Defreestville in Rensselaer County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

David Defreest

Photographed by Gabe Jaquish, May 25, 2021

1. David Defreest Marker

Inscription. Family among early settlers
Brick Homestead c. 1771
with gambrel roof
and beam anchors
Listed on National Register

Erected by Town of North Greenbush.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1771.

Location. 42° 40.571′ N, 73° 41.366′ W. Marker is in Defreestville, New York, in Rensselaer County. It is on Jordan Road east of North Greenbush Road (U.S. 4), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 27 Jordan Road, Rensselaer NY 12144, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

in the Capital District,

and in the Albany Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other

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markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Philip Defreest House (approx. ¼ mile away); Early Cemetery (approx. 0.9 miles away); Little Red Schoolhouse (approx. 1.2 miles away); a different marker also named “Little Red Schoolhouse” (approx. 1.2 miles away); Jacob S. Sharp (approx. 1.3 miles away); Hudson River Islands (approx. 1½ miles away); Al-Tro Park (approx. 1.6 miles away); Fort Crailo (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Defreestville.

Regarding David Defreest. The marker stands in front of the original brick David Defreest House, constructed sometime between 1767 and 1771 as dated by dendrochronological analysis.

The brick section of the house was constructed using bricks imported from Holland used as ballast in trading vessels on the Hudson River. The attached Wooden House was built sometime between 1810 and 1820 for a Defreest daughter. The homes were originally built as separate homes, with no passage between them aside from exiting the front door and entering the front door of the adjoining house. Since that time two passage ways have been constructed.

The

Photographed by Trudi Jacobson, July 6, 2026

2. David Defreest Marker

large gambrel barn on the property was constructed in the late 1800's - early 1900's where Route 4 is located today. The barn was later deconstructed, numbered, and rebuilt in its current location as part of the Route 4 construction in the late 1920s.

The home, barn and property is now a private residence.

David Defreest Marker and Brick Portion of the House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Trudi Jacobson, July 6, 2026

3. David Defreest Marker and Brick Portion of the House

David Defreest House with Brick and Wooden Houses Visible image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Trudi Jacobson, July 6, 2026

4. David Defreest House with Brick and Wooden Houses Visible

Credits. This page was last revised on July 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2021, by Gabe Jaquish of Troy, New York. This page has been viewed 616 times since then and 50 times this year. Last updated on July 6, 2026, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York. Photos: 1. submitted on May 25, 2021, by Gabe Jaquish of Troy, New York. 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 6, 2026, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.