Hendrick van Rensselaer

[5] He was a merchant and ship owner who served the public as an alderman in the Albany assembly and on the Commission of Indian Affairs.

In 1698 he bought from the Schaghticoke tribe a tract of six square miles on Hoosac River, for which he procured a patent.

With van Rensselaer declining to sell his patent to the council, the controversy became a state affair.

[4] In describing the Van Rensselaer family, historian author William L. Stone stated: "They consisted of eighteen males in 1776.

During the war every adult, except two old men, and all minors, except four boys, bore arms in one or more battles during the Revolutionary struggle."

[18][13] Kiliaen was wounded during the Battles of Saratoga and received the highest compliments about his courage from General George Washington.