Anna Dorothea Drayer was the daughter of New Netherland mariner Andries Drayer (Drawyer) and Gerritie Van Schaick - daughter of a Beverwyck pioneer.

By the early 1700s, Anna Dorothea had married Reverend Thomas Barclay and had taken up residence in Albany. Three of her four sons born between 1712 and 1720 became prominent figures in eighteenth century New York.