|
Jeremiah
Van Rensselaer
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer was born in August 1738. He was the son of John and Engeltie Livingston Van Rensselaer. Losing his mother before his tenth birthday, the boy grew up at Crailo and at his father's city house in the first ward of Albany.
Jeremiah
was educated by tutors and then sent to Nassau Hall
at the College of New Jersey (Princeton) where he
graduated in 1758. After some time in New York, he
returned to Albany to settle down and raise a family.
In
1760, he married Judith Bayard, daughter of a notable
New York merchant. Following her death, he wed Lena
Lansing in February 1764. His marriages produced
but one surviving child. Jeremiah Van Rensselaer
was a member, pewholder, and frequent baptism sponsor
at the Albany Dutch church - where a number of children
were named for him!
In
1764, his name was included on a list of Albany merchants.
He engaged in some importing to supply the Indian
trade. In 1771, he was a land agent advertizing in
the newly formed Albany Gazette. He also was known
as a surveyor. He lived in the Van Rensselaer family
house on the East side of Pearl Street and owned
other lots in the city as well. In 1774, he became
proprietor of the so-called "Van Rensselaer Patent" of more than 28,000 acres in what is today Fulton County.
He
was first elected to the city council as assistant
alderman for the second ward in 1770. He was re-elected
each year until the war caused the Albany corporation
to suspend its operations. He was active in committee
work and was re-imbursed frequently for expenses.
Jeremiah
Van Rensselaer was an early supporter of the crusade
for American liberties. In 1766, he was a leading
signatory of the constitution of the Albany Sons
of Liberty. Known beyond Albany as a patriot leader,
he represented the second ward on the Albany Committee
of Correspondence, then served on the Albany County
Board of the Commissioners for Detecting and Defeating
Conspiracies, and later was approinted to the Commissioners
of Forfeitures for New York State.
At
the outbreak of hostilities, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer
was in his late thirties and was commissioned an
ensign in the third regiment of the New York Line.
He served in the Revolutionary army - mostly as paymaster.
During
the late 1780s, he emerged as a leader of Albany's
opposition to the proposed Federal Constitution -
perhaps being the only Antifederalist member of the
Van Rensselaer family! He corresponded with Republican
notables including Thomas Jefferson.
Served
in the first Federal Congress 1789-91. In 1790, his
home was an Albany landmark that was attended by
three slaves.
Since
early adulthood, he was a prominent member and officer
of the Albany Masonic Lodge.
Educated
and respected, he was named executor of a number
of substantial estates including that of his father-in-law
and Reverend John C. Hartwick.
In
September 1791, he was among those who toured New
York State with Elkanah Watson to study inland navigation.
A published journal describes those travels.
One
of the first directors of the Bank of Albany in
1792 and later president of the bank. In 1795, he
was appointed one of the commissioners for building
a state hall in Albany. In 1796, he was a partner
in a window factory in Hamilton, New York. He belonged
to a number of civic organizations including the
Albany Mechanics Society.
He
was chosen Lieutenant Governor of New York State
in 1801 and served during Governor George Clinton's
last term ending in 1804.
Jeremiah
Van Rensselaer died in February 1810. His will passed
probate a month later.
~ ~ ~
Sources: The life of Jeremiah Van Rensselaer is CAP biography
number 5085. This profile is derived chiefly from
family and community-based resources.
By Stefan Bielinski, Colonial Albany Social History Project [http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany]
|
