History

Town Histories:

• Berne History
• Knox History
• Rensselaerville History
• Westerlo History

General historic references for the Hilltowns:

• 1869 Harper's New Monthly Magazine - The Helderbergs - 16 page article
• History of the County of Albany
• Altamont Enterprise
• Settlement above the Helderberg Escarpment
• Rensselaerwyck
• Tin Horns and Calico

General History Topics

Slavery

New York state laws regarding Negro Slavery.

• The emancipation of slaves by the Quakers was legalized in 1798. At that date there were still about 33,000 slaves in the state.
• On March 29, 1799, an act was passed for the gradual abolition of slavery in New York. Any child

born of a slave after July 4th was to be free at the age of 25 if a girl and 28 if a boy.

• In 1817 an act was passed providing for the emancipation of all slaves in 1827 — 36 years before National Emancipation.

Altamont Enterprise, 8 May 1953