Jacob Wendell

Jacob Wendell was born in November 1702. He was the first son born to the marriage of Albany mainstays Harmanus and Anna Glen Wendell. He grew up in a comfortable home on upper State Street.

In December 1728, he married Helena Van Rensselaer at the Albany Dutch church. By 1745, eight children had been christened in Albany where he was an occasional baptism sponsor.

As early as 1723, he was named on a list of Albany merchants. In 1736, he was appointed firemaster for the third ward. In 1744, he was elected alderman.

He also had inherited land at Schenectady, in the Mohawk Valley, and on the eastern side of the Hudson.

Months from his forty-third birthday, Jacob Wendell died in September 1745 and was buried in Greenbush alongside his wife's family. His widow survived until 1792.

Sources: The life of Jacob Wendell is CAP biography number 2697. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.