Jacob A. Van Schaick

by


Jacob A. Van Schaick was born in March 1718. He was the son of Anthony and Anna Catharina Ten Broeck Van Schaick. He grew up as a middle child in a landmark house in the first ward.

In September 1751, he was thirty-three when he married Albany native Catharina Cuyler at the Dutch church. By 1767, the marriage had produced four children who were christened at the Albany church where he was a member and pewholder. By 1777, Catharina was dead and he had re-married, this time to one Elizabeth Van Schaick. Their daughter, Catharina, was born in 1778.

He was a mainline merchant who first lived in the first ward. Like many of his kin, he was identified with those still engaged in the fur trade. Later in the 1750s, he relocated to the third ward - taking up residence on Market Street where he lived until his death. Property assessments for the second half of the century placed his Albany holdings in the community's top ten percent.

In 1744, he was named firemaster for the first ward. Ten years later, he was elected assistant alderman and re-elected again the year following. In 1759, he was elected assistant alderman for the third ward and re-elected the next two years. In 1766, he was elected alderman for the third ward. In addition, he was appointed sheriff of Albany in 1758 and served thru 1760.

During the period 1765-85, he was an active trader on the Albany real estate market - buying, selling, and leasing lots and grounds along the river and on Foxes Creek. He also was interested in lands at Tionnderogge.

Jacob A. Van Schaick was an active businessman for many decades. In 1784, hie issued a catalogue of articles he offered for sale at his store on "Water Street" near Middle Dock. He filed a will in December 1787. It mentioned his wife, Elizabeth, and six living children. Probate documents included a very extensive inventory of his estate. The will passed probate a month later. This Albany resident had lived almost seventy years.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Jacob A. Van Schaick is CAP biography number 4041. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




first posted: 11/5/06