Johannes Hooghkerk

by


Johannes Hooghkerk was born in July 1747. He was a younger son in the large family of first ward residents Lucas and Rebecca Fonda Hooghkerk. His mother died in 1750 - following the birth of her last child.

Early in 1766, he joined his Albany neighbors in signing the constitution of the Albany Sons of Liberty. The next year, his name appeared on the roster of an Albany militia company. He belonged to the Albany Masonic Lodge.

About that time, his name began to appear on Albany assessment rolls under the house of his father. He was a tailor and his father, a britchesmaker. In 1779, he was the owner of record on first ward property.

At the outbreak of hostilities, he was commissioned as an ensign and then lieutenant in an Albany company. From 1776 until he resigned in January 1779, he was a first lieutenant in the Fourth New York Regiment. Afterwards, he received a land bounty right in conjunction with the Albany militia regiment.

In August 1776, he married Elizabeth/Margaret Martin at the Albany Dutch church. By 1785, the marriage had produced five children - the last one, Alida, was christened with her father being "deceased."

In November 1784, his corner house opposite the Presbyterian Meeting House at Pearl and Beaver was to be the site of a new school.

Johannes Hooghkerk died in March 1785 and was buried in the church plot. He had lived less than thirty-eight years. His widow lived on at 37 Beaver Street for many years and died in 1835.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Johannes Hooghkerk is CAP biography number 3600. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




first posted: 12/30/07