Gerrit Van Ness

Gerrit Van Ness was born about 1681. He was the son of Albany area resident Hendrick Van Ness and his first wife, Anna Everts Van Ness. This Gerrit lost his mother at an early age and his father re-married in 1688. In December 1702, he was twenty-one when he testified in an Albany court. His older uncle and namesake was an Albany resident who died in 1715.

In June 1709, he married a somewhat younger Catharina De Foreest at the Albany Dutch church. By 1724, five children had been christened in Albany where both parents were regular baptism sponsors.

In April 1710, the Albany government contracted with him to set up new stockadoes and dig ditches.

In 1720, his name was included on a list of Albany freeholders living in the third ward. The same-named individual on the freeholders list for 1742 probably was his nephew.

Gerrit Van Ness buried his wife in March 1743. Into his sixties, he probably died some time thereafter.

Sources: The life of Gerrit Van Ness is CAP biography number 901. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.