Waterford's Hamilton Connection

On a scale of 1 to 10, Waterford's "Hamilton Connection" everyone seems to have scrambled for the past few years is a solid....2....maybe a 3 if you're feeling generous.

Is the Hamilton craze over though? It was everywhere last year when the musical was in town. Anyway, for those still interested and since this article was started last year but hadn't had the research time to fully flush it out, Waterford does have a connection.

Nothing like a musical to get people's attention....because it wasn't like his face has been staring at you from the ten dollar bill for a while, right?

Fun fact: Hamilton is the only person continuously printed on currency since printing began in 1861 and is the only one facing led while everybody else faces right. He's also one of two people on bills who never served as President and is the only person on a bill who wasn't born in the United States. Check out more interesting trivia about Hamilton on $2, $5, $10 and other bills at allthingshamilton.com

So how does Waterford connect with this man's history? Family Property

Like with any family tree, it can get a little difficult trying to keep who's who straight. Here's a brief summary: the Van Schaicks, the Schuylers, the Lansings, the Livingstons, the Rensselaers, and a bunch of other notable families strategically connected their families - and properties - through marriage.

Waterford was part of the Halfmoon patent, otherwise known officially as the Van Schaick Patent. It can be seen on this map of what is now Saratoga County from "Saratoga County Communities An Historical Perspective". Waterford is way down at the bottom of Saratoga County. Originally a par of Albany County wen districts were first outlined in 1683, Saratoga County was formed in 1791 during one of several partitions of Albany County. Haver/Havre or Peebles Island didn't become a part of Saratoga County until 1888.

Captain Goosen Gerritsen Van Schaick (1630-1676) held the Van Schaick patent. He had children from two marriages. His daughter Engeltie Van Schaick from his second wife, Annatje Lievens/ Lievers married Pieter Schuyler (1657-1724), the first mayor of Albany.

Engeltie's and Pieter's daughter, Margarita Schuyler, married Robert Livingston the Younger. Their daughter, Angelica Livingston married Johannes Van Rensselaer. And their daughter, Catherine Van Rensselaer married Philip Schuyler (1733-1804). Yes, they were cousins.

Philip Schuyler and Catherine Van Rensselaer were the parents of Elizabeth Schuyler, who married Alexander Hamilton in 1780 at the Schuyler Mansion in Albany. This is a color print of Schuyler Mansion by Philip Hooker (1818), New York Historical Society.

It was Major General Philip Schuyler who directed Polish engineer Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kosciuszko (aka Thaddeus Kosciusko of the "Twin Bridges" Bridge) to build the 177 fortifications found on the northern portion of Peebles Island in Waterford during the Revolutionary War. While not preserved in their entirety, these never-used fortifications were to act as a last resort in preventing a British march to Albany if Saratoga had not been successful. And it also helped create a visual Patriot presence for the Loyalist population in Lansingburgh that had been chummy with independent Vermont during Vermont's brief and unrecognized claim over the eastern shore of the Hudson River....but that's another story.

Engeltie Van Schaick had half siblings too, which included Geertje Goosense van Schaick. She first married Hendrick Coster, which is why the area colloquially known as "Dial City" (or Doyle depending on who you asked) was first known and labeled on maps as "Coster's Island".  This 1844 survey map, titled "Map of Lands Described in a Deed of Mrs. Annatie Lievers, widow and relict of Captain Goose Vanschaick to Roelof Garretse. Dated Feb. 4, 1687/7" depicts this area as such.

After Hendrick's death, Geertje remarried to Johannes Gerritse Lansing, great-uncle of Abraham Jacob Lansing, founder of Lansingburgh. Their daughter, Elizabeth Lansing (1679-1754) married Stephanus Groesbeck (~1662-1744). Elizabeth's and Stephanus' daughter, Catherine Groesbeck (~1705-1758) married Pieter Schuyler Jr. (1696-1753). Pieter Jr. was the son of Pieter Schuyler (1657-1724) and his second wife, Maria Van Rensselaer. Which makes Margarita Schuyler and Pieter Schuyler Jr. both half-siblings and cousins.

Pieter Schuyler's sister, Alida Schuyler (1656-1727) married Nicholas Van Rensselaer (1636-1678;no children) and then remarried Robert Livingston the Elder (1654-1728). Her second husband was the uncle of Robert Livingston the Younger (husband of Margarita Schuyler, Alida's niece).

Ultimately, it meant that there were a lot of cousins of some variety that either lived, or most likely, owned, the areas of and around what is now the Town and Village of Waterford. Visiting relatives and/or properties, would have brought Alexander Hamilton to the area.

Hamilton would've also visited the Waterford area for reasons other than family connections, as most relatives lived in Albany as he did. His involvement in the Revolutionary War as an Aide to General George Washington led to his visiting Saratoga - his father-in-law's estate - with Washington in 1783. They ventured into Waterford, likely stopping at the Eagle Tavern on Second Street before staying the night at the Widow Peebles' inn on Hudson River Road.

Hamilton's law practice also brought him into Saratoga County in 1796 to help settle a dispute over land titles. Most early court records of the county tend to focus on this particular feature of law disputes. The lawyers representing land owners in this then relatively undeveloped area of Saratoga County, at least since surveys began in 1770, would meet in the "old red meeting house" in Ballston Spa before the first courthouse was constructed in 1819 (seen above). Hamilton went to represent his father-in-law Philip Schuyler for this particular dispute. But it meant he would have traveled into Waterford from Albany on his way to do so.

Where might Alexander Hamilton have stayed during his travels? In addition to places like the Widow Peebles' inn and Eagle Tavern (which may or may not have actually also served as an inn), General Samuel Stewart's home on Broad Street received distinguished  guests. According to Waterford historian Col. Sydney Hammersley, this house (built c. 1802), had several ornate fireplaces. One of these had a bust of Alexander Hamilton carved into the mantle due to being a frequent guest.

So what can you do to trace Hamilton's footsteps in Waterford? The Eagle Tavern is no more, long since demolished and replaced by a Victorian home. The home of Gen. Stewart was used as the local order of the Masonic temple, which is now for sale so no visitors are allowed inside to try and spot this fabled fireplace bust. The Widow Peebles' inn is also a private residence. 

But that doesn't mean you can't walk along Second Street to view the marker for Eagle Tavern and other historic sites and visit Knickerbacker Park on Broad Street to view the old Masonic Temple. And, of course, you can always visit the museum to learn more about what Waterford was like at the time of Hamilton would have visited....once we eventually get around to opening again.