Abraham Schermerhorn
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Abraham Schermerhorn | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | April 9, 1783 Hyde Park, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 3, 1850 (aged 66) New York City, U.S. |
| Burial place | Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Merchant |
| Spouse |
Helen Van Courtlandt White
(m. 1809) |
| Children | 9, including Caroline |
| Parent(s) | Peter Schermerhorn Elizabeth Bussing |
| Relatives | Van Cortlandt family (by marriage) |
Abraham Schermerhorn (April 9, 1783 – February 3, 1850)[1] was an American merchant in New York City, who was also prominent in social affairs.[2] He was the father of Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, who married William Backhouse Astor Jr. of the Astor family.[3]
Schermerhorn was born on April 9, 1783, in Hyde Park, New York, and baptized in New York City shortly thereafter.[4] He was the third son of merchant Peter Schermerhorn (1749–1826) and Elizabeth (née Bussing) Schermerhorn (1752–1809), who married in 1771.[1] His brother, John P. Schermerhorn was married to Rebecca Stevens, the daughter of Ebenezer Stevens, and his sister, Jane Schermerhorn, was married to William Creighton.[5]
His paternal grandparents were John Schermerhorn (1715–1768) and Sarah (née Cannon) Schermerhorn (1721–1762).[1] Abraham's father Peter was the grandson of Maria Beekman (b. 1692) (herself the granddaughter of Wilhelmus Beekman,[5] Governor of the Colony of Swedes, Acting Mayor of New York City and founder of the Beekman family in the United States).[6] His maternal grandparents were Abraham Bussing, a dry goods merchant,[7] and Elizabeth (née Mesier) Bussing.[8] He was descended from Jacob Janse Schermerhorn, who settled in New York from the Netherlands in 1636.[5]
Career
Schermerhorn's father, like his grandfather and great-grandfather, was a commander and owner of shipping vessels trading between New York City and Charleston, South Carolina.[9] From 1776 to 1783, during the American Revolutionary War, Schermerhorn and his family lived in Hyde Park, New York, to protect their vessels from British seizure. After the war ended, the family returned to New York City.[10]
In 1808, Schermerhorn was admitted to his father's ship-chandlery firm,[4] along with his brother Peter,[11] which was renamed "Peter Schermerhorn & Sons."[3]
In 1810, Schermerhorn and his brother Peter formed a new firm of "Schermerhorn & Co." while still retaining a connection with Peter Schermerhorn & Sons.[12] Two more new companies were later formed, which he became involved with, including "Schermerhorn, Willis & Co." which was located at 53 South Street in New York City.[12]
After his father's death, he inherited 160 acres in Gowanus, Brooklyn which he later sold around 1835 for $600 an acre,[13] (totaling $102,000)[3] and on which Green-Wood Cemetery was built.[14]
Upon the birth of his youngest child, Caroline, in 1830, he was forty-seven years old and estimated to be worth over $500,000 (equivalent to $15,117,000 in 2025).[3]