Jannetje Van Allen Lyle

by


Jannetje Van Allen was born in May 1736. She was the daughter of Albany residents Pieter Van Allen and his second wife, Anna Van Benthuysen Van Allen. She grew up in a skipper's home in the first ward. Her father died in 1749 and her mother continued to raise a large blended family.

In March 1761, she married newcomer Abraham Lyle at the Albany Dutch church. However, their two children were christened at Rhineback in Dutchess County in 1762 and 1764.

By the mid-1760s, they had settled in Albany's first ward where Lyle found success as a merchant - no doubt in concert with his brothers-in-law.

However, her marriage would not enjoy longevity. Lyle filed a will in October 1766. It named Jannetje as heir and co-executor and provided for their two children as well. He died soon afterwards. In March 1770, she still had open accounts from her husband's business.

The widow Jannetje Van Allen Lyle probably moved in with her bachelor brothers in their family home on State Street. In 1801, her name appeared on two real estate transactions. She would have been seventy-five at that time.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Jannetje Van Allen Lyle is CAP biography number 5620. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




first posted: 11/30/06