Henry Bleecker

Henry Bleecker was born in September 1763. He was the son of Hendrick and Catharina Cuyler Bleecker. He grew up in the Pearl Street home of a prominent businessman and city official. His older brother was his beusiness partner while the two adult sisters named in their father's will married Albany businessmen. Their father died in 1787 but their mother survived until 1808.

Like his older brother, he received a Revolutionary War land bounty right in conjunction with the Albany militia company. In May 1780, Henry Bleecker of Albany was identified as a clerk serving under commissary Colonel Jacob Cuyler in Albany. We seek information on the extent of the actual wartime service of this individual with an often-encountered name.

In 1788, his personal property was valued under the house of his mother. In 1790, he was included her second ward household. In 1799, he had taken over as the head of the household. The next year, his budding family was configured on the census. Over the next three decades, he was a prominent merchant with a residence at 43 North Pearl Street. He also owned a storehouse on Market Street. His business partner was his older brother, Nicholas.

In June 1799, Henry was in his mid thirties when he married a slightly younger Elizabeth Metcalf at the Albany Dutch church. Over then next decades, their children were christened in the Albany church.

Henry Bleecker died in November 1837. He had lived seventy-five years. His will passed probate a month later. His widow survived until 1852.

Sources: The life of Henry Bleecker is CAP biography number 187. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.