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

Mayor of Albany, New York From its formal chartering on 22 July 1686 until 1779, the mayors of Albany, New York, were appointed by the royal governor of New York, per the provisions of the original city charter, issued by Governor Thomas Dongan. From 1779 until 1839, may ...

Early life

Bleecker was born in Albany in 1668. He was the eldest son of Dutch born

Jan Jansen Bleecker Jan Jansen Bleecker (July 9, 1641 — November 21, 1732) was a colonial era merchant and political figure who served as Mayor of Albany, New York. Early life Jan Jansen Bleecker was born in Meppel, Drenthe, Netherlands on July 9, 1641 and was the ...

(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 Johannes Cuyler (1661 – July 20, 1740) was a prominent American merchant of Dutch ancestry who served as the Mayor of Albany, New York, from 1725 to 1726. Early life and family Cuyler was born in 1661 in New Amsterdam in the Province of New ...

, 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 A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth ...

Van Breestede) (1625–1711).

Career

Following after his father, Bleecker was a fur trader and

merchant A merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade. Merchants have operated for as long as indust ...

. 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 The Odawa (also Ottawa or Odaawaa ), said to mean "traders", are an Indigenous American ethnic group who primarily inhabit land in the Eastern Woodlands region, commonly known as the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. They ha ...

. While in the wilderness, he was taken prisoner by the

Seneca Seneca may refer to: People and language * Seneca (name), a list of people with either the given name or surname * Seneca people, one of the six Iroquois tribes of North America ** Seneca language, the language of the Seneca people Places Extrat ...

and

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...

and taken to

Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple- ...

. A year later, he released by the French governor and returned to Albany. He was known for accepting patronage from the

Jacob Leisler Jacob Leisler ( – May 16, 1691) was a German-born colonist who served as a politician in the Province of New York. He gained wealth in New Amsterdam (later New York City) in the fur trade and tobacco business. In what became known as Leisler' ...

, known for

Leisler's Rebellion Leisler's Rebellion was an uprising in late-17th century colonial New York in which German American merchant and militia captain Jacob Leisler seized control of the southern portion of the colony and ruled it from 1689 to 1691. The uprising to ...

. 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 Richard Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont (sometimes spelled Bellamont, 1636 – 5 March 1700/01In the Julian calendar, then in use in England, the year began on 25 March. To avoid confusion with dates in the Gregorian calendar, then in us ...

. In 1701, Bleecker was appointed Mayor by Acting Governor,

John Nanfan John Nanfan (1634–1716) was a Lieutenant Governor of the Province of New York from 1698 to 1702. He served as acting governor for about a year between the death of the Earl of Bellomont and the arrival of Bellomont's successor, Lord Cornbury. ...

, and he served until 1702, when he was succeeded by

Albert Janse Ryckman Albert Janse Ryckman (c. 1642 – 1737) was an 18th-century American businessman and politician who served as the 9th Mayor of Albany from 1702 to 1703. Early life Ryckman was born in 1642 to Beverwyck pioneers Jan and Catharina Janse. After hi ...

. 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 (

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 Schermerhorn is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Alkmaar, and lies about 9 km south of Heerhugowaard. History The village was first mentioned in the 14th century as Den Horn, and means ...

) 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

External links

Johannes Bleecker, Jr.'s
biography at the

New York State Museum The New York State Museum is a research-backed institution in Albany, New York, United States. It is located on Madison Avenue, attached to the south side of the Empire State Plaza, facing onto the plaza and towards the New York State Capitol ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bleecker, Johannes Jr. 1668 births 1738 deaths People of the Province of New York Mayors of Albany, New York American people of Dutch descent Members of the New York General Assembly Bleecker family