Robert Crannel

Robert Crannel was born in July 1726. He was the first child born to the marriage of William and Margarita Bennewe Crannel. He grew up in a modest home in the first ward.

In November 1748, he married Ariaantie Bovie at the Albany Dutch church. By 1760, six children had been christened at Albany churches. He was a member and officer at St. Peter's Anglican church. He also was a regular baptism sponsor at and supporter of the Dutch church.

In 1756 he was identified as a "wigmaker" on a census of householders taken by the British army.

During the 1760s, his third ward house and lot were accorded modest assessments.

In 1765, he was described as a barber and as a potential juror in an Albany court case. In 1769, he was named co-executor of the will of his brother-in-law - a New York City-based surgeon.

In 1793, "Robert Cranny" (or his heirs) owed a small sum to the estate of the late William Charles.

After that, his name seems to have dropped from the community record. He does not appear to appear on either of the first two censuses of heads of households in New York State. However, in June 1802, Dutch church burials recorded the interrment of "Robert Crannel's wife" (not widow). Perhaps, he lived (or more likely had lived) in the households of his offspring.

Sources: The life of Robert Crannel is CAP biography number 7720. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.