Wouter Groesbeck

This Wouter Groesbeck was born in October 1712. He was the son of Albany residents Johannes and Geertruy Quackenbush Groesbeck. A number of similarly-named individuals are at risk during his lifetime. This individual grew up a middle child in the family of a middling Albany trader and Schaghticoke landholder.

We currently surmise that this Wouter married Albany native Jannetje Bogert at the Albany Dutch church in December 1739. By 1758, at least seven children whose names honored the grandparents were christened in Albany.

We suspect that this Wouter Groesbeck became a resident of Schaghticoke and/or possibly was connected to Halfmoon as well.

In November 1736, he "bought" land in Schaghticoke from the city corporation. Its boundaries and terms of "sale" were defined at that time. Over the next two dcades, he either paid or was in arrears for rent on his Schaghticoke property.

In the summer of 1756, the legendary "homestead" of Wouter Groesbeck (near the juncture of the Tohannock and the Hoosac) was attacked by French and Indian raiders.

During the 1760s, the name of "Wouter Groesbeck" appeared on assessment rolls for Halfmoon (two Wouters) and for the West Manor of Rensselaerswyck.

The household of this individual was not configured on the Albany County census in 1790. At that time, he would have been approaching eighty years of age.

With unresolved questions and issues regarding the life and passing of this Wouter Groesbeck, we move on for now.

Sources: The life of this Wouter Groesbeck has not been assigned a CAP biography number. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.