In the following pages the surnames have been supplied in brackets [] as often as it was thought necessary, and to such persons chiefly whose names are still perpetuated in the ancient county of Albany. It should be remembered, however, that many of the persons named in this volume never obtained a permanent foothold here. The little hamlet of Beverwyk for fifty years or more, was mainly a trading station; the resort of adventurers from New Amsterdam and Fatherland, particularly at the business season (June, July, and August). For convenience and to obtain the burger's rights in trade they purchased houses and lots. This trading community was changeable, some departing, and others arriving to take their places. After the conquest by the English, in 1664, many of this transient population retired, and immigration from Holland soon ceased.

It will be noticed that the following conveyances are for lots in Beverwyk, or for lands beyond the limits of Rensselaerswyk; in Schenectady, Kinderhook, Claverack, Coxsackie, Catskill, etc. The reason for this limitation is found, of course, in the fact that the manor lands were under a different jurisdiction, leases and conveyances being made by and before the patroon and his court. The identification of the village lots, here described, is rendered nearly impossible by the brevity and vagueness of the descriptions, the streets and lanes being without names. few lots have been located, others may be, perhaps, by a long and patient examination and comparison.

The first settlement at Albany was clustered around Fort Orange, near the foot of Lydius street; for two reasons this was soon changed to higher ground farther north, along the present Broadway,* first to avoid high water, and secondly to give space around the fort for free range of the guns. The old church near the fort was used till 1656, when another was erected in the street at the junction of State street and Broadway, which made it necessary to lay out these streets of unusual width. Broadway, however, as it approached the north gate and main guard at Steuben street, was reduced to a mere cart path, and hence called the Fuyck, a name very commonly applied to the village instead of Beverwyk. It will be seen therefore, that Fort Orange and Beverwyk, though often confounded, were two distinct localities.

Some years after the surrender of the province to the English, another fort called Fort Albany, was built at the head of State street opposite the present Lodge street, and the old fort was abandoned.§ The lands in the vicinity of Fort Orange, as the conveyences of a later date show, were mainly divided up into gardens, whilst the house lots, for safety, were mostly located within the palisades, which then ran from the river up Hudson and Steuben streets, curving north and south so as to join the new fort at the head of State street. Lots fronting on any street west of Broadway, the highest being Berg, now Chapel street, were said to be "on the hill." The contracted space within which the village was crowded led to a very minute division of land in the best streets, and lots only fifteen to twenty feet wide, and of corresponding depth were quite common.

At the period of these records most of the dwellings were built on four streets, viz: Broadway from Hudson to Steuben; State from Broadway to Chapel; North Pearl to Steuben, and Chapel from State to the palisades which crossed this street about half way between Maiden lane and Stenben street; Beaver, Norton, State between Broadway and the river called Staats's alley, Exchange and Steuben which extended only from Broadway to North Pearl street contained but few dwellings; Hudson from Broadway to Green being simply the rondwegh, and James street a mere alley had no dwellings.

A word may be allowed, perhaps, in relation to this translation; it is not claimed to be elegant English, indeed, the original could hardly admit of such, unless a mere paraphrase, instead of a tolerably literal rendering, were made of it. The translator was forced to contend with a handwriting in many places almost illegible, with much bad spelling, bad grammar and obsolete phrases and law terms. A proper consideration, therefore, it is hoped, will be made of all these difficulties in judging of this performance.

Whenever additions have been made they will in general be found enclosed in brackets [ ], except the notes which have been made brief either for want of information, or because they were thought sufficient for the elucidation of the text. In annotating this volume the translator desires specially to acknowledge his indebtedness to the historical writings of Dr. E. B. O'Callaghan and to the Annals of Albany compiled and published by Mr. Munsell.

J. P.

* A great part of Fort Orange, was washed away in 1656, by high water, and application was made to Governor Stuyvesant, for assistance in rebuilding it.-Deeds, 11, 126,

All grants for lands within 600 paces of the fort were annulled in 1652, by the governor and council.-Dutch Manuscripts, v, ti, 25.

Albany was formerly named the Fuyck, on account of two rows of houses standing there opposite to each other; which being wide enough apart in the beginning finally ran quite together like a Fuyck," i, e., hoopnet.Dankers and Stuyter's Journal, p. 319. It is believed that no street in Beverwyk, would answer to this description except Broadway, between State and Steuben streets, afterwards called Handelaer street.

In 1620, when Dankers and Sluyter revisited the village the old fort was still standing; it had not then been long enough abandoned for the palisades to fall away by decay.- Dankers and Stuyter's Journal, p. 320.

ALBANY COUNTY RECORDS.

Appeared before me Johannes De La Montagne, in the service of the Privileged West India Company, Clerk and Vice Director at Fort Orange and the village of Beverwyck in the presence of Messrs. Rut Jacobsen [Van Schoenderwoert] and Andries Herbertsen [Constapel, Vander Blaas], Commissaries of the same jurisdiction, Thomas Jansen Mingael, who declared that he had transferred, as, by these presents, he does transfer and grant, in true, actual, and permanent possession, to the behoof of Jan Roeloffsen [De Goyer], his heirs, or whomsoever may receive title or action from him, the full half of a house and lot, lying in the village of Beverwyck in New Netherland, with all permanent fixtures,5 bounded south by the street, north by the lot of Marcelus Janssen [Van Bommel], east by a cross street and west by the hill, according to the patent given by the Honorable Director General and Council of New Netherland, of date 24th March, 1654, to the aforesaid Jan Roeloffsen, including the half of the aforesaid house, for the sum of one hundred and ten whole merchantable beavers [skins], which number of beavers the before mentioned Jan Roeloffsen promises to pay in specie, without delay, on the four and twentieth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and fifty-seven, for the payment of the same, pledging his person and estate, personal and real, without any exception; the said Thomas Janssen Mingael promising to free the said part of the aforesaid house and lot from all seizures, demands or claims that he or any other person may have upon said house and lot, renouncing all rights, laws, or customs, repugnant to his real interest, and henceforth putting the aforesaid Jan Roeloffsen in full possession of said house and lot under a pledge of his person and estate, movable and immovable, present and future. Done in the village of Beverwyck in presence of Claas Henderickse

1 Johannes Le Montagne succeeded Johannes De Decker, as vice director and deputy at Fort Orange, 28th Sept., 1656. Johannes Provoost was secretary, and Ludovicus Cobbes court messenger. See p. 9, note.

2 Rutger Jacobsen Van Schoenderwoert, alias Rut Van Woert, married Tryntje Jansen Van Bristede of New Amsterdam, 3d June, 1646, and had two daughters and one son, viz: Margaret who married Jan Janse Bleecker, Engel baptized in New Amsterdam, 10th April, 1650, and Ryckert Rutgersen.(?)

Andries Herbertsen, constapel (gunner), was at Fort Orange as early as 1654; 1662 he killed Seger Cornelisse in self-defense, and his wife petitions in his favor; in 1662 he was deceased. Kommissaris, commissioner or magistrate.

5 Alles watter in is aert en nagel rast; i. e.. all that is made fast by earth and nail, as for instance the fence, and outhouses, and all permanent fixtures belonging to the house.

Jan Roeloffse De Goyer, perhaps son of Roeloff Janse and Anneke Janse, was one of the early settlers of Schenectady where he was killed Feb. 9, 1690, in the destruction of that place by the French and Indians." In 1670 he accidentally killed Gerrit Verbeek in Albany, but on trial was acquitted, and pardoned by Gov. Lovelace.

A beaver skin at this time was worth 8 to 10 guilders, or $3.50 to $4. See p. 13.

Kaas Hendrikse Van S. was brother of Guert Hendrikse V. S., from whom the families of this name in the vicinity of Albany have descended. Klaas had a patent for a lot in Beverwyck in 1657; he died about 1661, when his widow Neeltie Frederickse married Willem Janse Slyckoten.

[Van Schoonhoven] and Cornelis Teunisse [Bos] called as witnesses thereto.

Done in the village of Beverwyck this 16th Oct., 1656.

As witnesses.

Claes Hendrycksen.

Cornelis Thonisen Bos.?

Rutger Jacobsen.

Andries Herberts.

Acknowledged before me,

THOMES JANSEN MINGAEL.1

Lamontagne.

Appeared before me Johannes De La Montagne Clerk at Fort Orange and village (dorp) Beverwyck, in the service of the Privileged West India Company, the Hon. Pieter Hartgers" and Jan Tomassen [Mingael], who constituted themselves, as, by these presents, they do constitute themselves, sureties and principals, for the payment of the one hundred and ter whole beavers, mentioned in the above written conveyance; the same to pay without delay, for the person of Jan Roeloffse to Thomas Janssen Mingael, on the four and twentieth day of September, one thousand six hundred and fifty-seven, under a pledge of their persons and estate, movable and immovable, renouncing all reservations which might militate against their intent.

Done in the village of Beverwyck, the 16th of Oct., 1656. Present Henderick Jochimse and Jan Clute.

As witnesses.

Hendrick Jochemse.
Johannes Clute.

JAN TOMAS.

LA MONTAGNE, Deputy at Fort Orange.

Appeared before me Johannes La Montagne, in the service of the Priviledged West India Company, Vice Director, and Deputy of Fort Orange and the appendances of the same, the Honorable Rutger Jacobsen, inhabitant of the village of Beverwyck in New Netherland, who, in the presence of Messrs. Andries Herbertsen and Gosen Gerritsen [Van Schaick], commissaries of the same jurisdiction, has acknowledged, as by

1 Thomas Janse Mingael's wife was Maritie Abrahamse, daughter of Abraham Pieterse Vosburg. They had one son, Capt. Johannes Thomase M., who lived on north corner of James street and Maiden lane, and was buried in the church 15th April, 1731. T. J. M. was not living in 1662.

2 Cornelis Teunise Bos was much given to gossip and backbiting on the 7th March, 1657, he and his wife were accused of slander by Do. Schaets. On the 8th July, 1658, complaints were made that he had defamed the court, and on the 28th Oct., 1659, he was fined 1,200 guilders and banished for 12 years for the same offense, and the next year he was again arraigned before the court for a similar offense against Wm. Teller.- Dutch Manuscripts.

3 Pieter Hartgers Van Vee came over in 1643 and first settled in Fort Orange as commissary 1654, died in Holland 1670. He married Sytje Roeloffse, daughter of Anneke Janse, by whom he had two daughters: Jannetie and Rachel.-O'Callaghan's History of New Netherland, 1, 441. 4 Johannes Clute was from Nuremburg; he was commonly called captain, and was held in esteem by the Mohawks. He was a trader and large land-holder in Loonenburg, Niskayuna and Albany. After his death, about 1684, his nephew Johannes Clute inherited his property. From the latter and from Frederic Clute (his brother?) have descended the families of this name in the vicinity of Albany.

Kommies, deputy or clerk.

Capt. Gozen Gerritse Van S., brewer, is said to have married first, Geertic, daughter of Brandi Peelen Van Nieukerke; and second, Annatie Lievens 2d July, 1657. He had three sons: Gerrit, Anthony and Sybrant, and three daughters: Geertruy, Gerritie and Margaret. He and Philip Pieterse Schuyler had permission to purchase the Half Moon, now Waterford, of the Indians, to prevent "those of Connecticut" purchasing it.

these presents, he does acknowledge, that he is honestly indebted to the Honorable Johannes Withart, merchant, dwelling in the city of Amsterdam in New Netherland, in the sum of fifteen hundred and twenty eight Carolus guilders, growing out of the delivery to him of certain bills of goods (cargo soonen) and merchandise by the said Johannes Withart, to his content, which sum he promises to pay without any vacillation, in good whole winter beavers on the last day of June, in the year 1657, under a pledge of his person and estate, movable and immovable, present and future, especially, both of his houses and lots in the aforesaid village of Beverwyck, and another lying in said city of Amsterdam; submitting himself and his estate to all courts and justices, for the payment of the above mentioned sum, without taking shift or subterfuge in any laws or customs, which might militate against the same.

In witness of the truth whereof he has signed these presents, with his own hand, in Fort Orange, this day 17th of Oct., 1656.

Andries Herberts.

The mark of + Gosen Gerritse. Acknowledged before me,

RUTGER JACOBSEN.

LA MONTAGNE, Deputy at Fort Orange.

Appeared before me Johannes De La Montagne, in the service of the Privileged West India Company, Vice Director and Deputy of Fort Orange and appendances of the same, Femmetie De Baxter, who in the presence of the Honorable Andries Herbertsen and Rut Jacobsen, commissaries of the same jurisdiction, has acknowledged, as she, by these presents does acknowledge, that she is honestly indebted to the Honorable Goose Gerritse, inhabitant of the village of Beverwyck in New Netherland, in the sum of ninety-six Carolus guilders, which she promises to pay in the month of April, in the year one thousand six hundred and fifty-seven, under a pledge of all her estate movable and immovable, present and future, especially her house situated in the aforementioned village, submitting herself to all laws and justices for the full payment of said sum; renouncing all laws, statutes, and customs which have been made in favor of woman.

In acknowledgment of the truth [whereof] she has with her own hand signed these presents. Done in Fort Orange the 17th, Oct., 1656. This is the mark of + FEMMETIE BAXTER.

Rutger Jacobsen.

Andries Herbertsen.

Acknowledged before me,

LA MONTAGNE, Deputy in Fort Orange.

Upon this 21st day of October, 1656, appeared before me Johannes De La Montagne, in the service of the Privileged West India Company,

The guilder was worth about 40 cents.

2 It is not uncommon, in the provinces of Holland where the language is spoken with the greatest purity, that the n is omitted in the pronunciation of words terminating in that letter, as will be found all through this work. Hence this name Gozen is frequently written Goose, the pronunciation of which is Gó-ze or Ho-se.

3 Specie was scarce in the province at this time, and as paper money had not come into use, beaver skins and wampum or sewant became the currency of the people. A guilder beaver was worth about 40cts, whereas a guilder sewant was worth but one-third of that sum. good merchantable beaver skin," usually sold for $3.20 to $4.

"A

2

Deputy in Fort Orange and the appendances of the same, in the presence of the afternamed witnesses; Dirrick Bensick,' inhabitant and burgess of the village of Beverwyck in New Netherland, who has declared, that to procure the payment of certain moneys to him belonging, by testament, consequent upon the decease of one Jurriaen Baxban, late provost at St. Casteel De Mina, in Guinea, and from one Nicholaes Twie, soldier, deceased in the year 1648, on the ship Thoff of Zeeland: Power of attorney was given to Roeloff Gerritse, crane master, at Groeningen, in virtue of the same to demand and receive the payment of said moneys from the Honorable the Directors of the Privileged West India Company, of the Chamber of Groeningen, for the receipt of which, he [Bensick] gave another warrant to Tryntie Van Rechteren, his mother-in-law, to demand of the said Roeloff Gerritse, an account of the residue of the same, and since the aforesaid Tryntie Van Rechteren died without having given intelligence of what she had done in the matter, the aforesaid principal [comparant] gave another warrant to Frans Pieterse Klau, carpenter, to demand of the above named Roeloff Gerritse a restitution of the moneys, and an accounting for the remainder, in case he had received such moneys, or if not, to demand and receive said moneys from the Directors of the Privileged West India Company at the chamber of Groeningen; but since the aforesaid Frans Pieterse Klau, of this country, has fallen sick, and not knowing the event of his sickness for the greater security in his case, and in the event of his disease, the aforementioned (principal), Dirck Bensick, has constituted, and, by these presents, does constitute the Honorable Johannes Withart, merchant, at present dwelling in Amsterdam in New Netherland, attorney, in his name and for his benefit to demand of the above named Roeloff Gerritse, or from his heirs, and those holding title from him, the restitution of the above mentioned moneys, or an accounting for the remainder of the same, in case he has received them, or in case he has not received them, to demand the same of the Directors of the Privileged West India Company. Also to demand of Christoffel Cornelise Bul, citizen of Amsterdam, husband of Tryntie Van Rechteren, his mother-inlaw, the will and certain other letters belonging thereto, which will and other papers relating to the same, he, the principal, delivered into the hands of his said mother-in-law, Tryntie Van Rechteren; likewise to present his claim to said Christoffel Cornelise Bul and his wife as coheirs, or in case of refusal, to take proceedings for the division and partition of the estate and goods left by Tamson Berck, late husband of Tryntie Van Rechteren, father and mother of Catrina Berck, wife of this principal; the respective portions and parts to receive; of the same quittance to give; or in case of refusal of payment to proceed according to law. Likewise to claim, demand, and receive of William and Hendrick Berck, his wife's brothers, the sum of one hundred and forty Carolus guilders, according to their obligation, whereof an authentic copy is hereto annexed; moreover to receive certain fifty guilders due [?] on the demise of one Altien Berck, his wife's aunt, who died at Ringborck [?]; and generally to receive whatever he, the principal, has outstanding in fatherland (Patria) - quittance for his receipts to give, full discharge to grant ; in case

Dirk Bensing (or Bensen) was deceased in 1660, when his wife Catalyn Bercx is called widow. Deeds, 11.

2 Frans Pieterse Klauw settled in Kinderhook. He had two sons, Hendrik and Jurriaan (and perhaps other children), who lived in the same place, and had families.