Elizabeth Cuyler Van Cortlandt

Elizabeth Cuyler was born in August 1731. She was the daughter of Cornelis and Catharina Schuyler Cuyler. She grew up in the large family of a second ward businessman who would be appointed mayor of Albany in 1742. Her younger sister, Elsie, married Augustus Van Cortlandt but died in 1761. Family-based resources sometimes confuse and conflate the similarly named sisters.

In 1752, Elizabeth married an older James (Jacobus) Van Cortlandt. Apparently childless, the couple took up residence in the Bronx mansion James had inherited from his father - although his mother also lived there until her death in 1780.

At one point, Elizabeth was a pewholder in the Albany Dutch church. But, by 1760, she was no longer in Albany and the pew was transferred to the daughter of a neighbor. In March 1765, Elizabeth was among those bequeathed a share of her father's substantial estate.

We seek information on their life and residency during the War for American Independence.

Elizabeth lost her husband in 1781. Called Colonel, traditional sources hold that James Van Cortlandt had been a Patriot leader and army officer. His will ostensibly dated March 1781 may have left her his property. As we have not identified the widow as head of her own household, perhaps she then resided within a larger Cuyler or Van Cortlandt household.

In February 1782, she was identified as the widow of James Van Cortlandt and left a bequest in the will of a legendary Schuyler matron.

Elizabeth Cuyler is said to have died in 1815 at the age of 83.

Sources: The life of Elizabeth Cuyler Van Cortlandt is CAP biography number 399. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.

    Life after Albany: Regrettably, we have little confidence in the information presented here regarding Elizabeth's life beyond her native city.