Craft Masonry in Albany County, New York - Onondaga and Oswego ...

His home was on what became South Pearl Street and was located in the middle of the block between Beaver and Hudson Streets.
In 1776, he served as a firemaster in the first ward. After the war, he was an Albany mainstay for the next three decades. During
some of that time, his household included slaves. Community-based documents identified him as a merchant dealing in building
supplies, a mariner, and a saddler. He was a Mason - belonging to the Union Lodge.
In 1788, he witnessed the will of his wife's brother-in-law. In 1800, his first ward home included seven members.
Edward S. Willett died in April 1810 a few months shy of his sixtieth birthday. He was buried in the Dutch church cemetery. His
widow lived until 1831.
Sarah Fryer was born in February 1752. She was the daughter of Albany residents John and Anna Van Zandt Fryer. She grew up
on the Southside of Albany in the family of a sloop captain. In January 1774, she married newcomer Edward S. Willett. By 1782, the
marriage had produced seven children.
These Willetts were Albany mainliners who lived on what became South Pearl Street near other members of the Fryer and Van
Zandt families. Edward S. Willett died in 1810. Widow Sarah Fryer Willett continued to live in their home at 18 South Pearl Street.
Later, she moved in with her daughter where she died at the end of December 1831. She had lived almost seventy-one years.
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http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/bios/w/gewitbeck1791.html
Gerrit Witbeck was born in March 1750. He was a twin and the eldest son of Albany-area residents Lucas and Geertruy Lansing
Witbeck. Although his father held several parcels of real estate, the twins and their siblings grew up on a farm in Watervliet. As late
as 1792, father and sons were involved in Watervliet-based land transactions.
In May 1774, Gerrit married Immetje Perry at the Albany Dutch church. At that time, they were identified as young people "of this
county." By 1781, three children had been christened in Albany.
In May 1775, his name first appeared in the minutes of the Albany committee. He supported the cause and was paid for making
spades and nails for revolutionary army.
In November 1777, he was appointed chimney viewer for the third ward. In July 1778, the city council received a complaint that his
blacksmith's shop located on the middle dock obstructs the filling up of the dock inlet. He was ordered to remove that shop.
Either by inheritance or acquisition, by 1779 this blacksmith was paying taxes on four properties in the city of Albany. These
included his house, lots located in the first and third wards, and his shop near the river.
In January 1787, the newspaper noted that he had opened a nail manufactory "in" Orange Street near the Dutch church. The
assessment roll for 1788 valued his third ward house and property and also noted "Mr. Anderson (nailer)" living on the premises.
On August 8, 1788, he carried the farmer's flag in the Albany parade celebrating ratification of the Federal Constitution.
1790, his household in Watervliet included seven family members, another free person, and also four slaves. Perhaps he had
relocated to a family farm leased by his father in 1769. Perhaps he was the Gerrit Witbeck who leased a 127-acre farm in
Rensselaerswyck in 1794.
A piece of legislation enacted in April 1800, noted that Garret Witbeck was one of the "Superintendants of Highways" for Albany
County. He also was a member of the Albany Masonic lodge.
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http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/bios/w/thwitbeck1897.html
Thomas L. Witbeck was christened in the Albany Dutch church in August 1752. He appears to be the only child born to the
marriage of Lucas and Catarina Carter Witbeck. Perhaps, she was Lucas Witbeck's second wife. This historically visible resident
mostly was known as "Thomas L. Witbeck."
In September 1766, "Thomas L. Witbeck" witnessed the will of an Albany carpenter. At sixteen, perhaps our subject would have
been too young to testify to a legal transaction. Was this distinctively named individual born much earlier than his recorded
christening?
In April 1773, marriage bonds were issued to Albany glazier Thomas L. Witbeck and spinster "Stantia Gose" of Albany County. We
seek information on their marriage. One presently compelling source tells us that his wife was a cousin named "Ariantie Witbeck"
and that they had nine children who were christened in Lutheran churches in what became Columbia County beginning during the
late 1770s. In 1774, he was named fireman for the second ward.
Coming of age during the early 1770s, we seek information for his involvement in Revolutionary War-related activities. In 1775, he
contributed eight shillings for Ticonderoga. He also acted as a messinger for this Albany Committee during the war years. Two men
identified simply as "Thomas Witbeck" were listed on the wartime rolls of the Albany County militia in east bank regiments.
He was a prominent Federalist and was the assistant marshall in the Albany ratification parade in August 1788. He was a member
of the Albany masonic lodge.
In 1790, his household was configured on the census for Watervliet and was located next to the Manor House. However, two years
earlier, his property and the "house he lives in" had been valued on the Albany assessment roll for the second ward.
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