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William
Hun
William Hun was born in August 1734. He was the first of four sons in the family of first ward residents Dirck and Margarita Hogan Hun.
As
early as 1756, he was listed on a census of householders
as a carpenter. In August 1759, he married Albany
spinster Sarah De Foreest. He was identified as a "house carpenter" on the marriage license. The marriage produced only two children who grew up in their modest home on the corner of North Market and Van Tromp Streets. Later, he owned another small house across the city in the first ward.
At
the outbreak Revolution, this active patriot served
the Albany committee as a lieutenant of the third
ward watch. He later oversaw the repair of wells
in the ward and, in 1778, complained about too many
soldiers being billeted in his house. He also was
commissioned a lieutenant and then captain in the
second regiment of the Albany County militia.
After
the war, he continued to practice his trade, support
the Albany Dutch church, and look in on his aging
mother. Over a six decade career, this well-known,
city-based house carpenter earned aditional pay as
a contractor of the city government. As late as 1813
(at age 79), he was listed in the Albany directory
as a carpenter at 23 Market Street.
Although
an officer in the Albany militia, William Hun did
not hold elected or appointed office. He died in
1814. His will passed probate in 1821. After her
marriage, his daughter raised her family in the Market
Street house!
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Sources: The life of William Hun is CAP biography number 4784.
He was named for his grandfather, Irish-born Albany
innkeeper William Hogan! 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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