The Conflagration of 1793

 

Adapted from Munsell's Collections

 

 

The passages that follow were first printed in the volume of Joel Munsell's great nineteenth-century work noted above. We begin by saying that the original author is unknown! Over the past two decades, the following passages have not been available online on a consistent basis. So we have presented them here as "transformed resources" because they are independently interesting while remaining always puzzling. With this offering we ensure that those passages will remain accessible. Please enjoy them!

We will continue to link the characters, places, and things mentioned in the narrative when we can. I first encountered the "Fire" in an article written by Don R. Gerlach (biographer of General Philip Schuyler) entitled "Black Arson in Albany, New York     November 1793" and published in the Journal of Black Studies [Vol. 7, No. 3 (Mar., 1977), pp. 301-312]. Since then, many people have noticed. Subsequent scholarship and writing also have built on this "seminal" resource.

 

Sunday, the 17th of November 1793, was a day long remembered by the inhabitants of this city, and the few who still linger among us retain a vivid recollection of the scenes enacted during that night. The greater portion of the then quiet churchgoing people of the day had retired to rest, and were slumbering upon their pillows, when they were awakened by the alarming cry of fire.

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Speedily the flames lighted up the city and in a short time the inhabitants were out in large members to assist in quenching the flames, for then every citizen able to do duty, belonging to Leonard Gansevoort, in the center of the block then bounded by Market, State Maiden Lane and Middle lanes, in the rear of the store on State street, now occupied by Hickcox & Co. There was a slight breeze blowing when it was first discovered, and but little attention was paid to the alarm by those reading in the immediate neighborhood. They thought that, as it was only a frame building, the flames would be speedily quenched, and without their assistance. But, instead of being subdued, the flames spread so rapidly that in a short time they had reached most of the adjoining property, and in a few hours the heart of the city was enveloped in smoke and flames.

The fire laid waste all that portion of the city previously described, from the dwelling house and store of Daniel Hale, northerly to the dwelling house of Teunis T. Van Veehten, on the corner of Maiden lane Market street (now Broadway), destroying on that street the dwelling house and stores of D. Waters, John G. Van Schaick, E. Willet, John Maley, James Caldwell, Caldwell & Pearson, C. Glen, P. W. Dow, Maley & Cuyler, and Mrs. Beckman. On State street, there was consumed the dwelling house of T. Barry (then a new and considered an elegant brick building), the store house of G. W. Van Schaick: the house of C. K. Vanderberg, partly occupied by Giles K. Porter, merchant tailor: the dwelling of Leonard Gansevoort: the drug store of Dexter & Pomeroy, and the dwelling of Mrs. Hilton in Middle lane, there were large number of stables, all of which were consumed, greatly aiding in the spreading of the fire by the intense heat made by the burning of pitch-pine timber, which was used for building in those days. In Maiden lane the dwelling hose of Mrs. Deforest and the new and spacious storehouse of Maley & Cuyler were destroyed, the latter firm being by far the heaviest losers by this calamity.

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Soon after the fire had obtained the mastery and baffled all humans’ efforts, a cold rain storm set in, which soon after turning to sleet, greatly tendered to check its progress. In those days, every man, woman and child, able to handle an empty leather fire buckets, was pressed into service. Every home was required to have three leather water buckets hanging up in its halls: in case of fire, the inmates were required not only to bring them to the scene of the disaster, but were compelled to go into the bucket ranks and assist in passing the buckets to and from the wells or pumps to the fire. These ranks were formed in two lines, opposite each other, the one to pass the water to the fire and the other to return the empty buckets. In the latter, it was no uncommon occurrence to see both male and female, old and young. A fire engine was a novelty in those days: and yet Albany with 5,000 inhabitants boasted of two.

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But one of them could scarcely be called an engine. The largest was about as powerful as our present garden engine, and the other, which was called the house engine, was so light as easily to be carried about by one man. Hose and suctions were then unknown. The engine was filled by buckets and the water thrown from a pipe fixed on the top of the engine. At the fire previously alluded to, the largest engine stood at the corner of Market and State streets: the gutter was dammed up and the engine supplied by the water which ran down the hill and which was gathered up in leather buckets.

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It will be recollected that all the stables on Middle lane were destroyed. They were constructed of very combustible materials, and contained to usual winter stock of hay and straw. The heat was so great as to endanger the dwellings on Pearl Street.   Domine Ellison (as he was then familiarly called), rector of St. Peter's Church, and a man beloved by all who know him, was quite active throughout this emergency. It was mainly through his exertions and good management that they were saved. He directed mops to be made of woolen fabrics, which were kept, wet and constantly applied to the shutters and woodwork upon the houses most exposed to the heat of the fire.

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The progress of the flames was checked in Maiden lane by Capt., Willett who fortunately was here with his vessel. He rallied his hands and directed them to chop down a frame building midway between Pearl Street and Middle lane. This act checked the progress of the flames in that direction. While this was going on, by the aide of blankets upon roofs kept moist by the bucket gang, the progress of the fire was checked on State Street, but it was not before morning that it became evident that the fire had reached its farthest point. The citizens devoted the greater part of the following Monday in ranking and extinguishing the burning embers.

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The fire was so plainly the work of an incendiary, that not only were several slaves arrested upon suspicion, but subsequently a meeting of the common council was held and an ordinance passed forbidding any Negro or mulatto, of any sex, age or description whatever, from walking in the streets or lanes after 9 o'clock in the evening, or from being in any tavern or tippling house after that hour, under penalty of twenty-four hours confinement in the jail. At the expiration of such confinement they were to be brought before the mayor, recorder or an alderman, when they were at liberty to show, by their master or mistress, that they were out upon lawful and necessary business. If they established this fact, they were discharged upon paying the jail expenses; but if they failed, they were further punished by fine and imprisonment. The municipal authorities were active in ferreting out the perpetrators of this high crime, which, according to the English law, was punishable with death. It was then the law of this land, and as punishment was more summary than it is now, the guilty parties knew that hanging would follow conviction, proceedings in court which followed this fire attracted much attention, particularly among the colored population, in consequence of several of their number having been arrested upon suspicion of being implicated in the arson. [The above taken from the Albany Evening Journal which began publication in 1830]

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[From another unnamed source] The sun had sunk beneath the western horizon and many of the then inhabitants of the city were seeking sweet sleep when the shrill cry of fire! Fire! Caused them to leap from their couches. It was on Sunday night, about 10 1/2 o'clock, on the 17th of November 1793, that the demon spirit caused a fire to be kindled in a stable, in the heart of the city, by which property to a large amount was destroyed. That it was the act of an incendiary was never questioned, instigated by unrequited love and revenge.

Tradition asserts that a young man named Sanders, residing in Schenectady, had been paying marked attention to the only daughter of Leonard Gansevoort, and that, from a just, real or imaginary cause, he had either been jilted by that young lady, or been quietly informed by her father, that his visits to his house were unsolicited and very annoying. This, as it might naturally be supposed, came with crushing weight upon the feelings of a young man, proud in spirit and exalted in his future expectation. His whole mind seem to have been centered in that direction, and the unexpected bursting of his high hopes and expectations, caused him to become a viper and to return the sting.

 

Sanders had a warm friend in this city, by the name of McBurney, who kept a jewelry shop on State Street. McBurney proved not to be only a true but cunning friend, as the sequel will show, for he not only carried out Sanders, design, but so managed the affair as not only to escape detection, in any way criminate himself or his friend. It appears from the tale of our realtor, that McBurney called in Negro Pomp, to assist him in carrying out his plan of revenge. He held out to the gazing eyes of Pomp, a toy of great value, a massive gold watch, to any one who would, on a certain night, fire the stable of Mr. Gansevoort. It appears that Pomp, either lacked the moral courage to commit the act, or through selfish motives, entrusted two wenches with its commission, over whom, it is said; he had almost complete control. The one was named Bet, and she was a slave to Philip S. Rensselaer, who was subsequently mayor of this city, from 1799 to 1814, and the other, named Dinah, a slave belonging to Volkert Douw. Bet was only about 16 or 17 years of age, she was a handsome wench, and was a great favorite with Mrs. Van Rensselaer. She came from Peekskill, where she was born and brought up in the family of Mrs. Van Rensselaer's mother; and soon after the latter was married, she was brought to this city by Mrs. Van Rensselaer, as a gift from her mother. Dinah was about the same age, and both were looked upon as giddy, thoughtless, but not wicked girls, to commit the arson, he apparently became alarmed, and fearing the consequences that might cause, endeavored to prevail upon them to relinquish the thought of committing the fiendish act.

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The same evening, Pomp was seen in his masters stable, in company with the girls, endeavoring to persuade them from doing it, and a short time previous to the breaking out of the fire he was seen with them in Middle alley, talking to them in a supplicating tone of voice. In fact he was overheard to say, that he would not give them the watch if they committed the deed. Upon the alarm being given, Mrs. Van Rensselaer immediately thought of Bet, and going to her room, found that she was missing. All the next day she was absent from home, and the next time seen by her mistress she was in jail. While there she revealed to Mrs. Van Rensselaer the crime she had committed and the manner she accomplished it. In an old shoe she carried live coal of fire from the kitchen of Mr. Gansevoort to his barn and threw them upon the hay. The fire not igniting as speedily as she expected, she went again to the stable, and upon finding the coals dead returned immediately to the kitchen and the second time carried coals in the same manner into the stable.

 

The conflagration speedily ensued, and resulted as previously stated.

The very next day after a fire of the 17th these same girls set on fire the stable of Peter Gansevoort, in the rear of his house, on the corner of Market Street (now Broadway) and Maiden Lane, which was also destroyed, and the same evening visited the house on the opposite corner, and attempted to set it on fire by putting coals of fire in a bureau drawer containing clothes. In this they did not succeed for want of air.

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Soon after the burning of Gen., Peter Gansvoort's stable, Bet and Dinah were arrested for the arson on the 17th and on the following day acknowledged their guilt, and also implicated Pomp, who was subsequently incarcerated in jail. While there they were treated with the utmost kindness. They were furnished daily with food from their respective mistresses' TABLE AND Bet was frequently visited by Mrs. Van Rensselar, who felt a motherly affection towards her unfortunate slave. The three were tried, convicted and sentenced to be hung. They were confined in separated rooms in jail, but by means of a stove- pipe hole they were enabled to converse with each other. Possessed, as they must have been, with the spirit of a demon, these girls entertained some feelings of honor. A few evenings before the day fixed upon for their execution, the hailer overheard a conversation between the trio, in which the wenches exonerated Pomp from all blame, and regretted that they went so far as to tell the jailer that Pomp was innocent and that they alone were guilty.

 

About this time, Pomp was a great favorite among the leading citizens, and upon his being pronounced innocent by the wenches; strenuous efforts were made to save his life. Judge Robert Yates and his daughter, Mrs. Major Fairle, took a lively interest in his behalf, as did also John Van Ness Yates, Sebastian Visscher and others. The matter was brought before Gov., Clinton, who was prevailed upon to grant a temporary respite. Pomp was subsequently; unknown to his friends, prevailed upon to make a confession. He revealed what was known to be true, in regards to the origin of the fire, but he also acknowledged having robbed the mail, which at that time was punishable with death. The girls were executed in the following spring on Pinkster hill, which was then a few rods west of the Academy, or about on the corner of Fayette and Hawk Street. The revelations made by Pomp were given to Gov., Clinton and a few months after the execution of the wenches; Pomp suffered the extreme penalty of the law upon the same spot. Sanders and McBurney were not arrested, of the law upon the evidence against them except the assertions of Pomp, and he being implicated in the crime his evidence could not be taken.

 

Before closing the sketch we cannot refrain from noticing a fact of rather uncommon occurrence in these days and one well worthy of reflection: The daughter of Mr. Gansevorrt was subsequently married, and he now living in affluence near this city, in the enjoyment of the society of the early partner of her joys and of her sorrows. Although she has outlived the scriptural term of life, she is still in the enjoyment of comparatively good health, with the proud satisfaction of being surrounded by her children, her grand children, and her great grand children.

 

CHARACTER AND ECCENTRICITIES OF THE SLAVE POMP

Before and for a long period after the revolutionary war, almost every family in this city had its slaves, to do the drudgery work in and about the house. Every family raised its own vegetables, in gardens either adjoining the house or upon what was called the hills, and it was also the duty of the colored people to till these grounds. Among the colored inhabitants of the city was youth of about twenty-five years of age, who, by this acts of wickedness, not only cost, his master much anxiety of mind, but also large sums of money. His name was Pomp, and he belonged to Matthew Visscher. Where he came from is not known, but it is supposed that he emigrated from the city of New York. Among some old papers recently overhauled, the bill of sale of Pomp was found, which we copy, verbatim, for the benefit of those who are curious in those matters:

 

ALBANY 30 JANUARY 1788

Received of Matthew Visscher Esq., the sum of ninety pounds, New York currency it being for a Negro boy named Pomp of about the age of eleven years sold him this day, and I do hereby warrant the said Negro boy Pomp, against all claims and demands that may be made against him. Present Jacob Roseboom Jr., Henry Wendell."

In his youthful days, Pomp was not looked upon as a bright, or even an intelligent boy: but was honest, trustworthy and a faithful servant. As he grew older, he became more and more indolent, and courting the company of females of his own complexion, he became a frequent truant from home and unreliable as a servant. When near the age of manhood, he became independent in feeling but was not impudent. Those who remember Tobias Morgan, of a more recent day, can picture to the mind's eye Pomp. Tobias, from 1834 to the time of his death, always paraded with the Burgesses corps, when they were called out for duty. Tobias was in his glory when he was decked out in his gayest apparel, and so was Pomp. Tobias, however, was not a favorite among the females, while Pomp was a gay fellow among the wenches (as they were then called), and in dress he was frequently foppish. In his efforts to imitate in dress those who mingled in a different society, he became a thief. Having the freedom of his mater house, he, upon several occasions, stole large sums of money belonging to his mistress, and after obtaining what he desired in the way of dress, he would place the remainder where it could be found. Although he frequently deserved the application of the birch rod upon his back, he was never whipped by either his master or his master's son, but was always treated, after he reached the age of manhood, much better than his conduct merited.

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During the revolutionary was the inhabitants of this city were mainly dependent upon their own resources in obtaining wearing apparel- the stock of woolen and cotton goods imported previous to the declaration of independence having been brought up and held at such price that home manufacture was resorted to, and it was then no common occurrence to see a spinning wheel around daily, in almost every house, and the younger member of the family were engaged in making yarn.

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Soon after the close of the war, business revived, importation's were resumed, and speedily rich silks, satins and broad clothes took the place of linsey-woolsey's and homemade woolen cloths. Extremes in everything usually follow each other, and in this respect the change of fashion was not an exception to the general rule. The gayest color fabrics were selected by both males and females for dresses and garments. Colors of the rainbow took the place of the somber brown and the heavy black previously worn by females, while blue, pea green and scarlet broad-cloths were selected by the males for dress coats Then the bon ton (as even some do now) must need go to New York to purchase their garments, for each and every one must have something different than his neighbor. Sails vessels were then the only means of conveyance to that city, and a trip to New York and back occupied from a fortnight to a month, as captains then in command of vessels dropped anchor at nightfall and seldom caused the oars to be plied during a calm. A passage to or from New York in less than a week was considered a great feat; and the captain who was so fortunate as to bring a copy of a New York paper containing the news by a foreign arrival, was welcome by the proprietors and editors of the Albany Gazette, for then they were enabled to regale their enders with columns of news from the old country. The Negro Pomp, upon seeing his master return from New York, at the close of a legislative session, decked out in a pea green colored broad -cloth coat, short collar and gift button, took such a fancy o it that he was again tempted to resort to old tricks to gratify his wishes. He stole a large sum of money from his mistress, and with his ill-gotten treasure he fled to New York, laying, for several days in the hole of a vessel, unknown to the captain until it was to late to put him on shore. The first tiding of the whereabouts of Pomp were received by his master from the captain of the vessel in which he fled. He left him in New York, and on the day the vessel left that port he discovered Pomp parading in Broadway, wearing a bright red cloth coat, cut in the prevailing fashion, adorned with gilt buttons. Pomp's conduct previous to this occurrence had been so annoying, both to his master and mistress, that this act settled his doom. His master then concluded to get rid of him forever, and accordingly directed a friend in New York to arrest and sell him to the highest bidder. This brought Pomp to his senses, for the Negro was conscious of having a kind indulgent master. Upon his knees he implored the agent in New York to sell him, but to write home to his master and tell him that he would forgive him this time he would never again offend or give him any trouble. The letter was sent, but a reply was not received after Pomp had been sold. The bill of sale, however, a greater crime and to receive a severer punishment- the forfeiture of his life as an incendiary.

Transformed from the printed source by JP

 

notes

Sources: Printed in Collections on the History of Albany, volume 2, pp. 378-83. Most of this passage is undated but most likely was written at a much later time - perhaps even as late as the publication of that volume of the Collections in 1867. Some spellings enhanced and punctuation added.

The so-called CASE NUMBER ONE: The dead link referenced here as "CASE NUMBER ONE" was active when this page was created in 2004. However, the reference seems to have vanished from the Internet so we have removed the textual material formerly posted here. The general URL for no-racism.net still functions but references to the descriptive passage from its article published in February 2003 have not been found on what appears to be a news/opinion website of Austrian origin. Since the material and perspectives presented is neither documented nor attributed, we do not consider it a source to be recommended. We have no more to offer on the subject. We apologize for the confusion but continue to appreciate that materials come and go along the world wide electronic highway.