Jeremiah Pennel

Spelled variously, Jeremiah Pennel appears to have been born prior to 1756. We seek information on his origins and path to Albany. He may have migrated from Pennsylvania where the Pennel family was established. However, a same-named individual was born in 1750 in Falmouth, Maine.

Between 1777 and 1779, the name of a Jeremiah Pennel appeared on a roster of the Third Artillery Regiment of the Continental army. Later, the name appeared on a Congressional list of Revolutionary war pensioners at least twice.

However, during that time, his name has not been encountered in the records of Albany's wartime governing or administrative bodies.

By January 1784, he was in Albany where he married one "Annatje Hilten" at the Albany Dutch church. In August 1788, their daughter Ruth was christened in both the Presbyterian and Episcopal churches. Census returns for 1790 and 1800 point to additional children.

In 1788, the house an lot of Jeremiah Pennell was assessed in the first ward. Nearby were the houses of a number of his new in-laws the Hiltons.

In 1790, his first ward household held five family members. A decade later, his household was listed on the census for the second ward. At that time, two adolescent boys, a male over 45 years of age, two adolescent females, and a woman aged 26-45 were accounted for in that domicile. In 1799, his house, lot, and personal property all were valued on the first ward assessment roll.

In October 1791, he was identified as a fireman in Division Four.

Perhaps he was kin to Aaron Pennel, who died in Albany in 1794 at the age of twenty-five.

In August 1805, Jeremiah Pennel was buried from the Dutch church. His pall and hearse were "gratis." His widow was dead by September 1807 when letters of administration were issued on the estate of "Hannah Pannel."

Sources: The life of Jeremiah Pennel has no CAP biography number. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. With so many unresolved issues on his life, we move on for now.