DE LANCEY, Oliver

   General Notes:

Note: Merchant, NYC. He was at one time associated in business with his brother-in-law, John Watts. Politician with brother James, erected the deLancey Party into a position of power. Col, Militia, City and County of NY. He raised and commanded troops (5000 men, a Rgt) for the Expedition against Canada, under Abercrombie and in the Ticonderoga Campaign in the French and Indian War, 1758. Commander of Colonial Forces, Southern Military District, 1773. Alderman, Out Ward, 1754-57. Member of the Assembly, 1759, and the Council, for NYC. Receiver General of NY, 1763, and Sr Loyalist Brig Gen for British forces in American Revolution, under Gen Howe (1776), commanded 3 battalions, later Maj Gen. "DeLancey's N.Y. Volunteers, or Refugees". One of his Battalions remained in NY and protected the wood-cutters at Lloyd's Neck, who provided NYC with firewood, while the oher 2 fought in the South. Fled to England, prior to Nov, 1783. Member of His Majesty's Council. Member of Parliament. Oliver St, NYC, named after him. He had operated family mercantile business in NYC. Alderman 1754-1757, Assemblyman 1756-1761, Council 1760-1776. He remained in NYC during the War. He was subject to the NY Act of Attainder, 1779, attainted and his property confiscated. In 1777, his Bloomingdale Mansion was sacked and burned by Patriots. He was awarded $125,000 of a claim of $390,000 by the Crown for his losses. 29,000 Loyalists left NYC, in the last year of the war. 100,000 left with the help of Guy Carleton by Nov, 1783 (including British and Hessian Troops). He went to England during the evacuation, and died there.

The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume III D

De Lancey, Oliver, soldier, was born in New York city, Sept. 16, 1708; youngest son of Etienne and Anne (Van Cortlandt) de Lancey. He was brought up in his father's counting-room and became a noted New York merchant. He served in the state assembly, 1756-60, and alderman of the outward, 1754-57. He was active in the prosecution of the war against the French and Indians, and raised men in Connecticut for service in New York state. In 1758 be was appointed to the command of the New York contingent with the rank of colonel-in-chief, and joined the expedition against Crown Point udder Abercrombie. He supported Lord Howe in his attack on Fort Ticonderoga, July 8, 1758, and received the thanks of the New York assembly "for his great services and singular care of the troops of the colony while under his command." He was a member of the provincial council, 1760-76; receiver-general, 1763-76; and colonel-in-chief of the southern military district of the province, 1773-76. In June be joined General Howe on his landing with the British troops on Staten Island, and in September of that year raised and equipped at his own expense three regiments of loyalists each 500 strong, and the force became known as "De Lancey's battalions." He was commissioned senior brigadier general in the loyalist service, and during the war was in command of the defences of Long Island. He was attainted and his property confiscated at the close of the war, and he retired to England. He died at Beverley, Yorkshire, England, Nov. 27, 1785.

   Marriage Information:

Oliver married Phelia FRANKS. (Phelia FRANKS was born in 1722 in Philadelphia and died in 1811 in Smith St, Chelsea.)