 After his father died when Abeel was 13, Abeel became a successful trader and merchant in Albany and New York City, establishing relationships with Native American tribes in Western New York that enabled him to acquire furs for resale in Albany.He exported the furs to London and received rum, rice, dry goods, and other items, some of which were for British soldiers garrisoned in Albany and Upstate New York, and most of which he resold at a profit.Abeel used some of his profits to take part in land purchase, resale and development, including the 1705 Westenhook Patent.