Peter Van Loon

by

Peter Van Loon was born early in 1775. He was the son of Jacob and Christina Schuyler Van Loon. He was the eldest surviving son of a large Albany family and grew up in a businessman's home on Lion Street.

By 1798, he had married Albany native Sara Wendell. Beginning in that year, their children (perhaps nine or more) were christened at the Albany Dutch church.

Beginning in 1800, his household was configured on the census of the second ward. Over the next decades, city census returns document the growth and maturation of his family. Community-based resources note this mainliner as a merchant, store keeper, fireman, and aspiring bank director. Perhaps he served in a number of municipal offices as well.

City assessment rolls for the period consistently valued his real property on State, Lion, and Lydius Streets.

In 1813, the first city directory noted that he was a merchant living at 46 State Street and that he died in 1852. By 1816, the directory showed that he had relocated his residence to 50 Lydius Street and that his store was located at 48 State Street. As late as 1830, the directory identified him simply as "P. Van Loon" on "Lydius."

In 1850, the Federal census identified him as a resident of the third ward, aged 75, living with Sarah (age 74), and the owner of real property valued at "35,000."

Peter Van Loon is said to have died in March 1852. His will passed probate in Albany that April. His gravestone at Albany Rural Cemetery was erected by his children would mark the particulars of his and Sara's lives.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Peter Van Loon is CAP biography number 6711. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




first posted 10/20/16