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

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

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 o ...

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 N ...

to the Connecticut state line granted as a Patent to

Stephanus Van Cortlandt Stephanus van Cortlandt (May 7, 1643 – November 25, 1700) was the first native-born mayor of New York City, a position which he held from 1677 to 1678 and from 1686 to 1688. He was the patroon of Van Cortlandt Manor and was on the governor's ...

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 Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel in the Dutch Republic from the ...

. 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 Unite ...

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 Unite ...

, the de Peyster family, the

Gage family Gage may refer to: Measurement * Gage is a variant spelling of the word ''gauge'' *Stream gauge, aka Stream gage, a site along a stream where flow measurements are made People *Gage (surname) * Gage Golightly (born 1993), American actress Plac ...

, the

Jay family A jay is a member of a number of species of medium-sized, usually colorful and noisy, passerine birds in the Crow family, Corvidae. The evolutionary relationships between the jays and the magpies are rather complex. For example, the Eurasian ...

(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 first ...

, the

Founding Father The following list of national founding figures is a record, by country, of people who were credited with establishing a state. National founders are typically those who played an influential role in setting up the systems of governance, (i.e. ...

and first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court), and the Delanceys. Its legacy includes

Van Cortlandt Park Van Cortlandt Park is a park located in the borough of the Bronx in New York City. Owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, it is managed with assistance from the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance. The park, the city's third-lar ...

and the

Van Cortlandt House Museum The Van Cortlandt House Museum, also known as the Frederick Van Cortlandt House or simply the Van Cortlandt House, is the oldest building in the borough of the Bronx in New York City. It is located in the southwestern portion of Van Cortlandt P ...

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 Y ...

, 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 o ...

;

Van Cortlandt Upper Manor House Van Cortlandt Upper Manor House is a historic home of the van Cortlandt family located in Cortlandt Manor, Westchester County, New York. The original house was built about 1773 and subsequently enlarged and altered a number of times. History Th ...

in the hamlet of

Cortlandt Manor, New York Cortlandt Manor is a hamlet located in the Town of Cortlandt in northern Westchester County, New York, United States. Cortlandt Manor is situated directly east, north and south of Peekskill, and east of three sections of the Town of Cortlandt, ...

;

Van Cortlandt Manor Van Cortlandt Manor is a 17th-century house and property built by the van Cortland family located near the confluence of the Croton and Hudson Rivers in the village of Croton-on-Hudson in Westchester County, New York, United States. The colonial ...

in the village of

Croton-on-Hudson Croton-on-Hudson is a administrative divisions of New York#Village, village in Westchester County, New York, Westchester County, New York (state), New York, United States. The population was 8,327 at the 2020 United States census over 8,070 at the ...

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 a ...

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 Wijk bij Duurstede () is a municipality and a city in the central Netherlands. Population centres *Cothen * Langbroek *Wijk bij Duurstede Topography ''Dutch Topographic map of the municipality of Wijk bij Duurstede, 2013.'' City The city ...

, 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 m ...

and

alderman An alderman is a member of a Municipal government, municipal assembly or council in many Jurisdiction, jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council membe ...

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

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. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...

's Cortlandt Street and

Cortlandt Alley Cortlandt Alley is an alley in Lower Manhattan, New York City, which is often used as a filming location. Filming is not allowed in many of New York City's alleys, so Cortlandt Alley appears in many movies and TV shows, including ''Crocodile Du ...

. The town of Cortlandt to the north, in

carries the family name as well. The

was initially the residence of

Frederick Van Cortlandt Frederick Van Cortlandt (1699 – February 2, 1749) was an American merchant and landowner. Early life Van Cortlandt was born in 1699 and christened on April 23, 1699. He was the only surviving son born to Jacobus Van Cortlandt (1658–1739) and t ...

Family tree

* Steven Van Cortlandt ** Olof Stevense Van Cortlandt (–1684) m. Annetje Loockermans (1618-1684). ***

(1643-1700) m. Gertrude

Schuyler Schuyler may refer to: Places United States * Schuyler County, Illinois * Schuyler County, Missouri * Schuyler, Nebraska, a city * Schuyler County, New York * Schuyler, New York, a town * Schuyler Island, Lake Champlain, New York * Schuyler C ...

(born 1654) **** Margaretta Van Cortlandt (b. 1674) m. Judge Samuel Bayard (b. 1669) (son of

Nicholas Bayard Nicholas Bayard (c. 1644–1707 or 1709) was a government official and slave trader in colonial New York. Bayard served as the mayor of New York City from 1685 to 1686. He is historically most notable for being Peter Stuyvesant's nephew and for ...

) ***** Gertrude Bayard m.

Peter Kemble Peter Kemble (December 12, 1704 – February 23, 1789) was an American politician from the colonial period who served as President of the New Jersey Provincial Council from 1745 to 1776, the last to hold that office. Biography Peter Kemble was bo ...

(1704-1789) ****** Margaret Kemble (1734–1824) m. British General

Thomas Gage General Thomas Gage (10 March 1718/192 April 1787) was a British Army general officer and colonial official best known for his many years of service in North America, including his role as British commander-in-chief in the early days of th ...

(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 James De Lancey (November 27, 1703 – July 30, 1760) served as chief justice, lieutenant governor, and acting colonial governor of the Province of New York. Early life and education De Lancey was born in New York City on November 27, 170 ...

(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 ***** 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. Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

Cortlandt Skinner Cortlandt Skinner (December 16, 1727 – March 15, 1799) was the last Royal Attorney General of New Jersey and a brigadier general in a Loyalist force, the New Jersey Volunteers, also known as Skinner's Greens, during the American Revolutionary W ...

(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 Sir Edward Buller, 1st Baronet (24 December 1764 – 15 April 1824) was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Buller was born into a prominent West c ...

(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). *****

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 Livingston may refer to: Businesses * Livingston Energy Flight, an Italian airline (2003–2010) * Livingston Compagnia Aerea, an Italian airline (2011–2014), also known as Livingston Airline * Livingston International, a North American custom ...

(1722–1808) ******

Philip Van Cortlandt Philip Van Cortlandt (September 1, 1749 – November 5, 1831) was an American surveyor, landowner, and politician from Westchester County, New York. Van Cortlandt was the son of Pierre Van Cortlandt and brother of Pierre Van Cortlandt, Jr. He ...

(1749–1831), died unmarried ****** Catherine Van Cortland (1751–1829) m. Abraham Van Wyck (1748–1786) ****** Pierre Van Cortlandt, Jr. (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). ******** 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 Philip Schuyler Van Rensselaer (April 15, 1767 – September 25, 1824) was the mayor of Albany, New York on two occasions. He has the third longest tenure of service by an Albany Mayor, after Erastus Corning 2nd and Gerald Jennings. Life and car ...

(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 Jeremias van Rensselaer (Amsterdam, 16 May 1632 – October 12, 1674) was the third son of Kiliaen van Rensselaer, one of the founders and directors of the Dutch West India Company who was instrumental in the establishment of New Netherland ...

(1705–1745). ***** Stephen van Rensselaer (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 Ten ...

(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 mano ...

(1764–1839), sixth and last Patroon of Rensselaerwyck. *******

(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 a ...

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 City ...

******* Elizabeth Van Rensselaer (1768–1841) m. (1) 1787: John Bradstreet Schuyler (son of General

Philip Schuyler Philip John Schuyler (; November 18, 1804) was an American general in the Revolutionary War and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler. Born in Alba ...

); 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:

(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 Hendrick van Rensselaer (October 23, 1667 – July 4, 1740) was director of the Eastern patent of the Rensselaerswyck manor. The estate was composed of land in Columbia County, New York, and land opposite Albany, New York, on the Hudson River, ...

(1667–1740) m. Catharina Van Brugh (1665–1730) **** Maria van Rensselaer (1673–1713) m.

Pieter Schuyler Pieter Schuyler (17 September 1657 – 19 February 1724) was the first mayor of Albany, New York. A long-serving member of the executive council of the Province of New York, he acted as governor of the Province of New York on three occasions ...

(1657–1724) ***** Gertruj Schuyler (b. 1694) m. Johannes Lansing. ***** Philip Schuyler (b. 1696) m. Margarita Schuyler (daughter of

Johannes Schuyler Johannes Schuyler (October 15, 1668 – November 5, 1747) was a prominent American of Dutch ancestry who served as the 10th Mayor of Albany, New York from 1703 to 1706, and later was a member of the provincial assembly. He was the paternal grand ...

). ***** 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 Frederick Philipse (born Frederick Flypsen;Appleton, W.S. ''The Heraldic Journal, Recording the Amorial Bearings and Genealogies of American Families'', Wiggen & Lunt, Boston, 1867 1626 in Bolsward, Netherlands – December 23, 1702), first Lord ...

(1626-1702). ***

Jacobus Van Cortlandt Jacobus van Cortlandt (1658–1739) was a wealthy Dutch-born American merchant, slave owner, and politician who served as the 30th and 33rd Mayor of New York City from 1710 to 1711 and again from 1719 to 1720. Early life Jacobus Van Cortland ...

(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 Abraham de Peyster (July 8, 1657 – August 3, 1728) was the 20th mayor of New York City from 1691 to 1694, and served as Governor of New York, 1700–1701. Early life De Peyster was born in New Amsterdam on July 8, 1657, to Johannes de Peyst ...

). ****

(1699–1749) m. Frances Jay (1701–1780). ***** James Van Cortlandt (1727–1781) m. Elizabeth Cuyler (1731–1815) (daughter of Cornelis Cuyler). *****

Augustus Van Cortlandt Augustus Van Cortlandt (August 3, 1728 – December 20, 1823) was an American lawyer who served as the last Clerk of the City and County of New York under British rule who hid the city records at his family's estate manor house in 1776. Early lif ...

(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 Abraham Schermerhorn (April 9, 1783 – February 3, 1850) was a wealthy New York City merchant who was also prominent in social affairs. He was the father of Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, known as the Mrs. Astor. Early life Schermerhorn was b ...

(1783–1850). ******** Caroline Webster Schermerhorn (1830–1908) m. William Backhouse Astor Jr. (1829–1892). ****** Helen Van Cortlandt (1768–1812) m. James Morris (1764–1827) (son of

Lewis Morris Lewis Morris (April 8, 1726 – January 22, 1798) was an American Founding Father, landowner, and developer from Morrisania, New York, presently part of Bronx County. He signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence as a delegate to the Continen ...

). ***** 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 Peter Jay Munro (January 10, 1767 – September 22, 1833) was an American lawyer and Federalist politician from New York. Early life Munro was born on January 10, 1767, in Rye in the Province of New York in what was then British America. He wa ...

(1767–1833) ****** Frances White (b. ) m.

Archibald Bruce Archibald Bruce may refer to: * Archibald Bruce (writer), Scottish theological writer * Archibald Bruce (mineralogist) Archibald Bruce (February 1777 – February 22, 1818) was an American physician and mineralogist. Biography Bruce was bor ...

(1746–1816) **** Mary Van Cortlandt (1705–1777) m. 1728: Peter Jay (1704–1782). ***** Eva Jay (1728–1810) m. 1766: Harry Munro (1730–1801) ******

(1767–1833) m. 1790: Margaret White (1774–1857) *****

James Jay Sir James Jay (October 16, 1732 – 1815) was an American physician and politician. He was brother of John Jay, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. While initially a supporter of American independence, he later changed his views bec ...

(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 (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