ANCIENT BURIAL GROUND. [It appears by the following document found among the common council papers, that the plot of ground used for sepulture on the west of Eagle street, between State and Lancaster streets, was appropriated to that purpose in 1789. The property owned by the Lutheran church on Park street was the site of their allotment as a burial place. Before this time each church had its grave yard adjacent to or near the church to which it belonged. The Dutch Reformed Church was at the foot of State street, and its grave yard was where the Middle Dutch Church now stands. The Lutheran Church was where the Centre Market stands and its grave yard adjoined on the south. The Episcopal was in State street opposite to Chapel stree t, and its grave yard near the present site of St. Peter's. The Presbyterian Church was near the corner of Grand and Hudson streets, and its grave yard adjoined on the east. The High Dutch Church, as it is here called, was between Patroon and Orange streets, west of Ten Broeck, with its grave yard adjoining. It was now proposed to have a common burial place, and the site recommended by the Committee was adopted by the common council.] The committee appointed to locate a place for a common burying ground for the city report that on the east adjoining the lot on which the barracks were burned lately conveyed by the board to Barent Bleeker on which a vault has lately been made is five acres of ground very proper to be appropriated for that purpose being of excellent soil and a very gradual descent and on the Southern declivity of the hill, will never prove pernicious to the springs which supply the city with water and which is a very important objection to the present burying in the ground of the Episcopal and Lutheran churches the boundaries of which common burying ground we would locate as follows: bounded on the North by Prince street, on the East by Duke street, on the South by Predeau 1 street, on the West by the lot of Barent Bleeker in which the vault is made which ground contains five acres. Sept. 19, 1789. THOS. HUN, The committee further report that the most eastern acre of the above burying ground be granted to the corporation of the Presbyterian church, and the next acre to the Episcopal church, and the next acre to the Lutherian church, and the east half of the third acre be for the reformed high Dutch church, and the most western acre and remaining half acre to the Dutch church. AGREEMENT WITH THE WHARF We the Trustees of the Associated Company of Proprietors of the Wharves and Quays in the City of Albany being fully impowered by the Articles of our Association to receive any additional Associates do hereby covenant and agree to and with the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of Albany, to receive into our Association, the Public Wharves belonging to the said City, for and during the term of our Association. Provided, that the rates of Wharfage shall be continued during the said term at one shilling and sixpence per Ton, and in the same proportion by the day; and we do in behalf of ourselves and Associates further covenant and agree to and with the said Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the said City of Albany, that we will pay to the said Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty, or their order, the full proportion of all monies which shall be collected for Wharfage and other Duties arising from or upon the said Wharves and Quays aforesaid, estimated according to the number of feet of Wharf owned by each of the said Associated Proprietors, deducting only the Expense of Collection and the rents of the Wharves leased by the said Proprietors from other persons. And we do further covenant and agree to and with the said Mayor, Alder men and Commonalty that the Books and Accounts of our Wharfinger shall be produced for Examination to the Mayor or Recorder at any time and as often as they shall think proper, or to the Chamberlain by their order. In witness whereof, we the Trustees of the Associated Company of Proprietors of Wharves and Quays in the City of Albany, have hereunto set our hands this twenty second day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred. Witness, G. W. V. SCHAICK, FRANCIS BLOOD GOOD, Trustees of certain Proprietors of Wharfs. ABRAHAM GROESBEECK. WARRANTY DEED OF A NEGRO SWEEP. This Indenture made the fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninetyfour, between the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of Albany, of the first part, and Abraham Bloodgood, of the City of Albany, Merchant, of the second part, Witnesseth, that the said parties of the first part in consideration of the sum of eighty-five pounds of lawful money of the State of New York, to them in hand paid by the said party of the second part, at or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have bargained and sold, and by these presents do bargain and sell unto the said party of the second part, his executors, administrators and assigns, a certain Negro Man Slave being a Chimney Sweep, called Cæsar, which Negro, the said parties of the first, shall and will at all times hereafter warrant and defend to the said party of the second part, his Executors, Administrators and Assigns against the lawful claim of all persons whomsoever. And the said party of the second part, for himself, his Heirs, Executors and Administrators, doth covenant with the said parties of the first and their successors in manner following, that is to say, that the said party of the second part, his Executors and Administrators, shall and will during the life of the said Negro or so long as he remains, his or their slave cause him to work in the City of Albany as a chimney sweep, subject to the ordinances and resolutions of the parties of the first part and their successors in common council convened, and that the said party of the second part, his executors or administrators shall not at any time hereafter sell the said Negro, before he or they shall by writing directed and delivered to the said parties of the first or their successors in common council convened, have given them the refusal of the said Negro at the sum of eighty-five pounds or such less sum as he shall bona fide be offered for sale at. In witness whereof, I Abraham Yates, Junior, Mayor of the said City, have hereto set my hand and caused the seal of the said city, to be affixed the day and year first above written. And the said party of the second part hath hereto also set his hand and seal the same day and year. Sealed and delivered in the ABRAHAM YATES, Jun., Mayor. presence of ELBERT WILLETT, JOHN CAMPBELL. } ABR. BLOODGOOD. BILL OF SALE OF POMPEY, A SLAVE, TO THE CORPORATION. Know all men by these presents, that I, Davis Hunt, of the town of Watervliet, in the County of Albany, for and in consideration of the sum of sixty-five pounds of lawful money of New York, to me in hand paid by the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of Albany at the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt |