once a place of
business, but has been ruined by the canals, which have transferred its trade to
other points, and it is now fast falling into decay.
The first settlers in Seneca county, were Messrs. Horatio Jones and Lawrence
Smith, who seated themselves at the falls, in 1784 or 1785. Mr. James Bennett
established himself at West Cayuga in 1787.
Tyre, taken from Junius, 26th March, 1829; centrally distant from Albany, W.
171 miles; surface level; soil sandy and calcareous loam. The Clyde river and
Erie canal cross the N. E. angle, and the Seneca dips' into the east; along these
rivers the surface is marshy, being part of the great Seneca marsh. There is a
post office having the name of the town, and a small village centrally situate, call
ed Tyre City, 1) miles from Waterloo, where are 1 Methodist church, 1 store, 1
tavprn, 12 dwellings, 1 grist mill, and 1 saw mill.
Waterloo, taken from Junius, 26th March, 1829; centrally distant from Albany,
W. 173; from Ovid, N. 18 miles; surface level; drained on the S. boundary by the
Seneca outlet, (along which runs the Seneca canal,) affording very advantageous
water power; soil calcareous loam, highly fertile. The post village and half
shiretown, of Waterloo, in the S. E, angle, on the river, 3 miles from Seneca
Falls, 7 E. from Geneva, contains 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, 1 Presbyterian,
churches, 3 grist, 2 oil, mills, 2 distilleries, 2 saw mills, 1 furnace for castings, 2
tanneries, 3 clothing works, clover mill, pail factory, a factory of tubs, churns,
and wooden bowls, an ashery, an extensive boat building establishment, 1 print
ing office, issuing a weekly paper, 2 large hotels, one of brick, the other of wood,
3 other taverns, 12 dry goods, and 1 hardware stores, the surrogate's office, a court
house and prison, built chiefly at the expense of E. Williams, then proprietor of
the soil on which the village is erected; 6 lawyers, 5 physicians, and about 300
dwellings. The village thrives rapidly, 50 buildings were put up in 1835. The
water for mills is taken from the river and canal, and used under a head of 15 feet.
Lands near the village sell at from 50 to 70 dollars the acre.
Varick, taken from Romulus, 6th February, 1830; from Albany, W. 172; and
from Waterloo 13; from Ovid about 9 miles; surface high, and declining to the
lakes, which bound it on the E. and W.; scantily watered by small brooks. It has
a post office near the N. boundary, called after the town.

Females.
Births.
Deaths.
(D<D
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TOWNS.
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1820,
1825.
1830.
1835.
1
O
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Si
Gg
E 37
33
to
S 17
£
Covert,
3430
3833
1791
1615
115
324
1
185
134
351
3
13
Fayelte,
2860
3140
3216
3461
404
691
21
420
231
818
20
70
68
21
21
Lodi,
1786
1772
179
370
7
208
155
405
12
32
33
15
9
Junius,
5113
6213
1581
1517
159
308
11
197
131
365
26
21
23
11
6
Ovid,
2654
2856
2756
2997
348
610
21
393
285
662
24
40
49
25
24
Romulus,
3698
4127
2089
1793
220
369
2
190
195
587
5
26
27
4
11
Seneca Falls,
2003
3786
449
871
185
551
298
828
16
73
85
38
28
Tyre,
1482
1527
141
300
15
223
101
370
21
32
23
15
8
Varick,
1890
1950
214
381
20
253
122
453
14
45
44
13
11
Waterloo,
1847
,220!)
321
466
40
279
248
481
13
154
39
415
40
425
11
170
17
17773
20169
21041
22627
2550
4690
323
12899
1900 5320
148
Note —Males, 11,506; Females, 11,121; Paupers, 47: Blacks, 172; Black voters, 6; Deaf and Dumb,
5: Blind, 7; Idiots, ID; Lunatics, 9.
STEUBEN COUNTY.

703

TOWNS.

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Covert,

16800

10712

323682

32150

1723

672

3730

1521

' 2669

'24611

761

533

Fayette,

33850

21504

688417

29996

4867

1423

HW II-

4065

3912

5337

261H

1644 ]d77

Lodi,

18OO0

12611

250410

19322

2087

760

4081

2029

22110

4150

496H

,1031, 404

Junius,

16500

9373

289647

5255

1730

703

360l|

2136

3088

3397

2281

665 442

Ovid,

25000

15705

508432

88778

2456

1 126

6409

2095

3821

3432

2732

1335 895

Romulus,

21500

29648

414238

51249

2206

946

8450

2381

2087

3629

27511

1207 698

Seneca Falls,

14800

7445

317905

127137

1678

671

2721

1733

1340

13911

226

1740

61)7

Tyre,

18600

7012

199091

1525

505

19311

1332

1262

3015

231(1

650

298

Varick,

19500

12157

354832

24854

1982

838

545S1

2250

2494

3360

2726

941

584

Waterloo,

13000

5478

264390

354254

1003

440

2913

1082

1262

1847

445

1171

S&7

1975J0

131645

3631046

732995

21257

8084

49291

206,24

25125

3203-

23335

11145

6525

TOWNS.

Covert, Fayette, Lodi,Junius,
Ovid, Romulus,
Seneea Falls,
Tyre,Varick,Waterloo,

Value of product, g

Value of material,

r

37

10

o %
i a

2 6

M a .a

E °

121710 9
1113
11 8
10 9

83

427
732
454207 681
441373 194
387

4096

s2Us¦fjo

526 794
460
468810865788 419
489332

5951

1125 577532847738
813 473
609501

6818

Number of children above 5 and under 16
years of age, 7,017.

Note. One Trip hammer, in Seneca Falls.
STEUBEN COUNTY was taken from Ontario, 18th March, 1796; it has been
modified by various acts of assembly, but is now bounded S. by the line between
this state and the state of Pennsylvania; E. by Tioga and Tompkins; N. by
Yates, Ontario, and Livingston, counties; and W. by the west line of the sixth
range of townships in Phelps and Gorham's purchase, dividing it from Allegany
county. Length and breadth, 40 miles; area 1400 square miles; situate between
42° and 42° 36' N. Lat., and 2' and 52' W. Long.; centrally distant N. W. from
New York 220, from Albany S. W. 216, miles.-— -The surface is hilly and bro
ken; being elevated fifteen hundred feet above tide, the abundant streams have
worn deep channels and divided the county into ridges, to which the course of the
larger rivers have given a direction from N. W. to S. E.; whilst the tributaries,
traversing these ridges, have broken them into various forms, converting what was
probably once a broad plain, into hills and ravines. Thus the valleys, through
which the streams flow, are narrow, deep, and precipitous, and almost universally
rooky; but the table lands are generally free from stone. The corresponding strata,
at their sides, demonstrate that the streams have worn their way through their le
vels; occasionally, where the banks have been of yielding material, the flood has
made for itself a wider passage, and formed broad and fertile flats, haying deposit
ed upon them the spoils of vegetation for hundreds of years. The sides of these
forbidding hills are commonly covered with eTergreens, whilst the wide and level
plains to which they lead, composed of fertile loam, produce great variety of deci
duous trees. An irregular ridge, upon the western boundary, of the county, di-

704

TOPOGRAPHY.

t^iHtic

vides the waters ofthe Susquehanna from those of the Genesee river, with which
they interlock. The surface, as you ascend the streams, rises every where to the
table land, so that the hills become mountains as the rivers approach their outlets.
The whole county is based on upper secondary slate, upon which rests, in places,
fields of quartzose rock, which in the town of Addison, and in other places, yield
serviceable grindstones. Limestone, in place, is rare; but boulders of lime,
sometimes of many tons, are occasionally discovered on or near the surface. Iron
ore is found in several parts of the county. The soil on the table land, generally,
consists of argillaceous marl, formed apparently from the disintegration of the
rock, a short distance beneath it. This rock is sometimes abundantly charged
with remains of shell fish, ofthe form of small clams, with reversed edges; when
exposed to the air and frost it falls into four-sided fragments, and to an uncteous
earth, which rapidly produces vegetation, but is sometimes covered with alumi
nous efflorescence, or crust. Generally, with proper cultivation, this soil produces
wheat abundantly, and with scarce other labour than clearing or thinning the wood,
makes excellent sheep pasture. To the rearing of sheep, the inhabitants are now
giving much attention.
The country north ol|the Conhocton river, and east of Five Mile creek, is cover
ed, chiefly, by oak, chestnut, hickory, and black walnut, with patches of yellow,
and extensive forests of white, pine; between the Canisteo and Conhocton rivers,
the timber is beech and maple, with tracts of white pine and hemlock, except a
strip about 2 miles wide, along the north bank of the Canisteo, where oak and
white pine prevail; southwest of the Canisteo, the forest is similar to that south
ofthe Conhocton. The oak and yellow pine lands produce excellent wheat; the
soils on which the other timber grows are better adapted to grass.
The great stream ofthe county is the Chemung river, constituted by the union of
the Tioga, the Canisteo, and the Conhocton — it was called by the Seneeas,
Cononque, " horn in the water." The Tioga rises in Tioga connty, Pennsylvania,
near its east boundary, and running about 15 miles in a semicircular course,

STEUBEN COUNTY. 705
assumes a northern direction for about 27 miles to the south line of this county, and
thence about 10 miles to its junction with the Canisteo, in Erwin town, and thence
5 miles N. E. to the village of Erwin, Where its volume is increased by the Con-
hocton; thence deflecting S. E. it flows through this and Tioga counties 35 miles,
by the villages of Painted Post and Elmira, and re-enters Pennsylvania in the N.
W. angle of Athens township, Bradford county, through which it passes to unite
with the Susquehanna, having a total comparative length of 80 miles, and being '
navigable for arks and boats nearly the whole of the distance. It receives in this
state the name of Chemung below the mouth of the Conhocton.' Below that point
it flows through a valley, nearly 4 miles wide, ofthe richest lands in the county,
said to be superior to those ofthe Mohawk valley.
The Canisteo has its sources in the towns of Birdsall, Almond, and Alfred, of Al
legany county, and flows thence S. E. through the towns of Hornells ville, Canis
teo, Cameron, Addison, and Erwin, of this county, about 50 miles, to its recipient.
It rises, in freshets, from 6 to 8 feet, and is then navigable for boats and arks
about 40 miles. The flats which border it are from half a mile to a mile wide.
A survey for the route of the Erie canal has been made along the valley of this
stream. The Conhocton* heads in Springwater town of Livingston county, and runs
S. E. through the towns of Conhocton, Bath, Campbell, and, Erwin, 45 miles,
to its recipient. Its flats, somewhat wider than those of the Canisteo, are gene
rally more fertile and less sandy. It is navigable, in freshets, 14 miles above
Bath, and about 34 miles from its mouth.
The chief tributaries of the Canisteo are Bennett's and Tuscarora creeks; ofthe
Conhocton, from the S. W., Neil's, Bennett's, Campbell's, and Stockton creeks, and
from the E. Twelve Mile, Five Mile, Mud, and Mead's creeks; most of which are,
also, navigable when the floods are high.
The only considerable sheets of water, are Crooked lake, extending froiji Yates,
about 8 miles into this county; Seneca lake, forming, for about the same distance, a
portion ofthe eastern boundary, separating this from Tompkins county; Little and
Mud lakes, upon the line between the towns of Tyrone and Wayne; and Loon lake,
3 miles in circumference, in the town of Conhocton. This lake has a subterra
neous ontlet oflialf a mile, pouring forth a mill stream.
The Canascraga creek, from Allegany, crosses the N. W. angle of the town of
Dansville, and the Cowanesque flows from Troupsburg S. E. into Pennsylvania,
and thence near the line for more than 20 miles, re-entering the county about 1
mile W. of the Tioga river, with which it immediately unites.
The county, except the town of Reading, was included in the cession to Massa
chusetts, and passed from that state, through Messrs. Gorham and Phelps, and Ro
bert Morris, to Sir William Pulteney, whose representatives hold an office, for the
sale of lands! at Bath. Several townships were purchased by individuals, who
have settled therein, and thus led, instead of pointing, the way to change the fo
rest into cultivated fields.
The staples of the county are lumber, grain, cattle, and wool; but the chief ex
port is the first, in which most ofthe inhabitants are more or less engaged, and the
preparing it for market forms the chief pursuit of the southern towns. In the
northern towns, agriculture is rising to its due importance.
The county is divided into 24 towns.
Adoison, organised by general sessions, pursuant to the act erecting the county,
by the name of Middletown; name and bounds since altered; from Albany, S. W.
225; from Bath, S. 20 miles; soil clay and sandy loam, of indifferent quality, va
luable chiefly for the timber. The Canisteo, runs'E. through the northern part of
the town, receiving from the S. the Tuscarora creek. Addison, post village. 16
miles in a direct line S. E. from Bath, upon the Canisteo river, and on the line
surveyed for the Erie railroad, contains 3 taverns, 6 stores, and about 30 dwell.
ings. There is a settlement, at which is a post office, called West Addison.
Bath, organised under the act of 18th March, 1796; since much changed in
limits; N. W. from New York 220; from Albany, S. W. 216 miles; surface hilly
and broken, yet having much arable land, of good quality, especially on the streams;
' Cohacton, its name in the Seneca language, means " trees in the water. '» Canisteo, « a
board in the water."
89

706 TOPOGRAPHY.
soil clay and marly loath; drained by the Conchocton river, forming in part the N.
boundary, and running S. E. across the town, receiving from the S. W. Bennett's,
Campbell's, and Stockton's, creeks; and from the N. E. Five Mile and Mud creeks.
Bath, Kenadayville, Avoca, and Mud creek are post villages.
Bath, village, upon the left bank of the river, here 75 feet wide, and upon an al
luvial flat, about 2 miles wide, hemmed in by hills, rising precipitously nearly
500 feet, was laid out with great regularity, about the year 1790, by Mr. Charles
Williamson, and was first incorporated 12th April, 1816. Itcontains 2 public squares,
one of 6, and the other of 4 acres; upon the former ate the county buildings, con
sisting of a court house of brick, large and commodious; prison of stone; clerk's
fire proof office, the bank, (capital §150,000,) the Pulteney land office, of stone,
fire proof, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Episcopal, churches, 3 hotels, several stores, and
some neat private dwellings. On the other square, are the Methodist church, and some
habitations. There are in the village, also, 2 printing offices, issuing weekly
papers, 3 flouring mills, 1 saw mill, a furnace for casting iron, 1 carding and cloth
ing works, 1 oil mill, 2 tanneries, and about 200 dwellings. Stages run from the
village in all directions, to Canandaigua; distant 42; to Ithaca 50; to Angelica 40;
to the great bend on the Susquehanna 110, miles; and lo Urbana, at the head of
Crooked lake, 8 miles. To the lastpjace a railroad is proposed, for which a com
pany has been authorised. The descent by the valley of the inlet is 380 feet.
The village lies 1090 feet above tide; 859 above -lake Ontario; and 525 above lake
Erie. If we allow 500 feet of elevation to the hills which bound it, the plane of
the country would be 1590 feet above the level of the ocean. There is a bridge
here over the river.
Avoca, upon the right bank of the Conhocton river, 8 miles N. W. from Bath,
contains 1 Methodist church, 1 grist, 1 saw, and 1 carding and cloth dressing,
mills, 2 stores, 2 taverns,, and 20 dwellings. Kenadayville, upon the E. bank of
the river, at the mouth of Five Mile creek, 4 miles N. W. from Bath, has 1 Pres
byterian church, 1 church, built by Unitarians and Universalists, 2 saw mills, 2
stores, 2 taverns. 1 tannery, and about 20 dwellings. Mud Creek, at the confluence
of the creek with the river, 6 miles S. E. from Bath, has a saw mill, 2 taverns, 1
store, and 12 habitations.
Cameron, taken from Addison, 16th April, 1832; from Albany 221; from Bath,
S. 8 miles; soil clay and calcareous loam, generally of good quality. The hills
are covered with white pine timber. The Canisteo river crosses the town, S. E.
Cameron and West Cameron are post offices, at which are dense settlements.
Campbell, taken from Hornby, April 25th, 1831; distant from Albany, S. W.
213; from Bath, S. E. 11 miles; soil clay and marly loam; drained S. E. by the
Conhocton river, flowing diagonally across it, receiving from it Mead's creek, on
the N. and Knox and Campbell's creeks from the W. Campbelltown, post vil
lage, lies on the left bank of the river, in the north western portion of the town,
and contains 1 Presbyterian church, 1 grist and 1 saw, mills, 2 taverns, 1 store, 15
dwellings. There is another post office at Hammond's Mills. A sulphuretted
hydrogen spring is near the village, remarkably pure, and emits a stream of air,
which may be inflamed when confined.
Canisteo, organised pursuant to act 18th March, 1796; since altered; S. W.
from Albany 241; and from Bath, 14 miles; surface much broken; soil clay and
calcareous loam, fertile in the valley, and adapted to grass and grain; the hills are
covered with valuable pine timber; drained E. by the Canisteo river, and N, by
Bennett's creek, which rising in Jasper, has a course of about 15 miles, 5 of which
are over the western part of this town to the river. The valley of the Canisteo,
is half a mile wide, along which are rich alluvial flats. There are some dense
settlements on the river. The Temnant ofthe town is not much peopled. Getting
lumber is the chief employment of the inhabitants. Canisteo and East Canisteo
are post offices. '
Cokhocton, taken from Bath and Danville, 18th June, 1812; distant S. W. from
Albany, 215; N. W. from Bath 16 miles; surface hilly; soil moist clay loam, gene
rally adapted to grass, and portions to grain; drained S. E. by the Conhocton
river, upon which, centrally situated, is the post village of Liberty, containing 2
taverns, 2 stores, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, churches, 1 grist mill and saw
will, and 30 dwellings. Bloods Corner, 20 miles N. W. from Bath, has the North

STEUBEN COUNTY. 707
Conhocton post office, 1 tavern, 1 store, 10 houses. There is a third postoffice at
Patchin's Mills.1 Loon Lake, lies in the western part ofthe town.
Dansville, organised by general sessions, March 18th, 1796; since altered;
from Albany, S W. 240; and from Bath, N. VV. 24 miles; surface undulating; soil
clay and gravelly loam, of good quality; drained S. by the Canisteo river and its
branches; and northward by Canascraga creek and its tributaries. There is an
extensive marsh upon the W. containing about 2000 acres, which has lately been
purchased by two English settlers, who are draining it, and expect to render it
productive. The post office is called South Dansville.
Erwin, taken from Painted Post, 27th January, 1826; distant from Albany, 212,
from Bath, S. E. 20 miles; soil clay loam; drained N. and E. by the Tioga, Ca
nisteo, and Conhocton rivers. Near the mouth of the last, is the village of Erwin;
upon the Great Bend and Bath turnpike road, where was originally the post paint
ed red by the Indians, commemorative of the death of a distinguished chief; a sub
stitute for which is still preserved by the inhabitants. The village contains a
tavern, 3 stores, some 10 dwellings. There is here a fine bridge, 300 feet long,
over the Conhocton river. There are 2 past offices in the town; one, two miles
above Erwin village, called Erwindale; and the other, 6 miles up the Tioga, call
ed Erwin Centre^ Upon the rivers are very rich alluvial flats, well cultivated.
The hills are broken, but covered with while pine timber. Not more than one
third ofthe town is settled.
Greenwood, taken from Troupsburg and Canisteo, 24th June, 1827; S. W. from
Albany, 251; from Bath, 26 miles; soil of good quality for grazing; drained N. E-
by Bennett's creek, which, rising in the town, flows about 15 miles to the Ca
nisteo river in Canisteo town. The post office has the name of the town.
Hornby, taken from Painted Post, 27th January, 1826; distant S. W. from Al
bany 199, and from Bath, S. E. 20, miles; soil of good quality for grass; drained
S. W. by a branch of Mead's creek and S. by some smaller tributaries of the Con
hocton and Tioga, rivers. The post office has the name of the town.
Hornellsville, taken from Canisteo, 1 April, 1820; distant S. W. from Albany
236 miles; surface somewhat steep and broken along the river banks, but else
where generally arable. The Canisteo river runs S. E. across the N. half of the
town, having in its valley much fine alluvial land. Hornellsville and Arkport are-
post villages. Hornellsville, so called from George Hornell, its first settler, lies on a
branch ofthe Canisteo, near the main stream, on the road from Bath to Angelica,
20 miles from the former, and contains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist, churches,,
3 taverns, 3 stores, 1 grist, 1 saw, and 1 carding and cloth dressing, mills, tan-r
nery, and 50 dwellings. Arkport, on the river, has a tavern, a store, a carding and
cloth dressing mill, and 20 dwellings.
Howard, taken from Bath and Dansville, June 8th, 1812; distant from Albany
228, from Bath, W. 12, miles; surface gently undulating; soil clay loam, equal in
quality to any in the county, for wheat and grass; drained E. by Campbell's creek
and other tributaries of the Conhocton, and W. by branches of the Cahisteo river.
Bennett's Flats, the post village, contains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist, church
es; an academy, 2 taverns, 2 Stores and 30 dwellings. There is a post office at
Golf's mills and another at Rathbnn settlement.
Jasper, taken from Troupsburg and Canisteo, 24th Jan., 1827; distant, N. W.
from Albany 240, from Bath 24, miles; surface undulating; soil clay and gravelly
loam, adapted better to grass than grain; drained N. by Bennett's creek and other
tributaries of the Canisteo river; S. E. by Tuscarora creek and its branches. It
has a post office with the name of the town; a sulphur spring here, which spreads
its effluvia for 20 rods around, was formerly much resorted to by the deer and elk.
Jersey, taken from Wayne, 12th Feb., 1813; S. W. from Albany 204, from
Bath, W. 12, miles; surface somewhat broken, but generally arable; soil clay and
calcareous loam of good quality; drained S. W. by Mud creek, and S. by Mead's
creek, tributaries of the Conhocton river, and N. E. by a small creek which flows
into the south end of Seneca lake. Bartle's Mills, on the road from Painted Post
to Penn Yan, near the north boundary, is a post village, containing 1 grist, and 1
saw, mills, 1 tavern, 1 store, and 15 dwellings. Qak Grove and. Sugar Hill, are
post offices. This town is settled principally by emigrants from the state of N. J.
Painted Post, organised pursuant to act March 18th, 1796; distant S. W. from
Albany 210 miles; soil gravelly loam. The flats are rich and the hills covered

708

TOPOGRAPHY.

with pine forests; drained S. E. by the Chemung river, which crosses the north
ern portion of the town, receiving from it, on either bank, several tributaries, and
supplying the navigable feeder of the Chemung canal, which is taken from it at
the Chimney narrows. The Great Bend and Bath road, runs on the N. side of the
river, on which, within two miles of the western boundary, is the village formerly
called Painted Post, 20 miles from Bath, now called Centreville, including Knox
ville, where are 1 Presbyterian church, 3 stores, 3 taverns, and about 50 dwellings.
East Painted Post and South Painted Post, are post offices. About half the town
is settled. The name of the town is derived from the Indian memorial above
mentioned; but which, by the division of this town, is now in Erwin. The place
was called by the Senecas, Conewawah, " a head on a pole."
Prattsborgh, named after a principal proprietor, taken from Pulteney, 21st April,
' 1813; distant from Albany 202, from Bath, N. 14, mites; surface generally arable;
soil good for wheat, better for grass, producing some of the finest cattle of the
county; drained by Twelve Mile, Five Mile, and other creeks, which flow S. to the
Conhocton river, Praltsburgh, post village, on the road from Bath to Penn Yan,
14 miles from each, has 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Methodist, churches; an academy,
incorporated and flourishing, 4 stores, 1 tavern, 1 grist, 1 saw, and 1 carding and
cloth dressing mills, and about 60 dwellings.
Polteney, taken from Bath, 12th February, 1808; since modified; distant S. W.
from Albany 212, from Bath, N. E. 14, from Penn Yan, S. 8, miles; surface
level, except at the descent to the Crooked lake, which is estimated at 200 feet;
soil clay and calcareous loam, originally heavily timbered with oak, but now gen
erally cleared; drained by some small streams flowing to the lake. Pulteneyville
and Pellenville, are post offices; at the former, are the only tavern in the town, one
store, and 15 dwellings.
Reading, taken from Frederickstown, then Wayne, 17th February, 1806; dis
tant S. W. from Albany 186, surface high and Tolling, inclining to the east; soil
clay and calcareous loam, excellently adapted to wheat, and covered with oak
timber, which grows very large, tall and straight, and of the best quality; drained
N. by Rock stream, and S. by another tributary of Seneca lake, which bounds the
town on the east. Irelandville, somewhat south of the centre, 24 miles from
Bath, three and half from the south end of the lake, has a post office, 1 Presbyte
rian church, 1 tavern, 2 stores, and 40 dwellings. Jefferson or Savoy, village, on
the inlet of the lake, partly in this town and partly in Catlin, of Tioga county,
has 1 Presbyterian and'l Methodist, churches; 2 taverns, and, about 80 dwellings.
Rock stream, on its approach to the lake, has a cascade of 140 feet, cutting through
the slate rock, exposing the strata, and falling into a basin, some 30 rods from the
lake. There are quarries of excellent building stone (siliceous lime,) along the
lake, in this town, which has been much used in the fabrication of locks, &c. —
There is a post office called North Reading.
Troupsburgh, taken from Middletown and Canisteo, Feb. 12th, 1808; distant S.
W. from Albany 247, from Bath 28, miles; surface undulating; soil clay and gra
velly loam of good quality for grass, still generally covered with forests; drained
by the Cowanesque creek. Iron ore is said to abound here. The town was settled
in 1805. It has one post office bearing its name, and another called West Troups
burg. Tyrone, taken from Wayne, April 16th, 1822; from Albany, S. W. 194, from
Bath, N. E. 16, miles, surface hilly; soil clay and calcareous loam, good wheat
land; drained westerly by Big and Little Tobyhanna creeks, which flow to the
lake, and S. W. by Mud creek, the outlet of Mud lake, navigable for 9 miles, for
boats, to the Conhocton river; settled by emigrants from New England, New Jer
sey and Orange county, New York. Little lake, is 3 miles long by half a mile
in width; its shores adorned with highly cultivated farms, its N. end distant two
and a half miles only, from Crooked lake, and the south, half a mile from Mnd
lake, into which it pours its waters; Mud lake, has about half the length, with
much the same breadth as Little lake. Both lakes and Mud creek are declared
highways by law. The lakes are well stored with fish, which are taken at all
seasons. From a point opposite to Bluff Point, on the line between Wayne and
Barrington towns, Is a beautiful prospect pf the farms upon the declivities to
Crooked and Little lakes. The post office -has the name of the town, and is at
Arnold's Mills, where are, within a mile, 1 Presbyterian church, 2 taverns, 3 stores,
and 20 dwellings. There is another post office called Tobyhanna.

STEUBEN COUNTY.

709

Urbana, taken from Bath, 17th April, 1822; distant S. W. from Albany 207,
from Bath, N. E. 8, miles; surface divided by Crooked lake and its inlet, into two
high ridges with a deep narrow valley; soil clay and calcareous loam of various
qualities; drained E. by some small streams flowing to the lake, with high and
rapid falls. At the head of the lake lies the post village of Hammondsport, found
ed in 1826, by Lazarus Hammond, containing 1 Presbyterian and 1 Episcopal,
churches; 9 stores, 3 tavern, 2 tanneries, 2 asheries, 5 forwarding and commis- •
sion houses, 100 dwellings, and 600 inhabitants. The position of this village
for trade is very favourable, by reason of the lake. It must become the port
of the county whence much of its exports will seek a market in the centre, of
the state and at the towns on the N. river; a steamboat runs daily on the 'lake, be
tween this village and Penn Yan, of Yates county; thence the Crooked Lake '
canal leads to the Seneca lake, which is connected by tho Seneca and Cayuga
canal, with the Erie canal. By this route there is an uninterrupted water com
munication with the city of New York. There are 5 post offices in the town, Ur
bana, West Urbana, North* Urbana, Cold Springs, and Mount Washington. —
There is also a sulphur spring in repute for its medicinal qualities.
Wayne, organised by the name of Frederickstown, under act of 18th March,
1796; name changed April 6th, 1808; limits since altered; S. W. from Albany
199, from Bath, N. E. 14 miles; surface level, except near the Crooked lake, up
on the N. W. and Mud and Little lakes upon the E. and their outlet, where it is
somewhat hilly; soil clay and marly loam, well adapted to wheat; timber chiefly
oak, hickory, and chestnut; drained S. by some small tributaries of Mud creek.
Wayne, post village, at the N. end of Little lake, 18 miles from Bath, has 1
hotel, 3 stores, and 30 dwellings. There is also a post office at Wayne Four
Corners, where is a dense settlement.
Wheeler, taken from Bath, and Prattsburg, 25th February, 1820; S. W. from
Albany 210, from Bath, N. 8, miles; surface hilly, but arable; soil clay and sandy
loam, of pretty good quality; drained on the S. W. border by Conhocton river,
which receives from the town, Five Mile creek, and some smaller streams. —
Wheeler, East Wheeler, and West Wheeler, are post offices, and closely settled
vicinages.

Females.
Births.
Deaths.
CO
to
pus
s i
3 *Z
TOWNS.
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
.2i
COo
>
m
C93
<
G
o °
'Z >>
« US
a"
li P
S i
** 2
•£?> SS i|
EftPboeg
'C a
S
8
S
ti,
3 Aap
fr
g al
s
1 b
Addison,
652
544
944
1388
159
280
13
190
58
329
11
37
27
11
9
Bath,
' 2578
3422
3387
4100
428
849
49
585
308
921
29
71
66
25
21
Cameron,
553
924
1224
114
237
8
168
50
335
2
11
16
8
4
Campbell,
842
92
182
108
65
176
5
15
11
8
3
Canisteo,
891
604
619
780
82
163
3
91
53
179
2
11
16
8
4
Cohocton,,
1560
2143
2544
2855
289
555
5
356
175
686
21
54
63
15
21
Dansville,
1565
1489
1726
2558
211
472
75
342
129
651
21
51
45
27
20
Erwin,
795
1089
144
239
1
130
90
244
8
16
16
3
3
Greenwood,
899
1140
09
220
8
154
45
2911
12
89
65
28
32
Hornellsville,
834
1365
1850
194
354
3
260
169
459
12
48
30
13
7
Howard,
1140
1703
2464
3037
262
588
31
401
168
732
34
33 19
8
4
Hornby,
1572
972
88
202
1
126
50
235
12
48 30
13
7
Jasper,
-657
984
107
201
125
48
262
3
211 28
7
4
Jersey,,
912
1780
2391
2724
339
512
23
359
185
702
6
69 "40
11
19
Painted Post,
2088
2640
974
1619
178
350
15
212
112
380
13
49 36
18
10
Pittsburgh,Pulteney,
1377
1865
2402
2557
241
502
16
318
168
626
23
51| 57
18
22.
1162
1501
1724
1822
170
339
5
243
116
438
21
54 41
17
2Q
Reading,
3009
5431
1568
1644
172
332
2
210
48
421
11
27
30
" 5
12
Troupsburgh,Tyrone,
650
1265
666
876
85
170
124
35
253
4
24
27
9
1653
1880
1106
218
404
3
261
148
503
26
46
41
14
5
Prbana,
966
1288
1642
175
320
2
214
125
392
11
30
30
11
8
Wayne,
3607
865
1172
1350
136
265
185
98
317
9
22
23
10
7
Wheeler,
798
882
1389
1604
144
310
2
228
97
381
12
41
24
17
13
Woodhull,
501
672
75
131
2
90
38
158
11
16
8
4
1
21989
27146
33851
41435
4202|8177
267
5480
2577
10071
322!
935 805
304
"256
Note. MaleB, 21,159; Females, 20,276; Blacks, 301; Black voters, 3; Paupers, 62, Deaf and Dumb,
10; Blind, 14; Idiots, 44; Lunatics, 23.
710

TOPOGRAPHY.

e

8 .
— -e

3CD
¦o * ¦

p lr 2
> 8,2
1= to

DC
•P
CO ~
e%
ci
.•a
tax. tax.
TOWNS.
cdp
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isl
l"5^
3
p
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OcH
c 2
c c
g a
SS°
<
<
<
<- »
u
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tii
n.
fr ¦
D-
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50009
3917
127500
3220
1038
189
1168
' 716
869
1048
12116
547 547
Hath,
60000
17316
357000
174857
3823
1140
9374
3380
575S
6519
550(1
2229 750
510H0
5333
104040
100
1218
238
1772
1018
1195
2144
Ml
468- 571
Campbell,
2^000
3265
67320
2990
-H34
2117
850
• 685
1107
1625
IIMf
290 227
34000
1008
75140
926
1053
183
1010
942
•489
1391
13211
314 476
46000
10436
144900
6449
2500
ROM
5718
2573
4419
6247
6442
703 720
44000
11320
87760
4330
2384
625
5797
1983
3622
5170
6338
483 643
46000
3795
199640
lioon
905
200
1244
1226
514
788
558
915 495
48000
4123
94081)
300
1246
226
1604
1408
1351
1927
3279
440 520
Hornby,
24000
4707
51120
740
1138
243
2295
725
1351
1927
20311
235, 365
56000
5(144
176400
3242
1862
374
2632
1690
2473
3077
3308
743: 613
53000
14081
166950
625
3382
' 780
6498
3455
46H4
7354
9234
7821 853
Jasper,
Jersey,
34000
4356
C6640
3835
1249
2;o
1703
1025
1203
2610
178 1
325
459
50000
12032
123500
729
2869
606
4054
2029
4329
493=
9004
623
363
45000
4381
195300
8027
1162
304
1473
941
959
1651
1059
832
519
Prattsburgh,Pulteney,Reading,
Troupsburgh, Tyrone,
34000
14850
146200
4675
2842
772
13982
2225
5029
6772
6450
693
382
21000
10360
90300
7207
2083
546
5520
1511
2974
4765
4705
420
486
17000
10054
80920
5312
2421
616
3633
1487
2377
4012
4H07
347
422
36000
3848
71060
380
1327
189
1698
809
1042
2604
2914
300
502
20000
11326
78200
331)4
1969
620
4346
1330
3582
465H
5450
328
284
19000
9018
101840
12893
1172
374
10005
1134
2543
4009
2989
499
258
Wayne,
14000
8348
66640
2048
1625
464
7548
1191
1964
2940
32211
276
216
34000
7052
95540
2120
1694
440
5775
1398
2967
3653
4434
444
295
Woodhull,
37000
2303
69190
560
769
ioe
964
441
689
1182
1721
306
469
897000
383773
2839180
263019
42565
10520
100661
35322
57490 83011
91333
13542
11453
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1101
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Teacher's ges
bes public ney,
ce
*3JO u
tn
15
189
478
289
449
4
16
l
5
1
1
3
2
23
694
1115
1
13
1
11
144
235
390
Campbell,
2
10
1
1
1
6
108
196
!i76
2
29
2
3
1
1
i
2
1
16
259
523
994
2
8
7
124
40
223
1
15
i
1
1
15 ,
341
323
907
1
12
1
7
124
151
230
3
4
1
1
1
3
14
133
133
351
Hornby,
2
6
1
1
9
136
118
361
3
16
3
3
1
1
1
12
199
419
539
S
9
1
I
2
22
483
388
976
Jasper,
Jersey,
9
6
14
1
1
2
1
3
1
11 16
114147
124
368
375
^40
1
9
1
1
3
11
107
331
313
Prattsburgh,Pulteney, Reading,Troupsburgh,
5 1
22
21 7
10 4 7
2
1J
2
22 1
.1 2 3
17 9
1012
216 10
263 117
213
493180 .
449 141742
945 397
652
276
1071
9
3
2
1
1
1
3
10
134
468
713
Wayne,
10
1
1
1
1
11
7
13
142
217
439437
401 552
Woodhull,
2
43 CO
6
257
2
a
18
R
18o
3
I
5
to
19
too
2
32o
2
o Ui
6
78
109
247
289
4476
7690
13808
Value of product,
l
1
'oi
i--
US
"*
Tf
s
en
US
No. of children aboi
of age 12,327.
re 5 and line
er 16 years
o
SR
£
P
S3
o
oo
c5
a. to
oigCD
¦o
S
Value of material,
rs
•3
rH
^t
¦a
us
to
»
M
Woodhull, taken from Troupsburg and Addison, 18th February* 1828; S. W.
from Albany 236, from Bath 22, miles; surface undulating; soil well adapted to
grass, covered with forests and thinly inhabited; drained by the Tuscarora creek
and its several branches. There is a post office called after the town.
SUFFOLK COUNTY, comprising about two-thirds of Long Island; organised Nov. 1st, 1683; is bounded E. and S. by the Atlantic Ocean;
N. bv Lono- Island Sound; W. by Lloyd's Neck or Queen's Village, Cold Spring Harbour, and the E. bound.s of the town of Oyster Bay, and
the same line continued due S. to the Atlantic Ocean, including the Isle of Wight or Gardiner's Island, Fisher's Island, Shelter Is and, Plumb
f Island, Robin's Island, and the Gnll Islands: Extreme length, from Montauk Point to the S. W. angle 83; greatest breadth, 21, miles: area ac
cording to the return of the supervisors in 1835, 594, but by the statistical table of Burr's Atlas 973, square miles; between 40° 36 and 41 08
N. Lat. and 3° 27' and 5° 03' E. Long. .
Extensive salt meadows border the numerous bays and creeks, which are overflowed by the tide and yield only salt hay, of which large quanti
ties are gathered. On the N. adjoining the Sound, the surface is broken and hilly; the interior is overspread with sandy plains, covered with
pine; the south portion is level and has a loamy soil

G TI
"9 Of
« O O
a 2! H
"d

712 TOPOGRAPHY.
land lie several bays of various widths, of which Great South, Great West, Shin-
necoc, and Mecock bays are chief. The northern coast is indented by Huntingdon
harbour, Smithtown bay, Drowned Meadow bay, Oldman's harbour, &c. The
position of all which are shown by the map.
The principal bays,' however, are Gardiner's and Great Peconic, which pene
trate the county nearly 30 miles from the east. The former is a large sheet in the
form of an irregular circle, 9 miles in diameter, which is entered by straits on
the N. and S. sides of Gardiner's Island. It is separated from Great Peconic
hay by Shelter Island, upon every side of which there is a ship channel. Deeply
seated in the S. W. corner of Gardiner's Bay, is Sagg Harbour.- This bay admits
vessels of large size, having from 5 to 10 fathoms water; but, the Peconic has
depth of water only for vessels of 70 tons burden. Peconic Bay is 12 miles long
and from 3 to 5 wide.
Gardiner's Island, or Isle of Wight, called by the Indians Manchanoc, lies
across the mouth of Gardiner's Bay. The entrance to the bay, between Plumb
Island on the North and Nepeague Harbour on the south, is about 12 miles,
of which about 7 are rilled with the island, which is of an irregular shape, and in
its greatest width E. and W. about 4 miles; area 3000 acres; distant from River-
head E. about 34 miles. It was settled by Lyon Gardiner, in 1639. He was a
Scotchman, had served as a lieutenant in the British army, in the Low countries;
came to America in 1635, and erected the fort at Saybrook, and commanded the
garrison until the autumn of 1639. His purchase of the island from the aborigi-
nies was confirmed by the agent of Lord Sterling. This was the first English
settlement within the state of New York; and his daughter, born on the island,
Sept. 14th 1641, was probably the first white child of English parentage within
that territory, as his son, born at Saybrook, 29th April, 1636, is said to have been
the the first white child, born within the bounds of Connecticut. This valuable
estate still belongs to his descendants, and is remarkable for excellence of culture,
its extensive dairy, numerous herds, great product of wool, and the quality and
quantity of the cheese made upon it.
The celebrated pirate Kidd, called at this island on his way to Boston, when he
returned from his cruise in 1699, and deposited there a box of gold, silver and
precious stones, entrusting the then owner of the island with the secret and hold
ing his life in pledge for his fidelity. An account of this deposit was found among
the pirate's papers, upon his arrest; and the box was disinterred and delivered to
the commissioners appointed to receive it. It contained 738J oz. of gold; 847±
of silver and 17f of Jewells.
The tradition of Kidd's having buried his treasures along the coast, and this
discovery gave rise to the idle practice of money digging.
Shelter Island, called by the Indians Manhansack-ahaquat-wowomoek, "an island
sheltered by other islands," 6 miles long by abroad, where widest, contains about
8000 acres. Its surface is uneven and much of the soil light and sandy; portions
of it however, are level, fertile, and highly cultivated. The shores are indented
'by several creeks, and there are fine sites for building on projecting high points,
(commanding picturesque views. From the island to Southold, there is a ferry
¦of '120 rods, and the distance to Hog Island, is half a mile. During the revolu
tion this island was stripped of its wood, for the use of the British navy and army.
It was originally purchased by James Farrett, from the Indians, and by interme
diate conveyances, became the property of Nathaniel and Constant Silvester and
Thomas IMiddleton. In 1074,the Dutch government confiscated the rights of the two
last, and sold them to the first, for £500, the payment of which was subsequently
enforced by a party of soldiers, a short time before the surrender of the colony.
Robin's Island, in ihe bay, between Southampton and Southold, contains about
400 acres of light sandy land.
Plumb island, 2 miles N. of Gardiner's island, is 3 miles long and 1 broad; the
¦soil is clay loam, and stony; a light house has recently been erected here.
> Fisher's island, the extreme eastern portion of the county and state, about 137
jmiles E. from New York; 16 from Oyster pond point; and 40 from Riverhead; is
about 12 miles long, and has a medial width of 1 mile. Pertaining to one propri
etor, it is rendered highly valuable, and has upon it a very productive dairy.
For historical notices of this county, we refer to the article " Long Island," and
the subsequent description of the towns.

SUFFOLK COUNTY. 713
The chief business in the county is agriculture, and fishing, especially for clams
and oysters, which are abundant in the bays; the whale fishery long carried on
from Sagg harbour, and lately extensively commenced at Greenport; and the trade
in fire wood, from the large forests, principally of pine.
Each town elects, at the annual town meeting, so many measurers of wood as it
, deems proper; who take the constitutional oath, and file it as in the case of other
town officers, and receive for measuring any parcel of wood not exceeding ten
cords, four cents per cord, and for parcels of ten.cords or over, three cents per cord,
payable half by the buyer, and half by the seller.
The county is divided into 9 towns, all of which, except Riverhead, were or
ganised 7th March, 1788.
Brookhaven, comprehending the beach and bay, lying opposite the town of
Islip, and included in the patent of Brookhaven; settled in 1655; centrally distant
from NewYork, E. about 70 miles; from Albany, S. E. 217; and from Riverhead,
W. 14 miles. The soil varies from a stiff black mould to a pure white sand. In
the northern part, adjacent to the Sound and its bays and harbours, it is of excel
lent quality, and well adapted to most species of grain and to grass. In this res
pect, Crane Neck, Old Field Point, and Mount Misery, are said to be high
ly valuable. The middle portion is level and sandy, covered with pine forests,
in which deer still abound. The southern part is pretty uniformly of light sand
and loam, rendered productive by fish and seaweed manures, which are rea
dily attainable, and by wood ashes and other manures, brought from the large
cities, and by mud raised from the bottom of the bays and harbours. The mainland
here is bounded by South and West bays, which are separated from the ocean by
a sandy beach under a mile in width, and distant from the mainland from a half mile
to five miles; both borders of these bays, and their numerous islands, are fringed
with salt meadow; and this species of meadow also lines the inlets and harbours
on the northern coast.
The principal streams are the Connecticut river or brook, which has its whole
course of 10 or 12 miles in the town, emptying into South bay and the Peconic
river, which, rising in the town, runs an E. course of about 15 miles, forming the
boundary for nearly 10 miles between this and Riverhead. There are several good
harbours on the N. of which Stony Brook, Setauket, Drowned Meadow and Old
Man's are the most considerable. Tliere is a light house at Oldfield point, which
was built in 1822; distant in a direct line about 15 miles E. from that on Eaton's"
neck. The much greater proportion ofthe inhabitants is distributed on the borders
ofthe Sound and the ocean, which are thickly studded with pleasant. vicinages.
On the N. coast, proceeding E. we pass Stony Brook. Setauket, Drowned Meadow
and Miller's Place; Wading river is on the line between this and Riverhead. On
the southern, we have Patchogue, Fire Place, Mastic, and Moriches; centrally si
tuated are Coram, Meadowland and Brookfield. Those in italics have post offices;
and there is another post office, called Middle Island. This is the most populous
town of the county. It contains 6 Presbyterian, 1 Congregational, 1 Episcopal, 2
Methodist, and 2 Baptist, churches.
Easthampton, at the E. extremity of the island, includes Montauk and Gardi
ner's islands, Shoal and Ram islands; greatest length from Montauk point to the
W. line, about 23 miles; breadth from Gardiner's point, the N. extremity of Gar
diner's island, directly across the town to the ocean, about 12 miles; centrally dis
tant E. from New York, 110; from Albany 265; from Riverhead, about 30 miles.
There is a considerable fresh water stream in the town. The N. shore is in
dented by Great pond, Fort pond, Bays, Acabonuck harbour, Three Mile, West,
and Sagg harbours. In the E. end of the town lies the Montauk tract, of about
9,000 acres of excellent pasture land, held by the surrounding farmers in common.
It was sold to the whites by the Montauk Indians, about 170 years since; and the
remnant of the tribe, now reduced to a few families, resides on a tract of 1000 acres,
which they hold by lease. On Montauk point, the E. extremity of Long Island,
is alight house, erected in 1796, at the cost of $25,000. Its site is elevated about
40 feet, and the fabric being raised about 100 feet, the light may be seen 30 miles
at sea.
The town was settled in 1649, by about 30 families, from Lynn and the adjacent
towns of Massachusetts. • Their descendants, who still inhabit it, are like their
fathers, agriculturists and mechanics, and many of them, as their relatives of Lynn,
90

714 TOPOGRAPHY.
are shoemakers. Amaganset, Acabonuck harbour, Wainscott, West harbour and
Fire-place, are hamlets, containing each a school, and from 15 to 20 dwellings.
There is a post office at Amaganset. Easthampton, village, extends along the road
about 1 1-2 miles, having about 100 plain dwellings, a Presbyterian church, the
Clinton academy, 2 school houses, &c. about three-fourths of a mile from the
Ocean. Huntington, including Eaton's Neck and Crab Meadow; greatest length, N.
and S., including the beach, which separates Great South bay from the ocean,
about 25 miles; greatest breadth, upon the Sound, 10 miles; the surface in the N.
is hilly, but arable, and tolerably productive; in the centre, a high sandy plain,
covered with pine and shrub oak; in the S. level for three miles in breadth along
the sea coast. The following are villages or vicinages, at each of which is a post
office: Huntington, Crab Meadow, Dix Hills, Babylon, Cold Spring, Cow Har
bour, and West Hills. In the S. there are several small streams which give motion
to mills. On Eaton's Neck, the N. extremity of the town, projecting into the
Sound, is a light house. Fish and fowl are very abundant, particularly in South
bay, and attract many visitors. The town was purchased from the Matinecoc,
Marsapeague and Secataug tribes, and settled in 1653. Huntington harbour makes
in from the Sound, S. about 6 miles; it has several branches, known as Cow har
bour, Lloyd's harbour, &c. Huntington, post village, upon Huntington harbour,
about 45 miles E, of New \ork; 198 S. E. from Albany; and 40 W. from River
head; contains 2 churches, an academy, a printing office, and from 25 to 30 dwell
ings. Babylon, sometimes called South Huntington, said to be one of the plea-
santest villages on Long Island, is much resorted to in the summer season, for the
amuseitients of fishing and fowling, and for the benefit of the sea air. The village
contains about 35 dwellings on one street, 4 stores, 4 taverns, 4. mills on Sampa-
wam's Creek, and 1 Presbyterian church. A turnpike road leads from it along the
sea shore to New York. Cold Spring, on Cold Spring harbour, is a very pleasant
and thriving village, from which a steam boat runs daily to New York. There
are in the town 3 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Methodist, churches.
Islip, E. from New York 60; from Albany, S. E. 197 miles; surface level; soil
light and sandy, rendered productive by manures of fish and seaweed. Deer are still
found in the woods, and the country is remarkable for its abundance of grouse,
partridges, quail, geese, ducks, and other game; and its waters for the plenty
and variety of their fish. Cedar, Oak, Crablree, and Fire, islands, in Great South
bay, which lies between the main land and beach, belong to the town. Ronkon-
koma pond, lies partly in the N. E. angle. Sampawam's brook, on the W. line,
and some other small streams, give motion to several grist and saw mills. Con-
sequit river is but a brook of 3 or 4 miles long, emptying into Tern's Cove. At
the head of the cove, lies Islip, the post, and only village, 28 miles S. E. from
Riverhead; it is rather a vicinage, extending several miles along the road, inha
bited by farmers, and persons engaged in the fishing business. There are here 1
Episcopal, and 1 Methodist, churches. Islip was purchased from the Secataug
tribe, and settled in 1666. Some ponds of tbe town are much resorted to for trout
fishing. Riverhead, taken from Southold, 13th March, 1792; centrally distant E. from
New York, about 90; from Albany, S. E. 225 miles. On the N. the surface is
broken by a range of cliffs, running parallel with, and 1 mile from the Sound;
where, among other shrubs, the wax bearing myrtle abounds; S. of this range the
country is moderately uneven. The character of the soil is various, bat generally
of loam, mingled in different proportions with sand; the timber is chiefly pine, yet
there is some oak walnut and chestnut. The principal stream is Peconic river or
creek, whose bay affords water for vessels of 70 tons, to the mouth of the creek,
2 1-2 miles below Riverhead; above the village it gives motion to several mills.
Wading river, is a very small stream, flowing into a salt creek, which sets in
about a mile from the Sound. Two great roads run easterly, along which the in
habitants have their dwellings, chiefly in compact vicinages; such are Wading
River, in the N. W.; Baiting Hollow, near the centre; the village of Riverhead,
Jerico, Acquabogue and Upper Acquabogue. Those in italics have post offices.
Riverhead, village, and county town, having the relative distances above given,
contains the county buildings, and some 30 or 40 dwellings. A company was in-

SUFFOLK COUNTY. 715
corporated 10th March, 1835, to make a sloop channel from the head of sloop na
vigation, in the Peconic river, up to the bridge at Riverhead. Capital $10,000.
Shelter Island, town, by the revised laws comprehends the island of that
name; distant 100 miles E. from New York; 250 S. E. from Albany; lies in Gar
diner's bay; surface hilly, affording fine sites for building; the seat of the late
Seneral Dering is much admired. The population comprehends about 60 fami
lies, who have 1 Presbyterian church. — For further notice of the island, see
supra 712.
Smithtown; includes the patent of Wenicomac; greatest length and breadth
about 10 miles; surface generally level; soil sandy loam. The Nissaquaug river,
is a small mill stream, rising in the S., and running N. to an inlet from the Sound,
called the Harbour, around which is a thickly settled vicinage. The Branch,
Mills pond and Hopogue are populous neighbourhoods. Smithtown, centrally si
tuate, is the post village, 55 miles E. from New York; 197 S. E. from Albany;
30 miles W. from Riverhead. From this town there is an excellent turnpike road
-to New York. The town, as we have elsewhere mentioned, was presented by
the Montauk sachem, Wyandance, to Lyon Gardiner, who sold it to Richard
Smith, to whom it was confirmed by the Nissaquag sachem.
Southampton; surface generally level; the soil in the W. and N. light
and sandy; but in the S. mixed with loam, and when manured with fish or other
proper substances, produces good crops of grain and grass. The country is well
wooded with pine, oak, walnut, and large quantities of fuel are sent to New York.
There are some deer in the forests, and wild fowl abound. It was settled about
1639, principally by emigrants from Lynn, Massachusetts, who sought independ
ence of the parent colony, and was purchased of theShinnecoc tribe, in 1640. The
streams are few and inconsiderable. The N. limit is deeply indented by the Great
Peconic bay, and its branches; and the southern, by West, Quintue, Shinnecoc
and Mecock bays. The greater proportion of the inhabitants is on the S. coast,
on which are several pleasant villages or vicinages, known as Beaverdam, West-
hampton, Good Ground, Flanders, Speunk, Quogue, Canoe Place, Southampton,
Scuttlehole, Bridgehampton, and Sagg Harbour. Wainscott is on the line
between this and Easthampton. The places whose names are in italics have
post offices. Southampton, village, 18 miles from Riverhead, contains 1 Pres
byterian church, having the first bell and clock put up in the island, the latter
made by an inhabitant. The village is built on a long street. Sagg Harbour, is in
the N. E. corner ofthe town, 100 miles E. from New York; 258 S. E. from Al
bany; and 22 E. from Riverhead. The harbour is good, lying upon an arm of
Gardiner's bay; and. the port has a considerable trade. The whale fishery from
hence is pursued with great success, there being $500,000 invested, and 21 ships
employed, in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Eastern, oceans, by seven companies. The
legislature, in 1821, appropriated $10,000 for extending the state pier at this point,
and for the encouragement of the fishery. Considerable quantities of salt are ma
nufactured here, by evaporation of the sea. water in the open air.
The collection district of Sagg harbour includes the bays, harbours, rivers, and
shores, between Montauk Point and Oyster Pond Point; and of this district Sagg
harbour is the only port of entry and delivery. The village is compactly built on
several streets, and contains 2 Methodist and 1 Presbyterian, churches, 2 printing
offices, each issuing a weekly paper, several select schools, and about 120 dwell
ings. Southold includes Fisher's, Plumb, Robins, and the Gull, islands; and embraces
almost the whole of the N. E. peninsula, having the Sound on the N. and Gar
diner's and Peconic, bays, on the S. Its length is about 23 miles; and greatest
breadth, 4; centrally distant from New York 103; from Albany 243; and from
Riverhead 17 miles; the surface is high, level, and free from stones; soil sandy
loam, productive under careful cultivation of the ordinary grains of the country,
and of hay for export. The population is distributed in thickly settled neighbour
hoods, along the great road, which runs centrally through the town, as at Matta-
tuck, Cochogue, Southold, Rocco Point, and Oyster Ponds, forming an almost con
tinued village. The places in italics have respectively a post office. This town,
called by the Indians Yeconnecock, was settled by emigrants, who came by the
way of New Haven, in 1640, and who purchased the soil from the Corchaugs.

716

TOPOGRAPHY.

Feifiales.
Births.
Heaths
/
P
to
ia
TOWNS.
cd
3 ^
¦p jg
Sco
'Es
Ol 03
¦s >¦
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CDcd
tii03
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'
1790.
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
1
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to,
p
<
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if
D73
¦—
s.cd
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p
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Brookhaven,
3224
5218
5393
TJ095
6866
579
1410
10
55
855
579
1441
54
132
m
43
48
Easthampton,
1497
, 1041)
1556
1668
181'J
187
405
12
33
246
192
296
15
36
16
17
9
Huntington,
- 3200
4935
4540
5582
'549S
591
12-20
16
47
655
421
1039
27
34
26
24
3D
Islip,
609
115(1
1344
1653
1528
11(1
329
5
8
2211
96
371
13
21
33
19
17
Riverhead,
1857
1716
2016
2138
27F
473
16
4
2711
155
454
12
37
38
27
ID
Shelter Island,
210
389
349
330
334
16
62
2
1
4fi
51
61
a
3
4
2
1
Smithtown,
1022
1874
1677
1686
158C
V22
363
4
2!)
201
115
310
5
21
22
13
7
Southampton,
3408
4229
4561
4851
5275
545
1050
15
44
682
451
926
50
82
76
64
47
Southold,
3219
2968
2456
2900
3236
265
722
21
4
394
314
592
17
45
47
34
18
10440
24272
23695
2678o| 2S274
2691
6034
101
225
3574
2373
5490
196
411
373
243
205
Note.— Males, 14,181; Females, 14,093, Blacks, 2,104; Black voters, 17; Deaf and Dumb, 18; Blind,
14: Idiots, 32; Lunatics, 24.
TOWNS.
d 1
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Brookhaven,
103328
35141
782400
180950
4590
1294
8451
3846
5556 4580
4675
642
Easthampton,
31310
17827
418225
81925
2487
473
4903
1013
1785
152t
2365
786
333
Huntington,
60438
32532
772550
121400
3530
3H7
11044
3833
3272
359
771
1040
595
Islip,
38871
8016
253895
56730
1634
289
1307
una
711
577
712
486
207
Riverhead,
35641
12303
225230
45440
2234
522
19311
132P
1909
12112
1514
730
180
Shelter Island, 4
7872
4836
68599
2-2427
¦ 426
63
2837
266
80
53
5(1
¦247
60
Smithtown,
30317
10937
293751
85500
15R1
443
3S96
1552
947
485
969
502
252
Southampton,
44057
2310.5
872725
276100
4738
828
5416
2139
2993 2431
4510
1752
765
Southold,
27901
23351
,453750
57250
3751
689
3786
2684
2954, 1898
4912
1151
340
379735
168047
4141125
927722
24971
5988
43570
17769
2020713113
20478
7886
3374
|
1 i
. 1 03
£ fl
¦a
Oo
tn a
MS
to
c5
TOWNS.
s ]
2 i
¦r t
O «
10
si
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jp p
b o
ucoo
O 2
<2 oo
is 2
s 5 p.
« 2
l
Tanneries. No. of
Sc districts.
o .
B a,
-a
.s§|h f? p
bi
E oi ¦
a> o> >>
lii
•s CO a
6
Brookhaven,
8 3
3
4 35
632
1932
1858
Easthampton,
6
4 6
172
514
432
Huntington,
!)
i
1
a
1
2 26
588 ,
1840
1493
Tslip,
1
4
1
1 6
¦171
549
417
Riverhead,
3
2 1
2
i
1 12
207
527
676
Shelter Island,
'
1
34
98
79
Smithtown,
3
3 1
1
l
1 12
174
610
423
Southampton,
10
4 2 3
i
19
502
1284
1189
Southold,
7
49 2
! 1
4; 7 10
2
7
4
l
2 14
834
1924
954
15 131
3614
9278
7521
-o
Value of material,
S c
I- r
5 n W
1
•—i
CO
¦*r
•o— 1
er of childre
n between 5
and 16 years
Value of product,
-# 1
-> C
tn r
¦s to tn
S US t/S
o o ©
1
00 Ci
(£> C-
X) d
o o
?. of age,
?,763.
IO 1
Oi >-i
1
ii
SULLIVAN COUNTY.

717

SULLIVAN COUNTY, taken from Ulster, 27th March, 1809; bounded N. by
Delaware; E. by Ulster; S. by Orange, counties; and W. by the Delaware river;
dividing it from Wayne and Pike, counties, of Pennsylvania; greatest length, N.
W. and S. E. 45; greatest breadth, N. E. and S. W, 37 miles; situate between
41° 25' and 42° N. Lat. and 1° 46' W. and 2° 32' E. Long.; centrally distant N.
W. from New York 100; and S. E. 112 miles from Albany by the usual routes.
The surface is generally hilly, and portions of it mountainous. Upon the S. E.
lies the Shawankunk mountain, having its eastern foot washed by the fihawan-
kunk kill, and its western by Bashe's kill. This ridge has a gentle ascent from
the E. and sinks precipitously on the W.; its width is about 2 miles. The eastern
side admits of profitable cultivation, while the western is rugged and broken. The
remainder of the county may have once formed a high table land, rising into a
ridge of semicular form, extending easterly across the towns of Liberty and Nevi
sink, from which the streams flow in a northerly and southerly direction. In their
course, the waters have cut the whole country into ridges, deepening the valleys as
they approach their recipients; so that, now, the surface has a high rolling ap
pearance, in which, however, the northern ridge, where the creeks have their source,
is strikingly conspicuous.
The Delaware river, cutting this ridge at right angles, laves the western
bonndary of the county, for nearly 40 miles; and pursuing a S. E. course, receives
Collicoon and Ten Mile creeks, Beaver and Halfway brooks, and the Mongaup '
river. The Neversink river andBashe's kill are considerable streams, flowing into
and through Orange county, to the same recipient. The two last interlock with
branches of the Rondout creek, a tributary of the Hudson river. The streams flow
ing northward are the Willewemack and Little Beaver creeks, tributaries of the
Beaver kill, which runs near to, and parallel with the N. W. boundary. The
county is spotted with small lakes, the chief of which are White and Black lakes,
and Lake Superior. The first covers an area of 500 acres.

718 TOPOGRAPHY.
The Colllcoon creek, haying a course of some 15 miles, has become of much im
portance, its valley affording the route for the Erie rail road. The Mongaup river
is a useful mill stream, having a length of about 30 miles. The Nevisink river
and Bashe's kill, are fully described under " Orange county," and the Rondout
under " Ulster county."
Geologically considered, the county is divided into the transition and upper se
condary formations. The Shawangunk mountain consists chiefly, if not wholly,
of the transition millstone grit; west of which, in Mamakating town, and along the
Delaware and Hudson canal, is a broad vein of secondary lime stone, bounded on
the west by carboniferous slate, covering the centre of the county, which has on
the northwest an extensive formation of quartzose rock, containing secondary
mill stone grit and rubble. A valuable deposit of anthracite coal is said to have
been recently discovered near the line of the Delaware and Hudson canal.
The soil consists, generally, of clay and gravelly loam, and where underlaid by
limestone is adapted to wheat, but elsewhere better fitted for grass, rye, and oats;
and is employed, by the inhabitants devoted to agriculture, in maintaining exten
sive dairies, and in breeding cattle. Butter making has of late become an impor
tant business, and considerable attention is given to the culture of sheep. The
country along the Delaware is not favourable to agriculture; generally the high
lands are preferred for cultivation, being more dry and productive of finer grass
than the valleys, which are'commonly wet and cold.
The greater portion ofthe county is yet covered with wood, consisting of oak, white
and yellow pine, hemlock, beech, maple, poplar, elm, &c. Upon the Delaware river,
and streams which flow to it, the inhabitants are chiefly engaged in the lumber bu
siness, which seeks a market by the river. Boards and planks of choice quality,
which will pay the expense of transportation, are sent by the Delaware and Hud
son canal to the Hudson river.
The Newburg and Cochecton turnpike road, runs centrally and westerly across
the county; and on this road.and the Delaware river are the principal settlements.
The northern portion of the county is the wildest, and least peopled. The pro
posed Erie rail road will cross the county northwesterly. Its whole course therein
is not precisely designated, several routes having been surveyed; but 40 miles
along the Delaware river, north of the mouth of Collicoon creek, have been put
under contract for grading. The Delaware and Hudson canal passes through the
valley of Bashe's kill, into Orange, and returns from that county by the valley of
the Delaware, along which it extends in this county about 15 miles, to the dam op
posite to the mouth of the Lackawaxan river.
With the exception of a small tract on the southeast, in the Minisink patent, the
whqle county was covered by the Hardenburg patent, under which there are now
some extensive landholders. The lands are chiefly holden by the tenants in fee;
but some small portions are holden by long leases.
The inhabitants are chiefly descendants ofthe primitive Dutch settlers and of emi
grants from the eastern states. Far the greater portion of the county is unsettled,
not a tenth part being improved. It is divided into 9 towns.
Bethel, taken from Lumberland, 27th March, 1809; centrally distant from New
York 135, from Albany 121, and from Monticello 8, miles; surface hilly; soil
gravelly loam of pretty good quality, resting on slate; drained easterly by several
small branches of the Mongaup river, and westerly by Collicoon creek, and a
branch of Ten Mile creek, and dotted by numerous small lakes, of which White
lake, the chief, gives name to a small village on its banks, and on the Newburg
and Cochecton turnpike road, at which is a post office. Two miles westward, on
the same road, is another settlement and post office, having the name of the town.
Cochecton, was taken from Bethel, 25th Mar. 1828; distant from N. Y. 118, from
Albany 130, miles; surface hilly; soil gravelly loam; drained on the N. W. by Colli
coon creek, and_ on the S. W. by Ten Mile creek, which rises about the centre of the
town. The Newburg and Cochecton turnpike road runs westerly to Cochecton
village upon the Delaware. This village, 60 miles W. of Newburg, 21 N. W.-
from Monticello, contains 2 stores, 1 tavern, a smith shop, and 12 or 15 dwellings.
A settlement has lately been made upon the outlet of Pike Pond, at which is an
extensive tannery, store, grist and saw mill, and several dwellings. Fosterdale is
the -name of a post office.
Fallsburgh, organised 9th March, 1826 distant from New York 108, from Al-

SULLIVAN COUNTY. 719
bany 102, from Monticello N.E. 8, miles; surface hilly; soil gravelly loam on the
hills, underlaid chiefly by slate; drained by the Nevisink river, which runs south
erly and centrally through it, and the south branch of the Rondout, which rises in
and flows easterly from it. Fallsburgh, village, centrally situate, on the Neversink,
contains' a post office, 1 large tannery, grist mill, 2 saw, and several turning mills,
1 store, 15 dwellings; a stone bridge over the creek of one arch, of 70 feet chord.
The creek has a fall here of 23 feet. Woodburn, upon the same stream, about 3
miles northward, has a post office, 1 Dutch Reformed church, 1 grist, 2 saw, mills,.
clothing works, several turning mills, and 10 or 12 dwellings. About one-third of
the town may be settled.
Liberty, taken from Lumberland, 13th March, 1807; N, W. from New York
110, from Albany S. W. 110, and from Monticello to the settled portion of the
town about 10, miles; surface mountainous; soil gravelly loam on the 'hills; that
of the vales is not much esteemed; drained by the Collicoon creek and its branches
on the south; the Little Beaver kill on the north; the Mongaup on the east; and by
the Delaware river on the west, The post village of Liberty lies on the east, and
contains 1 Episcopal Methodist and 1 Presbyterian churches, 3 stores, 2 taverns,
1 grist and 2 saw mills, and about 40 dwellings.
JiUmberland, taken from Mamakating, 16th March, 1798; from New York 115,
from Albany 8. W. 130, and from Monticello 20, miles; surface hilly; soil gra
velly loam, timbered with oak, and yellow and white pine, containing much oak
barrens; drained S. on the east by Mongaup river; centrally by Beaver and Half
way brooks, and on the N. W. by Ten Mile creek. The chief business of the in
habitants is the getting and vending lumber, which is chiefly prepared at the mills
on the creeks flowing to the Delaware, and transported by that stream to market.
The Hudson and Delaware canal extends up the river Delaware nearly halfway
through the town, crossing the river by a dam above the mouth of Beaver brook.
Lumberland and Barryville are post offices, around which are comparatively dense
settlements. Mamakating, organised 7th March, 1798, but subsequently divided; centrally
distant from New York 85, from Albany 100, miles; surface mountainous, having
the Shawangunk on the east, and another conspicuous ridge upon the western
boundary; in the intervening valley flows Bashe's kill, and the Delaware and
Hudson canal, over a bed of limestone. The Sandberg creek crosses easterly the
northern portion of the county, to the Rondout. The eastern ridge consists of the
transition millstone grit, and the western of slate and secondary graywacke.
Bloomingsburg, Wurtsboro', Philipsport, Burlingham, and Beattysburg, are vil
lages; the first three have, respectively, post offices. Bloomingsbwg, upon the
eastern foot of the Shawangunk mountain, on the Shawangunk kill, and on the
Newburg and Cochecton turnpike road, incorporated 26th April, 1833, 13 milesS.
E. from Monticello, contains 1 Dutch Reformed, and 1 Associate Reformed,
churches; an academy; 5 stores, 4 taverns, 1 tannery, and about 50 dwellings.
Wurtsboro', on the canal, 43 miles from Eddyville, 11 from Monticello, a highly
flourishing village, named after the enterprising projector of the canal, contains 1
Methodist and 1 Presbyterian churches; 6 stores, 4 taverns, two of which are large
and commodious buildings,' 2 grist and 1 saw mills; an extensive tannery, and
from 50 to 60 dwellings, surrounded by a well cultivated country. This place
was formerly known as the Mamakating Hollow. Philipsport, also upon the canal,
4 miles N. from Wurtsboro, has a Methodist church, 3 stores, 2 taverns, and
some 20 dwellings. Burlingham, lies on the Shawangunk creek, about 4 miles be
low Bloomingsburg, and has 1 Methodist church, 1 tannery, 1 grist mill, 5 stores,
3 taverns, and above 30 dwellings. Searsville, and West Brockville, are post
offices. This town is chiefly, if not wholly, within the Minisink patent, and was
settled, about a century since, by Dutch emigrants. A large portion of it is still
covered with wood, but generally that which is arable is improved. The valley
of Bashe's kill is highly fertile, and weir adapted to wheat. The name of this
town is derived from the Indian word Mammacotta, " dividing of the waters," ap
plied to the source of the Bashe's kill, which sends tribute to the Hudson and De
laware rivers.
Nevisink, organised, 16th March, 1798; since variously modified; distant from
New York 115, from Albany 104, and from Monticello N. 13, miles; surface
mountainous, a spur of the Kaatsbergs entering the N. part of the town; drained

720

TOPOGRAPHY.

southerly and centrally by the Nevisink river, and eastwardly by the Rondout
creek and its tributaries. Not more than one-third of the town is cleared and cul
tivated. There are two post offices, one called Neversink, and the other Grahams-
ville, around which settlements are sparsely scattered.
Rockland, taken from Nevisink, 16th March, 1798; since modified; distant
from New York 125, from Albany 116, and from Monticello 23, miles; surface
hilly; soil gravelly loam, adapted to grazing, fertile in the valleys; covered with
forest, and thinly populated, having not more than 100 families; drained princi
pally, in the N. W. by the branches of the Little Beaver kill, and by Willowe-
mack creek. There are three post offices, one named after the town, Beaver kill,
and Purvis.
Thompson,, taken from Mamakating; from New York 100, from Albany 110,
miles; surface hilly, but having much arable ground; soil sandy and gravelly
loam, covered with hemlock end pine timber; drained on the east, southerly, by
the Nevisink river, and its tributary Bashe's creek; and on the west by the Three
Brooks, and other tributaries of the Mongaup river. Monticello, Thompsonville,
Bridgeville, and Forrestburg, are small post villages.
Monticello, founded in 1804, by Messrs. Samuel F., and J. P. Jones, made the
county seat of justice in 1809, and incorporated 20th April, 1830, lies on the New
burg and Cochecton turnpike road, upon a high plain, some 70 or 80 feetabovethe
line proposed for the Erie rail road, in its vicinity, and contains the county court
house and jail, of wood; the clerk's office, of brick; 1 Presbyterian and 1 Episco
pal churches; a public library, a select school, 7 stores, 2 taverns, large three
story buildings; 1 grist and 2 saw mills, 1 tannery; 2 printing offices, each issu
ing a weekly paper; 70 dwellings, chiefly of wood, and 370 inhabitants. The dis
tributing post office for the county is in this village.

Females.
Births.
Deaths.
CO
tp
ieri
^
TOWNS.
B co
T=«
tp ed
cd
p bn
*c >>
tfl
ed
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
2
to p
O
>
COG
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'C >.
PUS
S3"*
to G
G P
G oi
Si
3*° 8 "2
B3
s
373
S
£¦CO
Pec
enp
73
2
73 §
fr
Bethel,
1096
1337
1192
1247
118
223
30
149
66
321
5
25
23
4
7
Cochecton,
438
528
fil
109
R
Sfi
34
119
2
13
17
fi
3
Fallsburgh,
1173
1533
164
321
68
196
92
330
7
36
30
6
Liberty,
851
970
1277
1331
13(1
2H9
fi
178
94
311
13
42
.22
1(1
8
Lumberland,
569
61C
963
1179
204
282
Ifi
150
62
240
8
28
39
7
1(1
Mamakating,
2702
2704
3070
3115
673
627
48
418
324
(157
20
85
52
24
19
Nevisink,
138C
1679
1257
1380
94
287
4
16a
7a
333
111
22
28
II
10
Rockland,
405
554
547
744
fi9
159
7
97
39
191
5
IS
17
1
1
Thompson,
1897
2319
2457
2698
315
608
32
272
181
690
15
65
47
19
20
8900
10373
12364
13755
1828
2903
219
1689
971
3192
e.5
334
275
83
78
Note. Males, 7,184; Females, 6,571; Blacks, 112; Deaf and Dumb, 2; Blind, 5; Idiots, 11; Lunatics,
3; Paupers, 21.
TOWNS.
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Bethel,
57000
7454
136320
3379
274
1546
1899
982
1944
2413
3695
517
321
Cochecton,
445O0
1707
63269
915
87
46H
339
324
219
397
961
937
«25
Fallsburgh,
48000
3500
101918
1345
250
1738
1528
884
1466
2220
9.685
382
525
Liberty,
86000
6707
146580
2515
262
19112
1628
807
1802
3211
9581
552
652
Lumberland,
89000
1774
87408
3217
136
698
23(1
256
301
369
9,60
335
559
Mamakating,
63000
8550
269946
> 34465
486
2770
2827
2017
2036
1367
9502
1128
588
Nevisin'k,
50500
7467
65274
3253
304
1.826
2414
791
1884
2677
399.3
254
272
Rockland,
57000
2945
62696
455
177
970
906
445
555
1838
818
934
420
Thompson,
92000
10570
262725
9350
457
3229
2259
1673
2177
2729
3323
1008
561
587000
50674
1196136
58894
2433
15147
14030
8179
12384
17131
1&748
4627
4123
TIOGA COUNTY.

721

ci o

' CD O

rx
TOWNS. 1
cc c
p

3) 8.*
ed
IB
! 12

1
Fulling mills. |
Card, machine |
Tanneries. No. of
Schoi districts.

tn: VG *gp e
|&

If it a
rt m o

*>•
I

Bethel, '

1 1 8

188

284

365

Cochecton,

1 7

1 7

68

69

143

Fallsburgh,

) 99

112 9

157

366

385

Liberty,

1 16

112 9

' 245

143

419

Lumberland,

1 56

7

143

' 178

177

Mamakating,

5 • 9

7 13

479

592

506

Neyersink,

I 18

1 12

197

327

476

Rockland,

2 12

2 5

47

91

141

Thompson,

3 56

116 18

386

529

746

2

7 208

4 4 21 88

1 1910 .

2579

3358

U

, as

t- g ^f

Value of product, <
I OS
•III
t
£ No. of children above 5 and under 16 years of
 age, 3,358.
Value of material, !
4450 4550 210034
Note. In Mamakating, 3. distilleries.
Thompsonville, at the forks of the Shelldrake creek, 4 miles N. W. from Monti
cello, contains 1 grist and 2 saw mills, 2 tanneries, 1 store, 1 carding and cloth
dressing, mill, and about 20 dwellings. Bridgeville is an agricultural vicinage, ex
tending a mile along the turnpike road, upon both sides of the Nevisink river, 5
miles E. of Monticello, where are 1 tavern, 1 store, 12 or 15 dwellings, and a fine
covered bridge over the river of 160 feet span, Forrestburg, upon the Three Brooks,
10 miles S. from Monticello, contains 1 grist and 4 saw mills, a store, tavern, and
12 dwellings.
TIOGA* COUNTY, taken from Montgomery, 16th February, 1794, since
much modified, is now bounded N. by Steuben, Tompkins, and Cortland coun
ties; E. by Broome county; S. by the state of Pennsylvania; and W. bySteuben
county; greatest length, E. and W., 41, greatest breadth, N. and S., 28, miles;
area 976 square miles; situate between 42° and 42° 25' N. Lat.; and 0° 48' E.,
and 0° 03' W. Long.; centrally distant N. W. from New York 200, and from
Albany S. W. 101, miles.
This county is part ofthe broad and long belt extending westerly from Ulster
and Green counties to the vicinity of Lake Erie, preserving, for a great part of the
distance, a mean height of about 1600 feet above the level of the ocean, and here
the southern border of the great Seneca vale. It has been ascertained, that in the
town of Richfield, in the N. E. angle, the surface rises to 1380 feet, and in the
town of Catharine, in the N. W., to 1257 feet; the latter being depressed towards
the Seneca lake, whose level at Catharine's Landing is but 456 feet above tide.
From this point, however, the country rises to the general elevation towards the
source of Catherine's creek near the Horseheads.
This once level surface is cut into ridges by the streams, in almost eyery
direction: The great, or eastern branch of the Susquehanna, in its course through
the S. E. part of the county, forms high mountains upon its south and north
banks, whilst the Chemung, or western branch, performs the same office on
the S. W., and their main tributaries from the county, Newton, Cayuta, Catto-
tong, and Owego creeks, divide the intervening and northern space into hills,
having a northern and southern direction, but which are frequently broken through
, and traversed by their branches. As these streams sink in their course with con
siderable rapidity, the steeps which bound them assume the appearance of greater
altitude, although the general level of their summits is preserved.
* Meaning a erotch, or point in the river — a junction of waters; the Seneca name for the
Chemung river. Chemung is the Delaware name.
91
722

TOPOGRAPHY.

In some instances the streams flow in very narrow ravines, with high and pre-
eciipitous banks, as Catharine's creek; but, in most cases, they have broad valleys,
wiih arable sides, nr with extensive flats. Newton creek is an instance of the for
mer, while Tioth branches ofthe Susquehanna afford examples ofthe latter. The
gieneral effect of these workings of Ihe waters is to form a hilly and broken
country. The basis rock seems to be secondary gray wacke *1 ate, commonly shaly in thin
and friable layers; oftentimes compact and forming fine building stone, and sohip-
times running into a fine close sandstone. This formation is apparently veTy thick,
since it appears upon tho streams at their highest elevations and lowest depres-

TIOGA COUNTY. 723
sions. Patches of marl are interspersed over the surface, and boulders of limestone
and granite are not unfrequent. Beds of limestone, aresaid toliein the towns of
Catharines, Catlin and Veteran, and gypsum, in the two former.
We have described the Susquehanna and its great constituents at page 37, and
shall speak here only of the tributaries which this county yields to the great river.
ThfrOwego Creek, rises by two branches E. and W. in the town of Virgil, Cort
land county, which flow parallel, nearly, for 18 miles, uniting in the town of Owe
go, and run thence, six miles to the Susquehanna, at Owego village; the upper
valleys of the branches are deep, narrow and rocky; but that of the main stream
gradually expands, until it is lost in the broad vale of the river. It receives seve
ral accessary streams of which the chief,
Cattotong Creek, heads in a small marsh, on the summit level of the Ithaca and
Owego rail road; whence also flows Beaver Meadow brook, a branch of Six Mile
creek, a tributary of Cayuga lake. The Cattotong has a southeast course of 20
miles, uniting with the Owego, a short distance above its mouth. Its valley va
ries from 2000 to 5000 yards in width; and the stream in seasons of freshet is
navigable for arks. Through the valley of this and Six Mile creeks, the Owego
and Ithaca rail road has been constructed, having a length of 28.7 miles.
The Cayula Creek, flows from Cayuta lake, near the N. line of the county, and
by a southern course of 35 miles, joins the Susquehanna below the south bounda
ry of the state. It is a rapid stream, affording abundant mill power.
Newton Creek, a'valuable mill stream, uniting with the Chemung river at El
mira, has a westerly and southerly course of about 20 miles.
Catharine Creek, the inlet to the Seneca lake, has a northerly course of 16 miles.
By its valley and that of Newton creek, the Chemung canal, from Elmira to the
head of Cayuga lake, has been constructed. (See page 83.)
The improvement of the navigation of the Susquehanna river and the extension
of the N. E. branch of the Pennsylvania canal and the construction of the Wil-
liamsport and Elmira rail road will shortly connect, in commercial facility the an
thracite and bituminous coal fields, and the iron mines of Pennsylvania, with the
gypsum and lime quarries, the salines and productive wheat fields of N. York.
The soil of the county consists generally of sandy and gravelly loam, inter
spersed with patches of marl and clay. The uplands are commonly better adapt
ed to grass than grain; but the valleys give fine crops of wheat and corn; oats,
barley, peas, beans, and hops, thrive almost every where. The pine plains, prin
cipally, in the towns of Big Flats and Elmira, formerly considered as almost
worthless, are now deemed highly valuable; producing, by treatment with plaster
and due succession of crops, abundant returns in wheat, Indian corn and clover.
The timber on these lands, when cut, is carefully preserved, corded up, serving
occasionally for temporary fences, and much of it is destined for sale upon the
lake, instead of being wastefully burned on the soil.
The county was originally, and a great portion still is, heavily timbered, with
white pine, hemlock, spruce, oak, maple, beach, elm, ash, linden, &c; and im
mense quantities of lumber are annually sent to market. The maple is very abun
dant and large quantities of sugar are yet made from it.
TheUowns of Catlin, Catharines, Veteran, the northern parts of Elmira, Erin,
'Spencer, and Candor, form Watkins' and Flint's purchase from the state, on the
25th June, 1794. The towns of Richford, Berkshire and Newark, were part of
the tract of 230,400 acres, known as the " Massachusetts ten townships," ceded
to that state by New York, and by it (inter alia) to Mr. Brown, and his associates.
Big Flats, Elmira, Chemung, Barton, Tioga, Owego, Southport, and Nichols
were granted by the state to military claimants and others; and much of it was
sold at 18 cents the acre.
The towns of Elmira,, Southport and Big Flats, were settled between 1786 and
1792, by emigrants from Pennsylvania, and from Orange county of this state, who
became acquainted with the country whilst engaged in Sullivan's expedition in
1779; Catlin, Catharine, Veteran, under grants from Samuel W. Johnson, of
Stratford, by settlers from ^Connecticut; the east part of Erin, and the west of
Spencer, by Dutch from Sussex county, New Jersey; the west partof Erin by
Scotch from Delhi, Delaware county; the south of Spencer by emigrants from
Westchester county, New York; the northeast by hop growers from New Hamp
shire; Chemung, by emigrants from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania; Barton,

724 TOPOGBAPHY.
Tioga, and the south part of Owego, by others from Wilkesbarre; the notth part
of Owego, Newark, Berkshire, and Richford, by persons from Berkshire, in Mas
sachusetts, and Stratford, Connecticut; and Nichols by pioneers from New Jersey
and from Westchester, New York.
The county is divided into 18 towns.
Such was the general description prepared of Tioga county, prior to the act
29th March, 1836, which erected the county of Chemung; dividing the old county
by a line beginning on the east bank of the Chemung river, on the state line;
thence up the river by its banks, at Jow water to a sulphur spring near the centre
of the Lower Narrows; thence in a direct line N. E. to the S. TE. corner of lot
No. 153; thence N. along the E. line of lots 153, 201, 202, 203, to the south line
of the town of Erin; thence by such line to the Cayuta creek; thence up the cen
tre of said creek to the south line of the town of Cayuta; thence E. by that
line to the E. line of Cayuta; thence N. by such line to the county of Tomp
kins. All that part lying west of this line now forms the county of Chemung. —
As this act passed when this article was about to go to press, we have be* com
pelled to print it as it was originally prepared, with this explanation.
Barton, taken from Tioga, 23d March, 1824; distant S. W. from Albany 181,
from Elmira, E. 16, miles, and from Owego, W. the same distance; surface hilly;
the uplands generally sterile, but the valleys, which are narrow, have fertile allu
vion. There are two post offices; Barton and North Barton, the former near tho
centre, and the latter in the N. W. angle.
Berkshire, also taken from Tioga, 12th February, 1808; distant from Albany
148, from Elmira, N. E. 40, and from Owego, N. 14, miles; surface hilly but
much of it arable; soil productive, gravelly loam; drained by the E. and W.
branches of the Owego creek, along which are rich alluvial flats. The post vil
lage of Berkshire, centrally situate, contains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist,
churches; 2 taverns, several stores, and about 20 dwellings. The buildings of
this town are remarkably neat; and its cheese and butter are in high repute.
Big Flats, taken from Elmira, April 16th, 1822; from Albany, S. W. 207,
from Elmira, N. W. 10, from Owego, E. 45, miles; surface hilly; soil on the up
lands generally loam, covered with pitch and white pine, and some oak; the val
leys have fertile alluvion. There are here extensive flat3 along the Chemung
river, which enters, the town from the W. and flows southeast through it. The
navigable feeder of the Chemung canal crosses the town easterly and centrally.
Big Flats, post village, centrally situate, contains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Episcopal,
churches; 1 tavern, 3 stores, and 15 dwellings.
Candor, taken from Spencer, 22d February, 1811; centrally distant from Alba
ny southwest 177, from Elmira, N. E. 34, and from Owego, N. W. 10, miles; ,
surface hilly; soil generally loam of good quality; drained by the west branch of
the Owego, and the Cattotong creeks; settled in 1796, by emigrants from Hart
ford, Connecticut. Candor, village, centrally situate, has 1 Methodist, 1 Presby
terian, churches; 4 grist, 3 saw, mills, 2 taverns, 4 stores, and about 60 dwellings.
The northern part of this town.once belonged to the Connecticut school fund.
Catharines, taken from Newtown, 9th March, 1798; from Albany 184, from
Elmira, N. W. 15, and from Owego 40, miles; surface hilly; soil gravelly and
clay loam, of good quality, upon slate, lime, and as is said, gypsum; drained
N. by Catharine creek, and S. E. by Cayuta creek. Johnson's settlement, for
merly Catharine post office, Havanna, and Jefferson or Salubria, are post villages.
Johnson's Settlement, contains 1 Episcopal and 1 Methodist, churches; 2 taverns,
2 stores, and about a dozen dwellings, with some mills, situate in a pleasant and
fertile valley, on a branch of Catharine's creek. Havanna, 18 miles N. from El
mira, has 1 Methodist and 1 Presbyterian, churches; 2 grist, 1 saw, and 1 plaster,
mills, upon a small stream rushing over a high hill, from the west, with three cas
cades, making together a fall of more than 100 feet; 3 taverns, 10 or 12 stores, 4
law offices, a printing office issuing a weekly paper, and about 100 dwellings;,
founded in 1829, by Mr. David Ayres. A very handsome and thriving village in
a picturesque country. Jefferson, 3 miles N. from Havanna, at the head of Sene
ca lake, founded by Dr. Watkins in 1828, contains an Episcopal church, three
taverns, one of which is a large and splendid hotel, erected at an expense of
$20,000; 4 stores, and about 50 dwellings. At the head of the lake is a marsh
of several thousand acres; efforts to drain which are in progress.

TIOGA COUNTY. 725
Catlin, taken from Catharine, 16th April, 1823; from Albany 190, from Elmi
ra, N. W. 12, and from Owego 40 miles; surface hilly; soil gravelly loam on slate,
sand, and limestone; on the south is a large hemlock swamp, bordered with ara
ble ridges, covered with oak and white pine; drained N. by Catharine's creek, and
south by small tributaries of the Chemung. The town has 3 post offices, Martin's
Hill, Townsend and Catlin. The greater proportion is unsettled, but is fast
peopling. Cayuta, taken from Spencer, 30th March, 1824, from Albany, S. W. 188, from
Elmira, N. E. 20, and from Owego 25, miles; surface hilly and broken, the hills
covered with pine and hemlock, with narrow valleys, in which are some fine farms
and the greater portion of the population. There are two post offices, Cayuta and1
West Cayuta. Much sugar is made. from the maple. in this town.
Chemung, organised 16th February, 1791; from Albany, S. W. 198, from El
mira. E. 12, and from Owego, W. 24, miles; surface hilly and broken, with fine
alluvial flats along the Chemung river, which flows S. E. nearly across it; soil on
the hills gravelly loam, covered with yellow pine, some hemlock, oak and beech.
Chemung upper and lower narrows, are formed by high rocky cliffs projecting in
to the river, along which the road is conducted with great labour. In the south
part ofthe town, is a mound called Spanish Hill, elevated HOfeetabove the plain
and near the river bank, described as a work of art; but this suggestion is ren
dered incredible from the fact that, the area of its summit comprises 4 acres. Upon
this summit, however, are vestiges of fortifications, displaying much Bkill in the
art of defence; having regular intrench ments, which perfectly commanded the
bend of the river. Baldwin's creek and Wyncoop's creek, tributaries ofthe Che
mung, and Cayuta creek, running to the Susquehanna, afford abundance of water
and ample mill power. Factoryville, 17 miles southeast, from Elmira, on Cayuta
creek, the eastern boundary, and extending for one and a half miles along the
creek, has a post office, 5 grist, 2 saw, mills, 2 taverns, 1 store, and about 25
dwellings. Chemung postoffice is on the river between the upper and lower nar
rows. Dix, taken from Catlin, by act 17th April, 1835; is sufficiently described
above. Elmira, taken from Chemung, by the name of Newton, 10th April, 1792;
centrally distant S. W. from Albany 194, from Owego, W. 36, miles; surface hil
ly, but much of it arable and productive; the flats on the Chemung river, are wide
and rich; drained centrally and southerly by Newton, and on the southwest by
Baldwin's creeks. Elmira and Horse Heads, are post villages. Elmira, formerly
the halfshire town of Tioga, and now the seat of justice of Chemung county, at
the confluence of Newton creek with the Chemung river, founded in 1790, by
Guy Maxwell, and Samuel Hepburn, who purchased the site from the patenteer
Moses De Witt; incorporated by the name of Newton, 3d March, 1815; reincor
porated and name changed to Elmira, 21st April, 1828, contains a court house
and prison, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Baptist, and 1 Episcopal, churches; 4
select schools, a mechanic's institute, founded by its members with the view to
selfinstwction in science, having already collected considerable funds and a re
spectable library; 5 taverns, including 1 large brick hotel, 2 grist, 1 saw, mills,
sash factory, 1 carding and cloth dressing, 1 plaster, and 1 clover, mills; 19 gene
ral stores, 1 drug, 1 book, stores; the Chemung canal bank, incorporated 9th April,
1833, with a capital of $200,000; 2 printing offices, each issuing a weekly paper; 2
tanneries, a furnace for castings, worked by steam, 2 large plough factories, 9 law
offices and 7 physicians, and about 400 dwellings. There is a toll bridge over
the Chemung river here, erected by the towns on its banks, which makes an ave
rage annual dividend of 25 per cent. Its length, from shore to shore, is 600 feet,
and 100 feet over the low grounds on the south.
The position of this village is very favourable for trade. By the Chemung and
Susquehanna rivers, it communicates with the interior of Pennsylvania, and sends
produce through the Chesapeake bay to New York city, three weeks in the spring,
before the Erie canal is open; by the Chemung canal, and the Seneea lake and
canal it has access to the Erie canal; by which route, goods are received from N.
York in 10 days, without transhipment except at Albany: By the Wtlliamsport
and Elmira rail road, it will receive bituminous coal and.irpn from Penn. and must
become the great depot for these essential articles, and by'the Erie rail road passing

726 TOPOGRAPHY.
through the village, it will obtain a direct and facile communication with lake Erie
and the Hudson. The route by the Williamsport railroad, and the valley of the Sus
quehanna to the country S. of the Delaware, is 90 miles nearer to the central part of
N.Y. than by the valleys ofthe Mohawk and Hudson; it must therefore be very much
travelled. Under these favourable circumstances, and the intelligent enterprise
of the inhabitants, the village thrives rapidly. The country arqund the village,
and in the valley of Newton creek, is pleasant and fertile; and the yellow pine
plains are being fast converted into productive Vrheat fields. The site of the vil
lage is 594 feet above tide level. Horseheads, said to be so called, from many
skulls of horses found neat it, slaughtered by Sullivan's army, to supply food for
the troops; 5 miles N. of Elmira, at the junctinn ofthe feeder with the Chemung
canal, has the canal collector's office, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist, churches,
2 taverns, 6 stores, and about 70 dwellings. An extensive business is done here
in lumber. Baldwin is the name of a post office.
Erin, taken from Chemung, March, 1822; distant S. W. from Albany 186;
from Elmira, N. E. 12; from Owego, N. W. 24 miles; surface hilly and much
broken; soil gravelly loam, of indifferent quality, abundantly watered; for beside
the Cayuta on the E. it has Baldwin and Wyncoop's creeks, running S. and
Newton creek, flowing W. The post office has the name of the town. There is
much maple timber on the streams, and hemlock on the hills.
Newark, taken from Berkshire, by the name of Westville, 12th April. 1823;
name changed March 24th, 1824; distant S. W. from Albany 161; from Elmira,
N. E. 35; and from Owego, N. 8 miles; surface hilly, with fertile valleys, and soil
of gravelly loam; drained on the W. boundary by West Owego; and centrally by
East Owego creek. In the valley of the latter, lies Newark, village, containing
the post office, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist, chuiches, and a society of Epis
copalians. This town is much improved, and highly cultivated, and remarkable
for the neatness ofthe buildings.
Nichols, taken from Tioga, 23d March, 1824; S. W. from Albany 167; from
Elmira, E. 25; from Owego, S. W. TO miles; surface hilly; soil gravelly loam; on
the river are extensive and fertile flats, thickly peopled, and well cultivated; and
this is deemed one of the most productive and wealthy towns of the country.
Rushville, on the Wappasinning creek, has a post office, called by the name ofthe
town, 1 Methodist and 1 Baptist, churches, 2 taverns, 3 stores, and about 50 dwell
ings. There is a post office and settlement, called Canfield's corners.
Owego, organised 16th February, 1791; centrally distant N. W. from New
York city 177; from Albany, S. W. 167; from Elmira, E. 36 miles; surface on the
N. and S. hilly; the Susquehanna flows through a deep and broad valley in the
centre, having extensive fertile flats, receiving from the town, on either hand, se
veral tributaries, of which Owego creek is the chief.
Owego, late half shiretown, incorporated April 4th, 1827; beautifully situated on
the Susquehanna river, near the W. boundary, 30 miles S. E. from Ithaca, at the
head of Cayuga lake; 141 from Newhurg. Its buildings correspond with the na
tural advantages of the location; many of them are sumptuous and very costly. It
contains a court house and county clerk's office, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist,
churches, large Baptist and Episcopal congregations, without houses for public
worship; the Owego Bank, incorporated in 1836, capital $200,000; a large grist
mill and saw mill, on the Owego creek, 3 hotels, one of them; a large and fine
structure, an incorporated academy, having, in 1835, eighty-nine students; 15 ge
neral stores, 1 book store, a printing office, issuing a weekly paper, a land office,
a fine bridge over the river, costing $10,000, and about 200 dwellings.
This village, like Elmira, is very advantageously placed for business; having
the benefit of the Susquehanna river, of which the inhabitants have laudably
striven to make the best use, having established upon it a steam boat, which,
when the current is full, may ply between it and Wilkesbarre in Luzerne county,
Penn.; a company for this object was incorporated 11th May, 1835; capital $50,000;
having also a railroad to Ithaca, by which, and the Cayuga lake and eanal, com
munication is had with the Erie canal; and lying on the designated line of the
Erie rail road. There is also a turnpike road from the village to Ithaca, and one
to Montrose, in Pennsylvania. The continuation of the Pennsylvania canal from
Wilkesbarre, now in progress, to the state line, will soon give to this village ad
ditional facilities for business. Property here has been very much advanced in

TIOGA COUNTY.

727

value by the late measuffes for improving the communication with all points ofthe
compass, and commands comparatively very high prices. In 1836, a railroad was
Authorised to be made from the village to Cortland. East Owego and Fleming-
ville, are post offices, around which are dense settlements.
Richford, taken from Berkshire, in 1833; N. E. from Elmira 50; and from
Owego, N. 18 miles; surface hilly, with good flats on the streams; hills covered
with white pine; drained southerly and centrally by Owego creek. Richford, post
village, centrally situate, has an Episcopal church, and some very neat buildings.
Southport, taken from Elmira, April 16th, 1822; S. W. from Albany 203,
from Elmira S. 5, from Owego W. 34, miles; surface hilly upon the north and
south, with broad and rich alluvial flats upon the Chemung river, which forms in
?art the northern boundary, and receives from the town some tributaries. The
ost office, with the name of the town, is on Seely's creek, where is a dense set
tlement, forming an almost continued street. Wellsburg, on the Chemung river, 6
miles S.E. from Elmira, has a Baptist church, store, tavern, postoffice, and about
25 dwellings. There is a postoffice called Seely's Creek.
Spencer, taken from Owego, 28th February, 1806; from Albany S. W. 181,
from Elmira N. E. 20, and from Owego N. W. 18, miles; surface hilly; soil gra
velly loam of various qualities; drained by the Cattotong creek and its branches.
Spencer, post village, on the creek, contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1
Baptist, churches; 2 grist mills, 2 saw mills, clothing works,' 2 taverns, 5 stores,
and 70 dwellings, lt was once the seat of justice of the county, which was re
moved from it to the half shire towns Elmira and Owego, 22d March, 1822, the
court house having been burned in the preceding winter. The northeastern part
of the town is settled by emigrants from New Hampshire, who are employed
chiefly in the cultivation of hops, by which they have grown wealthy. Three
miles N. E. ofthe village is a pond, with an area of 300 acres, stocked with pick
erel, perch, and other fish. The bottom is covered with a white marl, or carbo
nate of lime, which, moulded into the form of bricks, is burned in the brick kilns
into quick lime of excellent quality. Large quantities are extracted from this de
posit. Tioga, taken from Union, 14th March, 1800; distant from Albany 176, from
Elmira E. 23, from Owego W. 8, miles; surface hilly, soil gravelly loam, high
ly productive in the valleys; hills covered with white pine and white oak; drained
by Pipe creek flowing centrally and southerly through it to the Susquehanna river,

Females.
Uirths.
Deaths
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Barton,
585
972
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131
305
208
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Berkshire,
1502
1404
1711
964
69
191
112
121
1118
4
15
14
1,
6
Bigflats,
826
1149
1238
89
232
7
168
85
280
9
21
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Candor,
1055
2021
21156
2710
292
58lj
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357
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254
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1105
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497
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610
15
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Cayuta,
528
641
765
64
148
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84 35
174
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Chemung,
1321
115U
1461
2 -'31
222
457
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309 141
533
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60
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Elmira,
91)45
1015
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3879
485
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789
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80
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Erin,
643
975
1099
102
214
.'
140', 58
245
11
31
25
8
12
Newark,
801
1027
1385
100
318
2
177
104
307
9
35
21
5
8
Nichols,.
051
1284
1641
152
309
21)
207
13li
378
11
311
26
12
8
Owego,
1741
2260
3076
4089
500
795
23
518
3D
9114
21
50
61
It
11
Richford,
882
103
201.
3
120
71'
191
10
211
' 14
5
4
Southport,
1114
1454
1711
193
343
4
228
124
37!)
19
42
37
1«
10
Spencer,
1252
•J75
1278
1407
157
¦ 301
1
184
105
2:'5
15
35
18
18
16
Tioga,
1811
991
1411
1987
205
431
13
308
Hi)
507
13
4H
42
14
13
Veteran,
125F
1616
1925
221)
|3582
424
'110
143
2115
121
487
7699
25
241
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711
3"c
625
13
225
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191-51
276C0
3399!
4504
252£
193
Not«.— Males, 17,591; Females, 16,408; Blacks, 197; Black voters, 1: Paupora, 38; Deaf and Dumb,
8; Bliad, ». Idiots, -<>; Lunatics, 11.'
728

TOPOGRAPHY.

TOWNS.

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Barton,

'32936

5004

102542

7549

1124

238

1467

954

1399

1452! 3157

281 99

261 49

Berkshire,

18560

5075

95524

8305

21,48

989

2768

847

2187

20711 2927

262 69

175 93.

Bigflats,

26448

7338

111010

6163

1080

337

2967

1153

1618

22841 3339

351 23

328 45

Candor,

58986

16274

211488

12582

2924

718

4903

1901

5235

10232! 6851

581 59

643 39

Catharines,'

29046

8618

110791

25015

1752

573

3819

1543

2881

4052, 2506

305 43

319 92

Catlin,

43122

10285

153535

3949

4096

430

3375

1781

2733

3391 3847

422 22

557 65

Cayuta,

22683

2452

71171

3309

621

145

976

329

976

14421 1501

195 72

307 82

Chemung,

47830

9108

183699

8465

2134

459

2213

1743

2057

2225 4423

505 17

217 28

Elmira,

41151

13625

305590 248405

2614

860

3320

3005

2601

3718! 1938

840 39

699 54

Erin,

40215

5091

91863 | 1124

1253

176

1797

845

1409

21231 4235

252 62

323 23

Newark,

29872

5898

125736| 10154

1328

1343

2213

105S

17H5

1914' 2323

345 77

169 54

Nichols,

20642

6391

1280731 9265

1251

336

1805

978

•1804

3242' 4935

352 20

331 59

Owego,

6318'J

13182

396386: 42512

2405

815

3257

2207

2457

3640 6600

1090 04

1302 29

Richford,

255O0

3417

73748 4700

921

1811

1746

60S

1673

1444| 3206

201 41

153 97

Southport,

36392

7872

171814 33892

1684

SIS

2547

1011

1223

2010 1861

472 48

293 80

Spencer,

30102

4770

173199 10841

1547

325

2045

762

1781

2650 3175

311 30

361 79

Tioga,

36068

7966

135719! 8177

1697

43S

2315

144£

2636

2870

4797

373 22

349 29

Veteran,

22365

7353

96499, 10291

1897

430

2653

1291

2359

3358

3629

265 311

459 97

625111

139719

2678381 454696

32476

8309

46186

23457

38864

54618

65250

7410 83

7256 94

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Barton,Berkshire,Bigflats,
Candor,
Catharines, Catlin,
Cayuta, Chemung, Elmira,Erin,Newark,Nichola,
Owego,Richford,Southport,Spencer,
Tioga, Veteran,

12 6
8
20 10
21 6
22 151110 .9
25 10 7
1012 12

7992
128
414322
218 94
230 321 155106 142
453 77
227 196239 168

274
409 141
454572 407
101
472346 142
209 279 604 171
406 295 313412

378
420456
J046 599748 197
606781
286491 407
1028 211 506 424 607572

226

3661 .

6007

9763

Value of product,
Value of material,

Number of children above 5, and under
16 years of age, 9,727.

by a course of about 10 miles from Spencer, and on the N. E. by Cattotong creek.
Bansomville and Smithsborough are post villages. Ransomville, 28 miles from

[ IDSUJCCIJCIIIf * .c-ruflio., auu .. ji.v.,ivu,.„, u..u.w..  , ~
dwellings, and a bridge across the Susquehanna river.
Vetiban, taken from Catharines, 16th April, 1823; from Albany 190, from El
mira ,N. 12, from Owego N. VV. 85, miles; surface hilly; soil gravelly loam, con
sisting of lime and slate; drained by Catharine creek running to Seneca lake, and
south by Marsh and Newton creeks; the former rising in a marsh of some 1500
acres, Millville, post village, lies upon the former stream, near the middle ofthe

TOMPKINS COUNTY.

729

E. boundary, in a narrow, deep valley, 6 miles in length, through which the
stream has a fall of more than 300 feet, and on which, at every hundred rods, there
is a saw mill, and at the foot of the valley 2 grist mills, 2 tanneries, and several
cloth dressing mills. Near the centre of the valley are 2 taverns, 3 stores, and some
20 dwellings. The hills upon each side of the stream are covered with white pine
timber. The soil, when cleared, and properly tilled, becomes excellent for wheat.
Report says, that gypsum has been discovered in the N. W. angle of the town.
Iron ore is found on Catharine's creek, and an oxide of iron, which is used for
paint. There are two other post offices, called, respectively, Pine Valley and Ve
teran.

TOMPKINS COUNTY, was taken from Cayuga and Seneca counties, 7th
April, 1817; since changed in limits; now bounded N. by Seneca and Cayuga; E.
byCourtland and Broome; S. by Tioga; and W. by Steuben and Yates, counties;
from the last, it is in part separated by Seneca lake: Greatest length, E. and W.
34; greatest breadth, N. and S. 28, miles; area 580 square miles; situate between
49° 16' and 42° 38' N. Lat. and 0° 01' and 0° 41' E. Long.; centrally distant N.
W. from New York city, 212, and from Albany, W. 163, miles.
This county forms part of the high land which fills the southwestern por
tions of the state. Its summit generally is elevated from 1200 to 1400 feet, but
the singular and deep basins in which lie the Cayuga and Seneca lakes, have giv
en a pelBuliar formation to its surface, and to the course and character of its streams.
The Cayuga lake, indents it on the north about 18 miles, and lies 371 feet above
tide; the Seneca lake, extending southerly along the western border 12 miles, 431
feet; between the summit on the east, south and west, and the level of the first
lake, the difference is from 800 to 900 feet; and between the first and the.second,
about800feet. Near the borders ofthe lakes, this difference is diminished to about
500 feet. The greater portion of the county, therefore, declines from all sides,
towards the Cayuga lake. The exceptions are, a strip upon the south, varying
from 3 to 5 miles in width, which_gends its waters to the Susquehanna, and a still
narrower strip, on the west, which feeds the Seneca lake. The ascent from the
92

730

TOPOGRAPHY.

shores of the Cayuga lake, is gradual and smooth to the eye; yet it is rapid, and
attains, within two miles, the height of at least 500 feet. This, necessarily, gives
to the streams a precipitous character.
The whole county is underlaid with secondary slate, upon which rest third
graywacke, and frequently ridges and patches of lime variously composed, and
marl, and gypsum; giving to the soil almost every where a fertile character. The
northern portion of the county is suitable for wheat, and the south more favoura
ble to grass. The average value of improved lands is about $35 per acre. Or
ganic remains are common in the rocks, and abundant and curious, in and near the
vale of Ithaca.
With the exception of Salmon, Fall, Six Mile, Five Mile, and Halsey's, creeks,
the streams are inconsiderable in length and volume; but are almost all valuable
for mills, by their great fall. They are sufficiently described in our notices ofthe
towns through which they respectively flow.
The timber, generally stout and dense, consists of oak, white and yellow pine,
hemlock, beach, maple, bass wood, elm, ash, poplar, cherry, and chestnut. The
exports are lumber, wheat, barley, oats, 'peas, beans, cattle, sheep, pork, flour, but
ter, hops, wool, ashes, cotton and woollen goods, manufactured, &c. &c, amount
ing to little short of one and a half millions of dollars, annually; whilst the' im
ports exceed one million; paying, upon the Cayuga and Erie canals, toll estimated
at|$150,000 the year..
Previously to the opening of the Erie canal, agriculture here was in a languish
ing condition; and though the lands are well adapted to wheat, little was raised,
on account of the lowness of price and the difficulty of exchanging it for cash. —
Since that period, however, the lands have been rapidly cleared, and the agricul
ture, manufactures and commerce of the country, have increased in a manner not
less gratifying than astonishing. In 1828, there were within 12 miles of Ithaca, 160
mills; in 1832, they had increased to 299. In the former year, the exports were
10,078 tons; in the latter, 37,372 tons, and they must now exceed 60,000 tons an
nually. The towns of Newfield, Danby, and Caroline, were purchased from the state by
Messrs. Watkins and Flint, who have sold out the greater portion of their interest
here. The towns north of these, except a small portion in the N. E. corner of
Dryden, belong to the military tract. That portion was part of the cession to
Massachusetts. The county is settled by emigrants from various parts of the Union, but chiefly
from the New England states. It is divided into ten towns.
Caroline, taken from Spencer, Feb. 22d, 1811; W. from Albany 1G5 miles;
surface hilly; soil gravelly and calcareous loam, on graywacke slate, oTgood
quality; drained E. by the west branch of Owego creek, and N. W. by Six Mile
creek,, the former, tributary to the Susquehanna and the latter, tp Lake Ontario.-,-
Caroline, Speedsville, Mott's Corners, and Slaterville, are post villages. Caroline,
village, or rather agricultural, vicinage, much improved as a grazing country, lies
13 miles S. E. from Ithaca; and Speedsville, 15 miles, has a similar character,?
and is on the old Owego road. Molt's Corners, 5 miles S. E. from Ithaca, has
1 grist, and 1 saw, mills, store, tavern, and 15 dwellings. Slaterville, 8 miles from
Ithaca, has a Dutch Reformed and a Methodist, churches, a tavern, 3 stores, and
about 50 dwellings. Sternesville, 15 miles from Ithaca, in the S. E. angle of
the town, has a Union church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, 1 saw, 1 cardingand cloth dress
ing mill, and 15 dwellings.
Danby, taken from Spencer, 22d February; 1811; since altered; W. from Al
bany 172; from Owego, N. W. 22 miles; surface hilly; soil gravelly loam, of me
dium quality, resting on slate and small portions of lime stone; drained S. hy the
Cattotong creek and its branches, and N. by Mud creek and Cayuga inlet, and on
the N. E. by Six Mile creek. The Ithaca and Owego railroad crosses the N. E.
corner, and the turnpike road between those villages runs centrally through the
town, upon which the post village, having the name of the town, is situated, 6 miles
from Ithaca, containing 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Swedenborgian, churches,
2 taverns, 2 stores, and about 30 dwellings. South Danby is the name of a second
post office.
Dryden, taken from Ulysses, 22d February, 1803; from Albany, W. 153 miles;
surface undulating, on the N ."rising on the south into high ridges; soil gravelly loam,

TOMPKINS COUNTY. 731
6f excellent quality, well cultivated, and bearing a variety of timber, in which the
pine is distinguished for its good quality; drained chiefly by the Fall creek, which,
entering from the N. E. boundary, flows diagonally across it, and receives from it
several small tributaries; Six Mile creek crosses the extreme S. W. angle. Dryden,
Verna, and Etna, and West Dryden are post villages. Dryden, village, 11
miles from Ithaca, on Virgil creek, a principal branch of Fall creek, has 1 Pres
byterian, 1 Methodist, churches, 1 grist, 3 saw, mills, clothing works, 2 tanneries,
2 taverns, 3 stores, and about 50 dwellings. This is a beautiful village, as to po
sition, and its dwellings are remarkably neat. Verna, 3 1-2 miles from Ithaca,
has 2 taverns, 1 store, 1 grist, 1 saw, mills, an extensive sash factory, and 20
dwellings. Etna, 7 miles from Ithaca, contains 1 Baptist church, 1 grist, 3 saw,
mills, clothing works, 1 store, 1 tavern, and 25 dwellings. West Dryden, 10 miles
from Ithaca, has a Methodist church, a store,*and 12 dwellings. Little lake is a
small sheet of water, near the middle of the east line, covering about 150 acres of
land. There is a third Methodist church in the town.
Enfield, taken from Ulysses, March 18th, 1821; from Albany, W. 171; and
from Ithaca, 6 miles; surface generally undulating; soil gravelly loam, and produc
tive in wheat; well settled and cultivated; drained by some small tributaries of
Cayuga inlet. The post office, bearing the name of the .town, is at the cross roads
near the centre, known as Applegate's Corners, where are 1 tavern, and some 20
dwellings. There are 1 Presbyterian and 1 Christian, churches, in the town; and
a second post office called Logan.
Groton, taken from Locke, and organised by the name of Division, 7th April,
1817; name altered 13th March, 1818; from Albany, W. 160; and from Ithaca, N.
E. 14 miles; surface undulating; soil gravelly loam, underlaid with slate and small
portions of lime, of good quality; well cultivated; drained on the W. northward,
by the inlet of Owasco lake, which rises near the south line of the town; on the
E. southward, by Fall creek, which traverses it. Groton, Groton Hollow, Peru-
ville, M*Leansville, Fall Creek, West Groton, are post villages. Groton, village,
on the Owaso inlet, centrally situate, has a Baptist church, 2 grist, 3 saw, mills,
clothing works, tannery, 1 tavern, 3 stores, and 35 dwellings. MlLeansville, 16
miles from Ithaca, contains 1 Methodist and 1 Baptist, churches, 1 grist, 3 saw,
mills, 1 clothing works, and 1 woollen factory, 2 tanneries, 1 extensive iron found-
ery, 2 taverns, 3 stores, and about 50 dwellings. Peruville, 12 miles from Ithaca,
has 1 Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, churches, 1 grist, 2 saw, mills, 1 trip hammer,
1 tannery, 1 tavern, 1 store, and about 20 dwellings. Fall Creek, in the N. E.
angle, 19 miles from Ithaca, has 1 Union church, 1 grist, 1 saw, mills, 1 store,
and about 15 dwellings. West Groton, 15 miles from Ithaca, has 1 Presbyterian
and 1 Christian, churches,' 1 store, 1 tavern, and 8 or 10 dwellings.
Hector, taken from Ovid, 30th March, 1802; W. from Albany 186; from Ithaca,
16 miles; surface high and undulating, forming part of the highlands between the
lakes, the eastern part broken by the streams flowing to the Cayuga lake; soil
better adapted to grass than grain, though fruitful in thedatter; drained E. by
Halsey's creek; and W. by tributaries to the Seneca lake. Burdette, Mecklen
burg, Reynoldsville, and Searsburg, are post villages; there are also two post
offices in the west, on the Lake road, called respectively Hector and North Hector.
Burdette, 20 miles from Ithaca, has 1 Presbyterian church, a grist mill, 2 taverns,
4 Btores, and 75 dwellings. Upon a stream near the village, emptying into the
Seneca lake, there are notable Tapids, with a caseade of about 20 ieet perpendi
cular, called Hector Falls. Reynoldsville, centrally situate, has 2 taverns, 2 stores,
15 dwellings. Mecklenburg, 12 miles from Ithaca, has 1 grist, 1 saw, mills, cloth
ing works, 1 tavern, 1 store, and 20 dwellings. Searsburg, a dense agricultural
vicinage, contains a store, and a few mechanics' shops. Perry, centrally situate
on the east border, has no post office; but contains 1 grist, arid 1 saw, mills, a
tavern, store, and about 15 dwellings. There are in the town 1 other Presbyterian,
2 Baptist, 2' Methodist, and 1 Quaker, churches.
Ithaca, taken from Ulysses, March 16th, 1821; the Cayuga lake extends S.
about 2 miles into the town; and around its head are some extensive alluvial flats,
comprehending about 3000 acres, from which the hills rise on three sides in the
form of an amphitheatre, by gentle and waving ascent, to the height of 500 feet,
exhibiting scenery of'the most beautiful and magnificent description. Back of the

732 TOPOGRAPHY.
hills the country is undulating, and the soil of excellent quality, highly improved.
Several considerable streams pour their waters over the hills to the Lake, as Fall,
Cascadilla, and Six Mile creeks; the last two blending their waters with Ithe
Cayuga inlet, or Five_Mile creek, between the village of Ithaca and the lake. The
picturesque character of this district is much heightened by the many and stupen
dous cataracts upon the streams. Those on Fall creek are especially entitled to
attention. This stream rises in Lock Pond, of Summer Hill, Cayuga county, and flows by
a S. and S. W. course of 30 miles, through Groton, Dryden and Ithaca, to the
lake, at its S. E. extremity. It falls at the N. end of the village, within 1 mile,
438 feet, over rocks of dark graywacke slate; and its whole descent from its source
exceeds 1000 feet; since the hills in which it rises are 1400 feet above tide, while
the lake into which it disembogues, is but 371. A fine view of the last cataract
is obtained from the bridge, upon the road from the village to the steam boat land
ing. The whole sheet of water is precipitated, perpendicularly 116 feet, and rushes
by steep rapids to the lake level. Above the ledge of the cataract, the banks of
the same species of rock, rise 110 feet, and enclose a placid pool, which is' the re
servoir for the supply of the hydraulic works erected below. This basin is now ap
proached by a tunnel, through the precipitous bank, 13 feet high, 12 broad, and
more than 200 feet long; made at a cost of $2,000. Formerly the stream was made
available for mill use by means of a wooden raceway, hung to the perpendicular
cliff, communicating with a short, deep transverse cut in the bank. To construct
this raceway, the ingenious projector suspended himself from a tree, inclining
over the giddy steep, and dug out holes in the rock in which to place the princi
pal supporters. This raceway is now abandoned, and from the tunnel, conduits
may be readily carried to any desirable point of the declivity, and the Water used,
five or six times over, under 20 feet head. The stream is steady, its volume
great, and few portions of the country offer greater inducements for the erection of
hydraulic works. Mill sites may be obtained here upon advantageous terms.
Three other falls are within a short distance above the pool, less stupendous than
that described, but still wildly beautiful.
On the Cascadilla, Six Mile, and Buttermilk creeks, which wind through the
village, are several fine cascades, richly meriting the attention of the curious. The
most remarkable, on the first, falls over a succession of rock ledges, in the form of a
gigantic stairway, ascending 100 feet. On Five Mile creek, is another fall still more
surprising. Thus around the village every valley has its stream, and every hill its
waterfall. If other attractions be necessary for the tourist, they are abundantly
proffered in the charming scenery of the lake and'adjacent country, the healthful
exercises of fishing and fowling, and the excellent accomodations which the vil
lage hotels afford. Upon a farm of Mr. Ecker, on Cascadilla creek, near the vil
lage of Ithaca, is a valuable bed of gypsum.
Ithaca village lies upon the flats, 14} miles above the head ofthe lake; 163 miles
W. from Albany, 40 S. E. from Geneva, and S. from the Erie canal, by the
Seneca canal, 46; N. N. W. from Owego 29, miles. The inlet is navigable to the
lake, for boats of 50 tons burden, but the steamboajs moor upon the lake. The
village was founded by the late surveyor general, Simeon De Witt, to whose
estate much of the adjacent lands pertain, incorporated 2d April, 1821. It con
tains above 24 streets, marked on the plat, crossing each other at right angles;
it has 5 very handsome churches, belonging, respectively, to Presbyterian, Epis
copal, Dutch Reformed, Baptist, and Methodist, congregations; an academy for
males and females, a lyceum; a court house, of wood, with a prison under the same
roof; the county clerk's office; 3 flouring, 1 paper, and 2 plaster, mills; 3 iron foun
dries, and 1 wooden ware manufactory, on Fall creek — 2 flouring, 1 plaster mills,
and 1 woollen factory, on Six Mile creek — and 1 flouring and 1 oil mills, 1 cotton,
a sash, and 1 turner's, factories, on the Cascadilla creek — 13 taverns, 28 general
stores, many groceries, several druggists' stores; 4 printing offices, three of them
issuing a weekly newspaper, each, 2 book stores; 1 bank, incorporated 22d April,
1829, capital $200,000; another bank incorporated in 1836, capital $250*000; 4
tanneries, 2 asheries, 2 carding and cloth dressing mills; 3 extensive coach fac
tories, with a full proportion of other mechanics; about 800 dwellings, most of
which are neat and commodious, and many of them sumptuous; and 3923 inhabi
tants.

/
TOMPKINS COUNTY.

733

ia@iBniBSGaBOi

HnJIwittl
I IKTanllSclJ4;ir Hs.
1 lljetlaerslb S,|| 

Scale 36 Chs.to arc Inctc

The site ofthe village is very beautiful; a portion of it lies upon the hill, com
manding a fine view of the lake and the valley of the inlet, with its inclined
planes studded with farm houses. The streets running east and west form vistas,
which open on the most charming scenery.
The Clinton hotel, built in 1828-9, merits special notice. It is of brick, above
the basement; its principal front, facing the east, is 120 feet. In the centre, the
grand entrance is to a spacious hall, containing a fine flight of stairs; the central
Sortion is 52 by 57 feet, with lateral wings of 28 by 34, five stories high, including
asement and attic. On the north is a range of apartments 66 by 27 feet, 44 feet
of which are four stories, and 22 three stories, liig'h. On the south, another range
31 by59 feet, three stories high, with yet another range of 42 by 12 feet, two sto
nes high; the last two of wood; the whole crowned with a.cupola. The height
from the foundation to the circular walk on the cupola is 90 feet, from whence is a
very extensive and beautiful prospect. It contains more than 150 rooms, includ
ing offices, bath-rooms, and halls; of the latter, one is 120 feet long. There is a
dining room 96 feet long; an assembly room, 31 by 59 feet; and several porticos.

734

TOPOGRAPHY.

The main portico is sustained by six- Ionic columns. The finish throughout is
excellent, and in the best modern style.
The location of this beautiful village for trade has become very happy. By the
lake and the Seneca canal, it communicates with the Erie canal, and, by the Ithaca
and Owego rail road with the Susquehanna river and the line of the Erie rail road.
It is thus enabled to participate in the rapidly growing commerce of the plaster,
lumber, salt, and lime, which are exchanged for thecoal and iron of Pennsylvania.
The Ithaca and Owego rail road, the second chartered in the state, (1828,) is
29 1 miles in length. It ascends from the level of the lake, by two inclined planes;
tbe" first, 1733J feet long, rises one foot in 4.28, or 405 feet; the other, 2,225 feet
long, ascends 1 fool in 21 feet. The whole elevation above the lake, overcome, is
602 feet within 8 miles; after which there is a descent of 376 feet to Owego. Sta
tionary steam power is used on the first, and horse power upon the second plane,
and the other portion of the road. The curves are upon a radius varying from
7000 to 100,000 feet. The road is constructed in a substantial manner; much of
the way trenches are made, lengthwise, about 1 foot deep, filled with gravel
rammed, upon which longitudinal sills, 2 by 12 inches, are placed, with cross-
ties 3 feet apart, having gains to receive the rail, upon which the iron plates, 2£ by
| are laid. The width of the track is 56| inches. The cost of this road, with sin
gle track, and large number of turnouts and sidelings, when complete, will not be
less than. $17,000 the mile.
A company was incorporated 16th April, 1834, to construct, a railway from the
village to the Cayuga lake, with a capital of $15,000; and power was given to it,
May 8, 1835, to make a canal from Fall creek to the lake. A company was also
authorised April, 1828, to make a rail road from Catskill to this village, with a
capital of one and a half millions; but they have not commenced operations within
the term specified by law. In 1832, a rail road was authorised to be made hence
to Geneva; and in 1836, a like road hence to Auburn.
The building of canal boats is an extensive branch of business at Ithaca, and at
other points on Cayuga lake.
A steamboat plies daily between Ithaca and East Cayuga, and a new one, of
great speed and excellent accommodations, is about to be built for the further ad
vantage of the travelling public.
Geologists deem it probable that salt may be obtained by boring a short dis
tance through the soil here.
Lansing, taken from Genoa, of Cayuga county, and organised 7th April, 1817;
from Albany W. 170 miles; surface hilly; soil gravelly loam, of excellent quality,
carefully cultivated by the owners, who are chiefly of German origin, and from
Pennsylvania and New Jersey; drained, by Salmon creek, flowing south and cen
trally to the lake, near Ludlowville, about midway of the town, upon which there
are some noted falls, and by some inconsiderable 'tributaries of the lake. Lan-
singville, North Lansing, South Lansing, and Ludlowville, are post villages.
Lansingville, 12 miles from Ithaca, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist churches;
1 tavern, 1 store, and about 25 dwellings. North Lansing, 10 miles from Ithaca,
has 2 taverns, 1 store, and 15 dwellings. Ludlowville, 10 miles from Ithaca, has
1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist churches; 2 grist, 2 saw, 2 carding and cloth
dressing, 1 oil, mills; 2 tanneries, 5 stores, 1 tavern, and about 50 dwellings.
South Lansing, 8 miles from Ithaca, has 1 store, 1 tavern, and about 15 dwellings.
There are in the town, also, one other Presbyterian and one Baptist churches.
Newfield, taken from Spencer, and organised as part of Tfoga county, by the
name of Cayuta, 22d Feb. 1811; name changed 29th March, 1822; W. from Al
bany 175 miles; surface very hilly, and in the centre much broken, having on the
S. W. and N. E. high plains, intersected diagonally by deep valleys, whose
streams, running in oppgsite directions, interlock. The Cayuta lake, on the N.
W., sends forth the Cayuta creek to the Susquehanna: Soil gravelly loam, of
good quality, underlaid with slate and lime, and containing deposits of marl.
Newfield, post village, 7 miles S. W. from Ithaca, has a large brick Methodist
church, a Presbyterian church, of wood; 2 grist and 3 saw mills, 1 tavern, 2
stores, and about 60 dwellings. This village, founded by the family of Dudley,
about 1820, is a place of business, rapidly increasing. A large portion of the town
is yet unsettled, and belongs to the Connecticut school fund.

TOMPKINS COUNTY.

735

Ulysses, organised 7th April, 1801; from Albany W. 174 miles; surface un
dulating; soil gravelly loam, of excellent quality, on lime and slate; drained east-
wardly by Halsey's creek, which, rising in the south part of Hector, flows N. E.
13 miles to the lake, which also receives from the town some other, but less, tri
butaries^ Halseyville, Trumansburg, Jacksonville, and Waterburg, are villages;
those in italics have post offices. Halseyville, 10 miles from Ithaca, has 1 flouring
mill, 1 oil mill, 1 tannery, saw mill, and 11 dwellings, and a lattice bridge, 96
feet long, over the Halsey creek. The village is named after Mr. Nicoll Halsey,
a primitive settler. Upon this creek are remarkable falls, about one mile from the
village, and one from the lake, exceeding more than 306 feet in height. A single
cascade has a perpendicular depth of 216 feet, with a sheet of water sometimes
60 feet wide and 2 thick. These falls, we believe, are called' Taghcanic. The
stream is constant, and is the largest between the Cayuga and Seneca lakes, and
furnishes an excellent water power from its source, already much occupied.
Waterburg, on the same creek, 3 miles above Halseyville, has 1 flouring and 1 saw
mills, store, tavern, and 20 dwellings. Jacksonville, 8 miles from Ithaca, contains
1 Methodist church, 1 store, 3 taverns, and 30 dwellings. Trumansburg. near the
north county and town line, 11 miles from Ithaca, has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist,
1 Baptist, churches; 2 flour, 1 saw, mills; 2 taverns, 6 stores, and about 60 dwel
lings; and a printing office issuing a weekly paper.
The county poor house, with a farm of 100 .acres, is in the S. E. part of the
town.

Females.
Births.
Deaths.
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1830.
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2001
2372
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214
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4822
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564
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717
458
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108
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1304
2000
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9240
191
446
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301
154
523
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38
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Groton,
2742
3458
3597
3512
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267
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4012
4957
5212
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Ithaca,
2888
3621
5270
5556
619
1129
175
728
568
1133
47
123
93
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Lansing,
3631
4158
4020
3592
392
761
434
321
846
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67
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1889
2392
2664
3296
299
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222
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3130
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26178
32908
36545
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256
4779
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8723
283
730
654
248
241
Note. Males, 19,094; Females, 18,911; Paupers, 6; Blacks, 263; Black voters, 8; Deaf and Dumb,
16; Blind, 14; Idiots, 27; Lunatics, 13.
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1960 842
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997 52
316 43
563 43
960 98
2064 92
961 67
425 54
591 40
172 24
149 70
248 81
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176 02
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289 76
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736

TOPOGRAPHY.

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under 16 years of age, 12,225.

DEIAVABE C?X G J E I W I

ULSTER, an original county, organised by the act of 1st November, 1683;
bounded N. by Delaware and Greene counties; E. by the Hudson river, separating
it from Columbia and Dutchess; S. by Orange; and W. by Sullivan, counties.
greatast length E. and W. 50, breadth N. and S. 40, miles; area 1008 square

ULSTER COUNTY. 737
miles; lying between 41° 34' and 42° 09' N. Lat., and 2° 09' and 3° 0' E. Long.;
centrally distant N. from New York 110, and from Albany S. CO, miles.
Surface mountainous. The Shawangunk mountain enters the county from
Orange, and running N, E. nearly 30 miles, sinks into low and irregular hills, in
Hurley, but its continuity is preserved to Kingston, near the Hudson. Northward
of that village it again rises, until it is identified with the Kaatskill mountains.
This ridge approaches the river at an angle of thirty-five -degrees, and Tecedes by a
similar angle, leaving on the north of Kingston a broad tract of interval land,
bounded on the E. by the high banks of the river, and watered by the Esopus
creek, which meanders through it. This is a most fertile and beautiful vale. The
Blue Mountains, as they are termed here, in ^continuation of the Allegany chain.
cross Sullivan county into .Ulster, and spreadihg themselves over the surface of the
latter, blend with the Kaatsbergs in the N. E. angle of this county, and are said to
rise in places to the height of 2000 feet. Between the Blue and Shawangunk
mountains is a broad valley, through which -winds the Rondout river. The Wall-
kill liver runs a N. E-. course south of the Shawangunk mountain, receiving the
Shawangunk creek, and uniting with the Rondout, 8 miles from its mouth. The
three streams above noticed are the great drains of the county, and afford very ad
vantageous mill power, within a fow miles of the tide, much of which is yet un
employed. In the west, the Nevisink river, and other tributaries of the Delaware,
have their sources.
Under the head of " Orange county," we have described the Wallkill, the Sha
wangunk, and the Nevisink rivers. We may observe here, however, that the
Wallkill has high falls in this county, at Lefever, Dashville, and at Arnold's fac
tories. The Rondout, whose name is a corruption of Redoubt, a fortification, built upon
the stream by the early Dutch settlers, rises in tbe town ofShandakeii, interlocking
its sources with those of the Nevisink; flowing thence S. E. about 20 miles
through the town of Nevisink, in Sullivan county, and of Wawarsing of this
county, to Ellenvilte, it is turned N. E. by the Shawangunk mountain, whose base
it follows for about the same distance until it unites with the Wallkill; thence it
pursues the same course to the Hudson river, having a length of about 48 miles.
It.is a full and rapid stream; along its valley, and that of its tributary, Sandbend
creek, runs the Delaware and Hudson canal. Vessels drawing 12 feet water as
cend to Eddyville, 4 miles above the mouth of the creek.
The Esopus treek rises also in Shandakan town, near the N. W. angle of the
county, near the head- waters of the Popachton branch of the Delaware, and
flows N. W. 8 miles, then S. W. about 25 miles, to Marbletown, where,'
turned by a §ftsr ofthe Kaatsbergs, it. takes a N. E. course, passing by
Kingston, far la miles, to the Hudson river, at Saugerties, 10 miles below Cats-
kill. It is every where a rapid stream, and fer the greater part of its course a
mountain torrent. In Saugerties, at Ulster village, and at Whittaker's Falls, 5
miles above, great hydraulic power is obtained from this stream. Its chief tribu
taries are the Sawkill and Plattekill. The former flows from Shin's lake, a small
pond on the.N. line of Woodstock town, and passing by the village of Woodstock
enterstits recipient in the town of Esopus, after a devious course of about 10 miles.
The latter is about the same length, and runs from Hunter, of Greene county, to
the Esopus, on the south border of the town of Saugerties.
The whole country is of secondary formation, underlaid with slate, upon which
limestone and graywacke are abundantly imposed. The soil varies in proportion
as these ingredients are mixed with it; gravelly, stony, and sterile upon the moun
tains; clay and sandy loam, fertile upon the lower hills, with deep loam and vege
table mould in the extensive valleys, exuberantly productive.
The minerals consist of blue limestone, in which animal remains are visible,
abundant, easily quarried and wrought, and much used in building; hydraulic
lime; marble, hard, fine, and close grained; marl, slate, lead, alum, plumbago, and
possibly coal in small quantities, peat, and various pigments; millstones, at Ro
chester and Marbletown, ktiown as the, Esopus millstones, said to be little infe
rior to the French burr, and', before the introduction of the foreign stone, much
used throughout the country.
By reference to the statistical table appended to this article, and to the descrip
tion of tho several towus, it will be seen that the inhabitants are much engaged in
93

738 TOPOGRAPHY.
various species of manufactures; and much attention has latterly been given to
raising cattle and sheep, for which purpose few counties of the state are better
adapted. The county was settled by the Dutch so early as 1616. In 1662, there was a
minister established at Esopus, and the county records commence about that time.
In 1686, a Dutch colony located itself in Shawangunk, 25 miles S. W. from
Kingston, and tradition says, that long previous to that period, there were settlers
upon the Minisink, on the Delaware, who transported some valuable minerals, by
the road along the Rondout valley, to the North river.
This county appears to have suffered more from Indian hostility than any other
portion ofthe country, while under the Dutch. In 1657, the ex-attorney general,
Vandyke, who resided at Esopus, slew a squaw for stealing peaches from his
garden, and her tribe revenged her death by the rrassacre of several whites of the
vicinage. From this and other quarrels much ill blood was caused between the
natives and the emigrants for some years, during which there were frequent ag
gressions on either part, terminating in open and violent hostilities in 1663. —
(See historical essay, page 13.)
The following are the turnpike roads, viz.: Kingston and Middletown, runnino-
to Pine Hill, on the line of Delaware county, 34 miles; Woodstock and Sauger
ties, 20 miles from Ulster, on the Hudson river; one running westward from Mil
ton, 10 miles; Rochester and New Paltz, 30 miles; the great southwestern turn
pike, 35, but gates are no longer maintained upon it. In 1836, a company was au
thorised to make arail road from the Hudson river to the New York and Erie rail
road. — The county is divided into 14 towns.
Esopus, formerly called Kline, or Little Esopus, taken from Kingston, 5th April,
1811; distant from Kingston S. 6, from Albany 69, miles; surface.hilly and bro
ken; soil clay, sandy and gravelly loam, resting on slate, and graywacke, tolera
bly well cultivated, by descendants of primitive Dutch settlers, who meddle with
little else than their farms. Elmore's Corners, or Science, is a post village, half a
mile west from Elmore's Landing, upon the Hudson, at which there is a Dutch
Reformed church, a tavern, 2 stores, and 15 dwellings. There are also other
landings in the town upon the river. The post office has the name of the town.
Hukley, organised 7th March, 1788; distant 64 miles S. from Albany; surface
hilly; the valley of the Esopus, however, contains some extensive and rich flats;
soil fertile loam, upon blue limestone and variegated marble, in which shells are
abundantly visible. The dwellings of the inhabitants are chiefly built of limestone.
The Wallkill and Rondout creeks unite on the southern border of the town, and
the Esopus crosses it near the centre. The inhabitants are chiefly descendants
from the. early Dutch settlers, and New England emigrants and their progeny.
Hurley and Rosendale are villages. Hurley, on the right bank of the Esopus
creek, 3 miles S. W. of Kingston, contains a large Dutch Reformed church, of
blue limestone, school house, 1 tavern, 1 grist mill, cloth fulling and dressing
mill, and about 20 dwellings, Rosendale, 8 miles S, W. from Kingston, on the
Rondout creek, 8 miles from its mouth, and on the canal, contains a post office, I
tavern, several stores, some 10 or 12 dwellings, and a hydraulic cement factory,
owned by Wm. E. Lawrence, of New York. The lime made here has the highest
reputation for strength and durability. From 100 to 200 men are employed, pro
ducing 500 casks of cement daily.
Kingston, organised 7th March, 1788; surface rolling; soil loam, resting upon
slate, lime and graywacke; ofthe limestone the older dwellings are built, after the
ancient Dutch model, but the modern buildings are more commonly of brick or
wood. Generally the country is fertile, and especially around Kingston village,
and in the valley of the' Esopus creek. Kingston, Rondout, Twaaltskill and
Eddyville, are villages; the last three upon the Rondout creek, a short distance
from each other.
Kingston, village, formerly called Esopus and Wiltwycke, incorporated in 1805;
lies upon a sandy plain, 40 feet above the Esopus creek; 10 miles S. of the con
fluence of the creek with the Hudson; and 3 miles W. of the Columbus landing;
93 N. from New York; and 55 S. from Albany. The plain contains about 300
acres, underlaid with slate; and falling off upon three sides, is effectually drain
ed. The village is divided into seven wards, and distributed over 10 streets; six
running E. and W. and four N. and S.; and business instead of being collected

ULSTER COUNTY. . 739
ioto one principal street, as is common in most villages, is scattered here over all
the streets. The village contains the court hpuse and prison, an 1 the offices of
the county clerk and sheriff, in a large commodious stone building, (cost $40,000.)
from whose cupola there is a fine prospect of the surrounding country; 1 Dutch
Reformed, 1 Methodist, 1 Episcopalian, and 1 Baptist, churches, all fine build
ings, a very handsome house of brick, 2 stories high, of modern architecture,
placed upon a large square of ground, and appropriated as an academy for males
and females; 5 public houses, 15 large general stores, 16 smaller ones, a bank, incor
porated in 1831, with a capital of $100,000, the Kingston bank, incorporated 1836,
capital $200,000, 4 clergymen, 17 lawyers, 6 physicians, a very large iron found-
ery, several large brick yards, mechanics' shops of various kinds 60, tobacconist 1,
tanneries 3, milliners 7, bookstore, 2 printing offices, each issuing a weekly paper,
and 275 dwellings, many of which are remarkably large, neat and commodious,
including the substantial old fashioned houses of limestone. The village was
burned by the British under Vaughan, in October, 1777, when great quantities of
stores were destroyed.
At the Columbus landing, where are a public house and warehouse, near the
mouth of the Rondout, the steam boats for Albany and New York stop daily, and
stages are constantly in readiness to transport passengers to the village.
Rondout, post village, on the left bank of the creek, 1 mile from the Hudson;
was founded in 1828, by the Delaware and Hudson canal company, and is the
great depot of their coal, brought in canal boats from the termination of the canal
at Eddyville, by steam tow boats. The village contains a Presbyterian church,
1 school house, 1 hotel, 3 taverns, 7 stores, in profitable business, 3 groceries, 1
printing office, issuing a weekly paper, and about 80 dwellings. Fountains fed
by springs in the hills supply the water for domestic use. A large trade is carried •
on here in the shipment of coal and lumber. Of the former an. average of 150,000
tons is annually sent to market; and of the latter it is difficult to procure a state
ment. In one week of May, 1835, thirty-three vessels were laden with coal, and
four with lumber; and in the spring of that year, one individual shipped more than
four millions of feet of lumber. The margin of the creek here is very narrow, and
builders are already driven to seek lots upon the upper levels. The chief portion
of the soil belongs to the company who sell lots in fee in favourable situations,
haying a depth of 100 feet, at 12 dollars the foot front. Vessels drawing 12 feet
water, ascend to the wharves. The company employ three steam boats in towing
their coal sloops to New York.
Eddyville, partly in Esopus and partly in Kingston, at the head of sloop navi
gation, on the Rondout creek, 4 miles from its mouth, 3 from Rondout. Here the
Hudson and Delaware canal commences. Boats are lifted by the lock into the
upper level ofthe creek, whose bed is used for the canal, for about 2^ miles. A
dam across the creek, constructed long before the canal, gives a water power of 8
or 10 feet fall, which drives a cotton factory, grist, saw, plaster, cement and bark,
mills. On the south side of the creek and village is a mill for the manufacture of
, hydraulic cement, driven by a small stream from the hills. The stone for this
cement abounds here. Here is also the weigh lock of the canal company, and
the collector's office, a Free church, school house, 3 large warehouses for the for
warding business, 3 extensive general stores, 3 groceries, and 3 taverns, a cupola
furnace, pottery, and including those on both sides of the creek, 27 dwellings.
Twelve sloops belong to the village, which find steady employment, and fre
quently more are necessary for the commodities transported by the canal, notwith
standing most of the coal, and much of the lumber, are taken to Rondout.
Twaaltskill, at the confluence of the creek of that name with the Rondout, 1
1-4 miles above Rondout village, and 2 miles from the Hudson, contains 2 grist
mills, a carding and cloth dressing mill, and several dwellings, upon a narrow
shore, backed by hills. The steam boat landing was formerly here.
Marbletown, organised 7th March, 1788; distant from Albany, S. 66 miles;
surface hilly; the Shawangunk mountain running on the S. boundary, and several
hills covering the N.; soil fertile loam upon lime; marble of superior quality, fine
ly clouded, and taking a fine polish, abounds; it is employed in building, and
forms the front of a church near Stone Ridge; drained by the Rondout and Esopus
creeks, along whose valley is much rich alluvion, long known as the "Esopus

740 , TOPOGRAPHY.
Flats." Marbletown, Stone Ridge, and High Falls, are villages; the first two-
have post offices. Marbletown, 7 miles S. W. from Kingston, contains a store,
tavern, and a few dwellings.. Stone Ridge^ 10 miles S. W. from Kingston, has a
Dutch Reformed church, 4 stores, 1 tavern, and 25 dwellings. High Falls, at
which the Rondout falls 25 feet, is 12 miles from the county town, and has I
cotton and 1 woollen factory, a manufactory of hydraulic cement, 1 tavern, 2 stores,
and 15 dwellings. Yaughcrippk Bush, 12 miles from Kingston, near the S. W.
line, is a small hamlet.
Marlborough, organised 7th March, 1788; distant from Albany 75' miles; sur
face hilly and broken; soil clay loam, underlaid with slate, and that which is
arable, well cultivated; drained E. by Oldman's kill, rising in Plattekill town,
and running some six miles to the Hudson. The inhabitants, chiefly Quakers,
Methodists and Presbyterians, are more generally of English origin than those of
any other town in the county. Marlborough, MiUon and Latintown, are post vil
lages. The first, upoa the Hudson, 68 miles N. from New York, 8 from Newburg,
26 S. from Kingston, opposite to Hamburg, ef Dutchess county, contains 1 Pres
byterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Quaker, churches, 2 grist, 2 paper, mills, 3 woollen
factories, and 30 dwellings. The second, also on the Hudson, 22 miles S. from
Kingston, has 1 Methodist and 1 Quaker, churches, 5 stores, 2 taverns, and 30<
dwellings. A sloop sails from Marlborough, and a tow boat from Milton, for New
York, weekly. Latintown, centrally situate, has a Dutch Reformed church, I
tavern, 1 store, and 15 dwellings, upon a fertile plain of sandy loam.
New Paltz, organised 7lh March, 1788; distant from Albany S. 70 miles; sur
face generally hilly, and on the west mountainous, the Shawangunk lying on that
boundary; soil variegated loam, on slate, lime, and graywacke, well cultivated.
The inhabitants are descendants of the primitive Dutch settlers, whose buildings
were wisely erected of limestone, but the present taste gives preference to wood;
drained by the Wallkill, or New Paltz river, which in its N. E. eourse across the-
town receives some small tributaries, and by Black creek, which seeks the Hud
son in the N. E-. angle at Pelham Landing. There are four notable ponds in the-
town. New Paltz, New Paltz Landing, Libertyville, Tuthill, Springt-own, Dash-
ville, and Pelham, are villages, and the first four have post offices.
New Paltz, on the right bank of the Wallkill,. 16 miles S. W. from Kingston,
contains a Dutch Reformed church, an academy, incorporated, and placed un
der the visitation of the Regents of the University, April 29, 1836; 4 stores, 2 ta
verns, and 30 dwellings, chiefly of stone, in the ancient style, surrounded by a
hilly, but well cultivated country. New Paltz. Landing lies on the Hudson river,
8 miles E. ofthe village, 29 miles S. from Kingston, where are a store, tavern,.
and some half dozen dwellings. A ferry boat plies between the landing, and
Poughkeepsie, on the opposite shore. Libertyville, on the Wallkill, at the foot of
the Shawangunk mountain, 20 miles from Kingston, has a store,- tavern, grist mill,.
and some 6 or 8 dwellings. Springtown, on the left bank of the stream, 13 miles
from Kingston, has 2 taverns, store; and several dwellings, upon a sandy plain,
indifferently cultivated. Dashville, on the right bank of the Wallkill, and on the
north line, 10 miles from Kingston, has 2 cotton factories, a manufactory of hy
draulic cement, a Dutch Reformed church, 2 stores, and' some 25 dwellings..
The creek, having a fall here of 70 feet withiii a mile, supplies excellent milK
seats. Pelham is the landing on the Hudson, where mostofthe shipping business
of this vicinity is done.
Olive, taken from Marbletown, Hurley and Shandakan, 15th April, 1823; from
Albany, S. 64 miles; surface uneven generally, and upon the W. mountainous.
Spurs of the Blue mountain, running into it; soil clay loam and gravel, under
laid with slate, of medium quality, adapted to grain. The Esopus creek flows S.
E. centrally through the town receiving from it several tributaries on either hand.
Olive, post office, is on the right bank of the creek, on the road1 from Marbletown
to Shandaken, about a mile from the E. boundary. Caseville formerly called Slo-
ken, on the same road, 14 miles from Kingston, has a post office,a Dutch Reform
ed church, grist and saw mill, tannery, and some half dozen dwellings. Another
village called "The City," on the road from Marbletown, and near the creek, has
n. tannery, Baptist church, a school house, 2 stores, 1 tavern,, and 12 or 15 dwell
ings. ' .

ULSTER COUNTY. 741
Plattekill, taken from Marlborough, 14th March, 1800; from Albany 70 miles;
surf-eice on the E. hilly, the Marlborough mountain lying on theE. boundary; on
the west undulating, underlaid with slate and limestone; soil clay and gravelly
loam. Branches of the Plattekill flow from it eastward. The inhabitants be
long chiefly to the society of Friends, or to the Dutch Reformed and Methodist,
sects. There is a small village on the road from Newburg to Old Pattz, and
about one and a half miles N. of the S. line; and 26 miles S. from Kingston, call
ed Pleasantville, which has a Presbyterian church, 2 stores, 1 tannery, 1 tavern,
post office, and about 25 dwellings, in a very hilly country. In this town, there is
also a very extensive tannery and currying establishment, known as Haight's fac
tory, about 6 miles from Milton landing, in the town of Marlborough. There is a
second postoffice called Modena.
Rochester, organised 7th March, 1788; distant S. from Albany 75, from King
ston, W. 17, miles; surface hilly, mountainous on the S. E.; soil clay and loam;
By the N. foot of the Shawangunk mountain, the Rondout creek flows N. E.
across the town, receiving some tributaries; the largest, Mombackus creek, (In
dian face) formerly gave name to the town. Accord, post village, centrally situate,
on this creek, has a Dutch Reformed church, a tavern, store, and several dwell
ings. Alligerville, a hamlet, lies on the Delaware and Hudson canal, 13 miles
from Eddyville; and there is a post office called Kysericke. Some portion of the
lands of the town, are still holden in common by the inhabitants.
Saugerties, taken from Kingston,5th April, 1811; surface covered by the Kaats-
kill mountains. The Platte kill flows by a wild and precipitous course from the
mountain, southeast to the Esopus creek, at the extreme S. point of the town; -and a
small stream runs south, through the east part to the Hudson. Maiden, Glasgo,
and Ulster, are post villages. Maiden, on the Hudson, 13 miles N. from Kingston,
has 1 Presbyterian church, an academy, several stores, tavern, and about 30 dwell
ings; a place of considerable business, employing several sloops in the river trade.
Glasgo, lies also on the river, 9 miles N. from Kingston, and contains a grist mill,
2 stores, a tavern, several bric"k yards, and 12 or 15 dwellings. Several sloops
ply from the village. Ulsterville, (late Saugerties,) at the. confluence of the
Esopus creek with the Hudson river, 100 miles N. of New York, 44 S. from Al
bany, and 10 from Kingston. This place, now one of the most thrifty on the
Hudson river, was undistinguished until the year 1826, when Mr. Henry Barclay,
of New York, duly appreciating the value of the water power, became the pur
chaser of it, and several farms in the vicinage. By a strong dam, and a raceway
out 65 feet perpendicularly through the rock, he has obtained the use of the water
under a fall of 47 feet, which may be applied twice in its descent. The tide from
the Hudson flows to the foot of the dam, and vessels of 160 tons burden may lade
and discharge at the factory doors. The enterprising proprietor established a large
paper mil], extensive iron works and erected a building for calico printing, since
converted into a paint manufactory.
There are now here, the Ulster Iron Works, incorporated April, 1831, compris
ing a large refinery, with a powerful blast cylinder, ten puddling furnaces, a forge
hammer of four and a half tons, and a rolling mill — competent to make 100 tons
of merchantable iron weekly, in the form of round, half round, oval, flat, and
square bars, hoops, bands, and boiler plates; 3000 tons of pig iron and 160,000
tons of bituminous coal were used in this establishment during the year 1834,
giving employment to 150 workmen: The Saugerties White Lead Works, capable
of manufacturing 500 tons of paint per annum: The Saugerties paper company,
who make annually $125,000 worth of paper: The Ulster Chair and Sash manu
factory, making 15,000 cane seated chairs, 12,000 Windsor chairs, and 50,000
lights of sash per annum, consuming $12,000 in material, and paying $7000 in
wages: Collin's and Co's. Axe and Edge Tool manufactory, calculated to make^
400 axes daily and to employ 150 hands, and to consume annually 600,000 lbs, of
iron, and 120,000 lbs. of steel: The Saugerties Saw Mill, with which is connected
two machines for planing tonguing and grooving boards, and turning lathes, for
wood and iron: The Ulster County Brewery, Livingston and Irving, proprietors,
capable of brewino- 5000 barrels per annum, and whose ale is in high repute: A
printing office issmng a weekly paper. The business of the surrounding country
centres here; and the trade already employs 30 sloops and schooners, ot from 80
to 150 tons burden, transporting large quantities of oak and hemlock bark, wood

742 TOPOGRAPHY.
lumber, glass, manufactured goods, general merchandise and raw material for the
factories. In 1825, there was not a single church here. There are now, five, neat edifices
for public worship.
.In 1835, the United States granted $5000 for the erection of a pier and light
house for mail boats, landing at the mouth of the creek; and in the same year a
handsome bridge of one arch 250 feet span, light, strong, and durable, was thrown
across the creek at a cost, much less, it is said, than is usual for such structures.
Five miles above Ulster village, upon the creek, are Whittaker's Falls, at
which the " Great Falls Manufacturing Company," have made many valuable
improvements. Here are extensive paint works and several manufactories of iron.
carriage springs, edge tools, €tc. &c.
Shandaken,* in the N, W. extremity of the county, taken from Woodstock and
organised, 9th April, 1804; from Albany 55, and from Kingston 30, miles; sur
face mountainous. Fine Hill, extends along the boundary between this and Dela
ware county, and other hills are.strewed over the district; the soil is indifferent,
and the country thinly peopled; the lands are holden by lease, commonly for three
lives, of Mr. Livingston. In a valley on the N. E. flows the Esopus creek and
along it is the Ulster and Delaware turnpike road. The Nevisink river, has its
source in the centre of the town and flows S. W. and several small streams seek
the Popachton branch of the Delaware on the west. The post office called "Shan
daken," lies on the Kingston and Middletown turnpike near the northern boundary,
and that known as the " Corners," at the junction of the same road with the Sau
gerties and Woodstock turnpike. The first being 25, and the second 20 miles N.
W. from Kingston. The business of this town consists chiefly in tanning, and
the preparation of lumber for market. Tliere are here 5 extensive tanneries. To
promote the lumber trade, Mr. R. L. Livingston, the proprietor of a large portion
of the lands, has organised a company to improve the navigation of the Esopus
creek and for making a rail road from the creek, by the way of Kingston, to the
Hudson river. The settlements, very sparce, are in the valley of the Esopus
creek, upon the N. E#. and upon Dry Brook in the west.
Shawangunk,! organised 7th March, 1788; distant from Albany, S. 91, from
Kingston, S. W. 28, miles; surface on the N. W. border covered by the Shawan
gunk mountain; on the S. W. rolling and in places, level; soil, on the west of the
Wallkill, clay unmixed with stone, too wet and cold for wheat, but producing
luxuriant grass; on the E. sandy loam, fertile in grain, highly improved by its
German population; timber chiefly oak and walnut. The Indian names Shawan
gunk, for the tract on the W., and Peconasink,~for that on the S. W. are still re
tained: Drained N. easterly by the Shawangunk and Wallkill, which unite on
the north boundary, where the former has a breadth of 6 and the latter of 18 rods.
The Esopus mill stones are taken from quarries in this and the adjoining town. —
From this portion of the country, the skeletons of 9 mammoths have been dug.
One of which isjin Peale's Museum, at Philadelphia, and another in Europe. Sha
wangunk, Bruynswick, and Ulsterville, are post villages. The first, on the Wall-
kill, 30 miles S. W. from Kingston, upon a plain near the S. line, contains 1 tav
ern, 2 stores, 1 grist, and 1 saw, mills, 2 woollen factories and 10 or 12 dwellings:
The second, on the Shawangunk creek, 28 miles from Kingston, has a store, tav
ern, and 8 dwellings, surrounded by a rude and hilly country: And the third, on
the S. W. border of the town and county, 36 miles from Kingston, contains 1 store,
tavern, scythe factory, and half a dozen dwellings.
Wawarsing4 taken from Rochester, 14th March, 1806; distant from Alba
ny, S. W. 80 miles; surface mountainous; soil gravelly loam and clay, said to
rest much upon lime and to be of good quality, especially in the central valley;
still, in a great measure covered with pine and hemlock, of which large quan
tities are sent to market by the Delaware and Hudson canal, and by the Dela
ware river. Lumbering is almost the sole business of a district in the west,
called Greenfield, which supplies the bark for many tanneries and where are
* An Indian word meaning " rapid waters," descriptive and appropriate; or as the old
settlers report, the name of an Indian resident.
t Shawan, white-salt — Gunk, rocks, piles of rock. Indian.
X Waa-wa-sing — Blackbird's nest. Indian.

ULSTER COUNTY.

743

many saw and turning mills: the latter employed in preparing material for chair
and cabinet makers; drained centrally and easterly by the Rondout and its
tributaries, the Beerkill, so called from the colour of its waters, and the Sand-
berg. At the "Hong Falls," the river has a descent of 60 feet, nearly per
pendicularly; and one mile below them, near the village of Napanock, is an
other cascade of 20 feet, and including the rapids a fall of 200 feet. These falls
are frequently visited and justly admired by the curious. Iron ore and plumbago,
of good quality, are found here, and a vein- of lead has been wrought to great depth
but is now abandoned. Wawarsing, Ellenville, Laurenskill, Napanock, and Port
Benjamin, are villages, at the first two are post offices. Wawarsing, on Varrey's
creek, 1 mile north of the Delaware and Hudson canal, 24 from Kingston, has an
ancient Dutch Reformed church of stone, a grist mill, a tannery, store, and tavern,
and about 15 dwellings. Ellenville, at the junction of the Sandberg and Beerkill,
on the post road from Kingston to Milford, and on the canal, 28 miles from the
latter, in a deep valley, has a grist and plaster mill, several saw mills driven by
the Beerkill, 1 woollen factory. 1 Dutch Reformed, and 1 Methodist, churches; 2
taverns, t\ trip hammer, 6 stores, and about 50 dwellings, whose number is rapidly
increasing. Laurenskill, at the junction of the stream, so called, with the Sand
berg, 30 miles from Kingston, has a grist mill, tavern, store, and some 10 or 12
dwellings. Napanock or Napenagh, near the junction of the Rondout and Sand
berg, on the canal, 26 miles from Kingston, has a tannery competent to make
60,000 sides of leather per annum, an edge tool and axe factory with trip hammer,
employing 25 men, a grist mill, store, tavern, and 25 dwellings. Port Benjamin,
on the canal, 24 miles from Kingston, has 4 stores, 1 tavern, and about 20 dwell
ings. Woodstock, organised 7th March, 1788; from Albany, S.W.50, from Kingston,
N.W. 12, miles; surface covered by the Kaatsbergs; soil gravel, clay, and loam, un
derlaid by slate and graywacke; the lands here are generally holden on leases for 3
lives, but are thinly settled; still there are some valuable farms; the soil, however,
is generally of inferior quality. From Shin's lake, in the mountains, issues the
Sawkill, which finds its way E. to the Esopus creek, whilst other tributaries flow
into it, westwardly. Anthracite coal, in small quantities, has been discovered
here. Woodstock and Bristol are post villages. Woodstock, contains 1 Presby
terian, 1 Lutheran, and 1 Methodist, churches; 2 stores, 2 taverns, a grist mill and
tannery, and 12 or 15 dwellings. Bristol, has a store and tavern, a grist and saw
mill, and from 30 to 40 dwellings. Here are located the works of the New York
Crown and Cylinder Glass Company, employing 50 hands, and making 1500
boxes window glass per month.

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Births.
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Hurley,Kingston,
1352
12J3
1408
1519
142
334
4
189
91
286
13
22
20
42
17
2956
3010
4170
4057
405
811
71
504
342
862
15
93
68
28
26
Marbletown,
3809
2879
3223
3269
317
087
25
332
277
653
35
35
50
21
18
Marlborough,New Paltz,
2248
2364
2273
2434
254
532
51
277
205
526
18
30
37
16
19
4614
4704
5098
5480
552
1112
52
629
474
1205
30
107
105
71
4%
Olive,
1520
1636
1793
109
369
8
226
121
431
8
33
27
9
2
Plattekill,
2139
2058
2044
2008
153
424
5
227
159
441
13
48
26
15
10
Rochester,
2063
2227
2420
2665
196
494
10
347
151)
589
13
, 46
44
10
14
Saugerties, ,
Shandaken,
2699
2664
3747
4942
481
970
279
655
388
1079
36
93
86
36
31
1043
900
966
1263
125
253
31
160
50
321
2
30
31
7
10
Shawangunk, Wawarsing,Woodstock,
3372
3589
3681
3690
363
852
23
430
342
789
32
49
74
25
23
1811
1964
2738
3735
396
824
83
474
267
'837
27
54
67
15
21
1312
1273
1376
1479
95
200
8313
12
659
191
4906
85
3068
361
8709
17
205
32
696
20
689
8
286
3
30934
32015
36550
39960
3802
245
Note. Males 20 516; Females, 19,444: Blacks, 1,457: Black voters, 17: Taupers, 137; Deaf and Dumb,
25; Blind, 18; Idiots, 47; Lunatics, 19.
744

TOPOGRAPHY.

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WARREN COUNTY, taken from the N. W. part of Washington county, 12th
March, 1813; is bounded N. by Essex; E. by Washington; S. by Saratoga; and
W. by Hamilton, eounties: Greatest length, N. and S. 44; greatest breadth, E.
and W. 40, miles; area 802 square miles, between 43° 13' and 43^ 47' N. Lat.;
and 2° 44' and 3° 30' E. Long, from New York; centrally distant from N. York
240, and from Albany 75, miles.
With the exception of a small district, on the S. E. the whole county is moun
tainous, being traversed N. easterly by the Palmertown mountain, here called Lu
zerne, and bjjfche Kayaderosseras and the Clinton ranges. These hills of pximi.
tive formation, are covered with a heavy growth of pine, spruce, fir, cedar, "oak,
maple, beech, elm, ash, &c. and contain, it is said, abundance of iron ore of good
quality, but have very small portions of arable soil. The valleys which are nar
row, contain some fertile alluvion, on secondary lime stone. The towns of War
ren awd Luzerne, on the S. E. are comparatively level, and have much fertile soil
of sandy and clay loam, resting on secondary slate and limestone.
The Hudson river, enters the county from Essex, about 4 miles from the western
boundary and the Schroon branch, about six miles further east. These streams
afior a parallel and S. 15. course of 25 miles, unite in theS. VV, angle ofthe town
WARREN COUNTY.

745

of Warrensburg, and flow thence along the W. and S. lines of the county, by
a very rapid course of 36 miles, in which they are precipitated over Hadley's,
Jessup's, and Glenn's, falls, receiving a very considerable tributary from Johns-
burg and Athol towns, of this and Hadley town of Saratoga county, and also the
Sacandaga river, from the latter. Schroon lake, lies on the north, partly in this,
and partly in Essex county, and there are several smaller, but unimportant lakes,
scattered over the country. Lake George extends for nearly 25 miles upon the
eastern boundary, and about 5 miles of the upper end arc included within the
eounly. Some reminiscences of the wild and savage colonial border wars, are connected
with this county. At the head of Lake George, are still visible vestiges of Forts
William Henry, and George. The first erected in 1755, and captured by the
French in 1756, arid the second, built in 1757, reduced by the Marquis of Mont
calm, in the same year. From this spot General Abercrombie embarked, when
descending the lake with a force of 15,000 men against Ticonderoga.
94

746

TOPOGRAPHY.

The chief employment of the inhabitants is the getting of lumber, which' is
sent to market by the rivers, the canal and lake.
The length of Lake George is 36 miles, its width varies from 'three-fourths of a
mile to four miles. The distance from the foot of the lake to Ticonderoga, three
miles, is performed by stages. The passage of the lake has much interest from
the beauty of its waters, and the wild and varied scenery of its shores. The pu
rity of the water is such that fish may be seen swimming in the lake, at great
depths. The French called the lake " Sacrament," or holy, and transported tha
water to "Canada, for church use. It embosoms as many islands, it is said, as
there are days in the year; many of them, however, are very small, and mere rocks
with scarce soil sufficient for a stunted tree.
Ten miles from Caldwell, down the lake, is a range of mountains formerly pos
sessed by a celebrated hunter of the name of Phelps, as a deer pasture. Two
miles further is Twelve Mile island, being that distance from Caldwell, of a cir
cular form, of about 20 acres, situated' in the centre of the lake, and elevated 30
or 40 feet above the water. Thence one mile, on the northwest side is Tongue
Mountain, with West Bay on its west side, one and a half miles wide, and ex
tending in a northerly direction 6 miles. The narrows commence here, and con
tinue for 6 or 7 miles, being three-fourths of a mile wide and very deep. A
line 500 feet long has been used in sounding without reaching bottom. Black
Mountain, 18 miles from the head ofthe lake, is situated on the east side, and has
been ascertained, by admeasurement, • to be 2,200 feet in height. Opposite to
Black Mountain, near the western shore, is Half Way Island. A short distance
north of this is some of the finest mountain scenery on the continent. The moun
tains exhibit an undulating appearance, are thickly studded with pines and firs,
and have deep and almost impenetrable caverns.
Sabbathday Point, 24 miles from Caldwell, is a projection ofthe mainland into
the lake from the west side, on which some English troops landed on the Sabbath
during the French war, and fell in a sanguinary ba(tle with the Indians. Thence,
3 miles, is a small island called the Scotch Bonnet. Three miles further on the
west shore of the lake, is the little hamlet of Hague. The lake is here 4 miles
wide. From this place to Rogers' Slide is 3 miles; where Major Rogers escaped
from the Indians during the French war. The descent is on an angle of about 25
degrees, over a tolerably smooth rock, 200 feet in height. The Major, who had been
a great foe to the Indians, was nearly surrounded by them on the top of the moun
tain, and it is said had no other means of escape than to slide down this precipice.
It being winter, and having snow shoes on his feet^he landed safely on the ice.
The Indians afterwards saw him; but supposing that no human being could have
made the descent, and that he must, of course, be supernatural, they concluded it
not only useless,^but dangerous to follow him. It is most probable, however, that
the Major made his escape by a safer path down the mountain with so much ra
pidity as to induce the Indians to suppose that he descended the precipice. An
thony's Nose, so called from its singular shape, is a high rock, nearly opposite
to Roger's Slide. The shores here are*bold and contracted, and exhibit massive
rocks, which are from 50 to 100 feet in height. From thence to Prisoner's Island,
is two miles; where prisoners were confined during the French' war; and directly
west of this is Lord Howe's Point, on which his lordship landed immediately
previous to the battle in which he was killed at Ticonderoga. The water here,
from a deep green, assumes a lighter colour, owing to a clayey bottom. From
thence to the outlet of the lake, which terminates the steamboat passage, is one
mile. Upon many ofthe Islands, and particularly on Diamond Island, fine crystals of
quartz were found, formerly in great numbers; but tl ey are now becoming scares.
They are collected with much care, and with agate and qther rich specimens of
quartz, are sometimes to be obtained at the Lake House.
Hyde township or Jessup's Patent, granted 1774, to many associates, and com
prising 40,000 acres, was surveyed in this county. The county has nine towns.
Athol, originally called Thurman; name changed in 1813, when Warrensburg
was taken from it; distant from Albany 70, and from Caldwell, W. NrW. 18,
miles; a sterile tract of which little is known. The main branch ofthe Hudson,
forms the eastern boundary and a large tributary of that river, drains the west.
Along the valley nf the Hudson, a road runs by the village of Johoeburg, into

WARREN COUNTY. 747
Essex eounty. The settlements extend the whole length of the town along the
river, and upon a road leading W.N.W. from the forks of the Schroon and Hud
son rivers. There is a Presbyterian church at the forks of the river; and a post
office bears the name of the town.
Bolton, distant N. from Albany 71, and from Caldwell, 9 miles; surface moun
tainous; the Kayaderosseras ridge running N. E. through it. The Tongue moun
tain, so called from its interposition between the main body of Lake George and
the North West bay, closely borders the lake, and along its western foot, fies the
road to Ticonderoga. The soil clay, wet, andstony, is not unproductive of grain
and grass; the country on the lake is said to excel in fruit, as apples, plums,
pears. There is a great diversity of timber; and this region once remarkable for
the abundance of lumber it sent to market, is now much bared, and the better sorts
are becoming scarce. There are several small lakes in the town, of which Schroon,
Brandt, and Trout, are chief. These send forth numerous small streams to the
Schroon branch of the Hudson, .upon the west, and to lake George. Beaver brook
runs S. through the town into North West Bay. The post office named from the
town, is 10 miles from Caldwell, and near it is a collection of some half dozen
dwellings. Haysburg, is a post hamlet, of similar character; not a tenth part of
the town is under improvement.
Caloweel,* taken from Queensbury, Bolton, and Thurman, 2d March, 1810;
lurface mountainous; the Palmertown ridge lying upon the S. E. and the Kaya
derosseras on the N. W.;*in the intervening valley, Lake George penetrates
for five miles, from the N. E. corner southwesterly. Ffom the head of the
lake, the mountain rises gradually, by a slope of two or three miles. On
the. W. Rattlesnake Hill, recedes from the water; on the E. the heights arc more
abrupt. Schroon river,' approaching within 4 miles of the lake, forms a small
part of the western boundary. A chain of small ponds connects the lake
with the Hudson, at the point of junction of that river with the Sacandaga, ex
cept that between the two northernmost ponds, there is a space of near a mile,
and the waters of one flow to the lake and of the other to the river. Bloody Pond,
so called from the slaughter near it, during the colonial war, 6th Sept. 1755, lies
on the southern line. The corpses ofthe slain were thrown into it. A small por
tion of the lands are holden under lease from James Caldwell, the remainder in fee
simple under the state title. A road from Glenn's Falls, through the village of
Caldwell to Schroon river, and the country on the N. brings much business this
way, and is a better and nearer route to Canada, than by the E. side of Lakes
George and Champlain. There is also a road along the W. shore of the former
lake. The condition of agriculture is low, the soil being either sandy or rocky.
Caldwell, the post village, lies at the head of Lake George, on the S. W. margin,
62 miles N. from Albany, 27 from Saratoga Springs, from Sandy Hill 12, and
from Glenn's Falls 9; the seat of justice of Warren county, contains the public
buildings, consisting of a frame court house, in which is the prison, county clerk's
¦ office, the lake house, a very large hotel, and three other public houses; 2 stores,
3 groceries, a free church, 1 grist, 1 saw, 1 plaster, and 1 fulling, mills, and about
30 dwellings. There is also a Baptist church in the town, on the Schroon river.
The Lake George House, neatly fitted up, will accommodate an hundred guests.
The village is bordered by a range of hills upon the W. the highest of which Pros
pect or Rattlesnake hill, is said to have an elevation of 1500 feet; a road of difficult
ascfint has been made to the summit. The labour of surmounting it, however, is am
ply compensated, by the extensive and diversified view it affords Beneath,
is the village and its surrounding farms; in the deep valley on the N. the lake
stretches away, decked with its hundreds of fairy islets, visible for 17 miles; its
shores right and left, surmounted by craggy ridges, rising gently from the water
for a few rods, then by bolder acclivity to the height of 600—800, and in some
places, 1200 feet, tufted with dwarf evergreens.
This village and lake, are ordinarily taken in the eucle of the northern tour,
and commonly sought by the visitors at the Saratoga Springs. A steamboat,
makes a daily trip hence down the Iake.to meet the boats running on Lake Cham
plain, and stages ply, also daily, to and from the springs. There are few spots in
the United States, where a>few days of the hot weather may be spent more agreea-
* Named after a principal proprietor and benefactor.

748 TOPOGRAPHY.
bly. The mountains which border the lake causing the prevailing winds to take
the direction of the basin, there is a constant refreshing breeze from the N. or S,
which pleasantly tempers the atmosphere. The visitor may command, at a wish,
a ride, walk, or boat excursion, through the most diversified and picturesque scene
ry. Should his taste lead him to geological or mineralogical researches, it may here
find high gratification; or should he delight in historical reminiscences, he may
find ample indulgence for them, whilst tracing the vestiges of Fort William Hen
ry, or the ruins of Fort George, or in the exploration of the " French Mountain,"
which overlooks them, and which received its name from the reduction of the for
mer; or should his pursuits be less intellectual, and should he prefer, to muse
away the day at the end of a fishing rod or line, the salmon trout, perch, and bass
of the lake, will afford him an opportunity of improving the lessons of Isaac
Walton. Chester, taken from Thtirman; N. from Albany 80; and from Caldwell, 18
miles; surface hilly; the ridges, bearing the local names qf the Canada and Oak*
mountains, rise to great height, precipitous on the west, but sloping so gently to
wards the east, as to admit of easy cultivation; soil sandy loam, some of it of good
quality, adapted both to grass and grain. In the lower levels and valleys, red oak
grows to enormous size; magnetic iron ore is said to abound. Lying between the
two northerly branches ofthe Hudson, the town is well watered; and it contains
several lakes, of which Schroon is the largest, being about 8 miles long, one-half
of which is within the town. The next in size is Loon lake, 2 miles long, and 1^
wide; and the next " Friends" lake, 2 miles S. of Loon lake, If miles long, and
1-2 mile wide. All discharge their waters to the Schroon river, the issues from
the two latter, uniting and forming a good mill stream. The Stone bridge, in this
town, is a great natural curiosity, and gives its name to the stream passing beneath
it. This stream enters Chester from Essex county, about 30 rods above the
bridge, where it falls over a rocky precipice into a natural basin; whence turning
E. it seeks a subterranean passage by two branches; the north one passing under
an arch of massy granite 40 feet high, and about 80 feet chord; diminishing in ca
pacity as the stream descends, which may be followed 156 feet from the entrance.
The southern and greater branch has a passage, which may be explored with much
diffirulty, in some places much confined, in others opening into caverns of 30 or
40 feet diameter, filled with water to great depth. At the distance of 247 feet
from the entrance, the waters disembogue in one current, having united in the
vault, beneath a precipice of 54 feet, which terminates the bridge. The arch on
this side is about 5 feet high, and 10 wide. The creek enters the river about J of
a mile below the outlet of Schroon lake. Chester, post village, centrally situate
on the Canada road, near the outlet of Friends and Loon lakes, contains 1 Pres
byterian and 1 Baptist, churches, 1 grist, 1 saw, mills, and clothing works-, an
academy, 2 taverns, 3 stores, and about 150 dwellings. The land around the
village is fertile, and will produce from 15 to 20 bushels of wheat the acre;
and is valued at $25 the acre. Two miles W. of the village is a large Methodist
church. Hague, taken from Bolton, and organised 28th February, 1807, by the name of
Rochester, which was changed 6th April, 1808; centrally distant N. from New
York 232, from Albany 87, miles; surface mountainous, being covered by the
ridge, and spurs of tbe Kayaderosseras. Along Lake George are some good
tracts of land, upon which are the principal settlements. The streams, numerous,
are inconsiderable in volume. There are several small lakes, of which Brandt
and Schroon are the largest, and are chiefly within the bounds of the town. The
country, in great part unreclaimed from a savage state, is thickly covered with
forest, and sparsely peopled. Rodgers' rock, distinguished by the fortunate
escape of the officer whose name it bears, is the extreme N. E. point of the town
and county. Sabbath-day Point is in the S. part of the town. Hague, post vil
lage, on McDonald's bay, 29 miles N. E, from Caldwell, contains 1 grist, and 1
saw mills, a store, tavern, and some 6 or 8 dwellings.
Johnsbubg, taken from Thnrman, 6th April, 1805; N. from Albany 85, from
Caldwell 21, miles; surface hilly, covered by the Kayaderosseras and Clinton
mountains; soil, generally, light sandy loam, of tolerable quality, stony, but well
watered by the Hudson riter on the eastern line, and by a large tributary upon the
west, both of which peiletrate the mountain ridges. The much larger portion of

WARREN COUNTY. 749
the inhabitants is from New England, but tliere are also some from Europe.
The town was settled in 1790, by John Thurman, Esq. and others, when no set
tlement existed within 20 miles. The post village, having the name ofthe town
lies in the valley of the Hudson," on Mill creek,, and has a°Baptist church, a large
tannery, 2 grist, 3 saw, mills, 3 stores, 2 taverns, and about 20 dwellings.
Luzerne, taken from Queensbury, by the name of Fairfield, 10th April, 1792;
name changed April 6, 1808; N. from Albany 55, and from Caldwell S. W. 10*
miles; surface hilly, with some flats upon the Hudson, which forms the west
boundaty. The Palmertown mountain is on the east, and the Kayaderosseras on
the west. In the intervening valley, is the chain of lakes, above described, con
necting Lake George with the Hudson. Hadley's Falls are on the southernmost
part ofthe town, and Jessup's Falls, about four miles above them. Luzerne, post
village, lies on the Hudson river, opposite to the mouth of the Sacandaga, and
contains 1 grist and 3 saw, mills, clothing works, 2 taverns, 3 stores, and about
30 dwellings. A road leads directly from the village to Caldwell.
Queensbubv, organised 7th March, 1788; N. from Albany 58, and from Caldwell
S. 6, miles; surface undulating, but on the W. and N. covered generally by the
Palmertown mountains. The soil on the west is loose sand, formerly timbered
with pitch and yellow pine; on the east, strong productive loam, on which are se
veral Quaker settlements. There are some extensive cranberry marshes, and
several small ponds, of which French pond, two miles long by one and a half
wide, is the largest; drained eastwardly by Halfway brook running into Wood
creek, and southerly by a tributary of the Hudson. The navigable feeder of the
Champlain canal, is taken from the river, 2 miles above Glen's Falls, and runs 4
miles eastwardly through the town. The road from Saratoga Springs to Lake
George, leads by the Falls. Iron ore is said to abound in the mountains; and
limestone, forming excellent black and variegated marble, underlays the country
on the south. Glen's Falls, the Ridge, and Oneida, are villages. Glen's Falls,
post village, lies partly on the north, and partly on the south, bank ofthe Hudson,
in Moreau town, Saratoga county, 53 miles from Albany, 17 from Saratog%, and 3
from Sandy Hill. The two portions of the village are connected by wooden
bridges, which meet from either shore, upon an island of marble in the middle of
the river; the northern having a length of 300, and the southern of 280, feet; the
width of the island is 50 feet, and of the river 630 feet. The bridge is free, and
was built by contributions of the inhabitants, upon the site pf the former toll
bridge. On the south side of tbe village, there are 1 grist mill, a gang saw mill,
with 24 saws in the gang' and 2 for slabbing; a mill for sawing marble, with 8
frames or gangs of saws, built on the site of the cotton factory, lately burned, and
6 dwellings. On the north side, are 2 saw mills, one of which is a gang mill, si
milar to that on the south; a plaster and a bark mill; a mill for sawing marble; a
carding and fulling mill, with 2 looms; mills for cutting shingles and plastering
lath; 6 lime kilns, making much lime for export; a Methodist Episcopal and 1
Presbyterian churches, 4 taverns, including the Glen's Falls hotel; 8 stores, 4
groceries, 31 mechanics' shops, 1 printing office/ issuing a weekly paper; 124
dwellings, having 170 families, distributed on 9 streets. The marble quarries
here are extensive, and the stone, of excellent quality, sells in the New York
market, in slabs, at 75 cents the superficial foot. The falls in the river, which
have given name to the village, have a descent of 70 feet. The water flows in one
sheet over the brink of the precipice, 900 feet long, and in floods rush in one mass
down the cataract; but in ordinary seasons is immediately divided by rocks into
three channels, with an angular descent of several hundred feet. The island be
low, bears very striking marks of the action of the waters, including a long cave
extending from one channel to the other. These falls, like those of Niagara, have
evidently receded, from a position much lower on the stream; the banks below
being composed of rock, in which the stratification is beautifully disposed, rising
from 30 to 70 feet perpendicularly. This rock is filled with organic remains, ia
which the trilobite is very common, and the heads, usually rare at other places,
are here found in a very perfect state. Oneida, village, 8 miles S. E. from Cald
well, and 5 N. E. from Glen's Falls, on a pleasant plain, has 2 taverns, 2 stores,
a saw mill on Halfway brook.'and 15 dwellings. Standford's Ridge, upon a swell
of sugar maple land, of excellent quality, 3 miles N. E. from the Falls, has about
a dozen dwellings.
Wabrensbubgh, taken from Thurman or Athol, 12th February, 1813; N, from

750

TOPOGRAPHY.

Albany 68; and from Caldwell, N. W. 6 miles; is a mountainous and wild die*
trict, covered with wood, and abounding with iron ore. The main branch of the
Hudson flows on the W.' boundary, and the Schroon branch, on the E. and S.
uniting with the former in the S. W. In 'the valleys of these streams, are some
productive alluvial soils, on which the population is increasing. Warrensburgh,
post village, 6 miles N. of Caldwell, Ires on the S. boundary, upon the Schroon
branch, and contains 1 Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, churches, 2 taverns, 5 stores, a
large tannery, a grist mill, 2 saw mills, carding and cloth dressing works, and
about 50 dwellings, most of them new and commodious.

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'243
fl
28
16
7
s
Bolton,
1087
1226
1467
1496
¦133
288
1
189
88
-362
¦4
26
26
10
T
Caldwell,
723
885
797
640
97
160
3
66
67
119
4
9
9
11
3
Chester,
1013
1231
1284
1361
157
321
9
173
91
272
fl
25
27
1.1
9
Hague,
514
618
721
769
74
152
2
95
41
175
6
17
11
a
9
Johnsburgh,
727
933
985
1016
,129
234
11
115
9R
204
9
17
19
4
14
Luzerne,
1430
1315
1362
1387
1311
2HH
5
171
105
345
7
37
•Sfl
13
12
Queensbury,
2433
2759
3080
3088
850
622
53
393
290
649
28 54
51
23
17
Warrensburgh,
956
1130
1191
l-.'IIO
104
280
16
158
92
325
10 39
20
11
7
9453
10B0S
11796
12034
1197
2544
104
1489
924
2694
82
252
207
95
83
Note, Males, 6,131; Females,
5,903;
Blacks
34: Paupers, 36
Deaf and Dumb
7; Blind, 4; Idiots, 2:
Lunatics, 4.
TOWrts.
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to £
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Athol,
103324
6122
85054
1789
1060
238
1891
388
2089
1774
mi
525 70
434 21
Bolton,
56391
3986
70395
5050
1537
267
3464
652
2582
3591 1190
2769
409 41
382 20
Caldwell,
17005
2794
49435
255
411
170
1047
269
940
292
157 26
248 45
Chester,
4*0-10
10862
101613
5905
1976
437
3338
R09
2647
3729
3679
342 63
542 85
Hague,
58402
4211
61007
800
- 774
201
1763
448
1547
1380
1031
328 19
348 40
Job us burgh,
119304
8101
74634
2455
1358
276
2082
534
2027
3130
2461
443 07
.385 44
Luzerne,
30257
9005
75888
8432
I3HII
307
3110
658
2617
264(1
' 890
193 37
421 60
Queensbury,
38822
19944
305235
18350
2491
749
5784
1738
4677
4017
3315
740 96 1617 92
Warrensburgh,
41745
6384
66137
416
1270
326
2307
24786
515
6011
1900
1740
23191
1477
201 90, 332 .76
513290
71409
889398
43452
12257!2j)71
21026
17025
3342' 494713 83
tn
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en 6
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6
Athol,
10
106
' 167
339'
Bolton,
3
14
1
1
1
1
15
152
294
489
Caldwell,
1
4
1
6
99
217
344
Chester,
3
5
2
a
i
2
16
145
254
448
Hague,
2
10
1
6
112
115
218
Johnsburgh,
2
10
1
l
2
3
8
108
123
320 ,
Luzerne,
3
17
1
l
l
2
12 "
149
242
527
Queensbury,
14
2
a
2
22
309
533
859
Warrensburgh,
I
17r-
s
11
94 CS
SI
1
8
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i
8
1
o©
3
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i
oUtS
4
16cc5?
10
115
123
297
105
1295 1 2068
3637
Value of product,
•
a
CO
of children above 5 & underlS years
Value of material,
o
OS
to
gs a
1
s
a
12
t>
of age, 3,4
36.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, taken from Albany, 12th March, 1772; contained part of the present state of Vermont, andnbore the name ot Char
lotte; name changed 2d April, 1784. It is now bounded, S. by Rensselaer county; E. by Vermont and Lake Champlain; the lake separating it from
that state for the distance of 17 miles; N. by a due W. line, drawn from the E. bound ofthe state, striking Lake George in a range with the west
ernmost point of Rodgers' rock, on the W. side of the lake; and W. by Lake George, dividing it from Warren county for the distance of 24 mileS;
thence by the line of Warren county, S. to the Hudson river; and thenee by the river, where it leaves the S. E. corner of Warren county, until
it meets the N. bounds of Rensselaer county. Greatest length 64; average breadth to South bay of Lake Champlain 17; and thence on the N. 6
miles; area 920 square miles, as given by the statistical table of Burr's atlas; but 759, only, as returned by the supervisors of the county, in 1835;
lying-between 42° 55' and 43° 48' N. Lat. and 3° 18' and 3° 42' E. Long.; centrally distant N. from New Fork 210; from Albany 60 miles; surface . . -
generally hilly, with occasional plains, particularly along the Hudson river. The Taghcanic ridge ranges along the eastern boundary, with an average -i
width of about 5 miles; whilst the Peterborough ridge varying Us height, and broken through by Hoosick river, Battenkill and Pawlet and Poult- £2

752 TOPOGRAPHY.
ney rivers, and with a breadth of from 6 to 8 miles, runs centrally and northerly
through the county; spurs of this ridge, as in Greenwich and Easton, are thrown
out towards the river. On the N. W. the Palmertown range enters the county in
Fort Ann, bearing locally the name of French, or Luzerne mountains, and which,
extending through Dresden and Putnam, forms the high and rugged peninsula
between lakes George and Champlain. In the valley formed by this and the
Peterborough ridge flows Wood creek, and between that creek and the Hudson,
the high plain of Kingsbury forms the summit level.
The northern part of the county, so far south as Wood creek, is of primitive
formation, and the underlying rock chiefly granitic. But on the shores of the lakes
there is a singular admixture, and apparent confusion, of all formations. The
southern portion of the county is principally transition, with which, however,
some patches of primitive are intermingled. Limestone, sometimes in the form
of fine variegated marble, graywacke in various modes, slate, embracing the roof
ing variety, alternate in this region,1 upon the surface. Magnetic iron ore is mined
in the town of Fort Ann, where it is wrought in several furnaces and forges, and
bog ore is appaient in Fort Edward; marl and water limestone are said to be
common. The country is abundantly watered, having the Lakes George and Champlain,
Wood creek, Pawlet and Poultney rivers, in the north, the Hudson on the west,
and the Batten kill and the Hoosic river, and their tributaries, in the south.
Wood creek rises in French pond, of Queensbury,', Warren county, and flowing
N. E. through Kingsbury, Fort Ann and Whitehall, towns, by a course of about
25 miles, empties into Lake Champlain, at the village of Whitehall, having re
ceived near its mouth the Pawlet river. This stream, narrow, sluggish, but deep,
having frequently 15 feet water, was of great importance in tlie transit of persons and
goods in the early settlement of the country, and especially in the colonial wars;
and it now forms part of the navigable communication between the Hudson river
and Champlain. It receives at the village of Fort Ann, East creek, which runs
from some ponds in the E. part of Hartford, and from Kingsbury, about 10 miles.
Pawlet river or creek, rises in the tewn of Danby, Vermont, and has a N. W.
course through Granville and Whitehall, towns, to its recipient, of about 20 miles.
It is a large stream, abounds with trout, and drains the upper valley between the
Taghcanic and Peterborough mountains.
Poultney or Fairhaven river, sometimes called the east branch of Wood 6reek,
has its source in Rutland county, of Vermont, and runs by a devious course of 30
miles, to East bay, of the lake, forming for about 6 miles, the boundary between
New York and Vermont. In the year 1783, this stream made for itself a new and
deep channel, cutting its way 60 feet deep through a ridge, and carrying so large
a quantity of earth into East bay as to obstruct, for a season, its navigation.
Batten kill, an excellent mill, stream, rises, in Bromly; Vermont, at the foot of
the principal chain ofthe Green mountains, near the head waters of Otter creek,
and flows S. W. about 30 miles, to the state line, and thence W. separating
White creek, Cambridge and Easton, from Salem and Greenwich, towns, 24 miles
to the Hudson river, about 1| miles below Fort Miller, and the same distance
above Schuylerville. Near its mouth, an excellent Wooden bridge is thrown over
it. Soon after its entrance into Washington county, it receives Little White creek,
a beautiful stream, 20 miles long, which also comes from Vermont, and is the reci
pient of Black creek, which flows about 10 miles S. from Hebrontown. Batten
(kill has several falls, and a very rapid current. The " Great Falls" in the towns
.of Easton and Greenwich, have a descent of about 60 feet, and in floods, the
.,quaniity of water makes them an object of curiosity.
We have described the Hoosick river, in '* Rensselaer county," and may observe,
:here,rthat»curving into this county it receives from it Owl and Little Whitecreeks.
The one .-flowing from Jackson, town, S. about 8 miles, and the other crossing
;the S. E. angle of the town, to the St. Coic river, itself a tributary of the Hoosick.
These small streams drain the lower portion ofthe great eastern valley.
There are two turnpike roads, the " Northern," from Lansingbnrgfto Wells, in
Vermont, leads through the populous and well cultivated towns ofthe south; and
¦the other runs from Sandy. Hill to Saratoga bridge, and thence to Waterford; and
a railroad from Saratoga springs to Whitehall is being constructed. The company
for that purpose was incorporated 2d May, 1834; the road to be commenced within

WASHINGTON COUNTY. 753
two, and to be completed within five years^ capital tg600,000. In 1836, a company
was empowered to make a like road from Whitehall to the west line of Vermont.
The county holds a respectable grade in agriculture, produces much wheat, but
is more adapted to grass. The culture of sheep,' which is becoming prevalent,
together with cattle feeding and the dairy, assure its inhabitants competence and
wealth. A large proportion of the population is from the New England states,
and large emigrations are making yearly from Vermont. Land, in farms of from
one to two hundred acres, ranges from 20 to 30 dollars an acre.
The county is divided into 17 towns, all of -which, except Dresden, Fort Ed
ward, Greenwich, Hartford ,lJackson, Putnam and White Creek, were dro-anised 7th
Marchvl7'8S. s
Argyle, N. from Albany 44 miles; surface hilly, but generally arable; ridges
run northerly across it; soil sandy and gravelly loam, upon lime and slate; drained
westerly by Moses kill. There are several small ponds, the largest. of which,
J' Big pond," on the S. W. has a length of about three miles. The tract comprised
in the original town of Argyle, was granted by George II, in 1742, to 141 Scotch
emigrants, who severally drew a farm lot of from 150 to 600 acres, with a town
lot of from 15 to 16 acres. Argyle, North Argyle and South Argyle, are post vil
lages. Argyle,iying at the junction of four roads, 8 miles S. E. from Sandy Hill,
and upon the Moses 'kill, contains 1 Scotch Presbyterian, and 1 Dutch Reformed,
churches, 1 grist, 1 saw, 1 carding and cloth . dressing, mills, 1 store, 2 taverns,
and about 50 dwellings. North Argyle, 5 miles from Sandy Hill, has 1 church,
store, tavern, and 10 or 12 dwellings. South Argyle, 11 miles from Sandy Hill,
has also a church, store, tavern, and 12 dwellings.
Cambridge, N. from Albany 35; and from Salem, S. W. 15 miles; surface
level, except on the west, where is a ridge called Oakhill; soil warm gravelly
loam, varied with spots of clay and sandy loam, generally of good quality, and
that on the hills, well adapted to wheat. . On the northern turnpike road, are the
post villages of Cambridge and Buskirk's Bridge. The Hoosick river curves into
the south boundary, but there is no other important stream. Cambridge, village,
lies in the N. E.. part of the town, upon a fertile plain, on White creek, along
which it extends about 2 miles, and has "three clusters of buildings, in which are
2 Scotch Presbyterian churches, an academy, at which much attention is given to
qualify young men for the profession of teacher, a seminary for young ladies, 3
taverns, 2 stores, a tannery, and 140 dwellings. Buskirk's Bridge, upon Hoosick
river, partly in Pittstown, in Rensselaer county,contains a Dutch Reformed church,
2, stores, a tavern, several mechanics' shops, and about 30 dwellings. Centrally
situate, is the post village of Centre Cambridge, containing a tavern^ store, and 12
dwellings. Dresden, taken from Putnam, 15th March, 1822; by the name of South bay;
name changed 17th April, 1822; N. from Albany 72; and from Sandy Hill, 20
milesjjSarface rough, broken and mountainous; the Palmertown mountain covering
the neck of land between the lakes; its sides in some places are very steep, in
others precipitous, extremely sterile, and savage in aspect, exhibiting frequently the
rock uncovered with soil. Some of the summits attain 1200 feet elevation. In
some ofthe caves in this district, and particularly in one near the head of South
, bay, ice is preserved during the year. South Bay, of lake Champlain, 7 miles
long, and 1 broad, separates on the S. E. this from Whitehall, town. This dreary
region, clad in pine, is very thinly inhabited; but it has a few families of wood
cutters, upon the margins of the lakes, and some few who earnestly endeavour to
compel subsistence from the soil. Deer and wolves are said to be common in the
forest. There is a post office having the name of the town.
'Easton, taken from Stillwater and Saratoga; N. from Albany 27; from Salem,
S. W. 16 miles; surface moderately uneven; soil loam, variously combined with
clay and sand, of pretty good quality, and generally well cultivated; limestone and
water lime, of superior quality, abound. On the Battenkill, in the N. E. is the incor
porated village of Union, partly in this, and partly in Greenwich. .Eosftm, post vil
lage, centrally situate, has within a mile, 3 taverns, 3 stores, 1 Dutch Reformed,
1 Methodist, churches, (and near a quaker meetkig house,) and about 50 dwell
ings. North Easton,, has a post office, 1 store, several mechanics' shops, and about
30 dwellings. ,
Fort Amn, organised by tire name of Westfield; changed 6th April,. 1808; sur-
95

754

TOPOGRAPHY.

face diversified with mountain and valley, and the soil with tracts of clay, al
luvion, rich mould, sand and bare rock. On Wood creek, are some fertile alluvial
flats and plains, under careful cultivation; but most of the upland is broken and
sterile; drained northward by Wood creek, and by a considerable tributary of South
bay. Upon the rocks, on Wood creek, water worn holes or pots are .said to be
visible, 50 feet above its present surface. The Champlain canal crosses the town,
and its summit level, is "within it; from which there is a descent of 54 feet to the
lake, and 30 only to the Hudson. The town has its name from Fort Ann, post
village, on Wood creek, near the S. line, on the road from Sandy Hill to White-'
hall, 11 miles from the one, and 10 from the other; and from Albany 60 miles; and
on the site of'the Old Fort, erected during the war of 1756. The village contains
about 60 dwellings, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist, churches, 2 taverns
and 2 stores, surrounded by a rolling country. Two miles, S, may be seen vesti
ges of Burgoyne's road, made of logs, for the transport of his cannon and baggage
to Saratoga. Griswold's Mills, is in the S. W. angle of the town, on Halfway
Brook, 4 miles W. of Fort Ann, and 6 N. of Sandy Hill, and has a post office, 1
grist and 1 saw, mills, 2 stores, 1 tavern, several forges for making anchors, a
trip hammer shop, a furnace for castings, a pottery, 1 woollen, factory, and about
30 dwellings. Comsiock, landing, on the canal, 4 miles N. from Fort Ann, and 4
from Sandy Hill, is a place of much business, concentrating the trade of Granville,
and the eastern part of Vermont, having a post office, a tavern, a store, several
warehouses, and 10 or 12 dwellings. Many canal boats are built here.
Fort Edward, taken from Argyle, 10th April, 1818; from Albany 46, and from
Sapdy Hill, 2, miles; surface level or gently undulating; soil clay, sand and loam,
of good quality, on slate, which occasionally rises to the surface. Bog iron ore is
found in many places; drained westerly by Moses kill and some smaller streams.
The name ofthe town is derived from the Fort, erected here in 1755, by Generals
Lyman and Johnson, whose site is yet indicated by mounds of earth. It was call
ed the " carrying place," and was the commencement of the portage between the
Hudson river and Wood creek. Fort Edward, Fort Edward Centre, and Fort
Miller, are post villages. Fort Edward, village, on the Hudson river and Cham
plain canal, 12 miles N. from Schuylerville, upon a fair and fertile alluvial plain,
contains 1 Methodist Episcopal church, 2 hotels, 1 tavern, 9 stores and groceries,
1 grist mill, 1 tilt mill, 1 carding and cloth dressing mill, 2 breweries, 1 distillery,
2 district schools, and 130 dwellings. The trade of the place was formerly con
siderable, but it has been ruined by the canal; the country N. and E. receivingits
supplies by that channel. A dam above the village, 27 feet high, and 900 feet
long, supplies a feeder to the canal. Below the dam, the river is divided, by an
island, and is crossed by two bridges, each 500 feet long, resting on the island,
erected by a joint stock company. The village is supplied by water, from a spring
50 feet above the river, 100 rods distant, near the spot where the ill-fated Miss
M'Crea was murdered by the savages. Fort Miller, on the canal and river, 10
miles S. from Sandy Hill, and 39 N. from Albany, contains 1 Presbyterian church,
1 grist mill, 1 tavern, 1 store, and about 30 dwellings. There is also a dam here
on the river, erected for hydraulic purposes. Below the village about 2 miles, a
covered bridge over the river, communicates with the village of Northumberland,
of Saratoga county.
Granville, from Albany N. E. 60; from Sandy Hill 21; from Salem, N. 17
miles; surface diversified; on the S. W. broken by high hills; elsewhere chiefly
high plains; soil gravelly and clay loam, of good quality, underlaid with lime and
slate, and with variegated marble of excellent kind in the north. The " Northern
turnpike" runs through the town, and intersects the tnrnpike road to Whitehall.
At their junction is Granville, village; on the former South Granville; and on the
latter Middle Granville and West Granville: Drained N. W. by Pawlet creek
and its tributary, Indian river, which unite near the centre; upon these streams are
some fertile flats. Granville, village, having the relative distances above given,
near the east boundary, has I Methodist Episcopal, an Episcopalian, and 3 Quaker,
churches, a seminary for young ladies, a grist mill, woollen factory, 4 stores, 2
taverns, 2 groceries, 6 law offices, the Washington county mutual insurance com
pany, and about 100 dwellings, some of which are costly and beautiful. Middle
Granville, 2 miles N. of the former, has 1 Presbyterian and 1 Congregationalist
churches, 1 grist mill, 1 large cotton manufactory, carding and cloth dressing mill,

WASHINGTON COUNTY. 755
2 tanneries, 1 tavern, 3 stores, and about 30 dwellings. West, sometimes called
North, Granville, 18 miles N. E. from Sandy Hill, has a Baptist church, an aca
demy, 4 stores, 2 taverns, grist, saw, mills, clothing works, and about 30 dwell
ings. South Granville, has a store, a congregational church, and several dwell
ings. The first three have each a post office. Besides the churches above mention
ed, there is a Methodist church in the town. Black lead pencils of fine quality
have been made here.
Greenwich, taken from Argyle, March 4th, 1803; from Albany, N. E. 37 miles;
surface moderately hilly. Bald Hill rises,200 feet above the level of the adjacent
plains, and is about 3 miles in circumference. Soil gravelly loam, well distribut
ed into arable meadow and pasture, and well cultivated; underlaid with lime and
slate; marl abounds; much lime is burned here, and that from Ball mountain is in
high repute. The Battenkill supplies numerous mill seats. Union, Franklinton,
and Battenville are villages. Fort Miller dam, over the Hudson, is above the con
fluence of Battenkill with that stream. Union, post village, incorporated, form
erly called Whipple city, 35 miles N. E. from Albany; 19 S. of Sandy
Hill; and 12 miles S. W. from Salem; contains 1 Baptist, 1 Dutch Reformed,
churches, a cotton factory, 1 grist, 1 saw, 1 carding and cloth dressing, mills,
a trip hammer, 2 taverns, 3 stores, a printing office, issuing a weekly paper,
and 80 dwellings. Franklinton, 2 miles eastward, contains some mills, and about
20 dwellings. Battenville, near the east line, on both sides of the Battenkill, part
ly in Jackson town, 8 miles S. W. from Salem, and, 16 S. E. from Sandy Hill,
contains 1 Methodist and 1 Baptist, churches, a post office, a cotton factory, 1
grist and 1 saw, mills, 1 tavern, 2 stores, and about 40 dwellings. North Green
wich and Lake are post offices.
Hampton, from Albany N. E. 70, from Salem, N. 25, and from Sandy Hill,
25, miles; surface generally hilly, but the valleys of the streams have some fertile
flats. Hampton and Low Hampton are post offices, near which respectively is a
collection of dwellings.
Hartford, taken from Westfield, originally the name of Fort Ann, 12th March,
1793; from Albany, N. E. 54 miles; surface hilly; soil Sandy and clay loam;
drained W. and N. W. by East creek, a tributary of Wood creek. The old road
from Troy to Whitehall runs centrally. through the town, upon which lie Hartford
and South Hartford, post villages. The former, 13 miles from Sandy Hill, con
tains 1 Baptist and 1 Universalist, churches, 1 tavern, 4 stores, a distillery, and
about 40 dwellings. The latter, 2 miles S. of the former, has a Presbyterian
church, 1 tavern, 2 stores-, grist mill, tannery, and about 20 dwellings.
Hebron; surface hilly and stony; soil sandy loam, generally very fertile in grain
and grass; drained by Black creek, flowing south westerly through the town, to
the Battenkill. Hebron, North Hebron and South Hebron are post villages.
Hebron, on the North turnpike road, 52 miles from Albany, and 6 from Salem,
has a Congregational church, a tavern, and some half a dozen dwellings. North
Hebron, 9 miles from Salem, has a Baptist church, store, tavern, and 7 or 8
dwellings. South Hebron, 4 miles N. W. from Salem, has 2 stores, 1 tavern,
an Anti-Burgher church, and about 15 dwellings. Belcher, on the west side of
the town, contains 2 stores, 1 tavern, a trip hammer, tannery, and 20 dwellings.
Jackson, taken from Cambridge, 17th April 1815; from Albany, N. E. 40, from
Salem S. 6, miles; surface diversified with hill and dale, but the lands are chiefly
arable; soil, clay and sandy loam. The Battenkill forms its northern boundary.
The northern turnpike runs through a charming valley here. Jackson and Ana-
quascook are the names of the post offices.
Kingsbury, centrally distant N. E. from Albany 55 miles; surface generally
level, soil, sand, clay, gravelly and sandy loam; sand prevailing in the S. W. and
clay in the N. and N. E.; generally well cultivated. The fine groves of white
pine which formerly covered the town, have been almost wholly cut off; drained
on the E. and N. by East creek, a tributary of Wood creek; and upon the W.
and S. by a tributary of the North river. Sandy Hill, Kingsbury and Adams-
ville are post villages. Sandy Hill, half shire village, incorporated in 1810, lies
upon a high, sandy plain, upon the upper bank of the Hudson river, opposite to
Baker's Falls, where in the space of less than half a mile, the water has a fall of 76
feet, affording a very desirable power for mills. Over the stream is a wooden bridge

756

TOPOGRAPHY.

1100 feet long. The village is laid out upon streets forming a triangle, having an
open area in the centre, which has been neatly enclosed and improved, at private ex
pense. It contains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Episcopal, churches; neat buildings or
namented with cupolas, a Methodist Episcopal, and a Catholic societies who
have no churches, but meet for worship in the court house and schools; 2 dis
trict, and 1 high, schools; 1 printing office, issuing a weekly paper; 2 grist mills,
2 saw mills, 2 carding, and cloth dressing mills; 2 furnaces; 2 hotels; commodi
ous buildings, well kept; 10 stores and groceries, and 110 dwellings. * This is a
pleasant and healthy village, and some of its buildings are very neat. The coun
try is healthy, and the views from the river bank, delightful. Kingsbury village,
in the N. part of the town, on the road to Fort Ann, 5 miles from Sandy Hill,
has 1 Baptist church, 1 tavern, 2 stores, several mechanics' shops, and about 35
dwellings. Two miles N. is the spot where Putnam was defeated by the Indi
ans. Adamsville, in the S. E. angle, 6 miles from Sandy Hill, contains a Bap
tist church, distriet school, tavern, store, and about 25 dwellings upon a soil of
rich and well cultivated gravelly loam.
Putnam, taken from Westfield, 28th Feb. 1806; from Albany 90, and from
Sandy Hill N. 30, miles; surface mountainous; the Palmertown mountain filling
the space between lakes George and Champlain, in breadth about 4 miles. The
mountain is bold and precipitous, and rises to the height of 1500 feet. Much of
the country is still wild, and perhaps wholly unfit for cultivation; but portions of
it are arable, and susceptible of improvement, and its population seems to increase
in the general ratio of the Union. There is a post office-, named after the town.
Salem, N. from New York 191, from Albany N. E. 46, and from Sandy Hill
S. E. 21, miles; surface hilly, with narrow valleys and plains; soil sandy, and
clay loam under good and improving cultivation; drained, S. and S. W. by Black
and White creeks, supplying abundant mill power. The northern turnpike crosses
the town centrally. Settlements were first made here in 1764, by Alexander Tur
ner and others, to whom a grant had been made in 1761. During the revolu
tionary war, the inhabitants were driven from their homes, and" their church was
consumed by fire. Salem, half-shire village, on the northern, turnpike, near the
centre of the town, upon White creek, incorporated in 1803, is laid out with streets
at right angles, upon a spacious plain, contains the court house, and prisbn in one
building; 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Dutch Reformed churches, a printing office issu
ing a weekly paper, an academy, a seminary for females, 1 grist mill, furnace foT
castings, machine factory, 2 hotels, 6 stores, 8 law offices, and about 120 dwell
ings, among which are some elegant mansions. East Salem and Shushan are
post offices.
White Creek, taken from Cambridge, 17th April, 1815; from Sandy Hill, S. 26
miles; surface hilly, ridges running upon the E. and W. and enclosing a valley
drained south by Owl and Little White creeks. The former flowing to the Hoosic
river and the latter to the Walloomscoic creek; soil sandy loam, fertile and judi
ciously cultivated. St. Coic and Walloomscoic are names respectively of early
and thickly settled vicinages, commenced by Dutch families. Lead ore frequent in
the ranges of hills which eross the town, is said also to have been discovered
here. North White Creek and Little White Creek are post villages. The former
in the N. W. angle ofthe town, 38 miles N. E. from Albany and 12 S. from Sa
lem, contains 1 Presbyterian church, 3 stores, tavern and about 30 dwellings, upon
a pleasant plain. The latter in the S. E. Angle upon the creek of the same name,
18 miles S. from Salem, near the Vermont line; has a Baptist church, 1 Quaker
meeting house, 1 tavern, 3 stores, large woollen factory, 2 tanneries, and about one
hundred dwellings. Two miles lower down the creek is Marsh's Scythe factory.
It is said, that marble and roofing slate of good quality may be obtained in the
town. Dorr's Corners, half mile E. from N. White Creek has 1 store, and about
20 dwellings. Wait's Corners, centrally situated, has 1 Baptist church, 1 store, 1
tavern and about 20 dwellings. One mile E. is a small settlement, called White
Creek centre, where is a post office, a store and 10 or 12 dwellings.
Whitehall; surface generally hilly, soil stiff clay adapted better to grass than
grain. Having the N. W. portion in the primitive, and S. and E. portions in the
transition, formation, the town presents great diversity of surface, soil, and rock-
granite, gneiss, slate, lime, and marble abound: iron ore, and, it is said, some silver
ore have been found. Wook creek and Pawlet river flowing N. and uniting at White-

WASHINGTON COUNTY. 757
hall village,-afford abundant mill power. Poultney river falls into the lake below
Whitehall, and forms, in part, the northern boundary. South and East bays of
Lake Champlain are included within the town. At the head of the latter, at the
termination of the canal, 73 miles.N. of Albany, and 21 from Sandy Hill, lies the
incorporated and post village of Whitehall formerly called Skenesborough. Its site
is low, and upon almost naked rock. It derives its importance from its happy
situation for trade by the canal and lake; by which it commands the business of
a very extensive country. Burgoyne occupied this place previous to his march
to Saratoga; and on the heights over the harbour are the remains of a battery and
blockhouse. The village contains 1 Presbyterian church, which, with a glebe of
60 acres of land, was obtained from the liberality of the late John Williams,
Esq. ofSale'm; a bank, 1 Methodist chapel; societies of Universalists, Baptists, and
Catholics, which have no buildings for worship: 1 large grist, 1 saw, mills; clothing
works, many warehouses for the commission and forwarding trade; 4 public
house's, two of whieh are large and commodious hotels, 20 general stores, and
about 150 dwellings. A steamboat leaves this place daily, during the season for

Females.
Births.
Deaths.
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1835.
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Argyle,
2311
3025
3450
3013
342
586
131 | 317
325
635
14
93
Cambridge,
2491
9163
2325
2105
259
453
32 221
253
377
13
47
27
18
9
Dresden,
532
495
059
96
152
4' 92
24
143
10
31
7
2
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Easton,
3051
3211
3758
2908
280
648
57, 337
263
586
22
45
33
9.7
14
Port Ann,
2011
3020
3200
3242
297
688
80 423
265
649
11
68
55
1R
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Tort Edward,
1031
1642
1816
1784
171
350
46 226
161
396
14
40
94
11
9
Granvillo,
3727
3543
38S1
3862
301
780
91
464
395
838
27
82
72
50
47
Greenwich,
3197
3134
3847
3363
345
732
48
394
391
672
30
53
m
18
33
Hampton,
963
940
1069
933
78
174
20
123
87
202
¦ 7
14
24
3
11
Hartford,
2493
•2537
2420
2223
197
464
45
2711
227
282
94
39
35
' 27
>4
Hebron,
2754
2705
2686
2469
221
500
62
307
242
529
19
47
40
19
24
Jackson,
2004
1817
2057
1739
222
379
30 198
211
335
lfi
35
9,9
18
19
Kingsbury,
2203
2359
2606
2426
198
521
591 272
289
501
20
35
33
15
17
Putnam,
892
768
718
731
75
123
42 83
70
184
6
13
20
7
4
Salem,
2985
3038
2972
2682
262
588
25 265
319
544
13
49
33
19
28
White Creek,
2377
2316
2446
2111
259
464
23, 257
2(10
407
IB
37
36
11
10
Whitehall,
2341
2540
2889
3076
282
573
129 432
292
650
26
75
86
25
26
38831
39280
42635
39326
3885
8181
9244681
4016
7930
288
776
655
316
315
Noft. Males, 19,624; Females, 19,702; Paupers, 94; Blacks, 335; Black voters, 3; Deaf and Dumb,
30; Blind, 35; Idiots, 36; Lunatics, 39.
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33371
22521 3233038302
52121 15855
34500
26055 13813
2690633209
2306923533 2090131677
26755 31165
22647 17482 3354
2633321431 10727
28335 18937 7953
20585 23523 16018 17580 6303
2298720632 23705
329814 369032 66502
511091266465 151053
462397339056 92427
299008 354078
248928 319367 68070
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662018743820518 18000
6858068980 8667
56047361353218464384 14868
7042288391
132866
47592451 670
3645392722785115
2944 1496
35383903
2032 2743 1659
2705 1822
3514
1040 725 129
11071090 492
1132 849 322
798913674763
234 803745825
10696
12724 956
1517512860 4567
1946410036 4870
135351362713039 97664540
2184828488 9966
3910
3306 314
4823 16931040
38083472 706
21992879
2920 1639 471
1486
2054 1011
45552207 965
4001 51372683
52333400 1686
4329 3403
23143947 1654
3251 1482
4360
54607
61354988 1066
58965821
234072545914 1366
58014833
41062462235431482130
4271
64486979 438
73113430 946
96855508 1207
4960 6020
47792431 990
35593742
2129
957
1088 166
1496 717
422
1332 995252862
975 702
959207
122811741093
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249 135
676680
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2171 658658
323541
488342 133
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308536
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886981
49221
12641
206157
37731
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70562
14625
9257
758

TOPOGRAPHY.

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Argyle,
Cambridge, Dresden,
Easton.
Fort Ann,
Fort Edward,
Granville,Greenwich, Hampton,Hartford,Hebron,Jackson,
Kingsbury, Putnam,
Salem, White Creek,
Whitehall,

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2315 7
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355297 49
391
289 189
452469 112
255 284208
271 74:
311
254 >.
300

667734110
894591377
847
1184 130
521652548
772114
731645
467

1002 791 J65
844
978524
1383:1176 400704925
519
678302
927
580
834

541

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4560

9984

12732

Value of product,
Value of material,

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No. of children above 5 and under 16
years of age 11,759,

St. Johns, Canada, distant 150 miles, touching at the seveial landings upon Lake
Champlain. An enterprising citizen obtained authority from the legislature to
construct works for supplying the village with wholesome water, in 1835. The
vessels captured from the British upon the lake, during the late war, are rotting
here in the mud. The northern Indians applied to the foot ofthe village, the name
of Kah-cho, qudh-na, "the place where dip-fish."
"WAYNE COUNTY, taken from the N. W. corner of Ontario, and the N. of
Seneca, counties, 11th April, 1823; is bounded N, by Lake Ontario, along which
it extends, E. and W. 35 miles; E. by Cayuga; S. by Seneca and Ontario; and
W. by Monroe, counties: Greatest length, from E. to W. 35; greatest breadth,
N. and S. 30, miles; in form nearly a parallelogram; area 586 square miles; situ
ate between 43° 00' and 43° 201 N. Lat; and 0° 13' and 0° 28' W. Long.; central
ly distant N. W. from New York, by the way of Albany 350, and from Albany
205, miles.
The surface is much diversified; on the N. the ancient beach of Lake Ontario,
extends with the lake, E. and W. distant from it, from 4 to 8 miles; forming in
its whole course, a public road, passingthrough the towns of Ontario, Williamson,
Sodus, Huron, and Wolcott, into Cayuga, county. Of this ridge, we have al
ready spoken fully, at page 23. North of the ridge, the county is a gently inclin
ed plain; on the S. it assumes a singular character, being tossed into low hills of
gravel and sand, which cover the base southerly, beyond the S. border. These
hills seem to have a general direction, N. and S. and may have been formed by
the influx of the waters of the lake impelled by fierce N. W. winds, which sweep
over them, for some 60 or 70 miles, directing them upon the shores of this, Cayu
ga, Oswego, and Jefferson, counties, and rushing into the Seneca vale. In all
these counties, these hills, composed of water-worn stones, are found, as if scat
tered, broad cast, by an almighty hand. This opinion may merit farther consider
ation, when we reflect, that, from the end of the Rochester level, at Pittsford, to
the Monteiuma level, the descent, easterly, is 132 feet, and that the Ridge Road is,
probably, 140 feet above the lake. If the lake, therefore, came to this ridge, it
would have been higher than the Montezuma marshes. If, as seems probable,
that ridge was but a bar in the lake, at some distance from its shore', the lake must
have filled the Seneca vale, and its waves, we repeat, may have raised these hills
or mounds, and these ridges have been formed by the recession of its waters.

WAYNE COUNTY.

759

The Mountain Ridge, with its base of slate and capping of limestone, which is
broken through by the Niagara river, and forms so conspicusus a feature of the
scenery, there, is, though diminished, in height, not wholly lost. It makes here,
as it does in its whole course to the west, except at the Genesee river, and Oak
Orchard creek, the water shed of the country; running centrally through the county,
E. and W. it confines Mud creek and the Clyde, to the vale upon the south, and
sends to them one-half the waters which rise within it, and distributes the other
naif, by courses never exceeding ten miles, in a direct line, to the lake. These
tributary streams have small volumes, but are rendered valuable by their fall,
which on the northern declivity, is scarce less than 20 feet to the mile.
The great streams of the county are Mud creek, and the Canandaigua river or
Mud Creek, has its source in the town of Bristol, Ontario county, about 4 miles
"• of Canandaigua lake, and. runs N. E. to the town of Palmyra, of this county,
and thence easterly, to the town of Lyons, where it unites with the Canandaigua
«/er. Its length, by its windings, is more than fifty miles. Its volume is con
siderable and its motion so rapid, as to render it a very valuable mill stream. It
was formerly navigated, and some of the dams thrown across it have locks or
shutes, admitting the passage of boats and rafts.
Canandaigua River, issues from the lake of that name, and has a general N. E.
direction of 50 miles to the village of Lyons; and falls in its course, about 400
fe«t. Its greatest tributary is Flint creek, which rising in Italy, on the S. boun-

760 TOPOGRAPHY.
dary of the county of Yates, flows N. 30 miles, to its recipient, in the town of
Phelps, Ontario county.
The Canandaigua and Mud creek, make the Clyde river, which pursues an E.
bat tortuous course from Lyons, 20 miles, to the Seneca outlet. Its current is
' ^"Sg'sh a"d navigable for boats to Lyons.
The Erie canal, for nearly the whole of its devious course of 43 miles, through
the county, keeps the valley of Mud creek, and the Clyde, dropping by 8 locks
61 feet.
A company was incorporated in 1829 and 1834, to make a canal from the Sene
ca river or Canandaigua outlet, near to Montezuma, to the Great Sodus bay,
capital $200,000; such canal would complete the most direct water communica
tion between the Atlantic ocean and Lake Ontario, by way of the Seneca ca
nal, the Seneca lake, the Chemung canal, and Chemung, and Susquehanna
rivers. The northern, and much the greater portion of the county, is underlaid with sa
liferous sandstone; over the southern border, stretching from Ontario county,
the great central secondary formation of limestone extends; in which, are beds of
gypsum and water lime. Upon the sandstone rock, in some, and probably in all
the towns bordering on the lake, lenticular argillaceous oxide of iron, yielding 30
percent, of metal, abounds. The ore contains petrified volutites, small and well
characterised. Of thi3 ore, there are at least two varieties. The first, a bright red inclining to
purple, is found in Ontario, Williamson, and Sodus, in quantity supposed inex
haustible; in a strip of country about a mile in width, midway between the Ridge
Road and the lake, at the depth of from 3 to 5 feet below the surface, in beds of
great thickness, growing better as it descends. The soil is a reddish, sandy loam,
upon greenish clay, covering the ore. The ore is sometimes in isolated rounded
masses; at others, in beds, similar to those of gypsum. The second, a dark red,
inclining to,brown, is in the town of Huron, on the inlet of Port Bay, at the same
distance from the lake, atid in the same direction as the first, and with like con
comitants. The stratum probably extends under Sodus bay. A mile or two S.
ofthe ore bed, up the stream, is a fall of 40 feet over blue slate, still further south
•the bed of the inlet, is a smooth rock apparently limestone, to the summit level,
(a bog) N. of C<rusoe lake, in Galen.
About three miles S. of Lake Ontario, there is an isolated bed of limestone
crossing the great Sodus bay. Quarries haye been opened and wrought in it
upon the E . side of the bay.
" Salt springs are also found- in this sandy formation. In the low, swampy
grounds of Galen are sources of brine, sufficiently strong to have induced the erec
tion of salt works.
The soil of the county, generally, formed of saliferous and calcareous gravel,
easy of disintegration, and vegetable mould, is highly fertile; and experience has
taught, that, the more it is labouredand these materials subjected to decomposi
tion and commixture, the more productive it becomes. It may, therefore, be
deemed perpetually fertile. Gypsum is used upon it with, excellent effect, in the
culture of clover and other grasses. Unimproved lands sell at from 7 to 10 dol
lars, the acre; improved farms, at from 20 to 70 dollars, the acre, depending on
proximity to market, quality of soil, and improvements. Lands here, in 1835,
had risen in value 30 per cent, and were advancing in price.
In the western part, the country is generally cleared and settled; in the eastern,
it is almost wholly seated, and the clearing and cultivation rapidly increasing.
' The county has a motley population, composed of emigrants from New England,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, England, Scotland, and Germany. But the incessant
activity of the Yankee leaven prevails.
The greater portion of tlie county, on the west, including about one fourth of
the towns of Galen, Rose and Huron, was in the grant to Massachusetts, and in
Phelps and Gorliam's purchase, passing from those gentlemen to Robert Morris,
and from him to Sir William Pulteney, from whom the present possessors derive
title; the remnant in the E. pertained to the military tract.
A company was incorporated in 1836, to make a rail road from Vienna in Onta
rio county, by the way of Newark and East ridge of this county, to Lake Ontario.
The county is divided into 15 towns.

WAYNE COUNTY. 761
Arcadia, taken ftom Lyons, 15th Feb., 1825; N. W. from Albany 186 miles;
surface hilly; soil sandy and calcareous loam, resting on slate, saliferous sand
stone, lime, and gypsum; of the last a bed has been opened, and is extensively
quarried. Along Mud creek there are some tracts of swampy land. Newark
and Lockville are villages. Newark post village, 6 miles W. from Lyons, upon
the canal, contains 1 Presbyterian arid I Methodist churches; a select school for
males, and another for females, a machine shop, carriage manufactory, a steam
plaster mill, 11 stores, 1 tavern, an ashery, and 75 dwellings. Lockville. also, on
the the canal, 5 miles W. from Lyons, has a store, tavern, and 20 dwellings.
There are in the town two other Methodist, 1 Christian, and 1 Baptist churches,
and a post office called Fairville.
Butler, taken from Wolcott, 26th Feb. 1826; N. W. from Albany 170, from
Lyons N. E. 14, miles; surface rolling, soil gravelly loam; drained northward
by small streams flowing to the lake. There are a post office with the name
of the town, and another called South But'er, and 1 Methodist and 1 Baptist
churches. Galen, organised as part of Seneca county and taken from Junius, 14th Feb.
1812, N. W. from Albany 172 miles; surface hilly, crossed northerly by gravel
ridges; soil sandy and gravelly loam, of good quality; drained by tbe Clyde river,
which curves deeply into it. Clyde and Lock Berlin are post villages, and Marengo
a post office. Clyde village, 8 miles E. from Lyons, upon the canal and Clyde
river, incorporated 2d May, 1835; contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1
Baptist churches; a high school, 3 taverns, many stores, and forwarding houses,
2 grist, 2 saw, 1 carding and cloth dressing, mills; an extensive cylinder window
glass manufactory, a tannery, and about 100 neat dwellings. The high school,
incorporated 24th April, 1834, comprehends school districts, No. 14 and 17 of the
town; and the district so composed is not subject to alteration by the school com
missioners. The funds necessary for its establishment were obtained partly by
private subscription, and partly by tax, levied upon the district. Lock Berlin, 4
miles from Lyons, also, on the canal, has a store, tavern, smithy, a lock, and
some 8 or 10 dwellings. There is a Quaker meeting house in the town.
Huron, taken from Wolcott, 25th February, 1826; by the name of Port Bay;
changed to Huron in 1834; N. W. from Albany 193; from Lyons, N. E. 15 miles;
surface level; soil fertile, gravelly and sandy loam. Sodus bay, from the N. W.
extends 5, Port bay 2, and East bay 3; miles, into the town. The village mark
ed on the maps as Port Glasgow, exists only on paper. But there is a small
settlement on Sodus bay, called Nicholas Point. Several small streams flow N.
to the bays. There is a post office bearing the name of the town, and there are 1
Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Baptist, churches.
Lyons, taken from Sodus, 1st March, 1811; since much diminished in area;
centrally distant, N. W. from Albany, 181 miles; surface hilly; soil sandy and cal
careous loam, of excellent quality; drained by Mud creek and the Canandaigua outlet,
which unite a short distance above the village of Lyons. Lyons and Alloway are
•post villages. Lyons, the shire town, incorporated April 16th, 1831; at the head
of Clyde river, arid u,pon the Erie canal, is beautifully situate upon a plain, on the
north bank, circumscribed northerly and easterly by limestone ridges of easy as
cent, affording a beautiful view of the village, the river vale, on the S. E. and of
the valleys of the component streams on the west; by the canal 226 miles W.
from Albany; and 44 E. from Rochester; contains a courthouse and prison of
brick, of plain substantial structure, upon a public square; 1 Presbyterian, 1
German Lutheran, and 1 Methodist, churches, a bank, incorporated in 1836, ca
pital 200,000, 5 taverns, 14 general stores, 5 groceries, 2 printing offices, each
issuing a newspaper, a furnace for casting iron, 1 flouring, 1 grist, 1 saw, and 1 card-
ingand cloth dressing, mills, and 250 dwellings, many ofthe houses and stores are of
brick, large and commodious, and their number is rapidly increasing. The power
for the flouring mill is on the south side of the village, and is obtained by a canal
of half a mile hi length, from theCanandaigna outlet, giving a fall of 9 feet, under
a laro-e volume of water. The greater portion of this power is yet unemployed.
The river is crossed by a commodious wooden bridge. Alloway, upon the Canan
daigua outlet, 3 miles S. of Lyons, has 1 Methodist church, 2 flouring, 2 saw,
2 cardino- and cloth dressing, mills, 2 large distilleries, 1 store, 2 taverns, and 30
96

762

TOPOGRAPHY.

dwellings. Its water power give's it much importance. There is 1 Baptist church
in the town.
Maoedon, taken from Palmyra, 29th January, 1823; N. W. from Albany 205;
from Lyons, W. 17 miles; surface rolling; soil clay and gravelly loam, based on
lime; drained by Mud creek and its tributary, Red creek. Macedon and.Macedon
Centre are post villages. Macedon, upon the canal, 20 miles W. of Lyons, has 1
Baptist church, a select school, 2 stores, 1 tavern, 1 grist, 1 saw, and 1 carding
and cloth dressing, mills, upon Mud creek, a pocket furnace, and about 25 dwell
ings. Macedon Centre,22 miles N. W. from Lyons, has 2 Quaker meetinghouses,
1 store, and 8 or 10 dwellings. There is also a Methodist church in the town.
Marion, taken from Williamson, by the name of Winchester, 18th April, 1825;
name changed 18th April, 1826; N. W. from Albany 202; from Lyons, 13 miles;
surface broken by sandy hills and gravelly ridges, with soil of good quality for
grain; drained S. by a branch of Mud creek. Marion Corners, has a store, tavern
and post office, grist mill, furnace, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, churches, tannery,
and some 20 dwellings. And there is in the town 1 Methodist church.
Ontario, taken from Williamson, and organised as part of Ontario county,
March 27th, 1807; by the name of Freetown, name changed 12th February, 1808;
centrally distant, N. W. from Albany, 205 miles; surface level; soil gravelly and
sandy loam; drained N. by some small tributaries of Lake Ontario. Bog iron ore
is abundant in this town, and is extensively wrought into castings and pigs, at
Ontario furnace, 3 miles N. of Ontario village. Ontario Corners and New Boston
or Lake Port, are villages. Ontario Corners, 24 miles N. W. from Lyons, has a
post office, a Baptist church, a tavern and store, saw mill, and some 12 or 15
dwellings. New Boston, 26 miles from Lyons, founded by H. F. Andrews, in 1830,
has a port upon the lake, some half a dozen dwellings, a saw mill, smith
shop, and school house. The town has also 1 Methodist, and 1 Presbyterian,
churches. There is a second post office, called West Ontario.
Palmyra, organised by general sessions of Ontario county, pursuant to act 27th
January, 1789; since modified; surface gently undulating; soil calcareous loam, of
good quality; drained by Mud and Red creeks. Palmyra, village, incorporated
29th March, 1827; distant from Albany by post route 194; by canal 241; from
Lyons 11; by canal 15; from Rochester by canal 29; by road 22; from Canandai
gua, 13 miles; upon the Erie canal and Mud creek; has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Epis
copal, 1 Methodist, and 1 Baptist, churches, an academy or high school, a print
ing office, issuing a weekly journal,"! grist, 1 saw, mills, 4 taverns, 12 general
stores, several groceries and druggists' shops, 2 extensive tanneries, a brewery,
rope factory, 3 capacious basins on the canal, and about 250 dwellings. There
are in the town, also, 1 other Methodist and Presbyterian, and 2 Quaker, churches,
and a post office, called East Palmyra.
Rose, taken from Wolcott, 25th Feb. 1826; N. W. from Albany 177 miles;
surface undulating; soil gravelly loam; drained N. by several small streams flow
ing to the lake. Rose Valley, post village, 10 miles N. E. from Lyons has 1 Bap
tist, and 1 Methodist, churches; 2 taverns, 1 store, 1 tannery, saw mill, and about
12 dwellings. There is in the town also 1 Presbyterian chuich.
Savannah, taken from Galen, 24th Nov. 1824; N. W. from Albany 168, irom
Lyons, E. 13, miles; surface level; swampy on the S. E. being partly covered by
the Montezuma marshes, through which "curves the Seneca river. The marsh
here spreads over 2000 acres, part of which has been drained, and is under culti
vation. There is a post office called by the name of the town, and there is a Bap
tist church. Crusoe Lake is a small pond one and a half miles in circumference,
a mere shoal.
Sodus, organised by general sessions of Ontario county, pursuant to act 27th
January, 1789; since modified: N. W. from Albany 180 miles; surface on the N.
gently inclining to the lake; on the south covered with sandy and gravelly ridges;
soil well adapted to grain, grass, and fruit. Sodus and Sodus Point are small
villages. Allen and South Sodus, post offices. Sodus, on the Ridge Road, 13
miles N. W. of Lyons, has 1 Episcopal and 1 Presbyterian churches, 3 stores, 2
taverns, and some 30 dwellings. There are in the town, also, 2 Baptist and 1
Universalist churches. Sodus Point,\W. of Sodus bay, on the lake, 15 miles from
Lyons, has 1 tavern, 1 store, and 20 dwellings. At Nicholas Point, on Sodus
bay, and on the dividing line between Sodus and Huron, is an establishment of

WAYNE COUNTY.

763

Shakers, 115 in number. They settled here in 1825, and have 1 grist, and 1 saw,
mills, a church, some 10 or 12 dwellings, and several workshops. Sodus bay
opens to the lake by a small inlet, through a narrow strip of land, and immedi
ately widens to two miles, and varies gradually, narrowing as it ruus southerly.
There are several islands in the bay, the largest of which, called Gregs, contains
about 20 acres of excellent land. The United States have made a pier at the en
trance ofthe bay, of a mile in length, for the improvement of the harbour, through
which is an inlet 200 feet wide. The lake steamboats enter the harbour and
bay — when the. bar at the mouth shall be removed, the harbour will be equal to
any on the lake. ' The bar admits vessels drawing 8 feet water.
Walworth, taken from Ontario, 20th April, 1829; N. W. from Albany 208,
from Lyons 18, miles; surface rolling; soil gravelly loam, of excellent quality,
producing large crops of wheat, and cultivated by wealthy farmers; drained N.
by some small streams flowing to the lake, and S. by a branch of Red creek.
Walworth Corners, post village, has 1 Methodist, and 1 Baptist, churches, a select
school, 1 tavern, 1 tannery, 2 stores, 1 drug shop, and from 20 to 25 dwellings.
There are, also, in the town, two other Baptist, and 1 Presbyterian, churches.
Williamson, taken from Sodus, 20th Feb. 1802; since modified: N. W. from
Albany 206 miles; surface on the N. gently inclining to the lake, on the S. gravelly
ridges; soil productive; drained by some small streams, running to the lake.
Pultneyville and Williamson's Corners are post villages. The first, on the
lake, 21 miles N. W. from Lyons, has 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Methodist, churches,
grist and saw mills, tannery, ashery, 1 tavern, 3 stores, and 20 dwellings. Wil
liamson's Corners has 1 tavern, 2 stores, 1 Baptist, 1 Presbyterian, churches, and
from 15 to 20 dwellings.
Wolcott, organised as part of Seneca county, 24th March, 1807, and taken
from Junius; since much altered; N. W. from Albany 184 miles; surface declining
towards the lake; soil sandy and gravelly loam; drained northerly by Red creek
and another small tributary of the lake. The town is thickly settled and well
cultivated. Wolcott and Red Creek are post villages. Wolcott, in the S. W.
angle, 18 miles N. E. from Lyons, has 1 Presbyterian church, 2 taverns, 4 stores,
1 grist, 2 saw, 1 carding and cloth dressing, mills; blast furnace, at which large
quantities of pig iron and castings are made, from ore obtained in the vicinity, and
about 80 dwellings including those at the furnace. Red Creek, 26 miles N. E.
from Lyons, has 1 store, 1 tavern, 1 grist, and saw, mills; and about a dozen
dwellings. There are, also, in tbe town, 1 Methodist, and 1 Baptist churches.

Females. v
Births.
Deaths.
CD
•P
PUS
jotr
G3
TOWNS.
GB
li
•P g
ti
P
to
DO
cd
tp E
P cd
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CS
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1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
2
Po
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- 03
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2
2
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£p
fr
Arcadia,
3479
3901
4099
3051
797
41
557
263
978
12
58
55
28
~20
Butler,
1764
2100
194
416
3
290
123
544
12
55
40
16
7
Galen,
29P9
2935
3631
3775
358
762
86
483
242
832
20
84
59
26
31.
Huron,
1082
1831
152
347
9
258
101
423
14
43
32
13
9
Lyons, "
3972
3068
3603
4013
650
813
147
50:
350
910
23
67
70
26
18 19
Macedon,
1903
1989
2190
246
416
42
267
186
456
19
42
^38
10
Marion,
1967
2043
123
438
16
287
135
439
18
45
34
1-2
18
Ontario,
2233
2732
1585
1626
161
330
12
232
107
388
17
30
26
7
G
Palmyra,Rose,
3724
2813
3427 1641
3326 1715
338 156
680324
88 38
448
232
355 119
696441
24 8
59
21
4128
3811
27 2
Savannah,
452
886
1324
158
27S
3
197
66
317
8
36
25
fl
10
32 1513 3
Sodus,
2013
2496
3528
4079
334
806
68
523
300
930
35
93
82
39
Walworth,
1753
1798
142
355
15
223
133
436
8
42
24
15
Williamson,Wolcott,
2521
2867
31903893
18011085
20171792
177158
3652
371363
7496
88
26
684
273261
5023
150 98
¦2728
467428
*26 246
3940
754
35 32
621
9 5
273
20369
26761
33643
37788
1 8685
230
Note. Males, 12,294; Females, 18,494; Blacks, 165; Black voters, 3; Paupers, 6; Deaf and Dumb, 41;
Blind, 19; Idiots, 21; Lunatics, 12.
764

TOPOGRAPHY.

TOWN?.

«
'A in
<

5 g,
<

K.2
¦=°2
¦ 01 til
c. « 0)
pg-3
< "

tcj ca
¦d-o m ta — -
8-S
< o p

3 p
o

ptop
»

a,pp
JO tB

p a
*
tn

tn
•C >. 03
fr

fitiB P
Q-jS
o s

p
ii
2 p
6-S

M
ed
r £P

¦ Xa
; ' & OS
¦ S3O
: ; O

Arcfvlia,

32000

16747

395084

5160

3153' 1307

'5511

4494

5355

5889

Sim

1041 28

887 52

Butler,

22000

9U37

1-15513

1250

2233 1 633

3fiR7

2098

3421

3812

5430

424 80

302 44

Galen,

31000

160511

38/4305

6327

3483

1328

6849

3213

4751

4201

.5171

791 17

792 98

Huron,

23000

4591

111770

1000

1020

364

2531

1463

1709

asm

2833

444 74

306 11

Lyon 3,, ,

24000

. 12'>01

380837

10430

2971

976

5625

297'J

3548

4662

3522

597 72

819 15

Macedon,

23000

1435C

314173

302311

2412

1)23

0792

2863

2994

5306

1245

393 61

722 18

Marion,

19085

10215

10041H

6275

2033

772

4921.

1933

3235

5543

4827

470 11

401 98

Ontario,

418011

71r-U

100320

IU8

1470

459

32311

1438

2467

3923

3215

252 68

287 15

Palmyra,

21120

12(140

4U011S

111)5.5 4

2273

839

3893

25S0

2842: 4842

3035

646 94

1174 60

Rose,

23000

mv.i

105U74

1272

1545

473

2105

1733

'.'423 2407

2611

602 00

. 263 60

Savannah,

23000

525J

9116110

6820

tana

305

238t:

1348

1738| 2002

2824

261 16.

212 83

Pot! us,

44571

17101

'-¦58140

10000

3735

115U

7183

3712

46381 774i

4638

1067 60

680 42

Walworth,

*

1-J3D1

213722

9500

1877

721

4033

2058

34421 4115

4212

222 79

498 38

Williamson,

20000

7839

154308

1955

1619

62i:

3526

1639

25561 3018

2469

270 15

405 82

Wolcott,

22000

100392

500

1441

393

1977

1412

1680J 1778

3344

181 53

244 84

375576,

153530

3393405

234000

33201

11281

64546

38890

40895 61810

54485

7668 26

8000 00

* Included in Ontario.

ID
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2 0
J- JSS
Boatn
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14 3 4
a 0 1
< IS at
1
4
fc'0
£a'
Z
Arcadia,
23
588
1096 584
1490
Butler,
1
2
13
264
679
Galen,
2
6 I 1
1 1
18
552
800
.1247
Huron,
12! 1 1
1
11
99
460
561
Lyons,
6
5| 2 1
1 2
1
J
14
373
1028
1099
M aced o n ,
it
101 3 3
1
I
14
323
508
676
Marion,
1
3| 1
2
1
1
13
200
351
«4
Ontario,
1
10'
2
11
164
440
595
Palmyra,
3
7, 1 1
1
1 4 1
18
at8
755
879
Rose,
1
7
1 1
1 1
1
8
263
214
555
Savannah,
1
8
181
311
410
Sodus,
4
16
2 2
1
2
3
23
549
685
1481
Walworth,
2
1
2
' 12
304
812
1051
WiUiamson(
3
10
2
3
10
184
531
585
Wolcott,
2
a
1 1
1
9
121
375
485
30
112
15 16
8 7
11 1
t- 0 e
120 1
j 0 0
1 « 0
205
4523
1 B950
12547
go 5 1
Value of product,
0
•* -o
•v
0
-r Tt*
— * t— -
No. of <
hildren betw
een 5 and
16 years or
—
—
age, 12,0i:
.
O cc;
S 15
Value of material,
Ui
0us
T 50
7c 0 :
. g-c*
WESTCHESTER COUNTY, originally organised 1st November, 1683;
confirmed in 1788 and 1801; bounded S. by Long Island Sound; E. by Connec
ticut; N. by the north bounds ofthe manor of Cortlandt, dividing it from Putnam
county; and the same line continued east to the state line, and west to the middle
of Hudson river; W. by a line running thence down the middle of the river, until
it reaches opposite to the boundary line of the state of New Jersey, on the river,
and then W. to thp^same; then S. along the west bounds of the state, to the line
of New York county; and thence by the same, easterly and southerly, to the
Sound, including Captain's island, and all the islands in the Sound, to the east of
Hog's Neck, and northward ofthe main channel.* Greatest length 45; greatest
breadth, 23 miles; area 554 square miles; situate between 40° 47 and 41° SB7 N.
Lat. and 2° 57' and 3° 27' E. Long.
* Captain's island is claimed by the state of Connecticut.
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

765

PFT IT A M C?

The surface of the country is generally billy, the hills running in broken ridges
S. W. and N. E. Upon the N. W. at Peekskill, the Matteawan mountains have
their southern termination on the east side of the Hudson river. And a high ridge
forming the water shed of the county, crosses from Mount Pleasant.on the Hudson,
through the towns of New Castle, Bedford, Poundridge and Salem, into Connec
ticut. Some geoo-raphers have considered the Taghcanic ridge, which bounds the
state upon the east, as running through the south portion of the county, and ter
minating upon the Hudson, north of the Harlaem river. In the S. E. towards the
Sound, the country becomes more level. The county is altogether of primitive
formation. (See p 43.) . . , ¦ , n ,
North ofthe Mount Pleasant ridge the principal stream is t.ie Croton river,
which, risino- in Pawling, of Dutchess county, flows S. and W. through Patterson,-
and S. E. "of Putnam county, and enters Westchester on the line between

766 TOPOGRAPHY.
Somers and North Salem, and running thence S. W. across Somers, Yorktown
and Cortlandt, unites with the Hudson river at the head of Tappan bay, having a
course of about 40 miles. Its principal tributaries from the N. W. within this
county, are the WestBranch, which blends with the East, near the north line ofthe
county, the Muscoot creek, and a small stream from Yorktown; from the E. and
S. E. Titicus river, flowing about 15 miles from Connecticut; Cross river, having
about the same length from Long pond, and several smaller and innominate
streams, whose waters are about to be carried by the aqueduct to the city of New
York. This is a rapid and powerful stream.
South of the Mount Pleasant ridge, the streams, though tending westward, have
a more southerly course. The principal ones,'having their source from the south
side of the ridge, are Saw Mill river, 22 miles long, entering the Hudson at Yon-
kers. The Bronx river, named after Jonas Bronx, an early settler, issuing from
Rye pond, of 250 acres, and running 28 miles. The Mamaroneck creek and Blind
brook flowing to the Sound. »
Based upon primitive rock the soil is naturally sterile, but is rendered produc
tive by careful and painful cultivation. Of wheat it-produces little; and thejnha-
bitants import a large portion of their bread stuffs. Summer crops are good,, and
by the use of plaster, valuable returns in grass are obtained. The chief business
ofthe inhabitants consists in supplying New York city with garden stuffs, field
vegetables, butter, poultry, eggs, lambs and calves, &c.
The county is divided into 21 towns, all of which were organised under the act
of 7th March, 1788, except New Castle.
Bedford, distant from New York, N. E. 44, from Albany, S. 118, and from
White Plains, N. 14, miles; surface high, hilly and broken, yet with little waste;
soil light loam, stony, but made to produce good crops of rye, grass, and fruit;
drained on the N. W. by Croton river, and on the S. E. by Mehanus and Byram
rivers, of Connecticut, which rise here. Peat of good quality is said to abound.
The first settlement of this town, was under a Connecticut license, in 1681 or
1682, at a place called the Hop Ground, on account of its natural product. The
name of Bedford was then given. The original patent, dated 1697', bears the Con
necticut seal, and it was not until 1700, that the settlement was attached to New
York, by order of King William. Bedford, Mechanic's or Whitlocksville, and
Cantacoc, are post villages. Bedford, half shire village, contains the court house,
temporary prison, a Presbyterian church, 2 taverns, 3 stores, and about 40 dwell
ings, upon a highly fertile plain, encompassed by hills. Whitlocksville, at the
junction of Cross and Croton rivers, 20 miles from White Plains, and 6 from Bed
ford, has a grist mill and clothing works, a store, an extensive manufactory of hats,
and some 20 dwellings. Cantacoc, on Cross river, 20 miles from White Plains, is
a hamlet, having a store, and 6 or 8 dwellings, near which is the seat, late of John
Jay, Esq. There is another hamlet, 2 miles north of Bedford, where are 1 Epis
copal and 1 Baptist, churches, 2 stores and a dozen dwellings.
Cortlandt, surface in part covered by the S. E. border of the Highlands, which
have, here, some lofty summits, of which the Colleberg and Anthony's Nose are
chief; soil sand, sandy and gravelly loam. The Croton river crossing the N. E.
angle into Tappan bay, contributes to form Teller's Point, a peninsula between
Tappan and Haverstraw bays. About 5 miles N. of this headland is Verplank's
point, on which stood Fort Fayette, of the Revolutionary war. In this town also,
was Continental village, occupied by the American troops, and destroyed by the
British, in October, 1777. Peekskill crosses the N. W. angle of the town. Cro
ton, Cortlandttown or Colleberg, and Peekskill, are post villages. The first on
Croton creek, upon the head of Tappan bay, 34 miles from New York, and 115
from Albany, contains 2 stores, a tavern, and about a dozen dwellings, and a land;
ing whence 2 boats ply to New York. Peekskill, village, at the confluence of the
creek of that name with the Hudson, 42 miles N. of New York, and 104 S. from
Albany, incorporated by act of 9th April, 1827, and 15th April, 1828, is built upon
the beach of a small bay, and upon the high banks of a ravine in which flows
Gregory's Brook, a rapid stream. The village proper is separated from the land
ing, by the hill, more than 200 feet high; it contains (the landing included,) about
.220 dwellings, compactly built, many of them neat and commodious, but chiefly
of wood; 1 Episcopal, 1 Dutch Reformed, 1 Presbyterian, and 2 Quaker, churches;
an academy, a large and noble edifice, on the summit of a hill, high above the

WESTCHESTER COUNTY. 767
village, which was erected by private subscription, at the cost of §7000, and is in
flourishing condition; a grist and plaster mill, 5 hotels, 16 large general stores, 2
large hardware stores, 1 book store, 1 apothecaary, 1 confectionary, and bakery; 3
iron foundries, doinga large business, 2 tanneries, abank with a capital of $200,000;
3 lawyers and 3 physicians, 1 printing office issuing a weekly paper; 6 sloops be
longing to the village, ply upon the river, and a steamboat runs daily between it
and New York, and the Albany boats land passengers at Caldwell's, on the oppo
site shore. Large additions were made to the town plat, and many buildings
erected in 1835. This is the principal place of business for a great extent of
country, including the N. • W. part of Westchester and nearly the whole of Put
nam county, and the S. part of the Dover valley, of Dutchess county. There are
at the landing, about 25 dwellings, several taverns and warehouses; a stage runs
daily, from the village through Putnam county, by Patterson to Pawling of
Dutchess. Annsville, is a hamlet, on the Peekskill, 2 miles above the village,
where are a store, tavern, a factory for making iron wire, and about a dozen dwell
ings. Cortlandt Manor,' of this county, contained 86,213 acres of land, granted in
1697, to Stephanus Van Cortlandt, in 2 tracts. The Patent gave to the manor the
right of representation in the assembly.
Eastchester, surface hilly and stony; soil comparatively fertile loam; the
Bronx river bounds it on the W. and Hutchinson's river upon the E. emptying
into an estuary of the sound, known as Eastchester Ijay. At the head ofthe bay,
and dn the fork of the creek, and on the turnpike and stage roads fromi Boston, lies
the post village of Eastchester, about 16 miles N. of New York, 132 S. from
Albany; another post office and village, called Bronx, lies in the northern part of
the, town. The village of Eastchester, contains an Episcopal church, 3 stores, 2
taverns, and about 15 dwellings. Near the Bronx post office, are valuable marble
quarries. Greensburgh, surface, very hilly and stony; soil clay gravelly and sandy loam,
and mostly under good culture; drained S. W. by Bronx, and Sawmill rivers. —
Tarrytown, Dobbs Ferry or Livingstonville,^and Greensburg are post villages. —
Tarrytown, famed as the spot at which Major Andre was arrested, and the treason
of Arnold detected; opposite the centre of Tappan sea, 26 miles from the city, 118
from Albany, 7 E. of White Plains, and 20 S. E. from Bedford, contains 1 Episco
pal and 1 Reformed Methodist, churches; 2 taverns, 5 stores, an extensive pottery
and brick yard, hat and shoe manufactories, and 100 dwellings, erected on the
margin of the river or hung on the sides of the hills, among which are some
beautiful seats. Large additions have lately been made to the town plat, and
great improvements are in progress. Dobbs Ferry, an important point during the
revolution, but a ferry no longer, is 4 miles S. of Tarrytown, where are a landing,
post office, 1 Episcopal and 1 Presbyterian, churches; tavern and store, and upon
the high bank of the river, beautifully situate, some 25 dwellings, among which
are several fine ones, to which the name of Livingstonville has lately been given.
Three miles E. from Tarrytown, and 4 W. from White Plains, in the valley of the
Sawmill river, lies the hamlet of Greensburg, where are a tavern, store, and half a-
dozendwellings, and a Presbyterian church, in whose cemetery rest the remains
of Isaac Van Wart, one of the captors of Andre; over which is a marble monu
ment, consisting of a base and pyramid, having the following inscriptions.
On the Mrth side. the Love of Country was
HereRepuse ' INVINCIBLE.
The Mortal Remains and this tomb bears testimony that the record is
of true-
Tstic Vfln ^Vflrt ^ ""
An elder ofthe Greensburg Church, ~f^ ",*' •,„. itm
who died On the 23d of September, 17BO,
onthe23ddayofMay,inthe69thyeaiofhisage, ISAAC VAN WART
Having lived the life, he died the death, of a accompanied by John Paulding and David
rnnT,,. Williams,
tUHBisTiAH . a]] farmers of the county of Westchester,
_ , . . intercepted Major Andre on his return
VINCIT AMOR PATRIJ3. from the American lines, in the character of a
Nearly half a century before this monument was ^ notwjthstanding thfi'arge bribes offered them
The Conscript' Fathers of America, for his release, ¦^"•j.»&j^° sacrifice ,beir
Had in the Senate Chambers voted, that Secured an(1 carried him to their commanding
Isaac vak Waht officer of the District, whereby the dangerous
was a faithful patriot, one in-whom

768

TOPOGRAPHY.

and traitorous Conspiracy of Arnold was West aide.
brought to light, the insidious The Citizens
designs of the Enemy ' ofthe
baffled. County of Westchester erected this tomb,
The American Army saved, In testimony of the high sense
and our beloved Country, now free They entertain for the
and Independent, rescued from most Virtuous and patriotic conduct
IMMINENT PERIL. of their Fellow Citi*en,
 and as a Memorial Sacred to
Public Gratitude.
Harrison, N, from New York 30, E. from White Plains 3, miles; surface
comparatively level; soil loam, well cultivated, inhabited mostly by Friends, who
have two meetings here, Orthodox and Hicksite. Blind brook runs along the
greater portion of the eastern boundary, and the Mamaroneck, on the west. ¦ The
southern line is about a mile N. of the sound; and the N. E. corner touches the
W. line of Connecticut. Rye pond or Small lake, about 5 miles in circumference,
stocked with pickerel, lies on the northern boundary. There is a post office at
Harrison Purchase, a thickly settled agricultural vicinage, in the north.
Mamaroneck, 23 miles N. E. of New York, and 132 S. of Albany; surface
hilly; soil clay and sandy loam,, generally well cultivated; watered by Mamaro
neck and Shelldrake creeks. Mamaroneck, post village, on a bay which admits
vessels of 100 tons burthen, and upon the turnpike road to New York, contains 1
Episcopal and 1 Methodist,, churches; 2 stores, 2 taverns, 2 large cotton factories,
and from 50 to 60 dwellings. Three sloops belong to the village.
Mount Pleasant, from Albany S. Ill, and from Bedford S. W. 14, miles;
surface diversified, generally hilly; soil well improved and cultivated: drained by
Bronx and Sawmill rivers, and some smaller streams; marble abounds, and is ex
tensively quarried at Sing Sing. (See page 45.) A copper mine, formerly wrought
by a joint stock company has been abandoned though reputed rich. Chappequa
mineral spring, three and a half miles E. from Sing Sing has some reputation for
medicinal qualities, and a large boarding house was erected here some years since.
Mount Pleasant or Sing Sing, Pleasantville, Sparta, and Unionville, are villages;
the first two having post offices. The eastern penitentiary is on the bank of
the river near the village, and the county poor house on a farm near the southern
boundary. Sing Sing, partly on the river margin, partly in a deep ravine, and
partly upon the hill, 34 miles N. of New York, and a short distance above the
prison, incorporated 2d April, 1813, is a very beautiful and thriving village, con
taining 1 Episcopal, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Baptist churches, tasteful
piles, erected within three years from 1835; an academy for males, a flourishing in
stitution for females, erected on a site commanding a wide and lively prospect, a se
lect school, a printing office issuing a weekly paper, several mills, many stores and
mechanics' shops, and about 200 dwellings, many of them remarkably neat, includ
ing several seats belonging to residents of the city of New York. Several sloops
belong to the village, and several steamboats touch here daily on their passage to
and from the city. Pleasantville, -Sparta, and Unionville, are thriving hamlets.
Newcastle, organised from Northcastle, 18th March, 1791; N. from New
York 37, S. from Albany 108, W. from Bedford 6, and N. W. from White Plains
10 miles; surface hilly; soil clay, gravelly and sandy loam, highly improved and
cultivated; watered by branches of Croton and Sawmill rivers, and a small head
pond of Byram creek, and by Rye pond. The post village bearing the name of the
town, is near the W. boundary; and contains a Methodist church, grist mill, 2
saw mills, clothing works, and about 25 dwellings.
New Roohei.le, N. E. from New York 20, from Albany S. 135, and from
White Plains 10, miles; surface generally level, but stony; soil clay loam,
adapted to grass, and well cultivated; drained westwardly by Hutchinson's creek.
The post village having the name ofthe town, is on the turnpike road from New
York to Connecticut, 1 mile N. of the Sound; contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Metho
dist, and 1 Episcopal churches, 3 stores, 3 taverns, and about 40 dwellings.
There is a landing on the sound, where a steamboat touches daily, and where are
2 stores, 1 tavern, and some 20 dwellings. The site of this village affords very
pleasant prospects. Settlements were made here by Hugenots who fled from
France after the repeal of the edict of NantzJ
Northcastlb, 36 miles from New York, 114 from Albany: Byram creek issu
ing from two small ponds, spreads over the centre, and Mehanus creek, rising in
the E. curves N. E about, and on the E. boundary: both are mill streams. Sur-

WESTCHESTER COUNTY. 769
face hilly and stony; soil clay and sandy loam, susceptible of profitable cultiva
tion. There is a post office bearing the name ofthe town.
North Salem, in the N. E corner of the county, 55 miles from New York, 28
from White Plains, and 12 from Bedford; surface hilly; soil gravelly, and clay
loam, productive of grass and summer crops; drained on the W. line by Croton
river, and centrally by" Titus preek, a branch of that stream which turns several
mills. North Salem, post village, centrally situated, has 1 Episcopal, 1 Presbyte
rian, and 1 Universalist, churches; 1 paper,. and 1 grist, mills; clothing works, 2
taverns, 3 stores, and within a mile about 40 dwellings. „
Pelham, formerly manor of Pelham, 18 miles N. from New York, 135, S. from
Albany, including New City island, Hart island, and Hunter's island; surface
level; soil clay loam, very well cultivated'. Hutchinson's river courses the west
ern boundary. The turnpike leading from New York towards Boston, crosses
the town centrally. There are some handsome country seats upon the shore of
the Sound.
Poundridge, distant S. E. from Bedford 4, and frotn Albany 125, from Hudson
river E. 19, from White' Plains N. E. 20, and from the Sound in Connecticut N.
12, miles; 10 from the head of the canal at Stamford; surface hilly and stony;
soil gravelly loam, of indifferent quality; drained southwardly by the Mehanus
and other streams flowing into the adjacent state. The post village, called after
the town,, is centrally situate, and contains 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Methodist Epis
copal, churches; 2 stores, and 14 dwellings. There is no license for selling
spirituous liquors in this town.
Rye, in the S. E. angle of the county, distant from New York 26, from Albany
S. 132, from White Plains S. E. 7 miles, has an uneven and stony surface, with
a soil of clay loam; drained on the E. by Byram, and on the W. by Rye, rivers.
Rye, Sawpits, and Milton are villages. The first two have post offices. Rye
village, on the turnpike road from New York, 1 mile from the Sound, contains 1
Methodist, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Presbyterian, churches; 2 academies, 1 tavern, 2
stores, and about 30 dwellings. Milton, on the inlet from the Sound, one mile
from Rye, may be considered as a part of the latter. It has a store, and also, about
30 dwellings. The Sawpits, also upon the turnpike and upon an arm of the Sound,
27 miles from New Ycfrk, contains one Methodist, and 1 Presbyterian churches;
2 taverns, 10 stores, and about 100 dwellings. An active trade is carried on here,
employing 8 sloops.
Scarsdale, about 24 miles from New York, and 134 from Albany, and 3 S.
from White Plains; surface rolling; soil sandy and clay loam, generally well cul
tivated; 'watered by the Bronx river. The post office is called Bronx.
Somers, on the N. line of the county, 50 miles N. of New York; 120 S. from
Albany; organised by the name of Stephentown; surface uneven, with some spa
cious plains; soil various, but generally well adapted to grass and grain. Large
flocks of sheep, and herds of cattle are brought here, in lean condition, and fatten
ed for the shambles. The Croton turnpike runs through the town, on which, near
the north line, is the post village of Somers, upon a small and pleasant plain, con
taining 1 church, common to Presbyterians and Episcopalians, 1 Methodist
church, 2 taverns, one a very fine building, having for a sign a gilt elephant, em
blematical of the means by which the proprietor, H. Bailey, formerly an exhibiter
of animals, accumulated his ample possessions; a select school, and about 35
dwellings. This is an agreeable village, inhabited chiefly by Connecticut men or
their descendants, many of whom are connected with the extensive menageries
which travel over the Union. Centre Somers and West Somers are post offices.
Owensville is a post village, on the east line of the town, in which are 1 grist, 1
saw and 1 paper, mills, carding and clothing works, a store, and some 13 'dwell
ings. The town is abundantly watered by Muscoot creek, Colding's and Wood s
brooks, and smaller streams.
South Salem, 50 miles from New York; 120 from Albany; 6 from Bedford; and
24 from White Plains; surface broken; soil clay and sandy loam, susceptible of
profitable cultivation. Long pend, and another small lake, send tributaries to the
'Croton river, and here are the sources of some streams, which flow across the
state of Connecticut to the Sound. South Salem, Cross river, Vista and Golden s
bridge are the names of the post offices. At Cross River, are 2«hurches, a grist
mill, clothing works, store, tavern, and 15 dwellings.
.97

770

TOPOGRAPHY.

Westchester, surface rolling; soil clay loam, susceptible of high cultivation.
Throg's'neck, on the S. E. extremity, is connected with the main land by a long
causeway, through a marshy tract of considerable extent. There is a consider
able quantity of marsh upon the East river, and upon the inlets, as upon Bronx
river. The Bronx river and Westchester creeks are good mill streams. Marble
is found here in extensive beds, and much wrought. West farms and Westchester
are post villages. The manor of Morrisania, originally containing above 3000
acres, which belongs to the distinguished family of Morris, is in the S. W.
corner of the town, opposite to Hell Gate. This manor gave name to a town from
1788 to 1791, part of the present town of Westchester.
Westchester, village, at the head of navigation of Westchester creek, 2 miles
from the Sound; 14 miles N. E. from New York; 145 from Albany; and 16 S.
from White Plains, contains 1 Methodist church,, 1 store, 1 tavern, and about 40
dwellings. The village of West Farms, at the head of navigation, on the Bronx river, 3
miles from the Sound, and 12 from New York, contains about 60 dwellings, and
several manufactories, among which are the extensive tobacco works of Messrs.
Lorillard. ,
This town was settled most probably in 1642, by Mr. Throckmorton and 35 as
sistants, who came from New England with the approbation of the Dutch autho
rities. It was called, by the Dutch, Eastdorp.
White Plains, half shire village, N. from New York, 27, from the Sawpits on
the Sound, 7, from the Hudson at Tarrytown, E. 7, from Bedford, S. 14, and from
Albany, 125, miles; has a hilly, but generally arable surface, with soil of various
loams, adapted to grass, and well cultivated; drained southerly by the Mamaro
neck and Bronx rivers. The village, one and a half miles distant from the latter,
lies on a fine plain, and contains the court house and prison, of wood, and county
offices, of stone, 1 Episcopal, LPresby terian, and 2 Methodist Episcopal, churches,
an incorporated academy, 2 boarding schools for females, receiving pupils from
New York and elsewhere, a printing press, issuing a weekly paper, 4 taverns, 3
stores, and about 60 dwellings, principally upon one wide street.
Y onkers, on the Hudson river, 16 miles N. of New York; 128 S. from Albany;

1
Females.
Births.
Deaths.
TOWNS.
¦s a3 m
icd
jott ¦0,8 Pus
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1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
%
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S
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fr
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Bedford,
2432
2508
2750
2735
236
586
2
317
262
530
18
34
25
6
19
Cortlandt,
3421
3385
3840
3994
371
849
84
501
339
847
25
74
66
25
27
Eastchester,
1021
931
1030
1168
120
213
90
131
88
204
6
21
20
6
13
Greensburgh,
2064
2001
2195
2606
354
545
93
303
223
515
18
43
38
24
14
Harrison,
994
999
1085
1016
66
190
5
112
111
186
1
15
5
3
Mamaroneck,
878
1032
838
882
79
165
33
113
84
162
15
12
9
6
Mount Pleasant,
3684
3799
4932
4757
396
973
49
567
430
1069
8
40
38
9
14
Newcastle,
1368
1367
1336
1406
88
301
5
175
133
245
10
21
13
6
3
New Rocnelle,
1135
1201
1274
1261
97
229
47
147
145
258
7
23
17
13
10
Northcastle,
1480
1543
1653
1789
161
393
5
208
172
346
14
30
38
16
10
North Salem,
1165
1204
1276
1178
107
267
142
116
219
13
21
12
12
10
Pelham,
283
365
334
255
21
49
23
31
26
45
3
2
Poundridge,
1357
1414
1437
1426
132
314
171
125
317
20
41
43
8
8
Rye,
1342
1303
1602
1607
209
315
43
153
162
255
11
22
13
12
4
Scarsdale,
329
321
317
329
31
65
4
30
39
56
1
6
4
4
Somers,
1841
1896
1997
1900
167
407
15
226
196
380
12
19
19
8
13
South Salem,
1429
1504
1537
1470
167
359
2
185
128
267
11
28
14
9
10
Westchester,
2162
2163
2362
3044
262
488
415
369
265
573
18
57
58
22
18
White Plains,
675
638
759
876
64
155
13
87
120
127
7
3
8
3
2
Yonkers,
1586
1621
1761
1879
236
411
89
227
155
352
17
31
29
12
9
Yorktown,
1992
2045
' 2141
2212
202
498
30
245
197
425
8
27
37
10
11
32638
33131
3645C
37791
3566
7772
104714440
3516
7378
228
571
509
217
203
Note. In addition to the population 37,791, as above stated, there are in Westchester poor house,
113 males; 75 females: in state prison at Mount Pleasant, 811 males, making the total population
38,790. Males, 19,I8a Females, 18,603; Blacks, 1,577; Black voters, 39; Paupers, 28: Deaf and Dumb,
7: B!ind,>15; Idiotsf22; Lunatics, 10.
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

771

TOWNS.

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it

Bedford,

23040

19301

482868

118795

SSI

2799

2813

1590

894

289

Cortlandt, Eastchester,

32815

33815

505801

264121

535

2635

1487

2990

830

665

30

1144

680

7024

4963

277291

66232

224

652

326

1028

40

36

68

5J0

142

Greensburgh,

17971

17747

458595

142581

457

2011

2060

1775

784

863

551

898 1317

Harrison,

9934

9186

305536

75670

211)

1621

1126

1.152

128

9,16

367

566

165

Mamaroneck,*

4000

4066

15775J

23763

105

586

478

383

54

100

195

270

154

Mount Pleasant,1,

23453

23005

731507

141757

727

3287

2476

3786

1055

794

I2H0

1303

504

Newcastle,

13790

8232

353102

116046

300

1661

lt'46

1807

1352

695

1264

697

150

New Rochelle,

6000

4618

307696

72340

197

754

388

943

78

54

189

580

260

Northcastlc;,

15523

10599

364458

106577

369

1746

1857

1806

648

571

374

700

186

North Salem,

13826

12350

242665

44219

357

1629

2576

1271

1242

653

764

426

439

Pelham,

3166

1787

158125

39900

83

267

150

257

885

77

Foundridge,*

10941

11472

166340

22265

194

1442

935

968

1053

1273

831

280

176

Bye,

7544

7109

439118

169431

25B

1140

245

1158

55

3(1

54

904

200

Scarsdale,

4418

3039

157697

114796

84

472

624

464

¦ 711
SO*
67
Somers,
20804
20442
450945
192947
484
2502
458S
2S72
81.7
2432
565
96(1
483
South Salem,
16174
12623
294574
103152
343
2045
1769
1877
1781
1521"
2296
591
308
Westehester,
15995
9623
777822
141620
585
1922
352
203f
31
1366
1329
White Plains,
5405
4320
202377
125663
180
824
720
846
68
2C
162
481
84
Yonkers,
13933
13461
435306
161890
374
1241
262H
1175
c*
454
Yorktown,
23749
23104
499404
150928
501
2654
2325
3058
558
1592
546
966
495
290527 255461
7768979
2324693
7027
33890
30743
34459
12279
1300fj
11126
15018
5959
* Supervisor's rffturn.
p
1-8
w
Bf>'
3
s.s
1 in Grist mills.
ill z ecu 8
8 a .
S 3 "2
eej 3 ca
in fc, a
6 3 3
¦ ¦£
cd '&
e E
o .2
o 1
ti
m, •—
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COo
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a
aeefl
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Eh
ti
1 03
a.en
0-
Tanneries. Number of School distri
Public mone expended.
"to 03 IS >«
cd
*o J=&
Bedford, 6
1 13
286
1055
710
Cortlandt, 4
5 1 1
fi
3 14
399
674 ,. ,
! 645
Eastchester, 4
3 1
2 3
109
407
128
Greensburgh, 4
2 6
1
1
1
2 9
228
1222
467
Harrison, 2
1 1
5
115
344
198
Meynaroneck, 2
2
2
3
86
100
60
Mount Pleasant, 6
7
1 14
513
1211
747
Korthcastle, 3
6 1
2
2 9
172
612
400 -
Newcastle, 3
5 1 1
.2 9
139
240
388
North Salem, 1
3 2
a
8
177
456
341
New Rochelle, 2
2
1
*
1 3
137
465
150
Foundridge, 2
Rye, 6
4 1 1
1
8
1 5
149
210
399526
340 175
1
33
98
58
South Salem, 3
7
l
8
198
374
391
7 3 3
10
208
667
387
2
4
246
1401
438
White Plains, 1
2 1 3
1
1 3
79
567
143
4
1
1 5
183
1081
343
Yorktown, 6
6 2 2
73 13 24
4 6
7
o
l
1
tn
2
o
1 8
223
746
493
61
18 | 142
3890
12645
7001
% 1
Value of product, g
O) -t us
co as t-
to o
c*
en
o
3 |
CO
1 Number r
f children ab
3.
)ve 5 and unc
er 16 years
m
to '.to
3 1
— 1 1
Value of material, §
3 § I
t» o
OS Cl
to *D>
©
to
S
3 CO
i
Note. Three Breweries.
12 S. W. from White Plains; surface much broken; soil clay and sandy loam, well
cultivated, and tolerably productive. Fordham Heights, Tetard a Hill, and part
of Valentine's Hill, noted in the revolutionary war, are ir, this town Yonkers,
formerly called Philipsburg, at the confluence of Saw Mill creek with, the North
river, and King's Bridge, are post villages. The former contains 1 Episcopal
772

TOPOGRAPHY.

and 1 Methodist, churches, 3 hotels, 4 stores, and about 50 dwellings, a grist mill,
manufacturing corn meal for export, 2 saw mills, employed in sawing pine, and
4 mills for sawing mahogany, a manufactory of hat bodies, making 100 per day.
The village is a favourite summer retreat from New York, and with which there
is daily communication by steam boats. There are yet very valuable water powers
unemployed, and for sale here. King's Bridge, 13 miles from New York, on
Spuyten Devil creek or Harlaem river, half a mile from its mouth, has 1 store,
1 flouring mill, to which sloops come from the North river, 1 tavern, 10 or 12
dwellings. The bridge is of wood, some 50 or 60 feet long.
Yorktown, 45 miles N. from New York; 116 S. from Albany; 8 N. W. from
Bedford; 24 from White Plains; 6 from Peekskill. The north part is moun
tainous, being within the Highlands; the south hilly; soil various, but generally
productive. It is watered by a branch of the Peekskill, on the N. W.; centrally
by a small tributary of Croton creek; and southerly by Croton main stream, whieh
runs through it westerly. Crom pond, Hollow pond, Great pond and Little pond
are noted sheets of water. The -post office called by the name of the town, is at
the hamlet of Crom pond, where are 2 Presbyterian churches, a tannery, and 10 or
12 dwellings, forming an agricultural vicinage. There are two other post offices,
called respectively Pine Bridge and Shrub Oak.

YATES COUNTY, taken from Ontario, 5th February 1823 is bounded N.
and W. by Ontario; E. by Seneca lake, dividing if from Seneca and Tompkins;
and S. by Steuben, counties: Greatest length, E. and W. 24; greatest breadth, N.
and S. 20, miles; area 320 square miles; situate between 42° 30' and 42° '41' N.
Lat.; and 0° 1' and 0° 37' W. Long.; centrally distant from New York, via Al
bany 330, and from Albany, W. 185, miles.
This county lies upon the northern declivity of the ridge, dividing the waters
of the Susquehanna from those of Lake Ontario; and its southern extremity is
elevated from 1200 to 1300 feet above tide. In the town of Barrington, the height
is even greater, rising at the sources of Mud creek to 1600 feet; that creek, being
a tributary of the Conhocton, a remote branch of the Susquehanna river. With
this exception, all the waters of the county flow to Lake Ontario. The Seneca
lake stretches along the whole eastern boundary, and the Canatidaiguu lake upon
the N. W.; and the greater portion of Crooked lake lies centrally in the county.
Between the Seneca and Canandaigua lakes, the surface is no where lowei proba-

YATES COUNTY. 773
foty, than 1250 feet above tide, and at that supposition is 829 feet above the sur
face of the former, and -580 feet above the latter. Crooked lake, 700 feet above
the ocean, has banks rising with gentle slopes, at 6ome places, but precipitously
at others, from 500 to 800 feet. Its basin expands at the foot of the lake, and ex
tends N. some 5 or 6 miles, having an outlet, with a rapid current, to the Seneca
lake, lying 269 feet below it.
These circumstances display the hilly configuration of the surface. Yet the
hills, except occasionally along the lakes, and streams, are never abrupt, but have
a gently waving form, usually admitting cultivation to the summit.
The basis rock is slate, which is also the prevailing surface rock, over the coun
try south of a line drawn E. and W. above the foot of Crooked lake. The soil
upon it is a clay marl, abundantly fertile, producing luxuriant crops of grass, and
fair returns in wheat; and if properly treated with lime, wonld, doubtless, yield
¦that grain profusely. The northern part of the county belongs to the great central
lime formation, visible sometimes on the surface, and in the ravines of the streams.
The croppings out alternate with slate. The prevalence of slate gives to the
whole county the character of a grazing, Tather than of a grain country.
Crooked Lake, near two-thirds of whose length is within the county, is 18 miles
long. Ten miles above its outlet, where its breadth is a mile and a fourth, it di
vides into two branches; the western, running N. 8 miles receding until their ex
tremities are five miles asunder, forming the high and picturesque head land of
Bluff Point. The S. end, and W. branch, are one and a half miles wide, and the
£. branch from half a mile to a mile. From the latter, the surplus waters are
discharged through the outlet. The inlet is in Steuben county, and flows to its
recipient, through a deep and narrow gorge, of six miles in length. From the E.
branch, the country on the west, preserves the altitude of the intervening ridge,
but falls off upon the east; for whilst the lake pours out its waters, from the east,
a considerable stream running S. from near the N. line of the county, flows into
the west branch.
Besides the Outlet, Cashong creek in the N., and Big and Rock streams in the
S., flow to the Seneca lake. Their courses are short and rapid, but owing to their
great fall, they are efficient mill streams. On the W. the Canandaigua lake re
ceives tribute from West creek, and a yet smaller stream on the S. W. The
largest stream of the'county is Flint creek, which rising in the town of Italy, has
a N;,E. course through that town and Potter, of 18 miles, into Ontario county. —
The Crooked Lake canal, runs along the outlet to Seneca lake.
The timber of the county is large and vigorous,; but not so densely set as in some
other portions off the state; consisting of oak, hickory, chestnut, black and white
walnut, wild cherry, maple, beech, linden, elm, poplar, ash, &c. The apple, pear,
plum, cherryj melons, and grapes, are all very successfujly cultivated here.
The county lies wholly, in the traipt ceded to Massachusetts, and in that portion
of it, which passed through Messrs. Gorham and Phelps, and Robert Morris, to
Sir William Pulteney. It contains 8 towns.
Barrington, taken from Wayne, 16th April, 1822; W. from Albany, 193, from
Penn Yan, S. 11, miles; surface undulating; soil partly gravelly loam of good
, quality, suitable fop wheat; partly clay loam, low and moist, adapted to grass; and
in the centre and S. W. are portions of inferior quality; drained S. by Mud creek
and E. by Big creek, flowing to Seneca lake. Warsaw, centrally situate, contains
1 church, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and some 20 dwellings, and the Barrington post office.
A second post office is called East Barrington.
Benton, taken from Jerusalem, by the name of Vernon, ,12th February, 1803;
changed to Snell, 6th April, 1808; and to Benton, 2d April, 1810; W. from Alba
ny 188 miles; surface variegated with gentle swells, and spacious plains; soil clay,
sandy, and gravelly loam, underlaid with slate and limestone, alternating with
much apparent irregularity; indifferently watered, having only the Cashong creek,
flowing over the N. E. angle to Seneca lake, and the outlet of Crooked lake
crossing the S. E. angle. Benton, Benton Centre, and Dresden, are post vil
lages. Cashong, is a post office. Benton or Bellona, on the Cashong creek, 8
miles N. E. from Penn Yan, contains 1 Dutch Reformed and 1 Methodist, church
es; 1 grist and 2 saw, mills, 2 stores, 2 taverns, a library, and about 40 dwellings.
Benton Centre, 4 miles N. of Penn Yan, has a store tavern, 1 Methodist and 1
Baptist, churches; and between 40 and 50 dwellings. Dresden including Hope-
town, upon the outlet of Crooked lake, at its entrance to the Seneca lake, 7 miles

774

TOPOGRAPHY.

W. from Penn Yan, has 3 grist, 3 saw, and 1 carding and cloth dressing mills; 1
Presbyterian and 1 Methodist, churches; 3 stores, 2 taverns, and about 40 dwell
ings.* Italy, taken from Naples, of Ontario county, Feb. 15, 1815; W. from Albany
198, and from Penn Yan S. W. 15, miles; surface hilly; soil clay loam on slate;.
drained N. E. by Flint creek, and N. W. by West creek, flowing to Canandaigua
lake, which extends 2 miles into the town. There are two post offices, Italy and
Italy Hill. "
Jerusalem, organised by general sessions of Ontario county, pursuant to act
27th January, 1789; since altered; W. from Albany 192, S. E. from Penn Yan,
8, miles; surface hilly, including Bluff Point; soil clay and gravelly loam of good
quality, and generally well cultivated; drained centrally by a creek flowing S.
into the west arm of Crooked lake. Bluff Point is notable for the singularity of
its position, as embraced by the arms of the lake, for its high and rolling surface,
and for having been the residence and death place of Jemima Wilkinson, the
founder of a religious sect, whose splendid and commodious mansion still orna
ments an eminence in the N. W. part of it, kno-wn as the " Friends Settlement."
Yatesville and Branchport are post villages; besides which, there is a post office,
bearing the name of the town. Yatesville, partly in the town of Potter, & miles
N. W. of Penn Yan, has 1 store, 1 tavern, a tannery 1 grist, and 1 saw, mills, and
about 20 dwellings. Branchport, at the head of the west fork ofthe lake, 7 miles
S.' W. from Penn Yan, has 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Baptist, churches; 3 stores,
1 tavern, and about 25 dwellings.
Middlesex, organised by general sessions, as part of Ontario county, pursuant
to act of January 27th, 1789, by the name of Augusta; changed April 6th, 1808;
W. from Albany 194, from Penn Yan, N. W. 12, miles; surface hilly; soil gra
velly loam, resting chiefly on limestone of excellent quality, deemed the best in
the county for wheat; drained S. W. by West creek. There is a post office bear
ing the name of the town, another called West River, and a third North Mid
dlesex. Milo, taken from Benton, 6th March, 1818; W. from Albany 189 miles; sur
face gently undulating; soil gravelly and clay loam, on slate and lime, of an ex
cellent quality; drained N. E. by the outlet of Crooked lake, and by some small
creeks running on the E. to Seneca, and on the W. to Crooked lake. Penn Yan,
Milo, and Milo Centre, are post villages. Penn Tan, founded by Mr. Abraham
Waggener, incorporated 29th April 1833; the shire town, about half a mile below
the foot of the east arm of Crooked lake, upon a pleasant plain, and on the outlet,
partly in the town of Benton, contains a new court house of brick, a prison of
stone, a fire proof office for the county clerk, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Bap
tist, and 1 Episcopal, churches; an academy incorporated, and highly flourishing;
18 general stores, 2 book stores, 2 printing offices, each issuing a weekly paper,
5 taverns, a bank, incorporated, April 2d, 1831, with a capital of §100,000; 2 grist,
and 2 saw, mills, and 450 dwellings. This is a thriving village, growing rapidly,
and has many good buildings. It is finely exhibited to the passenger descending the
hill on the road from Geneva. Its singular name was derived from the circum
stance, that its inhabitants were Pennsylvanians and Yankees, in equal numbers.
Milo, 6 miles S. E. from Penn Yan, has 2 stores, a methodist church, and some
8 or 10 dwellings. Milo Centre, 4 miles S. E. from Penn Yan, has a Methodist
church, a store, 2 taverns, and some 20 dwellings. On the border of the lake, in
this town, Jemima Wilkinson first settled, and some of her followers, respectable
for character and wealth, lately remained here.
Potter, adjacent to Middlesex, on the E. was taken from it, 26th April, 1832;
and in surface, soil, and products, has much ofthe same character. It is watered
by Flint creek. It has a post office named after the town, and on the N. line,
the thriving village of Rushville, described under Ontario county.
Starkey, taken from Reading, of Steuben county, 6th April, 1824; W. from Al
bany 190 miles; surface hilly; soil clay loam on slate, well watered; drained east
by Big and Rock Streams, affording mill sites, and entering the Seneca lake, 100
rods asunder. The falls of Big Stream merit attention, as well from their great
height, (140 feet) as from the opportunity they afford for geological exploration.
The cataract is at the foot of a rapid, half a mile in length, whence the stream
comes dashing over craggy rocks of slate, and leaps into a basin 8 or 10 rods in

YATES COUNTY. 775
diameter, separated from the lake by a channel some 80 rods in length; native alum
has been found, and iron ore is supposed to exist here. StaTkey, Big Stream
Point, and Dundee, are villages; at the first and last are post offices. Starkey
iiiclndirrg Eddyville, 14 miles S. E. from Penn Yan, has 1 Presbyterian, and %
Methodist, churches; 3 stores, 2 taverns, and about 60 dwellings, extending nearly
¦9 miles along the road. Big Stream Point, at the month of the creek, 15 miles

Females.
Births.
Deaths.
u
i«5
•a
jo tr
T 1'
TOWNS.
B <i
.8 3
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CA
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
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Barrington,
2099
1854
1937
1R5
370 22
256
130
482
13
49
31
1?
7
Benton,
3357
3730
3957
3e51
340
796
fi2
494
331
845
27
78
62
27
IS
Italy,
728
995
1092
1245
137
247
1
178
83
9,23
f
15
20
10
9
Jerusalem,
1610
2050
2783
2843
232
607
18
358
228
655
26
52
56
95
9,,
Middlesex,
2718
3161
3428
1440
109
277
2
190
98
354
1?
33
21
15
7
Milo,
2612
3278
3610
3824
443
867
32
494
34R
845
41
74
SO
44
32
Potter,
2256
242
246
%\
281
188
505
»
36
46
9
13
Starkey,
2285
2400
270
484
5
327
169
537
15
42
46
19
13
11025
15313
19009
19796
1948
3894
165
2578
1575
44461 151
379
370
161
120
Note. Males, 10,060; Females, 9,736, Paupers, 43; Blacks, 137; Black voters, 5; Deaf and Dumb, 9;
Blind, 13; Idiots, 21; Lunatics, 10. 1
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Barrington, ,
21289
12756
123030
2517
2303
647
6588
2232
36R2
4783
4262
518
459
Benton,
32456
22048
524676
47971
3424
1429
11354
saw
5033
7485
2723
2325
aw
Italy,
23930
6007
72650; 11250
1595
383
2911
1051
2875
' 3647
2095
496
244
Jerusalem,
32221
18161
207820, 14870
3053
956
12916
3402
3884
7514
4241
904
65R
Middlesex,
20990
9674
1200001 6361
1523
554
473S
1463
2601
4027
1647
513
277
Milo,
30488
20905
536746 139138
295c
12B8
11103
3975
4994
4696
2507
2756
700
Potter,
22479
13117
196006 35579
2492
911
6075
2063
3665
4736
3884
953
337
Starkey,
. 20591
13301
224994 j 26702
2118
755
3023
1332
3649
3424
4185
1032
477
204444
115969
2005922 284394
19466
6923
58702
19375
30383
40312
25544
9497
4007
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Barrington,
17
409
925
965
Benton,
4
7
2
2
1
1
a
13
285
581
728
Italy,
9,
1
1
1
1
2
M
8
110
205
447
Jerusalem,
1 1
1
1
1
1
16
288
734
784
Middlesex,
1
ji
J
9
155
377
546
Milo,-
<t 1
3 1
4
4 1
1 4
a
3
1 18
345
609
1010
Potter,
9,
6
9
1
1
0
1
10
202
287
592
Starkey,
6 1
257 tn c
88 1
1 c*3
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12 3
3 1
118
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co to US
2
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2
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236
792
838
1 103
2030
4510
5910
0 oUS
Value of product,
en
•3S
s
33
H
Numb
er of childi
age, 6,240.
en betwee
n 5 and 16
Value of material,
'O ti
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1
776 TOPOGRAPHY.
from Penn Yan, has a woollen factory, a store, 1 grist, and 1 saw mills, and 12
dwellings. Dundee, late Harpending's Corners, 2 miles W. from Starkey, 14
miles S. from Penn Yan, has 1 Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Baptist
churches; 1 church common to Christians and Universalists; 1 grist, 4 saw, 4
carding and cloth dressing mills; '1 tannery, 5 stores, 2 taverns, and between 70
and 80 dwellings; a place of much business. There is a post office, called Rock
Stream.

APPENDIX.

Morris Canal, p. 102.
Since the matter of the text, page 102, was printed, the Morris Canal Company have
published an exposition of their affairs, from which, it appears ; That by various supple
ments to the incorporating aet, the capital stock has been increased to $4,1 00,000 ; all of
which has become available; of this sum $3,100,000, have bjen appropriated to the
canal, and its dependencies, and -the balance is employed in banking operations — That,
the section of the canal between Newark and Jersey city, would be completed in August,
1836. — That the canal, locks, and inclined plains, have been put into good order, and
their capacity so enlarged as to admit the passage of boats carrying thirty-five tons.
— That, more than 400 boats were employed upon the canal, and the number was
rapidly increasing. — That, a contract had been made with the Lehigh Company, for the
transportation of 60,000 tons of coal during the year 1836. — And that, the affairs of the
Company were, generally, in a prosperous condition.
The Morris canal thus opens from the Hudson river, at New York, an uninterrupted,
safe, easy, and direct water communication, through a great extent of the state of New
Jersey, to the river Delaware; and thence, by the Pennsylvania canal to the southern
portions of that state ; and by the Lehigh canal, and its connections, with the anthracite
region, with the valley of the Susquehanna, and the bituminous coal fields ; and by other
Pennsylvania canals, with the valley of the Ohio ; and also, with all that portion of the
state of New York, drained by the Susquehanna river and its tributaries.
Representatives in Assembly, p. 119.

The Act 23d May, 1836, apportions 1

he members of

Assembly, as follows:

Albany, city and county,

3

Jefferson,

3

Richmond,

1

Allegany,

2

Kings,

2

Rockland,

1

Broome,

1

Lewis,

1

St. Lawrence,

2

Cattaraugus,

2

Livingston,

2

Saratoga,

2

Cayuga,

3

Madison,

3

Schenectady,

1

Chautauque,

3

Monroe,

3

Schoharie,

2

Chemung,

1

Montgomery,

3

Seneca,

1

Chenango,

3

New York,

13

Steuben,

3

Clinton,

1

Niagara,

2

Suffolk,

2

Columbia,

3

Oneida,

4

Sullivan,

1

Cortland,

2

Onondaga,

4

Tioga,

1

Delaware,

2

Ontario,

3

Tompkins,

2

Dutchess,

3

Orange,

3

Ulster,

2

Erie,

3

Orleans,

1

Warren,

1

Essex,

1

Oswego,

2

Washington,

2

Franklin,

1

Otsego,

3

Wayne,

2

Genesee,

4

Putnam,

1

Westchester,

2

Greene,

2

Queens,

1

Yates,

1

Herkimer,

2

Rensselaer,

3

Senatorial Districts.
By the same Act, the Senate Districts were arranged as follows:
1. City and county of New York, and Richmond and Kings, counties.
2. Queens, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan, and
Ulster.
3. City and county of Albany, Delaware, Greene, Columbia, Rensselaer, Schoharie, and
Schenectady. ^, '
4. Saratoga, Montgomery, Hamilton, Washington, Warren, Clinton, Essex, Franklin,
St. Lawrence, and Herkimer.
98

778 APPENDIX.
5. Oneida, Madison, Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson, and Otsego.
6. Chenango, Broome, Tompkins, Chemung, Tioga, Steuben, Livingston, Allegany,
and Cattaraugus.
7. Wayne, Ontario, Yates, Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, and Cortland.
8. Chautauque, Erie, Genesee, Monroe, Orleans, Niagara.
The Judicial Circuits correspond with, and are the same as the Senate Districts ; and*
the circuit judges, respectively, are required to make such alterations in the times of
holding their courts, and of the, terms of their respective equity courts as may be neces
sary to enable them to perform their duties ; but to hear and determine the several causes
pending in their respective courts, as if the act 23d April, 1836, had not been passed; or
to make such disposition of the causes among themselves as they may deem proper.
General Fund, p. 143.
When the text was written, it was inferred from the proceedings in the two houses of
the Legislature, that the recommendation of the comptroller to replenish the General
Fund, by a state tax, would be adopted. The Legislature however, preferred to borrow
from the canal fund the sums requisite for "the current year.
During the session of 1836, the following Rail Roads, were authorised to be made.
From Attica to Buffalo, completing the line between Buffalo and Rochester.
The Lewistown rail road.
Saratoga and Montgomery rail road, from Ballston Spa to the Fish House.
Troy and West Stockbridge.
Albany and West Stockbridge, formerly called Castleton and West Stockbridge.
Cherry Valley and Susquehanna.
Watertown and Rome rail road.
Syracuse and Utica, continuing the line from Albany to Buffalo.
From Syracuse to Brewerton Bridge.
From Brooklyn city to Fort Hamilton, Bath, and Coney Island.
From Medina to Lake Ontario.
From Watertown to Cape Vincent.
From Johnstown to the Utica and Schenectady rail road and Erie canal.
From Herkimer to Trenton, Herkimer county.
From Syracuse to Benedict's Stone Quarries, in the town of Onondaga.
From Syracuse to the Onondaga Stone Quarries.
From Auburn to Rochester, continuing the line from Albany to Buffalo.
From the village of Hempstead to the Long Island rail road.
From Skaneateles to the Auburn and Syracuse rail road.
From Lansingburg to Troy.
From Delhi to Deposit, in the county of Delaware.
From Youngstown to Lockport.
Cassadaga and Erie, from Cassadaga Creek to the western bounds of Chautauque
county. From Rochester to Charlotte, in Monroe county.
From Auburn to Ithaca.
From Attica to Lot No. 10, in the town of Sheldon, Genesee county.
From West Troy to the city of Schenectady.
Schenectady and Troy.
From Fredonia to Van Buren Harbour.
" Rutland and Vermont," from Whitehall to the west line of the state of Vermont.
Black River rail road.
From Carthage to St. Lawrence river, at or near the village of Cornelia, Jefferson co.
From Scottsville to Le Roy.
From the Hudson river, in Ulster county, to the New York and Erie rail road.
¦ From Jamesville to the Erie canal.
From Syracuse to Binghampton.
From Batavia to Lockport.
Over Staten Island.
Lake Champlain and Ogdensburg, from the Navigable Waters of the Great Western
lakes to Lake Champlain.
From Schenectady to Troy.
From Vierina, in Ontario co., by Newark and East Ridge, in Wayne, to Lake Ontario.
From Geneseo to Pittsford, Livingston county.

APPENDIX. , 779
From Owego to Cortland.
From Coeymans to a bridge near the house ofthe late E. Andrews. ,
Dutchess from Poughkeepsie to the Connecticut or Massachusetts line.
Brewerton and Syracuse.
The Honeoye rail road, from the Erie canal at Mendon, in Monroe county, to the
Hemlock and Honeoye lakes.
From Oswego to Utica.
Unadilla and Schoharie, from the mouth of the Unadilla to the Schoharie creek.
Banks.
The following Banks were incorporated in 1836, all subject to the Safety Fund Act.
Bank at Lyons,  200,000
Tompkins County Bank,  250,000
Oneida Bank,  400,000
Clinton County Bank,  200,000
Rochester City Bank,  400,000
Kingston Bank, . . . '  200,000
Bank ofthe State of New York,  2,000,000
Jeffersofl County Bank, capital increased, .... 120,000
Commercial Bank of Oswego,  250,000
City Bank of Buffalo,  400,000
Watervliet Bank,  250,000
Bank of Owego,  200,000
Atlantic Bank of Brooklyn,  500,000
Dutchess County Bank, capital increased, and Bank made
subject to the Safety Fund Bank  ' 200,000
Elections, p. 136.
Justices of the Peace are elected by the people ofthe several towns, at the times and in
the manner prescribed, for the election of supervisors and other town officers. The clerk
of the town meeting at which such election is had, within 10 days thereafter, transmits
to the clerk of his county, a certificate of the result, which is evidence of the facts therein
certified. The persons elected justices, enter on office, on the first January, succeeding
their election, and if more than one be elected, their term of office is determined by lot,
within 12 days after the election.
If one or more be elected to supply vacancy, or in any new town, he or they take the
uath of office, and forthwith enter upon duty.
If two or more be elected, at any annual town meeting, one of whom is incumbent of
the office for an unexpired term, he is deemed elected for the regular term of four years,
to recommence on the 1st of January following his election.
When at any such meeting, except the first election in a new town, two justices are to be
chosen, the elector not voting for an incumbent of the office, may designate on his ballot,
the person intended for the regular term of four years, by the words " longest term," " four
years," or " 4 years:" and the person having the greatest number of votes, without any
reference to such designation, is deemed duly elected. The person elected, and having
the greatest number of such designations is elected for the regular term of four years.
The presiding officer? at such meeting, determine, whether any, and what person, has
been so elected, for the regular term: Such determination is made at the time, and with
like force and effect, as they determine what persons are elected to the office of justice of
the peace; and is entered in the minutes of the proceedings of the meeting, is publicly
read, and deemed notice of the result in the same manner as in relation to the canvass.
Where no person shall be so elected, for the regular term of four years, the classes of
all persons elected to the office of justice, at such meeting, are determined by lot, within
the time, and in the manner prescribed by law.
Where one person shall have been so elected for the regular term, the other person or
persons elected, are deemed chosen to fill the vacancy or vacancies; and in case of more
than one vacancy, the classes are determined by lot, according to law.
No' candidate for any elective office, with intent to promote his election; nor any other
person with intent to promote the election of another— may provide or furnish entertain
ment, at his expense, to any meeting of electors, previous to or during the election at
which he shall be a candidate— nor pay for, procure or engage to pay for any such enter
tainment,— jior furnish money or other property to any person to be expended in procur
ing the attendance of voters at the polls— nor contribute money for any other purpose in
tended to promote an election of any particular person or ticket, except for defraying the

780 APPENDIX.
expenses of printing and the circulation of votes, handbills and other papers previous to
such election — nor fraudulently nor deceitfully change a vote of any elector, by which he
shall be prevented from voting for such candidate as he intended — under penalty of being
deemed guilty of misdemeanour, punishable by fine not exceeding $250, or by imprison
ment not exceeding six months.
At the close of the polls, at any town meeting, the canvassers may determine
whether the canvass of the votes shall then be had, or postponed until the next day. If
the canvass be then commenced, it may be continued after sun down; but it is had pub
licly at the place where the meeting' was held, and the result shall be read by the clerk to
the persons there assembled; and such reading is notice of the election to all persons
whose names are on the poll list as voters. Taxes.
The act of 27th April, 1833, subjecting debts owing to nonresidents to taxation, does
not extend to any debt owing to the School Fund of the state of Connecticut.
Public Health, p. 183.
Act 26th May, 1836, provides, that "no student who has attended one or more courses
of medical lectures shall be admitted to an examination by any medical society, except of
the county in which he shall have pursued his medical studies, for four months immedi
ately preceding his attendance upon his last course of lectures, or by the censors of the
State Medical Society.
No person, from another state or county shall practise physic or surgery in this state,
until he shall have been examined and licensed by the censors of the State Medical So
ciety. The medical faculty of Geneva College are authorised to send a delegate to the State
Medical Society, with the power, &c. of delegate from the respective State Medical Col
leges. Academy, p. 196.
If any trustee of an Academy, for one year, fail to attend the legal meetings of the board
of Trustees, his non attendance is deemed a resignation of his office. Where the num
ber of Trustees exceeds twelve, and a vacancy happens in the office of Trustee, and is not
filled by election, within six months from the happening thereof, the vacant office is abol
ished. Flour, p. 229.
Flour intended to be used in vessels engaged in the Whale Fishery, may be packed in
iron bound casks, of double the size of ordinary flour barrels, subject to other provisions
relative to inspection. Such cask is branded with the words " Flour," " Whale Fishery."
The inspector receives two cents for inspection of each cask in the city of New York, and
three cents elsewhere. Act of 1836. Fish.
Fish taken in the county of Jefferson, are not subject to the inspection laws.
Leather, p. 239.
In the inspection of leather, "Best," indicates, that manufactured of good hides in the
best manner — " Good" — that, from good hides in a merchantable manner — " Damaged,"
that manufactured from damaged hides in a merchantable manner — " Bad," that which is
not of one of the qualities above mentioned.
Taverns and Groceries.
No person is subject to prosecution under the law relating to Taverns and Groceries,
for selling metheglin, currant wine, cherry wine, or cider. No tavernkeeper, grocer, or
other dealer in strong or spirituous liquor, may directly or indirectly sell it to a pauper,
knowing him to be such. Judiciary.
The following should be substituted for the 4th paragraph, at page 280:
" Sessions of the Court may be held at the Capitol, in the city of Albany, at such times
as the court may direct; but not more than two such Sessions shall be held during the
recess of the legislature, in any one year, and such terms may be holden either in the city
of New York, or the Capitol in the city of Albany, or at the Academy in the city of Utica,

APPENDIX. 781
as the court shall, from time to time order, and when so held, during the recess of the
legislature, the President and Senators receive the same compensation, for travelling and
attendance, as for attending meetings of theSei\ate.'
Weighers of Merchandise, p. 251.
By act 16th May, 1836, the vender of goods may weigh them, or have them weighed
by his agent, or clerk, without the interference of a public weigher, without liability to
any penalty therefor. But if the vender or purchaser demand to have goods weighed by
a public weigher, they are weighed and certified according to the provisions at pages
251, 252. But the person weighing merchandise under the plea of being a clerk or ser
vant, for more than one individual or firm, is subject to $100 penalty for each offence, re
coverable with costs, by any one who will sue therefor. And any person making a return
of weight of articles, weighed by him for any other person, without holding an appoint
ment from the Governor and senate, or from the common council of the city of New
York, forfeits $50, with costs, recoverable as aforesaid. These provisions, however, do not
prevent any public officer, appointed by the state, from weighing such goods as may be
necessary in discharge of his official duties, nor affect weighers of anthracite or mineral
coal. The weigher general, and weighers appointed under the act of 1835, are required to
take the oath or affirmation, prescribed by the constitution ofthe state.
Goods required to be weighed by them are to be weighed, without delay, upon order
left at the office of the weigher general; and for every three hours of unnecessary delay,
the weigher general or weigher, by whose default the same shall be occasioned, forfeits to
the person delayed ten dollars, in addition, to the damages he may actually sustain,
Weight of Gram.
By aet 19th May, 1836, when no special agreement is made as to the measurement or
weight on sale of barley and oats, the weight of the first is fixed at 481bs., and the second
at321bs. Forgery, p. 295.
Counterfeiting any gold or silver corn of any foreign government or country, with in.
tent of exporting the same, to injure and defraud any foreign government, or the subjects
thereof, is forgery in the third degree.
Falsely Personating another and Cheats, p. 297.
The limitation to the prosecution for offences enumerated, in the first paragraph of this
title page, 297; namely, " if complaint be made by the injured party, within two years
after the perpetration of the offence," is applicable only to the offence of falsely persona
ting another, and in such assumed character to marry another.
Habitual Drunkards.
The chancellor has the care and custody of persons incapable of conducting their own
affairs, in consequence of habitual drunkenness, and of their estates, that they may not
be wasted or destroyed. If such drunkard have property to the value of $250, which may
be endangered by his drunkenness, it is the duty of the overseers of the poor of the
town of which he is resident, to apply to the court of chancery for the exercise of its
powers. If such property be less than that sum, the overseers apply to the court of com
mon pleas of the county, which has in such case the powers of chancery, to be exercised
subject to appeal to chancery. Proceedings are had to determine the truth ofthe alleged
drunkenness, and fbr the due management and preservation of his estate.
Owasco Lake
Near the centre of Cayuga county, is eleven miles long, with a breadth varying from
one to two miles; elevated 670 feet above tide. A canal along the valley ofthe outlet,
conveys the water of the lake to Auburn, for hydraulic use. (See Auburn, p. 373.)
Owasco in the Iroquois language, means " bridge," and the name of the lake is said to
have been derived from a bridge of drift wood, formerly at the north end.
Deaf and Dumb.
The Central Asylum at Canajoharie was abolished in 1836, and the pupils removed to
New York.

782 APPENDIX. Aliens.
Any alien who has, or may, come into any of the United States, may make a deposi
tion or affirmation, in writing, before any officer authorised to take proof of deeds to be
recorded, that he is resident of, and intends always to reside in, the United States, and to
become a citizen thereof, as soon as he can be naturalised; and that he has taken such in
cipient measures, as the laws of the United States require, to enable him to obtain natu
ralisation, which shall be certified by such officer, and recorded by the secretary of state;
and such certificate is evidence of the facts contained therein.
Such alien is thereupon authorised to take and hold real estate of any kind to him, his
heirs and assigns, for ever; and may, during six years thereafter, sell, assign, mortgage,
devise and dispose thereof, as he might do, if a native citizen; except that he may not
lease or demise such estate, until he becomes naturalised; nor take or hold such estate,
which may have descended, or been devised or conveyed to him previously to his having
become such resident, and made such deposition or affirmation. If he die within six years
after filing such deposition, intestate, leaving heirs, inhabitants of the United States, such
heirs take by descent, and hold the estate of which the alien died seized, in the same
manner as they would have inherited, if he had been at his death a citizen of the state.
If the alien dispose of such estate, he, his heirs or assigns, may take mortgages in his
or their names, as collateral security for the purchase money; and may repurchase the
mortgaged premises on sale, by virtue of such mortgage or decree of any court, rendered
to enforce payment, and may hold as if the same were originally held by such mortgagor.
An alien, holding estates by the foregoing provisions, is subjeet to duties, assessments,
taxes and burthens, as if he were a citizen; but he is incapable of voting at any election,
or of being elected or appointed to any office, or of serving on any jury.
To hold a larger interest in real estate than above described, or any interest, when the
alien does not propose to become a citizen of the United States, he must obtain a spe
cial act of the legislature.
But, by act 13th May, 1836, any resident alien, who has purchased or taken, or may
hereafter purchase, and take conveyance for, real estate, before filing the deposition above
required, may hold such estate as he would have done if the purchase and conveyance
had been made after filing such deposition; provided he, within one year from the time of
the conveyance^ or within one year from the passage of the act, file such deposition.
Every grant, contract or mortgage, executed agreeably to the last foregoing provision,
<by such alien, to and with any citizen of the United States, is deemed as effectual as if
made by a citizen ofthe state.
This act is limited to five years from its date.

INDEX

Abandonment of children, 294
Abortion, attempting, how punished, 303
Acabonuck harbour, 714
Accounts of towns, 156, 162
Academies, how constituted, 196, 780. Ta-
bular view of, 198
Accessories, 303
Accord, 741
Acra, 470
Acron, 446
Actions, by or against towns, 162. By or
against counties, 167
Acquebogue, 714
Adams, town, village, 487, basin, 527, ville,
755
Addison, 705
Adjutant General, 184, 185
Adgate's Falls, 449
Administration of justice, offences against,
1 298
Administrative offices, 125, list of, 132, ap
pointment to, tenure of, 133
Aelplaas creek, 673
Agricultural view ofthe state, 57. Societies,
60
Alabama, 461
Albany and Schenectady railroad, 105,
• county, 340, city, 341
Alden, 438
Alfred town, 354
Albion, 610, town, 614
Allegany river, 2, 39, county, 2, 352
Allen's hill, 593, creek, 461
Alien, town, 354
Alexandria, village, 453, town, 487
Alexander, town, 462
Aliens, 334, tenure of estates by, 782
Almond, town, 354
Alligerville, 741
Alloway, 761
Alluvial way, 23
Alps, 645
Alum, 43
Amaganset, 714
Amber, 582
Amberville,391
Amboy, bay, 28, village, 579, town, 614
Amenia, ville, 424. South, union, 426
Amherst, 338
Amity, town, 354, village, 607
Amsterdam, 536
Ancram creek, 403, town, 404
Andes, 419
Andover, 354, 574
Angelica creek, 353, town. 4, 354

Animals, noxious, 260
Annsville, 567,767
Anthony's nose, 630
Anticosti island, 34
Antiquities, Indian, 60
Antwerp, 487
Appalachian mountains, 1, 2
Applegate's corners, 731
Appointment, &c. of officers, 1 34
Appraisers canal, 153
Arbitration, 277, 290
Arcade, 463
Arcadia, 761
Area ofthe state, 1, 181
Argusville, 698
Argyle, 753
Arkport, 4, 707
Arkwright, 383
Arms, right tp bear, 120
Arnold's mills, 708
Arrests and seizures, unlawful, how punish-
1 ed, 301
Arrest and examination of offenders, 305
Arson, 291, 294
Arthursburg, 429
Asheries, 335, see county tables.
Ashes, inspection, 223
Ashford, town, 366
Ashville, 385
Athens, 469
Athol, 746
Attempt to kill or commit felony, 294
Attornies at law, number of, 288
Atwater's Falls, 666
Assembly, how constituted, powers, officers,
121. (See Legislature.) 771
Assessors, 157, 169
Attica, 462, railroad, 105
Attlebury, 434
Attorney general, 125, 129, district, 167,
277
Auburn prison, 309, village, college, 373
Auctions, regulations of, 226, table of sales
at and duties on, 229
Aurelius, 375
Auriesville, 538
Aurora.,376, 438
Au Sable river, 395, 449, iron, 43, village, 452
Austerlitz, 404
Avoca, 706
Avon springs, 506

Babylon, 714
Bail in criminal cases, 305

784

INDEX.

Bainbridge, town, 390
Baiting hollow, 714
Baker's Bridge, 354
Baldwin's creek, 725
Baldwinsville, 580
Ballston springs, 678, town, 680
Ballston Spa, 683
Bangal, 434
Bangor, 457
Banks, 261
Moneyed corporations, restrictions on
dividends, transfers to or by, 263
Annual statements of, 264
Small notes of, 264
Notes where payable, 264
Restriction on the purchase of notes,
264
Capital to be paid in, 265
Safety fund, what subject to, how con
stituted, how applied, 265
Bank commissioners, 266 s
Restrictions on bank circulation and
loans, 266
Statements to whom furnished, interest
allowed, 266
Capital may be reduced when, 267
Bills payable on demand, loans of bank
fund, how made, unclaimed balances to
be published, premiums on exchange
prohibited, 267
Unauthorised banking prohibited, 267
Remarks on the banking system of
New York, amount of bank fund, list
of banks in the state, subject to the
safety fund law, not subject, 275
Bank circulation, 276
Incorporated, 1836, 779
Banks for savings, 268
Banyar brook, 421
Barbersville, 422
Barker, 361
Barker's mills, 644
Barnagat, 433
Barnhart's island, 660
Barre, 610
Barrington, 773
Barrytown, 433
ville, 719
Bartle's mills, 707
Barton, 724
Bass islands, 15
Bastards, 329
Batavia, 462
Bath, 4, 643, 705
Batten kill, 752, ville,JZ55
Bayleytown, 701
Beacon hills, 423
Bear, creek, lake, 381, 382, creek, 425
Bearysville, 701
Beaverdam, 715
Beaverkill, 4, 341, 419, brook, 717
Beaver river, 501
Bedford, 766 "
Beef and Pork, inspection of, 231
Beekman, town, 398. Dutchess, Beekman-
ville, 426

Belcher, 755
Belfast, town, 355
Belfort, 503
Belleisle, 579
Belleville, 488, village, 607
Bellona, springs, 362, village, 773
Belmont, 457
Bennett's, corners, 539, creek, 705, flats,
707
Bennington, 462
Benton, 773
Bergen, 463
Berkshire, 724
Berlin, 642
Berne, Berneville, 346
Bethany, 463
Bethel, 592,718
Bethlehem, 347
Bethpage, 639
Bettsburg, 5
Betts, corners, 580
Bigamy, 300
Big Beaverkill, 419
Big flats, 724, Big stream, point, 773
Binghamton, 5, 361 t
Bird Island, 16, 439
Birdsall, 355 '
Birmingham, 399.
Births, in 1834-5, p. 935. See county tables.
Bituminous shale, 53
Black creek, 351, 353, village, 356
Black lake, 661
Black lead, 43
Black river, 486
Black, rock, village, harbour, 440
village, Oneida co., 575
Bleeker, 537 ,
Blenheim, 695
Blind brook, 766
Blind, number of, 335. See county tables.
Blood's corners, 706
Bloomingsburg, 719
Blooming grove, 599
Blooomville, 421
Blossomville, 526
Bluff point, 774
Bolivar, town, 355
Bolton, 747
Bombay, 457
Boonville, 567
Boston, 439
Bouekville, 521
Bouquet river, 449
Bovina, 419
Bowman's creek, 390, 535
Boyiston, 614
Bozakill, 341, 687
Braddock's bay, 525
Brainerd's Bridge; 645
Branchport, 774
Brandon, 457
Brasher, 662
Breakabeen, creek, 695, village, 696
Breakneck hill, 630 *
Breweries, number of, 335
Bribery, of officers, of jurors, 299

INDEX.

785

Bridges, 109, 302
Bridgehampton, 715
Bridgeport, 522, 702
Biidgewater, 568
Bridgeville, 720
Brighton, 526, 627
Bristol, 590, 743
Broadalbin, 537
Brocketsville, 540
Brockport, 531
Brock's monument, 558
Broken straw, creek, 382
Brokers, regulations for, 246
Bronx river, 761
Brookfield, 519, 713
Brookhaven, 713
Brooklyn city, 495
Brookville, 462
, Broome county, 360, town, 695
Brownville, 488, 592
Brunswick, 643
Brutus, 375
Bruynswick, 742
Buffalo, creek, 437, town, 439, city, 441
BullhUl, 630
Bullvflle, 601
Burdette, 731
Burglary, 291, 295
Burlingham, 719
Burlington, bay, 26, town, 625
Burns, town, 355
Bushnell's basin, 527
Bushwick, 497
Burton, town, 367
Bushkill, 426
Buskirk's bridge, 753
Busti, 1, 383
Butler, creek, 341, town, 761
Butter, regulations for sale of, 244
Butternuts, creek, 579, town, 625
Buttsville, 355
Byram creek, 768
Byron, 463
Byrnville, 696 C
Cackemyer's mills, 427
Cadose creek, 420
Cadysville, Allegany, 355, Clinton, 399
Cairo, 3, 470
Cahoes, village, falls, island, 348
Calcareous tuffa, 48 ,
Caldwell, 747
Caledonia, 507
Cambridge, 753
Campbell, hall, 603, town, 706
Campbell's creek, 705
Cambria, 557
Camden, 568
Cameron, 706
Camillus, 579
Canaan, town, 404, mountain, 410
Canacadea creek, 353
Canadawa, 381, 385
Canaderaga, lake, springs, village, 627
Canadice, 590
99

Canajoharie, creek, 535, town, village, 537
Canal, Erie, ascents and distances on, 24
When first proposed, 69
History of, 70, 71
Survey of, 72, 73
Commencement of, 74
Completed, 75
Description of, 76
Names of places, and distances on, 79
How long navigable, 81
Enlargement of, 81
Cost of, 87
Canal, Champlain, history of, 68, &c, de
scription of, 81. Places and distances
on 82, cost of, 87
Canal, Oswego, description of places and
distances on 83
Canal, Cayuga and Seneca, description, 83,
cost of, 87 .-
Canal, Chemung, description of, places and
distances on, 83
Canal, Crooked lake, description, distance,
84, cost of, 87
Canal, Chenango, description of, 84
Canals, Lateral, revenues of, 85, cost of, 87
Canals, state acct. of moneys received and
expended on, 86; cost of, respectively, 87;
tolls on, 88; trade on, in 1834, 89; arti
cles passing Utica, from 1821 to 1834,
90; articles ascending from tide, from
1824 to 1834, 91; property arriving at
and from Buffalo, from 1829 to 1834,
92; property at and from Whitehall,
from 1823 to 1834, 93
Canal, trade on, in 1835, 94
Canal, from Lake Huron to Ontario 13
Welland, 15
Rochester and Olean, 29
From Oswego to Utica, &c. for steam
boats, 30
Rideau, 32
Delaware and Hudson, 98
Delaware and Raritan, 100
Morris, 102, 777
List of authorised by the state, 104
Fund, 144
Maps, 152
Commissioners, 152
Board, 153
Superintendents, Collectors, Appraisers,
153
Canandaigua lake, height of, 24, 590, outlet,
30, town, village, 590, river, 759
Canaseraga creek, 519, village, 522
Canascraga creek, 353, 505, 705.
Canasawacta creek, 390
Canastota, 521
Candor, 724
Caneadea creek, 353, town, 355, lake, 590 '
Canisteo river, 4, 705, town, 706.
Canning, 569
Cannonsville, 421
Canoe place, 715
Canoga, 701
Canquaga creek, 556
Cantatoc, 766

786

INDEX.

Canterbury, 599
Canton, 587, 662
Canvass, election, 139
Cape Vincent, 490
Carlton, 610
Caroline, 730
Carburetted Hydrogen, 53, 589
Cardiff, 580
Carding machines, 335
Carlisle, 696
Carmel, 631
Carpenter's Point, 602
CarroU, 383
Carr's Corners, 445
Carter's Corners, 391, ville, 503
Carthage, 427, 493,530.
Cedarvillc, 480
Cascadilla, village, 649, creek, 732
Casety Hollow, 567
Caseville, 740
Cashaqua creek, 357, 506
Cashong creek, 773
Cassadaga creek, lake, 382, village, 386
Castile, 463
Castleton and West Stockbridge rail road,
345"
Castleton, village, 594, 646, town, 655
Catherines landing, 4, creek, 723, town, 724
Catlin, 724
Cato, 375
Catskill mountain, 3,*4, 6, 470, creek, 461,
lage, 471
Cattaraugus county, 2, 365, Creek, reserva
tion, 437, lake, 461
Cattle, injury to,' 301, 302, number in the
state, 335
Cattotong creek, 723
Caughnawaga, 539
Cauquaga creek, 437
Caverus, 48
Cayuga, valley, 4, lake, 24, 373, village, 375,
county, 372, creek, 436, 445, canal, 83,
85
Cayudutta creek, 534
Cayuta creek, 723, town, 725
Cazenovia, lake, 3, 519, creek, 437, town,
village, 519
Census, provision for, 119
Central square, 615
Centre port, 375
Centreville, 355, 385, 405.
Chamberlain's Mills, 702
Champion, 488
Champlain, lake, 25, town, 398
Chancery, court of, 281. See Judiciary.
Chappelsburg, 367
Chapinsville, 592
Chares Corners, 683
Charlotte, town 383, lake, 406, river 419, vil
lage, 559
Charlotteville, 699
Charleston, 537
Charlton, 681
Chaumont river, 486, village, 490
Chateaugua, mountain, 9, lake, 396,
river, 455, town, village, 457

Chaudiere river, falls, 33
Chatham, 404
Chautauque county, 2, 380, town, 383, lake,
2, 4, 382, outlet, creek, 381
Chazy, great and little, rivers, lake, 396,
town, 398
Cheechunk, 5
Chemung, river, 3, 5, 38, 704
canal, 83, 85, county, 724, town, 725
Chenango, river, 4, 390, county, 389
canal 83, 85, town forks, 361, 391
Cherry valley, town, creek, village, 625
Cherry creek, 383
Chestnut ridge, 435
Chester, 602, 748
Chesterfield, 450
Chesterville, 350
Chicago, 13
Chili, 526
China, 463
Chippeway tribe, 12, village, 17
Chittenango creek, 519, village, 522
Chittenden falls, 411
Chuctenunda creek, 535
Churches, number and state of, 216, 223
Churchtown, 405
Churchville. 528, 665
Chyle, the, 628
Cincinnatus, 1, 414, creek, 570
Circuit courts, 277
Cicero, 579
Cities, number and names, 119
City, the, 426
Clarence, 444
Clarendon, 610
Clarkson, 526
Clarkstown, 657
Clarkesville, 355, 519, 626, Clarke's settle
ment, 362
Clarkesville, Cayuga county, 375
Claverack creek, 403, town, 405
Clay, 579, corners, 579
Clayton, 488
Cleaveland, 615
Clerk, senate and assembly, 122, 123, 177,
town, election of, 157, duties of, 160,
county, his duties, deputy, 165, compen
sation, 165, of courts, 278, when ap
pointed, by court holds office for 3 years,
unless sooner removed by court, 278
Clermont, 405
Clifton Park, 681
Clinton county, 395, town, ville, hollow, 426,
village, 568, liberal institute, 569
Clinton mountains, 8
Climate, change of considered, 61, &c.
Clip hill, 8
Clockville, 521
Clove, 435
Clove kill, Clove valley 426
Clover mills, number in the state, 335
Closter mountain, 656 *
Cloth, made in families, 335
Clyde, river, 30, village, 761
Clymer, 383
Coal, 53

INDEX.

787

Cobleskill, 695, town, 696
Cochecton, 71 8
Cochogue, 715
Coey man's kill, 341, town, 347
Colchester 420, 521
Cold creek, 353
Colden, 445
Coldenham, 605
Coles mills, 632
Colesville, town, 362, 421
Collector, canal, 153, town, 157, 171, security
by, 159
Colleges, 191, 195, appropriations for, 213
Cold Spring, village, 632, 637, 714, harbour,
639
Collicoon creek, 718
Collins, 445
Collinsville, 503
Colosse, 615
Columbia county, 402, town, 479
Columbiaville, 411, 666
Columbia College, account of, 191, 195
Columbus, 390
Commerce, foreign, tabular views of, 338
Commissary General, 184, 186
Commissioners, of canal fund, 144, of com
mon schools, 157, of highways, 157, 200
' of canals, 152, of deeds, 288, of land
office, 151
Common Schools, fund, 146, commissioners
and inspectors; 157, tabular view of, 212
expenses of, 213
Common pleas and general sessions, 277,
See judiciary, 284
Comstock landing, 754
Comptroller, 125, 172
Concealment of estate by insolvent, 301
Concord, 445
Conesus lake, 506, town, 508
Congress, districts, 119
Elections, 141
Conhocton, river, 4, 705, town, 706
Conklin, 362
Connecticut brook, 711
Connewango, 4, 381, town, 367
Conquest, 376
Consequit creek, 711
Conspiracy, what, how punished, 301
Constables, 157, 159
Constable, town, 457, ville, 503
Constantia, 615
Conveyances, fraudulent, &c, 301
Convictions, subsequent, '303
Convicts in house of refuge, 304
Coonsville, 592
Copake, creek, 403, town 405
Cooperstown, 627
Copenhagen, 502
Copperas, 43
Corbeau, 398
Corinth, 681
Cornelia, 488
Cornelius creek, 439
Cornwall, 599
Corporations, taxable, 176, 182. See incor
porations.

¦ Coroner, 136, 166, 307.
Cortlandt, county, 413, town, manor, 766,
Cortlandtville, 415
Cosby, manor, 566
Cosdaga lake, 382
Cotton manufactories, number in the state,
335. See county tables.
Counsellors, 289
Counties, number of, 118, how altered, 119;
Congressional districts 119; corporate
powers 163; supervisors, 157; treasurer,
164; clerk, 165, 279; sheriffs and coro
ners, ib. ib.; provisions relating to, 167;
tax in, 168; representatives, 778
Courts. See Judiciary
Coventry, 390
Covert, 760
Covington, 464
Cowanesque, 705
Cowasalon creek, 519
Cow, neck, 639, harbour, 714
Coxsackie, 472
Crab meadows, 714
Craigsville, 599
Cranberry village, 539
Crane lake, 453
Crawford 601
Crimes, punishable, by death, 291; in state
prison, 292; in county jails, 301; com
pounding, 301; attempts at, 303; pun
ishments for, 303, 304; prevention of,
304
Criminal code, 291, proceedings, 304
Crom Elbow creek, 425
Cromhorn pond, 623
Crom pond, 772, 773
Crooked lake, 24, canal, 83, 85
Cross lake, 24
Croton river, 631
Crown point, 450, 765
Cryder creek, 353
Cuba, 355
Cuddybackville, 602
Cumberland bay, 22
Currytown, 540

Danby, 730
Danube, 479
Dansville, 510, 707
Darien, 464
Dashville, 740
Davenport, 420
Day, 682
Dayanville, 503
Dayton, 367
Deaf and Dumb, provisions for educating,
208; number of, number supported by
charity, 335. See county tables; duties
of superintendent of common schools,
relative to, 200, 781
Deaths, number in 1834-5, p. 335. See
county tables; civil, 304
Deansville, 569, Dean's Corners, 685
Debt, taxable, nonresidents, 168, 1 78
Decatur, 625

788

INDEX.

Deep Hollow brook, 424
Deerfield, 568
Deerpark, 602
Defriestville, 643
De Kalb, 663
Delavaghn mountain, 429
Delaware river, 2, 4, 37, 417
County, 417; creek, 437
Delaware and Hudson Canal, 5, 87, 98, 100
Delaware and Raritan Canal, 87, 101
Delhi, 420
Delphi, 582
Denmark, 502
Depauville, 488, 664
De Peyster 663
Deposit, 4, 421
De Ruyter, 520
Detroit, river, city, 14
Dewit, 580, Dewitville, 383
Dexter, 488
Diana, 502
Dickenson, 458
Dieppe creek, 472
Distilled spirits, inspection of, 241
Distilleries, 335. See county tables.
District schools, 202
Attorney, 167, 277
Dix Hills 714
Dobb's Ferry 657, 767
Dogs, protection against, 259
Dorr's Corners, 755
Dove Creek 406
Dover, 426, South, ib.
Dresden 753, 773
Drowned lands, 597, meadows, 713
Drunkard, 329, 781
Dryden, 730
Duane, town, 458, Duanesburg, 688
Dublin, 701
Dutchess county, 423
Duelling, 291, 300, 302
Dundee, 775
Dunkirk, 385
Dunning street, 683
Durham, 472, ville, 574
Dutch Reformed Church, 220
Dyeing and printing establishments, 335
E
Eagle, town, 356, harbour, 611
Earlville, 393
East, Bloomfield, 592
Fonda, 539
East Cana'Ja creek, 534
East Chester, 767
Easthampton, 713
Easton, 753
Eaton, town, village, 520, Bush, 479
Eddyville, 739
Eden, 445
Edenville, 607
Edinburg, 682
Edmeston, 625
Ednam, 433
Education. See Public Instruction, 213
Edwards, Edwardsville, 663

Eighteen Mile creek, 556
Eight Mile creek, 341
Elba, 464
Elbridge, 580
Elections, other than for militia and town
officers, 136, 779
General, special, 136
Manner of conducting, 137
Canvass of votes by inspectors, final
canvass, 139, 779
of Representatives in congress, 141
of president and vice-president, 141
Senators in congress, 142
Penalties for breach of laws of, 142
Improperly voting at, 302
Electors, number of, 334. See county tables.
Elevations, tables of, 4
Elgin, 368
Elk creek 419
Ellenbury, 398. Ellenville, 743
Ellery, 383.
Ellicottville, 4, 367
Eilicott, town, 384, creek, 437
Ellington, 384
Ellingwood's hollow, 522
Ellisburg, 488
Elisha's kill, 351
Elmira or Newton, 5, 725
Elizaville, 405
Elizabethtown, 451
Elmore's corners, 738
Embezzlement, punishment of, 297
English river, 396
Ephrata, 537
Episcopal Protestants! state of, 219
Erie, Lake, 4, 11, 14
Rivers of, 14, harbours, 15
vessels on, l7, county, 436
Erieville, 522
Erwin, Erwindale, 707
Erin, 726
Errors, court of, 279, 780
Escapes from prison, 299
Esopus creek, 737, town, 738
Esperance, 698
Essex county, 448, town, 451
Estates, real 'and personal, value of in the
state, 335. See county tables.
Estrays, provision relating to, 1 60
Etna, 731
Euclid, 579
Evans, 445, mills, 489
Executive powers, supreme and subordinate,
124
Governor, Lt. Governor, powers, duties,
officers, 125
provisions relating to two or more, 131
Exempts, militia, 184
Exeter, 625
Extortion by threats, punishment of, 301

Fabius, 580
Factoryville, 655, 725, Factory, village, 683
Fairfield, 479
Fairhaven, 611

INDEX.

789

Fairport, 527
Fall creek, Cayuga county, 373, Dutchess
county, 431, Tompkins county, 732,
village, 731
Fallsburg, 718
Falsely personating another, how punish
ed, 297, 781
Farmersville, town, 367, 701
Farmington, 592
Fayette, village, 384, Fayetteville, 581, town,
701
Federal store, 430
Felony, felonious, definition of, 304
Females, married above 45 years, unmarried
under that age, 334
Fences, 161
Fenner, 520
Ferriferous rocks, 49
Finchville, 605
Findley's mills, 385
Fines, limited, 304
Fire place, 713
Fish, inspection, 235, 780, Fish oil, 236
Fisheries, regulation of, 254
Fisher's island, 712 e
Fishkill mountain, 6, creek, 425, town, vil
lage, landing, 427
Fish, Lake, 403, creek, 565, 673
Five corners, 376
Five Mile creek, 732
Flanders, 715
Flatbush, 497
Flatlands, 497
Fleming, town, 376
Flint creek, 30, hill, 693
Florence, 562
Florida, 538, 607
Flour, inspection, 229, 780
Floyd, 568
Flushing, 634
Fonda's bush, creek, 537
Forrestburg, 720
Forestville, 384
Forgery, 291, 295, 781
Fort, Ann, 753, Edward, 754, Miller, 754,
Clinton, Montgomery, 603
Fort Covington, 458
Fort Plain, 539
Fortville, 687
Fort neck, 639
Fosterville, 375
Fowler, 663
Fowlersville, 510, 663
Fox creek, 341, 695
Frankfort, 479
Franklin county, 455, town, 420, village,
568
Franklinton, 697
Franldmville, 367, 427, 580
Fraudulent conveyance, 301
Fredonia, 385
Freedom, town, 367, plains, 429
Franklinton, 755
Freehold, 473
Freetown, 415
French creek, 381, town, 384

Fugitives from justice, 125
Fulling mills, 335. See county tables.
Fullom's basin, 527
Fulton, village, 619, town, 696
Fultonville, 538
Fultonham, 696
Funds, state, general, 143, 778,
canal, 144
literature, 145
school, 146
Public lands, 148

Gaines, town, 611, basin, 611
Gainesville, 464
Galen, 761
Gallatin, 406
Gallupville, 698
Galway Corners, 682
Game, preservation of, 258
Gardiner's, bay, island, 712
Garbett's mills, 533
Garoga, creek, 534, lake, 535
Garratsville, 626
Gates, 526
Gayhead, 427, 473
Geddes, 582
Genegansette, creek, 390
General fund, 143, 778
Genesee port, 526
Genesee, river, 2, 4, 28, 353, canal, 29, 353
Upper falls, 353, town, 356
County, 460
Geneseo, 508
Genoa, 370, East Genoa-, ib.
Geneva village, 593, 780
Geology, 40, primitive formation, ib.; north-
em, ib,; southern, 43; transition forma
tion, 45; lower secondary formation, 46;
saliferous, ferriferous, and lias forma
tions, 49; southern sand stone, district,
52, basalt, 52; upper secondary forma
tion, 53; coal, 53; peat, 54; tertiary for-
. mation, 54; latest deposits, 55; soils, 55
George lake, 746
Georgetown 520
German Flats, 480
German, 391
Germantown, 406
Gerry town, 384
Ghent, 406
Giant of the valley, 451
Gibsonsville, 509
Gilboa, 696
Gilbertsville, 625
Gilliland's creek, 452
Glass factories, number in the state, 335.
See county tables.
Glasgo, 741
Glen, 538, Glen's cove, 639, Glen's falls, 749
Glencadia, 41 1
Glenco, 409
Glenham, 427
Glenville, 688, church, 689
Gloversville, 539
Gneiss, northern, 41, 44;

790

INDEX.

Good Ground, 715
Goose Neck Island, 660
Gorham, 592
Gorham and Phelps, lands of, 149, 587
Goshen, 602
Gouverneur, 664
, Governor, Lt. Governor, 124, 125
Grafton, 643
Grain, measurement and weight of, 250, 781
Granby, 615
Grand Island, 17, 439, of St. Lawrence
river, 31
Grand Jury, how constituted — powers and
duties, 306
Grand river, 15
Grand Sachem, 423
Granite, northern region, 41
Granular limestone, 41, 44, 45
Granville, 754
Graphite, 34
Grasse river, 661
Grassy Point, 658
Gravesend, 497
Graywacke, 45
Great Bend, 488; plain of the west, 10; Val
ley creek, 366; Valley town, 368
Greece, 526
Green Bay, 14
Greenbush, 643
Green county, 468
Green river, 404
Greenhaven, 426
Green Island, 348
Greene, town, 391
Greenfield, 682
Greensburgh, 767 ,
Greenville, 472, 603
Greenwich,' 755
Greenwood, 707 -
Greig, 502
Greigsville, 510
Griffin's Mills, 438
Griffith's Corners, 357
Grist mills, number in the state, 335. See
county tables.
Griswold's Mills, 754
Groceries, regulation of, 245
Groton, 734
Grove town, 356
Groveland, 508
Grosvenor's Corners, 696
Guilderland, 347
Guilford, 391
Gull Islands, 715
Gypsum, district of, 51, 52
H
Habitual drunkards, 329, 781
Hackensack river, 657
Hadley, 682, Falls, 749
Hagedorn's Mills, 684
Haight, 356
Halcottsville, 421
Half Moon, 683
Hallet's Cove, 638
Hall's Hollow, 348, Mills, 667

Hallsville, 628
Halsey, ville, creek, 735
Hamburg, 445, West, ib.
Hamilton, county, 475
Town, 520, village, 347, 520
College, 569
Hammertown, 430
Hammond, 664, Hammond's Port, 709
Hampden, 420
Hampton, village, 575, town 755
Hamptonburg, 602
Hague, 748
Halfway brook, 717
Hancock, 420
Hanford's Landing, 526
Hannakraikill, 341
Hannibal, 615
Hanover, 384
Han's Voss creek, 469
Harlaem, rail road, 105, village, ib.
Harmony, 385
Harpersfield, 420
Harpersville, 362
Harrisburg, 502
Hartsfield, 383
Harrison, 768
Hartford, 416, 755
Hartland, 557
Hartsville, 435
Hartswick, 625
Hassencleaver mountain, 9
Haskett's creek, 366
Hattsville 632
Hastings, 615
Havanna, 724
Haver's Island, 348
Haverstraw, 658
Hawkers and pedlars, regulation of, 245
Hay, regulations for sale of, 244
Haysburg, 747
Health, public provisions for, 188, 780
Hebron, 755
Hector, 731
Helderberg caverns, 48, 341
Helena, 662
Hemlock lake, 506, 590
Hempstead, 635, harbour, 638
Henderson, 488
Henrietta, 527
Herkimer county, 476, town, village, 480'
Hermon, 664
Hero, North, South Islands, 25
Henricks 639
Hides green, inspection of, 240
High Bridge, 449
High Falls, 740
Highways, Hudson, 7
Highlands, Black river, 9
Highways, commissioners ofi, 109; overseers
of, 110; persons liable to labour on, ib.;
general law relating to, 109, &c.
High Peak, 630
Hillsdale, 406
Hinsdale, town, 368
Hitchcock's Comers, 426
Hobart, 421

INDEX.

791

Hogansburg, 457
Hogs, number of in the state, 335. See
county tables.
Holland, purchase, 150
Holland, town, &c, 445
Holly, 611
Homer, 415
Homicide, justifiable, excusable, 293
Honeoye creek, 525, lake, 590
Honesville, 602
Hong Falls, 743
Hoosick river, 642, town, village, 643
Hope, 476
Hopewell, 592, 601
Hopkinton, 664
Hoppauge, 715
Hops, inspection of, 241
Hornby, 707
Hornblende, 41, 44
Hornelsville, 707
Horses, number of, 335. See county tables.
Horseheads, 725
Hounsfield, 489
House of refuge, convicts to be sent to,
when, 304
History and government of, 320
Houseville, 503
Howard, 707
Howe island, 32
Howland island, 376
Hoyt's corner, 701
Hudson and Champlain valley, 24
Heights and distances of, 26
Hudson river, 26, city, 406
Huevelton, 667
Hull's mills, 434
Hume, 356 .
Hunger kill, 351
Hunter, 473
Huntersland, 697
Huntington, 714
Hunt's hollow, 357
Hurley, 738
Huron, Lake, 10, 11, 12, 13, town, 761
Hyde Park, 429

Idiots, number in the state, 335. See county
tables.
Impeachment by assembly, 122
court for, 277, 780
Imprisonment for offences, in certain cases,
duration of, 304
Incest, punishment of, 300
Incorporation, notice of application for, how
given, 122, advantages of, libraries and
religious societies, manufacturing com
panies, limited partnerships, turnpike
companies, 261, 262, moneyed corpo
rations, 263, safety fund, 265, bank
ing, regulations for, 261, &c, saving
banks, 268, new York Life Insurance
and Trust company, 269, insurance
companies, 271, number of corpora
tions, 272, general powers of, 272
Banking system of the state, 273

Independence creek, 353, town, 357
Indian, antiquities, forts, mounds, 60, re
servations, 150, pond, 429, river, 501,
661, hut island, 660
Indictments, 304,' 307
Insane, poor, hospital for, 191
Persons not punishable, 303
Number of, 335. See county tables.
Insolvent debtor, concealment of estate by, v
how punished, 301
Inspectors of common schools, 202
Inspections of flour, 229, beef and pork, 231,
ashes, 233, fish, 235, lumber, 236, oil,
236, staves and heading, 237, flaxseed,
239, leather, 239, green hides, 240,
' hops, 241, distilled spirits, 241, tobac
co, 243, general provisions relating to,
243
Insurance companies, 268, 269, 271
Internal improvements, history of, 68
Navigation Hudson and Mohawk, 69
Interments, places of, penalty for violating,
300
Intoxication, certain offences in, 302
Ira; 376
Irelandville, 708
Iron, in north primitive district, 43, 396,
in southern, 44, central, 49
Iron works, number in the state, 335, 337,
338. See county tables.
Irondequoit creek, bay, 525
Ischua creek, 366
Isle, au Gallop, 32, 660, au Rapid Plat, 660,
aux Chats, 660
Islip, 714
Italy, 774
Ithaca, town, 731, village, 732
Ivesville, 385 J
Jackson, 626, 755, Jacksonborough, 626,
ville, 735
Jamaica, 637
Jamestown, 384 i
Jamesville, 580
Jasper, 707
Jacksonville, 509
Jails, county, 308
Jay, Jayville, 451
Java, 464
Jefferson county, 485, town, village, 697
village, 708, 724
Jerico, 639, 714
Jerusalem, 636, 774
Jersey, 707
Jessup's creek, 673, patent, 746, falls, 749
Johnsboro' 684, Johnsburg, 748
Johnson, Sir William, 535
Johnson's creek, 609, village, 557, ville, 645
Johnstown, 409, 538, settlement, 724
Jordan, 580
Judiciary, 277, 304, 780, circuits, 777
Junius, 701
Jurors, bribery, corruption of, how punish
ed, 299
Improperly influencing, improperly
drawing, &c. 302

792

INDEX.

Jury trial, not to be impaired, 120
provisions relating to, 289. See judi
ciary, grand, 306
Justices of the peace, how appointed, 279,
779, powers, 287, 304. See judiciary,
277 K
Kaatsbergs, 3, 6
Kaaters, Kaatrix kills, 471
Kaatskill Mountain House, 470. See Cats-
kill
Kayaderosseras Mountains, 8
Keene, 452
Keeseville, 450
Kellogsville, 377
Kempsville, 559
Kenadayville, 706
Kennedy's Mill, 385
Kent, 631
Kensington, 386
Ketchum's Corners, 685
Kidnapping, 294
Kill van Kuhl Straight, 28, 652
Kinderhook creek, 403; village; 409; Land- >
ing 411
King's Ferry, 376
County, 494
Kingsboro, 538, Kingsbury, 755
Kingston, 4, 738
Kinney's Corners, 615
Kirkland, 568
KirkviUe, 581
Kline Kill, 403
Knowlesville, 611
Knox, 347
Kortright, 420

La Fayette, 429, 580
Lafargeville, 490
La Grange 429, 464
Lairdsville, 575
Lakes, Great, 11, principal ones in the state,
heights of, 24
Lake Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, 11,
12, 13— Champlain, 25, St. Francis, 32,
St. Peter. 33; Pleasant, 476; George 746
Lakeport, 377
Lakeville, 509, 638
La Motte island, 25
Lancaster, schools, 205, town, 445
Lands, sale of for taxes, 174; improved in the
state, 335. (See county tables.)
Land office, commissioners of, 151
Landtman's Creek, 425
Lansing's Creek, 564, Lansing town, Lan-
singville 734
Lansingburg, 644
Laona, 385
Larceny, grand, 297, petit, 301, in another
country, 303
Lard, regulations for sale of, 244
Lassellsville, 537
Lathrop's Corners, 378
Latintown, 740

Laurens, LaurensviUe, 626, Laurens-kill,
743
Lawrence, Lawrenceville, 665
Laws, supreme and subordinate, 118; trans
mitted to other states, 125; revision,
224
Lawyersville, 696
Lead, 43, 44
Leather) inspection, 239 780
Lebanon, town, 421, springs, 410
Lee, 569, Leesville, 698
Leeds, 472; Leedsville, 426
Ledyard, 376
Legislature, 121, 122, representatives in, 777
Leicester, 508
Lenox, 521
Leon town, 368
Leonardsville, 519
Le Ray, 489
Le Roy, Otsego county, 625
Le Roy's mills, 426, town, village, 464
Letters, wrongfully opening, or publishing,
how punished, 303
Levanna, 376
Lewis, town, 452
Lewis, county, 499
Lewiston, 557
Lexington 473
Leyden Hill, 502
Lias rocks, 49
Liberty 706, 719, Libertyville, 740
Library, state, 151, companies, 262
Lieut. Governor, 122
Lima, 509
Limerick, 488
Lime lake, 368
Limestone, granular, 41; red, 44; transition
secondary 46, 48; sinks 48
Limitation of indictments, 307
Limited partnership, 262
Lincklaen, town, 391, lake, 519
Linden, 463
cfLisbon, 665
Lisle 362
Litchfield, 480
Literature fund, 145
Littel's mills, 507
Little, Delaware, 419; Falls, 22, 480 Gene.
see creek, 353; lake, village, 483, 705;
Britain, 603; Hoosick river, 642; Rest,
435; Sandy Creek, 614; Sodus Bay, 378;
Little Valley Creek, 366, town, 368; Utica,
580
Little Beaver Creek, 717
Liverpool, 584
Livingston, town, manor, 409; county, 504;
ville, 696, 767
Livonia, 509
Lloydsville, 627
Lloyd's neok, 639
Locke town, 370
Lock Berlin, 761
Lockport, 491, 558
Lockville, 761
Lodi, 370, 445, 701
Long's Corners, 465

INDEX.

793

Long Island, 510
Long lake, 673
Long Pond Bay, 525
Loon lake, 705
Lorraine, 490
Low Point, 427
Lowville, 502, 665
Ludlowville, 734
Lumber inspection, 236
Lumberland, 719
Lunatics, number of, 335. (See county ta
bles.)
Luzerne, 749
Lyme, 490
Lynden, 368
Lyons, 761
Lysander, 580

M
Mabbettsville, 435
Machias, 368
Macedon, 762 ,
McCleansville, 731
McConnelsville, 575
Macdonough, 391
McGrawsville, 415
Madison countv, 517, town, village, 521, 472
Madrid, 665 '
Magistrates, powers in criminal cases, 304
Mahopack pond, 631
Maiden, 741
Malone, 458
Malta, Maltaville, 683
Mamakating, 719
Mamaroneck river, 767, town, 768
Mann's valley, 696
Marbletown, 739
Marlborough, 740
Manatoulin Islands, 13
Manchester, 433, 569, 592
Manheim, 482
Manilla, 610
Manlius, 580
Mann's Hollow, 522
Mannsville, 488
Mansfield, 369
Manslaughter, 292
Manufacturing companies, 262
Marion, 762
Marathon, 415
Marble, 42, 44, 48
Marcy, 569
Marine Hospital, 190
Marriages, 300, 335
Marietta, 586
Marshall, 569'
Marshallville, 411
Martinsburg, 502
Maryland, 625
Mason's Corners, 393
Masonville, 421
Massachusetts, claim, lands, 149
Maspeth creek, 637
Massena, 666
100

Mastic, 713,
Mattatuck, 715
Matteawan mountains 6; creek, 425; village
428
Matildaville, 668
Mayfield, creek, mountain, 8, 535, town, 539
Mayhem, 294
Mayor's courts, 277
Mayville, 383
Meadow creek, 390
Meadow land, 713
Measures, regulation of, 247
Measurers, measurement, 133, 249, 250
Mechanicsville, 347, 433, 435, 685
Mecklinburg, 731
Mecock Bay, 715
Medical, societies, 188, colleges, 190, 780
Medicine, practice of, regulated, 188, 780
practitioners of, 191
Medina, 611
Mendon, 527
Mentz, 376
Meredith, 421
Messenger's Hollow, 357
Meteorological observations, 68
Methodists, 217
Mexico, 615
Mica slate, 41, 44
Michigan, lake, 11, 13, peninsula, 14
Michilimackinac, 13
Middleburg, 697
Middlebury, 465
Middlefield, 626
Middleport, 562
Middle Settlement, 570
Middlesex, 774
Middletown, 420, 606, 638, 658
Middleville, 479, 480
Milan, 420
Miller's Place, 713
Mile, stone, board, &o. injury to, 303
Milford, 626
Military lands, 149
Militia, 184, 334
Mills, injury to, how punished, 302
Mills' Island, 347
Mills' pond, 715
Millport, 438
Milltown, 632
Millville, 511, 643
Millville, 728
Milo, 774
Milton, 683, 740, 769
Mina, 385, Minaville, 538
Minden, 539
Mineral springs, Albany county, 341, 346.
(See Saratoga county.)
Minerals, in the Northern primitive district,
43, in the Southern primitive district,
43,45
Minerva, 452
Mines, interest of state in, 156
Minisink, point, 602, town 603
Misdemeanours, punishment of, 301
Mitchell's cave, 540
Mixville, 357

794

INDEX.

Mohawk, river, description of, 26, and Sche
nectady Rail Road, 105, 345, village,
480
Moira, 458
Moneyed, corporations, 261, 263, 273
Mongaup, river 718
Monroe, county, 524, town, 603
Montauk, Island, point, 713
Montezuma, marshes, 10, salt works, village,
376
Montgomery, county, 533, town, village, 605
Monticello, 720
Montmorenci, river, falls, 33
Montreal, 32
Montrose, 430
Montville, 377
Monuments, injury to, how punished, 302
Mooers, 399
Mooney's Bay, 30
Monticello, 627
Moordenaar's creek, 642
Mooresville, 421
Moose river, 501
Moravia, town, 377
Moreau, 683
Morehouse, 476
Morganville, 466
Moriah, 452
Moriches, 713
Morris Canal, description of, 102, 777, cost
of, 87
Morris, Robert, lands of, 150
Morrisania, 770
Morrisville, 520, Morristown, 666
Morrow's mills, 451
Morseville, 697
Moscow, 509
Mott's Corners, 730
Mount Hope, 605
Mount Morris, 509
Mount Pleasant, state prison, 309, &c.,
town, 768
Mount Upton, 391
Mountains, divisions of 2, 3, &c; Shawan
gunk, 6; Catskill, 6; Independence, 6;
Otsquake, 6; Pine Orchard, South,
Highland, Matteawan, Fishkill, Tagh
canic, 7; Northern, 7; Palmertown, 8;
Clinton, 8; Chateaugay, 9
Mountain Ridge, 23
Mud, creek, lake, 4, 30, 590, 705, 759
Mumfordsville, 531
Murder, 291, 437
Murderer's kill, 597
Murray, 611
Muscoot creek. 631
Music, militia, 184, 187 N
Nanticoke, town, 362
Napanock, 743
Naples, 592
Napoli, 369
Nassau, 644
Natural bridge, 493
Navarino, 581

Navigation by steam boats, &c. regulation
of, 253,302
Obstructions of, by nets, &c. 253, 302
Neil's creek, 705
Negroes, and other persons of colour, 334
Nelson, Nelson Flats, 521
Neskayuna, 349, 689
Nettervllle, 689
Nettle hill, 386
Nevisink river, 4, 598, town, 719
New Albion, 369
Newark, 726, 761
New Baltimore, 473
New Berlin, South, Centre, 391
New Brighton, 655
New Britain, 405
New Boston, 762
Newburg, town, village, 605
NewiCastle, 768
New City, 656
Newcomb, 452
New Concord, 405
New Fane, 559
Newfield, 732
New Hackensack, 428
New Hamburg, 433
New Hartford, 569
New Haven, 615
New Lebanon, 409, Shakers, 410
New London, 574
New Ohio, 362
New Paltz, 740
Newport, 462
New Rochelle, 768
Newry, 473
New Salem, 592
New Scotland, 347
Newspapers, 224
Newstead, 446
Newtown, 637, creek, 723
New Utrecht, 498
New Woodstock, 520
New York and Albany railroad, 105
City, schools, 206, county and city, 542
Niagara, river, 16, Falls, 17, county, 555,
town, village, 560, Fort, 562
Nicholas Point, 761
Nichols, 726
Nicholsville, 541, 665
Niles, 377
Ninevah, 362
Nissiquang river, 711
Nobleville, 626
Nomination to office, 134
Non-residents, debts to, taxable, 178
lands of, 169, 780
Norfolk, 666
Norman's kill, 341
North Amenia, 430
Northampton, 540
North Castle, 768
North East, 429
North Hempstead, 638
North Salem, 769
Northumberland, 683
Norway, 482

INDEX.

795

Norwich, 393, 639
Nowadaga creek, 479
Noxious animals, 260
Nunskoy creek, 353
Nunda, town, 357
Nyack hills, 53, 657, village, 658

O
Office, appointment to, 124, 125, general
provision relating to appointment, qua
lification for, tenure of, &c. resignation,
removal, vacation, 134
Officer, public, making unlawful arrest,
seizure or dispossession, how punish
ed, 301, improperly transferring powers,
' neglecting duty, 302
Ogden, 527
Oil creek, 4, 366
Oil, cloth factories, number in the state,
335. See county tables.
Oil mills, number in the state, 335. See
county tables.
Oil spring, 53, 355, oil fish, inspection, 236
Oakfield, 464
Oakhill, 409
Oak Orchard, creek, 609, village, 611
Oaksville, 627
Ogdensburg, 667
Olean, town, 369
Olive, 740
Oleout creek, 419
Oneida lake, 24, 566, river, 30, county, 564,
creek, 565, institute, 575, village, 749,
Castleton, 574
Oneonto, 626
Onondaga, lake, 24, 582, county, 577; town,
581
Ontario, lake, 11, 22, rivers of, 28, county,
587, town, 762
Oppenheimer, 540
Oquago mountain, 361
Oran, 582
Orange county, 596, town, 658
Orangeville, 465
Oregon, 336
Oriskany creek, 565, falls, 567, village, 567
Orleans, island, 33, town, 490, village, 593,
county, 608
Orrington, 386
Orville, 580
Orwell, 616
Osborne's bridge, 540
Osborneville, 475
Ossian, 357
Oswaya creek, 353
Oswegatchie river, 661, village, 665, town,
667
Oswego canal, 85
Oswego river, 29, proposed canal for steam
boats, 30, county, 613. town, village,
616
Otego, 627
Otisco, town, lake, 582
Otisville, 605
Otsego lake, 3, 622

Otsego county, 621, manufactures of, 624,
town, 627
Otselic, town, 392, 413
Otsquake creek, petrifactions at, 483, 535
Overseers ofthe poor, 157,324
Ovid, 701
Owasco inlet, outlet, 373, canal, 374, town,
377, lake, 3, 781
Owego, creek, 4, 723, town, village, 726
Owl lake, 673
Oxboro, village, 487
Oxford, 392, village, 599
Oyster bay, 639
pond, 715

Painted Post, 767
Palisade range, 52, 656
Palatine, 540
Palermo, 618
Palmer's Corners, 393
Palmertown, mountain, 8
Pamelia, 490
Palmyra, 762
Panama 385
Paper mills, number in the state, 335
See county tables.
Paradox lake, 451
Paris, town, 570
Parish, 618, Parishville, 667
Parma, 527
Partnership, limited, 262
Pasic creek, 341
Passengers in steamboats, 253,
in other vessels, 302
Patchogue, 713
Patroon's creek, 341, mills, 643
Patterson, 632
Pauperism, 324, 331
Paupers, 206, 331
Pavillion, 465
Pavonia, 654
Pawling 430
Pawnbrokers 246
Pawlet river, 752
Peach pond 1632
Pearl creek, 464
Peat, 54
Peckville, 428
Peconic river, 711, bay, 712
Peeksville, 766
Pekin, 557
Pelham 740, 769
Peltonville, 708
Pembrook, 465
Pendleton, 562
Penfield, 527
Penitentiaries, 308
Penn Yan, 774
Perjury, 298 ,
Perkin's Corners, 376
Perrinton, 527
Perry, 465, 731
Perrysburg, 369
Perrysville, 398, 520
Persia, town, 370

796

INDEX.

Personal estate, value of in the state, 335
See county tables.
Peru, mountains, 8, town, 399, village, 580
Peruville, 731
Peterborough mountain, 7
Petersburg, Corners, 645
Peth, 368
Petrefaction, 483
Petroleum, 53, 437
Pharaoh lake, 453
Pharsalia, 392
Phelps, town, 593
Phelps and Gorham, lands of, 149, 587
Philadelphia, 490
Philips, creek, 353, village, 615
Philipsburg, 354, 606
Philipsport, 719
Philipstown, 632
Physicians, number of in state, 191
Phoenix, 619, 626
Pierrepoint, 668
Pike, 357
Pillar Point, 488
Pinckney, 503
Pine, Grove, 430, hill, 464
Pine orchard, 6, 471
Pine mountain, 417
Pine plains, 430
Pitcher, 392
Pitchteway creek, 341
Pitts Flats, 593
Pittsfield, 627,
Pittsford, 527
Pittstown, 645
Plains, great western, 10, Long Island, 10
Plainfield, 627
Plainville, 580
Platner creek, 419
Platte kill, 540, 737, town, 741
Plattsburg, 399
Pleasant, plains, 426, valley, 430, 537, ville,
741, 768
Plessis creek, 486, village, 487
Plumbago 43, 453
Plumb Island, 712
Plymouth, 392
Poeston kill, 642, village, 645
Poisoning cattle, 310
Poisons, selling of, 303
Poland, 385, 482
Political power, distribution of, 118
Pollopell's Island, 601
Pomfret, 385
Pompey, town, village, 582
Poolville, 521
Poor, 157, 324, 331
Poplopen kill, 656
Population, 334, 339. See county tables.
Pork inspection, 231
Portage 357, 569
Porter, 562, Porter's Corners, 682
Portland, 4, 385, 626, harbour, 386
Port, Byron, 377, Benjamin, 743, Douglas,
399, 450, Genesee, 526, Gibson, 592
Jackson, 538, Jarvis, 602, Kent, 450,
Schuyler, 348, Watson, 415

Potsdam, 668
Potter's hollow, 348, corners, 445
Potter, town, 774
Potuck creek, 469
Poughkeepsie, village, 430
Poughquake, 427
Poulteney river, 752
Pound, masters, 157
Poundridge, 769
Prattsburg, 708
Pratts, ville, 473, 615, hollow, 520
Preble, 415
Presbyterians, 216 '
President, Vice President, election of, 141
Preston, 392, hollow, 348
Prevention of crimes, 304
Principal, in second degree, 303
Frincetown, 689
Printer, state, 130
Print works, 41 1
Prison, escape from, 299, state, county, 308
164
Property, taxable, table of, 181
Prosecutions, compounding, 301
Providence, 684
Provost creek, 341, 469
Public buildings, 151
Public health, 183, 780
Public Instruction, history of in this state,
191; university, 194,ofihe city of New
York, 194; colleges, 195; theological
seminaries, 196; academies, how con
stituted, &c. 196, 780\ number, condi
tion, tabular view of, 198; common
sehools,superintendent of, 200, moneys
distributed to, commissioners of, duties,
200; inspectors, duty of, 202; common
school districts, how formed, how gov
erned, 202, tax for, 204; trustees of dis
tricts, powers and duties, 202, annual
reports relating to, 205; Instruction of
paupers, 206; provisions for schools in
New York, 206; deaf and dumb, 208;
tabular view of eommon schools, 212;
cost of common schools, 213, progress
of schools, 213, appropriation of the
legislature for, 2i3, remarks on the sysc
tem of, 214; aids from religion, 216,
from newspapers, 224; revised laws, 224
Public school society, New York city, 206
Public peace, morals, offences agaiinst, 300
Pulaski, 618
Pulteney purcbase,151,town, village,708,763
Pulver's corners, 430
Pimch kill, 696
Put-in-Bay, 15
Putnam county, 630, town, 756

Quaker hill, 430
Quality hill, 52J,
Quarantine, 188
Quebec, 33
Queensbury, 749
Queens county, 633, village, 639
Queenston, 558

INDEX.

797

Quincy, 385
Quintue, 715
Quogue, 715

R

Racket river, 661
Rail roads over the state, 105, 108, 777
Ramapo, river, 657, town, village, 658
Ramertown, 643 '
Rankonkoma pond, 711
Randolph, town, 370
Ransomville, 728
Rape, 293
Rawsonville, 537
Raynortown, 636
Reading 708
Real Estate, value of in the state, 335. See,
county tables.
Red creek, 763
Redfield, 618
Redford, 400
Red Hook, 433
Red Mills, 32, 631, 665
Rednor pond, 405
Red rock, 404
Reference trial by, 220
Refuge, House of, 320
Regents of University. (See Public Instruc
tion.)
Religious profession and worship protected,
12
sects, state of, 216
instruction, cost of, 224
societies, how incorporated, 262
Removal from office, 135, 136
Remsen, 570
Rensselaer's mills, 347, 645; Rensselaerville
347, 665, county, 641; village, 645
Rensselaerwycke, manor of Rensselaer, 650
Representation in assembly, &c. 119, 777;
in senate, ib.
Reserved rights, 120
Reservations, Indian, 150
Resignation of office, 135
Revised laws, 224
Rexford flats, 681
Reynold's Corners, 683, ville, 731
Rhinebeck, 433
Richfield, 627
Richford, 727
Richland, 618
Richmond, town, 593; county, 652; village,
655; ville, 696
Richville, 465
Rideau Canal, 32
Ridge, the, 749
Ridgebury, 603
Ridge Road, 23
Ridgeville, 521
Ridgeway, 611
Riga, 528
Rights, reserved by the people, 120
Ripley, 385
Riverhead, 714
Roads, provision for making, &c., 109
law of, 257
Roanoke, 466

Robbery, how punished, 297
Robins Island, 712
Rocco Point, 715
Rochester, city, 528, town, 741
Rockaway, Near, Far, 636
Rock, city, 429, Btream, 773
Rockland county, 656, town, 720
Rodger's Rock, 746
Rodman, 491
Rogersville, 386
Rome, 570
Romulus, 701
Rondout creek, 737, village, 739
Root, 540
Rope factories, number in the state, 335. (See
county tables.)
Rossie, 668
Rose, brook, 419, town, 762
Rosendale, 738
Rossville, 656
Rotterdam, 615, 689
Round lake, 673
Rouse's Point, 398
Roxbury, 421
Royalton, 562
Ruddus Pond, 429
Rush, 531, Rushville, 592, 726
Rum Point, 636
Rushford, town, 358
Russel, 668
Russia, 482
Rustdorp, 637
Rutland, 491
Rutledge, village, 367
Rye pond, 768, town, 769

S
Sabbath day, point, 746
Sable, mountains, 8, river, 449
Sacandaga mountain, 7, river, 672
Sackett's harbour, 489
Sacketville, 378
Sadaquida, or Sauquoit creek, 566
Saddle river, 657
Safety fund, see banks, 265, amount of, 275,
banks subject to, 275
Saganaw bay, river, i3
Sagg Harbour, 715
Saguenay river, 33
Sailor's Snug harbour, 655
Saint Clair, river and lake, 14
St. Francis lake, 32
St. Johnsville, 540
St. Joseph, isle of, 12
St. Lawrence, basin, 11, ascents and dis
tances, 34, river, description of, 31,
county, fi60
St. Mary's river, 12, Sault de, 13, rapids, 33
St. Regis reservation, 457, river, 662
Salem, Albany county, 347, Chautauque
county, 385, town, Washington, 746
Sales for taxes, 174
Saliferous rock, 49
Salina, 582
Salisbury, 482, mills, 599

798

INDEX.

almon creek, 373, 525, 614, 734, river, 455,
614, Little Salmon, 525, 614
Salt, district, 49, 50, sources of, analysis,
product, 51, springs, superintendent and
inspector, 156, regulations of, 154,
works, number of, 585
Salt point, 430
Salt Springville, 628
Salubria, 724
Sampawam's creek, 711
Sampsondale, 658
Sandford, town, 362
Sandusky, village, 368
Sand lake, town, village,. 645
Sands creek, 420
Sandy creek, 487, 609, village, 611, town, 619
Sandy hill, 755
Sandy hook, bay, 28
Sangerfield, 571
Saranac river, 396, town, 400
Saratoga county, 671, lake, 673, springs, 675,
town, springs, 684
Sardinia, 446
Saugerties, town, 741
Sauquoit, creek, 566, village, 570
Sault, Lower Sault, Long Sault, islands,
32, 664
Savannah, 762
Savoy, 708
Saw creek, 425, 660
Saw kill, 737
Saw mills, number in the state, 335. (See
county tables.)
Saw Mill river, 766
Sawpits, 769
Scaijaquedas creek, 439
Schaghticoke, 645, point, 646
Schenectady county, 687, city, 689
Schenectady and Saratoga railroad, 691
Schenectady and Utica railroad, 105
Schenevas creek, 626
Schinnecoc bay, 715
Schoharie creek, 4, 694
Schoharie county, 693, town, village, 697
Schodac 646
Schroon, town, lake, 452
Schroeppel, 619
Schuyler town, 482, lake, 3, 622, island, 450
Schuyler's mills, 433
Sehwitz kill, 351
Science, 738, Scienceville, 475
Scio, town, 358, village, 611
Scipio, town, Scipioville, North Scipio, 377
Scotchtown, 606
Scotia, 689
Scott, 415
Scottsville, 510, 531
Scriba's patent, 614, Scriba town, 619
Scuttle hole, 715
Sealers, of weights and measures, 248
in towns, 157
Searsburg, 601, 731
Seawas, 701
Secretary of state, appointment of, powers,
duties, 125, salary, 126, deputy, 126,
sealer of weights and measures, 248

Seelysburg, 369
Sempronius, 377
Senate, how constituted, powers, 122, (See
Legislature,) senate district, 119, 777,
president of, acts as governor, when, 124
Senators, in congress, election of, 142
Seneca, reservation, creek, 437
Seneca, town, 593
Seneca, inlet, 4, outlet, 30, oil spring, 355
Seneca and Oneida vale, description of, 9
lake, height, 24
Seneca county, 699, river, falls, 700, 701
Sennet, 377
Sepascat, 433 i
Sergeant-at-Arms, 123
Serpentine, 41
Sessions of the peace, special, trials before,
306
Setauket, 713
Shakers, 349
Sharon, 698
Shawangunk mountain, 5
island, 13, town, 742
Shaw's lake, 631
Sheep, number of, in the state, 335. See
county tables.
Shelby, town, village, basin, 611
Shelden, 465
Shelter island, 712
Sherburne, 393
Sheriff, election of, 136, bond, 165, duties,
165, under sheriff, 165, term of office,
279
Sheridan, town, 386
Sherman, 386, Sherman's mills, 645
Sherwood, 444
Shingles, inspection of, 236
Shopkville, 429
Short tract, 356
Shortsville, 592
Shultz store, 426
Sibley's corners, 531
Sidney, 421
Sienite, 41
Siloam, 522
Silver, creek, 381, lake, 461, 465
Sing Sing, state prison, 309, village, 768
Six Mile creek, 732
Skanandoa, 574
Skaneateles, town, lake, village, 585, 3
Skinnersville, 438
Sloansville, 698
Slate hill, 603
Slaterville, 730
Slote landing, 658
Smithboro' 728
Smith's corners, 378
Smithfield, 522
Smithtown, 538, 715, Smithton, 696
Smith's valley, 521
Smithville, 393, 489
Smoke creek, 437
Smoky hollow, 405
Smyrna, 393
Snake island, 439, hill, 673
Snook kill, 673

INDEX.

799

Sociality, 369
Sodus, 762
Soils, constituents of, 55
Solon, 415
Somerset, 562
South East, 632
Southfield, 655
Southampton, 715
South bay, 753
Southold, 715
South port, 727
South Salem, 769
Spafford, 585
Sparta, 510, 768
Speedsville, 730
Spencertown, 404, 727
Spencer's corners, 430, basin, 527
Speunk, 715
Spirits, distilled, inspection of, 241
Split rock, 451
Spracker's basin,, 540
Springfield, 628
Spring port, 377
Springtown, 640
Springwater, 510
Springville, 411, Erie county, 445
Squaw island, 439
Staatsburg, 429
Stafford, 466
Stanford, 421, 433, Stanfordville, 434
Stanford's ridge, 749
Stanton hill, 473
Stark, Starkville, 482
Starkey, 774
State funds, property and expenditure, 143
State printer, 130
State prisons, 308, 312
Staten island, 28, 652, sound, 652
Statistics, general of state, 334; (See county
tables.)
Staves and heading, inspection of, 237
Steamboats, regulations for, 253, 302
Steatite, 41
Steel's creek, 419
Steinhook, 351
Stephentown, 646
Sternesville, 730
Sterling, 378
Steuben county, 2, 703, village, 571
Stevenville, 347
Stillwater, creek,382,landing, 610, town, 685
Stimpsonville, 393
Stockbridge, 522
Stock jobbing, regulations for, 246
Stockholm, 669
Stockport, 410
Stockton, 386, creek, 705
Stokes, 569
Stone Arabia, 540
Stone church, 463, mill, 490
Stone ridge, 740
Stony creek, 403, 487, point, 657
Stratford, 541
Strawberry island, 439
Strays, 160
Streams, subterranean, 48

Strykersville, 465, 696
Stuyvesant, 411
Success, pond, 638
Suffolk county, 711
Sugar loaf, 630
Sullivan, town, 522, county, 717
Summer, valley, 355, hill, 378
Summit, lake, 622, town, village, 699
Superintendents of canal, 153
Superior lake, 10, 11
Supervisors, 157, 160, 163
Supreme' court, 277, consists of a chief jus
tice and two justices.
Surety of the peace, 304
Surveyor general, 125, 130
Surrogate, 167, 278,286
Susquehanna river, 3, 4, 37
Swamp river, 424
Sweden, 531
Syracuse railroad, 105, town, village, 584 v

Taberg, 567
Taekawasiek creek, 642
Taghcanic mountain, 7, falls, 736
Talcott's corners, 378
Talcottyille, 502
Tanneries, number in the state, 335
Tannersville, 473
Tappan village, 658
Tarrytown, 767
Tax, by what authority levied, 120
for local purposes, application to legis
latures for, to be published, 122
what property subject to, &c. &c. tax
ation, 168, 780; sales for, 174
for schools, 204
Taxable property in the state, table of 181
Taxation, brief history of, 183
Taverns and groceries, regulation of, 245,
780
Teller's Point ,766
Ten Mile creek, 341, Dutchess county, 424,
717
Teoronto bay, 526
Territorial divisions ofthe state, 118
Theological seminaries, number and loca
tion, 196, 217, 219, 220, 221
Theresa, 487
Thompson, ville, 368, 720, Thompson, town,
720
Thornville, 429
Thousand Islands, 32
Throopsville, 377
Tibbet's Island, 348
Ticonderoga, black lead at, 43, town, fort,
453
Tierkenkill, 643
Timber, floating, provisions relating to, 257
Time, computation of, 247
Tioga, river, 5, 701, county, 721,.town, 727
Tioughnioga river, 4, 413
Tivoli, 433
Tobacco, inspection of, 243
Tobyhanna creek, 708

800

INDEX.

ToddsviUe,.626
Tolls, canal, table of, 88
Toll gates, malicious injury to, 302
Tomhenick creek, 642, village, 645
Tompkins, 421, Tompkinsville, 655
county, 729
Tonnage, of tbe several ports, 339
Tonawanta creek, 461, 556, Reservation,
462, village, 561
Tongue mountain, 746
Tower Hill, 435
Towns, number of, 119; how altered, 119,
bodies corporate, 156; division of 156
meetings, 157; officers of, how chosen;
legislation of, ib.; elections, 158; quali
fications of officers of, ib.; compensa
tion of, 162; suits, by or against, 162
tax, 171
Town line, village, 445
Trade, regulations of, 226
Treason, 291
Treasurer, state, appointment, 125; duties;
compensation; compensation, deputy,
129
county, duty of, 164, in relation to taxes,
168, 172
Tremperskill, 419
Trenton Falls, 478, village, 571
Trespass, by cutting trees, severing produce,
&c, how punished, 302
Triangle, town, 362
Trewsville, 383
Tripe's HilL 539
Trip hammers, . number in the state, 335.
(See county tables.)
Trois Riviers village, 33
Troupsburg, 708 ¦
Trout river, 455
Troy city, 646
Trumansburg, 735
Truxton, 416
Tub's Hollow, 445
Tully, 586
Tunessassah, 369
Tupper's Corners, 378
Turin, 503
Turnpike road and bridges, 109
companies, provisions relating to, 262
Turnpike village, 406
Tuthill, 740
Tuscarora, 509, Indian reservation, 557,
creek, 705
Twaltskill, 739
Twelve Mile creek, 705
Twenty Mile creek, 381, 385
Two Sisters' creek, 437
Tyler, 369, Tylersville, 491
Tyre, 702
Tyrone, 708 U
Ulines, 645
Ulster county, 736, Ulster village, 741, UI-
sterville, 742
Ulysses, 736

Unadilla river, 4, 390, 623, forks, 627, town,
628
Union college, 691
Union, street, 347, Union village, 362, 755,
town, ib. Corners, 429; Square, 615
Union Mills, 537
Union spa; 377
Union vale, 434
Unionville, 603, 768
Universalists, condition of, 221
University, state, 192, 193; of city of New
York, 194; Western, 196
Urbanna, 709
Upper secondary formation, 53
Utica city, 571
Utsayanthe lake, 697

Vagrants, 329
Valcour's island, 25
Valitie creek, 403, village, 409
Van Buren, village, 385, town, 586
Van Campen's creek, 353
Vanbornsville, 482
Van Sehaiek's island, 767
Van Wart's monument, 767
Varick, 702
Venice, 378
Verbank, 435
Vermont, 384
Verna, 731
Vernon, 574
Verona, 574
Verplank's point, 766
Vessels, regulations for, 302
Vestal, 363
Veteran, 728
Victor, 594
Victory, 378
Vienna, town, 574, village, 593
Villages, corporated and incorporated, 119
Villanova, 386
Vlamanskill, 341
Vhekill,351
Volney, 619
Volusia, 386
Vorheesville,538 W
Waddington, 665
Wadham's mills, 453
Wading river, 711, 713, 714
Wages, member of legislature, 123
Wainscott, 714
Wait's corners, 756
Walden, village, 604
Wales 446
Wallkill, 597, town, 600
Walnut creek, 381
Walton creek, 419, town, 421
Walworth, 763
Wampsville, 521
Wappinger's creek, 425
Warren county, 744
Warren, town, 483, village, 658

INDEX.

801

Warrensburg, 749
Warsaw, 466, 773
Warwick, 606
Washington county, 751
Washington, town, 435, ville, 599
Wassaic creek, 424
Waterbury, 736
Waterborough, 385
Waterford, 685
Waterloo, ,702
Watertown, 491
Waterville, 406, 445, 571
Watervliet, 348
Watson, 503
Wawarsing, 4, town, 742
Wayne, town, village, 709
county, 758
Wellsburg, 727
Weedsport, 375
Weigher general, 251, 781
Weighers of merchandise, 251, 278
Weights and measures, seals of, 157, regu
lations of, 247 ¦
Welland, river, canal, 15
Wellington, 580
Wells, 476, corners, 603
West, Almond, 358, Bay, 715, Bloomfield,
594, Brunswick, 483, Cayuga, 702,
Farms, 770, Galway, 537, Richmond,
593, Troy, 348, Turin, 503
West Canada creek, 478
Westchester, county, 764, town, 769
Westerlo, 350
Western, 575
Westfield, 386, 655
Westford, 628
Westhampton, 715
West harbour, 714
Westmoreland, 575
West hills, 714
West Point, 599
Westport, 453
Westtown, 603
West Troy, 650
Westville, 460, 628
Wharton manor, 625
Wheatland, 72, 531
Wheatly, 639
Wheeler, 709
Whippleville, 433
White Clay creek, 425
White's creek, 353
White, creek, town, 756
White face mountain, 9
Whitehall, 756
White Haven, 439
White Plains 770
Whitestown, Whitesborough, 575
101

Whitestone, 635
Whitesville, 491
Whiting's pond, 403
Whitlocksville, 766
Whitney's point,
Whittaker's falls, 742
Willett, 416 •»
Willewemack creek, 717
Williamsburg, 497
Williamsons, 763
Williamstown, mountain, 7, town, 620
Williamsville, 490, 438
Willow Spring, 681
Willsborough, 453
Wilmington, 453
Wilna, 492
Wilson, 562
Wilton, 685
Winchell mountain, 429
Windham, 475
Winds, prevailing in state, 66
Windsor, 363
Winfield, 483
Winton, 482
Wiskoy, creek, 353, village, 357
Wolcott, 763
Wolver hollow, 639
Wolves, destruction of, 260
Woodburn, 719
Woodcreek, 752
Woodhull, 710
Woods firing, penalty for, 257
Woods hollow, 446
Woodstock, 743
Woodville, 488
Woollen factories, number in state, 335
See county tables.
Worcester, 629
Wrecks, provisions relative to, 255
Wurtzboro',719Wynants kill, 642, village, 643
Wyncoop's creek, 725
Wyoming, 465

Yates county, 772 *
Yates, town, 611,ville, 774
Yaughcripple bush, 740
Yonkers 770
York, 510
Yorkshire, village, 362, town, 370
Yorktown, 772
Yorkville, 577
Youngstown, 562

Zimmerman's creek, 534