Van Rensselaer (family)

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Template:Infobox family
Template:New NetherlandTemplate:Rensselaerswyck
The **Van Rensselaer** was a prominent Dutch family in New York in the 17th and 18th centuries, whose descendants played a critical role in the formation of the United States, in leading government and business in North America, and served as leaders in business, politics and society.

## History

The **Van Rensselaer** family is of Dutch origin. Most of the Van Rensselaers emigrated from the Netherlands to a large area along the Hudson River in the present day area of Albany, New York. The Van Rensselaers and other patroons named this young colony New Netherland. Many members of the family have been active in politics and in the military.

Herman Melville descended from the Van Rensselaer family. In his novel Moby-Dick he wrote about it in the first chapter:

> "It touches one's sense of honor, particularly if you come of an old established family in the land, the **Van Rensselaers**, or Randolphs, or Hardicanutes."
>
>

## Patroons of Rensselaerswyck

* Kiliaen Van Rensselaer (1586–1643), the first Patroon
* Johannes Van Rensselaer (1625–1663), the second Patroon
* Jan Baptist van Rensselaer (1629–1678), Director of Rensselaerwyck from 1652 to 1658 and third Patroon

## Lords of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck

* Kiliaen Van Rensselaer (died 1687), son of Johan, fourth patroon and first Lord of the Manor
* Kiliaen Van Rensselaer (1663–1719), son of Jeremias, fifth patroon and second Lord of the Manor
* Jeremias Van Rensselaer (1705–1743), son of Kiliaen, sixth patroon and third Lord of the Manor
* Stephen van Rensselaer I (1707–1747), son of Kiliaen, brother of Jeremias, seventh Patroon and fourth Lord of the Manor
* Stephen van Rensselaer II (1742–1769), son of Stephen, eighth Patroon and fifth Lord of the Manor
* Stephen Van Rensselaer III (1764–1839), US Representative from New York and Lt. Gov. of New York, founder and namesake of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, son of Stephen II, ninth Patroon and sixth Lord of the Manor
* Stephen Van Rensselaer IV (1789–1868), son of Stephen III, tenth and last Patroon and seventh and last Lord of the Manor

## Family tree

Template:Tree list

* Template:Tree list/final branchHendrick van Rensselaer (d. 1602) ∞ Maria Pafraet
	+ **Kiliaen van Rensselaer** (1586–1643) ∞ (1) 1616: Hillegonda van Bijler (ca. 1598–1626); ∞ (2) 1627: Anna van Wely (ca. 1601–1670)
		- Hendrick van Rensselaer (b. ca. 1620)
		- **Johan van Rensselaer** (1625–1663) ∞ 1655: Elizabeth van Twiller
			* **Kiliaen van Rensselaer** (d. 1687) ∞ Anna van Rensselaer (b. 1665)
			* Template:Tree list/final branchNella van Rensselaer
		- Maria van Rensselaer (d. 1627)
		- **Jan Baptist van Rensselaer** (1629–1678) ∞ Susanna van Wely
		- Maria van Rensselaer (1631–1654)
		- Jeremias van Rensselaer (1632–1674) ∞ 1662: Maria van Cortlandt (1645–1689)
			* **Kiliaen van Rensselaer** (1663–1719) ∞ 1701: Maria van Cortlandt (1674/80–1747/50); After van Rensselaer died in 1719, Maria van Cortlandt ∞ 1728: John Milne.
				+ **Jeremias van Rensselaer** (1705–1745)
				+ **Stephen van Rensselaer** (1707–1747) ∞ 1729: Elizabeth Groesbeck (1707–1756)
					- Elizabeth van Rensselaer (1734–1813) ∞ 1763: Abraham ten Broeck (1734–1810)
					- Template:Tree list/final branch**Stephen van Rensselaer II** (1742–1769) ∞ 1764: Catherine Livingston (1745–1810); After van Rensselaer died in 1769, Catherine Livingston ∞ 1775: Eilardus Westerlo (1738–1790).
						* **Stephen van Rensselaer III** (1764–1839) ∞ (1) 1783: Margarita Schuyler (1758–1801); ∞ (2) 1802: Cornelia Paterson (1780–1844)
							+ **Stephen van Rensselaer IV** (1789–1868) ∞ Harriet Bayard (1799–1875)
								- Margaret Schuyler van Rensselaer (1819–1897) ∞ (1) 1837 (div. 1851): John de Peyster Douw (1812–1901); ∞ (2) Wilmot Johnson (1820–1899)
								- Cornelia Patterson van Rensselaer (1823–1897) ∞ Nathaniel Thayer, Jr. (1808–1883)
								- Stephen van Rensselaer V (1824–1861) ∞ 1858: Annie Louise Wild in 1858
								- Catherine van Rensselaer (1827–1909) ∞ Nathaniel Berry (1811–1865)
								- Justine van Rensselaer (1828–1912) ∞ 1853: Dr. Howard Townsend (1823–1867)
								- Bayard van Rensselaer (1833–1859) ∞ Laura Reynolds (1830–1912)
								- Harriet van Rensselaer (1838–1911) ∞ John Schuyler Crosby (1839–1914)
									* Stephen Van Rensselaer Crosby (1868–1959) ∞ Henrietta Marion Grew (1872–1957)
										+ Template:Tree list/final branchHenry Sturgis Crosby (1898–1929) ∞ Mary Phelps Jacob (1891–1970)
									* Template:Tree list/final branchAngelica Schuyler Crosby (1872–1907) ∞ John Brooks Henderson Jr. (1870–1923)
								- Template:Tree list/final branchEugene van Rensselaer (1840–1925) ∞ Sarah Boyd Pendleton (1846–1923)
							+ Catherine Van Rensselaer (1803-1874) ∞ Gouverneur Morris Wilkins (d. 1871)
							+ William Paterson Van Rensselaer (1805–1872) ∞ (1) 1833: Eliza Bayard Rogers (1811–1835); ∞ (2) 1839: Sarah Rogers (1810–1887)
								- William Paterson Van Rensselaer (1835–1854)
								- Susan Bayard Van Rensselaer (1840–1863)
								- Cornelia Van Rensselaer (1841–1913) ∞ 1862: John Erving (1833–1917)
								- Walter Stephen Van Rensselaer (1843–1865)
								- Kiliaen Van Rensselaer (1845–1905) ∞ 1870: Olivia Phelps Atterbury (1848–1923)
								- Sarah Elizabeth Van Rensselaer (1847–1859)
								- Arthur Van Rensselaer (1848–1869)
								- Catherine Goodhue Van Rensselaer (1850–1929) ∞ 1891: Rev. Anson Phelps Atterbury (1854–1931)
								- Template:Tree list/final branchEleanor Cecilia Van Rensselaer (1853–1926) 1887: Hamilton Rogers Fairfax (1852–1916)
									* Katharine Van Rensselaer Fairfax (1888–1978)
									* Template:Tree list/final branchHamilton Van Rensselaer Fairfax (1891–1955)
							+ Philip Stephen Van Rensselaer (1806–1871) ∞ Mary Rebecca Tallmadge (1817–1872)
							+ Cortlandt van Rensselaer (1808–1860) ∞ 1836: Catherine Ledyard Cogswell
								- Template:Tree list/final branchAlexander van Rensselaer (1850–1933) ∞ 1898: Sarah Drexel (1860–1929), widow of John Ruckman Fell (1858–1895).
							+ Henry Bell van Rensselaer (1810–1864) ∞ 1833: Elizabeth Ray King
							+ Cornelia Paterson Van Rensselaer (1812–1890) ∞ 1847: Robert James Turnbull, Jr. (1807–1854)
							+ Alexander Van Rensselaer (1814–1878) ∞ (1) 1851: Mary Howland; ∞ (2) 1864 he married Louisa Barnewell
							+ Euphemia White Van Rensselaer (1816–1888) ∞ 1843: John Church Cruger (1807–1879)
								- Template:Tree list/final branchStephen Van Rensselaer Cruger (d. 1898) ∞ Julia Grinnell Storrow (c. 1850–1920)
							+ Template:Tree list/final branchWesterlo Van Rensselaer (1820–1844)
						* Philip S. Van Rensselaer (1767–1824) ∞ 1787: Anne van Cortlandt (1766–1855)
						* Template:Tree list/final branchElizabeth van Rensselaer (1768–1841) ∞ (1) 1787: John Bradstreet Schuyler (1765–1795); ∞ (2) 1799/1800: John Bleecker (1763–1833), widower of Jane Gilliland.
				+ Jacobus van Rensselaer (1713–1762)
				+ Gertrude van Rensselaer (born 1714) ∞ (1) Adonis Schuyler; ∞ (2) 1766: Robert Livingston (1708–1790)
				+ Jan Baptist van Rensselaer (1717–1763)
				+ Template:Tree list/final branchAnne van Rensselaer (1719–1791) ∞ John Schuyler (1708–1773)
			* Johannes van Rensselaer
			* Anna van Rensselaer (born 1665) ∞ Kiliaen van Rensselaer (died 1687)
			* Hendrick van Rensselaer (1667–1740) ∞ 1689: Catharina van Brugh (1665–1730)
				+ Catryn van Rensselaer (1691–1770) ∞ 1714: Johannes ten Broeck (1683–1765)
				+ Anna van Rensselaer (1696–1756) ∞ 1717: Peter Douw (1692–1775)
				+ Elizabeth van Rensselaer (1700–1779) ∞ 1731: John Richard (died 1763)
				+ Helena van Rensselaer (1702–1792) ∞ 1728: Jacob Wendell (1702–1745)
				+ Johannes van Rensselaer (1707/08–1783) ∞ (1) 1734: Engeltje Livingston (1698–1746/47); ∞ (2) Gertrude van Cortlandt
					- Catherine van Rensselaer (1734–1803) ∞ 1755: Philip Schuyler (1733–1804)
						* Template:Tree list/final branchMargarita "Peggy" Schuyler (1758–1801) ∞ **Stephen Van Rensselaer III** (1764–1839)
					- Jeremiah van Rensselaer (1738–1810) ∞ (1) 1760: Judith Bayard; ∞ 1764: Helena Lansing (1743–1795)
					- Template:Tree list/final branchRobert van Rensselaer (1740–1802) ∞ 1765: Cornelia Rutsen (1746/47–1790)
						* Jacob van Rensselaer (1767–1835) ∞ Cornelia de Peyster
						* Template:Tree list/final branchJames van Rensselaer (1784–1847) ∞ Susan De Lancey Cullen (1786-1863)
							+ Template:Tree list/final branchJohn Cullen van Rensselaer (1812–1898) ∞ Cornelia Josepha Codwise (1810-1890)
								- Mary Van Rensselaer (1839-1871) ∞ Andrew K. Cogswell (1839-1900)
								- Schuyler van Rensselaer (1845–1884) ∞ 1873: Mariana Griswold (1851–1934)
								- Template:Tree list/final branchSusan De Lancey Van Rensselaer (1851-1931)
				+ Hendrick van Rensselaer (1712–1793) ∞ (1) 1735: Elizabeth van Brugh (1712–1753); ∞ (2) 1762: Alida Livingston (1716–1798), widow of Jacob Rutsen (1716–1753).
				+ Template:Tree list/final branchKiliaen van Rensselaer (1717–1781) ∞ (1) 1742: Ariaantie Schuyler (1720–1763); ∞ (2) 1769: Maria Low
					- Henry van Rensselaer (1744–1816) ∞ Alida Bratt
						* Solomon van Rensselaer (1774–1852) ∞ 1797: Arriet van Rensselaer (1775-1840)
						* Template:Tree list/final branchDavid van Rensselaer (1797–1880)
							+ Template:Tree list/final branchHenry Kilian van Rensselaer (1821–1897)
								- Template:Tree list/final branchMartha van Rensselaer (1864–1932)
					- Philip Kiliaen van Rensselaer (1747–1798) ∞ 1768: Mary Sanders (1749–1830)
						* Template:Tree list/final branchArriet van Rensselaer (1775-1840) ∞ 1797: Solomon van Rensselaer
					- Nicholas van Rensselaer (1754-1848) ∞ 1780: Elsie van Buren (1759–1844)
					- Elsie van Rensselaer (1758–1796) ∞ 1774: Abraham Lansing (1752–1822)
					- Maria van Rensselaer (1760–1841) ∞ 1777: Leonard Gansevoort (1754–1834)
					- Template:Tree list/final branchKillian van Rensselaer (1763–1845) ∞ 1791: Margaret Sanders (1764–1830)
						* Template:Tree list/final branchJohn Sanders van Rensselaer (1792–1868) ∞ Ann Dunkin (1795–1845)
							+ Template:Tree list/final branchCharles van Rensselaer (1823–1857)
			* Template:Tree list/final branchMaria van Rensselaer (1673–1713) ∞ 1691: Pieter Schuyler (1657–1724), widower of Engeltie van Schaick (1659–1689).
		- Hillegonda van Rensselaer (1633–1654)
		- Leonora van Rensselaer (1635–1695?)
		- Nicholas van Rensselaer (1636–1678) ∞ 1675: Alida Schuyler (1656–1727/29); after van Rensselaer died in 1678, Alida Schuyler ∞ 1679: Robert Livingston (1654–1728).
		- Susanna van Rensselaer (1638–1680)
		- Template:Tree list/final branchRyckert van Rensselaer (1639–1692/95) ∞ 1681: Anna van Beaumont
	+ Template:Tree list/final branchMaria van Rensselaer ∞ Ryckaert van Twiller
		- Template:Tree list/final branchWouter van Twiller (1606–1654)

Template:Tree list/end

## See also

* Van Rensselaer (surname)
* Manor of Rensselaerswyck

## References

1. ↑ U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual; Chapter 3 - Capitalization Rules; Rule 3.14: "In anglicized names such particles are usually capitalized...but individual usage...should be followed."
2. ↑ Van Rensselaer, Maunsell (1888). *Annals of the Van Rensselaers in the United States, especially as they relate to the family of Killian K. Van Rensselaer* C. Van Benthuysen & Sons, p. 215
3. ↑ Bonney, Catharina V. R. (Catharina Van Rensselaer)(1875). *Alegacy of Historical Gleanings* J. Munsell
4. ↑ Van Rensselaer, Jeremias. *Correspondence of Jeremias Van Rensselaer, 1651-1674*, University of the State of New York, 1932
5. ↑ Template:Cite journal
6. ↑ Template:Cite book