Collections on the History of Albany, from its discovery to the present time. With notices of its public institutions and biographical sketches of citizens deceased [The preface signed: J. M, i.e. Joel Munsell. With plates.] L.P

Preface

. Since the second volume of these Collections was issued, a portion of the Dutch records in the county clerk's office has been translated by Prof. Pearson of Union College, and published. The edition was quite small, and being now out of print, the contents of the volume have been incorporated in this work, and are about equally divided between this and the succeeding volume. The value and importance of these records as a portion of the history of Albany, must have an increased appreciation with the lapse of time. They are the oldest public records that have come down to us, and make us acquainted with the names, abodes, and acts of the people that occupied these streets in the earliest times. The amount of labor bestowed upon their translation and annotation can hardly be estimated by the reader.

When we consider the uninviting nature of the subject; the illegible condition of the records themselves, and their extent; the necessity of acquiring a language that has become obsolete among us ; the necessary knowledge of individuals whose names are concealed under peculiar pseudonyms, and also of their personal history, requiring many years of patient research and familiarity to identify them ; we cannot too highly admire the courage and perseverance that led to the accomplishment of the work ; a work which might never again have found one so competent to its performance. It is no small claim upon the gratitude of the descendants of those ancient citizens, that it enables them to identify their ancestors, to know whence they came, and when and where they lived. These particulars will be further elucidated in the next volume by diagrams of the streets, with the dimensions of the lots and the names of their occupants, more than two centuries ago, and their successors down to the present century ; forming a very curious directory, which is also the work of Prof. Pearson.

The remainder of the volume is made up as usual, of a variety of matters relating to Albany and its immediate vicinity. The Notes from the Newspapers form an interesting chronology of recent events, embracing Preface. IV the years 1865, 1866, and 1867. An unusual number of notable citizens finished their respective missions during those years, of whom sketches are given, and portraits also, when they could be procured. In a few in stances the paternity of these articles has been lost, although it has been the intention of the publisher, as they are wholly obtained from the city papers, faithfully to acknowledge the sources from whence they are derived. It is proposed to add another volume to this series, in order to com plete the records of the county herein partially given, and to bring down the annals of the city to the end of the year 1870.

In no case is it de signed to repeat anything in these volumes, unless by more recent in vestigations and discoveries much new material has been found, rendering it important to restate the subject. In answer to the question sometimes put, whether this series of Historical Collections is a reprint of the Annuls of Albuny, it is now distinctly stated that none of these papers have heretofore been printed in either of these works. j CONTENTS. Introduction to Albany County Records, vii Albany County Records, 1654-78, 1 Notes from the Newspapers, 1865-67, 225 The Cruise of the Katy-Did, 390 Notes of Travelers, 393 Origin of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in Albany, 411 Albany County in the year 1813 425 Albany City in the year 1813, 428 The Stafford Family, 440 Anneke Janse, 459 Colonel Lewis Benedict, 465 Index, ■• ILLUSTRATIONS.

Peter Stuyvesant, (Frontispiece) Broadway M. E. Sunday School, 245 Congress Hall, 246 Eliphalet Nott, 282 Dr. Howard Townsend, 344 Clark B. Cochrane, 350 Delavan House, 354 Original plan of Union College, 401 Spencer Stafford, 445 Court Street, 1796, 446 Stafford's Store, '. 447 Stafford's Dwelling house, 448 Diagram of South Pearl Street, 45g Medallion portrait of Lewis Benedict, 4« 5 Tomb of Col. Benedict,