New York State History

Earliest among the settlers of Beverwyck were David and Philip Schuyler (or, as they wrote it, Van Schuyler), from Amsterdam. Tradition says they were wealthy merchants, and had a country-seat near Dordrecht. David was the eld­er of the two, and a man of great spirit. He married the blooming Catalyn Verplanck, of Nieuw Amsterdam; and it is recorded that in 1699 she petitioned for an additional piece of land to the north of her home, which was on-the south corner of Broadway and Steuben Street, which was refused by the authorities because ^"it will reach too near y^e citty stockadoes.'' Their son, Captain Myndert Schuyler, was Mayor of Albany for six years, and his daughter Anna married Johannes De Peyster, Mayor and Surrogate, a grandson of old Schepen* Johannes De Peyster, of Nieuw Amsterdam. A codicil to Captain Schuyler's will directs that there be paid to his grandson Myndert Schuyler De Pey­ster "one good silver tankard, to be made for him," with his clothes, fowling-piece, and sword with the silver handle, "for his prerogative as being my only grand­son."

Philip  was a young man of great ability, and soon after his arrival became actively engaged in public affairs. He was a farmer and trader, and his bouwery was at The Flats (now Water-vliet), below the present village of West Troy. His marriage to Margarita, daugh­ter of Brant Arentse Van Slichtenhorst, Director of the Colonie Rensselaerwyck, was performed at the old bouwery in Rensselaerwyck by Anthony De Hooges, Secretary of the Colonie, in the presence of the officers of Fort Orange, the mag­nates of Eensselaerwyck, and some of the principal inhabitants. Mrs. Schuy­ler was only twenty-two when she was married, and she survived her husband more than a quarter of a century. They had ten children, who became connected by marriage with the most prominent families of the province. Gertrude mar­ried Stephanus Van Cortlandt; Alida married Dominie Nicholaus Van Bensselaer, and after his decease Robert Livingston. Lord of the Manor; Arent was the head of the New Jersey Schuylers;** Cap­tain John Schuyler was the father of ''the American Lady" and "Aunt Schuy­ler"; Peter was Mayor of Albany, and no man understood better the relation of the colony with the Six Nations of Indians; and such was his zeal and energy that the House of Assembly gave their testi­mony to the British court of his faithful services and good reputation. His daugh­ter Elizabeth married Alexander Hamil­ton; Margaret married Stephen Van Rensselaer, the last Patroon; Catherine mar­ried a son of General Malcolm, and after his decease James Cochrane, son of Sur­geon-General Cochrane, of Revolutionary fame.

Mrs. Schuyler possessed great energy of character and independence of spirit, inherited from her father. After her husband's death, by her wealth and posi­tion she exercised a controlling influence in public affairs in Beverwyck. In 1689 she advanced funds to pay the troops in the city, and she made a personal attack on Milbourne, the son-in-law of Jacob Leisler, when he attempted to assume command of the fort of which her son Pe­ter had charge. 

Her great-grandson General Philip Schuyler inherited all the zeal and patriotism of his ancestors, and shed signal lustre upon the family name. He was with Lord Howe when he fell on landing at the north end of Lake George, and he was appointed to convey the young no­bleman's body to Albany, and see that it was buried with due solemnities in St. Peter's Church. To trace his brilliant and laudable career would be impossible in these few pages, for justice could not be done in so limited a space to a man to whom life meant loyalty to his country. His most intimate friend was Judge Volckert P. Douw. 

* Mayor.

** His great-granddaughter married General Will­iam Colfax, grandfather of Schuyler Colfax, late Vice-President of the United States. His grand­daughter married Archibald Kennedy, eleventh Earl of Cassilis. His daughter Ere married Peter Bay­ard, of Xew York. His daughter Cornelia married Pierre Guillaunie De Peyster, son of Hon. Abraham De Peyster, first Treasurer of the Province of New York.