Elizabeth Van Petten Abel

Elizabeth Van Petten Abel is said to have been born in July 1780. She was the daughter of Schenectady residents Henry S. and Hester Fairly Van Petten.

By 1800, she had wed Albany native Henry Abel. Beginning in that year, a number of their children were christened at and buried from the Dutch church in Albany.

Her husband owned property in the third ward that was destroyed in the fire of 1797. During the early 1800s, these Abels lived near the city line on Market and then Orange Streets.

Elizabeth Van Petten Abel is said to have died in 1825. She was buried with the Abels in the plot of their Albany church. Thus, she would have lived for about forty-five years - although that life span does not compliment the dates given for her birth and death. Additionally, an Elizabeth Abel was granted letters of administration in January 1830 although her husband lived on in Albany until 1832.

With unresolved issues on her life, we move on for now.

Sources: The life of Elizabeth Van Petten Abel has no CAP biography number. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.