William Hogan
by
Stefan Bielinski


William Hogan was born in Ireland about 1670. He emigrated to America before 1700. He was the patriarch of the Hogan family of early Albany.

In September 1692, he married innkeeper's daughter Martina Becker in the Albany Dutch church. Over the next decade, five children were baptized at the Albany Dutch church. In 1714, he contributed to the building of St. Peter's English church.

William Hogan probably came to Albany as a soldier and served in the garrison at the Albany fort. Following his marriage, he became an innkeeper - possibly in partnership with his father-in-law. He set down permanent roots in Albany. Over the next decades, he was a prominent Albany personage - serving as juror, firemaster, assessor, constable, and high constable. He also found work as a surveyor. Assessment rolls for the early 1700s show him to be a quite wealthy resident who owned additional buildings in the first ward. He belonged to the Albany militia and several times joined with his neighbors in pledging allegiance to the Protestant King of England.

However, in 1699 and again in 1701, he was identified as one of those cited trading without possessing the freedom of the city.

William and Martina filed a joint will in 1732. It named seven surviving children, six grandchildren, and a number of slaves who were bequeathed to their now adult children. Hogan lost his wife in 1736. He died sometime before April 4, 1739 when the will passed probate.

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notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of William Hogan is CAP biography number 4396. This profile is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. We seek more defining information on his origins and background!




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first posted: 2/10/03