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Elbert
Gerritse
Elbert Gerritse was born about 1670. He was the son of Albany residents Gerrit Ryerse and Anna Jans Ryerse. Coming of age at the close of the seventeenth century, he took the surname "Gerritse."
In
1694, he was made the guardian of his younger brothers
and sisters, In 1713, he became the administrator
of the family estate with the death of his mother.
In
1693, he married tailor's daughter Maria Pruyn at
the Albany Dutch church. Their five children were
baptized there between 1694 and 1707. With his wife,
he was a church member and frequent baptism sponsor.
He also was a deacon and, in 1706, served as "churchmaster."
Living
first with Maria's family, he probably learned the
tailor's trade from his father-in-law, Frans Pruyn.
As late as 1747, he still thought of himself as a
tailor.
For
a time, he continued to live in the second ward and
prospered in his business. Following his father into
community service, Elbert served as constable, firemaster,
assessor, militiaman, and juror during the first
decade of his adulthood. In 1718, he was elected
assistant alderman for the third ward. By that time,
he had succeeded his father in business and had become
a third ward mainstay.
In
June 1747, he filed a will. His children and grandchildren
were named as heirs as Maria Pruyn Gerritse had died
in 1731. Elbert Gerritse died in November 1750 and
was buried under the church.
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Sources: The life of Elbert Gerritse is CAP biography number
6006. This profile is derived chiefly from family
and community-based resources.
By Stefan Bielinski, Colonial Albany Social History Project [http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany]
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