First Generation Cherry Hill Chronology: 1799

Maria Van Rensselaer, who served as executrix of her husband's estate after his death, was ordered in 1799 to pay $928.75 for a debt left by Philip to the First Dutch Reformed Church of Albany and pay an additional $21.68 for damages sustained by the ministers and elders of the church.  Sheriff John Given seized two male and female slaves, along with four horses and four cows, to satisfy the damages and costs.

Historic Cherry Hill Collection

Sofa. Mahogany. New York, c. 1785

Upholstered frame with curved back and rolled arms, squared and tapered front legs, squared and splayed rear legs, joined by stretchers, rectangular in section. The lower back rail is branded PVR for Philip Van Rensselaer. Although the basic form is Chippendale in inspiration, the tapered front legs suggest that this piece was made in the last quarter century of the eighteenth century. This eighteenth century couch is unique in that it is one of the few existing fold-out couches for that time period. The above picture demonstrates how it can be opened.

PVR Chronology: March 3, 1798

Philip Van Rensselaer died at Cherry Hill on March 3, 1798.  He was a few months shy of his 51st birthday. At the time of his death his youngest child was just five years old.

PVR Chronology: February 14, 1798

Philip and Maria's second child, Elizabeth, died from consumption on February 14, 1798.  She had been sick for 16 months prior to her death.

PVR Chronology: 1798

The Cherry Hill farm encompassed about 900 acres of land by 1798.  At that time, it was a fully operating farm, complete with a store house, brew house, and a tan yard.

Historic Cherry Hill Collection

Cellaret or wine chest. Mahogany, second wood American white pine. New York, 1770-1790

This cellaret descended to Arriet Van Rensselaer, Philip's daughter, and to her daughter Harriet Maria Elmendorf. The interior is divided into twelve bottle compartments. The PVR brand for Philip is on the inside of the cover.

PVR Chronology: December 1797

In December 1797, a female slave named Dinah started her term of servitude at Cherry Hill. The duration of her servitude was to be ten years. Three years later Dinah would be sold to Philip and Maria's daughter Arriet Van Rensselaer for the sum of five shillings.

Historic Cherry Hill Collection

Solomon Van Rensselaer c. 1794. 

PVR Chronology: January 17, 1797

Philip and Maria's fifth child, Arriet, married Solomon V. Van Rensselaer at Cherry Hill on January 17, 1797.  Solomon was the son of Philip Van Rensselaer's older brother making him first cousins with Arriet.  Arriet and Solomon had 12 children together.

Historic Cherry Hill Collection

Corner chair, commode.  Mahogany, secondary wood American white pine.  New York, c. 1770-1790.

PVR Chronology: October 1796

In October of 1796, Philip's daughter Arriet received a letter from family friend Ann Ludlow.  Ann wrote, among other things, that Philip was not well.

PVR Chronology: 1794

Philip Van Rensselaer became the first town supervisor of Bethlehem in 1794.  On February 13th of that same year, his 13th and final child, a son named Sanders, was born at Cherry Hill.  The following month his eldest living child, Elizabeth, was married to Peter E. Elmendorf II at Cherry Hill on March 14th.  Elizabeth and Peter Elmendorf had two children:  Sarah (b.1793) and Maria (b.1796).

Historic Cherry Hill Collection

Linen press cupboard.  Mahogany, secondary wood tulipwood and American white pine.  New York, c. 1787-1795

PVR Chronology: Early 1790s

Philip and Maria's daughter Arriet was invited to the Albany Dancing Assembly for the season in the early 1790s.

PVR Chronology: April 14, 1790

Philip and Maria's twelfth child, a son named Schuyler, was born at Cherry Hill on April 14, 1790.

Historic Cherry Hill Collection

Palampore. Cotton printed and dyed. India, eighteenth century.

PVR Chronology: July 15, 1789

Philip Van Rensselaer received an invoice, dated July 15, 1789, from Jorghem Staats for money owed for the use of Staats slave, a "negro man named George." Philip had contracted for the services of George on board his sloop (a river sailing vessel) for a four month period of time.





PVR Chronology: 1787

Philip Van Rensselaer contracted with Isaac Packard, a house wright, to build a new structure on the farm he leased from his wealthy and powerful relative, Stephen Van Rensselaer, III, the Patroon of the Rensselaerwyck Manor.  Philip's new country home, Cherry Hill, stands today.  The contract between Philip Van Rensselaer and Isaac Packard is part of the museum's manuscript collection. 

Philip and Maria's eleventh child, Maria Matilda, was born on May 11, 1787.

PVR Chronology: April - July 1786

Philip and Maria's tenth child, a daughter named Maria Matilda, was born on April 20, 1786.  The baby lived for only 2 1/2 months.  She died on July 1, 1786.  Philip Van Rensselaer recorded the following:  "She was buried next to her Aunt Elizabeth Sanders in the ground of the new built place on Cherry Hill."  Elizabeth Sanders was the unmarried sister of Maria Sanders. 

PVR Chronology: 1786

In 1786, Philip Van Rensselaer attempted to negotiate the terms of his deed for the land where Cherry Hill was to be built.

PVR Chronology: 1785

A tan yard was on the premises of the Cherry Hill property by 1785.  Also in 1785,

Philip Van Rensselaer was an Alderman of Albany and one of the Justices of the Peace of Albany County.

PVR Chronology: 1784

Philip and Maria’s eldest daughter, Elizabeth, was instructed in drawing in Boston circa January 1784.

Philip and Maria's son, most likely Robert Sanders, 11, was receiving educational instruction from John Lovett at Lovett's academy in Albany in 1784.  Philip was also paying for the education of the sons of a Mrs. Catherine Woodworth at the same academy. 

PVR Chronology: 1778 to 1783

Philip and Maria’s seventh child, also named Pieter Sanders, was born "at the farm" on July 16, 1778..  "At the farm" referred to the Cherry Hill farm.  Pieter Sanders Van Rensselaer was baptized by DominieWesterlo.  

Philip and Maria’s eighth child, a son named Kilian P., was born at the Cherry Hill farm on October 24, 1780.

In 1782, Philip ordered “a full Suit of Clooth which you had in your state of a Crimson colour superfine and the trimmins…”, presumably for himself.

Philip and Maria’s ninth child, a son named Philip P., was born in Albany on January 20, 1783.  On October 4th of that same year,  Philip wrote to Governor Clinton asking for compensation for his work as Public Storekeeper during the Revolution.  Philip claimed that a lack of compensation had caused him to fall behind on his taxes.  While acting as Public Storekeeper during the war, Philip was often short of funds from the colonial government and had to use his own money and credit to obtain supplies for the troops.

PVR Chronology: July 17, 1777

Philip and Maria's sixth child, Peter Sanders, died on July 17, 1777.  He was buried at Jeremiah Ten Brook's property.

PVR Chronology: June 1777

Philip and Maria’s sixth child, a son named Peter Sanders, was born on June 16, 1777.

PVR Chronology: February 1777

In February 1777 a Mrs. Pottel came "to board and learn the children."

PVR Chronology: January 1776

Philip Van Rensselaer was appointed Public Storekeeper in January 1776.  He served in this capacity throughout the Revolutionary War.

PVR Chronology

Philip Van Rensselaer served on the Committee of Correspondence in Albany prior to the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.

PVR Chronology: September 3, 1775

Philip and Maria's fifth child, a daughter named Arriet, was born on September 3, 1775.

PVR Chronology: July 20, 1774

On July 20, 1774, Philip Van Rensselaer purchased a male slave named Andrew, who was a cooper in New Brunswick, NJ.  This purchase, which was recorded in a bill of sale, is the earliest documentation that PVR owned slaves.

PVR Chronology: January 1773

Philip and Maria's third and fourth children, twin boys, were born on January 19, 1773. One of the sons was born dead. The other son lived and was named Robert Sanders.

Prayer stool circa 1770-1790. Branded with "PVR"

PVR Chronology: 1772

In August 1772, Philip purchased a pair of Barcelona Handkerchiefs and 6 children's knives for 4 pounds 1 shilling 3 pence.  This is the earliest recorded purchase that exists.

PVR Chronology: December 16, 1771

Philip and Maria's first child, Ariantje, died on December 16, 1771.  She was buried in a church cemetery.

PVR Chronology: 1771

Philip Van Rensselaer owned his own Hudson River sloop in 1771.

"PVR" brand on Chippendale chair belonging to Philip Van Rensselaer. Historic Cherry Hill Collection.

PVR Chronology: August 26, 1770

Philip and Maria's second child, a daughter named Elizabeth, was born on August 26, 1770.

PVR Chronology: December 5, 1768

Philip and Maria's first child, a daughter named Ariantje, was born on December 5, 1768.

High Chair, branded with "RS" (Robert Sanders). First half of the 18th century.  Collection of the Albany Institute of History and Art.

February 24, 1768

Philip Van Rensselaer and Maria Sanders were married on February 24, 1768.  They were married by Dominic Westerlo at the house of Peter Schuyler (Maria's grandfather) at the Flatts.  The Schuyler Flatts are located in present-day north Menands, NY.

Maria Sanders

Maria Sanders was born Oct. 15, 1749.  She was the oldest child of Robert and Elizabeth (Schuyler) Sanders of Albany.

Cradle made of white pine and covered with leather and brass studding.  The year 1749 is visible in brass studding. Historic Cherry Hill Collection.

Maria Sanders’ father, Robert Sanders, died in 1765.  Robert Sanders was a prominent Albany merchant and served as the mayor of the city of Albany from 1750-1754.  After his death, Maria inherited several items from him.  The items can be identified because they have been branded with “RS”.  One such inherited item was an English side chair, shown here.  More inherited items will be revealed in future posts!

English side chair, c. 1700.  Historic Cherry Hill Collection.

PVR Chronology - Birth

Philip Van Rensselaer was born May 19, 1747.  Philip's father, Col. Kilian Van Rensselaer (1717-1781), was active during the American Revolution, serving on the Committee of Correspondence in Albany, and after the war he was a member of the New York Assembly from 1777-1778.   Philip's grandfather, Hendrick Van Rensselaer (1667-1740), was a younger brother of the third patroon of Rensselaerwyck Manor and received as a gift from his brother the patroon, 1500 acres at Greenbush, directly across the Hudson River from Albany.  This land grant became known as the "Lower Manor" and the family home at Greenbush was called Fort Crailo.

Present day view of Fort Crailo, now Crailo State Historic Site.  It was the family home of Philip Van Rensselaer's father and grandfather.