The mighty Oak tree which stands tall, provides shade for wildlife, and produces lumber sought after by wood workers everywhere gets its start from a simple small acorn. Amazing at what a small seed can produce.

Our fabled city of Troy also had similar modest beginnings.

On June 2nd 1707, Derick (or Dirck) Vanderheyden, the son of Jacob Tysse Vanderheyden of New Amsterdam (NYC) purchased two tracts of land from Pieter Van Woggelum that encompassed the land from the Poestenkill to the Meadow Creek (near Hoosick Street). During most of the 18th century, the area which we call Troy was farmland under the control of the Vanderheyden family.

Derick Vanderheyden had three sons: Jacob, David and Mattys. On November 1731 he deeded his farm to them giving each equal thirds.

David sold his interest in this farm to brother Jacob in 1732 apparently having no interest in the land.

Founder Derick's son Jacob had two sons, Dirck and Jacob. Dirck had a son named Jacob D. Jacob had a son called Jacob I.

Mattys Vanderhyden, the third son of the original owner Derick, deeded his portion to his sons Dirck and John and grandson Matthias Vanderhyden, the son of Dirck.

In essence, the three Vanderheyden's who were to found Troy as we know it today were the great grandsons of the original owner Derick.

Jacob and Mattys created a partition deed in on April 3, 1789 dividing the farm into three parts. Jacob retained title to the middle and northern sections, and Mattys received the southern part.

When Jacob died April 18, 1764, his son Dirck became owner of the middle and northern farms, but on July 2, he deeded over the northern portion to his brother Jacob.

Finally, Jacob I. received the northern portion by a deed from his father. Brother Jacob D. became owner of the middle farm when Dirck died on May 11, 1774.

Matthias became sole owner of the southern farm when his father Dirck died on March 1 1770, or he may have already had ownership deeded from his grandfather Mattys.

Confused yet? The final ownership of the land shortly before it became Troy was three farms owned by Jacob D. (1758-1809 ), Jacob I. (1750 1801), and Matthias Vanderheyden (1760-1825).

The boundaries for these three farms were:

Northern Farm

The Northern Farm was bounded on the north by Piscawen Kill (now buried near Ingalls and Middleburgh), and south by Grand Division Street (now called Grand). It was surveyed and mapped by John E. Van Allen on Feb 8th, 1793.

Middle Farm

The Middle Farm was bounded on the north by Grand Division Street and south by Division Street. It was surveyed and mapped by Flores Banker on May 1, 1787 and by John Van Allen on Sept 10th, 1801.

Southern Farm

The Southern Farm was bounded on the north by Division Street and south by the Poestenkill. It was surveyed and mapped by John E. Van Allen, on May 10th, 1793 .

Early records tell us the northern and middle farms were more productive than the south farm. Land between Ferry and Division Streets was fenced and tilled. Orchards were on the bank of the river near River Road (present River Street), and at the foot of the hills around 5th and 6th Avenues stood forests of pine and scrub oak, part of the extensive pine barrens region that covered most of Albany, Schenectady, and Rensselaer Counties (the Pine Bush).

Jacob I. Vanderheyden lived in a small one story brick house (later expanded) just past Hoosick Street on River. Floors planks were 10 inch yellow pine (pitch pine) fastened to 12-14 inch oak beams. Room height was not more than 8 feet. This building was later converted and connected to the Seton Day Home on nearby Fifth Avenue and was standing until the late 1970's when it was demolished. It is now paved, serving as a parking lot. Part of the hand wrought fencing is still visible on River.

Jacob D. Vanderheyden, called the Patroon, lived in a framed building on the southeast corner of River and Ferry Streets, now occupied by a Russell Sage Dorm. He later built a larger brick house on the southwest corner of Grand Division and Eighth Street. This building was destroyed recently so a street (Federal) could be rerouted.

Matthias Vanderheyden lived in a two story house on the southeast corner of Division and River Streets. It too is a parking lot today and owned by Russell Sage College.

While Jacob D.'s remains are probably obliterated, the home sites of Jacob I. and Matthias could be excavated, artifacts recovered, and preserved as memorials to Troy's early founders.