John Henry Nemire

by


Spelled and referred to variously, Albany resident John Henry Nemire (Nehemiah) was in the city by the late 1780s. We seek defining information on his origins and path to Albany. His long connection with the Lutheran church may suggest Germanic origins. But see also heritage material for Nehemiah.

We seek information on his wartime activities. Afterwards, he was accorded a land bounty right in conjunction with the city militia regiment. In 1818, "John H. Narmir" is said to have been awarded a pension for service. At that time, he was said to have been 62-year-old and a resident of Albany. He thus served as a private in Col. Gansevoort's regiment and was discharged at Saratoga on November 7, 1780 when his enlistment expired.

Church records dated as early as 1788 identify him as a pewholder and communicant of the Albany Lutheran church.

In 1790, the second ward census configured the household of John Nehemiah" with a boy, three men, and three women. A decade later, the census called him "John Henry Nemire" and noted three boys, four girls and a couple each born prior to 1756 in the same general location as in 1790. In 1810 and in 1820, his household was a census fixture.

Missing from the household in 1810 was his wife, Mary Ann, who was buried from the Albany Dutch church in May 1809. In March of that year, John H. and Mary sold a lot located nearby their residence but in the adjoining town of Watervliet to one James Hartness.

The assessment roll for 1809 valued his personal property modestly under the Market Street house of widow Christina Roff - whose home was located near the northern border of the city.

The city censuses for 1810 and 1820 configured his shrinking households but did not place him in a particular ward.

The 1820 edition of the Albany city directory listed John Henry Nemire as a "glover" with an address of Patroon Street. Previous editions do not seem to have included him.

With unresolved questions on his origins and passing we move on for now.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of John Henry Nemire is CAP biography number 1025. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




first posted: 2/10/12