Gerrit Van Zandt

by


Gerrit Van Zandt was born in the Fall of 1695 and christened on October 4. He was a middle child in the large family of Joseph Janse and Zytie Marselis Van Zandt. He grew up in an aspiring trader's home on Albany's south side. In 1715, his name was included on the roster of an Albany militia company. He would be known as "Gerrit Van Zandt, Sr."

In November 1727, he married Anna Vandenbergh at the Albany Dutch church. By 1747, eight children had been christened in Albany.

These Van Zandts also lived in the first ward where Gerrit Sr. became a prominent merchant. In 1726, he was appointed constable. In 1730. he purchased a triangle lot next to his house. In 1742 and 1763, his name appeared on lists of Albany freeholders. Assessment rolls from the mid-1760s valued his holdings comparable to those of prosperous Albany businessmen.

Gerrit Van Zandt, Sr. was still alive in 1767. After that, his name appears to have dropped from the Albany record. Later references probably are to other same-named individuals.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Gerrit Van Zandt is CAP biography number 261. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




first posted: 12/20/06