Abraham de Peyster
Encyclopedia
Abraham de Peyster was Mayor of New York City
from 1691 to 1694.
.
He was appointed mayor by Governor Henry Sloughter
in October 1691. Though De Peyster had been an early supporter of Jacob Leisler
, who led Leisler's Rebellion
, he had not participated in Leisler's later actions.Lamb, Martha J. & Burton Harrison. History of the City of New York, Vol. I, p.398-402 (1896 ed.) Through his suggestion, the city started providing public support to the poor.
From a wealthy merchant family, De Peyster also reportedly served in a number of public roles during his life, including stints as alderman, Associate Judge and later Chief Justice on the province's Supreme Court, President of the King's Council, and as Treasurer for New York and New Jersey provinces. He also served as a Colonel in the militia. Some sources state that he served as governor or acting governor of the Province of New York
, which refers to a few months' time in 1701 after the death of Richard Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont
, when Lieutenant Governor John Nanfan
was abroad. This left De Peyster, as the senior member of the Council, briefly in command until Nanfan returned.
Around 1699, De Peyster donated some of his land holdings, part of his garden, for the construction of a new city hall. That city hall was later renamed Federal Hall
, which briefly served as the first capitol of the United States, and the site of the first inauguration of George Washington
as President.
Before his death in 1728, De Peyster commissioned the creation of a bell to be placed in the Middle Dutch Church, then under construction. Cast in Amsterdam in 1731, the bell is known today as the "Liberty Bell" and is located at the Middle Collegiate Church.
Abraham's brother Johannes de Peyster
served as mayor in 1698-99, and was then succeeded by David Provost
, their brother-in law.
, who commissioned a statue of his ancestor in the late 19th century. Sculpted by George Edwin Bissell
, the statue was originally placed in Bowling Green Park
in Manhattan in the late 1890s. Park and subway renovations forced its removal in 1972, and it was placed in Hanover Square
from 1976 until 2004. As of September 2011, the statue is still in storage with no clear future destination.
A duplicate of the New York statue was also donated by John Watts de Peyster to Franklin & Marshall College
in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
, where it is currently placed on Buchanan Avenue.
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
from 1691 to 1694.
Life
De Peyster was born in New Amsterdam on July 8, 1657, to Johannes and Cornelia Lubberts de Peyster. He married his second cousin, Catharina de Peyster on April 5, 1684, while visiting AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.
He was appointed mayor by Governor Henry Sloughter
Henry Sloughter
Henry Sloughter was briefly colonial governor of New York in 1691. Sloughter was the governor who put down Leisler's Rebellion, which had installed Jacob Leisler as de facto governor in 1689. Lieutenant Governor Richard Ingoldesby, who had served against Leisler's rebels, took over after...
in October 1691. Though De Peyster had been an early supporter of Jacob Leisler
Jacob Leisler
Jacob Leisler was a German-born American colonist. He helped create the Huguenot settlement of New Rochelle in 1688 and later served as the acting Lieutenant Governor of New York...
, who led Leisler's Rebellion
Leisler's Rebellion
Leisler's Rebellion was an uprising in late 17th century colonial New York, in which German American merchant and militia captain Jacob Leisler seized control of the colony's south and ruled it from 1689 to 1691. The uprising took place in the aftermath of Britain's Glorious Revolution and the...
, he had not participated in Leisler's later actions.Lamb, Martha J. & Burton Harrison. History of the City of New York, Vol. I, p.398-402 (1896 ed.) Through his suggestion, the city started providing public support to the poor.
From a wealthy merchant family, De Peyster also reportedly served in a number of public roles during his life, including stints as alderman, Associate Judge and later Chief Justice on the province's Supreme Court, President of the King's Council, and as Treasurer for New York and New Jersey provinces. He also served as a Colonel in the militia. Some sources state that he served as governor or acting governor of the Province of New York
Province of New York
The Province of New York was an English and later British crown territory that originally included all of the present U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Vermont, along with inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, as well as eastern Pennsylvania...
, which refers to a few months' time in 1701 after the death of Richard Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont
Richard Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont
Richard Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont , known as The Lord Coote between 1683 and 1689, was a member of the English Parliament and a colonial governor...
, when Lieutenant Governor John Nanfan
John Nanfan
John Nanfan was a lieutenant governor of the Province of New York from 1698 to 1702. He served as acting governor for about a year between the death of the Earl of Bellomont and the arrival of Bellomont's successor, Lord Cornbury...
was abroad. This left De Peyster, as the senior member of the Council, briefly in command until Nanfan returned.
Around 1699, De Peyster donated some of his land holdings, part of his garden, for the construction of a new city hall. That city hall was later renamed Federal Hall
Federal Hall
Federal Hall, built in 1700 as New York's City Hall, later served as the first capitol building of the United States of America under the Constitution, and was the site of George Washington's inauguration as the first President of the United States. It was also where the United States Bill of...
, which briefly served as the first capitol of the United States, and the site of the first inauguration of George Washington
First inauguration of George Washington
The first inauguration of George Washington as the first President of the United States took place on April 30, 1789.The inauguration marked the commencement of the first four-year term of George Washington as President and John Adams as Vice President...
as President.
Before his death in 1728, De Peyster commissioned the creation of a bell to be placed in the Middle Dutch Church, then under construction. Cast in Amsterdam in 1731, the bell is known today as the "Liberty Bell" and is located at the Middle Collegiate Church.
Abraham's brother Johannes de Peyster
Johannes de Peyster
Johannes de Peyster was Mayor of New York City in 1698-99., p. 395-96 -Life:Johannes was born in New York City in 1666 to Johannes and Cornelia Lubberts de Peyster....
served as mayor in 1698-99, and was then succeeded by David Provost
David Provost
David Provost was the Mayor of New York City from 1699 to 1700.David Provost was Born in Ulster, New York, in about 1672, to Benjamin Provost, one of New Amsterdam's Dutch burghers, and Elsie Alberts Provost....
, their brother-in law.
Legacy
His great-great-great grandson was John Watts de PeysterJohn Watts de Peyster
John Watts de Peyster, Sr. was an author on the art of war, philanthropist, and early Adjutant General of the New York National Guard. He served in the New York State Militia during the Mexican-American War and American Civil War...
, who commissioned a statue of his ancestor in the late 19th century. Sculpted by George Edwin Bissell
George Edwin Bissell
George Edwin Bissell was an American sculptor.-Biography:Bissell was born New Preston, Connecticut, the son of a quarryman and marble-cutter...
, the statue was originally placed in Bowling Green Park
Bowling Green (New York City)
Bowling Green is a small public park in Lower Manhattan at the foot of Broadway next to the site of the original Dutch fort of New Amsterdam. Built in 1733, originally including a bowling green, it is the oldest public park in New York City and is surrounded by its original 18th century fence. At...
in Manhattan in the late 1890s. Park and subway renovations forced its removal in 1972, and it was placed in Hanover Square
Hanover Square, Manhattan
Hanover Square is a square and public park in the Financial District, Manhattan, New York City. It is triangular in shape, bordered by Pearl Street, Stone Street and a street named Hanover Square. Most surrounding buildings are commercial, but 10 Hanover Square is residential...
from 1976 until 2004. As of September 2011, the statue is still in storage with no clear future destination.
A duplicate of the New York statue was also donated by John Watts de Peyster to Franklin & Marshall College
Franklin & Marshall College
Franklin & Marshall College is a four-year private co-educational residential national liberal arts college in the Northwest Corridor neighborhood of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States....
in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, where it is currently placed on Buchanan Avenue.