William de Peyster

Other Events:

• Baptism: 22 Sep 1666, Dutch Reformed Church, New York, New York

Notes:

Biography:
Johannes was born about two years after New Amsterdam surrendered to the British to become New York. Like his father and many other Dutch inhabitants, Johannes became prominent in New York administration. He held many positions. He was elected an assessor, Dock Ward in 1691, 1692 and again in 1693 and was elected assistant for the Dock Ward in 1694 and 1695.
Like his older brother before him and his brother-in-law after him Johannes held the position of Mayor of New York. Abraham was the 20th mayor from 1691 to 1694. Johannes was the 23rd mayor from 1698-1699. At that time mayors were appointed, not elected. On 29 September 1698 the governor Lord Bellomont appoint Johannes Mayor. He was sworn in on 14 October. Johannes was Mayor for one year.
During that year, there were a lot of changes in New York. Ralph J. Caliendo chronicles those changes in his book "New York City Mayors":
"In 1698, a year after New York City citizens submitted a petition to Governor Fletcher for permission to erect an Anglican church, King William III granted the charter, together with a large tract of land in Manhattan, for an annual rent of 'one peppercorn.' The first service in Trinity Church was on March 13."
"At midnight on a stormy October night, the bodies of Jacob Leisler and Jacob Milbourne were disinterred for a proper funeral. Their remains were laid in state in the Stadt Huys for two days. Governor Coote permitted the service out of compassion for the families after Parliament issued posthumous pardons."
Stadt Huys is Dutch for City Hall. Jacob Leisler was a German born Huguenot colonist who had served as acting Lieutenant Governor of New York. Starting in 1689 he led an insurrection that became known as Leisler's Rebellion. He was able to take control of Southern New York until British troops arrived in 1691.
"Pro-Leisler forces in the Dutch Reformed Church consistory now lead the anti-Leisler members six to one. Minister Selyns will be the sole member of the latter for the next year."
"The Wall, or what was left was torn down. According to the first census, 4,037 people lived in Manhattan; 2,017 in Kings County (Brooklyn); 3,565 in Queens (including Nassau); 727 in Richmond County (Staten Island); and 1,063 in Westchester. Blacks - free and slaves - comprised about 14 percent of the population."
"The city's monopoly of the flour trade is repealed."
"On September 6, New York City's mayor is ordered to provide a hospital for the poor. The village of Harlem is give permission to erect one mill. On October 16, a shipyard is established on New York City's East River."
Post Mayor, Johannes was elected alderman, East Ward in 1699, 1700 and 1701. There was some controversy for the 1701 election. Thomas Noell, the 26th mayor of New York was an anti-Leislerian where Johannes, like is brother Abraham was a Leislerian. The Leislerian aldermen, six out of eight aldermen, were worried that Noell would refuse to swear them in so they insisted to be sworn in by the retiring mayor, Isaac De Riemer.
Many of the Dutch residents of New Amsterdam were Protestants came there to escape religious persecution by the Catholic Church. Twenty-one years after the British took over the new monarch of England James II was a Catholic. In 1688 he was deposed by his niece and nephew William and Mary (Protestants). However, the leaders of New York were still those appointed by James II. Jacob Leisler led his uprising against those leaders. He took control of much of New York. After over a year, troops were sent in and Leisler was arrested and executed. Eventually Parliament pardoned him. Leisler was revered among the Dutch community. That's where the New Yorkers found themselves in 1701. Even though Leisler had been executed, the next several appointed mayors were Laislerians. When the anti-Laislerian Noell was appointed the problems started.
"On October 14, 1701, Thomas Noell took the oaths of office before the governor at the fort, then proceeded to the city hall and, having proclaimed his commission, proceeded to swear in the members elect, but all refused to take the oaths except French and Lurting, alleging that they had been sworn in by the retiring mayor Isaac De Riemer. On hearing this, he proceeded to swear in Brandt Schuyler, John Hutchins, and William Morris as aldermen, and Johannes Jansen, Robert White and Jeremiah Tuthill as assistants of the disputed wards. This proceeding caused so great an excitement that Noell was finally compelled to dismiss the assembly, without having sworn in the new city officials."
"New York City had remained without a government until November 11, when Noell again proceeded to the city hall to swear in Schuyler, Hutchins, Morris, and their assistants. The Leislerian members were already there in their places as members of the Common Council. Regardless of their protests, the mayor proceeded to swear in their antagonists, when the whole twenty took their seats together, each fully determined to share in the administration of the government. Finding that nothing could be done with so intractable an assembly, Noell ended by dismissing them all for a fortnight and availed himself of the recess to appeal to the Supreme Court, which settled the matter by giving the seats to Schuyler and Hutchins and their assistants of the anti-Leislerians and De Peyster and his assistant of the Leislarian party. The board thus stood equally divided, but the balance of power remained in the hands of the anti-Leislerians, the mayor having the casting vote. The affair occasioned the most intense excitement and was one of the most turbulent elections ever witnessed in the city."
Abraham was captain. He was later a lieutenant and by 1700 was a captain.
In 1707 he visited Europe, visiting the Netherlands. After Rotterdam he visited London and was back home by the middle of 1708.

Johannes married Anna Bancker on 21 Oct 1688 in Albany, New York. Anna (daughter of Gerrit Bancker and Elizabeth Dirkse van Eps) was born on 21 Mar 1670 in Albany, New York; died on 28 Jan 1740 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Anna de Peyster

Notes:

Biography:
From "The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. Vol 9 (1878) p.124:
JAN (or JOHANNES) DE PEYSTER, the ancestor of a distinguished race of noted public men in the civil and military affairs of New York, was born at Harlem, in Holland, and came to New Amsterdam as early as July, 1649. His ancestors were originally from France, of noble descent, and fled to Holland to escape the persecution of Charles IX. against his Protestant subjects. Possessed of a considerable fortune by inheritance, he engaged in mercantile pursuits upon his arrival here, his trading operations being chiefly with the home country, and soon became in wealth and influence one of the prominent men of New Amsterdam. He was a Schepen in 1655-1657, 1658, and 1662; Alderman, 1666, 1667, and 1669; Burgomaster, 1673; Alderman, 1673 and 1676, and Deputy Mayor in 1677, having declined the Mayoralty in that year, on account of his imperfect acquaintance with the English language. It has been supposed he died prior to 1686, but as no mention of his widow's name (as such), who survived him many years, is found till 1689, it is probable his death occurred near the latter date. He married in the Dutch Church in New Amsterdam, Dec. 17. 1651, CORNELIA LUBBERTS, also from Harlem. She was a near relative of the De La Noys, and probably the sister of Marritie Lubberts, wife of Abraham De La Noy, who was keeper of the City tavern in 1652, and the first of that family in New Amsterdam. She made her will Jan. 19, 1699, with two codicils; the first dated Dec. 22, 1711, and the second ___ 17, 1714. It was admitted to probate Sept. 25, 1725. Supposing that to have been the year of her death, and that she was eighteen years old when married, her death must have occurred at the advanced age of 92 years.

Johannes married Cornelia Lubberts van der Elburch on 17 Dec 1651 in Dutch Reformed Church, New York, New York. Cornelia (daughter of Lubbert Arents van der Elburch and Marie Macqué) died between 1714 and 1721. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Cornelia Lubberts de Peyster
• Baptism: 15 Sep 1632, Haarlem, The Netherlands
• Will: 19 Jan 1699, New York, New York

Notes:

Will:
In the name of God, Amen, the 19 January, 1699, in the 11th year of William III. I, CORNELIA DE PEYSTER, of New York, widow of Johanes De Peyster, merchant, being in health of body. I leave to my eldest son, Abraham De Peyster, £10, before any division is made in preference of his being first born. All the rest of my estate is to be divided into five parts, and four of the parts are to go to my four sons, Abraham, Isaac, Johanes, and Cornelius. The other part to the children of my only daughter Maria, which she had by her former husband, John Spratt, deceased, and to such children as she may have by her now husband, Captain David Provoost, merchant. I make my four sons, executors. If John Spratt, son of said John Spratt deceased, shall not be contented with the agreement made by Captain David Provoost, January 27, 1698, relating to the marriage with my daughter Maria, he shall forfeit his part.
Witnesses, Suart Olpherts, Samuel Phillips, Claass Egbertson Bogard.
Attached to the above is a certificate signed by all her children, expressing their satisfaction with the will.
Codicil, December 2, 1711. Whereas my sons were appointed tutors of the children of my daughter Maria, wife of John Spratt, they are to be allowed for any charges or expenditures.
Witnesses, James Reynier, Bernardus Smith, Anthony Byvanck.
Codicil, (____) 17, 1704. Directs that certain sums now in the hands of David Provoost, be paid to the children of her daughter Maria.
Witnesses, John Beekman, Daniel Bontecou, John Rosevelt. Proved, September 25, 1725.

Gerrit married Elizabeth Dirkse van Eps. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Dirkse Bancker

Jean married Josyne Martsens. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Josyne de Peyster

Lubbert married Marie Macqué. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Marie van der Elburch