Gerrit S. Van Schaick
by
Stefan Bielinski


Gerrit S. Van Schaick was born early in 1685. He was the last child born to Sybrant and Elizabeth Vanderpoel Van Schaick. His father died when Gerrit was one and his mother quickly re-married. Gerrit grew up in Albany's first ward as a member of a large combined family.

In October 1705, he married Albany native Sara Goewy in New York City. For much of the next two decades, this family resided in Albany. By 1723, nine children had been christened at the Albany Dutch church.

A prominent resident of the third ward, Gerrit belonged to the Albany militia and was appointed sheriff of Albany County in 1719. Although he compiled a list of city and county freeholders in 1720, his name did not appear on that list.

By 1722, he had begun to acquire land at Schaghticoke. Perhaps he moved there about the time of the death of his wife following the birth of their last child in 1723.

In 1749, he was named one of the justices of the Albany County court of common pleas. In 1765, he testified that he was about eighty years old when verified the handwriting of his brother in a proceeding concerning the so-called will of Joachim Staats.

biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Gerrit S. Van Schaick is CAP biography number 3952. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.


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first posted: 8/20/05