Johannes Van Schaick

Johannes Van Schaick was born in January 1774. He was the son of Albany mainstays Goose and Maria Ten Broeck Van Schaick. Other same-named contemporaries are at-risk in the region. He grew up as the eldest son in the large family of a Revolutionary army officer who was on duty in Albany. We hope to be able to document his formative years in postwar Albany.

Johannes was named among the six children who would be heirs in the will filed by his father in 1788. At that time fourteen-year-old John was bequeathed a silver watch and a male servant when he turned twenty years old.

By 1800, he had married Margaret Bleecker - the first born daughter of Albany businessman John N. Bleecker. Their marriage produced at least two children who were christened at the Albany Dutch church beginning in 1800.

In 1808, John Van Schaick signed an affidavit regarding the wartime service of his father.

In 1815, John Van Schaick was identified in the city directory as a merchant at 375 North Market and at 37 Pearl Streets. In 1819, he was still at those addresses. Other family members lived nearby. In 1822, Widow Margaret was listed as the principal at 47 North Pearl.

In August 1815, "Albany's" John Van Schaick signed a receipt for the rental of his Albany house.

We believe this subject to be an Albany mainliner for whom we expect to uncover more comprehensive records than the information listed above.

Johannes Van Schaick died in March 1820 at the age of forty-two and was buried in his church cemetery. In 1822, his heirs (particularly the Bleeckers) still were attempting to settle his estate. His widow would live much longer - being buried on Manhattan in 1872.

Sources: The life of Johannes Van Schaick is CAP biography number 3964. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.

Two volumes (126 and 127) of papers in the Gansevoort-Lansing Collection at the New York Public Library relate to one John Van Schaick.

Link to additional documents: Online. Perhaps this subject had a closer connection to Hyde Hall that we think.