Benjamin Van Zandt

Benjamin Van Zandt was born in May 1767. He was the son of Rensselaerswyck residents Gysbert and Rebecca Winne Van Zandt. He was a middle child in the large family of a carpenter/farmer on the West Manor and was named for his mother's father - also a farmer who lived nearby.

In August 1787, Benjamin married a slightly older Sara Visscher at the Albany Dutch church. By 1793, three children had been christened in Albany. Perhaps Sara died and Benjamin re-married in 1797 and fathered more children.

This Van Zandt family made its home just outside the city in Watervliet. In 1800, the census counted only two children with Benjamin and his wife in their Watervliet home. During those years, he is said to have been a resident of the town of New Scotland and to have been an officer in the Albany County militia.

In March 1794, he was acting as administrator of the estate of the deceased Bastian H. Visscher when he ordered an inventory of Visscher's estate.

Benjamin Van Zandt may have lived until 1838.

Sources: The life of Benjamin Van Zandt is CAP biography number 248. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.