Abraham G. Lansing


Abraham Gerritse Lansing was an American politician.

Early life

Lansing was born on December 12, 1756, in Albany, New York. He was the son of Gerrit Jacobse Lansing and his second wife Jannetje "Jane" Lansing. His brother was Chancellor John Lansing, Jr.. Another brother, Sanders G. Lansing married Catherine Ten Eyck, daughter of Abraham Ten Eyck and Annatje Ten Eyck.
Through his brother Sanders, he was the uncle of Robert Lansing, a New York State Senator and the grandfather of U.S. Secretary of State Robert Lansing. His ancestor, Gerrit Frederickse Lansing, came to America in 1640 from Hasselt, Overijssel, the Netherlands.

Career

During the American Revolutionary War, Lansing served in the Albany militia. In 1776, he was appointed firemaster. Similar to his older brother, his abilities as a clerk made him more useful in an office than on the battlefield. During his service in War, he was involved in the payment of accounts for New York State. Following the War, he was accorded a land bounty right for service in conjunction with his militia regiment.
After his marriage to Susanna Yates, he was closely associated with his father-in-law, Abraham Yates Jr., serving in 1780 as his deputy in the Loan Office.

Public office

He was Surrogate of Albany County from 1787 to 1808, and New York State Treasurer from 1803 to 1808, and from 1810 to 1812. Lansing also served on the New York State Board of Regents and was the private secretary to Governor Morgan Lewis.

Personal life

On April 9, 1779, he married Susanna Yates, the daughter of Abraham Yates, in Albany. They lived at the house built by his father-in-law at what became 358 North Market Street, in Albany. Together, they had fourteen children, including:
Lansing died on May 15, 1834, in Albany, New York. He was buried at the Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York.

Descendants

Through his son Christopher, he was the grandfather of Abraham Lansing, acting New York State Treasurer and a member of the New York State Senate from 1882 to 1883.