Sloop travel in the 1790s

Reynolds Beal drawing of Hudson River Sloop. Hudson River Maritime Museum collection

Editor's note: The following articles were originally published in the 1790s in the newspapers listed below. Thanks to volunteer researcher George A. Thompson for finding, cataloging and transcribing this article. The language, spelling and grammar of each article reflects the time period when it was written.

Daily Advertiser, October 20, 1795
:Stolen or drifted away last night, from Mr. Ludlow's wharf, near the Fly-market, a
small PLEASURE BOAT, built and rigged sloop fashion, about 25 or 30 feet keel, and
about 3-4th decked, a mainmast and jib almost new, with the sail-maker's name,
Gerardus Smith, on them; her bottom painted white, her sides yellow and black, her
stern white with a black edge; she had a small skiff upon her deck, lately painted; built
Clinker fashion, with an iron chain fastened to her bow. Whoever will bring her to the
owner at No. 143 Front-street, shall be handsomely rewarded, and doubly so, if stolen,
and the thief discovered. N. B. It is supposed she has been carried up the East River.

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Argus, or Greenleaf’s New Daily Advertiser, September 24, 1795
On Sunday afternoon last, a pleasure boat was overset in a heavy gust of wind,
in the East River, near Blackwell's Island, by which unfortunate circumstance four men
were drowned.
Herald, September 26, 1795 -A serious warning to those who are fond of amusing themselves on the water on Sabbath days.

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N-Y Gazette & General Advertiser, April 3, 1797
For Sale; Cheap for Cash or short Credit, An excellent SLOOP, two years old, will
carry about 2000 bushels of wheat . . . , an exceedingly faithful built vessel, and is
remarkable tight and staunch, having been built within a few miles of the city, in a very
careful manner, and of seasoned timber.​

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The Journals of Hugh Gaine, Printer, April 4, 1798
Wednesday [April] 4th[, 1798]. This Day a Sloop arrived from Albany in 18
Hours; The first this Spring, and the Weather very cold and rainey.​

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The Travel Journals of Henrietta Marchant Liston, June 18, 1799
On [June 18, 1799] we took our passage in an Albany Sloop & sailed at six in the
Evening; our accommodation was extremely good, the weather fine, & we were happy
to get free from great Towns during the heats.  This voyage is sometimes made in 48
hours, the distance being a hundred & sixty five miles, it is pretty much the same as by
Land.
       
A southerly Wind very soon removed from our view the Town of Newyork, & we
were much gratified by the appearance of the beautiful Villas ranged along the Hudson,
to the distance of seven or eight miles.  The opposite (or Jersy side) producing a fine
contrast of Wood & Rock mixed with a gloomy grandeur.  The vast number of Sloops
and Brigs scattered in the River added to the variety, the setting Sun enlivening or
saddening the Scene.
       
About nine o'clock at night all was changed, a sudden Gust arose, (I have said
that these Storms of Thunder Lightening & rain always cool & refresh the air,  indeed, I have observed that when they were frequent there existed no yellow fever.)  We
remained on Deck viewing the effects of the lightening; its vivid flashes every moment
displaying the romantic scene around us, while the roaring of the Thunder was echoed
by the Hills & Rocks.  Though the Moon was little past the full the night was dark, & at
ten we were forced down to the Cabin by a heavy shower of rain.  The violence of the
storm obliged us to Anchor for the night.  Next morning proved fine, but the wind being
against us we did not get underway till after breakfast.

On rising I found that the Vessel was lying very near the land on the Jersy side; we sent the Boat on shore & got fresh Milk from a Fishermans Hut.  We passed Fort Washington &, at the distance of 15 miles, came to the termination of York Island.  No wind all day, after the tide left us we were obliged to Anchor & wait till its return again enabled us to set sail.  We Anchored opposite to a pretty building, called Phillips Manor; near it a gilded Spire oertopped the Trees, & on the shore was a Mill near to an adjoining Creek, from whence we procured excellent water.  We were likewise supplied with strawberries and milk.  We sailed slowly through the night with light winds, & at six on Thursday morning found ourselves passing rapidly through the Highlands, being then about forty miles from Newyork.  At the entrance to these, the River is about seven miles broad, & one of the first objects that presented itself was Stony point; the Highlands are twenty miles in extent, on both sides of the River, very beautiful, often very majestic objects.  Stupendous Rocks & high Hills, wooded to their Summit, all bold & romantic.  Here and there the scenery softened by a pretty House & small Garden ground.  The Fort of Mongtomery is on the Newyork side, those of Putney & Westpoint on the Jersey side, the last well fortified with a handsome House & Barracks.

Westpoint offers one of the most magnificent objects to be conceived. The River, which had gradually been reduced to two miles, seems to press itself into still smaller
bounds in order to pass through the Mountain, in a compass not exceeding half a mile.
This was the Pass which General Arnold meant to have delivered to General Clinton, & a House about a mile from Westpoint was that in which Arnold & the unfortunate Major Andrée held their meetings.

        We now approached the termination of the High Lands, & the objects rather 
encreased in beauty.  The River wearing sometimes the appearance of a fine Lake,
compleatly surrounded with Hills & Rocks, out of which there seemed to be no passage,
when after a sharp, though beautiful winding, the objects changed, the Rocks & lofty
wooded Hills & romantic Cliffs sunk from our view, & there appeared an expanse of
Water & level Banks, crowded with Houses, & frequently populous Villages.  The Rocks being Lime the Inhabitants are almost supported by Limekilns, from which it is
transported in Boats to the adjacent Ports.
       
The wind continuing fair we made great way in the afternoon, & anchored at
Albany by ten at night.

 We had passed during the second Day, the small Town near which poor Major
Andrée was taken, the very Tree (a Tulip Tree) beneath which he was seized &
searched is plainly to be seen.
       
Within fifty miles of Albany, on the Newyork side, the Manor of Livingston is
visible, some of the Houses very showy, others are beautifully embosomed in Wood.
       
We landed at Albany to breakfast on friday morning, our passage having lasted
two days & three nights.  ***
       
The convenient position of Albany renders it a rising place.  The Seat of Assembly is now removed to it, & it is, of course, the residence of the Governor of the State.  We rode five or six miles up the River, saw on the other side a small Town called Troy, & on this side the beginning of one called Washington [now Watervliet (editor's note).

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