Gysbert Gerritse Van Brakel ²

  General Notes:

Gysbert Gerritse Van Brakel was one of the first settlers of the patent City of Schenectady from 1662-1800.
The will provided the death date.
Springing from a family, the founder of which in America was Cornelis Tunissen Van Bruckelen (Braeekelen) "Raedts Persoon" of Holland, who assisted in establishing the Colonie of Rensselaerswyck, New Netherlands, (Albany N.Y.) i n 1631. Who was a magistrate of the Colonie and afterwards a resident and Indian trader at Fort Orange. The Van Brocklin family descended from Gysbert Gerritse Van Bracklen of Albany, one of the early settlers of Schenectady, whose son Sander was slain and whose son Stephan was carried into captivity and whose home and property were destroyed in the French and Indian War, Schenactady Massacre, Feb 8, & 9, 1690.

Gerrit Van Bracklen acting co-jointly with every adult male relative of his name took up arms at the opening of the struggle for independence and remained under arms until its successful close; his home being in the theatre of incessant hostilities and in a district astrociously devasted by the British, Savage and Tory foes throughout the eight long years of bitter contest, in the course of which his married sister was slain and all the Van Braeckelen homes were plundered and destroyed.

Gysbert married Reyntje Stephans Van Brakel, daughter of Jan Stephense and Maria Goosens Stephense, in Albany, NY.

Gysbert next married Lysbeth Jan Van Eps Van Brakel on 22 Jan 1693 in Albany, NY.