Aaron Hand

by


Aaron Hand appears to have been born in April 1773 in East Hampton, Suffolk County, New York. He was the eleventh child of the marriage of John and Rebecca Hand. His parents were descendants of the Puritan settlers of eastern Long Island.

Traditional sources tell us that he married in August 1794 or 1795, he married one "Tamar Platt" in Kingsbury, New York. Upon removing to Albany, both were members of the First and then Third Albany Presbyterian church. Aaron also served as a church elder. The marriage produced children. A son was christened in Albany in 1811 and became a prominent cleric.

Beginning in 1810, his first ward household was enumerated on the Albany census. In that year, three boys under ten, three men aged 26-45, and three females ranging from over ten to forty-five were included under his census entry.

Beginning in 1813, city directories identified him as a lumber merchant located at 225 and 206 Court then South Market Streets. In 1814, he also held a cartman's license.

In 1813, 1814, and 1815, he was identified as an alderman for the fourth ward.

We seek information on his business and relating to how/why a relative newcomer was able to enter the Albany leadership cadre.

In 1823, he was elected vice president of the Albany Marine Bible Society. Called "Capt." at that time, the mutual benefit organization was led by Albany's most prominent skippers.

In 1830, his was one of three "Hand" addresses identified with the lumber business in the Albany directory.

Aaron Hand died in October 1832 at the age of fifty-nine. His widow survived until 1854 and was buried in Greenwich, New York.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Aaron Hand is CAP biography number 8328. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




first posted 6/20/09; updated 8/5/17