Jacob Leisler (abt. 1640 - 1691)

Born about 1640 in Bockenheim, Hanau-Münzenberg, Heiliges Römisches Reich

Husband of Elsje Tijmens — married 11 Apr 1663 (to 16 May 1691) in New Amsterdam, New Netherland

Descendants

Died 16 May 1691 at about age 51 in Province of New York

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Biography

Jacob Leisler is Notable.

Jacob was baptized on March 31, 1640.

Jacob Leysler, recorded as a unmarried man from Franckfort, married Elsje Tymens, the widow of Pieter van der Veen, in New Amsterdam, New Netherland, on 11 April 1663. ^[1]

"Lieutenant Governor Jakob Leisler, originally from Frankfort-on-Main, was hanged by the British in Manhattan on May 16, 1691. Thus the Leisler Rebellion officially ended, although the effects endured for a long time, and the controversy about Leisler's attitude and personality still persists. Most historians agree, however, on two points---that Leisler, as the first to summon the colonies to joint action not dictated from London, paved the way for the congress that met 88 years later and hence was a pioneer of American independence; and it was Leisler who "split the electorate into two parties, a party for the people and a party for the patricians, and thus made it impossible for the governors to rule the colonies according to whim..." (E.R. Ellis: The Epic of New York)

New York and Leisler were involved in England's Glorious Revolution, which removed the Catholic James II from the throne and brought the Protestant Prince William of Orange to power. Protestant New York feared popery as did Leisler, who had been baptized as a Calvinist on May 31, 1640, as the son of a Calvinist minister who had to leave Palatinate because of his belief. New Yorkers also feared that the French would attack and seize their militarily unprotected colonies since the great English dispute between Catholicism and Protestantism was simultaneously the beginning of the second Hundred Years War between England and Catholic France(May 7, 1689), which was carried on in the New World as the French and Indian Wars.

In the turbulence, Leisler played a significant role. He had come to New Amsterdam as a 20-year-old corporal in the service of Holland. He turned to fur-trading, became rich, and was very wealthy when he married the widow of Pieter van der Veens(April, 1663). He was soon regarded as one of the most affluent New Yorkers and became deacon of the Dutch Reformed Church and a senior captain of the New York militia. He was surrounded by poor people. Although he was related through marriage to the most highly placed patricians, he was rejected by them. The Governor had fled, and the new governor appointed by King William, Lieutenant Henry Sloughters, arrived only in the spring of 1691. The French and Indians pressed ahead and in those circumstances Leisler's actions resulted in bloody disputes in New York. On May 1, 1690, Leisler called upon the colonies to unite in defense, and for that he was never forgiven.

In the subsequent trial for high treason, the party of the aristocrats pressed for a death sentence, which Sloughter approved after having been made drunk at a banquet. There were tumultuous scenes at the execution. His enemies wanted to buy his heart from the hangman, and his supporters attempted to demonstrate in protest. In 1695, the Parliament in London rescinded the judgement and Leisler's confiscated wealth was returned to the family. A monument was erected to Leisler by the town of New Rochelle, where he owned property. In 1974, Pace University, whose campus includes the site of the execution, dedicated a memorial plaque to him in the presence of his American descendants."^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/nn/church/rdcmarr1663.shtml 1663. 18 Mart. Jacob Leysler, j. m. Van Franckfort, en Elsje Tymens, Wede. Van Pieter Van der Veen (getrouwt den 11 April, 1663).
2. ↑ Gerard Wilk, Americans from Germany, Second Printing, German Information Center, Second printing 1987(copywrite 1976), page 22

• Genealogical notes relating to Lieut.-Gov. Jacob Leisler and his family connections in New York by Purple, Edwin R. (Edwin Ruthven), 1831-1879 Page 7

• Wikipedia contributors, "Jacob Leisler," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jacob_Leisler&oldid=723569505 (accessed July 25, 2016).

• Evjen, John O. 1916. Scandinavian immigrants in New York, 1630-1674 with appendices on Scandinavians in Mexico and South America, 1532-1640, Scandinavians in Canada, 1619-1620, Some Scandinavians in New York in the eighteenth century, German immigrants in New York, 1630-1674. Minneapolis, Minn: K.C. Holter. p. 422-424.

• Early New Netherland Settlers, by Robert Gordon Clarke URL: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rclarke/page1/staets.htm

Acknowledgements

• This person was created through the import of 124-DeCoursey.ged on 14 September 2010.