The story of the Abeel family of early Albany begins with New Netherland pioneers Stoffel Janse and Neeltie Croon who raised a family in Beverwyck and Albany during the third quarter of the seventeenth century. The family they founded is outlined in their joint will filed in 1678.

Their son, Johannes Abeel, was named mayor of Albany in 1694.

During the eighteenth century, the Abeel family spread out in all directions from Albany. In 1756, only the home of trader Christopher Abale represented the family on the census of Albany households.

In 1790, no Abeel named households were listed on the census in Albany or Watervliet. Variously spelled, these Abeels/Abales should not be confused with the German-ancestry Abel family. David Abeel, a nineteenth century missionary to China who died in Albany in 1846, is a descendant of this early Albany family.

We can all dream about owning the Abeel house in the mid-Hudson Valley!

Sources: This sketch of the Abeel family is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.

Online resources: Access Genealogy;