Johannes Truax

Johannes Truax was born in October 1752. He was the eldest son of Isaac and Maria Wyngaert Truax. His father operated "The Halfway House" inn along the road to Schenectady. A number of sons lived nearby. This individual also was referred to as John W. (or Wyngaert) Truax. However, several same named contemporaries may be at-risk. This sketch aims to focus on John Truax - son of the Halfway House innkeeper.

As John W. was an innkeeper himself, perhaps he took over for his father who lived until 1808 - three years after the death of this subject.

During the 1770s, he married one Magdalena Huysen (of Columbia County). Their son was christened at the Albany Dutch church in June 1779. Subsequent children were born during the 1780s but do not appear to have been baptized in Albany.

In his early twenties at the outbreak of hostilities, we expect to find substantial information on his activities during the war years. Afterwards, John Truax was among those accorded a land bounty right in conjunction with the Schenectady regiment of the Albany County militia.

In March 1779, his (simply John Truax) house and holdings were valued on the Albany assessment roll in the second ward. In 1788, the real and personal property of "John T. Truax" were valued in the same vicinity.

In late November 1780, "John W. Truax" "of the county of Albany [-] innkeeper" was among four Truax kin those who posted a bond of £50 for the liberty of another family member.

In 1790, the household of one "John J. Truax" was configured on the Albany census of the second ward. However, four other householders named "John Truax" also were listed on the census in Albany County.

John W. Truax "of Schenectady" was a prominent landholder in the area along the Albany road and along the Mohawk River as well. Those properties were described in some detail in Schenectady real property listings.

In August of 1805, Johannes W. Truax "of Schenectady" filed a will. It named his wife " Magdalene," two married daughters, a "youngest daughter", five sons, and his brother Isaac as heirs. The will passed probate in Schenectady County in December.

Sources: The life of Albany resident Johannes Truax has no CAP biography number. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.

Will: We have not yet pursued the estate documents for this generally Schenectady resident.

Summary of information from a Wiki Tree posting.

Copied from SPFS: [JOHN W., son of Isaac, m. Magdalena Huysen. She d. May 23, 1812, in her 57th year. Ch. b: Isaac, bp. in Albany, June 13, 1779, d. Aug. 25, 1800 sine prole; Pieter, b. Aug. 26, 1782, d. Oct. 12, 1855; Christiaan, Oct. 9, 1783; Maria, Aug. 22, 1784, m. Robert William Bohannan, d. Oct. 1866: Magdalena, Mar. 22, 1786, m. James Hall, d. a wid., April 14, 1858, a. 72ys.; John Wyngaard, March 20, 1788, died March 28, 1855; Catharina, March 25, 1790, m. William Clark, died in Albany; Jacob, Feb. 16, 1792, d. Oct. 24, 1815; Abram, Dec. 27, 1794, d. in Adrian, Mich., Dec. 3, 1862; David Campbell, Oct. 16, 1797.]