Jan Jansen Bleecker

Jan Jansen Bleecker (July 9, 1641—November 21, 1732) was an colonial era merchant and political figure who served as Mayor of Albany, New York.

Life and career

The first of his family to come to North America, Jan Jansen Bleecker was born in Meppel, Drenthe, Netherlands on July 9, 1641. In 1658 he emigrated to New Amsterdam (now New York City), and shortly thereafter he moved to Beverwyck (now Albany).[1]

Bleecker became a successful trader and merchant, and was also involved in land speculation.[2]

When Albany received its city charter in 1686 Bleecker was appointed the first City Chamberlain (treasurer).[3] In 1689 he was also appointed Captain of the Albany Militia.[4]

When Jacob Leisler led a rebellion against British authority in New York from 1689 to 1691, Albany was a stronghold of anti-Leisler opposition. Bleecker served as a member of the Albany convention that attempted to convince Leisler to allow British military supplies to move north from New York City in anticipation of a French attack from Canada. (These events took place during King William's War.)[5]

Bleecker was a member of New York's provincial assembly from 1698 to 1701. He also served as an Alderman, and was City Recorder (deputy mayor) from 1696 to 1700. He was appointed several times as a Justice of the Peace.[6]

In 1700 Bleecker was appointed Mayor, and he served until 1701.[7]

One of the tracts of land Bleecker came to own in partnership with several others was the Saratoga patent. Bleecker's portion included what later came to be known as Bemis Heights, the site of the Battles of Saratoga in the American Revolution.[8]

Bleecker died in Albany on November 21, 1732. He was originally buried at Albany's First Reformed Church, and was later reinterred at Albany Rural Cemetery.[9][10]

Legacy

Jan Jansen Bleecker's sons Johannes Bleecker, Jr. (1668-1738) and Rutger Bleecker (1675-1756) also served as Mayor.[11]

Other members of the Bleecker family to serve as Mayor include Charles Edward Bleecker (1826-1873) and Anthony Bleecker Banks.[12]

In addition, Harmanus Bleecker, another descendant, served in the United States House of Representatives and as Chargé d'Affaires in the Netherlands.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Tunis Garret Bergen, Genealogies of the State of New York, Volume 2, 1915, pages 750 to 741
  2. ↑ Cuyler Reynolds, Albany Chronicles, 1906, page 156
  3. ↑ Benson John Lossing, The Empire State: A Compendious History of the Commonwealth of New York, 1888, page 102
  4. ↑ Arthur James Weise, The History of the City of Albany, New York, 1884, page 229
  5. ↑ John Romeyn Brodhead, History of the State of New York, Volume 2, 1871, page 588
  6. ↑ National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York, Register of the National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York, 1913, page 271
  7. ↑ Jonathan Pearson, Genealogies of First Settlers of the Ancient Country Albany 1630-1800, 1872, page 19
  8. ↑ Patricia Ellerton Duffie, The Duffie family of Edinburgh and New York, 1983, page 212
  9. ↑ Cuyler Reynolds, Genealogical and Family History of Southern New York and the Hudson River Valley, Volume 3, 1914, page 1184
  10. ↑ Holland Society of New York, De Halve Maen, Volumes 42-48, 1967, page 33
  11. ↑ National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York, Register of the National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York, 1901, page 161
  12. ↑ George Rogers Howell, Jonathan Tenney, Bicentennial History of Albany, Volume 2, 1886, page 478
  13. ↑ Harriet Langdon Pruyn Rice, Harmanus Bleecker: An Albany Dutchman, 1779-1849, 1924, page 3