Robert Henry Livingston (1760 - 1804)

Born 25 Oct 1760 in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess, New York Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Catherine R (Tappen) Livingston — married 29 Feb 1792 in Dutch Church Poughkeepsie NY

Descendants

Died 31 Aug 1804 at age 43 in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess, New York, United States

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Biography

Will dated June 26, 1804.

Lived in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, NY.

Wife: Catherine Tappen

Daughters: Eliza. Susan.

Son: George Henry, not yet age 21.

Nephew: Henry W Livingston.

Named executors: wife. Henry A Livingston. Garet B Van Ness. Theron Rudd.

Witnesses: Sister Cornelia Van Kleeck. John Thomas.

Robt. H. Livingston succeeded his father, Henry Livingston, as Clerk of Dutchess County in 1789, and held the office until his death in 1804. His obituary in the Poughkeepsie Journal of Tuesday, Sep 4th of that year says: "On Friday last, at his house in this village, in his 44th year, Robert Henry Livingston, Esq., Clerk of Duchess County. The mild manners and sweet disposition of this gentleman endeared him to all and render his loss the subject of universal regret. Early in life, he became a soldier of his country and he was not 17 when he was embodied with the force which filled this village when the British fleet and army spread desolation along the shores of his native river. The two following campaigns he was an officer in the service of the State on the northwest frontier and in 1780, received a commission attaching him to the corps of artillery in the army of the United States. With that army he assisted at the siege of Yorktown, and only sheathed his sword when every sword on the continent was returned to the scabbard." During the Revolutionary War he was a Lieut. of Levies under Col. Lewis Dubois July 1, 1780 to reinforce the army of the U.S. and also under Col. Albert Pawling Apr 27, 1781, for immediate defe nse of the State. On June 29, 1781, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieut. in the Second Continental Artillery and served to June 1783 (Liv. of Liv. Man. pp.231, 522 & 532).

His will, dated June 26, 1804 and proved Oct. 12, 1804, provided for his wife and three children and distribution of his estate was made after $300 had been set aside for the education of his only son. As a widow Catharine Livingston was received into the Dutch Church in Poughkeepsie Feb. 9, 1811, on Confession of Faith. Sometime after the marriage of her daughter, Elizabeth, she went to live with the latter in Philadelphia where she died May 1, 1841.

Catharine Tappan was a daughter of Peter & Elizabeth (Crannell) Tappan. Her mother was a sister of Catherine Crannell who married her husband's oldest brother, Gilbert Livingston. The announcement of the marriage appeared as follows in the New York Weekly Museum of Saturday March 10, 1792: "Robert H. Livingston, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, and Caty Tappan, eldest daughter of the Hon. Judge Tappan, were married on Wednesday."

Sources

• His will: "New York Probate Records, 1629-1971," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-28664-41834-2?cc=1920234 : accessed 28 March 2016), Dutchess > Wills 1796-1806 vol B > image 301 of 418; county courthouses, New York.

• FaG: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94282464/robert-livingston

http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/henry/bios/roberthenrylivingston.htm#kinkead