Johannes van Rensselaer

Johannes Van Rensselaer (January 3, 1708 – February 21, 1783) was a member of the prominent colonial Van Rensselaer family.

Early life Van Rensselaer was born on January 3, 1708, at the family estate, "Rensselaerswyck", in what is now Watervliet, New York. He was descended from and married into "the best provincial families" in New York including the Livingstons, Schuylers, Van Cortlandts, Van Schaicks, and Bayards.

Career

In 1740 upon the death of his father, he inherited Fort Crailo and became proprietor or Lord of the lower manor of Rensselaerswyck, known as "Claverack". Around 1762, he added a wing and remodeled the building. During the mid 1760s, his holdings in Greenbush were almost three times more valuable as any others in the entire east Manor. He also owned a house in the city of Albany tracts of land outside the manor. She was the daughter of Robert Livingston the Younger (1663–1725) and Margarita Schuyler (b. 1682) and the granddaughter of Pieter Schuyler (1657–1724), the first Mayor of Albany. Together, they were the parents of six children: and who married Judith Bayard, the great-granddaughter of Nicholas Bayard (1644–1707). Robert Van Rensselaer (1740–1802), who was a Brigadier General during the Revolutionary War, member of the New York Provincial Congress from 1775 to 1777 and member of the New York State Assembly in the 1st, 2nd and 4th New York State Legislatures. Hendrick Van Rensselaer (1742–1814), who married Rachel Douw (1744–1799), the daughter of Volkert P. Douw, the Mayor of Albany, New York. James Van Rensselaer (1747–1827), who married Elsie Schuyler (1759–1838)

After his wife's death, he married Gertrude van Cortlandt.

Through his son Jeremiah, he was the grandfather of Johannes "John" Jeremiah Van Rensselaer (1762–1828), who married Catharina Glen (1765–1807).

Through his son Robert, he was the grandfather of Jacob Van Rensselaer (1767–1835), a Federalist member of the New York State Assembly and the Secretary of State of New York from 1813 to 1815.