Lena Boom Bromley

Lena Boom (aka Helena) was born about 1720. We seek defining information on her origins and path to Albany. Perhaps she was a member of the "Boom" family inhabiting the Albany hinterland during her lifetime.

In June 1742, Lena married Albany native William Bromley at the Albany Dutch church. At that time, both partners were identified as single people. By 1757, seven children had been christened in Albany churches. Throughout her lifetime, these Bromleys received spiritual services from the Dutch church.

After starting out in a house rented from the city government, by the 1760s, William Bromley was being assessed for his property in the third ward. William Bromley probably died afterwards as their sons seem to have carried on the family legacy during the 1770s, 80s, and 90s.

Perhaps the aging Lena was accounted for in the second ward household of her son Samuel in 1800 and in other countings as well.

By July 1799, William Bromley's widow was listed on an Albany Poor List and was scheduled to receive 15 pounds.

Lena Boom Bromley was burying her children as late as 1801. However, she has not been accounted for after that in the community-based record.

Sources: The life of Lena Boom Bromley has no CAP biography number. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.

Boom family: A number of references to the "Boom" surname appear in church and civil sources on Albany County during the eighteenth century. At this point, we cannot connect them to (and suspect they do not belong with) the Hogebooms or Rosebooms. Also, no men have been identified as residents of the city of Albany. This page contains information on some of Helena's contemporary kin. Perhaps she was related to one Catharina Boom who married widower (and Albany area resident) David Verplanck at the Albany church in November 1752. We hope to further articulate this "family group."