John Evert Van Alen

John Evert Van Alen (1749 – February 27, 1807) was an American surveyor, merchant, and politician from the U.S. state of New York. He served as a Federalist member of the United States House of Representatives.

John Evert Van Alen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 7th district
In office
March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1799
Preceded byDistrict created
Succeeded byJohn C. Brodhead
Personal details
Born1749 (1749)
Kinderhook, Province of New York, British America
DiedFebruary 27, 1807(1807-02-27) (aged 57–58)
Defreestville, New York, U.S.
Resting placeBloomington Rural Cemetery
North Greenbush, New York
CitizenshipUS
Political partyFederalist
SpouseAnne Freyermoet Van Alen
ChildrenEvert Van Alen
Professionsurveyor, merchant, politician

Early life
Revolutionary War service record for John Evert Van Alen (1749-1807).

Van Alen was born in Kinderhook in the Province of New York, the son of Adam and Mary Van Alen. After completing his studies he became a farmer.

He moved to Defreestville and continued to farm, also serving in local offices including justice of the peace. He also became involved in civil engineering and surveying.[1]

During the American Revolution he served as a private in the 7th Regiment (Abraham Van Alstyne's) of the Albany County Militia.[2][3]

In 1790, he surveyed the town of Greenbush[4] where he later operated a general store.

Political career

He held various political office in New York, and was assistant judge for Rensselaer County in 1791.[5] He was elected from New York's newly created 7th congressional district in 1793 and was reelected twice, serving in Congress from March 4, 1793 to March 3, 1799.[6][7] He then served as a member of the New York State Assembly in 1800 and 1801.[8]

Death and legacy

Van Alen died in Defreestville on February 27, 1807, and is interred in Bloomingrove Rural Cemetery in North Greenbush, New York. Van Alen owned slaves.[9] According to the terms of his 1793 will, he bequeathed to his wife "my negro girl named Dinah."[10] To his nephew Evert Van Alen, he bequeathed "my negro boy named Tom."[10] In addition, Van Alen provided for the manumission of "my negro man named Gus, and my negro woman named Mol" immediately after the remarriage of his wife or his wife's death, whichever came first.[10]

The John Evert Van Alen House, constructed while he was sitting in Congress at Philadelphia, is extant in Defreestville, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.[11]

Family life

Van Alen married Anne Freyermoet in 1771. They had one child, Evert, a nephew whom they adopted.[12]

References
  1. Bascomb, Neal (2004). Higher: A Historic Race to the Sky and the Making of a City. Broadway Books. p. 33.
  2. Roberts, James A. (1904). New York In The Revolution as Colony and State, Volume 1. Albany, NY: J. B. Lyon and Company. p. 110.
  3. Greenfield, Jim (November 28, 2006). "Our Most Famous Citizen" (PDF). Town Historian: North Greenbush Notes. Town of North Greenbush, NY. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  4. New York (State) (1827). Laws of the State of New York. New York (State). p. 240. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  5. Weise, A.J. (1880). History of the Seventeen Towns of Rensselaer County. Troy, NY: J. M. Francis & Tucker. p. 7. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  6. Anderson, George Baker (1897). Landmarks of Rensselaer County, New York. D. Mason & Company. p. 71. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  7. Congressional Quarterly, inc (2009). American Political Leaders 1789-2009. CQ Press. p. 257. ISBN 9781452267265. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  8. Herringshaw, Thomas William (1904). Herringshaw's Encyclopedia of American Biography of the Nineteenth Century. American Publishers' Association. p. 955. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  9. "Congress slaveowners", The Washington Post, January 13, 2022, retrieved July 5, 2022
  10. Van Alen, Benjamin Taylor (1902). Genealogical History of the Van Alen Family (PDF). Chicago, IL: B. T. Van Alen. p. 18 – via ForgottenBooks.com.
  11. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  12. Coffin, Margaret (1986). Borders and Scrolls: Early American Brush-Stroke Wall Painting 1790-1820. SUNY Press. p. 39. ISBN 9780939072088. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
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