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Ryer
Elbertse Gerritse
Ryer Elbertse was the patriarch of the Gerritse family of early Albany.
Tradition
holds that he was from Breuckelen in Utrecht. In
1651, he leased a parcel of land on Foxes Creek near
the corner of what became Columbia Street and North
Broadway. In 1652, he was given permission to make
bricks.
He
was married to Maria Barents, the widow of Gerrit
Van Schaick. Their descendants established the Gerritse
family in the city of Albany.
In
January 1657, he was held liable for his dog killing
one of Jacob Janse Schermerhorn's goats. In February
1658, the Beverwyck magistrates ruled in his favor
for payment of a debt.
In
March 1664, Ryer Elbertse and his wife Maria appeared
in court to cancel a bond they held with their sons.
That was the last recorded mention of Ryer Elbertse.
~ ~ ~
Sources: The
life of Ryer/Reyer Elbertse/Albertse Gerritse is
CAP biography number 6010. This profile is derived
chiefly from family and community-based resources.
See also, Van
Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts: Being the Letters
of Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, 1630-1643, and Other
Documents Relating to the Colony of Rensselaerswyck,
p. 842.
By Stefan Bielinski, Colonial Albany Social History Project [http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany]
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