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59-398: The incident began with the death of Stephen Van Rensselaer III in 1839. Van Rensselaer, who was described as a "lenient and benevolent landowner" was the patroon of the region at the time. As a way to develop his vast landholdings, Van Rensselaer granted tenants lifetime leases at moderate prices. During his life, when tenants were in financial constraints, he preferred to accept rent in

118-684: A delegate. He was active in the American Home Missionary Society , and served as the organization's president in the 1820s. In 1834, he donated a lot at the corner of Green and South Ferry Streets in Albany for construction of the Third Reformed Church. For many years, Van Rensselaer was a member of the Albany Bible Society, and he served on its board of managers. He was also active on

177-649: A distant cousin and the daughter of Revolutionary War general Philip Schuyler , and sister-in-law of Alexander Hamilton . Their marriage resulted in three children, all of whom were baptized at the First Dutch Reformed Church in Albany. Only one of their children survived to adulthood: After Schuyler's death in 1801, in 1802 Van Rensselaer married Cornelia Bell Paterson, the daughter of William Paterson . Together, they had: Van Rensselaer died in New York City on January 26, 1839. He

236-638: A favorable payment schedule from the heirs, and could not obtain relief in the courts, so they revolted. The first mass meeting of tenant farmers leading to the Anti-Rent War was held at the top of the Helderberg mountains in Berne, New York on July 4, 1839. They issued a declaration of independence, promising: "We will take up the ball of the Revolution where our fathers stopped it and roll it to

295-484: A long tenure as lord of the manor. Van Rensselaer desired to profit from the land, but was extremely reluctant to sell it off. Instead, he developed the land by granting perpetual leases at moderate rates; Van Rensselaer derived a steady rental income from his property, while tenants were able to become successful farmers without having to pay a large purchase price up front. This meant that they could invest more in their operations, which led to increased productivity in

354-643: A major defeat. He was unable to secure the element of surprise, he did not procure enough boats for his men to cross the Niagara River easily, and he was even unable to supply his soldiers with sufficient ammunition. Despite significantly outnumbering the British in the early stages of the battle, the American soldiers, untried and untrained, sometimes refused to cross to the Canadian side of the river. Once

413-682: A majority of the New York delegation; winning New York gave Adams 13 states in the House vote, to seven for Jackson and four for Crawford. In 1786, Van Rensselaer was appointed a major in the Albany County Regiment of the New York Militia . He became commander of the regiment two years later as a lieutenant colonel , and was subsequently promoted to colonel . In 1801 he was promoted to major general as commander of

472-484: A makeshift jail. Earle and two others were sentenced to life in prison. Several others received lesser prison sentences. Governor Young later commuted the death sentences to life in prison. At least seven men including Earle were sent to Dannemora just as the prison opened in 1845. The New York Constitution of 1846 added provisions for tenants' rights, abolishing feudal tenures and outlawing leases lasting longer than twelve years. The remaining manors dissolved quickly as

531-495: A mental health facility, the Dannemora State Hospital, was built on the grounds to house prisoners who became insane while serving their sentences. Such prisoners were retained in the facility if they remained insane following the completion of their sentences. In 1929, Clinton Correctional was the site of a riot . Coupled with riots in other prisons in that year, it led to prison reform in New York. Included

590-460: A militia officer. With some of his officers planning to try and force him from command, Van Rensselaer decided to act without Smyth. On October 13, 1812, Van Rensselaer launched an attack on the British position that would evolve into the Battle of Queenston Heights . Though initially successful, Van Rensselaer's inadequate preparations and his plan of attack were clearly main reasons for what became

649-527: A reputation as something of a reformer, voting in favor of extending suffrage and going against much of New York's upper class in doing so. In 1801, Van Rensselaer presided over the state constitutional convention , was the Federalist nominee for Governor of New York , and lost to George Clinton , 24,808 votes to 20,843. He was one of the first to advocate for a canal from the Hudson River to

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708-411: A sheriff's sale after Earle was unable to pay his rent. The incident occurred on August 7, 1845, and the rent was to be paid by auctioning off Earle's livestock, which included six cows and eight pigs. The day following the murder, a panel of judges met every day for a month, except on Sundays. A state of insurrection was declared by the governor for the county, and 248 people were rounded up and jailed in

767-539: A way to remove Van Rensselaer from the campaign by offering him command of the Army of the Centre—U.S. militia and regular Army troops massing in upstate New York for an invasion of Canada. If Van Rensselaer declined a military leadership role during a time of war, he would lose esteem in the eyes of the voters. If he accepted, he would likely be unable to run for governor. Van Rensselaer accepted; despite having held high rank in

826-589: Is sometimes colloquially referred to as Dannemora (having once served as a massive insane asylum named Dannemora State Hospital for the Criminally Insane), although its name is derived from its location in Clinton County, New York . The southern perimeter wall of the prison borders New York State Route 374 . Church of St. Dismas, the Good Thief , a church built by inmates, is located within

885-708: The Albany Institute of History & Art . He was also active in the American Lyceum organization, and served as its president. When the New York Life Insurance and Trust Company received its corporate charter from the State of New York in 1830, Van Rensselaer was an original incorporator, and he went on to serve as a member of the company's board of directors. New York Life Insurance and Trust operated until 1922, when it merged with

944-728: The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions , and served as vice president. Van Rensselaer was an active Mason beginning early in his adulthood; from 1825 to 1829 he served as the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York . His leadership of the statewide organization coincided with the rise of the Anti-Masonic Party in Western New York , and Van Rensselaer forged an alliance with

1003-685: The Bank of New York to become the Bank of New York & Trust Company. Following the 1834 death in France of the Marquis de Lafayette , Van Rensselaer was appointed marshal for the Albany-area commemorations. He led the parade of militia members, fire fighters, Revolutionary War veterans and others, which culminated in speeches and a eulogy by William Buell Sprague . Van Rensselaer was elected one of

1062-728: The Democrats of the Albany Regency led by Martin Van Buren and Enos T. Throop as a way to blunt the political influence of the Anti-Masons. Several members of Van Rensselaer's extended family served in Congress including Jeremiah Van Rensselaer (1741–1810), Killian K. Van Rensselaer (1763–1845), and Solomon Van Rensselaer (1774–1852). In June 1783, Van Rensselaer married Margarita "Peggy" Schuyler (1758–1801),

1121-672: The Dutch Republic born in Massachit or Leukwaken when the region was part of the colony of New Netherland . His mother was Catharina Livingston, daughter of Philip Livingston , a signer of the Declaration of Independence . His family was very wealthy, and the Van Rensselaer Manor House was a rich childhood environment for the young boy to grow up in. However, his father died in 1769 when Van Rensselaer

1180-578: The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Alumni Hall of Fame inducted Van Rensselaer as a member. (*) elected but declined; (**) elected but died before taking office Clinton Correctional Facility Clinton Correctional Facility is a New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision maximum security state prison for men located in the Village of Dannemora , New York . The prison

1239-542: The Seventeenth , Eighteenth , Nineteenth , and Twentieth Congresses ; during the last three sessions, he was the chairman of the Committee on Agriculture. In 1825 Van Rensselaer cast the vote that likely decided the presidential election in favor of John Quincy Adams . Because none of the four candidates received a majority of electoral votes in the 1824 presidential election , the U.S. House had to choose from

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1298-922: The Great Lakes and was appointed to a commission to investigate the route in 1810, reporting favorably to the Assembly in 1811. Van Rensselaer served on the Erie Canal Commission for 23 years (1816–1839), fourteen of which he served as its president. In 1821, he was a member of the New York State Constitutional Convention . In 1822, he won the special election for the seat in the House of Representatives from which his cousin Solomon had resigned. He served from February 27, 1822, to March 3, 1829, during

1357-708: The application of science to the common purposes of life". Since its founding, RPI has developed a reputation for academic excellence, particularly in the field of engineering. From 1829 to 1839, Van Rensselaer served as a member of the Rutgers College board of trustees. Van Rensselaer was long active in the Dutch Reformed Church; he served several terms as a deacon and elder of the First Reformed Church in Albany, and attended numerous synod meetings and similar gatherings as

1416-399: The area. Over time, Van Rensselaer became landlord to more than 80,000 tenants. He generally proved to be a lenient landlord; he accepted produce such as grain and firewood in place of cash for rent payments, and when tenants found themselves in financial difficulty, he usually preferred to accept late or partial payments rather than evict them. One facet of the leases Van Rensselaer granted

1475-594: The break up and sale of the manor. As the heir to and then owner of one of the largest estates in New York , Van Rensselaer's holdings made him the tenth richest American of all time, based on the ratio of his fortune to contemporary GDP . Van Rensselaer was born in New York City, the eldest child of Stephen van Rensselaer II , the ninth patroon of Rensselaerswyck , a large land grant in Upstate New York awarded to his ancestor Kiliaen Van Rensselaer by

1534-583: The canal's surroundings, at his own expense. He also held many significant posts after the war. In 1820, he was elected president of the state Board of Agriculture. Also in 1820, he was an incorporator of the Albany Savings Bank, and was elected to serve as the bank's president. In 1824, Van Rensselaer was one of the organizers of the Albany Institute, and was elected its president. This organization later merged with another to form

1593-571: The city's Institute of History & Arts. Long active in the militia, Van Rensselaer attained the rank of major general ; he commanded troops on the New York–Canada border during the War of 1812 , but resigned his commission after defeat at the Battle of Queenston Heights . After Van Rensselaer's 1839 death, efforts by his sons to collect past due lease payments led to the Anti-Rent War , and

1652-540: The conclusion of the trial, one defendant, Smith A. Boughton, was sentenced to life imprisonment. After the election of John Young as governor with the support of the Anti-Renters, he pardoned Boughton. John Van Steenburgh and Edward O'Connor were sentenced to death by hanging for their involvement in the shooting of Undersheriff Osman Steele, an incident that took place at Moses Earle's farm in Andes, New York during

1711-571: The creation of the Antirenter Party, which had a strong influence on New York State politics from 1846 to 1851. Newly elected governor Silas Wright moved in 1845 to stamp out the Calico Indians, and pushed for a law which outlawed disguises. Trials of leaders of the revolt, charged with riot, conspiracy and robbery, were held in 1845 with Amasa J. Parker presiding. Attorneys included Ambrose L. Jordan , as leading counsel for

1770-459: The defense, and John Van Buren , the state attorney general, who personally conducted the prosecution. At the first trial, the jury came to no conclusion and Parker declared a mistrial. During a re-trial in September 1845, the two attorneys started a fistfight in open court. Both were sentenced by the presiding judge, John W. Edmonds , to "solitary confinement in the county jail for 24 hours." At

1829-444: The facility . Two prison employees, Joyce Mitchell and Gene Palmer, were charged with aiding the escape. During the search, on June 26, Matt was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent in the town of Malone, New York . Two days later, Sweat was shot by New York state trooper Jay Cook, and subsequently captured. In the days after the escape, some prisoners reported having been beaten by guards in an attempt to obtain information as to

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1888-435: The final consummation of freedom and independence of the masses." Among their tactics was the rent strike, with tenants refusing to pay on their leases unless Van Rensselaer's heirs and the other patroons agreed to a negotiated settlement. In December 1839 the Anti-Renters repulsed a 500-man posse led by Albany County sheriff Michael Artcher and including William Marcy and John Van Buren . Governor William Seward threatened

1947-560: The first president of the school's board of trustees. Van Rensselaer was a member of the University of the State of New York Board of Regents from 1819 to 1839, and from 1835 to 1839 he was the board's chancellor. In 1824 Van Rensselaer and Amos Eaton established the Rensselaer School (now known as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute , or RPI) "for the purpose of instructing persons, who may choose to apply themselves, in

2006-465: The first prisoner was executed in the electric chair at the prison. Twenty-six men were executed between 1892 and 1913. This period also had many prisoners cured of tuberculosis , due in part to the clean air in the Adirondacks . As at the time antibiotics were not available to treat the frequently fatal disease, prisoners diagnosed with it were frequently transferred from other prisons. In 1899,

2065-519: The form of goods and services in lieu of cash, allow rents to accumulate, or accept partial payment rather than evict them. However, his leases also included a "quarter-sale" provision, which required tenants who sold their leases to pay Van Rensselaer one fourth of the sale price or one additional year's rent. The patroons owned all the land on which the tenants in the Hudson Valley lived, and used this feudal lease system to maintain control of

2124-569: The land by encouraging tenants to settle it and granting them perpetual leases at moderate rates, which enabled the tenants to use more of their capital to make their farms and businesses productive. Active in politics as a Federalist , Van Rensselaer served in the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate , and as the lieutenant governor of New York . After the demise of the Federalist Party, Van Rensselaer

2183-501: The members of the Williams College Corporation in 1794. In 1812, Van Rensselaer took part in the incorporation of Albany's Lancaster School, an institution dedicated to providing an education for children whose parents could not afford to send them to school, and he served on the school's board of trustees. In 1813, Van Rensselaer was one of the organizers of The Albany Academy , and was chosen to serve as

2242-527: The militia and was the senior major general in the state at the time of his death. Despite his military setback, Van Rensselaer was still the Federalist candidate for governor in April 1813; he lost to Tompkins 43,324 votes to 39,713. After the war, Van Rensselaer continued his service on the Erie Canal Commission, and between 1820 and 1823 commissioned an agricultural and geological survey of

2301-657: The militia, he was largely inexperienced at leading large bodies of troops. As a condition of his acceptance, his cousin Solomon , who had more military experience, was appointed his aide-de-camp . But the Army of the Centre consisted largely of untrained, inexperienced militiamen; under the Constitution , which stressed that the role of the militia was to enforce laws, prevent insurrection, and repel invasion, they did not have to cross into Canada to fight. The British were in

2360-405: The patroons sold off the lands. Stephen Van Rensselaer III Stephen Van Rensselaer III ( / ˈ r ɛ n s l ər , - s l ɪər / ; November 1, 1764 – January 26, 1839) was an American landowner, businessman, militia officer, and politician. A graduate of Harvard College , at age 21, Van Rensselaer took control of Rensselaerswyck , his family's manor. He developed

2419-408: The prison originally served as a site where prisoners were used to supply labor to local mines in both Dannemora and nearby Lyon Mountain . This enterprise was not profitable, and by 1877, mining had ended with the prisoners being put to work on other trades. As the population grew and more prisoners were housed there, in 1887, authorities had new 60-foot-high walls built, which still stand. In 1892,

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2478-523: The process of fortifying the Queenston Heights that Van Rensselaer would have to attack, and his officers were itching for action despite their general's desire to delay until his troops were better trained and organized. To make matters worse, Brigadier General Alexander Smyth , Van Rensselaer's subordinate, had a large force of regular Army troops that was theoretically under Van Rensselaer's command, but Smyth refused to subordinate himself to

2537-629: The rebels with 700 militiamen and obtained their surrender. However, an insurrection continued to smolder. Disguised "Calico Indians" resisted eviction, tax collection, and law enforcement, sometimes tarring and feathering their enemies. The conflict gained the support of somewhere between 25,000 and 60,000 of the approximately 300,000 tenants in the patroon system. In January 1845, one hundred and fifty delegates from eleven counties assembled at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Berne to call for political action to redress their grievances. The Anti-Rent War led to

2596-458: The region. When he died, his wealth had been reduced in the economic downturn known as the Panic of 1837 , so Van Rensselaer's will directed his heirs to collect outstanding rents and quarter-sale payments to apply to his estate's debts. When the heirs attempted to collect, tenants who believed their debts would be forgiven at Van Renselaer's death could not pay the amounts demanded, could not secure

2655-759: The state were freed by 1827. Van Rensselaer later became an advocate of enabling African Americans to emigrate to colonies in Africa, such as Liberia , and he served as a vice president of the Albany Auxiliary Society and the American Colonization Society . In 1791, Van Rensselaer was one of the incorporators of the Albany Library, which evolved over time into the Albany Public Library , and he

2714-463: The state militia's cavalry division. Van Rensselaer's militia experience led to an appointment to command troops during the War of 1812 . When war was declared on Great Britain in June 1812, Van Rensselaer was a leading Federalist candidate for Governor of New York . Democratic-Republican Party leaders, including President James Madison and incumbent New York Governor Daniel D. Tompkins , devised

2773-424: The tide of the battle turned, Van Rensselaer was not even able to coax the boatmen into going back over to rescue the doomed attack force. His forces were badly beaten by British troops under generals Isaac Brock and, after Brock's death, Roger Hale Sheaffe . The defeat at Queenston Heights spelled the end to Van Rensselaer's active military career; after the battle, he resigned his post. He continued to serve in

2832-606: The top ten of the richest individuals in United States history. By one measure, his fortune would be worth approximately $ 150 billion in 2022. The town of Stephentown, New York is named for Stephen Van Rensselaer. In 1791, Van Rensselaer was elected as an honorary member of the New York Society of the Cincinnati . In 1822, he received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Yale University . In 1998,

2891-416: The top three finishers—Adams, Andrew Jackson , and William H. Crawford . House members voted first individually by state, and then each state cast one ballot for the candidate who received a majority of the state's House delegation; a candidate had to carry 13 state delegations to win the election. Van Rensselaer had intended to vote for Crawford, but changed his mind and voted for Adams. His vote gave Adams

2950-514: The walls. The prison is sometimes referred to as New York's Little Siberia , due to the cold winters in Dannemora and the isolation of the upstate area. It is the largest maximum-security prison and the third-oldest prison in New York. The staff includes about 1,000 officers and supervisors. In the post- Furman v. Georgia period and prior to the 2007 repeal of the death penalty, it housed New York State's death row for men. Built in 1844,

3009-442: Was John Eliot Thayer (1862–1933), an amateur ornithologist . His great-granddaughter, Cornelia Van Rensselaer Thayer (1849–1903) married J. Hampden Robb (1846–1911), a New York State Senator , in 1868. Their daughter—Van Rensselaer's 2× great-granddaughter, Cornelia Van Rensselaer Thayer (b. 1881)—married Danish Count Carl Moltke (1869–1935) in 1907. Through his great-grandson, Stephen Van Rensselaer Crosby (1868–1959), he

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3068-416: Was a John Quincy Adams supporter and served in the United States House of Representatives for one partial term and three full ones. Van Rensselaer was a supporter of higher education; he served on the board of trustees for several schools and colleges and was the founder of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute . He was also a civic activist and philanthropist and was a founder of Albany's public library and

3127-404: Was buried in a family cemetery at the Van Rensselaer Manor House, and was later reinterred at Albany Rural Cemetery , Section 14, Lot 1. His granddaughter, Justine Van Rensselaer (1828–1912), married Dr. Howard Townsend , a noted physician at Albany Medical College . His grandson, Stephen Van Rensselaer Cruger married Julia Grinnell Storrow , a popular American novelist. His great-grandson

3186-474: Was chosen to serve on the board of trustees. In 1797, Van Rensselaer was an organizer of the Albany and Schenectady Turnpike Company, and served on its board of directors. A Federalist , Van Rensselaer was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1789 to 1791, and the New York State Senate from 1791 to 1796. He was Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1795 to 1801, elected with Governor John Jay . Van Rensselaer, over his time in politics, acquired

3245-460: Was only five. He grew up with the men on his maternal side and became very interested in the sciences such as mathematics, biology and chemistry. Van Rensselaer was raised by his mother and stepfather, the Rev. Eilardus Westerlo , whom his mother married in 1775, and his Livingston grandfather. His uncle, Abraham Ten Broeck , administered the Van Rensselaer estate after the untimely death of Van Rensselaer's father. From an early age, Van Rensselaer

3304-607: Was raised to succeed his father as lord of the manor. Stephen's younger brother Philip S. Van Rensselaer (1767–1824), later served as Mayor of Albany from 1799 to 1816 and again from 1819 to 1820. Van Rensselaer began attending the College of New Jersey (later Princeton); since it was near to battles of the ongoing American Revolution , he was later sent to Harvard College , from which he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with an A.B. degree in 1782. On his 21st birthday, Van Rensselaer took possession of Rensselaerswyck , his family's 1,200 square mile (3,072 km ) estate, and began

3363-513: Was the "quarter-sale"—tenants who sold their leases were required to pay Van Rensselaer one fourth of the sale price or one additional year's rent. Over time, this requirement became a point of contention between Van Rensselaer and the tenants, which in part led to the Anti-Rent War . In the 1790 United States census , it was recorded that he owned fifteen slaves . By the time of the 1830 census , he had none, in keeping with New York's gradual emancipation law, under which all enslaved people in

3422-516: Was the 2× great-grandfather of Henry Sturgis Crosby (1898–1929), a bon vivant, poet, and publisher who for some epitomized the Lost Generation in American literature, who was married to Mary Phelps Jacob (1891–1970). Through his son Henry Bell Van Rensselaer and Henry's granddaughter Julia Floyd Delafield , Stephen Van Rensselaer was the great-great-grandfather of Floyd Crosby (1899–1985) and great-great-great-grandfather of David Crosby and Jane Wyatt . Van Rensselaer can be counted among

3481-589: Was the construction of schools in the prison and the renovation or rebuilding of most of the structures within the prison walls to update the facilities to modern standards. The Church of St. Dismas, the Good Thief was built from 1939 to 1941. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 as a significant structure. In the later half of the 20th century, the prison's mental institutions closed and were converted into an annex to house more prisoners. On June 6, 2015, inmates Richard Matt and David Sweat, both serving sentences for murder, escaped from

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