Account of the three brothers.
COLONEL SCHUYLER and his two brothers, all possessed a superior degree
of intellect, and uncommon external advantages. Peter, the only one
remaining when I knew the family, was still a comely and dignified
looking old gentleman, and I was told his brothers were at least equal
to him in this respect. His youngest brother, Jeremiah, who was much
beloved for a disposition, frank, cheerful, and generous to excess, had
previously married a lady from New-York, with whom he obtained some
fortune—a thing then singular in that country. This lady, whom, in her
declining years, I knew very well, was the daughter of a wealthy and
distinguished family of French protestants. She was lively, sensible,
and well-informed.
Peter, the second, was married to a native of Albany. She died early,
but left behind two children, and the reputation of much worth, and
great attention to her conjugal and maternal duties. All these relations
lived with each other, and with the new-married lady, in habits of the
most cordial intimacy and perfect confidence. They seemed, indeed,
actuated by one spirit—having in all things similar views and similar
principles. Looking up to the colonel as the head of the family, whose
worth and affluence reflected consequence upon them all, they never
dreamt of envying either his superior manners, or his wife’s
attainments, which they looked upon as a benefit and ornament to the
whole.
Soon after their marriage they visited New-York, which they continued to
do once a year, in the earlier period of their marriage, on account of
their connexion in that city, and the pleasing and intelligent society
that was always to be met with there, both on account of its being the
seat of government, and the residence of the commander in chief on the
continent, who was then necessarily invested with considerable power and
privileges, and had, as well as the governor for the time being, a petty
court assembled round him. At a very early period, a better style of
manners, greater ease, frankness, and polish prevailed at New-York, than
in any of the neighbouring provinces. There was, in particular, a
Brigadier General Hunter, of whom I have heard Mrs. Schuyler talk a
great deal, as coinciding with her uncle and husband successively, in
their plans, either of defence or improvement. He, I think, was then
governor—and was as acceptable to the Schuylers for his colloquial
talents and friendly disposition, as estimable for his public spirit and
application to business, in which respects he was not equalled by any of
his successors. In his circle, the young couple were much distinguished.
There were, too, among those leading families, the Livingstons and
Rensselaers, friends connected with them both by blood and attachment.
There was, also, another distinguished family, to whom they were allied,
and with whom they lived in cordial intimacy; these were the De Laneys,
of French descent, but by subsequent intermarriages, blended with the
Dutch inhabitants. Of these there were many then in New-York, as will be
hereafter explained; but as these conscientious exiles were persons
allied in religion to the primitive settlers, and regular and
industrious in their habits, they soon mingled with and became a part of
that society, which was enlivened by their sprightly manners, and
benefited by the useful arts they brought along with them. In this mixed
society, which must have had attraction for young people of superior,
and in some degree, cultivated intellect, this well-matched pair took
great pleasure; and here, no doubt, was improved that liberality of mind
and manners, which so much distinguished them from the less enlightened
inhabitants of their native city. They were so much caressed in
New-York, and found so many charms in the intelligent and comparatively
polished society, of which they made a part, that they had at first some
thoughts of residing there. These, however, soon gave way to the
persuasions of the old colonel, with whom they principally resided till
his death, which happened in 1721, two years after. This union was
productive of all that felicity which might be expected to result from
entire congeniality, not of sentiment only, but of original
dispositions, attachments, and modes of living and thinking. He had been
accustomed to consider her as a child with tender endearment. She had
been used to look up to him from infancy, as the model of manly
excellence, and they drew knowledge and virtue from the same fountain;
in the mind of that respected parent whom they equally loved and
revered.
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