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James Livingston (American Revolution)

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James Livingston
Member of the New York State Assembly from Montgomery Co.
In office
July 1, 1789 – June 30, 1791
In office
July 1, 1783 – June 30, 1788
Personal details
Born(1747-03-25)March 25, 1747
Albany, Province of New York, British America
DiedMarch 9, 1832(1832-03-09) (aged 84)
Saratoga, New York, U.S.
Political partyFederalist
Spouse
Elizabeth Simpson
​
​
(m. 1772; died 1800)​
RelationsLivingston family
Parent(s)John Livingston
Catherine Ten Broeck
Military service
Allegiance United States of America
Branch/service Continental Army
Years of service1775–1781
RankColonel
Unit1st Canadian Regiment
Commands1st Canadian Regiment
Battles/wars

James Livingston (March 27, 1747 – March 9, 1832), born in New York, was an American Patriot. Livingston was living in the Province of Quebec (as it was known following the French and Indian War) when the American Revolutionary War broke out. He was responsible for raising and leading the 1st Canadian Regiment of the Patriots' Continental Army during the invasion of northeastern Canada, and continued to serve in the war until 1781. He retired to Saratoga, New York, where he served as a state legislator and raised a family of five children.[1]

Early life

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James Livingston was born March 27, 1747, in Albany, New York, to Johanes "John" Livingston (1709–1791) and Catherine Ten Broeck (1715–1801).[2] His siblings included Margerita Livingston (1742–1820), Dirck Livingston (1744–1784), Janet Livingston (1751–1823), Abraham Livingston (1753–1802), Catherine (née Livingston) Willard (1755–1827), and Maria Livingston (1761–1839).[3]

His paternal grandfather was Robert Livingston the Younger (1663–1725), a nephew of Robert Livingston the Elder. His paternal grandmother, Margareta Schuyler (b. 1682), was the daughter of Pieter Schuyler (1657–1724), the first Mayor of Albany.[4] They were all members of the prominent Livingston family.[5] His maternal grandparents were Dirck Ten Broeck (1686–1751) and Margarita Cuyler (1682–1783). His mother, the great-granddaughter of Dirck Wesselse Ten Broeck (1638–1717),[6] was the sister of General Abraham Ten Broeck (1734–1810), who married Elizabeth Van Rensselaer, and Christina Ten Broeck (1718–1801), who married Philip Livingston (1716–1778),[7] and Sara Ten Broeck, who married Johannes Ten Eyck.[8] Among his many cousins was Dirck Ten Broeck (1765–1832), the Speaker of the New York State Assembly from 1798 to 1800.[9]

By 1765, the family had moved to Montreal.

American Revolutionary War

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Congress Own Regiment

Livingston was living in Chambly, working as a grain merchant, when the invasion of northeastern Quebec began in September 1775. As early as August, he had been in contact with General Philip Schuyler, mostly through the efforts of John Brown, an American spy. On August 18, he sent a messenger to Schuyler at Fort Ticonderoga, presumably with information on British military readiness at Fort Chambly and Fort Saint-Jean; however, this messenger destroyed the message, fearing he might be captured with it. General Richard Montgomery (who was married to one of Livingston's relatives), who was in command of Ticonderoga at the time, sent John Brown back to Livingston. On the 28th, they sent word back to Montgomery with news that spurred him to begin the invasion: the British had almost completed ships capable of threatening the American naval superiority on Lake Champlain.[10]

Up to, and then also following, the arrival of the American forces at Île aux Noix in early September, Livingston was active in the Chambly area, raising local support for the Americans. On September 15, he reported to Schuyler that militia under his control had cut off Fort Chambly from communication with Montreal, and that Brown and Ethan Allen were raising additional troops and guarding the southern shore of the Saint Lawrence River.

Forces under his command, numbering about 200, participated in the capture of Fort Chambly on October 18, along with militia under Brown's command. On November 20, Montgomery made him a colonel in the Continental Army,[11] and gave him command of the 1st Canadian Regiment,[12] consisting mainly of the troops he had recruited. This regiment then served at the battle of Quebec in December 1775, and the ensuing retreat. They later saw action in the Saratoga campaign, including the relief of the siege of Fort Stanwix in August 1777, both Battles of Saratoga, and the Battle of Rhode Island.

Livingston was in command of Verplanck's Point on the Hudson River in September 1780, when he played a crucial role in the unmasking of Benedict Arnold's treachery. While on guard duty, his troops fired on the British sloop of war Vulture, forcing that vessel to retreat southwards. This ship had brought British Major John André to meet with General Arnold. After being driven off in his approach by water, he attempted to re-approach on land by portaging in civilian clothing.[13] He was captured with incriminating papers in his possession. André was hanged as a spy, and Arnold, knowing that his plot had been discovered, managed to escape to the British lines.

Livingston retired from the Continental Army on January 1, 1781. In recognition of his service, he was granted 3,500 acres (14 km2) of land[14] near where Tyre, New York is today.[citation needed] In 1801, Congress awarded him another 1,280 acres (5.2 km2) of land near the modern location of Columbus, Ohio.[15]

Post-war

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After the war, Livingston settled in Saratoga. From July 1, 1783 until June 30, 1788, he served in the New York State Assembly beginning with the 7th Legislature and continuing through the 8th, 9th, 10th, and finally, the 11th New York State Legislature as a Federalist. He served again from July 1, 1789 until June 30, 1791 during the 13th and 14th Legislatures.[9]

Livingston served as a member of the first Board of Regents of the University of New York from April 13, 1787 until his resignation in 1797.[5] He was replaced by Abraham Van Vechten.[16]

Death

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Livingston died in Saratoga, New York, in 1832, at age 85.[10]

Personal life

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Further information: Livingston family

In 1772, Livingston had married Elizabeth Simpson (1750–1800), an immigrant from Cork, Ireland living in Montreal.[17] Together, they had at least two sons and three daughters, including:

  • Elizabeth Livingston (1773–1818), who married Peter Gerrit Smith (1768–1837), a business partner of John Jacob Astor.[18] Gerrit Smith was their son.
  • James Livingston (1775–1851), who married Patty Martha Griffith
  • Richard Montgomery Livingston (1787–1838), who was named after the general in his memory and who married Sarah Livingston (1792–1873).[19]
  • Edward Chinn Livingston (1783–1843), early settler of Columbus, Ohio, who married Martha Nelson (1785–1855)
  • Margaret Livingston (1785–1871), who married Daniel Cady (1773–1859).[20]
  • Catharine Ten Broeck Livingston (1789–1874), who married Henry Brevoort Henry (1786–1818).[21]

Descendants

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He was the grandfather, through his eldest daughter Elizabeth, of famed abolitionist Gerrit Smith (1797–1874),[22][23] who married Ann Carroll Fitzhugh. Smith was a candidate for President of the United States in 1848, 1856, and 1860.[24]

He was also the grandfather, through his daughter Margaret of:

Footnotes

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  1. ^ Bielinski, Stefan. "James Livingston". exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov. New York State Museum. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  2. ^ Genealogical Record of the Saint Nicholas Society: Advanced Sheets, First Series. Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York. 1902. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  3. ^ "Livingston, Abraham". www.encyclopedia.com. Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  4. ^ Livingston, Edwin Brockholst (1910). The Livingstons of Livingston Manor: Being the History of that Branch of the Scottish House of Callendar which Settled in the English Province of New York During the Reign of Charles the Second; and Also Including an Account of Robert Livingston of Albany, "The Nephew," a Settler in the Same Province and His Principal Descendants. Knickerbocker Press. ISBN 9780598431486. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  5. ^ a b Hess, Stephen (2017). America's Political Dynasties. Routledge. p. 551. ISBN 9781351532150. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  6. ^ Bielinski, Stefan. "Dirck Wesselse Ten Broeck". exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  7. ^ Bielinski, Stefan. "Abraham Ten Broeck". nysm.nysed.gov. New York State Museum. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  8. ^ Bielinski, Stefan. "Sara Ten Broeck Ten Eyck". exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov. New York State Museum. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  9. ^ a b Hough, Franklin (1858). The New York Civil List: containing the names and origin of the civil divisions, and the names and dates of election or appointment of the principal state and county officers from the Revolution to the present time. Weed, Parsons and Co. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  10. ^ a b Dolliver, Louise Pearsons (1907). Lineage Book | Daughters of the American Revolution | Vol. XXIII. Washington, D.C.: National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  11. ^ "To George Washington from Colonel Henry Beekman Livingston, 1 February 1778". founders.archives.gov. Founders Online. Retrieved 4 August 2017. Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 13, 26 December 1777 – 28 February 1778
  12. ^ "Livingston, James, 1747-1832". archives.nypl.org. New York Public Library. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  13. ^ Livingston (1910), p. 523
  14. ^ Morrison
  15. ^ Ohio Historical Society (1904), p. 496
  16. ^ Sherwood, Sidney (1900-01-01). The University of the State of New York: History of Higher Education in the State of New York. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  17. ^ Ohio Historical Society (1904), p. 494
  18. ^ "Peter Smith Papers An Inventory of his papers at Syracuse University". library.syr.edu. Syracuse University. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  19. ^ Jackson, Andrew; Moser, Harold D.; Feller, Daniel; Moss, Laura-Eve (2007). The Papers of Andrew Jackson: 1829. University of Tennessee Press. ISBN 9781572335936. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  20. ^ Griffith, Elisabeth (1985). In Her Own Right: The Life of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199840496. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  21. ^ Foley, Janet Wethy (1937). Early Settlers of New York State: Their Ancestors and Descendants, Vol: Their Ancestors and Descendants, Volumes I-VI (PART II - iv-vi). Heritage Books. pp. 122–123. ISBN 9780788437120. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  22. ^ "Gerrit Smith Estate". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. 2008-01-17. Archived from the original on 2012-10-09.
  23. ^ LouAnn Wurst (September 21, 2001), National Historic Landmark Nomination: Gerrit Smith Estate (PDF), National Park Service, archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-11-02
  24. ^ Back to Africa: Benjamin Coates and the colonization movement in America. Penn State Press. 2005. p. 88. ISBN 0-271-02684-7.
  25. ^ Griffith, p. 7
  26. ^ Griffith, pp. 227–228; Stanton, Eighty Years & More
  27. ^ a b c Allen, Orrin Peer (1910). Descendants of Nicholas Cady of Watertown, Mass. 1645-1910. author, Press of c. B. Fiske & Company. p. 92. ISBN 9780598558817. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  28. ^ Whitman, Alden. American reformers: an H.W. Wilson biographical dictionary. H.W. Wilson Co., 1985, p. 753. ISBN 0-8242-0705-X

References

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