Stephanus Van Cortlandt

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Stephanus Van Cortlandt
10th and 17th Mayor of New York City
In office
1677–1678
Governor Edmund Andros
Preceded by Nicholas De Mayer
Succeeded by Thomas Delavall
In office
1686–1688
Preceded by Nicholas Bayard
Succeeded by Peter Delanoy
Personal details
Born (1643-05-07)May 7, 1643
New Amsterdam, New Netherland (New York City)
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Spouse(s) Gertruj Van Schuyler
Parents Olof Stevense Van Cortlandt
Annetje Loockermans

Stephanus Van Cortlandt (May 7, 1643 – November 25, 1700) was the first native-born mayor of New York City, a position which he held from 1677 to 1678 and from 1686 to 1688. He was the patroon of Van Cortlandt Manor and was on the governor's executive council from 1691 to 1700. He was the first resident of Sagtikos Manor in West Bay Shore on Long Island, which was built around 1697. A number of his descendants married English military leaders and Loyalists active in the American Revolution, and their descendants became prominent members of English society.

Early life

Stephanus Van Cortlandt was born on May 7, 1643 to Captain Olof Stevense Van Cortlandt (b. Wijk bij Duurstede, Netherlands, d. 1684), arrived 1637 in New Amsterdam. Originally a soldier and bookkeeper, Captain Van Cortland rose to high colonial ranks in service of the Dutch West India Company, serving many terms as burgomaster and alderman.[1] on citizens councils Eight Men and Nine Men His mother was Annetje "Anna" Loockermans Van Cortlandt (b. Turnhout March 17, 1618) who may have been the person to start the custom of Santa Claus in America. Together his parents had:

  • Stephanus Van Cortlandt (1643-1700)
  • Jacobus Van Cortlandt (1658-1739), who served as mayor of New York City[2] and married Eva de Vries (b. 1660)
  • Maria Van Cortlandt, who married Jeremias Van Rensselaer (1632-1674).
  • Catherine Van Cortlandt, who married Frederick Philipse (1626–1702), the first Lord of Philipsborough Manor after the death of her first husband and his first wife, Margaret Hardenbroeck (1637–1691). When Philipse married Hardenbroeck, he had adopted her daughter, Eva De Vries, and she adopted his last name. Eva Philipse was born to Hardenbroeck and her first husband, Peter Rudolphus de Vries, who died in 1661. Eva married Catherine's brother, Jacobus.

Career

Stephanus Van Cortlandt was the first mayor New York City who had been born in America, the date of his birth being 7 May 1643. His first role in public life occurred in 1668, when he was appointed ensign of one of the militia companies of the city. In 1671 he married Geertruyd Schuyler, of Albany, and established his residence at the "Waterside," on the present line of Pearl street, near Broad, where he engaged in business as a merchant. His appointment as mayor, in 1677, at the age of thirty-four years, was a high compliment to his intelligence, and social position in the community, coming, as it did, from the English Governor. This favor, however, he returned, by remaining an adherent of the aristocratic party, in the time of the Leisler affair. When Delanoy, the Leisler candidate, was elected to the mayoralty, in place of Van Cortland, the latter refused to deliver up the city seal. A committee waited on him at his residence, but his wife shut the door in their faces.[3]

Personal life

Van Cortlandt married Gertruj Van Schuyler (b. 4 February 1654), the daughter of Philip Pieterse Schuyler and the sister of Pieter Schuyler, a colonial governor of New York and mayor of Albany.[2] Together, they had:

See also

References

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  3. Sketches of the Mayors of New York