Adrian Janse Van Ilpendam was a notary in Albany during the third quarter of the seventeenth century.

He probably was born about 1611. His background is puzzling and raises more questions for us than anything else!

He was a schoolteacher and sometime fur trader in Beverwyck. He was living in the community when houselots were allocated in 1656. However, his name did not appear on either of the fairly comprehensive lists of fur traders compiled in 1660. In 1657, he appears to have purchased a brickyard.

In 1669, he was appointed notary by the Albany court. At that time, he gave his age as fifty-one.

His wife was named Tryntje Jans. The couple had no children. He was a member of the Albany Dutch church.

In 1679, his name appeared on an Albany census of householders. In 1681, he was identified as an Albany burgher. His house was located on the main street that ran parallel to the river.

Adrian Janse Van Ilpendam committed suicide by hanging himself in 1685. His life is the subject of an unparalleled portrait by Donna Merwick recently published under the title of Death of a Notary.

In 1701, former coroner Jan Van Loon was summoned to surrender Van Ilpendam's papers - which he apparently held for twenty-five years.

Sources: The life of Adrian Janse Van Ilpendam is CAP biography number 6424. This sketch is derived chiefly from Donna Merwick's book and from community-based resources. Additionally, Janny Venema's Beverwijck provides substantial biographical information.