Christoffel Yates
by
Stefan Bielinski
Christoffel Yates (Yetts) was born in Albany in April 1684. He was the eldest son of newcomer soldier/blacksmith Joseph Yates and Albany native Huybertie Marselis Yates. He grew up among a number of soldier families on the Southside of Albany.
In July 1706, he married Albany native Catalina Winne. The following spring, the first of their ten children was baptized in the Albany Dutch Church where both parents were members and frequent baptism sponsors.
This Yates family set up their modest home in the second ward near Foxes Creek. Like his father, Christoffel was a blacksmith. In 1715, he was identified as a private in an Albany militia company. During the 1710s and 20s, he also served as a second ward firemaster and was high constable for the city in 1715.
Four of his sons went on to establish families that were prominent in Albany crafts and trades. Younger son Abraham Yates, Jr. became an attorney, revolutionary leader, and later mayor of Albany.
Christoffel Yates died in 1754 at age sixty-nine. He was buried in the Dutch church cemetery on February 26.
