Jeremiah Lansing

Jeremiah Lansing was born in April 1754. He was the son of Peter and Elizabeth Wendell Lansing. He was raised in a merchant's house in the heart of Albany's downtown business district.

His entry into business was delayed by the outbreak of hostilities as he reached his twenty-first birthday. We seek information on the extent of his wartime service - although he does seem to have been involved some with operations of the Loan Office. Later, he was accorded a land bounty right for service in conjunction with the first regiment of the Albany County militia.

In March of 1779, his personal property was assessed under the first ward house of his father. A decade later, his house and property were valued separately.

In 1779, he entered the Albany mainstream when he was appointed firemaster for the first ward. He later served as an election inspector. In 1793, he was elected alderman for the third ward. In 1798, he was elected to represent Albany in the New York State Assembly.

In October 1780, he married the younger Albany native Helena Wendell at the Albany Dutch church where he was a lifelong member. By 1800, five children had been christened there.

In 1789, he "sold" the farm of 125 acres he had acquired from the patroon a year earlier that was located in the East Manor along the Wynantskill [Creek].

These Lansings lived for a time on Market Street. However, by 1800, they had relocated to a comfortable home on North Pearl Street.

In June 1812, he was identified as "my dear friend" and named as executor of the will of Margaret Ten Broeck of "the Colonie."

Jeremiah Lansing died in October 1817 at the age of sixty-three. He was buried in the church plot of the Washington Park cemetery. Letters of administration were issued on his estate in November. His widow, Helena, lived at what became their 80 North Pearl Street address until her passing in October 1829.

Sources: The life of Jeremiah Lansing is CAP biography number 3438. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.

first posted 9/20/05; revised 6/10/13