Thomas Tillotson (May 5, 1832) was an American physician and politician.

Life

Born in the Province of Maryland around 1751 or 1752,Year Book of the Dutchess County Historical Society, Volumes 56-62
/ref> Tillotson received a thorough education, studied medicine, and practiced. He was the great great nephew of the Archbishop of Canterbury

John Tillotson John Tillotson (October 1630 – 22 November 1694) was the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury from 1691 to 1694. Curate and rector Tillotson was the son of a Puritan clothier at Haughend, Sowerby, Yorkshire. Little is known of his early youth ...

. In 1776, he was commissioned as a

First lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a ...

in the Maryland Militia, and served during the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

. He was appointed by Congress as a physician and surgeon general of the Northern Department of the Continental Army in 1780, and served until the close of the war. Afterward, he settled in Rhinebeck, New York and engaged in the practice of medicine. In 1779, he married Margaret Livingston (1749–1823, sister of Chancellor

Robert R. Livingston Robert Robert Livingston (November 27, 1746 (Old Style November 16) – February 26, 1813) was an American lawyer, politician, and diplomat from New York, as well as a Founding Father of the United States. He was known as "The Chancellor", afte ...

). Their children included

Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

, John, and Janette. Janette was the wife of Judge James Lynch. A Federalist, he represented Dutchess County in the New York State Assembly in 1788. In 1790, State Senator Anthony Hoffman died, and Tillotson was elected to fill the vacancy. He was a member of the

State Senate A state legislature in the United States is the legislative body of any of the 50 U.S. states. The formal name varies from state to state. In 27 states, the legislature is simply called the ''Legislature'' or the ''State Legislature'', whil ...

from 1791 to 1799, and served as a member of the

Council of Appointment The Council of Appointment (sometimes also Council of Appointments) was a body of the Government of New York that existed from 1777 to 1822. History Under the New York Constitution of 1777, the Council of Appointment consisted of the Governor of N ...

in 1791. He was elected as a

Democratic-Republican The Democratic-Republican Party, known at the time as the Republican Party and also referred to as the Jeffersonian Republican Party among other names, was an American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early ...

to the

7th United States Congress The 7th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1801, ...

in 1800, but resigned on August 10, 1801, before Congress met, to become

Secretary of State of New York The secretary of state of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York who leads the Department of State (NYSDOS). The current secretary of state of New York is Robert J. Rodriguez, a Democrat. Duties The secre ...

. He remained in this office until March 15, 1806, and again from February 16, 1807, to February 1, 1808. He died in Rhinebeck on May 5, 1832, was buried in the Livingston family vault in the cemetery at the Dutch Reformed Church in Rhinebeck.

Linwood

Tillotson's estate in Rhinebeck was known as "Linwood". It was originally part of the Artsen-Kip Patent. Tillotson purchased from Isaac Van Etten the southerly lot forming part of the lands which had been granted in 1688 by Governor Dongan to Gerrit Aertsen and others. It was bounded on the south and west by the Hudson River and on the east by the stream known as Landsmans Kill, which also formed the westerly boundary of the Beekman patent. On this property Dr. Tillotson in the years 1788-1790 laid out a country place and called it "Linwood." His house commanded a magnificent view of the river. He then acquired 150 acres of the Beekman land lying between Landsmans Kill and Fallsburgh Creek. This plateau, between the two streams, with extensive views of the Catskill mountains and Hudson river, became known as Linwood Hill. At the mouth of Landsmans Kill he built a dock and mill, where grain was ground. Dr. Tillotson also obtained at this time another part of the Beekman lands, twenty-nine acres of woodland lying east of Fallsburgh Creek, where two beautiful waterfalls bring it to the river level. This portion of the property became known as "Glenburn".''Historical and Genealogical Record Dutchess and Putnam Counties New York'', Press of the A. V. Haight Co., Poughkeepsie, New York, 1912
/ref> In 1830, Tillotson gave "Glenburn" to his granddaughter, Julia Lynch, who later married Rev. Stephen Olin, President of Wesleyan University. After Tillotson's death, "Lindon Hill" was sold to Federal Vanderburgh.

References

Sources

Books

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Internet

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External links

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The Papers of Robert Morris, 1781-1784: April 16-July 20, 1782"> The Papers of Robert Morris, 1781-1784: April 16-July 20, 1782
', by Robert Morris *
Rhinebeck
', by Michael Frazier *