Stokes, I. N. Phelps The iconography of Manhattan Island 1498-1909 (v. 4)

(New York :  Robert H. Dodd,  1915-1928.)

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752
 

THE ICONOGRAPHY OF MANHATTAN ISLAND
 

Sandy Hook and a Frigate midway betw-een that and this place,
while the Coventry layd before the Town. By this care, the ship
Edward, Davis Commander having ten packages of stamp'd papers
on board, was brought to an anchor under the guns ot the Fort and
protection ot His Majesty's Ships. . . . The night atter the ship
arrived, papers were pasted upon the doors of Every pubhc Office,
and at the corners ot the streets, one [ot] which I enclose. . . .
The Lawyers who have raised the seditious spirit cannot be curbed
without proper judges,"—JV, Y. Col. Docs., VU: 768, 769. A fac¬
simile of tbis paper is shown in CoJ. Docs., and reads as follows:
"Pro Palria

"The first Man that either distributes or makes use of Starapt
Paper, let him take care of ins House, Person, Sc Effects.
"Vox Populi;
"We dare"
—Ibid., VU:  770.

A day or two later, "packages of Stamped Papers were landed
from His Majesty's Ship 'Garland' at noonday without a Guard or
the least appearance ot discontent among the people."—Ibid.,
VU: 771, Colden gave his reasons to Sec. Conway (March 28,
1766) for bringing the stamped papers Into the fort instead of
putting them on board the "Coventry." In his opinion tbey would
not be sate on the "Coventry " because "The Winter approached
when the Ship must be brought to one of the Wharfs in the Town,
ber guns musl be put on shore and the officers could not prevent
the men trom leaving the Ship."—Ibid., VII: 823.

The city grants to Augustus van Cortlandt, Oliver de Lancey,
and Richard Shucks burgh, water lots in tbe rear of their properties,
having a total frontage on the Hudson River of 618 tl. (belween
the present Rector St. and Battery Place) and eitending to a line
200 ft, beyond low-water mark with tbe obUgation that each of the
grantees shall make and leave to the city three slreets, each 40 tl,
in width: First (later Greenwich) St., al high-water mark; Second
(later Washington) St., 130 ft, farther westward, at or near low-
water mark; and Third (later West) St., across the outer end of the
lots.—City Grants, Liber C, 297-318.

The new tree bridge (see Jan, 2, 1759), which "has for some
Time been out of Repair, and dangerous to pass; - - . Is in better
Repair than ever, wdl founded upon Slone, so it is hopeful, the
Publick will have a good Bridge for many Years, and will be free of
paying that eiorbltant Toll as before."—A7.5", Merc,Oct. 28, 1765.

A news Item In the Mercury describes the reception given to the
ships in which the odious stamps were brought to New York. "All
the Vessels in the Harbour lower'd thdr Colours, to sigmfy Mourn¬
ing Lamentation and Woe." Mr. McEvers, who was asked by the
governour to take care of the stamps, refused to have anything to
do with them (see Ocl. 23); il was reported that not one ot the
persons appointed would execute the office. "The stamps are now
a Commodity no Body knows what to do with, and are more
abominable, and dangerous to be meddled with, than If they were
infected with the Pestilence."—JV, Y. Merc, Oct. 28, 1765, In the
same issue it Is reported "that most of the Gentlemen in Town,
have entered into a Resolution not lo buy any European Manu¬
factures tiU their Trade is more opened, the Sugar Act altered, and
the Stamp Act is repealed: It is hoped this will animate the Coun¬
try People to make plenty of Linens and Woolens, as they may be
assured of quick Sale, and good Prices."—Ibid.

Rev. Lamberlus de Ronde writes to the dassis of Amsterdam
"That the large 'New Dutch Church' Is, Inside and out, most
sumptuously fitted up, while the old building [on Garden St.] is
left to decay, just for the purpose ot having the upper hand."—
Eccles. Rec.,Vl: 4031. See Feb. 2, 1766,

Peter Rushton, after various iiequests, leaves the rest ot his
estate to his grandson, Peler Rushton Maverick, Referring to this,
PeUetreau says; "The house and lot ot Peter Rushton was on the
norlh sideofLiberty street, 25 feet west of Liberty Place. In 1802
Peter Rushton Maverick sold it to the Quakers, and a meeting
house was built. This was afterward sold to the noted Grant
Ihorhurn."—Abslracls of Wills, VII: 83, and appendix, in N. Y.
Hist. Soc. Colleclions.

Montresor in his journd reports "Several people In mourning
for the near Issue of the stamps and the Interment of their liberty-"
Even the "Bag-gammon Boies at the merchant's Coffee House"
are "covered with Black and the Dice in Crape." A mob went
through the streets crying "Liberty," breaking lamps and windows,
threatening to bury alive Maj. James of the Royal Artillery "as
 

1
 

Commanding the Troops in the Fort for tbe protection of the Oct.
Stamps."—Monlrejor'i Jeur., 336. Cf. statement ot H. B. Daw- 31
son, in The Sons of Liberty in JV, Y., 88-89, that the mob
"quietly dispersed without doing any damage." Colden required
Mayor Cruger to Invesrigate the aUegcd plot "10 bury Major
James alive," and lo do all in his power "to prevent a Mob or
Riot." He dso requested Archibald Kennedy to send the marines
trom "his Majesty's Ships to reinforce the Troops in the Fort."—
Colden Papers, op. cit. (1877), X: 53.

At a general meeting of raerchants, held In Burns' "City Arms"
(Tavern), an intercolonial committee of correspondence,consisting of
five "Sons of Liberty," Is appointed to secure the co-operation of
the merchants in other parls of the country. Resolutions are also
adopted as follows: "First, that in all Orders they send out to
Great-Britain, for Goods or Merchandise, of any Nature, Kind, or
QuaUty whatsoever, usually imported trom Great-Britain, they will
direct their Correspondents not to ship them, unless the Stamp Act
be repealed; It is nevertheless agreed, that aU such Merchants as
are Owners of, and have Vessels already gone, and now cleared out
for Great-Britain, shall be al Liberty to bring back in them on their
own Accounts, Crates and Casks of Earthen Ware, Grindstones,
Pipes, and such other bulky Articles as Owners usually fill up thdr
Vessels with. Secondly, It is further unanimously agreed, that all
Orders dready sent Home, shall be countermanded by the very
first Conveyance; and the Goods and Merchandize thereby ordered,
not to be sent, unless upon tbe Condition mentioned In the tore-
going Resolution. Thirdly, It Is further unanimously agreed, that
no Merchant will vend any Goods or Merchandize sent upon
Commission from Great Britdn, that shaU be shipped from thence
after the first Day of January next, unless upon the Condition
mentioned in the first Resolution. Fourthly, It is further unani¬
mously agreed, that the foregmog Resolutions shall be binding
until the same are abrogated at a general Meering hereafter to be
held for that Purpose. In Witness whereof we have hereunto
respectivdy subscribed our Names. [This was subscribed by up¬
wards of Two Hundred principal Merchants.]

"In Consequence ot the foregdng Resolurions, the Retailers
of Goods, ot the City ot New York, subscribed a Paper, in the
Words foUowing, -viz. We the under-written. Retailers ot Goods, do
hereby promise and oblige ourselves nol to buy any Goods, Wares,
or Merchandises, ot any Person or Persons whatsoever, that shall
be shipped from Great-Britdn, after the first Day of January next;
unless the Stamp Act shaU be repeded—As Witness our Hands,
Ocl. 31, 176s."—N. Y. Post-Boy, Oct. 31 and Nov. 7, 1765. See
dso Addenda. For the activities of the raerchants. In reference to
the "Sugar Act," see April 20, 1764.

Hendrick Rutgers and James Delancey enter into an agreement
"for the settling Se establishment ot partition Lines between their
respective Lands in the Out Ward & and for opening Sc establishing
of a pubhc Street or Highway" between their lands.—Liber Deeds,
XLVIU: 364-67; M. C. C. {MS.), IX: 175- This agreement was
deUvered to the common coundl on Feb- 18, 1789, by Henry Rut¬
gers, the son of Hendrick, and il was ordered that jl be recorded.^
M. C. C. (MS.), IX: 175. The "pubUc Street or Highway," sub¬
sequently laid out and appearing for the first time on Pis. 41 and
42, Vol. I, was appropriatdy named Division St. (not to be contused
with the former Division St.—see July Zj., 1761—which is shown
on the same plates as Partition St.).  Cf. plate description, I: 343.

James de Lancey leases to James Ackland a bouse and parcel
of land at Corlaer's Hook.—Redtd In Liber Mongages, U: 381.
De Lancey had previously leased this place lo one James EUiot, a
mariner, who had conducted a tavern here (see April 13, 1761).
The place became well known as "Ackland's," a wdl-trequented
waterside tavern, the house standing at what is now the north side
ot Water St., between Jackson and Coriaers Sis.—See Pis. 40, 41,
42, and 64, Vol, I. Ackland is menrioned in an advertisement as
"at Crown Point, near New-York."—A*". Y. Merc, Feb. 11, 1768.
James Ackland died prior to Oct. 9, 1769, when the house, then in
tbe occupation of Mr. Van Den Ham, was offered on a foriy-dght
year lease.—^, Y. Merc, Oct. 9, 1769. From certdn assignments
of the lease, the tavem seems to have been turned over to James
Devereaux (seeLiber Mongages,U: 381), and, by 1772, was known
as the Coriaer's Hook Tavern ot John Brandon,—JV. T. Merc,
April 27, 1772.

A plan of the dly is made, "showing the Position of His Ma-   Nov,
jesty's strips" as stationed on this date.  The original is now filed      1
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