hats. [Only think of turned hats !1
" The Fresh Water" — for sale, the house where Thos. Gallaudet
now lives in, at Fresh Water, on the left hand side of the main
street or road leading into the Boiuery, on the rising of the hill,
directly opposite the Jews' burying ground.
The news of the Stamp act repealed on 3d March 17G6, give
great joy every where. Of these, many public demonstrations
are given. The joy in England was equally great.
Theatre. On the 5th May, it was advertised, that at the thea-
tre in Chapel street * would be performed the comedy of the
"Twin Rivals, and the King and the Miller of Mansfield."
N. B. As the packet has arrived and brought good news respect-
ing the repeal, it is hoped the public has no objection to the
performance, which is given b}^ permission of his excellency the
Governor. [It appears however that some of the people were
offended, for the next paper contains the fact, that they actually
demolished the house !] It is related " that many of the inhabi-
tants, who deemed it highly improper that such entertainments
should be exhibited in a time of such public distress, when so
many poor could scarcely find means of subsistence, talked so
freely of their intended opposition to the play, that many were
prevented from going." After the play began, the multitude burst
open the doors and entered with tumult. The audience escaped
as they could, and many lost their hats, a boy had is scull frac-
tured and was trepann'd. The crowd quickly pulled down the
house, and carried the pieces to the commons, and consumed
them in a bonfire." [I take the above as told in the Gazette, to
be a version, nearer to the truth, of the same fact told by me in
my Historic Tales of New York, p. 176.]
On the occasion of the final repeal of the Stamp act, by its
supplement, it was celebrated in New York with great demon-
strations of joy. The Sons of Liberty met at their usual rendez-
vous, Howard's in the Park as I believe] where they invited all
the citizens to unite with them, " in consequence of which a great
number assembled in the fields, where a royal salute was fired
and at every loyal toast at Howard's seven cannons were fired ;
at night there was a general illumination.
The king's birthday on the 4th June, which so soon followed,
was seized upon as a suitable occasion to prove at once their
loyalty and gratitude for the recent repeal. All the city authori-
ties waited upon the governor to drink the king's health. The
battery and men-of-war guns were fired. Two large oxen were
* Now Beekmans street, then called Chapel street because of St. George's
chapel there.
2S0 Gazettes of the Olden Time and their Notices.
roasted on the commons [the Park] before numerous spectators,
a large stage was erected having the roasting ox at each end,
on whicli was placed twenty-five barrels of strong beer, three
hogsheads of rum, sugar and water to make punch, bread, &.C.; at
one end of the common was a pile of twenty cords of wood with
a tall mast in the middle, to the head of which was hoisted twelve
tar and pitch barrels, and placed on a round top. At the other
cud of the conmion were fixed twenty-five pieces of cannon and a
lofty flag-stalf and colours. [The moderns have never since wit-
nessed such a bonfire !] There was a general illumination at
night. The governor and all the officers of state and military
dined together and drank toasts, which are published, — loyal but
free. The dinner was given by the principal inhabitants. [It
was done I think at Howard's, at the commons.] Pitt, the Earl
of Chatham, is always extolled.
" To you, blest Patriots, we our cause submit, —
Illustrious Camden, Britain's guardian Pitt."
At Woodbridge N. J. they roasted an ox near the great
" Liberty Oak," which was handsomely decorated, and many
colours were displayed in diflerent parts of the square. The
ladies genteelly dressed, also graced the entertainments of the
day, dined principally upon plum puddings in honour to the
queen, and afterwards regaled themselves with plum cakes,
tea, &c. In the evening the town was illuminated and a large
bonfire made near to the Liberty Oak. — "As near as the safety
of that ancient tree would admit of."
Attorneys and Scriveners. Charles Morse, attorney at law, at
Pot-baker's Hill, also, John Coghill Knapps, from London, at
his office Rotten Row. The places, may now sound strangely
among the New York profession. The last was of Inner Temple,
and educated at Oxford.
Statue of Pitt. At a meeting of citizens at the Coffee-house,
the 23d June '66, it was resolved to request their representatives
in the General Assembly to provide a statue of Brass to the
memory of the Right Hon. Wm. Pitt, the great friend of American
freedom, especially shown upon the occasion of the Stamp act
repealed. [So they granted £7000 to procure a statue of Pitt from
London. It was set up in Sept. 1770, of oyiarhle, in Wall street.]
Rcnclagh Gardens. By John Jones, are laid out at great ex-
pense, for breakfasting and evening entertainments for ladies and
gentlemen, judged to be far the most rural and pleasing retreat
near the citi/. A complete band of music is engaged to perform
every JNIonday and Thursday evening during the summer. A
commodious hall is in the garden for dancing, with drawing rooms
neatly fitted up, good pasturage at same place.
Dancing is taught by John Trotter in Chapel street, next door
to the play house, [meaning where // was, or else it had been
Gazettes of the Olden Time and their Notices. 281
rebuilt,] and also at Mrs. Demot's on Flat I en-Bar rick hill, [then
the alley descending from Broadway opposite to Exchange street,]
Concerts of Music, are given by Edward Bardin, innkeeper
at the King's Arms garden in the Broadway [near the fort,]
three times a week in the evening, in a neat and commodious
room in the garden ; tickets Is. This place was much visited
by the military.
James Daniel, wig-maker and hair-dresser, also operates on the
teeth, a business so absolutely necessary in this city. [This
seems like the first appearance of a a dentist !
A whale forty-nine feet in length, was killed by two persons
fishing, who saw it swimming about near Coney Island. They
killed it with an old sword. Mr. Coffer at the ferry at Brooklyn
bought it for thirty pounds, and brought it up to his ferry.
A lobster weighing eighteen pounds was sold for 2s. Gd.
What is now called the Park, used to be called the Fields, for
mstance, "at Howard's noted tavern in the Fields" — on Broad-
way.
John De la Somet, died at Fauquier in Virginia, in Oct. 1766,
aged one hundred and thirty years ; he had been banished from
France for his religion, in 1684, and was soon after brought out
with many other Frenchmen to Virginia, to settle the Brentin
lands. He was hearty to the last, and was the frst of his numer-
ous progeny of his name, that had died in Virginia !
St. Paul's church was opened in Nov. 1766, its first sermon by
Dr. Auchmuty.
A linen manufactory was set up near the Fresh Water, many
women were employed spinning by hand. Its productions were
carried weekly to the market. It was deemed patriotic to en-
courage it. [It began three years before.]
Robert Woffendale, Surgeon Dentist, lately arrived from
London, performs all operations upon the teeth, gums, sockets
and palate ; also fixes artifcia I teeth so as to escape discernment.
1767. A lottery is granted by the colony of New Jersey to
raise five hundred pounds to defray the expenses of running a
straight road through the province between New York and Phila-
delphia.
Cheap la7id, 10,000 acres at 2*. Gd. per acre clear of quit rent.
situate on the branch of the river Delaware, about fifty miles to
the northward of upper Minisink. It is good land, has much low
land along the two rivers, Delaware and Popaghton, has been
patented sixty years, and now for sale by James Parker, New
York. We cannot but wonder, what that tract might bring to his
heirs, if it had been retained in the family to this day ! Ameri-
can officers received grants of five thousand acres. How certain
to enrich their families ! [There was a Receiver General for
quit rents]
A stated meeting of the Hand in Hand Fire Company. The
36 2 A2
2S2 Gazettes of the Olden Time and their Notices.
clerk will notify the place of meeting and inspect the buckets,
bags, belts, hand-barrows, baskets, &c.
The Liberty Pole, on the city parade, called " the Common,"
was fomid cut down in March 1766, and produces an angry
paragraph, saying it is suspected to have been done by some
soldiers to offend the Sons of Liberty, and they are therefore
forewarned, that as it was instantly set up again with a coveriy^g
of iron near the base to prevent a similiar insult, nothing but
bloody work can be expected from a repetition ! It was cut
down, while the friends of Liberty were commemorating the
repeal of the Stamp act. The act was believed to have been
done by the British soldiery. Many efforts they made to destroy
it secretl^^, and the people were equally vigilant to prevent it.
It was in this strife that the people seized upon Cunningham
the Provost, then a sCTgeant, and 2M//?;9e^ him, and thus caused
his vengeful spirit afterwards to us.
Stage Wagons to Philadelphia. Persons may now go from
New York to Philadelphia and back again in five days, and re-
main in Philadelphia two nights and one day to do their business
in, fare 20.9. through ; there will be two wagons, and two drivers,
and four sets of horses. John IMercereau, proprietor at Blazing
Star. The company to go over to Paulus Hook ferry the evening
before, and to start thence the next morning early.
The wood-cut of the wagon, is a really Jersey wagon form.
1767. The anniversary of the king's birth-day (June), was
celebrated beyond all former pomp, the fire-works were magnifi-
cent, there was a general illumination, and particularly at the
Fort George and at Gen. Gage's dwelling, (of the Royal Arms.)
Elegant entertainments were given at Fort George and head
quarters by Sir Henry Moore, governor, and Gen. Gage, at
which were all the officers of the army and navy, the civil officers
of the city, and the principal gentlemen. A salute of twenty-one
guns was given from the Liberty Pole, and from the fort and
armed vessels.
Several articles occur in the Gazette of a wish and a design to
have a national paper currency for the provinces, to be furnished
by England, as something needed in America for the stability of
trade.
The theatre in St. Jolm^s street opened the 7th Dec. '67, with
the comedy of the Stratagem. Hallam and Douglass' Co. —
Boxes S.y. pit 5s. gallery 3*. The plays do not appear to excite
any printed animadversions. They are called the American
company.
176S. The journeymen tailors, "about twenty of them"
struck for wages, and advertised themselves as opening a " house
of call," where they would receive orders, to send men to work in
private families at 3-9. Gd. a day and their diet to be found them.
When the Presbyterians opened their " new brick church" on
Gazettes of the Olden Time and their Notices. 283
the 1st Jan. it was called " their new church on the Green,'^ in
allusion to its being then open to the cornr)ion, now called the
Park. [" Covvfoot hill at the upper end of Queen street" is
named.]
Numerous articles appear for and against the theatre, while
the American company is playing.
Mr. J. Kidd, is named as one of the inhabitants of Philadelphia,
a merchant.
A Snow, from London to Way land, with convicts, ieW short of
provisions and had to eat their shoes and leather breeches, seve'ral
died. There were upwards of one hundred prisoners on board.
She got drove off the coast and actually arrived at Antigua.
The cold at New Orleans the beginning of Jan. exc^ded any
ever before remembered.
John Baker, Surgeon Dentist, announces his arrival at New
York, May 1768, via Boston from Europe ; he fills up teeth with
lead or gold ; makes artificial teeth and fixes them with gold, &:c.
There is much public discussion upon the right or utility of
introducing Bishops into this country. The disputants are angry.
The whigs resist their order, here.
Medical lectures, held at King's College Nov. 'G8, to wit: —
The Theory of Medicine, by Dr. Middleton. Anatomy, by Dr.
Glossy. Theory and practice of Surgery, by Dr. Jones, and
Practice of Physic, by Dr. Bard.
Christopher Steter advertises that he had belonged to a benefit
club kept at David Grim's house in Chapel street, and as a mem-
ber, had paid fees ; first a tax on matrimony of 5^. to the box,
4.?. fee when a son was born, and 2s. when a daughter was born.
He complains that the monies collected were misapplied in feasts
&c., among the officers !
Irish potatoes, dry and good, are advertised as arrived and for
sale. A very frequent fact is, the sailing of vessels to Ireland,
to Dublin, Newry, Londonderry and Cork; two or three are some-
times up for each of these places at a time.
The auctioneers were several — say, Nich. W. Stuyvesant & Co.,
M'Davitt, Moore & Lynsen, Abeel & Neils, A. & J. Bleekers.
Domestic manufactures of wool and flax, are encouraged by
the society for American productions. They award premiuns.
Families are named which have produced seven hundred yards
of domestic fabrics.
Wm. Livingston, Esq., attorney at law (afterwards governor of
New Jersey) in his proper name, publishes his denmrs to the
admission of Bishops, in his " answers to the Bishop of Llandaft"'s
sermon."*
* We may see by Gov. Livingston's life, since published, that feelings of dis-
trust then mutually felt by churchmen and dissenters in the colonies, were
then agitating the same elements, which began the revolution. " Close cxamina-
284 Gazettes of the Olden Time and their Notices.
January 1769. Michl. Poree, Surgeon Dentist, advertises, to fit
natural and artificial teeth, from a single one to a whole set, like-
Avise cleanses teeth, and draws stumps. [First practice there.]
The theatre in John street, will be ojiencd by the American
Co., by permission of the governor, on Monday the 9th Jan'y.
Married, Capt. Saml. Partridge, to Miss Elizabeth Hubbert, —
**a lady of great merit, with every accomplishment to render the
marriage state happy." [The mode in that day of advertising.]
Mrs. Fisher, advertises her services as midwife, near White-
hall.
Public Vendue, is advertised, to sell goods on the bridge near
the Cofiee House,
Stays. Richard Norris, from London, makes all kinds o{ stays
and stumps, turned and plain, with French and Mechlenburg
waistcoats, laced overcoats, German jackets and flips. — Ladies
uneasy in their shape, he fits without any incumbrance ; growing
Misses inclined to coats and risings in their hips and shoulders,
he likewise prevents, by means approved by the society of stay-
makers in London.
The New York Chamber of Commerce was instituted May
1 76S, " and hear all proposals for the better regulating, encouraging
and extending trade and commerce." A. Van Dam, Secretary.
Non-importation agreements are made and signed by the mer-
chants.
A house and lot to sell on " Cowfoot HillJ^ So queer a name !
also " Pot-baker's hill !"
An act is passed to prevent the destruction of deer by blood-
hounds or beagles, in the counties of Albany, Ulster and Orange.
Mary Morcomb, mantua maker from London, at Isaac Garniers
opposite to Buttoc street, in the Broadway, makes all sorts of
negligees, Brunswick dresses, gowns, and other apparel of ladies,
also covers Umbrellas in the neatest manner.
Oysters. To prevent the destruction of oysters in South bay,
by the unlimited number of vessels employed in the same, it is
ordered that but ten vessels shall be allowed, and that each half-
barrel tub shall be paid for at 2d. according to the town act of
Brook Haven.
The death of the Gov, Sir Henry Moore, who died at Fort
George, is thus celebrated. The paper is marked with mourning
borders. He was interred in the chancel of Trinity church : the
corpse was preceded by the 16th Regt. ; his Majesty's council
tion (says the life) shows us that these two factions contained the germ of the
whig and tory parties of the revolution." " There were exceptions on both sides,
but a great majority of the DeLancey's faction (churchmen's side) remained in
New York after 1776 under the British protection. O. DeLancey was made a
Br. General in iheir ranks." James DeLancey was head of the Episcopalians
in New York. Their leading interest in the College was much resisted by the
Presbyterians. The former wanted an Episcopal governor and Bishop from
England, Trinity church got amply favoured.
Gazettes of the Olden Time and their Notices. 2S5
supported the pall. Gen. Gage and Lord Drummond followed
among the mourning relatives, and in the suite were the physi-
cians, the judges and civil officers of the city, members of Assem-
bly, the field officers, captains of ships of war, the general stall',
the gentlemen of the Law, Faculty of the College, and the princi-
pal hihabitants of the city. The train of artillery brought up the
rear. Minute guns were fired during the procession. Twenty boys
of the Charity school bore lighted flambeaux, and the church was
illuminated. This funeral was in the evening, in English style.
Mrs. Lydia Robinson, of seventy years of age, w^ho followed
the practice of midwifery for thirty-five years at New London
and its vicinity, in the delivery of twelve hundred children, never
lost one woman in her practice ! What doctors could excel
this !
Jeremiah Rensselaer, Esqr., " the Lord of the 3/a nor oiRens-
selaerwyck, died lately at Albany, much lamented."
Wm. Prince, on Long Island, advertises a great collection of
fruit trees.
1770. The " No. 45." This was of great signification in its
time, and might now be wholly unintelligible, but for the follow-
ing illustration, to wit. A true female friend to American liberty
lately (in Feb. '70) presented Capt. M'Dougal's mariners with a
fine saddle of venison, marked with the imj)ortant (^3^ No. 45
in allusion to the 45th page of the votes and proceedings of our
House of Assembly, in which the paper that furnished the occa-
sion for that gentleman's commitment is prhited at length. The
trial of Capt. McD., was deemed very interesting to the public.
It was said of him at the time, that " this worthy gentleman will
be justly celebrated hy posterity, as the first who has suffered
actual imprisonment for asserting the cause of American liberty.
He was finally discharged without trial.
Anthy. Rutgers' place near the city is said to comprise six acres
of upland and twelve acres of fresh meadows. The upland con-
tains half in garden, and the other half in fruit trees. Advertised
to sell or let, "lying in the meadows near Fresh Water," to be
sold in lots.
In July, about half of the whole community of dealers and
traders in New York, publicly recede from their non-importation
agreement, and their names are given.
Lord Dunmore, afterwards so celebrated in Virginia, arrives
hi October, as Governor of New York, £2000 a year salary.
A fair is opened, for four days at New York, in November,
according to an act of the legislature, for cattle, grain, provisions,
and merchandize.
W. C. Hulet, teaches dancing, violin, flute, and small sword.
177L The Vauxhall gardens comprise thirty-six lots on lease
for sixty-one years to come, from Trinity church, is for sale, by its
landlord, Saml. Francis. [This same man became, I believe, Gen.
2S6 Gazettes of the Olden Time and their Notices.
Washington's steward at New York city, and afterwards, after the
peace, opened the Indian Queen in Philadelpiiia.]
1772. Montanny's negro man, a drunkard, who had been sent
to the Bridewell to receive the usual punishtnent, was found
dead the same night ! Tlie punishment in such cases, was a plen-
tiful dose of warm water (tliree quarts) and salt enough to ope-
rate as an emetic; with a portion of lamp oil, to operate as a
purge!
Robert Home, musical instrument maker from London, on
Golden hill, near Burling's slip, makes and repairs musical instru-
ments.
James Rivingston, bookseller and publisher, facing the Coffee-
house bridge.
Governor Tryon, who succeeds Lord Dunmore, visits Philadel-
phia, in October; and a little before, the latter passed through
Philadelphia on his way to Virginia and his government there.
The military force of the city, of the militia, consisted of seven
independent companies, viz., the Grenadiers, two companies of
the Governors' Guards, the Rangers, and the corps of Artillery.
These together, sometimes made .good display before the governor
and the citizens.
[All the foregoing close with the 5'"ear 1 772, and their interest
seems to diminish as we approach nearer and nearer to our own
times. It is rather strange that in so many pages of many, specu-
lations and many minds combined, that there should be so little
reference to a former age, of traditionary accounts and reminis-
cences ; nothing for instance, in any form, about the former pirates,
nothing of Blackbeard or Kidd ; and nothing of all the ballads !
They all seem to live in a state of sleepy and dreamy forgetful-
ness.]
" Rotten Row," before named often, as described to me as
seen by Thos. Crowell, was a regular range oi good houses front-
ing the river, having an open river bank in front, ivithout any
wharves or slips, and extending from the Old Slip, up to the
Coftee-house. They ranged fronting of Hanover Square, and laid
eastward of present Pearl street. It formed a great dock, or
haven of four hundred feet width, in which were laid numerous
Bermuda sloops, heads on shore, and several there were laid sides
on shore, for purposes of caulking and pitching their bottoms. The
present generation know nothing of these things ! JMr. Crowell told
me this in 1S3G at eighty-four years of age, he could not explain
why called Rotten row. But I much more incline to believe
it was named after the satyie name, then in London. JMr. Crow-
ell's father was a lieutenant in a war vessel before the revolution.
Printing concerns. We suppose that the first printing press
set up in New York, was that begun in 1693 by Wm. Bradford,
who went there from Pliiladelphia. It was his grandson Bradford,
who became afterwards Attorney General of the United States.
Gazettes of the Olden Time and their Notices. 287
•
We infer that Bradford was the earUest printer, because, the
publication entitled " The conditions for new Planters in the terri-
tories of his Royal Highness, the Duke of York ;" done upon a
half sheet of cap paper, and bearing the date, 1665, was "printed
at Cambridge, in Massachusetts."
Bradford began the first weekly paper at New York, on the
16th of October, 1725, and John Peter Zanger, who went to
New York in 1726, and began his paper, the Weekly Journal, in
1733.' Bradford was a loyalist, and took the side of power ; but
Zanger sided with the natives, and became most popular with
* the people, who in truth, started him purposely, that they might
thus canvass the measures of the governor and council.* He
was prosecuted by the crown officers for his attacks on them, and
encountered a trial in 1735, in which he was acquitted, which
made much stir at the time. Mr. A. Hamilton, the ablest lawyer
of Philadelphia, went on as a volunteer to defend him, and the
-city council of New York, as a token of their gratification at his
success, presented him the freedom of the city in a gold snuff-
box with devices. It might be a pleasure now to see it.
The first book printed in New York, was a small thin folio of
the laws of the colony, by Bradford. His newspaper of 1725,
was also the^r^^ Gazette.
When we contemplate printing as it was, and press work no\y,
as it is, in connection with the intended foreign sneer, of " who
reads an American book," we cannot but feel emotions of wonder
and self gratulation. We have now only to look at such a print-
ing establishment as the Harpers' in New York — self-made men,
who now publish all kind of useful works, and have a capital
employed therein, of one and a half millions of dollars. Such an
office for book printing is well worth a visit as a curiosity to
every literary man. They give employment to 1600 persons,
400 of whom are engaged in the machinery. They use an edi-
fice equal to seven or eight large five story houses, and use up
70 reams of paper daily. The machinery and tools of the bindery
are valued at 1 13,000 ; 50 barrels of flour and 40 barrels of glue
are used up annually for paste ; 60,000 pounds of type are found