Hendrick Van Rensselaer

Hendrick Van Rensselaer was was born in April of 1712. He was the son* of Hendrick and Catharina Van Brugh Van Rensselaer. He was a younger son in a large family that enjoyed Hendrick's prosperity and prominence in Albany and across the river at Crailo.

In October 1735, he married Elizabeth Van Brugh in New York City. That marriage produced nine children before her death in 1753. In November 1762, he married the widow Alida Livingston Rutsen. He was fifty and she was forty-six.

This Hendrick Van Rensselaer made his home on family property at Claverack - the country home of his large, combined family. He was a landholder, businessman, militia officer, and representative of manorial interests at the local and provincial levels. He was wounded in the tenant "riots" of 1766.

In December 1776, he was named heir and co-executor of the will of his sister. At that time, he was absolved of any remaining debts to her.

Hendrick Van Rensselaer died at his Claverack home in July 1793. He had lived seventy-one years.

Sources: The life of Hendrick Van Rensselaer is CAP biography number 5082. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.

This sketch is conservative in hopes of not confusing this individual with a number of same-named contemporaries. His father died in 1740. Sung Bok Kim has identified this Henry as "Hendrick Jr." and has shed light on his Claverack career.