Evert Bancker (January 24, 1665 in Albany, New York – July 1734 in Guilderland, New York) was an American trader and politician who was Mayor of Albany from 1695 to 1696 and from 1707 to 1709.

Early life

He was the only surviving son of Gerrit Bancker (1635–1691), a pioneer fur trader, and Lysbet "Elizabeth" Van Epps (1630–1691), a trader's daughter with ties to the

Mohawk Valley The Mohawk Valley region of the U.S. state of New York is the area surrounding the Mohawk River, sandwiched between the Adirondack Mountains and Catskill Mountains, northwest of the Capital District. As of the 2010 United States Census, th ...

. His younger sister, Anna Bancker (1670–1740), married Johannes de Peyster, the

Mayor of New York City The mayor of New York City, officially Mayor of the City of New York, is head of the executive branch of the government of New York City and the chief executive of New York City. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property ...

. His father died in 1691, and he was named co-executor of the estate. Upon the death of his mother in 1693, he inherited a substantial family estate that included holdings in Albany and New York. He was among a number of Albany natives who maintained dual residency - being admitted to the "Freedom" of New York City in 1697.

Career

He followed his father in the fur trade and used his earnings to acquire land. His Albany house was located on the South side of today's State Street just east of his father's home. He was elected to the Albany Common Council - serving as assistant for the First Ward in 1688 and as alderman beginning in 1689. He was one of the few City Fathers who accepted appointment to the Council during the regime of Jacob Leisler. Re-elected as alderman in 1691, he held that seat until 1707. Bancker was appointed the third Mayor of Albany in 1694 and served for a year. He was appointed mayor again in 1707, serving until 1709. He was elected to the Provincial Assembly of New York in 1702 and, with his brother-in-law Johannes Abeel, was appointed Master of the Provincial Chancery Court in 1705. After the Peace of 1713, he retired from municipal affairs and gave the State Street property to his nephew Johannes De Peyster. He moved with his family to his farm in

Guilderland Guilderland is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. In the 2020 census, the town had a population of 36,848. The town is named for the Gelderland province in the Netherlands. The town of Guilderland is on the central-northwest borde ...

, several miles west of Albany. He continued trading and maintained his position as Commissioner of Indian Affairs, making a number of trips to the Iroquois country.

Personal life

On September 24, 1686, he married Elizabeth Abeel (1671–1734). She was the sister of Johannes Abeel, who also served as Mayor of Albany. He was an officer of the church and the friend of Dominie

Johannes Lydius Johannes is a Medieval Latin form of the personal name that usually appears as "John" in English language contexts. It is a variant of the Greek and Classical Latin variants (Ιωάννης, ''Ioannes''), itself derived from the Hebrew name '' Yeh ...

. Their family was large as they baptized thirteen children in the Albany Dutch Church between 1688 and 1710, including: * Gerardus Bancker (b. 1688), who died young. * Neeltje Bancker (1689–1712) * Gerardus Bancker (b. 1691), who died young. * Elisabeth Bancker (1693–1744), who married Gerrit Lansing, son of Johannes G. Lansing, in 1715. * Christoffel Bancker (1695–1762), who married Elizabeth Hooglant (b. 1699), in New York 1719. * Anna Bancker (1697-1706), who died young. * Willem Bancker (1699–1772), who married Annatje Gerritse Veeder (b. 1703), daughter of Gerrit Symonse Veeder (1674–1755), in 1726. * Jannetje Bancker (1701–1757), who married Harmanus Schuyler (1700–1748), son of

David Davidse Schuyler David Davidse Schuyler (June 11, 1669 – December 16, 1715) was a colonial fur trader who was mayor of Albany, New York, from 1706 to 1707. Early life Schuyler was born on January 16, 1672, at the family homestead, Schuyler Flatts (near present- ...

. * Adrianus Bancker (b. 1703), who married G. Elisabeth Van Taerling in 1729. * Gerardus Bancker (1706–1755), who married Maria de Peyster (1710–1759), daughter of Johannes de Peyster, in 1731. * Anna Bancker (1708–1709), who died young. * Johannes Bancker (1709–1710), who died young. * Johannes Bancker (b. 1710), who married Magdalena Veeder (b. 1710), sister of his brother's wife. Following the death of his wife in March 1734, he made his last will. The widower left his estate including the "farm where I now live" to his seven living children. Intending to live there under the care of his son, Johannes, he died in July and was buried on the Guilderland farm.

Descendants

His grandson Evert Bancker (1721–1803), was Speaker of the

New York State Assembly The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits. The Assem ...

from 1779 to 1783.

Sources

External links