Nicholas Roosevelt (1658-1742)
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Roosevelt (bap. October 2, 1658 - July 30, 1742) was an early member of the Roosevelt family
and a prominent Dutch-American
citizen of New Amsterdam
(later New York City
). He was the first Roosevelt to hold an elected office in North America, as an alderman
.
He was born in New Amsterdam to Claes Martenzsen Van Rosenvelt, the immigrant ancestor of the Roosevelt family in America, and baptized October 2, 1658 in the Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam. By 1680, he had moved to Esopus
, near Kingston, New York
, another early Dutch settlement in the New Netherlands. There, on April 5, 1680, he signed a petition asking for a minister for Kingston. He married Heyltje Jans Kunst(1664–1730) in the Reformed Dutch Church of New York on December 9, 1682. During his time in Esopus, he was a fur trader on friendly terms with Native Americans.
In 1690, he returned with his family to New York, where he was listed as having the occupation of a "bolter
." He was made a freeman on August 23, 1698. Politically active, he was a supporter of the party of Jacob Leisler
, who had led an insurrection in 1689 in support of the succession of Dutch
stadtholder
William III of Orange-Nassau
to the English throne in the Revolution of 1688
. Nicholas Roosevelt was an alderman
from 1698 to 1701 and again for the West Ward in 1715. He died in New York City on August 30, 1742.
He had ten children, the first four baptized at Esopus and the rest in New York: Jannetie (1683), Margaretta (1685), Nicholaes (1687), Johannes
(1689), Elsie (1691), Jacobus (1692), Rachel (1693; died young), Sarah (1696), Rachel (1699), and Isaac (1701; died young). Nicholas was the last common ancestor of the Oyster Bay Roosevelts (including Eleanor
and Theodore Roosevelt
), founded by his son Johannes, and the Hyde Park
Roosevelts (including Franklin Delano Roosevelt), founded by his son Jacobus.
Roosevelt family
In heraldry, canting arms are a visual or pictorial play on a surname, and were and still are a popular practice. It would be common to find roses, then, in arms of many Roosevelt families, even unrelated ones...
and a prominent Dutch-American
Dutch-Americans
A Dutch American is an American of Dutch descent.Following the exploration of the American East Coast by Henry Hudson on behalf of the Dutch East India Company in 1609, Dutch settlement in the Americas started in 1613...
citizen of New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherland. It later became New York City....
(later New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
). He was the first Roosevelt to hold an elected office in North America, as an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
.
He was born in New Amsterdam to Claes Martenzsen Van Rosenvelt, the immigrant ancestor of the Roosevelt family in America, and baptized October 2, 1658 in the Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam. By 1680, he had moved to Esopus
Esopus, New York
Esopus is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 9,331 at the 2000 census. The name comes from the local Indian tribe and means "high banks."...
, near Kingston, New York
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
, another early Dutch settlement in the New Netherlands. There, on April 5, 1680, he signed a petition asking for a minister for Kingston. He married Heyltje Jans Kunst(1664–1730) in the Reformed Dutch Church of New York on December 9, 1682. During his time in Esopus, he was a fur trader on friendly terms with Native Americans.
In 1690, he returned with his family to New York, where he was listed as having the occupation of a "bolter
Flour
Flour is a powder which is made by grinding cereal grains, other seeds or roots . It is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures, making the availability of adequate supplies of flour a major economic and political issue at various times throughout history...
." He was made a freeman on August 23, 1698. Politically active, he was a supporter of the party 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 had led an insurrection in 1689 in support of the succession of Dutch
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
stadtholder
Stadtholder
A Stadtholder A Stadtholder A Stadtholder (Dutch: stadhouder [], "steward" or "lieutenant", literally place holder, holding someones place, possibly a calque of German Statthalter, French lieutenant, or Middle Latin locum tenens...
William III of Orange-Nassau
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
to the English throne in the Revolution of 1688
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
. Nicholas Roosevelt was an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
from 1698 to 1701 and again for the West Ward in 1715. He died in New York City on August 30, 1742.
He had ten children, the first four baptized at Esopus and the rest in New York: Jannetie (1683), Margaretta (1685), Nicholaes (1687), Johannes
Johannes Roosevelt
Johannes Roosevelt , known as John Roosevelt, was a New York City businessman and alderman and the progenitor of the Oyster Bay Roosevelts, including Theodore and Eleanor Roosevelt. Johannes was a linseed oil manufacturer....
(1689), Elsie (1691), Jacobus (1692), Rachel (1693; died young), Sarah (1696), Rachel (1699), and Isaac (1701; died young). Nicholas was the last common ancestor of the Oyster Bay Roosevelts (including Eleanor
Eleanor Roosevelt
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, distant cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and became an advocate for civil rights. After her husband's death in 1945, Roosevelt continued to be an international...
and Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
), founded by his son Johannes, and the Hyde Park
Hyde Park, New York
Hyde Park is a town located in the northwest part of Dutchess County, New York, United States, just north of the city of Poughkeepsie. The town is most famous for being the hometown of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt....
Roosevelts (including Franklin Delano Roosevelt), founded by his son Jacobus.
See also
- Roosevelt familyRoosevelt familyIn heraldry, canting arms are a visual or pictorial play on a surname, and were and still are a popular practice. It would be common to find roses, then, in arms of many Roosevelt families, even unrelated ones...