Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I, Part 8

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 656

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fighting at Bemis Heights on September 19th, and at "Old Saratoga" (Schuylerville), on October 7th. General Schuyler's country res- idence, the ancient homestead on the southern bank of Fish creek and east of the highway from Albany to Canada, was occupied by Bur- goyne on the night of October 9th, when he gave a banquet to his officers, drinking to the health of the women of his entourage, and promising to feast in Albany presently, and he burned it the next morning on departing. The surrender took place on October 17th, and im- mediately afterward the prisoners marched southward. It was then that General Schuy- ler took General Burgoyne and his brother officers to his home in Albany, where they be- came his guests October 18, 1777. It was another act of gentlemanly courtesy that won a credit for the chivalry of Americans.

Washington had always thought of Schuy- ler in the highest esteem, and never failed to maintain confidence in and speak of his abil- ity and courage. He had had an abundant opportunity throughout the war to form an accurate estimate, and as the commander-in- chief was noted for his judgment of charac- ter of his officers, it is certain that his opin- ion is more just than that of any captious critic or antagonistic historian who writes of men he has never known and about incidents of which he was not a witness. General Washington wrote from Mount Vernon to General Schuyler, on January 21, 1784, as fol- lows:

"Your favor of the 20th of Dec. found me, as you conjectured, hy that fireside from which I have been too long absent for my own convenience; to which I return with the greatest avidity, the moment my public avocations would permit ; and from which 1 hope never again to be withdrawn. While I am here solacing myself in my retreat from the busy scenes of life, I am not only made extremely happy by the gratitude of my countrymen in general; but particularly so by the repeated proofs of the kind- ness of those who have been intimately conversant with my public transactions, and I need scarcely add that the favorable opinion of no one is more ac- ceptable than that of yourself. In recollecting the vicissitudes of fortune we have experienced, and the difficulties we have surmounted, 1 shall always call to mind the great assistance 1 have frequently re- ceived from you, both in your public and private character. May the blessings of peace amply reward your exertions ; may you and your family (to whom the compliments of Mrs. Washington and myself are affectionately presented) long continue to enjoy every species of happiness the world can afford. With sentiments of sincere esteem, attachment and affection, I am, Dear Sir, your most obedient, very humble servant, G. WASHINGTON."

Before passing to the consideration of the kith and kin of General Schuyler, it is advis- able to show with no unmistakable clearness why they and the great men of the country

have revered his memory. A few excerpts from the writings of well-known characters will serve to illustrate. In Washington Irv- ing's "Life of Washington" appears the fol- lowing: "When the tidings reached General Washington of the action of the Congress in superseding Schuyler (by Gates), he wrote him immediately that he looked upon the whole scheme as diabolical.' that he regarded it 'with sentiments of abhorrence, having the utmost confidence in your integrity and the most incontestible proofs of your attachment to your country.' Schuyler asked for a court- martial to sit on the case and was ftilly ac- quitted, the information being forwarded to General Washington by the court with an ex- pression of hope that 'Schuyler's name might be handed down to posterity as one of the pil- lars of the American cause.'" On finishing his book, Irving regretted that he was "too. old" to undertake that of Schuyler.

Daniel Webster also expressed a desire to add at least "a chapter on General Schuyler to the History of the Revolution," writing as follows: "I was brought up with the New England prejudices against him; but I con- sider him as second only to Washington in the services he rendered to the country in the War of the Revolution. His zeal and devo- tion to the cause under difficulties that would have paralyzed most men, and his fortitude and courage when assailed by malicious at- tacks, having impressed me with a strong de- sire to express publicly my sense of his great qualities.'

Gov. Horatio Seymour, in his address de- livered on the occasion of the centennial cele- bration of Burgoyne's surrender, held at Schuylerville, in 1877. on the very spot where. Schuyler's house and property had been de- stroyed by the British, gave testimony again to General Schuyler's patriotism and unsel- fishness,-"as the one figure which rises above all others; upon whose conduct and bearing we love to dwell. There was one who won a triumph there which never grows dim, one who gave an example of patience and patrio- tism unsurpassed on the pages of history, one who did not, under cutting wrongs and cruel suspicions, wear an air of martyrdom; but with cheerful alacrity served where he should have commanded."

Mrs. Lamb, in her "History of New York," writes: "In this connection, the figure of Philip Schuyler rises grandly above all others, -he tittered no complaint at seeing his laurels won by another! He even congratulated Gates, who had displayed no professional skill whatever."

It will not do to omit mention of the his-

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toric Schuyler Mansion at Albany, the scene of so much social life that was of importance in the period just described and an edifice which to this day has attracted every foreign visitor to the Capital City.

After his earlier campaigns, Philip Schuy- ler settled down at The Flatts with his bride, intending to busy himself with private affairs. He was, however, soon called away from the anticipated quiet life to engage again in pub- lic matters. Colonel John Bradstreet had an- other campaign on hand in 1760, this time against the Indian allies of the French in the west. The colonel's health was poor, and he had accounts with the government covering several years which required close attention. Thinking to manage his point successfully, he wrote to Philip Schuyler: "Your zeal, punc- tuality and strict honesty in his Majesty's ser- vice, under my direction, for several years past, are sufficient proofs that I can't leave my public accounts and papers in a more faith- ful hand than yours to be settled, should any accident happen to me this campaign ; where- fore that I may provide against it and that a faithful account may be rendered to the pub- lic of all the public money that I have re- ceived since the war, I now deliver to you all my public accounts and vouchers and do hereby empower you to settle them with whomsoever may be appointed for that pur- pose, either in America or England."

It proved to be difficult to conduct the busi- ness properly without visiting London, so Schuyler determined to go abroad. He sailed in February, 1761, aboard a packet named "General Wall," and he interested himself in the study of navigation, which, because of his previous taste for mathematics, and the slowness of the voyage, allowed him to make peculiarly rapid progress. It happened that the captain of the vessel died on the journey over, and both passengers and crew requested him to assume command. He was then but twenty-eight years old, but he possessed much self-reliance, and he navigated the vessel with full success until nearing the coast of Eng- land. At this time there was a war in prog- ress between England and France in Europe, although peace had come between them in the colonies, and the "General Wall" was taken by a French privateer, with the result that a French lieutenant and a prize crew were placed aboard. It was then that his knowl- edge of French proved very beneficial, and he found himself presently on good terms with his foreign captor. As both privateer and prize, the "General Wall," were nearing France, they were both captured by an Eng- lish frigate, and it happened thus that young

Schuyler was able to reach London in safety with his valuable papers. After attending to these affairs he devoted some time to the study of the products which he hoped to see pro- duced at home instead of the colonies contin- uing to import them. He also made a study of canal systems, with the expectation that some day he might introduce such methods into his province.

On his arrival home, as the little sloop neared the city of Albany, his eyes rested on an unfamiliar sight. He knew that when he had departed a new house for his family was in contemplation ; but here it was a real- ity on the spot he had selected. Its construc- tion had been brought about by the fact that, after the war ended, Colonel Bradstreet rec- ommended the number of newly idle men, car- penters and the like, as an inducement to be reckoned with in constructing it advantage- ously, and Mrs. Schuyler coincided with these views. It was a large, double house, in the English colonial style, built facing the Hud- son, and about a mile from it, with pleasing outlook because of its elevation which sloped gradually to the river shore, affording the family extensive terraces and gardens. It was of brick, with spacious rooms within and por- ticos on front and sides, the whole painted cream and white in later years. So well was the work accomplished that although erected in 1761, it has stood in about the same condi- tion to this day, and the only striking change has been in the encroachments made by the city growing about it on all sides, until the estate was limited to an acre or two.

The principal guest chamber was on the second floor on the left hand side, and there slept Lafayette, the Duke de Lauzun, and, after his surrender, General Burgoyne, with several of his leading officers. After the Rev- olution also came there the Marquis de Chas- tellux, Vicomte de Noailles and Comte de Damas. Washington also was his guest, and was godfather of one of his children, the in- fant, Catherine Schuyler. Her elder sister Margaret married Alexander Hamilton in one of the rooms, December 14. 1780. She like- wise figured in the attack made on the Schuy- ler Mansion by Indians on the evening of Au- gust 7. 1781, when a band of Tories planned to carry General Schuyler off to Canada. He was seated in his front hall, with doors open on account of the extreme heat, when he was apprised of the fact that some one wished to see him at the rear gate. Doors and win- dows were immediately barred, having reason to fear trouble, and, because of the suspicious character, the family proceeded to rush up- stairs. Discovering that the infant Catherine

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was sleeping on the main floor, Mrs. Schuyler ran back to save her; but the General inter- cepted. and the child's sister Margaret, who later married Patroon Stephen Van Rensse- laer, rescued the babe, and while mounting the stairs barely escaped the flying tomahawk, which lodged in the balustrade. By a subter- fuge of the General, calling to imaginary armed men to hasten, the band of marauders was scared away.

General Philip Schuyler married, at Clav- erack, Columbia county, New York, Septem- ber 17, 1755, Catherine Van Rensselaer. She was born at Claverack, New York, November 4, 1734; died in the Schuyler Mansion, Al- bany, March 7, 1803, daughter of Johannes V'an Rensselaer, of Claverack (born Jan. II. 1708) who married (Jan. 3, 1734) Engeltje (Angelica) Livingston, who was baptized July 17, 1698. Children of General Philip Schuyler and Catherine Van Rensselaer :

I. Engeltje (or Angelica), baptized at Al- bany. February 22, 1756; married John Bar- ker Church.

2. Elizabeth, born at Albany, August 9, 1757; died at Washington, D. C., November 7, 1854: married, in the Schuyler Mansion at Albany, December 14. 1780, Alexander Hamilton, first Secretary of the U. S. Treas- ury under appointment by President Washing- ton. He was born on the island of Nevis, in the West Indies, January 11, 1757, and was mortally wounded in a duel fought with Aaron Burr, at Weehawken, New Jersey, on the morning of July 11, 1804, dying at his home, "The Grange," in New York City, July 12th. His father was a proprietor planter in the West Indies, named James Hamilton, the son of Alexander Hamilton, of Grange, Scotland. He and his wife. Elizabeth Schuyler, are bur- ied in the graveyard of Trinity Church in New York City, to the south of the edifice She lived to be ninety-seven years old. and when she died her husband's last letter to her was found in a receptacle worn attached to her neck. They had the following issue: (a) Philip, born January 22, 1782, killed in a duel at Wechawken, New Jersey, November 24, 1801. (b) Angelica, born September 25, 1784. died February 6, 1857. (c) Alexander, born May 16, 1786, died August 2, 1875. (d) James Alexander, born April 14, 1788, died at Irvington, New York, September 24, 1878; married, Brooklyn, October 17, 1810, Mary Morris (b.Dec. 25, 1790 ; d.May 24, 1869). (e) John Church, born August 22, 1792; died Long Branch, New Jersey, July 25, 1882. (f) William Steven, born August 4, 1795, died at Sacramento, California. August 7, 1850. (g) Eliza, born November 26, 1799. (h) Philip,

born June 1, 1802, died at Poughkeepsie, New York, July 9, 1884 ; married Rebecca McLane, and had Allan McLane Hamilton, born Brook- lyn, October 6, 1848.

3. Margarita, born at Albany, September 19. 1758, baptized September 24, died at Al- bany. March 14, 1801 ; married at Schuyler- ville. New York. June 6. 1783, General Ste- phen Van Rensselaer, who was born in New York City, November 1, 1764; died in the Van Rensselaer Manor House at Albany, Jan- uary 26, 1839, and was the son of 7th Pat- roon, Stephen Van Rensselaer, who married (New York, Jan. 23, 1764) Catherine Living- ston, daughter of Philip Livingston, the Signer of the Declaration ; by whom: Cather- ine Schuyler (Van Rensselaer), born in July, and baptized August 9, 1784. died at Albany, April 26, 1797: Stephen (Van Rensselaer), born at Albany, June 6, 1786, died in 1787; General Stephen (Van Rensselaer), born at Albany, March 29, 1789, the 8th Patroon, died in the Manor House at Albany, May 25, 1868, married, New York City, January 2, 1817, Harriet Elizabeth Bayard.

4. Cornelia, born at Albany ; baptized there, August 1, 1761 : died young.

5. John Bradstreet, born at Albany; bap- tized October 8. 1763: died young.

6. John Bradstreet, born in the Schuyler mansion, Albany; baptized there, July 23, 1765; died at Schuylerville, New York, Au- gust 19, 1795 ; married, Albany, September 18, 1787, Elizabeth Van Rensselaer, who was born in the Manor House at Albany, August 15, 1768, died at Albany. March 27. 1841, daughter of 7th Patroon, Stephen Van Rens- selaer and Catherine Livingston : to whom : Philip, born in Albany, October 26, 1788, died at Pelham, New York, February 12, 1865, was member of assembly and United States consul to Liverpool, England, married. New York City, September 12, 1811. Grace Hunter, daughter of Robert Hunter, of Edinburgh. Scotland, and sister of Hon. John Hunter, of Hunter's Island, in Long Island Sound. John Bradstreet Schuyler's other child was Stephen Van Rensselaer, born at Albany, May 4, 1790; died when three weeks old. When a widow, Elizabeth Van Rensselaer (Schuyler) married, Albany, November 17. 1800, John Bleecker.

7. Philip Jeremiah, born January 20, 1768; died in New York City, February 21. 1835; married, May 31. 1788. Sarah Rutsen (who died October 24, 1805) ; by whom five chil- dren : married (second), January 21. 1807, Mary Anna Sawyer, of Newburyport, Massa- chusetts (b. September 2, 1786, d. March 25, 1852), by whom six children. Issue : (a) Phil- ip, born April 5, 1789, died May 22, 1822,

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married Rosanna Livingston. (b) John Rut- sen, died June 22, 1813. (c) Catherine, died November 20, 1829; married, January 27, 1816, Chief Justice Samuel Jones (b. March 26, 1770, d. August, 1853). (d) Robert, born September, 1798; died, 1855. (e) Stephen Van Rensselaer, born April, 1801; married, December 11, 1831. Catherine Morris, and he died in 1859. (f) William, born December 6, 1807; died when twenty-two years old, un- married. (g) Sybill, born May 16, 1809 ; died January 26, 1813. (h) George Lee, born June 9, 1811; died July 31, 1890; married (first), February 18, 1835, Eliza Hamilton (b. Oct. 8, 1811; d. Dec. 20, 1863), granddaughter of Alexander Hamilton ; married (second), April 15, 1869, Mary Morris Hamilton, born Janu- ary 1, 1818; died May 11, 1877.

8. Rensselaer, born at Albany, January 29, 1773; died December 16, 1847 ; married Eliza Ten Broeck (b. Aug. 25, 1772; d. Apr. IO, 1848), daughter of Gen. Abraham Ten Broeck and Elizabeth Van Rensselaer ; no issue.

9. Cornelia, born at Albany, December 22, 1776; died at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 5, 1808; married Washington Morton.

Io. Cortlandt, born at Albany, May 15, 1778; died young.

II. Catherine Van Rensselaer, born at Al- bany, February 20, 1781 ; died at Oswego, New York, August 26, 1857; married (first), Samuel Malcolm, son of General Malcolm of the Revolution; married (second), Major James Cochran, son of Surgeon-General John Cochran.

(Arent Schuyler's Line).

This is the line of descent of Arent Schuy- ler, son of Philip Pieterse Schuyler, the pro- genitor of the family in America.

(II) Arent Schuyler, son of Philip Pie- terse Schuyler and Margarita Van Slechten- horst, was born at Rensselaerswyck (Albany, N. Y.), June 25, 1662, and died November 26, 1730. The codicil of his will was dated October 30, 1730.

In July. 1684, being shortly after attaining his majority, and having fitted himself for the life of a merchant or trader, also possess- ing a sufficient sum of money to embark, he began preparations for marriage and house- keeping by buying a house on Pearl Street, "where the eagle hangs out," from his mother, paying her two hundred beavers in two instal- ments. Instead of door-plate, in order to represent his name by its significance. he hung outside a live eagle in a cage.

He selected for his wife, Jenneke Teller, the daughter of William Teller, who had come to Fort Orange in 1639, and Margaret Don- chesen, and he married her in Rensselaers-

wyck, November 26, 1684, two years before the city received its charter as Albany. A few months after their marriage they ap- peared before a notary to make a joint will. It was filed in Albany, and written in Dutch, read in part as follows: "The worthy Mr. Arent Schuyler and Jenneke Teller, lawfully wedded husband and wife, living here in Al- bany, both sound in body and mind, able to walk and stand, memory and speech unim- paired. who together having met and moved by their mutual affection and love, and to- gether having meditated on the certainty of death, and the uncertainty of the hour of it, have directed, without being persuaded or in- fluenced by anybody, to have their last will and testament drawn up. They first and above all commend their souls to God Almighty, and their bodies to a Christian burial."

His wife died in the year 1700, and he mar- ried, at Albany, January 2, 1703. Swantje Van Duyckhuysen. It is recorded in one family narrative (Taylor's Annals), that he married a third wife, Maria Walter, in 1724, who was living in Belleville, New Jersey, in 1734.

Arent Schuyler continued to attend to his thriving business for the first five years of his married life, and then was called more and more into public service. He served on a committee for providing fuel and other comforts for the houses occupied by Indians when on their trading expeditions to Albany. He was also on the committee to raise funds to erect fortifications, and he participated en- ergetically in the proceedings of the Albany convention in opposition to the pretensions of Jacob Leisler. After the Indians and French had accomplished the destruction of Schenec- tady in 1690, he joined the party of Captain Abraham Schuyler, who were directed to pro- ceed to Otter Creek and remain four weeks to watch the lakes and surrounding country in case of attack. He volunteered to lead a scouting party into Canada at this time, and although it consisted of eight Indians and he, the only white man, he was undaunted. They went through the wooded wilderness and through the lake, down the Sorel river to Fort Chambly, and under its walls killed two and took one Frenchman a prisoner. By this exploit he was the first man of the Eng- lish or Dutch to lead a hostile party from this province into Canada. He was thereafter widely known as a courageous man, and was commissioned captain.

In August, 1692, the acting governor, In- goldesby. was apprised of the fact that a delegation of southern Indians, who had been at war with the Five Nations, was on the way to visit their enemies and sue for peace.

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They had arrived at the Delaware river and were waiting for permission to continue their journey.

The governor and his council considered this an important business, requiring un- usual wisdom in its management. They con- cluded that Captain Arent Schuyler, then in New York, was exactly suited to the delicacy of the undertaking, and decided to despatch him to meet the Indians, that he might con- duct them to the governor and council. He was furnished with the proper instructions and given wampum belts to use. Considering the mode of traveling in those days, he was decidedly expeditious, for only six days aft- erward he returned with the "far Indians, called Shawanoes, and some Senecas, who had been traveling together for nine years." His expense account is of peculiar interest, and sets forth that on August 13th it was neces- sary to pay for ferriage at Elizabethtown; on the 14th, lodging and horse-hire; on the 15th, for horse-hire to (Trenton) Falls and a guide to the Indians; on the 16th, for two Holland shirts to be given to Indian chiefs ; expenses at Raritan and Woodbridge : on the 17th, horse-hire from Benjamin Cluet's to Elizabethtown; on the 18th, expense at the same place and ferriage from Davitt's; at New York, charges for "butcher's meat, crackers and peas" furnished the Indians, and on arrival, for the comfort and keeping of the Indians, "fourteen gallons single beer, fish, bread and oysters," the expenses for the entire trip, for all, amounting to but little more than twelve English pounds. He pre- sented a belt at the end of each proposition. addressing them as "brethren," and they him as "Corlaer."

On account of so many and frequent de- mands made upon him to treat with the In- dians or engage in campaigns, Arent Schuy- ler's business had been seriously neglected. His brother Brandt and his sister Gertrude were both married and had settled in New York. Albany was then a frontier town and exposed to attack, so considering everything, he departed for New York about February, 1694, determined to resume business as a merchant.

It was determined at a council held Febru- ary 3. 1694, by Governor Fletcher, that as there were one hundred Frenchmen and fifty French Indians coming into the Minisink country to debauch the Minisink Indians, that a trustworthy messenger must be despatched to seek out their intent. Arent Schuyler was again selected. He started the afternoon of the day he was told of the mission, and the day after reached the Indian village, eight

miles beyond the Hackensack. His confer- ence was favorable, and after an absence of six days among dangerous tribes, returned to New York City.

On June 6, 1695, Arent Schuyler and An- thony Brockholst purchased of the Indians 4,000 acres of land at Pequannock. On No- vember 11, 1695, they purchased the title of the East Jersey Proprietors to the same tract for one hundred pounds. On May 20, 1697, he received from Governor Fletcher a patent for land in the Minisink country, called by the Indians Sankhekeneck, alias Maghawaem ; also a parcel of meadow called Waimsagsk- meck, on the Minisink river, containing one thousand acres.

He removed from New York to Pompton Plains, New Jersey, about 1702, where he remained until 1710, when he removed to a large farm which he had purchased from Edmund Kingsland, on New Barbadoes Neck, on the east side of the Passaic river, the deed dated April 20, 1710; amount, 330 pounds.

A negro slave belonging to him accident- ally found a copper deposit while he was plowing. He had turned up a peculiarly greenish and very heavy sort of stone. He took it to his master and it was sent to Eng- land to be analyzed. The reply was that it contained 80 per cent. of copper, and this opened a means for Arent Schuyler to obtain wealth. Desiring to reward the slave, he told him that he might make three requests, to which the fellow replied ; first, that he might remain with his master so long as he lived; second, that he might have all the tobacco he could smoke ; third, that he might be given a dressing-gown, with big, brass buttons, like his master's. Schuyler told him to consider and ask for something less trifling, and the answer was that for the fourth request he might have "a little more tobacco." Before his death he had shipped to the Bristol copper and brass works, England, 1,386 tons. In 1761, on receipt of an engine from England, the mine was extensively operated for four years.

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Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I, Part 8

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed Publication date: 1911 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 656

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 656