The Albany De Foreest family is descended from Manhattan native Philip De Foreest who had settled in Albany by 1680. We would group these French speaking Protestants with the Huguenots.

His son, Jesse was an Albany mainstay.

In 1790, three De Foreest households were listed on the Albany census including the third ward home of merchant/pilot Isaac De Foreest.

In 1815, two De Forest households were included in the city directory.

The "DeFreest Family Home Page" contains a variety of interesting material!

Sources: These biographies are derived chiefly from community-based resources. The standard work on the family is by Emily Johnston de Forest and was published in 1915.