Johannes Schuyler

Johannes Schuyler (October 15, 1668 – November 5, 1747) was a prominent American of Dutch ancestry who served as the 10th Mayor of Albany, New York from 1703 to 1706, and later was a member of the provincial assembly. He was the paternal grandfather of U.S. Senator Philip Schuyler and Mayor Abraham Cuyler.

Early life and family

Johannes Schuyler was born in 1668 in Albany, New York, the son of Philip Pieterse Schuyler (1628–1683) and Margarita Van Slichtenhorst. His father was a Dutch-born landowner who was the progenitor of the American Schuyler family.

Career Several English governors used him as an envoy to the Iroquois because as he was well liked and trusted by them. In 1724, Lieutenant Governor William Dummer of Massachusetts appointed him a commissioner to negotiate with the Iroquois. He again visited Canada in 1713 and again in 1725 to seek the return of prisoners.

Later, he became well known and wealthy as a trader and river transport operator. In 1703, he was appointed the 10th Mayor of Albany, serving until 1706, and later as a member of the provincial assembly. He enacted a law mandating that each homeowner had to build an eight-foot sidewalk. Also served as Indian Commissioner, member of Colonial Assembly and alderman. who was already the father of her 11 children, including Jacob Wendell (1691–1761).

Philip Johannes Schuyler (1695–1745), who was killed during the French and Indian raid on Saratoga on November 28, 1745. Johannes Schuyler Jr. (1697–1741), who married Cornelia van Cortlandt (1698–1762), his first cousin. whose cousin Hester Schuyler who married General William Colfax and were the grandparents of Schuyler Colfax, a Congressman and later Vice President of the United States. Colfax married a niece of Senator Benjamin Franklin Wade and who was related to Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes. His granddaughter, Philip Schuyler's sister, married Dr. John Cochran, the Director General of the Military Hospitals of the Continental Army, and were the grandparents of U.S. General and Congressman John Cochran.

Schuyler's sister-in-law, Catherina Van Rensselaer (née Van Brugh) was the great-grandmother of Continental General Peter Gansevoort (1749–1812), who married Catherina Van Schaick, the sister of Continental General Goose Van Schaick. Catherine and Goose were the children of Albany mayor Sybrant Van Schaick. The Gansevoort's were the grandparents of author Herman Melville.