Elijah Brainard

Family-based resources tell us that Albany resident Elijah Brainard was born in 1774 or 1784. Thus, his parents would have been Daniel Brainard and his second wife the widow Eunice Brooks Hubbard of Middlesex County, Connecticut. We seek definitive information on his path to Albany.

In July 1807, he is said to have married one Asenath Plumb of New Baltimore, New York. Between 1808 and 1836, fourteen children were born in Albany.

Family-based information tells us that he was "a shipbuilder" and that "he owned the first dry dock in Albany."

In 1813, the first city directory listed him as a pump maker at 10 Orange Street. For many years following, he was listed at various nearby locations as a "pump & block maker" He was the sometime partner of one George Scott.

During the 1820s and possibly thereafter, he was involved in a number of business ventures in Albany.

From the early 1800s and probably until the mid-1820s, he was a member, officer, and trustee of the Albany Mechanics Society. In 1809, the third ward assessment roll valued his house and lot on Quay Street. His residence was on nearby Water Street.

Elijah Brainard died in July 1840 at the age of fifty-six. Letters of Administration were granted on his estate a month later.

A number of same-named contemporaries complicate the assignment of qualitative information on "Elijah Brainard." This sketch seeks to focus on the Albany resident described above. With many parts of his life still unaccounted for, we move on for now.

Sources: The life of Elijah Brainard is CAP biography number 7411. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.
    A same-named contemporary died in 1843.