John Easton

By 1779, John Easton had settled in Albany. In that year, he was listed on the assessment roll as a homeowner in the first ward. Two years later, he purchased "freedom of the city" - the right to conduct business in Albany. At that time, he was identified as a cordwainer.

He was married to Janet Rutherford. In 1779, their son was baptized in the Albany Dutch church. Other births followed. In 1788, another son was baptized in the Albany Presbyterian church. Future Albany householder William Easton probably was their older son.

During the 1780s and 90s, this shoemaker was an Albany mainstay. His middling home on upper State Street housed a growing family. In 1797, he was listed as a trustee of the Albany Mechanics Society.

John Easton died in August 1799 and was buried from the First Presbyterian church. He had lived sixty years. His eldest son was listed on the census of 1800 in the Easton house!

Sources: The life of John Easton is CAP biography number 7912. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. He probably was of Scottish ancestry. An unsubstantiated source calls him the son of William Easton of Burnfoot County, Scotland!