New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-20
RENSSELAERWYCK MANOR
FEUDAL RELIC ON THE HUDSON.

as perfect feudal system as ever eAiSteu III '"o
Middle Ages. In 1929, about twenty years ai'o'
the discovery of the Hudson. killlan van h'"'
selaer. a dealer in pearls in Holland. obtained from
the Stats General of Holland and the Dutch est
India Company a charter 70: IA grant OF lana GA
tendipr twenty four miles along the river on each
side. from Coeymans 80 CohOes and eight Hi'i1 :,
back executing Fort Orange, now Albany anu All
the no wers incident TO a feudal manor. ms was
the original patent though more was added uhiii ~
COMPRISED tract tvonty-four by forlyeigu1 Hliio'
and included the greater part OF tue presoh' 'o"
ties of Albany and Rensselaer,. subsequently '"'o
land was all repurchased from the Indians and
the curiuus old deeds with seals large rs SANGER
are still in tne possession Of the family. One de-
scrption of the tract is a. follows: FROM barron
Island Opposite CUeymans) to chs place known d.
Kahoos or the big falls in the river ana eNtehu'"s
hack two days' Journey westward from the river"
When England obtained possession oil the No"
Netherlands. this title was confirmed by sprc'ai
charter the documents of which are sui i'll 'no
hands of the family and bear the great seal D
Queen Anne.
Later on it was declared valid by the State Legs
. laturc Hence the descendants claimed title 10
the manor of Rensselacrwyck, rs 1t was Called hs''
from the Stats General of the Netherlands anu tho
Dutch West India Company; second, from the III
lians or aborgines Of the country third lrom LILO
English grant fourth, from the State Government
since the Rev olution; fifth, from Inheritance, ahl
sixth, from possession.
Ahont the wear 1910 Van Rensselaer, brought
over a colony which settled on his manor. lie was
invested with the title of Lord Patroon and ms col
opv was governed by feudal laws and customs
They were his yassals and took oath OF featy 10
him. and he promised them protection. They ac-
ceoted deedS upon conditions of an annual rental,
sucb "a SD many bushels of clean. Incrchahtaoie
vbeat four fat fowls. one days labor win tean'
etc The leases were perpetual. Dut IN case ol
sale by any tenant OF his interests onciourth Oh tho
nurcbase money was to be reserved to the Patroon
Lis heir. and assigns forever The larger part OF
tina manor remained under the control OF the family
until 1879 when occurred the death OF the last ana
vrlthieyt of the PATRONS. stephen Van SELLER
lie was the fifth in inoal descent from hlIhah d"
Rensselaer, the original PatroOu HIS mother was
daughter of Philip Livingston. HIS first Vile was
DAUGHTER of General Philip Schuyler. OF Revolution
arv fame whose old family mansion is still standing
in the lower rart of th,s city His second wife was
daughter of DR. Howard Patterson. of New-JcrSey.
Tho PATRON comes within the recollection OF those
living aud many of the Old inh Ibtants Of tho city
can testify to his sterling integrity anu generous
hospitality. lie was in command OF the Ne"-iotN
militia IN 1872: n member of Congress AMI Assem-
bly Ior many years; and Lieutenant GoVernor o'
the State Soldier. statesman gentle nan and Ia
troon the record of his life would MI VolumcS' III
ls2l he caused geographical surveys to ho made at
his own expense. of Albany and Rensselaer, coun-
ties and along tho line OF the Erle anal peS'ues
doing other valuable service for tho state. In
1874 he established the Troy scientific school known
a. tbe Rensselaer, Polytechnic Institute.
Al bis death he left ono half the manor, Rons
sol,,r County. 10 "a son. William. from whom It
passed into OTHER hands. The portion on tins Nide
If the river, Albany County, was given Z" ms son
Stephcn p who was known a. tho Young IA
troon7 and who died IN lN'is. lea 'lng large lam
i,v of children of whom four daughters and ono
son are living: aud on the death Of his wife. seven
years later tho old Manor House was deserted ana
the family broken up. the son Eugene - abroad
,,;,h his family while the daughters are married
and living in dinereut parts OF tie country. lho
ostate is now managed in the interest of these heirs
Inv An AGENT. grandson OF the so-calicd " Young
Patroon'
In 17s5 the Legislature OF NeV-Yor, abolished
ssudaItenurrs but the rroprictors of these grant
contrlyel a form of deed which virtually retained
them. The reservation of Oue-iOurth oi tho Dur-
chase-moncy WAS long ago declared contrary To Inc
spirt of tho law but the annual rental - sill col
lected from many farniers in the county. IN $50
what was known rs the Anti-ient war com
u,enced tha tenants r. fusing to nav rent ana
CLAIMING that tho land had been paid Cor 10y their
PREDECESSORS and themselves many times over. A.
socations were formed and tho tenants bandei
tocctbcr 10 resist payment of the rents. Officers
attempting TO sell Oh execution were Killed ana
,thcr outrages perpetrated, until finally in 1919
delaware County WAS declared by the Governor TO
be in insurrection and many arrests followed. Sub
seoueutlv the antreaters formed political party
and elected John Young a Governor, who pardoned
from the state prisons all the anti-reniors convicted
of conspiracy stephen Van Rensselaer, sold out MS
interests in the isputed property to Colonel Walter
: Church Of this city, relative ot the family ana
yranison of daughter OF General Philip Schny Ter
II vas fonnd almost impossible to serve process on
the Ant renters, who cvadcd them in every way;
bat finally, duUIng the administration OF Governor
Soymoui Colonel Charch. by .skliul man9uvrln9'
ATTAINED the passage OF a law, despite powerful
lobby working in the interest OF the anti renters,
making notice posted on tho door A legal process
in ease OF evasion By tho tenants. The courts dec-
ded that the Van Rensselacrs we're entitled 10 the
rants and in S1.} the dnculties virtually ceased.
In the northern part Of this city. opposite the
Lumber District, and almost on the banks of tho
Eric Canal where 1t enters the city, Is Il spacious
mark filled with shubbery aud stately trees, in the
Gentle Of which Is a large brown stone manson.
This is the old Manor House, the home of the Van
Renssclaers. where -four generations Of that once
powerful family rave lived and died. Built In
1863 nearly century and half Old. 1t IS cohsid-
cred one " the places of interest III Albany and IS
visited v sight-seers and tourists at all times Of the
year The house faces down Broadway and the
street cars carry visitors TO the great gate which
shuts ont the busy city from the quiet and dcsola-
ton within. Knocking at tho door Of the low. IVY
covered folge the visitor is received by pleasant
faced Old lady, who has served in the family for
forty vcars and who accompanies him along tho
spacious drive which leads np through tho trees 10
the grand entrance of the Manor House.. Midway
is stone bridge undrr which pretty stream once
flowed on its way through the park. but which now
SPANS a sewer of dirty, stagnant water. The baiUs-
trades on the sues of the bridge are falling TO ram