Teunis Bradt

Teunis Bradt was born in November 1725. He was the son of Albany natives Anthony and Rebecca Vanderheyden Bradt. He grew up a middle child in the large family of a third ward carpenter. He was christened "Theunis" and would be known consistently in the community as Teunis Bradt perhaps to distinguish him from his father and a number of same-named contemporaries.

In 1750, he was appointed constable for the third ward. In 1766, he was named firemaster. During the 1760s, he was a member of an Albany militia company.

In July 1756, "Teunis" married Catharina Van Ness at the Albany Dutch church. By 1775, eight children had been christened at the church where both parents were pew holders and frequent baptism sponsors.

Probabaly initially living with his father, he became as carpenter-building contractor as well. As late as December 1787, he was selected to build a dock by the city corporation.

By the mid 1760s, however, Anthony A. Bradt had died and Teunis was listed on third ward assessment rolls as an Albany property holder near the home of his mother. In 1779, and again in 1788, his holdings near the river front were valued moderately on third ward assessments. In 1788, perhaps his adult sons were living under his roof as well. In 1790, his household was configured at the end of the third ward census.

In his fifties at the outbreak of hostilities, he served as captain of a company of artifacers who worked at Ticonderoga, Lake George, and environs in 1775 thru 1777. In 1776, he was paid for repairing the barracks at Albany and for supplying firewood. In 1778, he was among those older residents who were to be held back from active duty except in case of invasion. Afterwards, he was accorded a land bounty right in conjunction with the Albany militia regiment.

In late August 1797, he was identified as a carpenter and freeholder in the third ward. However, Teunis Bradt had passed on by early August 1797 when his widow was identified as the resident and owner of record of the Montgomerey Street properties that were destroyed in a fire that started in her stables. She survived there for at least another decade. It seems that this particular Bradt family had dropped from community rolls by 1813.

Sources: The life of Teunis Bradt is CAP biography number 4281. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.