Teunis T. Van Vechten

Teunis T. Van Vechten was born about 1749. He was the son of Teunis and Judith Ten Broeck Van Vechten of Catskill. He was the older brother of Albany jurist Abraham Van Vechten.

His wife was Elizabeth De Wandelaer. Between 1777 and 1788, five children were christened at the Albany Dutch church where he was a member and member of the church Consistory.

Starting out as a boarder in a third ward home, Teunis T. Van Vechten came to live in a small house at what became 333 North Market Street - an Albany landmark for many years. He was a merchant, property owner, and community leader. In 1775, he was appointed firemaster for the third ward and served again in 1788 and 1791.

At the outbreak of hostilities in 1775, he was serving as an ensign on the third ward watch. He also served as an officer in an Albany militia regiment. In 1776, he was elected to the Albany Committee of Correspondence. He also served in the Quartermaster Department under General Morgan Lewis. In August 1778, he was identified an Assistant QMG at Albany. Later, he received a bounty right for service in conjunction with the city militia regiment.

After the war, he augmented his real property holdings and expanded his business to include importing and paint sales. He also was involved in a number of civic projects. In 1803, he was identified as a "gentleman."

In 1813, the first city directory listed him at 107 Market Street. By that time, his small, traditional home was dwarfed by grander buildings representing the new Albany of the nineteenth century.

Teunis T. Van Vechten died in December 1817. His will was probated in January 1818. He had lived sixty-eight years. His widow survived until 1831.

Sources: The life of Teunis T. Van Vechten is CAP biography number 2569. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.