Tobias C. Ten Eyck

by

Southern Albany County notable Tobias Ten Eyck was born in May 1723. He was the son of Coenradt and Gerritje Van Schaick Ten Eyck. He was a younger son in the large family of an Albany silversmith and businessman. This subject, Tobias C. Ten Eyck, has been confused with his older and more visible cousin Tobias H. Ten Eyck (the son of Hendrick who married the daughter of Johannes De Peyster).

During the 1740s, he was among those who provided lumber, supplies, and munitions to Albany's fort and fortifications. During that time, his older brother was sheriff then mayor of Albany.

In 1755, he supported the New York war effort by carrying ordnance, guns, carriages, and stores from New York to Albany on his sloop. At that time, he was identified as the master of the Hudson River sloop Christina which he owned with his brother Anthony.

Beginning in 1756, his name appeared on probate documents filed by members of his large family. In November, he was identified as the son of Coenradt in the will filed by his maiden aunt. As late as October 1782, he was named co-executor of the estate of his sister and one-time Coeymans neighbor. At that time four brothers were still living.

In February 1756, this Tobias married a somewhat younger Judith Van Buren of Schodack at the Albany Dutch church. By 1772, the marriage had produced at least six children who were christened in Albany and elsewhere in Albany County. In 1754, he was a pew holder in the gallery at the Albany church.

These Ten Eycks raised their family on a farmstead on the West Manor where his main property was valued substantially. In 1767, his farm (near the southern border of he West manor) was located on a map of Rensselaerswyck. In June 1788, he participated in the partitioning of the Coeymans Patent (obtaining 2,500 acres). Later in 1766, he was among those who leased a lot where the barracks formerly stood.

His Coeymans/Selkirk home (said to have been built about 1760) and associated buildings have been the subject of some scholarship. At this point, however, we cannot pursue that part of his story.

During the 1760s, he was identified as an enlisted man in a Rensselaerswyck militia company. In his early fifties at the outbreak of hostilities, we expect to find some record of his wartime activities.

In 1790, his household was configured on the census for Watervliet and was served by ten slaves.

Albany native and Rensselaerswyck then Coeymans resident resident Tobias Ten Eyck died in November 1791. His will passed probate in Albany County in March 1792. His widow survived until 1823.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Tobias C. Ten Eyck is CAP biography number 4907. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




first posted 6/20/13