Gerrit Ja. Lansing
by
Stefan Bielinski


Gerrit Ja. Lansing was born in 1711. He was the first son of Albany silversmith and businessman Jacob G. Lansing and his wife, Helena Glen Lansing.

Gerrit grew up in the North End of Albany and learned the gunsmith's trade.

In 1739, he married Albany native Maria Everts. Three children were born before her death in 1741. About 1748, he married Jane Waters who bore at least seven children over the next two decades. He was a long time member and pewholder of the Albany Dutch church.

In 1737, he first served as a firemaster for the third ward. In 1744 and 1745, he was elected assistant alderman. by that time, he was established in a house on Market Street. He was known in the community as a merchant as well as a gunsmith. In 1763, Gerrit J.Lansing was counted among Albany's freeholders.

During the 1760s and 70s, his Market Street home was an Albany landmark. His sons, John Jr. and Abraham G. Lansing, became prominent Albany personages.

Gerrit Ja. Lansing was dead by August 1782 when letters of administration were granted to his widow.

PAGE IN PROGRESS



notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Gerrit Ja. Lansing is CAP biography number 3705. This profile is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.

1770s: At this point, we are unable to say that this individual was the Gerrit Lansing who was a member of the Albany Committee of Correspondence and/or a contributor to the war effort!




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first posted: 9/5/02