Pieter Yates

by


Pieter Yates was born in January 1727. He was the son of Albany natives Christoffel and Catalina Winne Yates. He was a younger son in a large family raised in a blacksmith's home in the second ward. He was named for his maternal grandfather - the patriarch of the Winne family.

Like his more famous, slightly older brother, this Pieter Yates rose from modest beginnings to prominence - although, like many other Albany boys, he found success beyond the city limits.

About 1749, he married Sara Van Alsytne. By 1767, seven children had been christened at the Albany Dutch church.

Like his father, he was a smith who raised his family in a good house in the third ward. In 1763, his name was included on a list of Albany freeholders. In 1764, he signed a petition from Albany businessmen regarding the fur trade. In 1766, he signed the constitution of the Albany Sons of Liberty.

During the 1750s and 60s, he performed services for the city government and sought and received additional lots near Foxes Creek.

As early as the 1770s, he seems to have left Albany. He relocated to Schaghticoke where he lived on a farm for the rest of his life. From the early days of the war, he was an officer in the Revolutionary army and commanded a regiment of the Albany County militia. He was known as "Colonel Peter Yates."

In 1800, his household was enumerated on the Schaghticoke census with one younger man and seven slaves.

Pieter Yates filed a will in Rensselaer County on August 15, 1807. It left a very substantial estate (mostly farm lands) to his children. His wife, Sara, was not mentioned in the will. However, provision was made for his "present wife" whom he married in October 1796. "Col." Pieter Yates died in September 1807. In 1809, his vacant lot on Columbia Street was valued on the third ward assessment roll as the property of the "heirs of Peter Yates of Schaghticoke - a non resident).


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Pieter Yates is CAP biography number 4429. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. His Schaghticoke life and wartime activities are further developed online from "Schaghticoke History."




first posted: 9/25/07