The following short news items about Hudson River steamboats were originally published in newspapers in 1809 and 1810.
The first commercially successful steamboat to travel to Albany was Robert Fulton’s North River Steamboat (often colloquially called the Clermont), which made its maiden voyage in August 1807. It departed the city of New York on August 17 and arrived in Albany roughly 32 hours later, proving the viability of steam-powered commercial vessels.
Sept. 26, 1809: The Balance, and Columbian Repository, Hudson, NY
On Saturday three steam boats came up the Hudson together, the old North River Steam Boat, and the new Car of Neptune belonging to Messrs. [Chancellor Robert R.] Livingston and [Robert] Fulton, of Clermont, [Columbia County, NY] and the Rariton [sometimes spelled Raritan], owned by Mr. J. R. Livingston [John R. Livingston, the brother of Chancellor Livingston]. The old boat continued her course as usual, the new boat (Car of Neptune, Capt. [John] Roorbach) goes to Albany, to start from there on Saturday next, and the Rariton returned to New-York.
Dec. 7, 1809: The New-York Evening Post, New York, NY
Steam Boats Defeated and Stages Revived. Winter Establishment.
Passengers take notice. The New York and Albany Mail Stage will commence running on Sunday, 10th December, on the east side of Hudson River, every day, to start on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, at 10 o’clock, and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, at 12 o’clock, and arrive in Albany in 37 hours.
The proprietors have furnished themselves with excellent horses, carriages and careful drivers. N.B. [Nota Bene, a Latin phrase meaning note well] 14 pounds of baggage allowed to each passenger, and one hundred lb to pay the same as a passenger, all goods and baggage at the risk of the owners.
[Signed] REYNOLDS, HUNT & Co. For seats in the above Stage, apply to [booking agent] John Puffer, No. 5 Courtlandt Street.
[Reynolds, Hunt & Co. was a 19th-century stagecoach company that operated primarily in Connecticut and New York. The firm was a partnership involving David Hunt and Timothy and Harry Reynolds.]
Mar. 26, 1810: The Balance, and Columbian Repository, Hudson, NY
The Steam-boat Car of Neptune arrived yesterday from Albany, in 26 hours, with 70 passengers. She made her passage up in 34 hours. She left here on Wednesday afternoon, at 5 o’clock, and was back again on Sunday morning at 11, having been absent less than four days — the shortest trip, we expect, ever made to Albany and back.
April 16, 1810: New-York Evening Post, New York, NY
The Steam Boat Car of Neptune arrived yesterday in 26 hours from Albany with between 60 and 70 passengers
June 7, 1810: The Balance, and Columbian Repository, Hudson, NY
These articles and illustrations were located and transcribed by Hudson River Maritime Museum volunteer researcher George A. Thompson and annotated by John Warren.
Read more about New York Steamboat History.
Photo above: The 1909 replica of the North River Steamboat (Clermont) at anchor.
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