Veeder - Veder - Vedder

by


At this point, we are struggling to discern and deliniate the individuals who lived in early Albany and were known by the names of Veeder - Veder - Vedder. We are comfortably "in denial" regarding all other variations.

Were they a single New Netherland family? Two distinct families? Three or more? Our plan here is to work with individuals known in Albany as "Veeder" and to see if they are connected to those who lived in greater Albany County and were also known as "Veder" and "Vedder". At this point, we do not know and move forward cautiously following individual life stories as is our general custom.

Our travails are complicated by the inconsistent spelling(s) of the name(s) in the community record and by historians and genealogists ever since. Over the past thirty years, I have spoken with a number of people who claim to have "their V's straight. No one, repeat no one yet encountered has been able to divide all of them perfectly!

The first Veeder in what became the city of Albany appears to have been Simon Volkertse who came to the Hudson Valley during the 1650s. Eight of his children married and raised families.

One of them does not appear to have been Harme Vedder who was identified as the owner of an Albany house in 1679.

The name of "Mr. Simeon Veder" (known mostly as Simon J. Veeder appeared on the census of householders taken in 1756. The same individual was called "Seymon Johs Veeder" in a petition sent to the governor by Albany merchants in 1764.

All three spellings were used by the Albany assessor's in composing the tax rolls in 1788. Three distinct "Veeders" were listed as heads of families on the first Federal census taken just two years later.

So for now, Veeder appears to be a city-based usage for an essentially single but substantial household through time (one main household in the city). The other spellings/names appear to be found more in the rings of settlement around Albany.

Those mostly known as Vedder appear to be descended from Harmen Albertse who is said to have emigrated to Beverwyck by 1647 but "retired" to Schenectady and lived into the eighteenth century. His large family spread out in the region especially in Schenectady. Son Corset was married to two Albany natives.


danger! Thinking and brainstorming in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: This outline sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.
Follow this link to more information on the Veeders on this website.
Follow this link to more information on the Vedders on this website.
Follow this link to more information on the Veders on this website.
But first, read this!




privately posted: 3/5/06