Van Alen was born in Kinderhook, New York on December 31, 1772,[1] the son of Johannes Van Alen (1744–1773) and Marytje Goes (or Hoes) Van Alen (1748–1817).[2] On January 1, 1773, he was christened Jacobus Van Alen at Kinderhook's Dutch Reformed Church.[3] He had two siblings, Marytje (or Maria) Van Alen and John Isaac Van Alen.[4]
After the death of his father, his mother married Abraham Van Buren in 1776.[4][5] His mother had five more children with Van Buren including Dirckie "Derike" Van Buren, Jannetje (called "Hannah" or "Jane") Van Buren, future U.S. President Martin Van Buren, Lawrence Van Buren, and Abraham Van Buren Jr.[6]
After being admitted to the bar in New York, he practiced in Kinderhook, later practicing in partnership with Martin Van Buren.[7] From 1797 to 1801 he was Kinderhook's Town Clerk.[8][9][10] Van Alen was also involved in various businesses, including serving as secretary of the board of directors for the Chatham Turnpike Corporation.[11]
He later returned to the surrogate judge's position, serving from 1815 until his death.[19] He was succeeded by his half-brother, Abraham A. Van Buren.[19]
Personal life
Van Alen never married or had children.[1] He died in Kinderhook on May 18, 1822,[1] and was buried at Kinderhook Cemetery.[20]
^"Jacobus Van Alen Baptism, U.S. Dutch Reformed Church Vital Records, 1660-1926". Ancestry.com. Dutch Reformed Church, Kinderhook, NY. January 1, 1773. Note: His name appears in records variously as Jacobus Van Alen, James I. Van Alen and James J. Van Alen. Variations on given names were not unusual in upstate New York in the 1700s and 1800s, as Dutch names were Anglicized. For example, Martin Van Buren was baptized as Maarten.