Adrian Quackenbush

Adrian Quackenbush was born about 1675. He was a middle son in the large family of New Netherland pioneers Pieter and Maria Quackenbush. His father was a brickmaker who owned properties in and around Albany.

In January 1699, he married Catharina Van Schaick at the Albany Dutch church. It was the first marriage for both Albany residents. By 1719, nine children had been christened at their Albany church.

In June 1699, he was one of those cited for not actually possessing freedom of the city by the Albany city council. That action may have meant that he was not actually born within the city limits and perhaps in Rensselaerswyck. In 1700, he was among those merchants who petitioned the provincial government for protection and for support relating to the Indian trade.

In January 1701, he signed a receipt in a property transaction on behalf of his wife and relating to her late father's estate.

In 1702, his property in the third ward was accorded a moderate assessment. In 1709, his first ward house received a moderate assessment.

In May 1719, he successfully petitioned the council for land at Schaghticoke. The land was leased and was described as meadow and woodland. In 1720, he was identified as a freeholder at Schaghticoke.

In 1732, Adrian Quackenbush sold his Schaghticoke holdings to Daniel Ketelhuyn after first offering to sell them back to the city of Albany.

He died sometime thereafter. His widow survived for more than a decade after her husband's death. A number of their offspring became Schaghticoke residents.

Sources: The life of Adrian Quackenbush is CAP biography number 2000. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.