New York State Library
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Schuyler Family
Collection, 1679-1823

SC19811

Quantity: 3 boxes (1.00 cubic ft.)
Access: Open to research; some items are stored in the vault; special arrangements are required to view the originals.
Acquisition: Many items were part a gift from the Schuyler Mansion (Acc. No. NQ16363); remainder of items transferred from single accession collection.
Processed By: Honor Conklin, Archivist, Manuscripts and Special Collections, November 1990; revised by Billie Aul, Senior Librarian, December 1997; revised, May 2014

View catalog record

Biographical Note:

Philip John Schuyler (1733-1804) was born in Albany, New York, a fourth-generation Schuyler, the son of Johannes and Cornelia (Van Cortlandt) Schuyler. He was a soldier, first seeing activity in the war between Great Britain and France in 1755, and was assigned by Washington to command New York during the Revolution, organizing the expedition against Canada in 1775-76.

As a statesman, Schuyler was a delegate to the Continental Congress, on the Board of Commissioners for Indian Affairs, and represented New York in the first Senate of the United States.

He was a landowner in the Saratoga Patent, at Cortlandt Manor, along the Mohawk, and in Dutchess County and owned stock in the Bank of the United States, the Bank of Albany and shares in the Northern Inland Navigation Company and the Western Inland Lock Company.

Two projects important to him were the establishment of the New York State Canal and Union College in Schenectady. He had a strong personal interest in mathematics, especially in regards to surveying, engineering, and astronomy.

Scope and Content Note:

This is a collection of family correspondence and records gathered from single accessions and one collection, relating primarily to Philip Schuyler (1733-1804), but including the correspondence of various other family members, such as his son-in-law, Alexander Hamilton.

The collection contains, foremost, correspondence by Philip Schuyler to others on land transactions, business matters, the Revolutionary War and government, with some to family members on family affairs. The correspondence also includes some to Philip Schuyler. Correspondents most frequently noted are John Jay, Stephen Van Rensselaer, Captain Varick, Colonel Varick, George Washington, Colonel Yates, and John Porteous.

Financial documents include accounts of purchases and bills against the state regarding Indian affairs.

Land documents consist of deeds, leases, and memoranda and directions for surveys concerning, in part, the Saratoga Patent and Claverack. Included is a circa 1761 map concerning an exchange of land with Abraham E. Wendell, Albany, New York.

Miscellaneous documents concern military, business, and governmental concerns.

The Schuyler family portion of the collection includes, among others, some correspondence from Alexander Hamilton to his wife, Elizabeth (Schuyler) Hamilton.

Land documents include a deed for land in Easton, New York, and a map of land in and near the City of Albany surveyed originally in 1808.

Material Moved Out of This Collection:

  • Portrait of Egbert Benson. Originally single accession 3408. Now PRI5349.
  • Portraits of Philip Schuyler. Painted by J. Trumbull. Engraved by T. Kelly. Originally single accession 13813. Now PRI1107-3. Originally NQ16363-38, now PRI1107-4.
  • Portrait of Philip Schuyler. Painted by Alonzo Chappel. Originally single accession 1357. Now PRI1110-2.
  • Portrait of Philip Schuyler. Painted by Trumbull. Engraved by H.B. Hall. Originally single accession 13534-5. Now PRI5350.
  • Title page of L.B. Proctor's Historic Memories of Old Schuyler Mansion with an engraving of the mansion on the back. Originally NQ16363, #29. Now PRI5351.

Box and Folder List:

Box Folder Contents (Numbers in parentheses are original accession numbers)
    Philip Schuyler (1733-1804)
1 1 Correspondence and Notes Related to Philip Schuyler's Papers and Character (13534-2, 3, 4)
    Correspondence to Philip Schuyler
1 2 Letter to Philip Schuyler. New York, April 12, 1760 from William Smith, Elizabeth Livingston, Robert T. Livingston, Robert R. Livingston, Peter R. Livingston (NQ16363, 20)
1 3 Letter to Philip Schuyler. New York, July 27, 1767 from William Bayard (NQ16363, 30)
1 4 Letter to [Philip Schuyler?]. New York, May 30, 1768 from W[illia]m Smith (NQ16363,28)
1 5 Letter to Philip Schuyler. New York, May 27, 1776 from Benjamin Franklin (NQ16363, 7) – ORIGINAL IN VAULT
1 6 Letters to Philip Schuyler:
Philadelphia, December 8, 1778 from John Jay (NQ16363, 16)
Philadelphia, March 21, 1779 from John Jay (NQ16363, 13)
Cadiz, February 19, 1780 from John Jay (NQ16363, 8)
ORIGINALS IN VAULT
1 7 Letter to Philip Schuyler. New York, May 9, 1789 from George Washington. Transcript. ORIGINAL IN VAULT.
1 8 Letter to General Schuyler. Easton, April 29, 1804 from P. Schuyler (3353)
1 9 Letter to [Philip Schuyler] n.p., n.d. from [Jan S.?] (82)
    Correspondence from Philip Schuyler
1 10 Letters to:
Beverly Robinson, December 8, 1766 (14132)
[?] Albany, February 5, 1770 (2676)
1 11 Letters to:
David Van Schaack. Albany, April 3, 1772 (18357)
Rev. John Williams. Albany, July 14, 1773 (1641)
Abraham Cuyler. Albany, March 10, 1775 (13485)
Capt. [Richard] Varick. [Albany], December 21, 1775 (928)
Capt. Varick. n.p., February 8, 1776. Photocopy. (14330)
Henry C. Van Rensselaer. Albany, March 18, 1776 (15687)
Colonel Herkimer. Albany, March 28, 1776 (67)
Robert R. Livingston. Fort George, May 12, 1776 (NQ16363,17)
Captain Varick. [Albany], [June 14, 1776] (16347)
Captain Varick. [Schuylerville], July 19, 1776 (7630)
[?]. German Flatts, August 2, 1776 (6701)
Robert R. Livingston. Albany, October 7, 1776 (NQ16363,14)
Robert R. Livingston. Albany, October 13, 1776 (NQ16363,18)
Provincial Congress. Saratoga, October 16, 1776. ALS. Copy (13813)
Committee of Berkshire Co. Saratoga [Schuylerville], October 16, 1776. Photocopy. (7610)
Captain Varick. n.p., October 16, 1776. Photocopy. (14127)
Nicholas Herkimer. Saratoga [Schuylerville], October 27, 1776 (7629)
Lt. Colonel Gansevoort. Saratoga, October 27, 1776 (10352)
Captain Varick. Albany, November 6, 1776 (7628)
Lt. Colonel Varick. Saratoga, November 24, 1776 (2086)
1 12 Letter to General George Washington. Albany, February 27, 1777. Photocopy (negative). (13262)
1 13 Letters to:
Colonel Varick. Albany, July 1, 1777 (69)
Committee of Tryon County. Albany, July 4, 1777 (7627)
Major Yates. Fort Edward, July 8, 1777 (1357)
Colonel R[ichard] Varick. Fort Edward, July 15, 1777 (70)
John Lansing, Jr. Saratoga, October 23, 1777 (NQ16363,1)
[?]. n.p. [1777?] (1358)
General Committee of the County of Tryon. Caughnawaga, May 11, 1778 (NQ16363, 12)
John Jay. Albany, March 5, 1779 (73)
Colonel Yates. Saratoga, June 3, 1779 (519)
Colonel Varick. Saratoga, July 15, 1779 (13471)
Colonel Yates. Saratoga, October 8, 1779 (14722)
James Duane. Saratoga, November 6, 1780 (11489)
Governor Clinton. n.p., April 8, 1781 (NQ16363,15)
General Clinton. Saratoga, April 29, 1781 (14478)
General Clinton. Saratoga, May 8, 1781 (3409)
General James Clinton. Saratoga, May 24, 1781 (10093)
Colonel Henry Glen. Albany, August 1781 (11158)
Abraham Wendell. Albany, August 1, 1781 (17569)
George Washington. Albany, August 8, 1781 (7625)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. Albany, September 18, 1781 (NQ16363,19)
James Deane. Albany, October 9, 1781 (A2713)
Robert Morris. Albany, December 1, 1781 (929)
[?]. Albany, December 1, 1781 (3350)
2 14 Letters to:
George Washington. Poughkeepsie, February 16, 1782 (7624)
Colonel Read. Albany, June 20, 1782 (NQ16363, 5)
Elizabeth, his daughter. Philadelphia, December 2, 1782 (13506)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. Saratoga, July 10, 1783 (16188)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. n.p., July 17, 1783 (930)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. Saratoga, August 7, 1783 (931)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. Saratoga [Schuylerville], November 17, 1783 (7622)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. Saratoga, December 1, 1783 (1642)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. Saratoga, December [18?], 1783 (10215)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. New York, March 27, 1784 (932)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. New York, April 10, 1784 (79)
James Farlie. Albany, August 9, 1784. Also signed W[illia]m Yates Jr. and Egbert Benson (3408)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. Claverack, November 5, 1784 (76)
[Samuel] Moore. Claverack, November 23, 1784 (1643)
[?]. Albany, November 28, 1784 (13472)
Gilbert Morris. Albany, March 10, 1785 (7621)
James Van Rensselaer. Albany, August 24, 1785 (224)
James Van Rensselaer. Saratoga, September 3, 1785 (6503)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. Saratoga, September 19, 1785 (6064)
2 15 Letter to [?]. New York, January 13, 1786. Photocopy (13128)
2 16 Letters to:
Colonel Henry Livingston. New York, January 14, 1786 (10207)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. January 11, 1786 (935)
General Ten Broeck and others. New York, February 15, 1786 (10356)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. New York, February 20, 1786 (6065)
General Ten Broeck. New York, March 19, 1786 (10354)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. New York, March 30, 1786 (7619)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. n.p., May 10, 1786 (936)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. New York, January 28, 1787 (7617)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. Poughkeepsie, January 27, 1788 (17353)
His son. Poughkeepsie, February 12, 1788 (1645)
His son. Poughkeepsie, March 11, 1788 (1123)
Peter Van Schaick. n.p., July 25, 1788, copy (4821)
Gerard Banker. Albany, September 3, 1788 (14355)
Gerard Banker. Albany, October 31, 1788 (488)
Nicholas Eveleigh. N[ew] York, May 2, 1790 (942)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. New York, May 16, 1790 (NQ16363, 2)
Fellow Citizens, Hillsdale, N.Y., New York, November 12, 1790 (NQ16363, 21)
John Van Schaack. Albany, June 27, 1791 (13460)
[?]. Claverack, August 11, 1791 (3859)
Peter Van Schaack. n.p., September 4, 1791 (NQ16363, 25)
Nicholas Low. Albany, November 13, 1791 (13473)
2 17 Letters to:
Nicholas Low. Albany, July 26, 1792 (13461)
Jeremiah Lansing. Albany, August 20, 1792 (7508)
Nicholas Low. New York, December 24, 1792 (15010)
Josiah Ogden Hoffman. New York, February 26, 1793 (13382)
2 18 Letter to Josiah Ogden Hoffman. New York, February 26, 1793. Photocopy. (13382)
2 19 Letters to:
[?]. Albany, September 19, 1793 (17774)
Mrs. Alexander Hamilton [his daughter Elizabeth]. Albany, February 2, 1794 (14549)
Nicholas Low. Albany, February 23, 1794 (10445)
John Wigram. Albany, October 12, 1794 (13827-1)
Barent Bleecker. n.p., November 30, 1794 (10565)
Philip J. Schuyler. N[ew] York, January 27, 1795 (10952)
Eb[enezer] Foote. Onboard, April 23, 1795 (13462)
John Porteous. Albany, April 30, 1795 (10355-1)
Colonel John Fry. Albany, May 11, 1795 (12711)
John Porteous. Albany, May 26, 1795 (10355-2)
John Porteous. Albany, June 8, 1795 (10355-3)
John J. Van Rensselaer. Albany, June 24, 1795 (15507)
John Porteous. Albany, July 1, 1795 (10355-4)
Peter Hogeboom. Albany, September 21, 1795 (1657)
[?]. Albany, September 23, 1795 (2257)
Mrs. Alexander Hamilton. Albany, September 24, 1795 (13534-1)
[Peter?] Hogeboom. Albany, October 12, 1795 (1658)
Peter Hogeboom. Albany, October 22, 1795 (1659)
Peter Hogeboom. Albany, October 25, 1795. Copy. (1661)
Peter Hogeboom. Albany, October 29, 1795 (1660)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. Saratoga [Schuylerville], December 6, 1795 (7263)
Nicholas Low. Rhinebeck, November 12, 1795
Ambrose Spencer. Albany, December 29, 1795 (1646)
2 20 Letters to:
John Porteous. New York, January 23, 1795 (10355-5)
Ph[ilip] J. Schuyler. New York, February 15, 1796 (14701)
[?]. New York, March 14, 1796 (12384)
Robert Morris. New York, March 29, 1796 (14961)
Gerard Banker. Albany, July 27, 1796. Also signed by Abraham Ten Broeck, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer and Teunis T. Van Vechten (516)
Sanders Lansingh. n.p., November 1, 1796 (13463)
Samuel Jones. n.p., March 4, 1797 (12233)
Governor John Jay. Albany, September 7, 1797 (12243)
John V. Henry. Albany, November 6, 1797 (14907)
John V. Henry. Albany, April 2, 1798 (13474)
Myndert P. Vosburgh. Albany, May 1, 1798 (1048)
Henry Bogart. n.p., December 13, 1798 (13464)
G.W. Van Schaick. New York, May 11, 1799 (14532)
[?] Alexander. Caughnawaga, New York, September 2, 1799 (10351)
Myndert S. Vosburgh. Albany, December 9, 1799 (7529)
2 21 Letters to:
Miss Catherine Schuyler, his daughter. n.p., January 26, 1800 (14702)
Philip Schuyler, Jr. Rhinebeck, New York, May 9, 1800 (9537)
Ph[ilip] Jer[emiah] Schuyler. Albany, July 2, 1800 (14999)
His daughter. Albany, November 5, 1800 (3612)
Tho[mas] Graham. Albany, November 9, 1801 (7602)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. Albany, March 28, 1802 (944)
James Ford. Albany, May 31, 1802 (16189)
George Huntington. Albany, September 17, 1802 (8448)
Henry J. and Jacob R. Van Rensselaer. Albany, November 1, 1802 (13827-2)
Thomas Gould. Albany, January 8, 1803 (14506)
John E. V[an] Allen with enclosures. Albany, July 9, 1803 (1647-1650)
John E. Van Allen. Albany, July 9, 1803 (8054)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. n.p., July 11, 1804 (6493)
Nicholas Low. n.p., July 12, 1804 (14594)
His daughter, Mrs. Church. n.p., July 17, 1804 (13650)
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer. n.p., n.d. (83)
Stephen Van Rensselaer. n.p., n.d. (NQ16363,11)
[?]. n.p., n.d. (1652)
[?]. n.p., n.d. (3858)
    Financial Documents
3 22 Account. Andrew Gautier (NQ16363,32)
3 22 Account. Banta's account for sash frames, 1761 (NQ16363,34)
3 22 Account. In Chancery Philip S. Schuyler and Others vs. William Wickham and Others
3 22 Account. Philip Schuyler Account of Money paid 67 Bradstreet on Senate House, 1761-1762 (NQ16363,33)
3 22 Account. Account of men employed at Schuyler's house, 1762 (NQ16363,31)
3 22 Account. General Philip Schuyler itemized list of sundry items bought in London, May 31, 1763 (NQ16363,36)
3 22 Account. To Stephen De Lancey, July 26, 1766. Photocopy (14133)
3 22 Receipt. William Bayard's receipt for a marble chimney, June 16, 1768 (NQ16363,35)
3 22 Common Place and Receipt Book. February 23, 1769. Photocopy (13806)
3 22 Order to [Quarter Mater] Garretie Van Bergen to pay John Hanson. Saratoga, September 5, 1773 (14529)
3 22 Account of boards and plank for sale for account of Colonel Philip Schuyler. New York, March 29, 1775 (16420)
3 22 Account of Dr. Eben Haviland with an order of payment signed by Schuyler. January 27, 1776 (13465)
3 22 Account against the State of New York. New York, May 4, 1786 (4059)
3 22 Account with Dr. William Bruce and letter to Mrs. Bruce. Albany, December 12, 1787 (74)
3 22 Order of payment to Philip S. Van Rensselaer for value received to Nicholas Low. Albany, July 6, 1791 (13467)
3 22 Receipt to Nicholas Low. Philadelphia, January 17, 1793 (13468)
3 22 Accounts with agents for Indian affairs. Albany, 1795 (5241)
3 23 Bill against the State of New York for services as Indian agent in western New York. 1795 (11297)
3 24 Bill against New York State by agents appointed to negotiate with Oneida, Onondaga, and Cayuga Indians. April-November 1795. Photostat (13127, formerly 11297)
3 25 Receipt to Gerard Banker. April 16, 1795 (13469)
3 25 Account to disbursements as agent for Indian affairs. April 10, 1795 to August 9, 1796 (75)
3 25 Receipt with Richard Davis. Albany, 1802 (15430)
3 25 Indenture for pew 61 in Saint Peter's Church, Albany, New York. October 3, 1803 (13466)
3 25 Receipt to Richard Davis Jr. Albany, August 25, 1804 (15524)
3 25 Receipted bill to the State of New York, February 11- May 11, 1784 (5029)
3 26 Account owed to Stephen De Lancey. n.p., n.d. Photocopy (14136)
3   Land Documents
3 27 Deed from Captain Philip Schuyler to Madam Maria Van Rensselaer for a house and lot on Jonker Street in Albany. Albany, April 7, 1679 (15372)
3 27 Memoranda and map concerning exchange of land with Abraham E. Wendell. After March 6, 1761 (927) Map 25½ x 28 cm. On 25½ x 40 sheet. Land originally granted by the corporation of Albany to Cortlandt Schuyler, deceased (927)
3 27 Lease to Jonathan Brown by Philip Schuyler and R. Bleecker for Lot 40 in Pittstown (formerly Sahankanijsick), Albany County, February 7, 1780 (10564)
3 27 Agreement of sale to William Baker of Farm H, part of Lot 40, Saratoga Patent. February 20, 1780 (10566) (Missing 8/11/00)
3 27 Oath preliminary to receiving commission as Surveyor-General of New York. Poughkeepsie, March 9, 1782 (10287)
3 27 Deposition concerning lands in Greenbush held by John Van Rensselaer. Albany, April 4, 1783 (5502)
3 27 Lease to Benjamin Hildreath. April 25, 1784 (1168)
3 27 Directions for a survey. 1784 (934)
3 27 Directions for a survey in Claverack and Hillsdale preparatory to a partition between the heirs of the late John Van Rensselaer. [1784] (947)
3 27 Notes for a partition of lands at Claverack and Hillsdale between Robert, Henry, and James Van Rensselaer and Catherine (Van Rensselaer) Schuyler. [1784] (1651)
3 27 Memorandum for [Alexander] Hamilton regarding division of the John Van Rensselaer estate. [1784] (1655)
3 27 Legend to a map of the Manor of Livingston with the divisions made between the brothers Walter, Roger C., John, and Henry. n.d. (1653)
3 27 Directions to Jeremiah R. Van Rensselaer regarding survey and map of Lot No. 3. [Claverack], n.d. (1654)
3 27 Abstract of deed to Catherine Bleecker, John R. Bleecker Jr., Elizabeth [Bleecker] Brinckerhoff, Maria Bleecker, and Blandina Bleecker for Lots 80-82, 92-94, 104-106 of Cosby's Manor. n.d. (1656)
3 27 Deed to Isaac Brayton for land in Pittstown being Lot No. 1 in Saankanisick Patent. September 22, 1786 (13037)
3 27 Affidavit related to the value of Colonel Skene's estate. Copy. 1786 (6528)
3 27 Receipt to the Regents of the University of the State of New York for lands. Albany, 1790 (7501)
3 28 Miscellaneous items, mainly concerning land and rent, n.p., 1795 (14282)
3 29 Agreement with David Shepard concerning lot in Saratoga Patent. Albany, August 11, 1803 (11912)
3   Miscellaneous Documents
3 30 Military orders to Captain Van Slyck. May 8, 1747 (3410)
3 30 General orders publishing the resolves of Congress on the formation of the commissary and hospital departments. Saratoga, December 3, 1776 (2427)
3 30 Manifesto. Saratoga [Schuylerville], July 13, 1777 (7626)
3 30 Appointment as delegate to Congress. Poughkeepsie, August 13, 1778 (7220)
3 30 Offer of reward for information of persons who assaulted Samuel Moore. [1784] (1644)
3 30 Certificate entitling Bacthus Breidenbucker to a pension. Albany, April 1788 (1148)
3 30 An Act to amend an Act entitled "An Act For Establishing and Opening Lock Navigation Within This State" [1792] (1668)
3 30 Representation of the Directors of the Western Inland Navigation Company to the Legislature. February 1803 (946)
3   Schuyler Family
3   Correspondence
3 31 Letter to trustees of the Town of Schenectady, New York, August 2, 1712, from M. Buckley and letter to Mr. Buckley, August 21, 1712, from the trustees of the Town of Schenectady signed by P. Schuyler, John Sanderse Glen, and Philip V. Cortlandt (NQ16363, 3 and 22)
3 31 Letter to Jan Wimpel, Arent Braedt, John Mynderse, and Jacob Glen. Albany, February 25, 1727/8 from Dirck Ten Broeck and Phil. Schuyler (NQ16363,4)
3 31 Letter to [Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton]. Light Camp, August 16, 1781 from [Alexander Hamilton] (NQ16363,9)
3 31 Letter to [Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton]. n.p., [April 8, 1795] from A[lexander] Hamilton (NQ16363,10)
3 31 Letter to [?]. Hyde Park, February 3, 1803 from [Captain] Nath[aniel] Pendleton (NQ16363,27)
3 31 Letter to Philip Schuyler. Albany, June 19, 1805 from S.B. M[alcomb] (NQ16363,23)
3 31 Letter to [Mrs. Alexander Hamilton]. Angelica, August 22, 1808, from Catherine Gruger, granddaughter of General Schuyler (NQ16363,26)
3 31 Letter to Mrs. [A.] Hamilton. n.p., n.d. from Mrs. Anjelica Church (NQ16363,24)
3 31 Letter to Stephen Van Rensselaer. New York, January 31, 1812, from Ph[ilip] Schuyler (1207)
3   Land Documents
3 32 Map. "Map of Land in and near City of Albany. Surveyed in June 1808 for the heirs of the late Philip Schuyler Esq., John Randall, June [or] 29 November 1808. Copy." Torn 42 x 53 cm. (NQ16363,37)
    Oversize Material (missing 11/25/1997)
    Deed of Sale. Between Schuyler and Teunis Walderan for land in Easton, Washington County. January 1, 1823. (7106? - doesn't match description in the accession log)
    Letter to John E. Van Allen from Philip Schuyler. Albany, July 20, 1794 (8010)
Last Updated: February 9, 2022