Andrew Abel

Andrew Abel was born in Hanover, Germany about 1745. By 1768, he had emigrated to America and was living in Albany. That September, his account for services was paid by the city government.

In September 1770, he was appointed constable for the third ward. A decade later, he would serve as a firemaster.

In August 1771, he married Anna Marshall at the Albany Dutch church. By 1792, nine children had been christened in his Albany church.

In October 1773, he examined by the Albany council in a voter eligibility case. From his testimony, we learn that "he was born in Hanover, that he has voted before for Aldermen and that he has also served for the City as Constable; that he taken the Oaths Alegiance &c. and has lived 20 years in this Country and that he never was out of America; that he has served his time at Jacob Groesbeck's for the trade as a Shoemaker." However, he was among a number of foreign-born residents whose votes were disqualified.

In March 1779, his second ward house and lot were valued on city assessment rolls.

In 1781, he was identified as a cordwainer when his name appeared on a list of non natives who had purchased the "freedom of the city."

We seek information on his wartime service. Afterwards, he was granted a land bounty right in conjunction with the Albany militia regiment.

In 1790, his household was configured on the census for adjoining Watervliet. He also owned or co-owned land in the North End of Albany.

Andrew Abel died in October 1795 and was buried in the Dutch church plot. He had lived only forty-eight years. His widow remained in her 10 Orange Street home until her death in 1828.

Sources: The life of Andrew Abel is CAP biography number 7068. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. These Abels are distinct from the New Netherland-ancestry Abeel family. Abel family information and reference to a family bible appears online.