Jacobus Van Vorst

According to traditional sources, Jacobus Van Vorst was born in 1641. He probably was the second son of Gerrit and Geertruy Jacobs Van Vorst. He may have been born after his parents emigrated to New Netherland. He was sometimes referred to as "Jacob Gerritse."

In 1674, he was among those invited to the funeral of Jeremias Van Rensselaer.

We seek the name of his wife. He probably married during the 1660s as his son, Jellis, was eleven in 1681 when he was apprenticed to a shoemaker. Jacobus was a supporter of the Albany Dutch church.

He had settled in Albany by 1679 when he was identified as a householder.

During the mid-1680s, he was appointed city porter and was a licenced carman in Albany. In January 1687, he exchanged his house and lot in Albany with Pieter Quackenbush for Pieter's house, shed, and land in Rensselaerswyck. He also paid Quackenbush "twenty beavers."

In 1697, his Albany household consisted of two men. In 1699, he joined his neighbors in swearing allegiance to the king of England.

After 1699, the name of Jacobus Van Vorst dropped from the Albany record. Jellis Van Vorst became a resident of Schenectady.

Sources: The life of Jacobus Van Vorst is CAP biography number 6427. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. Chief among the traditional sources, is HMGF. At this point, we have a not connected this individual to the New Jersey Van Vorsts.