Volkert P. Douw

Volkert Petrus Douw (March 23, 1720 – March 20, 1801) was a merchant and politician from Albany, New York, who was prominent both during colonial times and after the United States was established.

Early life Douw was born on March 23, 1720, in Albany, New York. and Anna (née Van Rensselaer) Douw (1696–1756). His siblings included Magdalena Douw (1718–1796), who married Harmen Gansevoort (1712–1801), Maria Douw (1725–1759), who married Johannes Gansevoort, and Rachel Douw (1736–1806).

His maternal grandparents were Hendrick van Rensselaer (1667–1740), director of Fort Crailo, the Eastern patent of the Rensselaerswyck manor, and Catharina Van Brugh, herself the daughter of merchant Johannes Pieterse Van Brugh (1624–1697) and sister of Pieter Van Brugh (1666–1740), mayor of Albany from 1699 to 1700 and again from 1721 to 1723. Through his sister Maria, he was uncle to Brig. Gen. Peter Gansevoort (1749–1812) and State Senator and Assemblymen Leonard Gansevoort (1751–1810). In 1760, Douw was appointed as mayor of Albany, New York, serving from 1761 to 1770, following Sybrant Gozen Van Schaick. During the first New York Provincial Congress, which was convened in New York City on May 22, 1775, Douw served as vice-president with Peter Van Brugh Livingston as president. During the American Revolution, he was a member of the Albany Committee of Correspondence. Following Virginia's Ratifying Convention in June 1788, where they became the tenth state to ratify the United States Constitution, New York held their Convention held in Poughkeepsie, New York, in July 1788 presided by Gov. George Clinton. Despite Douw's vote against ratification, New York became the eleventh state to ratify on July 26, 1788. located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, about a mile below Albany.

Anna Douw (1743–1774), in 1770. Catrina Douw (1751–1775), and after his death it was said of him that he was "a true patriot; in civil and domestic relations, he was considered a pattern, and no man in Albany died more regretted."

Descendants Through his son John, who was close friends with the Marquis de Lafayette, Anna De Peyster Douw Cuyler (1798–1871), Margaret Livingston Douw Abbe (1798–1878), John De Peyster Douw (1812–1901), Catharine Louisa Douw Townsend (1817–1891), and Harriet Maria Douw Johnson (1824–1852).

Through his daughter Magdalena, he was the grandfather of James Stevenson (1788–1852), who also served as mayor of Albany from 1826 to 1828.