Background
He was born in the town of New Rochelle, in Westchester County, New York to Jacobus Bleecker and Abigail Lispenard. Bleecker married Mary Noel, daughter of Garrat Noel and Frances Matilda Jaymee, on May 4, 1763.
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Anthony Bleecker
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He is the namesake for Bleecker Street in lower Manhattan. He worked as a shipping merchant and real estate auctioneer in New York City, eventually becoming one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in 18th century New New York He was a Major in the 1st Regiment Provincials under a Colonel
Henry in 1775.
During the British occupation of New York City, the family lived in New Jersey. When General George Washington returned to Manhattan after the British evacuation in 1783, Bleecker was on the committee to officially welcome him back. Upon his own return to New York City, Bleecker started the family real estate and auctioning business.
His signature appears on the original list of subscribers of the capital stock for the Manhattan Company, later the Bank of Manhattan Trust Company.
The list dates from April 1799. He owned the farm where the present-day Bleecker Street in Manhattan lies.
His residence was 74 Broadway, across from Rector Street, where the large Bleecker family lived for many years. That land would eventually become the present day Greenwich Village where Bleecker Street runs today.
The size of his land, and his political and business influence is well documented.
Among the names: Roosevelt, Neilson and Harriman. He served until 1807 when he became a warden for five years. He purchased the family vault in its churchyard in 1790 where Bleecker family burials took place well into the 20th century.
He was by far the most powerful Bleecker in New York City history.
He left a will on 3 November 1814. He died April 26, 1816 and was buried the following day at Trinity Church Cemetery.
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Born
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Died
April 26, 1816 (aged 74)