Saturday, March 30, 2024

April Fool Me Once? Shame On You!

 The April Fools’ Day article is a fond tradition here at Schuyler Mansion, with topics ranging from non-factual but plausible tales of Philip Schuyler as a composer or Rensselaer Schuyler’s fancy mask store, to outrageous claims that Philip Schuyler fought armored dinosaurs in a wickerwork battle-mech. Each one was a bit of harmless fun had at the expense of historical solemnity… or so we thought. It turns out, however, that every one of these posts has been in direct violation of a longstanding Albany city ordinance specifically prohibiting the celebration of April Fools’ Day!

Yes, you read that right- April Fools’ Day is illegal in the city of Albany, and it has been since 1745. Specifically, “It shall be unlawful for any person residing within the city of Albany to willfully engage in any prank, jape, sporting deceit, or aggravated punning on or about the 1st day of April, commonly named April Fooles [sic].”

While it might sound strange that a law made before our nation even officially existed still holds authority in 2024, New York State’s 1777 constitution, “determined that the common law of England would be the law of New York State unless altered by the legislature.” [1] Careful review by the site’s legal counsel, Odrin DeCorte , has determined that, as this specific ordinance was never repealed by the NYS legislature or the City of Albany, it is still in effect. As a result, there will be no more April Fools’ Day posts from Schuyler Mansion.

“I will be sad to see the April Fools’ posts go,” said Ian Mumpton, Historic Site Assistant at the museum. “Our goal has been to bring some humor to our work while highlighting the importance of reading historical anecdotes with a critical eye. But until the city amends this ordinance, we will abide by the law. No more bacon-wrapped eels on the barbeque; no more wily groundhogs.”[2] 

But why did our forefathers decide to ban April Fools’ Day? After all, pranks were already a longstanding tradition in the Dutch New Netherlands colony of the 17th century. [3]  Alas, while the Dutch-descended colonists of the Albany area may not have been quite so dour as their New England neighbors, litigation over minor issues was an equally longstanding (if not even more ancient) tradition, with colonists seeking legal and judicial redress for everything from property lines to slander over vaguely familiar pork.[4]  Research by site staff indicates that the impetus for this prohibition came from a prank so disruptive and alarming that the leading citizenry saw no other recourse but to prohibit the holiday altogether.

Abraham Ten Broeck by Thomas McIlworth; 1763

Ironically, the persons responsible for this prank was none other than our very own Philip Schuyler, then age twelve, and his lifelong friend, Abraham Ten Broeck, then age eleven. 

It is difficult to say exactly what happened on April 1st, 1745. The first reference to the situation comes from the minutes of the Court of Albany two days after the event took place. For all its ambiguity it is a fascinating document, worthy to be quoted in full:

3 April, 1745, Albany

The council having been fully aprised [sic] of the aforementioned[5] reckless, deceptive, and dangerous Acts perpetrated by the defendants -- Ph. Schuyler and Abraham Ten Broeck, young men of this Place -- on the First of April or Fooles Day –

Firstly, the aforesaid young men to make Publick  [sic] apology and their families to financially renumerate the merchants so afflicted in accordance with all documentable damages.

Secondly their families also to make payment to divers [sic] other Residents of the city of Albany and its environs for the distress caused to the inhabitants, travelers, poultry, and especialy to Dr. Honeydau and Mr. Bieker—the amounts in question to be determined by this court upon review of sworn affidavits from the afflicted. Addendum- As Mr. Bieker is no longer able to speak, he shall give affidavit by making his mark to Dr. Honeydau’s affidavit.

Thirdly, that The Widow Schuyler and Dirk Ten Broeck, parents of the aforesaid yout[h]s do swear before the court to instill in these young men a greater sense of Decorum and Pious humility, that they might be turned back from the insipient and wasteful paths upon which they currently have laid their lives [sic] courses.

Fourthly, the city council, seeing the Full and Undesirable Impact of the Holyday [sic] such as folk call it, to pass an act forbidding all Puns, Japes, Deceits, or other Prankings on the First day of April, which practices cannot be tolerated in a place where Justice prevails. The wording to be determined and passed without delay.

Present:

David Goltz                       Richard Hunter                Franklin Ouss

James Hanson                  Jeremy Nielson                 Gerald Jewel


Madame de la Tour du Pin Gouvernet

While we may never know the details of what these two young men got up to that caused such an extreme reaction from their community, we do know that Schuyler and Ten Broeck never seem to have forgotten the adventure. In her memoirs, French aristocrat and friend of the Schuylers, Madame de la Tour du Pin[MI(4] , describes an interaction at the dining table with Philip Schuyler and Abraham Ten Broeck:

We dined that night with General Schuyler and his charming family, and well as his dear friend General Ten Broeck, with whom General Schuyler had been acquainted from the cradle, and in whose company the staid gentleman had passed the wild days of youth. We also had the pleasure of the company of Captain l’Ours-Poilu and Mademoiselle Cochon, both just arrived from France. At the table, the young lady, being of that age at which impertinence and curiosity join as allies, made enquiry about a certain misadventure she had heard referred to by a gentleman of the town, involving the two Generals in their youth. Where others might have taken displeasure at the question, General Schuyler laughed and called it an excess of youthful mischief, partaken in freely and just as freely left behind. General Ten Broeck, however, indicated that he was glad to have had the lesson of it at such a young age, to be less inclined to follow directives given solely on grounds of seniority.

 

With this in mind, we at Schuyler Mansion would like to offer mellow greetings on this first day of April. May your day be filled with beige sincerity, uninspired credibility, and a complete lack of the outrageous.


[1] Liebman, B. (2020). The Common Law Powers of the New York State Attorney General. Legislation and Public Policy, 23:95, 95-158. Retrieved from https://nyujlpp.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/JLPP-23.1-Liebman-Final.pdf

[2] Mumpton, I. (2024). April Fool Me Once? Shame On You!. NYS-OPRHP. Albany NY: Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site.

[5] Presumed to be a reference to a missing page covering the dates of April 1st and 2nd.


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