The Van Cortlandt family was an influential political dynasty from the seventeenth-century Dutch origins of

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

through its period as an English colony, then after it became a state, and into the nineteenth century. It rose to great prominence with the award of a Royal Charter to Van Cortlandt Manor, an tract in today's

Westchester County Westchester County is located in the U.S. state of New York. It is the seventh most populous county in the State of New York and the most populous north of New York City. According to the 2020 United States Census, the county had a population ...

sprawling from the

Hudson River The Hudson River is a river that flows from north to south primarily through eastern New York. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York and flows southward through the Hudson Valley to the New York Harbor between Ne ...

to the Connecticut state line granted as a Patent to Stephanus Van Cortlandt in 1697 by

King William III William III (William Henry; ; 4 November 16508 March 1702), also widely known as William of Orange, was the sovereign Prince of Orange from birth, Stadtholder of County of Holland, Holland, County of Zeeland, Zeeland, Lordship of Utrecht, Utrec ...

. Among the Van Cortland family tree are members of the Philipse family,

van Rensselaer family The Van Rensselaer family () is a family of Dutch descent that was prominent during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries in the area now known as the state of New York. Members of this family played a critical role in the formation of the Unit ...

Schuyler family The Schuyler family ( /ˈskaɪlər/; Dutch pronunciation: xœylər was a prominent Dutch family in New York and New Jersey in the 18th and 19th centuries, whose descendants played a critical role in the formation of the United States (especiall ...

Livingston family The Livingston family of New York is a prominent family that migrated from Scotland to the Dutch Republic, and then to the Province of New York in the 17th century. Descended from the 4th Lord Livingston, its members included signers of the Unit ...

, the de Peyster family, the Gage family, the Jay family (including

John Jay John Jay (December 12, 1745 – May 17, 1829) was an American statesman, patriot, diplomat, abolitionist, signatory of the Treaty of Paris, and a Founding Father of the United States. He served as the second governor of New York and the fir ...

, the Founding Father and first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court), and the Delanceys. Its legacy includes Van Cortlandt Park and the Van Cortlandt House Museum in

the Bronx The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New ...

, New York; the town of Cortlandt in northern

Westchester County, New York Westchester County is located in the U.S. state of New York. It is the seventh most populous county in the State of New York and the most populous north of New York City. According to the 2020 United States Census, the county had a population ...

; Van Cortlandt Upper Manor House in the hamlet of Cortlandt Manor, New York; Van Cortlandt Manor in the village of Croton-on-Hudson to its south; and the namesake for

Cortland County, New York Cortland County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population of Cortland County was 46,809. The county seat is Cortland. The county is named after Pierre Van Cortlandt, president of the convention at ...

and the

State University of New York College at Cortland The State University of New York College at Cortland (SUNY Cortland or Cortland State College) is a public college in Cortland, New York. It was founded in 1868 and is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. History The State Un ...

History

Captain Olof Stevense Van Cortlandt, who was born in Wijk bij Duurstede, Netherlands, arrived in

New Amsterdam New Amsterdam ( nl, Nieuw Amsterdam, or ) was a 17th-century Dutch settlement established at the southern tip of Manhattan Island that served as the seat of the colonial government in New Netherland. The initial trading ''factory'' gave rise ...

in 1637. He was originally a soldier and bookkeeper who rose to high colonial ranks in service of the

Dutch West India Company The Dutch West India Company ( nl, Geoctrooieerde Westindische Compagnie, ''WIC'' or ''GWC''; ; en, Chartered West India Company) was a chartered company of Dutch merchants as well as foreign investors. Among its founders was Willem Usselincx ( ...

, serving many terms as

burgomaster Burgomaster (alternatively spelled burgermeister, literally "master of the town, master of the borough, master of the fortress, master of the citizens") is the English form of various terms in or derived from Germanic languages for the chief ...

and

alderman An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members them ...

. His descendants became involved in politics and married into the best American political and influential families including the Van Rensselaers, Schuylers, and Livingstons. Van Cortlandt Park in

Bronx, New York The Bronx () is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state, state of New York (state), New York. It is south of Westchester County, New York, Westchester County; north and east of the ...

derives its name from the family, as well as

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the List of co ...

's Cortlandt Street and Cortlandt Alley. The town of Cortlandt to the north, in

carries the family name as well. The Van Cortlandt House Museum was initially the residence of Frederick Van Cortlandt.

Family tree

* Steven Van Cortlandt ** Olof Stevense Van Cortlandt (–1684) m. Annetje Loockermans (1618-1684). *** Stephanus Van Cortlandt (1643-1700) m. Gertrude Schuyler (born 1654) **** Margaretta Van Cortlandt (b. 1674) m. Judge Samuel Bayard (b. 1669) (son of Nicholas Bayard) ***** Gertrude Bayard m. Peter Kemble (1704-1789) ******

Margaret Kemble Margaret Kemble Gage (1734–1824) was the wife of General Thomas Gage, who led the British Army in Massachusetts in the American Revolutionary War. She was born in New Brunswick, Province of New Jersey and resided in East Brunswick Township. S ...

(1734–1824) m. British General Thomas Gage (1718/19–1787); descendants in the United Kingdom include the Bertie family, the Gage family, and the Foley family. **** Anne Van Cortlandt (1676-1724) m. Stephen DeLancey (1663–1741) ***** James DeLancey (1703–1760) m. Anne Heathcote ***** Susannah DeLancey (1707–1771) m. Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Warren (1703–1752) ***** Oliver DeLancey Sr. (1718-1785) m.

Phila Franks Phila may refer to a shortened name for the City of Philadelphia, U.S. It may also refer to: *Phila of Elimeia, sister of Derdas and wife of Philip II of Macedon *Phila (daughter of Antipater), wife of Balacrus, Craterus and Demetrius Poliorcete ...

***** Anne DeLancey (b. 1723) m. John Watts; descendants include the Clan Kennedy of Scotland. **** Catherine Van Cortlandt m. Andrew Johnston (1694-1762) **** Elizabeth Van Cortlandt m. Rev. William Skinner ***** Col. William Skinner (d. 1778) ***** Brig. Gen. Cortlandt Skinner (1727-1799) m. Elizabeth Kearney (1731–1810) **** Philip Van Cortlandt (1683–1746) m. Catherine De Peyster ***** Stephen van Cortlandt (1711–1756) ****** Philip van Cortlandt (1739–1814) ******* Gertrude van Cortlandt m. Sir Edward Buller, 1st Baronet (1764–1824) ******** Anna Maria Buller m. 1824: James Drummond Elphinstone (1788–1857). ********* William Buller Fullerton Elphinstone, 15th Lord Elphinstone (1828–1893) m. 1864: Lady Constance Euphemia Murray (1838–1922) (daughter of

Alexander Murray, 6th Earl of Dunmore Alexander Edward Murray, 6th Earl of Dunmore (1 June 1804 – 15 July 1845) was the son of George Murray, 5th Earl of Dunmore. On 27 September 1836 in Frankfurt, Germany, he married Lady Catherine Herbert, daughter of the 11th Earl of Pembroke ...

). *****

Pierre Van Cortlandt Pierre Van Cortlandt (January 10, 1721 – May 1, 1814) was an American politician who served as the first Lieutenant Governor of New York. He was first elected to the New York Assembly in March 1768 and served in that body as the representative ...

(1721–1814) m. Joanna Livingston (1722–1808) ****** Philip Van Cortlandt (1749–1831), died unmarried ****** Catherine Van Cortland (1751–1829) m. Abraham Van Wyck (1748–1786) ******

Pierre Van Cortlandt, Jr. Pierre Van Cortlandt Jr. (August 29, 1762July 13, 1848) was a United States representative from New York. A member of New York's Van Cortlandt family, he was the son of Pierre Van Cortlandt, an early New York political figure, and brother of Ph ...

(1762–1848) m. (1) Catherine Clinton (1770–1811) (daughter of George Clinton); m. (2) Anne Stevenson (1774–1821). ******* Pierre Van Cortlandt III (1815–1884) m. Catharine Elizabeth Beck (1818–1895) (daughter of

Theodric Romeyn Beck Theodric Romeyn Beck (April 11, 1791 – November 19, 1855), alternatively Theodoric Romeyn Beck or T. Romeyn Beck, was an American physician in Albany, New York, specializing in medical jurisprudence who authored the first significant American b ...

). ******** Catherine Theresa Romeyn Van Cortlandt (1838–1921) m. 1873: John Rutherford Mathews (1835–1898) ******** James Stevenson Van Cortlandt (1844–1917) ******** Theoderick Romeyn Van Cortlandt (1845–1880) ****** Anne De Peyster Van Cortlandt (1766–1855) m. Philip S. Van Rensselaer (1767–1824) **** Maria Van Cortlandt m. Kiliaen van Rensselaer (1663–1719) ***** Maria van Rensselaer (b. 1702) m. Frederick van Cortlandt ***** Gertrude van Rensselaer (1703–1704) ***** Jeremias van Rensselaer (1705–1745). *****

Stephen van Rensselaer Stephen Van Rensselaer III (; November 1, 1764January 26, 1839) was an American landowner, businessman, militia officer, and politician. A graduate of Harvard College, at age 21, Van Rensselaer took control of Rensselaerswyck, his family's mano ...

(1707–1747) m. Elizabeth Groesbeck ****** Elizabeth van Rensselaer (b. 1734) m.

Abraham Ten Broeck Abraham Ten Broeck (May 13, 1734 – January 19, 1810) was a New York politician, businessman, and militia Brigadier General of Dutch descent. He was twice Mayor of Albany, New York and built one of the largest mansions in the area, the T ...

(1734–1810) ****** Stephen van Rensselaer II (1742–1769) m. Catherine Livingston (1745–1810) *******

Stephen van Rensselaer III Stephen Van Rensselaer III (; November 1, 1764January 26, 1839) was an American landowner, businessman, militia officer, and politician. A graduate of Harvard College, at age 21, Van Rensselaer took control of Rensselaerswyck, his family's ma ...

(1764–1839), sixth and last Patroon of Rensselaerwyck. ******* Philip S. Van Rensselaer (1767–1824),

Mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well as ...

of the city of

Albany, New York Albany ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of New York, also the seat and largest city of Albany County. Albany is on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River, and about north of New York Ci ...

******* Elizabeth Van Rensselaer (1768–1841) m. (1) 1787: John Bradstreet Schuyler (son of General Philip Schuyler); m. (2) 1800: John Bleeker. ***** Johannes van Rensselaer (d. 1719) ***** Gertrude van Rensselaer, (b. 1714) m. (1) Adonis Schuyler; m. (2) Robert Livingston (1708–1790). ***** John Baptist van Rensselaer (1717–1763). *** Maria Van Cortlandt (1645–1689) m. 1662: Jeremias van Rensselaer (1632–1674) **** Kiliaen Van Rensselaer (1663–1719) m. 1701: Maria Van Cortlandt, his first cousin. **** Johannes van Rensselaer **** Anna van Rensselaer (1665–1723) m. (1) Kilaen Van Rensselaer (d. 1687); m. (2) William Nicoll (1657–1723). **** Hendrick van Rensselaer (1667–1740) m. Catharina Van Brugh (1665–1730) **** Maria van Rensselaer (1673–1713) m. Pieter Schuyler (1657–1724) ***** Gertruj Schuyler (b. 1694) m. Johannes Lansing. ***** Philip Schuyler (b. 1696) m. Margarita Schuyler (daughter of Johannes Schuyler). ***** Pieter Schuyler (b. 1698), a twin m. Catherine Groesbeck. ***** Jeremiah Schuyler (b. 1698), a twin m. Susanna Bayeux. *** Catherine Van Cortlandt (1652–1730) m. (1) Johannes Dervall (d. 1689); m. (2) 1691: Frederick Philipse (1626-1702). *** Jacobus Van Cortlandt (1658–1739) m.

Eva de Vries Margaret Hardenbroeck de Vries Philipse ( – ) was a prominent and wealthy merchant in the colonial Province of New York. She inherited great wealth from her first husband after his early death, and later married another merchant and landowner, F ...

(b. 1660). **** Margaret Van Cortlandt (1694–1770) m. Abraham de Peyster (1696–1767) (son of Abraham de Peyster). **** Frederick Van Cortlandt (1699–1749) m. Frances Jay (1701–1780). ***** James Van Cortlandt (1727–1781) m. Elizabeth Cuyler (1731–1815) (daughter of

Cornelis Cuyler Cornelis Cuyler or Cornelius Cuyler (baptized February 14, 1697 – March 14, 1765) was a prominent American of Dutch ancestry who served as the Mayor of Albany, New York, from 1742 to 1746. Early life and family Cuyler was born in 1697 and ba ...

). ***** Augustus Van Cortlandt (1728–1823) m. Catherine Barclay (1744–1808) (daughter of Andrew Barclay). ****** Anne Van Cortlandt (1766–1814) m. Henry White (1763–1822) ******* Helen Van Cortlandt White (1792–1881) m. Abraham Schermerhorn (1783–1850). ******** Caroline Webster Schermerhorn (1830–1908) m.

William Backhouse Astor Jr. William Backhouse Astor Jr. (July 12, 1829 – April 25, 1892) was an American businessman, racehorse owner/breeder, and yachtsman who was a member of the prominent Astor family. His elder brother, financier and philanthropist John Jacob Astor II ...

(1829–1892). ****** Helen Van Cortlandt (1768–1812) m. James Morris (1764–1827) (son of Lewis Morris). ***** Eva Van Cortlandt (1737–1836) m. Henry White (1732–1786) ****** Henry White (1763–1822) m. Anne Van Cortlandt (1766–1814) ****** Anne White (() m. Sir John Hayes, 1st Baronet (–1809) ****** Frederick Van Cortlandt White (1767–1859) m. (1) 1802: Sophia Heaton Coore; (2) Davidson ****** John Chambers White (1770–1845) m. (1) Cordelia Fanshawe (d. 1809); (2) Charlotte Elizabeth Dalrymple ****** Margaret White (1774–1857) m. 1790: Peter Jay Munro (1767–1833) ****** Frances White (b. ) m. Archibald Bruce (1746–1816) **** Mary Van Cortlandt (1705–1777) m. 1728: Peter Jay (1704–1782). ***** Eva Jay (1728–1810) m. 1766: Harry Munro (1730–1801) ****** Peter Jay Munro (1767–1833) m. 1790: Margaret White (1774–1857) ***** James Jay (1732–1815) m. Anne Erwin (1750–1840) *****

(1745–1829) m. Sarah Van Brugh Livingston (1757–1802). ****** Peter Augustus Jay (1776–1843) m. 1807: Mary Rutherfurd Clarkson. *******

John Clarkson Jay John Clarkson Jay (September 11, 1808 – November 15, 1891) was an American physician and notable conchologist as well as one of the original founders of New York Yacht Club. He was the grandson of Founding Father John Jay. Early life and edu ...

(1808–1891) m. Laura Prime (daughter of

Nathaniel Prime Nathaniel Prime (January 30, 1768 – November 26, 1840) was a New York broker and banker. Early life Prime was born in Rowley, Massachusetts on January 30, 1768. He was the son of Joshua Prime and Bridget Hammond Prime. In his early years, h ...

). ****** Maria Jay (1782–1856) m. Goldsborough Banyer (1775–1806). ****** William Jay (1789–1858) m. Hannah Augusta McVickar (1790–1857). *******

(1817-1894) m. Eleanor Kingsland Field (1819–1909). ******** William Jay (Colonel) (1841 – 1915) m. Lucie Oelrichs (1854–1931)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Cortlandt Political families of the United States Clan Kennedy Gage family

History

Family tree

See also

References