Jacob Bleecker, Jr.

Jacob/James Bleecker, Jr. was born in October 1755. He was the son of John R. and Elizabeth Staats Bleecker. He grew up in a large family in the Pearl Street home of an Albany mainstay. His godfather, an older "Jacob Bleecker, Jr.", perhaps lived in close proximity to this individual.

Coming of age during the war years, we expect to be able to further document his service activities. From November 1775 and into 1778, he was elected to represent the second ward on the Albany Committee of Correspondence. In Afterwards, he was accorded a land bounty right in conjunction with the Albany militia regiment.

Beginning in 1770, his accounts were paid from the city treasury. In 1778, he was appointed firemaster for the second ward.

In 1779, his house and property were first valued on city assessment rolls. In 1788, his second ward home and property were valued substantially. He owned a number of lots in the second ward as well.

In November 1782, he married Albany native Rachel Van Zandt at the Albany Dutch church. By 1790, four children had been christened in Albany.

Census returns for 1790 and 1800 configured his Pearl Street household nearby other Bleecker kin. His household included four slaves whom he freed after 1800 as in 1810, four free persons of color were living in his widow's household.

In March 1792, this now middle-aged Albany merchant and gentleman was provided for in the will filed by his affluent father.

In January 1808, his name and those of his sons was on a list of those invited to a family funeral.

Jacob Bleecker, Jr. died in December 1808 and was buried from his church. His widow survived for three more decades - after living in their home at 49 Pearl Street for several years.

Sources: The life of Jacob Bleecker, Jr. is CAP biography number 194. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. We are aware that the two same-named contemporaries present a number of identification and assignment problems. We need to know more about the older Jacob BLeecker, Jr.