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Johannes Bleecker Jr. (1668 — December 20, 1738) was a colonial era merchant and political figure who served as Mayor of Albany, New York.

Early life

Bleecker was born in Albany in 1668. He was the eldest son of Dutch born Jan Jansen Bleecker (1641–1732) and Grietje "Margaret" Rutse van Schoenderwoert (1647–1733). His siblings included Caajte Grietje Bleecker (1670–1734), who married Abraham Cuyler (1665–1747), a brother of Mayor Johannes Cuyler, Jannetje Janse Bleecker (1673–1755), who married Johannes Jacobse Glen (1675–1706), Rutger Jansen Bleecker (1675–1756), who also served as Mayor and who married Catalina Schuyler (1678–1747), Margarita Bleecker (1680–1773), who married Hendrick Ten Eyck (1680–1772), Hendrick Bleecker (1686–1767) and Rachael Bleecker (1688–1766).

His maternal grandparents were Rutger Jacobson van Schoenderwoert (1615–1665) and Tryntje Jansen (née Van Breestede) (1625–1711).

Career

Following after his father, Bleecker was a fur trader and merchant. During the winter of 1686 to 1687, Bleecker, then 18 and considered an Indian interpreter, accompanied Patrick McGregory in an attempt to establish trade with the Ottawa people. While in the wilderness, he was taken prisoner by the Seneca and French and taken to Montreal. A year later, he released by the French governor and returned to Albany.

He was known for accepting patronage from the Jacob Leisler, known for Leisler's Rebellion.

Bleecker served on the City Council during the 1690s and was an officer in the Albany Militia. In 1700, when his father became Mayor, he was also appointed Recorder (Deputy Mayor) of the City by the Colonial Gov., Richard Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont.

In 1701, Bleecker was appointed Mayor by Acting Governor, John Nanfan, and he served until 1702, when he was succeeded by Albert Janse Ryckman. Also in 1701, he was elected to serve for one year as a member of the New York Provincial Assembly, until 1702. In 1720, he was appointed to the Commissioners of Indian Affairs, serving for a total of four years.

Personal life

On October 29, 1693, Bleecker was married to Antje "Anna" Coster (1679–1766). She was the daughter of Hendrick and Geertje (née Van Schaick) Coster. Together, they were the parents of nine children, including:

• Johannes Bleecker (1694–1757), who married Jannetje Ten Eyck (1705–1738), daughter of Barent and Neeltje (née Schermerhorn) Ten Eyck, in 1724. After her death, he married Eva Bries (d. 1752), in 1741.
• Geertruy Bleecker (1696–1786), who married Abraham Evert Wendell (1693–1753), son of Evert Wendell (1660–1702) in 1736.
• Hendrick Bleecker (b. 1699)
• Nicolaas "Nicholas" Bleecker (1702–1751), who married Margarita Roseboom (1706–1794), daughter of Johannes and Gerritje (née Coster) Roseboom, in 1728.
• Hendrick Bleecker (1706–1724), who died while among the Seneca Indians.
• Margarita Bleecker (b. 1709), who married Gerrit Marselis (b. 1698), son of Gysbert and Barbara (née Groesbeck) Marselis, in 1730.
• Anna Bleecker (b. 1712)
• Jacob Bleecker (1715–1747), who married his first cousin Margaret Ten Eyck (1715–1777), daughter of Hendrick and Margarita (née Bleecker) Ten Eyck, in 1745.
• Anthony Bleecker (b. 1718).

Bleecker died in Albany on December 20, 1738. He was buried at the Dutch church in Albany. After his death, his widow remarried to Johannes Lansing.

References

1. Register of the National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York. The Society. 1913. pp. 271, 425. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
2. Mullenneaux, Nan. "Jan Janse Bleecker". exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov. New York State Museum. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
3. ^ Bergen, Tunis Garret (1915). Genealogies of the State of New York: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation. Lewis Historical Publishing Company. p. 750. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
4. Reynolds, Cuyler (1914). Genealogical and Family History of Southern New York and the Hudson River Valley: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Building of a Nation. Lewis Historical Publishing Company. p. 1184. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
5. De Halve Maen, Volumes 42-48. Holland Society of New York. 1967. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
6. ^ Reynolds, Cuyler (1911). Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs: A Record of Achievements of the People of the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys in New York State, Included Within the Present Counties of Albany, Rensselaer, Washington, Saratoga, Montgomery, Fulton, Schenectady, Columbia and Greene. Lewis Historical Publishing Company. pp. 332–333. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
7. ^ Register of the National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York. The Society. 1901. p. 161. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
8. Reynolds, Cuyler (1906). Albany Chronicles: A History of the City Arranged Chronologically, from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time; Illustrated with Many Historical Pictures of Rarity and Reproductions of the Robert C. Pruyn Collection of the Mayors of Albany, Owned by the Albany Institute and Historical and Art Society. J. B. Lyon Company, Printers. p. 156. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
9. Bielinski, Stefan. "Patrick McGregory". exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov. New York State Museum. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
10. ^ Mullenneaux, Nan. "Johannes Bleecker, Jr". exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov. New York State Museum. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
11. Lossing, Benson John (1888). The Empire State: A Compendious History of the Commonwealth of New York. American Publishing Company. p. 102. ISBN 9780871520500. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
12. Weise, Arthur James (1884). The History of the City of Albany, New York: From the Discovery of the Great River in 1524, by Verrazzano, to the Present Time. E. H. Bender. p. 229. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
13. Pearson, Jonathan (1872). Contributions for the Genealogies of the First Settlers of the Ancient County of Albany, from 1630 to 1800. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 19. ISBN 9780806307299. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
14. Rhoden, Nancy L. (2014). English Atlantics Revisited: Essays Honouring Ian K. Steele. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. pp. 240–243. ISBN 9780773560406. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
15. Bielinski, Stefan. "Anna Coster Bleecker". exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov. New York State Museum. Retrieved 13 September 2017.

External links

• Johannes Bleecker, Jr.'s biography at the New York State Museum

• 1668 births
• 1738 deaths
• Mayors of Albany, New York
• American politicians of Dutch descent
• Members of the New York General Assembly
• Bleecker family
• Merchants from colonial New York
• 18th-century American merchants
• 18th-century mayors of places in New York (state)