Dirck Wesselse Ten Broeck
Dirck Wesselse Ten Broeck (1638–1717), also known as Dirck Wessels, was a prominent early settler of Albany, New York. He is known as "the progenitor of the Albany family of Ten Broecks."[1]
Early life
Dirck Ten Broeck was born on December 18, 1638, the second of five children of Wessel Ten Broeck.
Career
Business career
In 1663, he is listed as "a free merchant in Albany," and purchased a house and lot on the corner of State and James Streets. In 1676 Governor Thomas Dongan appointed him Magistrate Commissary, and later Envoy to Canada. In 1686 he was a signatory of the "Charter of Beverwijck." After the first election under the charter he was appointed Recorder, in which office he served for ten years.
In 1684, he was one of the purchasers of the 150,000 acre[2] Saratoga Patent together with Cornelis Van Dyck, Jan Jansen Bleecker, Pieter Schuyler, Johannes Wendel, David Schuyler, and Robert Livingston the Elder. He was also one of the purchasers of the disputed Mohawk Patent in 1697, and other property.
Political career
At the time of the Schenectady massacre in 1690 Ten Broeck served as envoy to the Mohawks, Oneidas, and Onondagas to determine their loyalties. At this time also he served as a Major in the militia under Colonel Pieter Schuyler.
In 1696, he was appointed Mayor of Albany by Governor Benjamin Fletcher. He was elected to the first Provincial Assembly of New York, and served through the Fifth Assembly. During Leisler's Rebellion he refused his support to Jacob Leisler.
Together with Pieter Schuyler, Domine Godfrey Dellius, and Evert Bancker, he was one of the four original members of the Commissioners for Indian Affairs appointed by Governor Fletcher in 1696.
Personal life
In 1663, he married Christyna Van Buren in Albany. Christyna (1644–1729) was the daughter of Cornelis Maessen Van Buren and Catalyntje Martensen. The couple had six sons and seven daughters:
- Wessel Ten Broeck (1664–1747)
- Elsje Ten Broeck (d. 1752)
- Catalyntje Ten Broeck (d. 1725)
- Cornelia Ten Broeck (1669–1729)
- Geertruy Ten Broeck (d. after 1728)
- Christina Ten Broeck (1672–1774)
- Elizabeth Ten Broeck (d. 1757)
- Lidia Ten Broeck
- Samuel Ten Broeck (1680–1756)
- Ephraim Ten Broeck (b. 1881), twin that died young
- Manassa Ten Broeck (b. 1881), twin that died young
- Johannes Ten Broeck (1683−?)
- Tobias Ten Broeck (1689−1724).
Dirck Ten Broeck died on November 24, 1717 at his estate called "The Bouwerie" in Clermont, New York and was buried there.
References
- ↑ Runk, Emma Ten Broeck (1897). The Ten Broeck Genealogy. New York: De Vinne Press.
- ↑ Bielinski, Stefan. "Saratoga Patent". The People of Colonial Albany Live Here. New York State Museum. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
