Ten Broeck
by
Stefan Bielinski

The Ten Broeck family of early Albany and colonial New York is descended from Wessel Wesselse who came to New Netherland during the 1630s. His son, Dirck Wesselse, became one of the fathers of the city of Albany. His many offspring established the Ten Broeck name in Albany and beyond.

By 1697, trader-turned-businessman Wessel Ten Broeck had joined his father on the city census.

In 1720, three Ten Broeck men were Albany freeholders. By that time, the family had established itself east of the Hudson on country estates anchored by Dirck Wesselse's estate on the Roelof Jansen Kil.

Wessel's son, Dirck Ten Broeck, was appointed mayor of Albany in 1746. He died in 1751. But his widow and three other Ten Broeck households were enumerated on the city census of 1756.

Dirck and Margarita's son, General Abraham Ten Broeck, businessman, field officer in the Revolutionary army, and the was third member of the family to serve as mayor of Albany. He was the most widely known family member. He was one of three Ten Broecks who owned homes in the third ward in 1790. The former administrator of Rensselaerswyck, he built Ten Broeck mansion - the historic house headquarters of the Albany County Historical Association.

His only son, Dirck, served as speaker of the New York State Assembly in 1798.

In 1815, only two Ten Broeck households remained in the city.

After Ten Broeck Mansion and the "Ten Broeck Triangle" neighborhood of Arbor Hill, the family is recalled today in the names of numerous public buildings in Albany and beyond.

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notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: Information on this important early Albany family is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. Manuscript resources are extensive if widely scattered. Emma Ten Broeck Runk's comprehensive, century-old narrative genealogy stands out among the family resources. It has been duplicated online. Although somewhat derivative of the above, substantial family information is available online. The most recent Internet-based initiative by Mary Lou Cook bears watching.

    Follow this link to more information on the Ten Broeck family appearing on this website!




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first posted 8/5/03; last updated 6/26/15