Nicholas Schuyler

Nicholas Schuyler was born in September 1691 and christened at the Dutch church in New York City. He was the only susrviving son of Philip and Elizabeth De Meyer Schuyler of New York City.

In 1711, he accompanied his uncle, Pieter Schuyler, on an expedition to the Onondaga country. His mother died in 1712.

In December 1714, he married Albany native Elsie Wendell at the Albany Dutch church. By, 1733, the marriage had produced eight children. His wife died in 1744 and he is said to have married Mary, the sister of upwardly mobile Albany newcomer James Stevenson. In his fifties, the marriage would have been childless.

Following his first marriage, he settled in Schenectady where he was known as a surveyor. However, he returned to the Indian country to trade but found himself in trouble with provincial authorities for trading to Canada. Later, he would be called Doctor.

In 1727, he was chosen to represent Schenectady in the provincial Assembly.

He later was employed as an engineer and was involved with the building of Fort Clinton at Old Saratoga.

Nicholas Schuyler filed a will in May 1746. He called himself a "gentleman of Schenectady" and named his second wife and seven living children as his heirs. He died in July 1748 and was buried from his church. His family bible contains a wealth of information.

Sources: The life of Nicholas Schuyler is CAP biography number 1730. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. For a yet unknown reason, this individual sometimes has been referred to as "Dr. Nicholas Schuyler."

The bible is in the bible collection of the Albany Institue of History and Art.