Hendrick Ten Eyck, Jr.
by
Stefan Bielinski


Hendrick Ten Eyck, Jr. was born in October 1744. He was the son of Albany mainstays Jacob H. and Anna Wendell Ten Eyck.

In May 1767, he married Margarita Douw at the Albany Dutch church where both partners were lifelong members. By 1785, their seven children had been baptized there.

Hendrick Ten Eyck, Jr. came of age after the end of the colonial wars and joined with his neighbors in questioning British policies of the late 1760s. His perspective may have been altered when he received the provincial appointment as sheriff of Albany County in 1770. At that time, he was an emerging merchant and member of the militia and other community-based organizations.

Although initially supporting the resistance effort with supplies, he was considered a royal official and remained under suspicion throughout the war. In May 1777, he was asked to swear an oath of allegiance to New York State. He refused and was threatened with deportation to the British. He apparently did take the oath and remained in the community. He later received a land bounty right in conjunction with the Albany militia regiment.

After the war, he re-established his business and was elected alderman for the second ward in 1786. While serving on the city council, he was appointed justice of the Albany County Court of Common Pleas in 1789. In 1790, his Pearl Street household was attended by three slaves.

In 1792, he was named in the will filed by his uncle.

Hendrick Ten Eyck, Jr. died in September 1795 - "a highly respected citizen" and was buried from the Dutch church. Letters of administration were issued on his estate the following March.

PAGE IN PROGRESS


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Hendrick Ten Eyck, Jr. is CAP biography number 4875. This profile is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




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first posted: 10/10/03; updated 9/23/11