Text from William Wade Text from William Wade
Five miles north from Kinderhook Landing is the village of New Baltimore, a place of
considerable trades containing about fifty dwellings and four hundred inhabitants. Thence
to Coeyman's on the west side of the river, is a distance of some two miles. The town,
which is at the junction of Coeyman's creek with the Hudson, and contains one hundred and
fifty dwellings, is chiefly remarkable for its proximity to Barren Island. 'This place,
the southern boundary of the ancient colony or manor of Renssalaerwyck, was fortified and
garrisoned by one of the early Patroons in 1644. As the port of the colony, all traders
were here obliged to stop and learn the terms on which they might proceed. It completely
commands the channel of the river, and was well settled for the purpose to which its
old-fashioned owner applied it. Castleton, four miles, and the Overslaugh, three miles
from Albany, mark a number of bars or flats which have. much impeded the navigation. The
attention of the general government has recently been directed to their removal.