Johannes Schuyler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Johannes Schuyler | |
|---|---|
 Johannes Schuyler and his wife | |
| 10th Mayor of Albany, New York | |
| In office 1703–1706 | |
| Preceded by | Albert Janse Ryckman |
| Succeeded by | David Davidse Schuyler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 15, 1668 |
| Died | November 5, 1747 (aged 79) Albany, Albany County, Province of New York |
| Spouse |
Elizabeth Staats Wendell
(m. 1695; died 1737) |
| Relations | Pieter Schuyler (brother) Arent Schuyler (brother) Stephanus van Cortlandt (brother-in-law) Nicholas van Rensselaer (brother-in-law) Robert Livingston the Elder (brother-in-law) Philip Schuyler (grandson) Abraham Cuyler (grandson) |
| Parent(s) | Philip Pieterse Schuyler Margarita Van Slichtenhorst |
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 grandfather of U.S. Senator Philip Schuyler and Mayor Abraham Cuyler.[1]
Johannes Schuyler was born in 1668 in Albany, New York, the son of Philip Pieterse Schuyler (1628–1683) and Margarita Van Slichtenhorst. His father was a Dutch-born landowner who was the progenitor of the American Schuyler family.[2]
He was the youngest of six sons and one of 10 children born to his parents, including Gysbert Schuyler (1652–1664/5), Gertruj Schuyler (b. 1654), who married Stephanus van Cortlandt (1643–1700) (the patroon of Van Cortlandt Manor and a Mayor of New York City from 1677 to 1678 and again from 1686 to 1688), Alida Schuyler (b. 1656), who first married Nicholas van Rensselaer (1636-1678) and then second, Robert Livingston the Elder (1654–1728), Brant Schuyler (1659-1702), who married Cornelia Van Cortlandt, Arent Schuyler (1662–1730), who married Jannetje Teller and later Swantje Van Duyckhuysen, Sybilla Schuyler (b. 1664), Philip Schuyler (b. 1666), and Margritta Schuyler (b. 1672), who married Jacobus Verplanck.[3]
Career
Several English governors used him as an envoy to the Iroquois because as he was well liked and trusted by them.[4] In 1724, Lieutenant Governor William Dummer of Massachusetts appointed him a commissioner to negotiate with the Iroquois.[5] He again visited Canada in 1713 and again in 1725 to seek the return of prisoners.[6][7]
Later, he became well known and wealthy as a trader and river transport operator.[8] In 1703, he was appointed the 10th Mayor of Albany, serving until 1706,[9] and later as a member of the provincial assembly.[10] He enacted a law mandating that each homeowner had to build an eight-foot sidewalk. Also served as Indian Commissioner, member of Colonial Assembly and alderman.[10] He also served in Albany as a justice of the peace, an alderman, a lieutenant of cavalry.[4]
