Gerrit R. Van Zandt

Gerrit R. Van Zandt was born in August 1769. He was the son of Ryckert and Sara Hilton Van Zandt. He grew up in a large family in a woodworker's home on Albany's Southside.

In December 1792, he married his cousin, Caty Hilton, at the Dutch church. By 1799, three children had been christened in Albany.

By 1800, he had established his own first ward household. Like his father, Gerrit was a carpenter who was listed in the annual city directory at 41 Union Street until 1828. His modest holdings were noted on Albany assessment rolls. In 1810, his household included seven free persons of color. As late as 1822, his widowed mother and prominent brother still lived nearby.

Gerrit R. Van Zandt died in May 1840. He had lived for more than seventy years.

Sources: The life of Gerrit R. Van Zandt is CAP biography number 264. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.