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.