Stephanus Van Cortlandt

Stephanus Van Cortlandt
10th and 17th Mayor of New York City
In office 1677–1678
Governor	Edmund Andros
Preceded by	Nicholas De Mayer
Succeeded by	Thomas Delavall
In office 1686–1688
Preceded by	Nicholas Bayard
Succeeded by	Peter Delanoy
Personal details
Born	May 7, 1643 New Amsterdam, New Netherland (New York City)
Died	November 25, 1700 (aged 57)
Spouse(s)	Gertruj Van Schuyler
Parents	Olof Stevense Van Cortlandt Annetje Loockermans

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 executive council from 1691 to 1700. He was the first resident of Sagtikos Manor in West Bay Shore on Long Island, which was built around 1697. A number of his descendants married English military leaders and Loyalists active in the American Revolution, and their descendants became prominent members of English society.

Early life

Stephanus Van Cortlandt was born on May 7, 1643 to Captain Olof Stevense Van Cortlandt (b. Wijk bij Duurstede, Netherlands, d. 1684), arrived 1637 in New Amsterdam. Originally a soldier and bookkeeper, Captain Van Cortland rose to high colonial ranks in service of the Dutch West India Company, serving many terms as burgomaster and alderman.^[1] on citizens councils Eight Men and Nine Men His mother was Annetje "Anna" Loockermans Van Cortlandt (b. Turnhout March 17, 1618) who may have been the person to start the custom of Santa Claus in America. Together his parents had:

• Stephanus Van Cortlandt (1643-1700)
• Jacobus Van Cortlandt (1658-1739), who served as mayor of New York City^[2] and married Eva de Vries (b. 1660)
  • Frederick Van Cortlandt (1699–1749)
• Maria Van Cortlandt, who married Jeremias Van Rensselaer (1632-1674).
• Catherine Van Cortlandt, who married Frederick Philipse (1626–1702), the first Lord of Philipsborough Manor after the death of her first husband and his first wife, Margaret Hardenbroeck (1637–1691). When Philipse married Hardenbroeck, he had adopted her daughter, Eva De Vries, and she adopted his last name. Eva Philipse was born to Hardenbroeck and her first husband, Peter Rudolphus de Vries, who died in 1661. Eva married Catherine's brother, Jacobus.

Career

Stephanus Van Cortlandt was the first mayor New York City who had been born in America, the date of his birth being 7 May 1643. His first role in public life occurred in 1668, when he was appointed ensign of one of the militia companies of the city. In 1671 he married Geertruyd Schuyler, of Albany, and established his residence at the "Waterside," on the present line of Pearl street, near Broad, where he engaged in business as a merchant. His appointment as mayor, in 1677, at the age of thirty-four years, was a high compliment to his intelligence, and social position in the community, coming, as it did, from the English Governor. This favor, however, he returned, by remaining an adherent of the aristocratic party, in the time of the Leisler affair. When Delanoy, the Leisler candidate, was elected to the mayoralty, in place of Van Cortland, the latter refused to deliver up the city seal. A committee waited on him at his residence, but his wife shut the door in their faces.^[3]

Personal life

Van Cortlandt married Gertruj Van Schuyler (b. 4 February 1654), the daughter of Philip Pieterse Schuyler and the sister of Pieter Schuyler, a colonial governor of New York and mayor of Albany.^[2] Together, they had:

• Margaretta Van Cortlandt (1674-?), who married Judge Samuel Bayard (1669-?), the son of Nicholas Bayard (1644–1707) and descendant from the Stuyvesant family. A number of their descendants were Loyalists who relocated to England.
  • Gertrude Bayard, who married Peter Kemble (1704-1789), a prominent New Jersey businessman and politician
    • Margaret Kemble (1734–1824), who married Thomas Gage (1718/19–1787), General of the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. Descendants of this union are found in England, including amongst the Viscount Gages and the noble Bertie family in England (including those holding the title of Earls of Abingdon).
• Anne Van Cortlandt (1676-1724), who married Stephen DeLancey (1663–1741)
  • James DeLancey (1703–1760), who became New York Governor
  • Susannah de Lancey (1707–1771), who married Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Warren (1703–1752)
  • Oliver De Lancey Sr. (1718-1785), who married Phila Franks
  • Anne de Lancey (1723-?), who married John Watts
• Catherine Van Cortlandt, who married New Jersey politician Andrew Johnston (1694-1762), the son of John Johnstone (1661-1732), the 32nd Mayor of New York City.
• Elizabeth Van Cortlandt, who married Reverend William Skinner
  • Lt. General William Skinner, a Loyalist
  • Brig. Gen. Cortlandt Skinner (1727-1799), a Loyalist who married Elizabeth Kearney (1731–1810)
• Philip Van Cortlandt (1683–1746), who married Catherine De Peyster
  • Pierre Van Cortlandt (1721–1814), the 1st Lieutenant Governor of New York who married to Joanna Livingston (granddaughter of Robert Livingston)
    • Philip Van Cortlandt (1749-1831)
    • Pierre Van Cortlandt, Jr. (1762-1848)

See also

• Van Cortlandt family

References

1. Allaben, Frank (1908). John Watts de Peyster, Volume 1. Frank Allaben Genealogical Co. pp. 42–43. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
2. New York City Mayors Part I, page 28. Ralph J. Caliendo. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
3. Sketches of the Mayors of New York