Local Historical Monuments, 



141 



English military rule raised Fort Frederic — the name being, it is 

 thought, given in honor of the House of Hanover. This stood in 

 State street, south of and occupying in part the position of St. Peter's 

 church. Kor is this inappropriate, for it is probable that the garrison 

 contributed to the strength of the new ecclesiastical existence, which 

 amidst a stranger people and a strange language, began a career, pros- 

 perous after varied experiences. At this date the site of the fort is 

 remembered by a living man. This most interesting and authentic 

 fact in its history was communicated to one of your committee by 

 Mr. John Van Zandt, the intelligent old gentleman who will be remem- 

 bered as the cashier of the Bank of Albany. When the battle of 

 Saratoga was fought in 1777, the sound of the cannon was heard hy a 

 soldier on this fort. 



Here, in place at the fence on the west side of St. Peter's church, 

 your committee recommend the erection of a white marble pillar, 

 bearing this inscription : 



AT THIS PLACE IN THE STREET ROSE FORT FREDERIC, THE FORTRESS OF THE 

 CROWN, WHILE NEW YORK WAS A COLONY OF ENGLAND. 



The cost of the proper memorial is estimated at $30. 



And now your committee turn with peculiar pleasure to a recom- 

 mendation in which all hearts and all phases of opinion can unite for 

 the courage and patriotism of man from history's brightest page. 

 Albany possesses in its role of illustrious citizens one of the signers 

 of the Declaration of Independence, Philip Livingston, whose residence 

 was upon the lot now covered by Tweddle Hall, and, fortunately for 

 memorial purposes, one of the chiefly important localities of the city, 

 and by Mr. Tweddle's enterprise already so valuably designated. 



To comprehend how justly memorial is here deserved, we must 

 recollect that when that charter of our freedom was signed, we were 

 not, as now, in the grandeur of a vast material streno^th. In 1776 our 

 struggle was bearding the lion in his den — it was the resolve of the 

 resolute. If the consent of the owners be obtained, your committee 

 recommended that in or near the corner wall of the building a white 

 marble tablet, at the cost of 1150, be placed, bearing this inscription : 



17 — Albany — 76 

 Remembers with pride tliat 

 This ground bore the Dwelling of 

 Philip Livingston. 

 Born 1716, Died 1778. 

 Who with Jefferson and Franklin 

 Signed the Declaration of Independence. 



