Harriet Van Rensselaer

Harriet Van Rensselaer was born in September 1775. She was a daughter in the large family of Philip and Maria Sanders Van Rensselaer. She grew up in Albany and on the family farm at Cherry Hill.

In January 1797, she married her cousin, Solomon Van Rensselaer. Their daughter was christened at the Albany Dutch church in December 1799. Five daughters and a son survived to maturity.

This Van Rensselaer family resided on North Pearl Street - near both their childhood homes. A career military officer and then congressman, Solomon frequently was away until he became postmaster of Albany in 1822.

For the next decade the couple appear to have lived at Cherry Hill while maintaining their Pearl Street home as well.

Harriet Van Rensselaer died in February 1840. She had lived sixty-five years. Her husband lived until 1852.

Sources: The life of Harriet Van Rensselaer is CAP biography number 5062. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.