Robert Van Rensselaer
Encyclopedia
Robert Van Rensselaer was a New York militia officer during the American Revolutionary War
.
in Rensselaer, New York
. His father was Johannes Van Rensselaer, and his mother was Angelica Livingston. His Grandfather was Hendrick van Rensselaer
.
Robert married Cornelia Rutsen (1747–1790), the daughter of Colonel Jacob Rutsen and Alida Livingston on April 23, 1765 and had the following children:
From 1775 to 1777 he was a member of the New York Provincial Congress
; and a member of the New York State Assembly
in 1777-78
, 1778-79
and 1780-81
.
On October 20, 1775, he was made colonel of the 8th regiment of the Albany County militia. On June 16, 1780, he was made brigadier general of the second brigade of the Albany County militia. This brigade included the Tryon County militia
. He fought at Fort Ticonderoga
and at the Battle of Klock's Field
.
Van Rensselaer was a Federalist presidential elector in 1796
, and cast his votes for John Adams
and Thomas Pinckney
.
He died September 11, 1802 at the Van Rensselaer Lower Manor House
.
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Life
He was born December 16, 1740, at Fort CrailoFort Crailo
Fort Crailo, also known as Yankee Doodle House or Crailo State Historic Site, is a historic, fortified brick manor house in Rensselaer, New York, United States which was originally part of a large patroonship held by Kiliaen van Rensselaer, c...
in Rensselaer, New York
Rensselaer, New York
Rensselaer is a city in Rensselaer County, New York, United States, and is located on the Hudson River directly opposite Albany. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,392; in 1920, it was 10,832. The name is from Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original landowner of the region in New...
. His father was Johannes Van Rensselaer, and his mother was Angelica Livingston. His Grandfather was Hendrick van Rensselaer
Hendrick van Rensselaer
Hendrick van Rensselaer Born in Watervliet, New York, was the fourth child of Jeremias van Rensselaer. He was the patroon of the "Eastern Manor" or "Greenbush and Claverack Branch" of the Rensselaerwick estates....
.
Robert married Cornelia Rutsen (1747–1790), the daughter of Colonel Jacob Rutsen and Alida Livingston on April 23, 1765 and had the following children:
- John Van Rensselaer, died with no heirs.
- Jacob R. Van RensselaerJacob R. Van RensselaerJacob Rutsen Van Rensselaer was an American lawyer and Federalist politician.-Life:...
, b. 1767, married Cornelia de Peyster. - Jeremias van Rensselaer, b. 1769, d. 1827, married Sybil Adeline Kane.
- Alida van Rensselaer, married Elisha Kane.
- Catharine van Rensselaer, b. abt. 1770, d. 1867, married Colonel John Arent Schuyler of Belleville, New Jersey.
- Angelica van Rensselaer, b. abt. 1785, d. November 23, 1818, married Reverend Thomas Yardley How.
- Henry van Rensselaer, b. November 8, 1775, married Catherine D. Hoffman
- James van Rensselaer, b. December 1, 1783, d. March 12, 1840, removed to Jasper County Indiana and purchased land which is now the town of Rensselaer, IndianaRensselaer, Indiana-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 5,294 people, 2,158 households, and 1,404 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,824.8 people per square mile . There were 2,296 housing units at an average density of 791.4 per square mile...
named after him.
From 1775 to 1777 he was a member of the New York Provincial Congress
New York Provincial Congress
The New York Provincial Congress was an organization formed by rebels in 1775, during the American Revolution, as a pro-rebellion alternative to the more conservative Province of New York Assembly, and as a replacement for the Committee of One Hundred.A Provincial Convention assembled in New York...
; and a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1777-78
1st New York State Legislature
The 1st New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from September 9, 1777 to June 30, 1778, during the first year of George Clinton's governorship, first at Kingston and later at Poughkeepsie....
, 1778-79
2nd New York State Legislature
The 2nd New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from October 13, 1778 to March 17, 1779, during the second year of George Clinton's governorship, at Poughkeepsie.-Background:...
and 1780-81
4th New York State Legislature
The 4th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from September 7, 1780 to July 1, 1781, during the fourth year of George Clinton's governorship, first at Poughkeepsie, then at Albany, and finally at Poughkeepsie...
.
On October 20, 1775, he was made colonel of the 8th regiment of the Albany County militia. On June 16, 1780, he was made brigadier general of the second brigade of the Albany County militia. This brigade included the Tryon County militia
Tryon County militia
-Militia regiments:On March 8, 1772, The Province of New York passed a bill for the establishment of organized militia in each county. In 1775, at the start of the American Revolution, the Tryon County militia comprised four regiments, formed according to their geographical locations:* 1st...
. He fought at Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga, formerly Fort Carillon, is a large 18th-century fort built by the Canadians and the French at a narrows near the south end of Lake Champlain in upstate New York in the United States...
and at the Battle of Klock's Field
Battle of Klock's Field
The Battle of Klock's Field, also called the Battle of Failing's Orchard; and occasionally as the Battle of Nellis Flatts, was an encounter between Albany County, New York militia and a British-supported expedition of Indians and Loyalist led by Lieutenant Colonel Sir John Johnson and Captain...
.
Van Rensselaer was a Federalist presidential elector in 1796
United States presidential election, 1796
The United States presidential election of 1796 was the first contested American presidential election and the only one in which a president and vice- president were elected from opposing tickets...
, and cast his votes for John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
and Thomas Pinckney
Thomas Pinckney
Thomas Pinckney was an early American statesman, diplomat and veteran of both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.-Early life in the military:...
.
He died September 11, 1802 at the Van Rensselaer Lower Manor House
Van Rensselaer Lower Manor House
The Van Rensselaer Lower Manor House, also called Klavarack, is located along the NY 23 state highway on the east side of Claverack, New York, United States. It is a combination of two 18th century houses, one stone and the other frame, later connected with a hyphen and then combined into one...
.