Abraham Ten Broeck
Encyclopedia
Abraham Ten Broeck was a New York
politician, businessman, and militia Brigadier General
of Dutch descent. He was twice Mayor of Albany, New York and built one of the largest mansions in the area that still stands more than 200 years later.
to learn business with his sister Christina's husband, Philip Livingston
. He was then sent to Europe
to learn international business after his father's death in 1751, returning to Albany in 1752.
Ten Broeck increased his wealth via trade while in Albany. During the 1750s, he was involved in the provincial militia. In 1759, he was elected to the city council and in 1760, he was elected to the Province of New York
Assembly while continuing to serve Albany. In November 1763, he married Elizabeth Van Rensselaer, a sister of patroon
Stephen Van Rensselaer II
and great-granddaughter of the first native-born mayor of New York City
, Stephanus Van Cortlandt
. By the mid-1760s, Ten Broeck was one of Albany's wealthiest men. In 1769, his brother-in-law died at age 27 and Ten Broeck was named co-administrator of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck, a position he held until 1784 when his nephew, Stephen Van Rensselaer III
, came of age.
militia in 1775. On June 25, 1778, he was named Brigadier General of the Tryon
and Albany Counties of Militia and then Albany County only. He resigned March 26, 1781.
He was a member of the New York Provincial Congress
from 1775 to 1777 and was its chairman of its Committee of Safety
in 1777.
, he ran for Congress but was defeated by Jeremiah Van Rensselaer
. In 1796, Mayor Abraham Yates
died and Ten Broeck was again appointed Mayor of Albany, remaining in office until 1798. Ten Broeck was a Federalist presidential elector in 1796
, and cast his votes for John Adams
and Thomas Pinckney
.
The Ten Broecks lived in a house that was assessed equally with the Schuyler Mansion
and Yates Mansion in 1788. In 1797, it was burned in a fire that destroyed several city blocks. Construction was started on the new Ten Broeck Mansion
soon after and the family resided there beginning in 1798. The historic mansion still stands in Arbor Hill more than 200 years later.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
politician, businessman, and militia Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
of Dutch descent. He was twice Mayor of Albany, New York and built one of the largest mansions in the area that still stands more than 200 years later.
Early life
Ten Broeck was the son of Dirck Ten Broeck and Margarita Cuyler. His great-grandfathers included former Albany mayors Dirck Wesselse Ten Broeck and Jan Jansen Bleecker. His father was a politician and also served as Albany's mayor beginning in 1746. Abraham was sent to New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to learn business with his sister Christina's husband, Philip Livingston
Philip Livingston
Philip Livingston was an American merchant and statesman from New York City. He was a delegate for New York to the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1778, and signed the Declaration of Independence.-Family history:...
. He was then sent to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to learn international business after his father's death in 1751, returning to Albany in 1752.
Ten Broeck increased his wealth via trade while in Albany. During the 1750s, he was involved in the provincial militia. In 1759, he was elected to the city council and in 1760, he was elected to the Province of New York
Province of New York
The Province of New York was an English and later British crown territory that originally included all of the present U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Vermont, along with inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, as well as eastern Pennsylvania...
Assembly while continuing to serve Albany. In November 1763, he married Elizabeth Van Rensselaer, a sister of patroon
Patroon
In the United States, a patroon was a landholder with manorial rights to large tracts of land in the 17th century Dutch colony of New Netherland in North America...
Stephen Van Rensselaer II
Stephen van Rensselaer II
Stephen van Rensselaer II Was the son of Stephen van Rensselaer I and Elizabeth Groesbeck. He was the eighth patroon of Rensselaerwyck from 1747 to 1769. He was also the fifth Lord of Rensselaerwyck...
and great-granddaughter of the first native-born mayor of New York City
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
, Stephanus Van Cortlandt
Stephanus Van Cortlandt
Stephanus van Cortlandt was the first native-born mayor of New York City, a position which he held from 1677 to 1678 and from 1686 to 1688. He was the patroon of Van Cortlandt Manor and was on the governor's executive council from 1691 to 1700. His brother, Jacobus Van Cortlandt also served as...
. By the mid-1760s, Ten Broeck was one of Albany's wealthiest men. In 1769, his brother-in-law died at age 27 and Ten Broeck was named co-administrator of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck, a position he held until 1784 when his nephew, Stephen Van Rensselaer III
Stephen Van Rensselaer III
Stephen Van Rensselaer III was Lieutenant Governor of New York as well as a statesman, soldier, and land-owner, the heir to one of the largest estates in the New York region at the time, which made him the tenth richest American of all time, based on the ratio of his fortune to contemporary GDP...
, came of age.
American Revolution
Ten Broeck continued his military involvement and was named colonel of the Albany CountyAlbany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
militia in 1775. On June 25, 1778, he was named Brigadier General of the Tryon
Tryon County militia
-Militia regiments:On March 8, 1772, The Province of New York passed a bill for the establishment of organized militia in each county. In 1775, at the start of the American Revolution, the Tryon County militia comprised four regiments, formed according to their geographical locations:* 1st...
and Albany Counties of Militia and then Albany County only. He resigned March 26, 1781.
He was a member of the New York Provincial Congress
New York Provincial Congress
The New York Provincial Congress was an organization formed by rebels in 1775, during the American Revolution, as a pro-rebellion alternative to the more conservative Province of New York Assembly, and as a replacement for the Committee of One Hundred.A Provincial Convention assembled in New York...
from 1775 to 1777 and was its chairman of its Committee of Safety
Committee of Safety (American Revolution)
Many Committees of Safety were established throughout Colonial America at the start of the American Revolution. These committees started to appear in the 1760s as means to discuss the concerns of the time, and often consisted of every male adult in the community...
in 1777.
After war years
After the death of Mayor John Barclay, Ten Broeck was appointed Mayor of Albany in 1779, remaining in office until 1783. In March 1789United States House of Representatives elections in New York, 1789
The 1789 United States House of Representatives elections in New York were held on March 3 and 4, 1789, to elect 6 U.S. Representatives to represent the State of New York in the 1st United States Congress.-Background:...
, he ran for Congress but was defeated by Jeremiah Van Rensselaer
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer was a Representative from New York to the United States Congress. He was the cousin of Killian K...
. In 1796, Mayor Abraham Yates
Abraham Yates
Abraham Yates was an American lawyer and civil servant from Albany, New York.-Biography:He was baptised August 23, 1724 in Albany, New York, the son of Christoffel Yates and Catelyntje Winne....
died and Ten Broeck was again appointed Mayor of Albany, remaining in office until 1798. Ten Broeck was a Federalist presidential elector in 1796
United States presidential election, 1796
The United States presidential election of 1796 was the first contested American presidential election and the only one in which a president and vice- president were elected from opposing tickets...
, and cast his votes for John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
and Thomas Pinckney
Thomas Pinckney
Thomas Pinckney was an early American statesman, diplomat and veteran of both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.-Early life in the military:...
.
The Ten Broecks lived in a house that was assessed equally with the Schuyler Mansion
Schuyler Mansion
Schuyler Mansion is a historic house at 32 Catherine Street in Albany, New York, United States. The brick mansion is now a museum and an official National Historic Landmark. It was constructed from 1761 to 1762 for Philip Schuyler, later a general in the Continental Army and early U.S. Senator,...
and Yates Mansion in 1788. In 1797, it was burned in a fire that destroyed several city blocks. Construction was started on the new Ten Broeck Mansion
Ten Broeck Mansion
The Ten Broeck Mansion in Albany, New York was built in 1797. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. A decade later it was included as a contributing property to the Arbor Hill Historic District – Ten Broeck Triangle when that neighborhood was listed on the...
soon after and the family resided there beginning in 1798. The historic mansion still stands in Arbor Hill more than 200 years later.