Stephen van Rensselaer II facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stephen van Rensselaer II
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| 8th Patroon and 5th Lord of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck | |
| In office 1747 – 1769 |
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| Preceded by | Stephen van Rensselaer I |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Van Rensselaer III |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 2, 1742 Manor of Rensselaerswyck, Province of New York |
| Died | October 19, 1769 (aged 27) Manor of Rensselaerswyck, Province of New York |
| Spouse |
Catherine Livingston
(m. 1764) |
| Children | Stephen van Rensselaer III Philip S. Van Rensselaer Elizabeth Van Rensselaer |
| Parents | Stephen Van Rensselaer I Elizabeth Groesbeck |
| Relatives | See Van Rensselaer family |
| Occupation | Patroon |
| Rensselaerswyck series | |
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| Dutch West India Company |
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| The Patroon System |
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| Map of Rensselaerswyck |
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| Patroons of Rensselaerswyck: Kiliaen van Rensselaer |
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Stephen van Rensselaer II (born June 2, 1742 – died October 19, 1769) was an important landowner in early New York. He was the eighth Patroon and fifth Lord of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck. A Patroon was like a landlord who owned a huge area of land. The Manor of Rensselaerswyck was a very large estate in what is now New York State. Stephen van Rensselaer II took over this big responsibility at a young age.
Contents
Who Was Stephen van Rensselaer II?
Stephen van Rensselaer II was born on June 2, 1742. He was the youngest of six children. His parents were Stephen van Rensselaer I and Elizabeth Groesbeck. He was the only son who lived to become an adult.
His Family and Early Life
Stephen's father, Stephen van Rensselaer I, became the Patroon in 1745. This happened after his older brother, Jeremias Van Rensselaer, passed away. Jeremias had no children, so the title went to Stephen's father.
Stephen II's older sister, Elizabeth van Rensselaer, married Abraham Ten Broeck. Abraham would later play a big role in Stephen's life. Stephen's family had a long history of owning the Manor of Rensselaerswyck.
What Did Stephen van Rensselaer II Do?
Stephen van Rensselaer II became the Patroon when he was only five years old. This was after his father passed away. Since he was so young, his brother-in-law, Abraham Ten Broeck, managed the Manor for him. Abraham was also the Mayor of Albany for several years.
Leading the Manor
Stephen officially became the Patroon in 1747. He was the eighth Patroon of Rensselaerswyck. He also held the title of the fifth Lord of the Manor. He was in charge of this large estate until 1769.
When he was 20, Stephen was made a captain in the Albany County Militia. This meant he had a leadership role in the local military group.
Building a New Home
In 1764, Stephen got married. The next year, in 1765, he built a brand new Manor House. He wanted to make the Manor better. It had not been actively managed since his father's death almost 20 years earlier. Stephen worked to bring new life and leadership to the estate.
Stephen van Rensselaer II's Family Life
In January 1764, Stephen married Catherine Livingston. She was born in 1745. Catherine's father was Philip Livingston, who later signed the Declaration of Independence.
Stephen and Catherine had three children:
- Stephen Van Rensselaer III (1764–1839): He became the sixth and last Patroon of Rensselaerswyck.
- Philip Schuyler Van Rensselaer (1767–1824): He later served as the Mayor of Albany, New York.
- Elizabeth Van Rensselaer (1768–1841): She married John Bradstreet Schuyler. He was the son of General Philip Schuyler. After John's death, she married John Bleecker.
Stephen van Rensselaer II passed away in October 1769. He was only 27 years old. After his death, his wife Catherine married a minister named Eilardus Westerlo. They had a son named Rensselaer Westerlo. He later became a member of the United States Congress.
Images for kids
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Stephen Van Rensselaer II
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The Coat of Arms for the Van Rensselaer family
