Elizabeth Van Rensselaer Richard

Elizabeth Van Rensselaer was born in June 1700. She was the daughter of Albany leaders Hendrick and Catharina Van Brugh Van Rensselaer. She grew up in a large family in comfortable homes in Albany and across the river at "Crailo."

In April 1731, Elizabeth was past thirty when she married New Yorker John Richard at the Albany Dutch church. Consequently, the marriage produced only one or two children. Her son, Stephen Richard carried on after the death of his father early in 1763. However, Stephen died in 1773 - leaving Elizabeth without children of her own.

Through inheritance, the widow Elizabeth Richard had accumulated substantial and diverse properties in the colony of New York.

Elizabeth Van Rensselaer Richard filed a will in December 1776. It described her extensive holdings that would be parcelled out to her siblings and their children. The will passed probate in April 1779. With her death, the Richard family name dropped from Albany rolls.

Sources: The life of Elizabeth Van Rensselaer Richard is CAP biography number 5067. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.