The Albany Staats family is descended from surgeon Abraham Staats who emigrated to New Netherland in 1642. By that time, he had married Tryntie Wessels. At least four of their seven children flourished and established the Staats family in the city of Albany and in greater Albany County. Other New Netherland era Staats families became prominent in New York and in New Jersey.

By 1679, three Staats households existed within the Albany stockade. In 1697, Albany had two Staats-named households including that of surgeon Jacob Staats and newlywed Abraham - as well as the landmark State Street home of Elsie Staats Wendell Schuyler.

By 1756, the family had spread across the upriver region and only the home of cooper Isaac Staats was left in the colonial city. In 1790, however, six Staats households were counted on the first Federal Census. Most prominent among them was the landmark complex anchored by the old Schuyler house which included the homes of businessmen brothers William and Henry Staats!

In 1800, three Staats-named households including the Pearl Street home and store of Barent G. Staats were counted on the city census.

As late as 1815, seven Staats-named addresses were listed in the city directory.

The family farm on Staats Island near Castleton and the Dutchess County hamlet of Staatsburg recall the family today. A surprizing number of early Albany residents spent at least a part of their lives on Staats Island.

Sources: Our expositions on the Albany Staats family are based on research in community-based resources. Chief among the printed resources on the family is Josephine Staats Ellsworth, The Staats Family: A History of the Dutch Settlements in New York and Delaware, 1642-1992 (Wilmington, DE, 1992), which appears to comprehend earlier works. Also notable is Harold Staats, Genealogy of the Staats Family (printed by the family in 1921).