VAN CORTLANDT, Philip

   General Notes:

Individual: Note: The second Lord of the Manor. He was appointed to the Provincial Council in 1729 and made Commissioner of Indian Affairs and a member of the Commission to settle a boundry dispute with CT. He inherited the Manor House and 10,000 acres. He was responsible for building the ferry across the Croton River and made other improvements to the property. He became a Freeman of NYC on Feb 2, 1725 and was an Alderman. He was also a merchant and owned a Coffee House and a Tavern, "The Fighting Cocks".



Children: Steven VAN CORTLANDT-Birth: 26 Oct 1711 in NYC Death: 17 Oct 1756 in NYC

Abraham VAN CORTLANDT-Birth: 19 Oct 1713 in Nyc Death: 1746 Note: Never married

Philip VAN CORTLANDT-Birth: Feb 1714/1715 in Nyc Death: 1745 Note: Never married

John VAN CORTLANDT-Birth: 9 Sep 1718 in Nyc Death: 1747 Note: Never married

Pierre VAN CORTLANDT-Birth: 10 Jan 1720/1721 in Nyc Death: May 1814 in Manor House, Croton Note: Third Lord of the Manor after 1747. Col, Westchester Militia, 1777. Honorary Member, Society of the Cincinnati. Regent, Univ of State of NY, 1784-95. 1749, moved into Manor House. Supported early Methodists. Left NYC 1749 to take up permanent residence on the manor. He added the the two story wood porch, to the house, ca. 1750. He added a ferryhouse, barns, a schoolhouse and other out-buildings. The family was forced to flee the manor house during the Revolution, as it was in no-man's land. They went first to his aunt's, in Peekskill (Van Cortlandville) (the Upper manor House), then to Rhinebeck, to l with the Beekmans. In 1783, he entered NYC with George Washington. After the war, the family returned and the house was lived in by descendants until 1941. It was bought by John D. Rockefeller, Jr, and restored to the 1749-1776 era, and is open to the public under the auspices of Historic Hudson Valley, Inc. The manor was visited by Rochambeau, Lafayette, the Duc de Lauzun, von Steuben, Baron de Kalb, Gen Philip Schuyler, and Washington and his aides. The Van Cortlandt House, just north of Peekskill, a Georgian dwelling, was used by him. During the Revolution, Cornelia Beekman, his dau used the house. It was sold out of the family in the mid-nineteenth century, and considerably altered. Provincial Assembly 1768-1775., representing the manor. Col of the Manor Rgt. 1775, deputy, Second Continental Congress, also third and fourth Congresses. May 1777, President, Committee of Safety. Second, third and fourth Provincial Congresses. President, Council of Safety, May 1777. 1777-95 (First) Lt. Gov of NY, acting Gov during American Revolution (Gov. Clinton served as Gen). Brig Gen, American Revolution. 1777, preside over NYS constitutional convention. 1788 President of State Convention that ratified the US constitution. Also Van Cortlandt House, just N of Peekskill. Regent, State of NY.

The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume X V page 236 "VAN COURTLANDT, Pierre, lieutenant-governor of New York, was born in Cortlandt Manor. N.Y., Jan. 10, 1721; son of Philip and Catharine (De Peyster) Van Cortlandt, and grandson of Judge Stephanus Van Cortlandt (q.v.) and of Abraham de Peyster. Owing to the early death of three of his brothers and to the death of Stephen, the eldest, in 1756, whose son was serving in the British army, he assumed charge of the manor in the latter year. He was married to Joanna, daughter of Gilbert Livingston. He served as representative of the manor in the colonial assembly, 1768-75; supported the colonies in the Revolutionary war; was a member of the provincial convention, 1775; of the council of safety, 1776: and of the state constitutional convention, 1777. He was appointed first lieutenant-governor of New York in 1777, holding the position until his resignation in 1795. His [p.236] sons, Philip (q.v.) and Pierre, Jr. (1762-1848) were soldiers in the Revolution; the latter graduating from Rutgers, 1783, and receiving the honorary degree LL.D., 1843, also serving as a representative in congress, 1811-13. Lieutenant-Governor Van Cortlandt died at Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., Nov. 5, 1831."

Catherine VAN CORTLANDT -Birth: 26 Jun 1725 Death: 16 Jul 1735 Note: Killed when a cannon burst at an Oxroast given by Gov. William Colby at the New Battery, New York: July 15 , on the King's birthday

   Marriage Information:

Philip married Catherine DE PEYSTER.