Jacob Vosburgh

Jacob Vosburgh (aka James or Jacobus) was born in March 1761. He was the son of Isaac and his second wife, Catharina Staats Vosburgh. His father was at least a regional resident if not actually living in the city of Albany. This sketch focuses on the Albany resident "Jacobus Vosburgh" identified on the city census in 1800 and in other community-based resources.

Coming of age just before the end of the Revolutionary era, we would expect to find some record of his wartime activities.

He appears to have married an Anna Robison during the 1780s. Between 1786 and 1801, their marriage had produced at least four children.

In 1799 and afterwards, his house and lot on Pearl Street were valued moderately on the second ward assessment roll.

In 1800, his household included three young boys, a young girl, and two women. A decade later, the city census charted the growth of that family.

This Vosburgh home was either at or near the intersection of Pearl and Van Schaick Streets. Beginning with the first edition in 1813, city directories identified "James Vosburgh" as a grocer or/and a cartman and fixed his address at 50 or 52 on upper Van Schaick Street. A city roster also from 1813 identified James Vosburgh as one of three "captains of the watch".

After 1816, individuals perhaps named a variant of "Jacob Vosburgh" were listed in city directories (including up to 1830) at various locations on the North End of the city. We have a number of questions regarding the family, spouse, later life, and passing of this early Albany personage.

Sources: The life of Jacob Vosburgh is CAP biography number 6557. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.