Jacobus Radcliff

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Jacobus Radcliff was born in September 1703. He was the son of John and Rachel Van Valkenburgh Radcliff. This younger son grew up as part of a large family in the modest home of a one-time soldier on the Southside of Albany.

In 1715, he would have been about thirteen when he was listed on the roster of an Albany militia company.

About 1728, he married Schenectady area native Catharina Bovie. Between 1729 and 1747, ten children were christened at the Albany Dutch church where he was a frequent baptism sponsor and the church sexton as well. He may well have served as church sexton from 1729 until his death in 1766. From the frequent entries in the church burial records, it appears that a number of their children did not survive to adulthood.

In May 1730, Jacobus purchased a lot at the foot Gallows Hill from the city of "Albany. The lot measured thirty by one hundred twenty feet (the size of many Albany lots today).These Radcliffs made their home in Albany's first ward where Jacobus was a free holder and the bell ringer for more than three decades beginning in 1731 - following in the footsteps (no pun intended) of his parents. He also was paid by the city and by the Dutch church for performing other tasks as well. During those years, he received periodic bequests from the Dutch church and from the city treasury.

In 1756, he may have been the "Raliff" man who was identified as a carman on the census of householders.

During the 1760s, his first ward house was accorded a modest assessment. His son also was noted on the property but not by name.

Jacobus Radcliff probably died early in November 1766 as Philip Ryley was paid twelve shillings on November 25 "for burying cobus Redley." In July 1767, "Catherine, the widow of Jacobus Radcliff," was involved in a real estate transaction. Puzzling information on an individual(s) named "Jacobus Radcliff" from the late 1760s on recommends caution in the further development of this profile.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Jacobus Radcliff is CAP biography number 1049. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.

The census of householders made in 1756 listed Joannes Raliff as a carman under entry #191. However, the index to that document identified the carman listed as entry #191 as James. Which Radcliff brother was the householder at that address?

Additional notes selected from those compiled from church and community based resources by Larry House and placed online. These notes will be integrated into the above biography and appear here lest they disappear from other sources :

On 5/10/1727 the Reformed Dutch Church paid Jacobus and Willem Redlief (sic) £5/04/05 for stone and paving stone according to their bill and receipt.

On 4/22/1729 the Reformed Dutch Church of Albany paid Jacob Redlif (sic) £-/07/06 for 2 ½ cartloads of stone, for the street, including delivery in two carts. The Reformed Dutch Church's Deacon's Fund Accounts recorded that on 6/5 it received from Jacobus Redlie (sic) 47 guilders for house rent.

On 5/1/1730 the City of Albany sold to Jacobus Radocliff (sic), of Albany, for £22 "…current money of the Colony of New York.", a lot at the foot of the gallows hill, on the north side of the house and lot of Roliff Kidney. The lot size was 30'x120'. The Albany Common Council meeting of 11/23/1729 mentioned this sale and included the payment schedule of the £22-£11 on or before 5/1/1730 at which time he would have a release and £11 on or before 5/1/1731 which for this payment he had to give a bond. The measurement was length 120' wood measurement and width 30' Ryland measure.

Jac. (sic) and Cath. (sic) Rettelief (sic) witnessed the baptism of Gerrit, son of Ant Boy (sic) and Cath Bovy, on 2/3/1731. On 10/14 Jacobus Ratclif (sic) was paid £6/02/07 for stone and paving blocks, making a new door for the church, including materials and delivery charges for sand, stone and paving blocks. On 11/1 he was paid £4 for his mother's services for one year. On 11/15 he was paid 15s for his mother's service to the church in caring for the children. On 11/27 he was paid 6p for nails.

On 9/26/1732 a petition was presented to the Albany Common Council, by 4 people, including Jacobus Redliff, on behalf of themselves and their neighbors, wanting to dig a well near where they live and have the city contribute money for the same. It was decided that they would receive £10 if they finished the well that fall. The Deacon's Fund Account has a memo dated 11/1/1732 that Jacobus Redlif (sic) is to pay £3/2/- for another half year house rent. Listed in the 1733 Deacon's Fund Account is a memo dated 11/1/1732 that Jacobus Redkelief (sic) remained obligated for rent of poor house for £3/12/-. On 3/9/1736 the before mentioned £3/12½ /- (due) from Jacobus Reddeflie (sic) was made a gift and discharged with a release from the entire consistory. On 11/15/1732 he was paid £-/16/03 for "(working on?)" the house. Jac. and Cath. Rettelief witnessed the baptism of Philip, son of Math. and Maria Bovy, on 12/13. On 12/26 he was paid £1/06/- for services to the church.

On 3/10/1733 the Albany City Board ordered Barent Bratt, Chamberlain, to pay Jacobus Redliff, and two others, late bellmen of the city, appointed by the Common Council for 1 year commencing 10/16/1731-10/16/1732, to each of them the sum of £11/7/6 for the service including candles furnished by them. Their receipts would be sufficient and were to be given to Barent Bratt. On 6/2 Jacobus was paid 11s for bring up Dom van Schies's goods, equivalent to 3 ½ days work at the church. On the same day Jacob (sic) Redlif (sic) was paid; 3s for "croen of te neve + werop" and £-/08/03 for casks of water for the church. On 9/29 Jacobus and Johannes [probably 1,8 not 1,8,19] were paid 12s for services to Domine van Driessen and Hendrick Douw during house visits. On 10/6 Jacob (sic) was paid; 6s for delivering 16 loads of wood for Domine van Schies and 9p for ½ days work at the church. On the same day Jacobus Redlif (sic) was paid 4p for carving a tablet. On 10/9 he was paid £5/02/- for service to the church. On 12/27 he was paid; (blank) for water at the church and 2s to relay the floor of the church.

In 11/1734 Jacobus Redlief (sic) was paid £5 for his fee as toller of the clock. On 12/12 Jacob (sic) Redlif (sic), Claes van Woert and Johannes Redlif (sic) [see 9/29/1733 above] were paid £1/07/02 for delivering things.

On 3/10/1736 Jacobus Reddelie (sic) was paid 3s for tolling the bell for the poor.

J. and Cath. Rettelief witnessed the baptism of Andries, son of R. and Eng. Kidny (sic), on 4/3/1737. On 12/30 5s was given to Jacobus as a New Year's gift.

On 11/19/1743 he was paid 6s for services to Pieter van Alstyn.

On 11/6/1744 he was loaned £3 as a note with interest from the Deacon's Fund.

On 1/11/1745 £-/5/06 was given to him as a New Year's gift.

On 12/29/1746 he received the following amounts; 6s for digging the grave and tolling the bell for Dirck White's wife, 6s of the same for Sagarias Sickels' wife and 1s for delivering 3 loads of wood to Sagarias Sickels. On this same date he paid £-/8/04 to the Deacon's Fund as interest on his note.

On 11/24/1747 he was paid £-/7/06 for delivering wood for the church people.

On 12/26/1748 he repaid £-/8/04 to the Deacon's Fund as interest on his note.

On 1/1/1749 he received 6s as a New Year's gift.

On 4/15 and 7/15/1750 he was paid £-/3/06 for his services at communion. On 10/23/1750 Jacobus Reatliff (sic) applied to the Albany City Board to allow his son John [1,11,48] to ring the bell daily at 12 noon and 8 pm. This was granted. On 12/14 he was paid £-/2/06 for his services. On 12/30 he was paid £-/3/06 for his services at communion.

On 1/2/1751 he received 6s as a New Year's gift. 4/16 he was paid 4s for his services (at the communion). He was paid £1/02/-, on 12/16, for his services and on the same date paid to the Deacon's Fund £-/12/06, 3 years' interest, on his note. On 12/27 he was again paid 4s (for his services at the communion).

On 1/1/1752 he received 6s as a New Year's gift. On 3/11 he was paid

£-/01/06 for his services (at the communion). On 4/17, 8/10 and 11/10 he was paid 4s for his services.

On 1/2/1753 he received 8s as a New Year's gift. On 11/8 he was paid

£-/10/08 for slaughtering and hauling (the beef) and the ferry fare.

On 1/1/1754 he received 8s as a New Year's gift. On 4/15 he was paid 4s for his services at the communion. At the 4/24/1754 Albany Common Council meeting it was ordered that Jacobus Reatliff and 3 others be paid 12s for riding (sic) a great Gun [?]. On 9/7 he was paid 6s for tolling the bell. On 11/17 he was paid 2s for delivering the meat (beef). On 12/17 he was paid 12s for his services (3 times) at the communion and on this same date paid £-/12/08 to the Deacon's Fund for 3 year's interest, on his note.

On 5/6/1755 he was paid 12s for wood chips. On 7/16 he was paid 4s for his services at the communion. On 11/12 he was paid £-/10/06 for the slaughtering (of the beef). On 12/30 he was paid 4s for his services at the communion and on the same date paid to the Deacon's Fund £-/04/02, 1 year's interest, on his note.

On 1/1/1756 he received 8s as a New Year's gift. On 4/14, 10/4 and 12/25 he was paid 4s for his services at the communion. On 4/15 he was also paid 3s for tolling the bell for John Reylie [his brother (Johannes 1,8)]?. On 12/27 he paid to the Deacon's Fund £-/04/02, 1 year's interest, on his note.

On 1/1/1757 he received 8s as a New Year's gift. On 5/5 and 10/25 he was paid 4s for his services at the communion. At the end of the 1757 Deacon's Fund Account was listed the conveyance of the following to the Poor House; a chest, a cask with sweet wine, an earthenware tankard with a silver cover, a drape for the serving table and 7 tablecloths, a tin decanter, a tin platter, 2 tin bowls and meat in the cellar of Jacobus Redlif (sic). [all in his cellar?]

On 1/1/1758 he received 8s as a New Year's gift. On 3/27 he was paid 4s for his services at the communion and on the same day was paid for hauling 4 (loads of) freight. On 12/3 he was paid £12/02/09 for a fat beef including the purchase, slaughtering and other related costs. On 12/24 he paid to the Deacon's Fund £-/08/07, interest, on his note. On 12/30 he was paid 5s for his services at the communion.

On 1/1/1759 he received £-/08/06 as a New Year's gift. On 4/12 he was paid 5s for his services. On 6/10 he was paid 1s [for ?]. At the 7/21/1759 Albany Common Council meeting, it was ordered that he be paid £1/08/01. On 8/9 and 11/8 he was paid 5s and 4s respectively for his services. On 12/23 he paid to the Deacon's Fund £-/04/02, interest, on his note. On 12/26 he was paid 7s for his service (at the communion) and for washing the (communion) things. On 12/31 he was paid 5s for his services at the communion. At the end of the 1759 Deacon's Fund Account was listed the conveyance of the same items to the Poor House, as 1757, with the addition of the following; a drape for the serving table and a barrel of meat.

On 1/8/1760 he received 8s as a New Year's gift. On this date he was also paid 9p for delivering the chest. On 4/19 and 8/16 he was paid 10s for his services at the Communion and for washing the (communion) things. On 11/21 he was paid £165 (sic) "…for his services to our Elder Bretheren in connection with the arrival of Domine Westerlo and also other expenses.". At the Albany Common Council meeting of 12/4/1760, it was decided that he ring the bell for one year for £5. On 12/16 he repaid £3 for his outstanding note to the Deacon's Fund. This was also listed on 12/30 as the payment of £3 for his note. [The loan of £3, from the Deacon's Fund, from 11/16/1744, repaid on 12/16/1760, was variously described as a note or a bond. Each 1/1 of years 1748 through 1760, the loan was carried over (received) from one year to the next.] Also on the 1760 Deacon's Fund Account was listed the conveyance to the Poor House, the same as 1759, with the addition of 2 silver beakers.

On 1/1/1761 he received 10s as a New Year's gift. Also on this date he was paid 10s for driving Domine Westerlo for 2 days and 9p for delivering the chest. He was paid 10s on 3/22, 6/28, 9/28 and 12/29 for his services at the Communion and for washing the [communion] things. At the 9/10/1761 Albany Common Council meeting, it was resolved by the Board to have the Mayor execute a deed to Jacobus Reatliff (sic) for 7 years on condition that the deed be voided on the tender of 1s to the Lessee for a trade of land in the City of Albany, south of the Beaverkill beginning where the kill enters Hudson's River, there then south to opposite hay land belonging to the heirs of Gysbert Marselis then west along the south bounds of pasture of Gysbert Marselis the same distance from the river as the saw mill of the heirs of Daniel Bratt then northerly to the Beaverkill, the east along the kill to the beginning. At the 10/23/1761 Common Council meeting, it was directed that Jacobus Reatcliff be paid £5 for having rung the bell the previous year and sign the same by order of the Common Council. At the 11/7/1761 Common Council meeting, the Clerk was ordered to order the City Treasurer to pay him 9s. On the 1761 Deacon's Fund Account was listed the conveyance to the Poor House which was the same as was listed for 1760.

On 1/3/1762 he received 10s as a New Year's gift. This same date he was paid 9p for delivering the chest. He was paid 10s on 4/12, 7/19, 10/11 and 12/27 for his services at the communion and for washing the [communion] things. At the 10/26/1762 Albany Common Council meeting, it was directed that Jacobus Reatcliff be paid £5 for ringing the bell the previous year.

On 1/1/1763 he received 10s as a New Year's gift. On 4/4, 7/4 and 10/10 he was paid 10s for his services at the communion and for washing the [Communion] things. At the 10/13/1763 Albany Common Council meeting, it was directed that Jacobus Reatcliff be paid £5 for ringing the bell the previous year. On 11/5 he was paid 6s for washing the linen. On 12/27 he was paid 5s for his services at the communion.

On 1/1/1764 he received 10s as a New Year's gift. On 4/2 he was paid 3s for washing the linen. On 4/23 he was paid 8s for services at the communion. On 7/24 he was paid 11s for his services and washing the (communion) linen. He was also paid 11s on 10/1 for washing the church linen. At the 10/22/1764 Albany Common Council meeting, it was directed the Jacobus Ratcliff (sic) be paid £5 for ringing the bell the previous year. On 12/7 he was paid 6s for washing the linens. On 12/31 he was given a New Year's gift of £8 "…for his extraordinary services to the honorable consistory without complaint.".

On 1/1/1765 he received 10s as a New Year's gift. On 4/8 and 7/8 he was paid 11s for his services at the communion. He was paid on 10/14 12s for the same. At the 10/14/1765 Albany Common Council meeting, it was directed that Jacobus Radclift (sic) be paid £5 to ring the bell for the year 1765. On 12/30 he was paid 11s for his services (at the communion).

On 1/1/1766 he received a New Year's gift of 10s. On 4/10 he was paid 11s for his services at the communion. At the 5/15/1766 [Sept?] (sic) meeting of the Albany Common Council, it was resolved to allow Jacobus Radtleff (sic) and one other £2 for ringing the bell on the king's birthday. On 6/16 he received 10s (for his services at communion). On 7/14 he received 15s [for?]. On 7/28 he received 11s for services at communion. On 8/3 he was given £1/07/06 for necessities.

[Jacobus Redlief was the sexton of the Reformed Dutch Church of Albany in (for) the years 1729, 1732-33, 1736-37 and 1743-66.]

Catherine, widow of Jacobus Radliff, et al, received a mortgage from Seymon (sic) Joh Veeder on 7/2/1767. Recorded 9/5/1768. [taken from the index]

There is a Jacobus Readley (sic) "and son 3" that appears on the 1st copy of the Tax List for the City of Albany 1767. The tax listed was £5.

[? If this one] On 1/1/1782 the widow (?) of Jacobus Redlief [the index says Jacobus, Jr.] received £-/13/03 for wood as needed as per the Day Book.





first posted: 12/20/08; revised 2/13/09