Barent C. Ten Eyck

by

Barent C. Ten Eyck was born in September 1714. He was the son of Albany mainliners Coenradt and Gerritje Van Schaick Ten Eyck. He grew up in a large family in a silvesmith's home in Albany's second ward. His father's business carried him to New York and to the frontier where Coenradt's sons learned the silversmith's craft as well as the elements of business. He sometimes was referred to as "Barent C. Ten Eyck" to prevent confusion with a number of same-named kin.

In January 1756, Barent C. married Albany native Elsje Cuyler at the Albany Dutch church. He was in his forties and she was twenty-seven. The marriage may have been childless. However, both partners were long time church members, pewholders, and baptism sponsors.

These Ten Eycks lived in the second ward where Barent was a silversmith, businessman, firemaster (1742, 1767), and assistant alderman (1747). In 1763, his name may have appeared on a list of Albany freeholders.

During the 1760s, 70s, and 80s, his property was valued on Albany assessment rolls. He was involved in a number of real estate transactions and was an occasional contractor of the city. A number of references regarding "Barent Ten Eyck" appear in the community record.

In 1790, perhaps the [childless] couple were living in one of his brothers' Watervliet homes.

Barent C. Ten Eyck buried his wife in November 1791. He filed a will on February 9, 1795. It named his [deceased] brother and nephews as heirs. He died at the end of February 1795 at the age of eighty. The will passed probate on March 9.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Barent C. Ten Eyck is CAP biography number 4844. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. Because several same-named contemporaries were living in the Albany area, this presentation hesitates to include much interesting material.




first posted 7/20/07; updated 10/5/13