Harmen Bastiaense Visscher
by
Stefan Bielinski


Harmen Bastiaense Visscher was born in Holland about 1619. He emigrated to New Netherland and established the Visscher family in Albany and its environs.

Harme Bastiaense was known as a carpenter and was in New Amsterdam as early as 1649. He migrated north to Beverwyck where he signed a petition in 1660 asking for more latitude in the fur trade. In 1666, he was identified as a surveyor in Albany. About that time, he married Hester Dircks. They raised a large family and were members of the Albany Dutch church.

In 1679, he was included on a list of Albany householders. During the 1660s-80s, he owned a number of Albany properties including a house on the west side of Pearl Street and a garden plot along the river.

Harmen Bastiaense Visscher lived into his seventies. He was dead by 1697 when his widow was identified as the head of their Albany household.

biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Harmen Bastiaense Visscher is CAP biography number 4064. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.



first posted: 8/20/05