52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 39; Jacobus Mulder & 73 Dove Street

It seems that I fell behind on my weekly ancestor bios. Summer and nice weather holds lots of things to do over research and writing. But, after racing around in yesterday's Albany History Race and being very near to a home of one of my great great great grandparents located at 73 Dove Street in Center Square I decided to revisit these ancestors.

Jacobus Mulder and Klaasje Klasen Booij were both Dutch immigrants to America. Jacobus, born 7 March 1824 in Leerdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands arrived in New York aboard the "Emblem" on 24 August 1848 with his siblings and German-born parents, Christian Friedrich Moller and Ursula Muller.

Klaasje, born 14 March 1833 in Oostellingwerf, Friesland, Netherlands also arrived in New York in 1847 with her siblings and parents, Klaas Booij and Geesje Raeloss Hoorn. At some point after arrival in the United States my ancestors names changed.

Klaas Booij changed to Nicholas Boyd. Geesje Raeloss Hoorn Booij became Lucretia Boyd. Their children's names changed also; Klaasje Klasen Booij was now Clara Boyd; brother Remmelt Klaus Booij became Robert Boyd; and younger brother Mense Booij was now known as Nelson Boyd.

Jacobus and Clara both Dutch immigrants met in Albany and were married on 13 July 1850 at the Madison Avenue Reformed Church. Jacobus was naturalized in Albany and became a United States citizen on 23 October 1854.

1854 Jacobus Mulder Naturalization

Soon after becoming American citizens the couple began their family which included:

• Eugenia: (03 October 1855 - 03 March 1876)
• John Nelson: (13 August 1858 - 12 June 1878)
• Maria Louisa: (11 November 1859 - 19 February 1919) married Edward Kirk Hitchcock
• Nicholas Boyd: (19 June 1862 - 03 October 1919) married Euretta E. Bates
• James: (08 December 1873 - 06 July 1928) married Henrietta Dorothy Karl

73 Dove Street, May 2015

In the early 1870s the family purchased 73 Dove Street. Jacobus was a carver and I am curious whether his shop was on the first floor of his home. The interior photos of the home were found on the Internet when the home was previously for sale.

73 Dove Street, interior, pre 2014

73 Dove Street, interior, pre 2014

Shortly after daughter Eugenia died in March 1876 from consumption, Jacobus purchased a plot in Albany Rural Cemetery on 20 May 1876 for $50.00. 

1876 lot purchase card

On 19 December 1887, Jacobus died from pneumonia at 73 Dove Street. His wife, Clara, died on 19 February 1920 from arterio sclerosis. They are buried in the Mulder family plot at Albany Rural Cemetery.

Mulder plot in Albany Rural Cemetery

Albany History Race 2015

Earlier today my new friend Paul and I competed in the second annual Albany History Race hosted by the Albany Public Library. The goal of the race is to introduce Albany's history in a fun and competitive way by getting clues from a booklet and then driving to a specific location where a photo of a team member has to be taken to prove that you found it. It is a big scavenger hunt. Last year I missed the race but was not going to miss it this year.

Every team had to pick four out of six "missions" to seek, find, and photograph with a team member in each picture. Each mission had two locations to find. So we had to find a total of eight locations. Upwards of twenty teams; each with varying numbers of members competed today. After finding each location and taking a picture, we raced to the next location.

We quickly tried to plan our route in a loop fashion so that we did not have to back track. When we left the Albany Public Library on Washington Avenue we headed out and got on Lark Street on our way to a secluded ravine just west of Lincoln Park where the water from the Beaverkill can be seen. The stream is completely underground flowing through a large conduit.

Our next stop was to find the Trolley Tree Sculpture at the Delaware Avenue public library.

Next we headed over to the Myers Middle School off Whitehall Road for a quick photo.

The fourth stop was to go to where Dan O'Connell was born at the corner of Second Avenue and South Pearl Street.

Our fifth stop was to photograph the small bridge and fencing where the Patroon Creek went underground and flowed to the Hudson River on North Pearl Street near Tivoli Street.

The sixth stop was to find the Myers house on Livingston Avenue.

The seventh stop was head to the birth place of Mayor Erastus Corning. He was born on Chestnut Street between Lark and Dove Streets. We realized this mission/stop while we were on Lark Street heading to our first stop; just after we passed Chestnut Street. With all of the one way streets in that area it was thought to get it later.

Our last stop was at the United Traction Company on Broadway and Columbia Street.

After we left the former United Traction Company we rushed around the corner to McGeary's where the finish line was. Paul and I came in third place and it was a great time. If this race is continued, I would recommend this event to anyone; especially families. At McGeary's it was nice to meet and chat with some other Albany historians who are involved with the Facebook group Assiduity!

Cemetery Restoration Project at New Mount Ida Cemetery

Coming up this weekend is a cemetery restoration project at the New Mount Ida Cemetery on Pinewoods Avenue in Troy. The dates are Saturday and Sunday, September 19th and 20th beginning around 8 AM.

The focus of this project will be to restore the grave sites of Civil War veterans who are buried at New Mount Ida. This venture is being undertaken in the name and memory of Ed Dodge. Ed was a fellow cemetery enthusiast who passed away recently. Mr. Dodge was implemental in getting grave stone replacements for missing and damaged grave markers for veterans at the old Lansingburgh burial grounds.

Joe Ferrannini from Grave Stone Matters will be there lending his expertise at preserving and conserving gravestones. Please stop by to lend a hand at restoring the graves of our veterans.

Albany History Race 2015

Coming up soon is an event that I missed last year and sounds like a lot of fun. The Albany Public Library is hosting its second "History Race" on September 26. It is modeled after the TV show the Amazing Race. Details of this event are below and clipped from Albany.com

Albany History Race

September 26, 2015 - September 26, 2015

• Location: Albany Public Library
• Address: 161 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210
• Times: From: 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
• Admission: Free!
• Contact: Local History Librarian
• Phone:518-427-4376

Why visit one historic site in Albany when you can visit eight in one afternoon followed by a discounted meal with fellow history enthusiasts? The Second Annual Albany History Race is an Amazing Race style afternoon scavenger hunt for history experts, novices, and visitors interested in learning about Albany's past. The event will begin in the library's local history room and conclude at McGeary's Pub where participating teams will receive 20% off their food and drink that afternoon, plus additional discounts and prizes for the fastest teams! Registration required. For more details on how this exciting and educational competition works, and to register your team, visit the albanypubliclibrary.org event calendar.

Event Duration (Hours): 3
* Advanced registration required
Advanced Registration Information: Registration required. Please register your team by September 26th through the albanypubliclibrary.org event calendar.  Register here 

Not suitable for children under: 8
Additional Equipment required: Each team must have a car and either a phone or digital camera to take and store photos of their visits.
Not Wheelchair Accessible