Municipal Archives and Library collections are justifiably renowned for their value in documenting the history of New York City. Generations of researchers exploring the events and decisions that shaped the city have been rewarded with rich resources, often in great abundance. Mayoral correspondence, and proceedings and records of the legislative bodies are just two examples of materials that illuminate broad topics in New York City and American urban history. Other collections, such as the Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park drawings, building permits, tax assessments, and the administrative records of Parks, Health, Education, and dozens of other municipal departments all contribute to answering the “how” and “why” questions about City history.
Sarah Campion, Deposition, 1825. Police Court Collection, NYC Municipal Archives.
Equally important, however, are records that tell us about the people of the city, not just the property-owning classes, political leaders, or its wealthier residents. Census and vital records provide basic facts. But are there records depicting life in New York City one hundred, or even two hundred years ago?
Yes there are, and of all the collections that illustrate daily life, some of the most useful sources are the several series pertaining to the administration of criminal justice. For many New Yorkers, their interactions with municipal government that took place in a criminal context may be the only evidence of their existence and provide details of their lives not otherwise known.
Depositions drawn from these judicial records give us a snapshot of the City during the first weeks of April, 1825.
“Mark Wiley… being examined says he is 19 years of age, has no place to live at present, got out of employment three weeks since, did steal the clothing with the intention to wear [the items] …”
Conrad Brinkman, Deposition, 1825. Police Court Collection, NYC Municipal Archives.
This deposition is recorded in the complaint of two women who resided at 259 Duane Street. On April 2, 1825, Catharine Carman stated that “Mark Wiley . . . stole one pair pantaloons of the value one dollar and cotton drawers of the value of two dollars.” On the same day, Sarah Campion, also of 259 Duane Street, added her complaint, stating that Mark Wiley stole two pair stockings, one flannel shirt and three cotton shirts.
The facts of this case can be found in containers labeled simply “Police Court.” The 20 cubic feet in the series date from 1807 to 1830. The Police Court, however, did not come into existence until 1848. Furthermore, many of the documents in the series consist of printed forms that state the defendant, “... may be bound by recognizance to be of good behavior, and keep the peace, and to answer for the above assault, etc. at the next Court of General Sessions of the Peace.” Further research will be necessary, but it is likely that City archivists will refine the collection description to more accurately reflect its provenance.
Returning to the “Police Court” records from the first days of April 1825, we find Conrad Brinkman’s deposition from April 11, 1825. Mr. Brinkman, of 151 Leonard Street says the house adjoining his residence at 151 Leonard Street, is a disorderly house, kept by Mrs. Parks, “...where black and white men and boys come at all hours of the night cursing and swearing using all kinds of indecent language so as to disturb the peace and good order of society.”
Perhaps less dramatic, but alive with detail, is the deposition of Daniel H. Carpenter. According to his statement taken on April 4, 1825, Carpenter said that he is “19 years of age, is a shoemaker by trade, has been in the city since November last.” His parents live in Pleasant Valley and he boards at no. 33 Suffolk Street. He admitted that he went into Mr. Edward Windusts’ shop and ate oysters with the spoon that he is charged with stealing. The description of the crime is a little unclear, but it seems that Carpenter pocketed the spoon after finishing the oysters and when he realized he was being pursued he threw the spoon over a fence.
William Land, Deposition, 1825. Police Court Collection, NYC Municipal Archives.
A description of early labor activism comes from the April 12, 1825, testimony of William Land. According to the 1825 Longworth’s City Directory, Land was a tailor, residing at 43 Dey Street. Land stated Alexander Brown, and several others from the “Society of Tailors” threatened to assault him if he refused to join them “for the purpose of raising the wages of journeymen tailors.”
Joseph H. Raynor, Deposition, 1825. Police Court Collection, NYC Municipal Archives.
The folder of documents from the first two weeks of April also includes two dozen cases of assault and battery. Joseph H. Raynor, of 47 Arundel Street accused his master, Solomon Fanning of Catherine Street, a cabinet-maker, with beating him without “sufficient” justification. It is likely that Raynor had been apprenticed to Fanning. The case was dismissed.
Laurence Fitzgerald, Deposition, 1825. Police Court Collection, NYC Municipal Archives.
Several of the assault and battery charges involved husbands and wives. Laurence Fitzgerald of no. 13 Torbert Street, a carpenter, stated that he was “violently assaulted and beaten by Elizabeth Fitzgerald his wife who was in the habit of getting intoxicated and beating him.” Ellen Wilson, a Black, of no. 55 Henry Street deposed that her husband James Wilson knocked her down and kicked her.
Felix Duponchet, Deposition, 1825. Police Court Collection, NYC Municipal Archives.
And then there is Felix Duponchet. A resident of no. 11 Gold Street, Duponchet swore that on the first day of April 1825, at the Second Ward of the City of New York… he was violently assaulted and beaten by Charles Duval a fencing teacher, at the corner of Greenwich and Courtland Streets without any justification on the part of the said assailant…”
Jury conviction, John McKeeb, Police Court Collection, NYC Municipal Archives.
Records pertaining to felony prosecutions, e.g. docket books, minutes of court sessions, case file documents, etc. have been described and preserved in the Municipal Archives. Researching the felony prosecution files for the first days of April 1825 reveals several prosecutions for petit larceny, such as the conviction of John McKeeb, a laborer, for stealing “one cheese of the value of two dollars.”
News article regarding Eliza Hughes from the Evening Post, 1825. Police Court Collection, NYC Municipal Archives.
In another case, Eliza Hughes was indicted for false pretenses. A newspaper article appended to the case file helps clarify Hughes’ scheme and the charges.
The case file for Unity Gallagher records that she was a “spinster not having the fear of God before her eyes, but moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil,” to murder John Gallagher. She plead ‘not guilty’ on April 7, 1825.
The many series pertaining to the administration of criminal justice in the Municipal Archives span almost four centuries. They are complex and reflect the ever-changing evolution of the court system. Municipal archivists will continue to evaluate and refine information about the collections. In the meantime, researchers are invited to explore the collections and may find out about violent “fencing teachers” and nascent labor activists in the garment industry.
