| Quantity: | 1 box (0.50 cubic ft.) |
|---|---|
| Access: | Open to research |
| Acquisition: | Deposited in library May 17, 1984 |
| Processed By: | Regina Berry, Student Assistant, State University of New York at Albany, June 2016 |
Bleecker Lyon was born in New York, N.Y. in 1849, the son of Abel Lyon (1806-1876) and Jane Ann Lansing Lyon (1813-1895). The family was living in Watervliet by the time of the 1875 state census. Presumably he is descended from both the Bleecker and Lansing families, although his exact line of descent is not known. Bleecker Lyon died in Argyle, N.Y. on October 3, 1939 at the age of 90. He is buried in Albany Rural Cemetery, Menands, N.Y.
The prominent Albany merchant family of Bleecker had many branches. The original Dutch founder, Jan Janse Bleecker had ten children. The Bleecker line in this collection descends from his eldest son Johannes Bleecker (1668-1738). The John J. Bleecker here (also known as Johannes Johannese Bleecker, ?-1811) was the great grandson of the founder. He married Gerritje van Schaick in 1760. Their eldest daughter, Janneke Bleecker (1763-1811) married into another early family of some note in the region. In 1788, Janneke married Isaac I. Truax (1759-1812) of Schenectady, son of Isaac and Susana Roseboom Truax. The couple had six children, several of whose names appear in one of the Truax deeds.
John N. and Nicholas Bleecker, who appear in the property release documents, were cousins of John J. Bleecker. Sybrant Bleecker (1773-1814), party to one of the Truax deeds, is the younger brother of Janneke Bleecker Truax.
The Lansing Family was one of the largest of the early Albany families. Their many members were involved in a mix of trades and business activities, church and civic affairs. Jacob and Harmanus Lansing both appear in this collection purchasing land on Pearl Street in Albany.
This collection, assembled by Bleecker Lyon, consists of deeds, mortgages, and estate papers related to the Lansing, Bleecker and Truax families of Albany, New York. Included are ten deeds and mortgages between a number of different individuals and members of the Bleecker and Lansing families, and three relating to the Truax's. Lands involved include lots and parcels in Albany, Greene, Chenango, Oneida, Otsego, and Broome counties.
Of particular interest is the "Inventory of monies and possessions of Geritie Bleecker, August 11, 1813" (Folder 6). This eight page list details her finances and the amounts and value of her household goods and clothes at the time of her death.
The New York State Library, Manuscripts and Special Collections, has several other small collections pertaining to this family. The Bleecker Family Papers (SC20557) includes land records of John R. Bleecker and his sons, James and Barent Bleecker, for properties in Albany, Saratoga, Schoharie and Plattsburgh. The Rutger Bleecker Papers (SC11846) contains the personal records of the eldest son of John R. Bleecker, brother to James and Barent. The Barent Bleecker Papers (SC20601) relate to the real estate interests of the brother of Rutger and James Bleecker, in several New York counties.
The John N. Bleecker Papers (SC10431) is a larger collection documenting the activities of this second cousin to John J. Bleecker and is also at the New York State Library.
| Box | Folder | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Property releases to John J. Bleecker, Albany, 1794 (3 items):
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| 1 | 2 | Lease from John J. Bleecker to William Fryer, Albany, 1804 (2 items):
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| 1 | 3 | Deeds of Lansing Family, Albany, 1813-1815 (4 items):
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| 1 | 4 | Mortgage, Abraham Morenus to John J. Bleeker, February 18, 1795, re: land in Otsego County, N.Y. (1 item) |
| 1 | 5 | Deeds of Truax Family, 1798-1812 (3 items):
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| 1 | 6 | Inventory of monies and possessions of Geritie Bleecker, August 11, 1813 (8 p.) |
| 1 | 7 | Land papers of Osborn and Robbins Families, 1851, 1856 (2 items):
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| 1 | 8 | Assignment of Leases, Verplank Family, Coeymans Patent, 1868 (1 item) |
| 1 | 9 | Reprint of 1909 newspaper clipping regarding Abraham Lincoln's death in 1865 (original item was disposed due to deterioration) in an envelope addressed to Mr. Frank J. Lyon (brother of Bleecker Lyon) of Saint Paul, Minnesota (2 items) |
| - | - | Account with the estate of Isaac Truax [Item missing December 28, 2006] |