Henry Truax

Henry Truax was born in October 1761. He was the second surviving son (two earlier Hendricks died) of Isaac and Susanna Roseboom Truax. His family was from Schenectady but was living in Montreal at the outbreak of the War. His older brother was Albany merchant Isaac I. Truax.

In 1769, he among those noted in the will filed by his bachelor uncle - an Albany resident.

Not yet fifteen at the onset of hostilities, Henry Truax would serve in the Revolutionary army where he sometimes was referred to as "Harry." We seek more definitive information on his wartime activities. Afterwards, he was accorded a land bounty right in conjunction with the Albany militia regiment.

After the war, he settled in Albany. In March 1783, he witnessed the will of an Albany neighbor. In 1788, his personal property was valued under the third ward house of his widowed mother. His brother also lived in the Market Street home.

Beginning in 1790, his third ward household was configured on the Albany census. In 1800, his household included two young girls and Truax and his wife. City assessment rolls valued his Market Street home and lots in the first ward as well. Beginning with the first directory in 1813, he was identified as a merchant living at 67 (North) Market Street.

In 1789, he married Ann Yates at the Albany Dutch church. Their children were christened there where he was a supporter, pewholder, and later a member of the Consistory. Beginning in 1800, Henry kept an account book for alms distributed by the church. In 1815, these Truaxes became members of the Second Reformed Church in Albany.

In the years that followed, this Market Street merchant held a number of civic and private sector offices. In 1820, he was appointed county clerk and served for a year.

Henry Truax died in December 1834 at the age of seventy-four. He was buried along with his deceased children in the Dutch church section of the Washington Park cemetery. His will passed probate in December. His widow survived until 1845.

Sources: The life of Henry Truax has not been assigned a CAP biography number. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.