Dirck Wesselse Ten Broeck

Dirck Wesselse Ten Broeck (1638–1717), also known as Dirck Wessels, was a prominent early settler of Albany, New York. He is known as "the progenitor of the Albany family of Ten Broecks."[1]

Personal

The second of five children of Wessel Ten Broeck, Dirck Ten Broeck was born on December 18, 1638. In 1663 he married Christyna Van Buren in Albany. Christyna (May 19, 1644–November 24, 1729) was the daughter of Cornelis Maessen Van Buren and Catalyntje Martensen. The couple had six sons and seven daughters: Wessel (April 7, 1664–May 27, 1747), Elsje (d. June 29, 1752), Catalyntje (d. October 10, 1725), Cornelia (1669–June 10, 1729), Geertruy (d. after 1728), Christina (1672–October 4, 1774), Elizabeth (d. 1757), Lidia, Samuel (1680–April 5, 1756), twins Ephraim and Manassa (baptized November 21, 1881, died young), Johannes (1683−?), and Tobias (baptized February 20, 1689, died January 28, 1724).

Dirck Ten Broeck died at his estate called "The Bouwerie" in Clermont, New York, on November 24, 1717, and was buried there.

Business career

In 1663 he is listed as "a free merchant in Albany," and purchased a house and lot on the corner of State and James Streets. In 1676 Governor Thomas Dongan appointed him Magistrate Commissary, and later Envoy to Canada. In 1686 he was a signatory of the "Charter of Beverwijck." After the first election under the charter he was appointed Recorder, in which office he served for ten years.

In 1684 he was one of the purchasers of the 150,000 acre[2] Saratoga Patent together with Cornelis Van Dyck, Jan Jansen Bleecker, Pieter Schuyler, Johannes Wendel, David Schuyler, and Robert Livingston the Elder. He was also one of the purchasers of the disputed Mohawk Patent in 1697, and other property.

Political career

At the time of the Schenectady massacre in 1690 Ten Broeck served as envoy to the Mohawks, Oneidas, and Onondagas to determine their loyalties. At this time also he served as a Major in the militia under Colonel Pieter Schuyler.

In 1696 he was appointed Mayor of Albany by Governor Benjamin Fletcher. He was elected to the first Provincial Assembly of New York, and served through the Fifth Assembly. During Leisler's Rebellion he refused his support to Jacob Leisler.

Together with Pieter Schuyler, Domine Godfrey Dellius, and Evert Bancker, he was one of the four original members of the Commissioners for Indian Affairs appointed by Governor Fletcher in 1696.

References

  1. ↑ Runk, Emma Ten Broeck (1897). The Ten Broeck Genealogy. New York: De Vinne Press.
  2. ↑ Bielinski, Stefan. "Saratoga Patent". The People of Colonial Albany Live Here. New York State Museum. Retrieved May 11, 2014.

See also

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