News Articles: Rascals, Rogues & Sloops

Editor's Note: These articles are from 1749 to 1817. ​See more Sunday News here.

August 14, 1749 -  New York Evening Post
New York. Last Tuesday evening a young man of about 19 years of age, apprentice to a baker in this city, went to bed in an upper room, being intoxicated, got up in the night, opened a door which was in the second story and fell down into a gang-way, where he lay till four o’clock in the morning, at which time the people of the house arose to work, and finding him there, took him up; but he died a few minuets after.

Last week, one Mr. Knox, Master of a small sloop send up the North-River, and coming near the Highlands, two men came on board him in a canoe and asked Mr. Knox for a dram, which he readily gave them; and after taking a turn or two upon deck, each of them drew forth a postol, which they had conceal’d, and coming up to Mr. Knox demanded his money, he told them that he had none, whereupon they forc’d him down into the fore-castle, one of them went into the cabbin, broke open his chest but finding no money took a bottle of rum and so went off leaving Mr. Knox barr’d down in the fore-castle, where he remained till his Negro, whom they had confin’d upon deck, released him.
 
We also hear that a sloop belonging to Capt. Bayard, was robb’d at or near the same place of nine pound in money which was all they had on board.
 
We hear that a person was lately robbed on the road near Whippany, of about twenty sillings, by two fellows who search’d the linings of his cloaths, hat and even shoes to see if he had none conceal’d.

August 22, 1797 Albany Centinel
 On Tuesday night last, about 12 o'clock, was detected at Corporation dock a
gang of villains, belonging to the sloop Fanny, of Crow harbour, last from
Albany, in the very act of stealing from the brig Farmer, Captain Whittemore,
four boxes of Sugar, together with a boat belonging to the said brig.  There was
found on board the sloop in the morning a quantity of hats, &c. stolen from Mr.
Mayell on the night of the fourteenth instant; a quantity of cordage stolen
about three weeks since from Mr. Elderkin's store, and a number of books and
papers which by their contents belong to Mr. Foote of Newburgh.  Four of
the above gang are now in custody, one of whom has been only two days out of
goal, after confinement of six months.  The captain, Alpheus Vincent, alias
Wilson, is not yet taken. [Vincent is safely lodged in jail in Albany.]

October 1, 1817 - National Advocate (New York, New York)
NOTICE. -- The sloop YOUNG FOX, belonging to the subscriber, was taken in a clandestine manner by persons unknown, from Delafield's wharf Whitehall, on the night of the 21st instant.  Said sloop was burthen 73 tons, yellow sides, no figure head, &c.  Whoever will return said sloop, or give information so that she can be recovered, shall be suitably rewarded, on application to GEO. COGGESHALL, at Irving, Smith & Holly's, 133 Pearl-st.

Author

Thank you to HRMM volunteer George Thompson, retired New York University reference librarian, for sharing these glimpses into early life in the Hudson Valley. And to the dedicated HRMM volunteers who transcribe these articles.

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