Lt. Governor Pierre Van Cortlandt

Pierre Van Cortlandt

First Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Van_Cortlandt
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15082864/pierre-van_cortlandt

He was born in New York, the son of Philip Van Cortlandt (1683 -1748) (a son of New York Mayor Stephanus Van Cortlandt) and Catherine DePeyster (a grandaugther of Johannes De Peyster— an ancestor of Abraham DePeyster and Arent Schuyler DePeyster). A great uncle Jacobus Van Cortlandt was Mayor of New York City.

Van Cortlandt served briefly in the colonial forces during the American Revolution in spite of efforts by British officials to ensure his loyalty to Great Britain. Colonel, 3rd Regiment, Westchester County Militia

In 1777, he was the Chairmen of the Committee of Safety of the New York Provincial Congress. His primary work was to form the political structure of the state during the war. He served as head of the convention that wrote the first state constitution in Kingston, New York and then was its first Lt. Governor until 1795 with his long-time friend and associate Governor George Clinton.

DAR Ancestor # A117478
Service: NEW YORK
Rank(s): CIVIL SERVICE, COLONEL
Birth: 1-10-1721 IN MANOR OF CORTLANDT, WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK
Death: 5-1-1814 IN MANOR OF CORTLANDT, BUR WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK
Service Source: FERNOW, DOCS REL TO THE COL HIST OF STATE OF NY, "NY IN THE REV," VOL 15, PP 305-306
Service Description: 1) COL, 3RD REGT, LT GOVERNOR

Tombstone Inscription:

"Pierre Van Cortlandt, Late Lieut. Governor of the State of New York. President of the convention that formed the Constitution thereof, during the Revolutionary War with Great Britain. He was a Patriot of the first order, Zealous to the last for the liberties of his Country. A man of exemplary Virtues, kind as a neighbor, fond and indulgent as a parent, an honest man, ever the friend of the poor. Respected and Beloved. The simplicity of his private life was that of an ancient Patriot. He died a bright witness of that perfect Love which casts out the fear of death, putting his trust in the living God, and with full assurance of salvation in the redeeming Love of Jesus Christ. Retaining his recollection to the last, and calling upon his Savior to take him to Himself, died May 1, 1814 in his 94th year."