He was the third son of Arent Bratt and Catelyn De Vos, the first settlers. He was born in 1661, and married Maritje, daughter of Jan Baptist Van Eps, in 1684.
In the division of his mother's and step-father's estate, he received Van Boekhoven's farm in Niskayuna, on the north side of the river, which by patent of date, 22d Ap. 1708, was extended north into the woods one mile. (98-3)
He purchased several parcels of land in Schenectady, among which, by deed from the trustees, of date 10th Mar., 1706/7, were, 1st "a parcel of woodland in Schenectady one part of the same adjoining to the north of [on] ye lot of ground belonging to ye said Dirk Bratt and to ye west of Symon Groot Jr. … is broad on ye south end 150 feet and in length north 400 feet wood measure." This lot on the north side of State street, extended from the Carley house lot to the east line of the American hotel lot.
2d. "The other part is situated to ye north of said lot and of said Symon Groot, and ye lott of said Dirk Bratt and to ye east of ye common highway that leads in between the lott of Barent Wemp and ye lot of Barent Vrooman (Centre Street] and to ye west from another lott of ye said Dick Bratt and contains ye breath (sic) of ye said lott of ye said Symon Grott [Groot], the first above mentioned part and the first above mentioned lot of ye said Dirk Bratt northward between the said highway and ye last mentioned lott of ye said Dirk Bratt to ye highway [Union Street] that leads to Canastagione [Niskayuna] so that ye said woodland doth contain two morgens." (99-1)
The two lots of land above mentioned, extended along the south side of Union street from Centre street to a point 245 feet east of Barret street, or to the lot of the German Methodist church, and southward to the rear, about 445 feet.
In 1719, the westerly portion of this lot 231 ft. by 444 ft. on the south corner of Union and Centre streets was owned by Hendrick Vrooman. The remainder of Dirk Bratt's land on Union street, was devised to his sons-in-law, Rickert Van Vranken and Willem Berrit.
Dirk Bratt made his will 16th Jan., 1727, — proved June 1, 1759, — and was buried June 9, 1735.
His eldest son Johannes inherited the farm at Niskayuna.
Notes
(98-3) Patents, 1610; Albany Annals, IV, 163.
(99-1) Church papers.