According to traditional sources, Elizabeth Abeel was born in March 1671. She was the daughter of Albany carpenter Stoffel Janse and his wife Neeltie Croon Abeel. Although she was named and identified as a seven-year-old in the joint will filed by her parents in 1678, she soon was orphaned as both parents died during the early 1680s.

She was but fifteen when she married twenty-one-year-old fur trader Evert Bancker in September 1686. By 1710, thirteen children had been christened at the Albany Dutch church where she was a long time member and frequent baptism sponsor.

These Banckers prospered and lived in a prominent townhouse on lower State Street and also maintained a house in Manhattan where Evert enjoyed the "freedom of the city." They had a farm west of Albany and also spent time on the frontier at Oswego. Evert Bancker was appointed mayor of Albany first in 1694.

During the period of peace, Evert and Elizabeth's family gravitated more to their Guilderland farm.

Elizabeth Abeel Bancker died in March 1734 and was buried from the Albany church. Bancker filed a will and then died a few months later.

Sources: The life of Elizabeth Abeel Bancker is CAP biography number 118. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.