Gerrit Hardenburgh

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Gerrit Hardenburgh was said to have been born at Maersen, Utrecht in February 1639. He was the son of Jan Jacobse who brought his family to New Netherland and settled in New Amsterdam.

Gerrit Janse married Manhattan native Jaepie Schepmoes in 1666. By 1683, the marriage had produced at least eight children.

Within a few years of his marriage, he re-located to Albany and purchased a houselot on Chapel Street and Maiden Lane in 1669. Over the next decade, he bought and sold other parcels within the Albany stockade. He was a member and supporter of the Albany Dutch church. His daughter was christened in the Albany church in October 1683.

Perhaps like his father, Gerrit Janse was a Hudson River slooper. As late as 1690, he is said to have captained a sloop named the Royal Albany that was placed in service against the French by Jacob Leisler.

In December 1678, Gerrit Hardenburgh filed a joint will with his wife. It was written in Dutch and has been partially preserved.

In 1679, his name appeared on a census of Albany householders. Two years later, he joined other traders in petitioning the Albany court for closer regulation of the fur trade. During those years he had land on the hill in Albany on or near Pearl Street.

By 1686, he was living in New York and belonged to the Dutch church there. He died sometime after 1690.

His only son, Johannes of Ulster County, was a principal recipient of the vast Hardenburgh Patent in 1708.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Gerrit Hardenburgh is CAP biography number 8336. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. His life has been profiled in an online resource.




first posted: 6/10/06