Elizabeth Van Rensselaer Elmendorf

by

Elizabeth Van Rensselaer was born in August 1770. She was the daughter of Philip and Maria Sanders Van Rensselaer. She grew up an older daughter in the very large family of a merchant living on Pearl Street and then on family land at Cherry Hill.

In September 1802, she became the second wife of Kingston native Peter Elmendorf when they were married at the Albany Dutch church. By 1815, that marriage had produced six children. Elmendorf's first wife also was named Elizabeth Van Rensselaer and was the mother of his first two children.

Elmendorf was an attorney practicing from their home at what became 66 North Pearl Street. Their house is said to have been left to her by Elizabeth's mother.

On April 1835, the Albany newspaper noted her death from apoplexy at the age of fifty eight. Her husband, Peter E. Elmendorf, died a month after her at the age of seventy. Initially buried at Cherry Hill, today their remains reside at the Albany Rural Cemetery.

biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Elizabeth Van Rensselaer Elmendorf is CAP biography number 5076. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




first posted 12/30/16