Maj. Garret Abeel (1734-1799)
of Little Falls, New Jersey; Member of the New York Provincial Congress
In 1765, he partnered with his brother-in-law, Evart Byvanck, to form the highly successful hardware firm Abeel & Byvanck. Operating out of downtown Manhattan, the company specialized in trading tools, machinery steel, and imported British metal goods. The firm was remarkably long-lived; after Byvanck and Abeel moved on, the enterprise continued under various Abeel family partnerships for several generations, lasting well into the 20th century.
