Johannes J. Wendell

This individual, one of a number of contemporaries known as Johannes J. Wendell, was born in June 1719. He was the last son of the marriage of Albany residents Johannes and Susanna Viele Wendell. Mostly, he was referred to as John J. [or I.] Wendell to prevent confusion with a number of same-named kin including his father. Johannes J. grew up in Albany's second ward and became more historically distinct with the passing of Johannes Wendell in 1743. A son, born in 1751, bore the full name as well.

In September 1743, he was appointed constable for the first ward and also high constable for the entire city.

In September 1750, a marriage license was granted to Johannes J. Wendell and Brooklyn native Sara Bergen. They were married in New York City a few days later. However, beginning in June 1751, four children were christened by them in the Albany Dutch church where the parents also would be occasional baptism sponsors.

By 1756 "Jno Wendall" was identified as an Albany householder and a shoemaker. Despite a number of same-named contemporaries, we move forward assigning such qualitative material to this individual.

In 1763, his name appeared on a countywide list of freeholders. City assessment rolls for the mid-1760s valued John Wendell's property on two occasions. Located in the first ward, Wendell's holdings were accorded a moderately modest assessment - comparable to that of other city tradesmen. In 1767, he probably was one of the "rank and file" Johannes Wendells listed on the roster of Captain Hendrick M. Roseboom's city militia company. By that time, perhaps the younger John A. Wendell was distinguishable from the others.

Into his fifties at the outbreak of hostilities in 1775 found John J. Wendell among the first ward residents contributing supplies for the relief of Ticonderoga. In November 1776, he was paid for carrying marching orders to county militia colonels "to march on the late alarm to the northward." In August 1778, perhaps it was his name that appeared on a Quartermaster's Dept. roster as "Overseer of the Public Stables, with Six Hostlers." A year later, he was held back from more active service as he still held that position and was needed in Albany.

In any event, after the war a John I. Wendell was accorded a land bounty right for service in conjunction with the Albany militia regiment.

After that, our grasp of this subject's later life becomes less solid. Probably, it was his son who died in 1786.

Sources: The life of Johannes J. Wendell is CAP biography number 2951. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.