Johannes Abeel

Johannes Abeel (March 23, 1667 – January 28, 1711) was an Albany, New York, merchant and public official. He was the second mayor of Albany.

Early life

Johannes (sometimes written John) was born on March 23, 1667 in Albany, New York, Christopher Janse Abeel (1621–1684), a prosperous merchant and landowner, and Neiltje Jans Croom. He was the third of four children and the only boy born to his parents, who emigrated to the United States in 1647.^[1]

Johannes was born shortly after Great Britain assumed control of the former Dutch colony of New Netherland and renamed it as New York in 1664.^[2]

Career

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.^[3]

Abeel used some of his profits to take part in land purchase, resale and development, including the 1705 Westenhook Patent.^[4]

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, appointed by the royal governor of New York, per the provisions of the original city charter, issued by Governor Thomas Dongan.

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.^[5]

Personal life

On April 10, 1694, Abeel married Catherine Schuyler (b. 1678), daughter of David Pieterse Schuyler (1636–1690) and Catharina Verplanck (1639–1690), who both died during the Schenectady massacre of 1690. They had five children:

• Catalina Abeel (b. 1691), who married Vincent Matthews.
  • David Mathews (1739–1800), a Mayor of New York City under the British during the American Revolution.^[6]
• Christoffel Abeel (b. 1696), who married Margueritta Breese.
  • Johannes Abeel (1722–1794), who lived with the Native Americans and had a child with Gah-hon-no-neh:
    • Johannes "Cornplanter" Abeel (1732/6–1836), Seneca chief.^[1]
• Neiltje Abeel (b. 1698)^[1]
• David Abeel (b. 1705)^[1]
• Jannette Abeel (b. 1705)^[1]

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 moving remains 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.^[7]

Descendants

Other descendants of Johannes Abeel through his daughter include Murray Dodd and Lewis Wilkieson Johnstone, both Members of the Canadian House of Commons.

References