Myndert Schuyler

Myndert Schuyler (January 16, 1672 – October 18, 1755) was a colonial trader and merchant with extensive real estate holdings who served as Mayor of Albany, New York twice between 1719 and 1725.[1]

Myndert Schuyler
Mayor of Albany, New York
In office 1723–1725
Preceded by	Pieter Van Brugh
Succeeded by	Johannes Cuyler
In office 1719–1720
Preceded by	Robert Livingston the Younger
Succeeded by	Pieter Van Brugh
Personal details
Born	January 16, 1672 Schuyler Flatts, Province of New York
Died	October 18, 1755 (aged 83) Albany, Province of New York
Spouse(s)	Rachel Cuyler ​ ​ (m. 1693; died 1747)​
Children	Anna Schuyler
Parents	David Pieterse Schuyler Catharina Verplanck
Relatives	David Davidse Schuyler (brother) Alida Schuyler (cousin) Pieter Schuyler (cousin) Arent Schuyler (cousin) Johannes Schuyler (cousin) Philip P. Schuyler (uncle) Johannes de Peyster (son-in-law)

Early life

Schuyler was born on January 16, 1672 at the family homestead, Schuyler Flatts (near present day Menands, New York). He was one of eight children born to his parents, David Pieterse Schuyler (1636–1690), who was born in the Netherlands, and Catharina Verplanck (1639–1690), between 1659 and 1678.[2] Both of his parents died during the Schenectady massacre of 1690.[3][4] He was the younger brother of David Davidse Schuyler, also a mayor of Albany.[5]

His paternal grandparents were Pieter Tjercks Van Schuylder and Geertruyt Philips and his uncle was Philip Pieterse Schuyler (1628–1683), the prominent colonist landowner.[5] Through his uncle, he was first cousins with Gertruj Schuyler (b. 1654), who married Stephanus van Cortlandt (1643–1700), the patroon of Van Cortlandt Manor and a Mayor of New York City, Alida Schuyler (1656–1727), who married Nicholas van Rensselaer and after his death, Robert Livingston the Elder, Pieter Schuyler (1657–1724), the first mayor of Albany, Arent Schuyler (1662–1730), and Johannes Schuyler.[5]

Career

Schuyler was a prominent merchant and trader who turned his profits into extensive real estate holdings throughout the New York region.

He served the Albany government as a juror, constable, Alderman, and mayor. He also was elected five times to represent Albany in the New York General Assembly, serving from 1701 to 1709, in 1713, from 1716 to 1726, and again in 1728. In addition, he was the Albany County surrogate for many years.[1]

In 1726, Schuyler was appointed and began serving as Mayor of Albany for two non-consecutive times.[6] The first term began in 1719 and he was in office until 1720 when he was succeeded by Pieter Van Brugh, who served from 1720 to 1723.[7] Schuyler succeeded him in 1723 and was in office until 1725 when he was replaced by Johannes Cuyler.[7]

For thirty-five years, the longest of any Commissioner, he served as Commissioner of Indian Affairs for the Province of New York, appointed in 1706, 1710, 1712, 1715, 1728, 1729, 1732, 1734, 1739, 1742, 1745, 1752, and 1754.[8][9]

Personal life

In December 1693, Schuyler married Rachel Cuyler (1674–1747), the daughter of Hendrick Cuyler and Anna Schempoes, pioneers of New Netherland,[10] at the New York Reformed Church, New York City.[11] Together, they were the parents of one child:[5][12]

• Anna Schuyler (1697–1750),[13] who married Johannes de Peyster III (1694–1783).[14] He was the son of Albany Mayor Johannes De Peyster Jr.[15][16][17] and grandson of Johannes de Peyster, Sr., the 23rd Mayor of New York City,[18][19][20] nephew of Mayor Abraham de Peyster, Maria De Peyster, who was married to Mayor David Provost, and Evert Bancker, the 3rd and 12th Mayor of Albany, New York.[21] His nephews included Gerard Bancker (1740–1799), New York State Treasurer from 1778 to 1798, and Henry Rutgers (1745–1830), namesake of Rutgers College.[5]

Schuyler died in October 18, 1755 and was buried beneath the Albany Dutch church.[1]

Descendants

He was the grandfather of Anna de Peyster (1723–1794), who married Volkert Petrus Douw (1720–1801), a New York State Senator and Mayor of Albany who was the grandson of Hendrick van Rensselaer,[22] Rachel de Peyster (1728–1794), who married Tobias Coenraedt Ten Eyck (1717–1785),[14] and his namesake, Myndert Schuyler de Peyster (1736–1745), who died young.[14]

Through his granddaughter Anna, he was the great-grandfather of nine children, including John De Peyster Douw (1756–1835), who took part in the Clinton-Sullivan Expedition and also served as Surrogate of Albany County, replacing de Peyster in 1782.[14] Through his granddaughter Rachel, he was also the great-grandfather of Johannes De Peyster Ten Eyck (d. 1798), Myndert Schuyler Ten Eyck (1753–1805), Henry Ten Eyck (b. 1755), and Tobias Ten Eyck (b. 1764).[5]

References

1. Bielinski, Stefan. "Myndert Schuyler". exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov. New York State Museum. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
2. Bielinski, Stefan. "David Pieterse Schuyler". exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov. New York State Museum. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
3. "An account of the burning of Schenectady by Mons. De Monsignat, comptroller General of the marine in Canada to Madam de Maintenon, the morganatic wife of Louis XIV.", Doc. Hist. N. Y., I, p. 186, noted in Pearson (1883), A History of the Schenectady Patent, Schenectady History Digital Archives
4. Jonathan Pearson, Chap. 9, "Burning of Schenectady", History of the Schenectady Patent in the Dutch and English Times, 1883, pp. 244-270
5. Reynolds, Cuyler (1911). Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs: A Record of Achievements of the People of the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys in New York State, Included Within the Present Counties of Albany, Rensselaer, Washington, Saratoga, Montgomery, Fulton, Schenectady, Columbia and Greene. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company. p. 390. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
6. Hough, Franklin (1889). The New-York Civil List: Containing the Names and Origin of the Civil Divisions, and the Names and Dates of Election Or Appointment of the Principal State and County Officers ... New York. p. 221. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
7. York, National Society of the Colonial Dames in the State of New (1913). Register of the Colonial Dames of the State of New York. Colonial Dames of the State of New York. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
8. Rhoden, Nancy L. (2014). English Atlantics Revisited: Essays Honouring Ian K. Steele. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. pp. 240–243. ISBN 9780773560406. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
9. Downs, Joseph. "Sugar and Spice" (PDF). metmuseum.org. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
10. Bielinski, Stefan. "Rachel Cuyler Schuyler". exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov. New York State Museum. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
11. "I2416: Myndert Davidtse SCHUYLER Capt. (16 Jan 1672 - 18 Oct 1755)". jrm.phys.k-state.edu. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
12. Pearson, Jonathan (1872). Contributions for the Genealogies of the First Settlers of the Ancient County of Albany, from 1630 to 1800. Genealogical Publishing Company. p. 98. ISBN 9780806307299. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
13. Bielinski, Stefan. "Anna Schuyler De Peyster". exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov. New York State Museum. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
14. Bielinski, Stefan. "Johannes De Peyster". exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
15. Caliendo, Ralph J. (May 1, 2010). New York City Mayors. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 9781450088145. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
16. Lamb, Martha Joanna; Harrison, Mrs Burton (1896). History of the City of New York: Its Origin, Rise, and Progress. A. S. Barnes. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
17. Garrett, Erwin Clarkson (1916). Army Ballads and Other Verses. John C. Winston Company. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
18. Wilson, James Grant (1892). The Memorial History of the City of New-York: From Its First Settlement to the Year 1892. New York History Company. p. 54. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
19. Allaben, Frank. John Watts de Peyster, Volume 1, p. 18-19 (1908)
20. Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York. 1853. pp. 395–396. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
21. Bielinski, Stefan. "Evert Bancker". exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
22. Bielinski, Stefan. "Volkert P. Douw". exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov. New York State Museum. Retrieved 8 September 2017.

External links

• Myndert Schuyler at the New York State Museum