Killian K. Van Rensselaer

Kiliaen Van Rensselaer (ca. 1580-1643) was a Dutch merchant and colonizer in America. A director of the Dutch West India Company, he was first patroon of Rensselaerswyck Manor in the colony of New Netherland.

Kiliaen Van Rensselaer was born in Amsterdam, probably in 1580. His early life is obscure. He entered the employ of a jeweler uncle who eventually retired in his favor, and by 1614 he was a leading Amsterdam diamond and pearl merchant. Prospering in East Indian trade, Van Rensselaer helped promote and found the West India Company, which was chartered in 1621 as a trading monopoly in Africa and America. As one of its directors, on two occasions he advanced sums to maintain the company's credit.

From the outset Van Rensselaer urged the company's fellow directors to develop New Netherland's agriculture rather than rely solely on the lucrative fur trade. When the company experienced difficulty securing settlers, Van Rensselaer utilized the Charter of Freedom and Exemptions, authorizing feudal estates for responsible Dutchmen promising to bring 50 adults to live on assigned tracts purchased from the Native Americans. Obtaining permission for such a patroonship in November 1629, he purchased land on the Hudson River near Albany from the Algonquin Indians. Later purchases expanded the area to approximately 700, 000 acres on both sides of the river.

After patent to the manor of Rensselaerswyck was confirmed on Aug. 6, 1630, the first settlers soon arrived. Van Rensselaer zealously developed his New World estate, securing the most substantial group of settlers recruited by any patroon. He provided stock and farm tools for his colonists, purchased cattle, organized a manorial court, and sent a Calvinist pastor to care for the settlers' spiritual needs.

Anxious to develop agriculture in his barony, Van Rensselaer also sought benefits from fur trading. He advocated company restriction of this commerce to concession-aires, with his own agents controlling that in the Rensselaerswyck area. Vast correspondence shows his continued attention to administrative details (and probably price-rigging for settlers' supplies). However, company-licensed traders resisted efforts to forcibly collect tolls and restrict Indian commerce. Before his death in Amsterdam in October 1643, Van Rensselaer was plagued by settlers' disobedience to his appointed authorities and by agents' attempts to secure manors for themselves. Nevertheless, Rensselaerswyck proved the only successful patroonship during the Dutch era in New York.

Further Reading

Information concerning Van Rensselaer is sparse and frequently conflicting. Samuel G. Nissenson, The Patroon's Domain (1937), provides a scholarly analysis of the settlement but not much on the man himself. George R. Howell, History of the County of Albany (1886), and Nathaniel B. Sylvester, History of Rensselaer County (1880), contain helpful references. See also Maunsell Van Rensselear, Annals of the Van Rensselears in the United States (1888).

This article is about the Congressman. For other uses, see Kiliaen van Rensselaer.

Engraving of K. K. Van Rensselaer

Killian Killian Van Rensselaer (June 9, 1763 - June 18, 1845) was an American lawyer and politician who served in the United States Congress as a Representative from the state of New York. He was the cousin of Jeremiah Van Rensselaer and the uncle of Solomon Van Vechten Van Rensselaer, who were also Representatives.

Van Rensselaer was born in East Greenbush, New York. He completed preparatory studies and attended Yale College, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1784, and commenced practice in Claverack, New York. He was private secretary to General Philip Schuyler.

Van Rensselaer was elected as a Federalist to the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh United States Congresses, serving from March 4, 1801 to March 3, 1811. Afterwards, he resumed the practice of law.

Van Rensselaer died in Albany, New York, aged 82, and was interred in a private cemetery at East Greenbush.

References

• Killian K. Van Rensselaer at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Barent Gardenier	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 7th congressional district 1809 - 1811	Succeeded by Harmanus Bleecker

v • d • e Van Rensselaer family This list is not complete, and should be taken as a rough guideline depending on the notability of a respective family member. 1st generation Hendrick Wolter van Rensselaer 2nd generation Issue of Hendrick Wolter: Kiliaen van Rensselaer 3rd generation Issue of Kiliaen: Hendrick van Rensselaer • Johan van Rensselaer 4th generation Issue of Hendrick: Kilian van Rensselaer† • Maria (van Rensselaer) van Twiller 5th generation Issue of Kilian: Johan van Rensselaer† • Jan Baptist van Rensselaer† • Jeremias van Rensselaer† 6th generation Issue of Johan: Kiliaen van Rensselaer† Issue of Jeremias: Kilian van Rensselaer† • Hendrick van Rensselaer† 7th generation Issue of Kilian: Jeremias van Rensselaer† • Stephen van Rensselaer I† 8th generation Issue of Stephen I: Stephen van Rensselaer II† 9th generation Issue of Stephen II: Stephen van Rensselaer III† 10th generation Issue of Stephen III: Stephen van Rensselaer IV • Henry van Rensselaer †Served as patroon or director of Rensselaerswyck

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