Cornelia Quackenbush De Foreest

Cornelia Quackenbush was born in September 1699. She was the daughter of Wouter and Cornelia Bogert Quackenbush. She grew up near her family's holdings in the North End of Albany.

In August 1718, she married Jesse De Foreest at the Albany Dutch church. By 1740, nine children had been christened in Albany.

This De Foreest family raised their family near their kin along the North Albany waterfront where Jesse served as an alderman during the 1730s and '40s.

Jesse De Foreest was buried in September 1756. Possibly while he was still alive, "Nilky was identifed at the head of their Albany household and was called a "merchant." During the next years, Jesse's accounts with the city were paid to his widow. During the 1760s, Neeltie's third ward holdings were valued substantially on city assessment rolls. She also owned a lot in the first ward. Her comparatively high public visibility probably indicates that Neeltie was continuing her late husband's business.

Cornelia Quackenbush De Foreest's passing in April 1773 was noted in the family bible with the entry: "1773, April 12, my mother Neiletje Quackenbush died between 5 and 6 P. M., at the age of 76 years she would have been had she lived until 22 August."

Sources: The life of Cornelia Quackenbush De Foreest is CAP biography number 2035. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.