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Melgert
Wynantse Vanderpoel
Melgert Wynantse was the son of New Netherland pioneers Wynant Gerritse and Tryntje Melgers Vanderpoel. Family sources state he was born in 1646.
In
1668, he married Ariaantie Verplanck with whom he
had eight children. After her death, he married widow
Elizabeth Teller Van Tricht in 1692. That union added
two more children to an already large family. He
was a member and supporter of the Albany Dutch church
and an occassional baptism sponsor.
His
house on the hill faced the fort and he also owned
a lot on the South side of the city. In 1679, his
home was included on the city assessment roll.
He
was called a "gunstockmaker." Like his father, he owned a sawmill, bought and sold real estate, and also participated in the fur trade. He was fined by the Albany court for having Indians in his house. In 1686, he was appointed assistant alderman by the governor under the new city charter. He later served as a firemaster and juror.
Although
mis-identified, his large, combined family was included
on the Albany census of households taken in June
1697. Two years later, he signed a loyalty oath to
the king of England. Later, he was identified as
a home owner in the second ward.
His
will mentioned a wife and four living children, two
negroes, and a sawmill on the Beaverkill. Melgert
Wynantse Vanderpoel died about 1710. His widow lived
for another fifteen years.
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Sources: The life of Melgert Wynantse Vanderpoel is CAP
biography number 6268. This profile is derived chiefly
from family and community-based resources. A number
of Online resources are interesting but conflicting
as is an Internet sketch.
By Stefan Bielinski, Colonial Albany Social History Project [http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany]
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