Thomas Van Zandt

by


Thomas Van Zandt was born in September 1763. He was the son of John and Margarita Wilkeson Van Zandt. He grew up a middle child in the very large (15 births) family of a Southside weaver.

Perhaps he was one of the two men listed on the census in 1790 under his father's household. Two years earlier, the first ward assessment roll valued Thomas J.'s personal property in the first ward just under John Van Zandt's personal holdings.

In February 1792, he married his childhood neighbor Rebecca Hooghkerk at the Albany Dutch church. By 1804, four children had been christened in Albany.

These Van Zandts made their home on the west side what became South Pearl Street from where Thomas plied the mason's trade. The census in 1800 showed the couple, three young children, and probably his widowed mother in their first ward home.

Beginning in 1813, this modest mason's home at 43 Washington (South Pearl) Street was one of ten Van Zandt homes included in the city directory. It sat on the northwestern corner with Plain Street. He also owned additional property in that part of Albany.

Thomas Van Zandt was dead by 1818, when his widow was listed in the city directory at 43 South Pearl. She lived on until July 1855. Both partners were finally interred at the Albany Rural Cemetery.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Thomas Van Zandt is CAP biography number 334. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.





first posted: 6/20/10