He was the only surviving son of Gerrit Bancker (1635–1691), a pioneer fur trader, and Lysbet "Elizabeth" Van Epps (1630–1693), a trader's daughter with ties to the Mohawk Valley. His younger sister, Anna Bancker (1670–1740), married Johannes de Peyster, the Mayor of New York City.
His father died in 1691, and he was named co-executor of the estate. Upon the death of his mother in 1693, he inherited a substantial family estate that included holdings in Albany and New York. He was among a number of Albany natives who maintained dual residency - being admitted to the "Freedom" of New York City in 1697.[1]
He followed his father in the fur trade and used his earnings to acquire land. His Albany house was located on the South side of today's State Street just east of his father's home.[1]
He was elected to the Albany Common Council - serving as assistant for the First Ward in 1688 and as alderman beginning in 1689. He was one of the few City Fathers who accepted appointment to the Council during the regime of Jacob Leisler. Re-elected as alderman in 1691, he held that seat until 1707. Bancker was appointed the third Mayor of Albany in 1694 and served for a year. He was appointed mayor again in 1707, serving until 1709.[2] He was elected to the Provincial Assembly of New York in 1702 and, with his brother-in-law Johannes Abeel, was appointed Master of the Provincial Chancery Court in 1705.[1]
After the Peace of 1713, he retired from municipal affairs and gave the State Street property to his nephew Johannes De Peyster. He moved with his family to his farm in Guilderland, several miles west of Albany. He continued trading and maintained his position as Commissioner of Indian Affairs,[3] making a number of trips to the Iroquois country.[1]
On September 24, 1686, he married Elizabeth Abeel (1671–1734).[4] She was the sister of Johannes Abeel, who also served as Mayor of Albany. He was an officer of the church and the friend of DominieJohannes Lydius.[1] Their family was large as they baptized thirteen children in the Albany Dutch Church between 1688 and 1710, including:[4][5]
Johannes Bancker (b. 1710), who married Magdalena Veeder (b. 1710),[10] sister of his brother's wife.[11]
Following the death of his wife in March 1734, he made his last will. The widower left his estate including the "farm where I now live" to his seven living children.[5] Intending to live there under the care of his son, Johannes, he died in July and was buried on the Guilderland farm.[1]
^ abcdefghijklGreene, Richard Henry; Stiles, Henry Reed; Dwight, Melatiah Everett; Morrison, George Austin; Mott, Hopper Striker; Totten, John Reynolds; Pitman, Harold Minot; Ditmas, Charles Andrew; Forest, Louis Effingham De; Maynard, Arthur S.; Mann, Conklin (1869). The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. pp. 68–69. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
