Name Johannes Abeel | Died 1711 | |
Johannes Abeel (March 23, 1667—January 28, 1711) was an Albany, New York merchant and public official. He was the second Mayor of Albany.
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Early life
The son of a prosperous merchant and landowner, Johannes (sometimes written John) was born in Albany on March 23, 1667. After losing his father at age 13, Johannes Abeel became a successful trader and merchant in Albany and New York City, establishing relationships with Native American tribes in Western New York that enabled him to acquire furs for resale in Albany. He exported the furs to London and received rum, rice, dry goods, and other items, some of which were for British soldiers garrisoned in Albany and Upstate New York, and most of which he resold at a profit.
Abeel used some of his profits to take part in land purchase, resale and development, including the 1705 Westenhook Patent.
Public career
Abeel served as Assistant Alderman for the Third Ward in 1688, and was Alderman from 1691 to 1693 and again in 1700. From 1694 to 1695 and 1709 to 1710 Abeel served as Mayor of Albany.
In 1695, 1701, and 1702 Abeel served as a member of the New York Assembly. In 1702 he was appointed Judge of the Albany County Court and Albany City Recorder (Deputy Mayor), and in 1705 he accepted appointment as a Master in Chancery.
Death and burial
Abeel died in Albany on January 28, 1711. He was originally buried in the Second Dutch Reformed Church Cemetery on Beaver Street, one of several downtown burial grounds that had their remains removed to Albany Rural Cemetery in the 1830s. According to a contemporary newspaper account, workmen at Second Church uncovered his tombstone, which was inscribed "Here lies the body of John Abeel who departed this life ye 28 day of Jan'y. 1711, and in the 44 year of his age." It is not known what subsequently happened to the grave marker.
Family
In 1694 Abeel married Catherine Schuyler. They had five children, one of whom, Christoffel (born 1696), was the father of another Johannes Abeel (1722–1794). The younger Johannes lived with the Native Americans and was the father of yet another Johannes Abeel, better known as Cornplanter.
A daughter, Catalina Abeel (born October, 1698), was the mother of David Mathews, a Mayor of New York City under the British during the American Revolution. Other descendants of Johannes Abeel through his daughter include Murray Dodd and Lewis Wilkieson Johnstone, both Members of the Canadian House of Commons.