Van Bael marker commemorates an event earlier than any other marker in Guilderland
— Photo from John Haluska
Marking history: Sue Anderson and William Kidd stand beside the Van Bael Patent marker installed on June 11. “This marker commemorates the Native American, Dutch, and patroon elements of our history,” said John Haluska who has been instrumental in placing and restoring markers throughout Guilderland. This is the first marker in the southeastern portion of town, Haluska said, thanking Raymond Green, who owns the property where the marker is placed, and William Kidd, “whose research allowed us to proceed in getting grant funding from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.”
To the Editor:
The Guilderland Historical Society will dedicate an historic marker for the Van Bael Patent on Thursday, June 26, at 10:30 a.m.
The Van Bael patent was purchased by Jan Hendrickse van Bael from Mohawk sachems in 1672. He was a resident of Albany, a tailor, trader, and one of the six appointed Commis (magistrates) at the time of his purchase.
The large area (perhaps as much as 50,000 acres) resulted in a long-running dispute with the Van Rensselaer patroons for the succeeding owners of two halves of the patent, descendants of Symon Volkertse Veeder, and Omie LaGrange.
An arbitration in 1775 reduced the patent to merely 1,000 acres and resulted in the dispossession of many of these long-established farming families.
This marker is the first in the southeastern part of Guilderland, and commemorates an event earlier than any other marker in Guilderland.
The Guilderland Historical Society is grateful to the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, which funded the grant proposal for this marker.
The marker is located near 5869 Johnston Road (Albany County Road 203), a bit less than 0.4 mile east of the bridge over the Normanskill. There is a gravel parking area on the south side of the road opposite the new marker.
The public is cordially invited to attend this dedication.
Gardner Gurney
President
Guilderland Historical Society