Daniel Ketelhuyn
by
Stefan Bielinski


Daniel Ketelhuyn probably was born about 1670. He was the son of fur trader Jochem and Anna Willems Ketelhuyn. His parents were pioneer settlers of Beverwyck. Daniel grew up in Albany where, by the mid-1690s, his widowed mother was the head of their riverside home.

In August 1695, he married Debora Viele at the Albany Dutch church. By 1722, their ten children had been christened in Albany where he was an occasional baptism sponsor.

These Ketelhuyns set up their home in Albany's third ward where he owned several additional parcels of land. He was a trader/merchant who included the city of Albany among his customers. During the first decade of the eighteenth century, he was a constable, collector, and assistant alderman in the third ward. He served as an officer in the Albany militia and was involved in the expedition to conquer Canada in 1711. Sometimes, he was referred to as "Lieutenant Daniel Ketelhuyn." In 1699, he joined with his Albany neighbors in swearing allegiance to the king of England. City assessment rolls taxed his holdings at a modest rate.

In 1708, he began to purchase (lease) lands on Albany's property at Schaghticoke. He seems to have moved there by 1711. In October of that year, his wife and children were kidnapped by French and Indian raiders. After securing their return, he re-settled his family in another part of Schaghticoke. Despite those difficulties, over the years, he augmented his holdings in the Hoosick Valley.

Daniel Ketelhuyn was dead by November 1731 when letters of administration were issued to his son-in-law. By that time, the Ketelhuyn name had passed from Albany rolls.

biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Daniel Ketelhuyn is CAP biography number 4633. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




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first posted: 5/30/05