Christopher Abeel
by
Stefan Bielinski


Christoffel (Christopher) Abeel was born in December 1696. He was the eldest son of Mayor Johannes Abeel and his wife, Catharina Schuyler Abeel. He grew up in his father's house on Market Street in Albany and in New York where Johannes Abeel also lived and conducted business. In 1710, he was named in the will of his father who died the following year. His mother re-married in 1712 and had four more children.

In September 1720, Christopher was an aspiring fur trader when he married Albany native Margarita Bries at the Albany Dutch church. By 1740, four of their children had been christened in Albany where he was a member and pewholder.

His home was in Albany's third ward. He was an Albany mainstay and freeholder but probably spent a large portion of his time trading beyond Albany. He also owned land in the Albany hinterland and conveyed a parcel in 1771.

Christopher lost his wife in 1758. He probably died during the early 1770s as his name was absent from Albany rolls after 1771. Christopher Abeel had lived into his seventies.

biography in-progress



notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Christopher Abeel is CAP biography number 113. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




Home | Site Index | Navigation | Email | New York State Museum


first posted: 1/30/05; revised 4/26/07