Bernardus Harsen
by
Stefan Bielinski


Bernardus Harsen was born in January 1714. He was baptized in the New York City Dutch church.

In November 1730, he was sixteen and serving as a blacksmith in the Seneca country. Later, he would perform "smith's work" for Sir William Johnson.

In February 1737, he married Catharina Pruyn at the Albany Dutch church. By 1754, four children had been christened at the Albany church where he was an occasional baptism sponsor.

During the 1740s and 50s, Bernardus Harsen was an Albany mainstay. His name was found on Albany freeholders lists. In 1743, he was one of those engaged to manage the city's fire engine. He was appointed firemaster in 1755. A year later, he was identified as a "gunsmith" and householder on a census taken by the British army. The last reference to him was dated 1763. A few years later, his wife and son were identified as householders on the assessment roll of 1767.

biography in-progress



notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Bernardus Harsen is CAP biography number 8347. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. We seek defining information on his birth and passing!




Home | Site Index | Navigation | Email | New York State Museum


first posted: 2/25/05