Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton siblings include Angelica Schuyler Church, Margarita Schuyler and 12 others. Elizabeth is widely known as the wife of Alexander Hamilton.
Eliza (Betsey) was a philanthropist and socialite from the United States. She was a supporter of her husband’s writings and helped establish Graham Windham, the initial private orphanage in New York City.She was also a strong advocate for women’s rights.
She is regarded as a pioneer American philanthropist for her contributions to the Orphan Asylum Society. The church where Elizabeth was baptized and attended services was destroyed in 1806. Another popular philanthropist you might know about is Anna Shay.
Despite this, her upbringing instilled in her a steadfast and unshakeable faith that she would carry with her for the rest of her life.
She was known to be a bit of a tomboy in her younger years, and her acquaintances noted her strong will and impulsive nature that she retained throughout her life.
Elizabeth had a strong personality that was characterized by its depth and warmth. She was able to control her emotions well, but they were always present and could be seen bursting through in some emphatic expression.
Who Are The Schuyler Sisters In Hamilton?
The Schuyler sisters in real life are Angelica Schuyler Church, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, and Margarita Schuyler Van Rensselaer. The Schuyler sisters are significant characters in Hamilton.
Elizabeth had a total of 14 siblings but only seven of them lived to adulthood.
How Many Schuyler Sisters Were There?
There were five Schuyler sisters who survived into adulthood.
The names of the Schuyler sisters are Angelica Schuyler Church, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, Margarita Schuyler Van Rensselaer, Cornelia Schuyler, and Catharine Schuyler.
How Old Were The Schuyler Sisters?
The Schuyler Sisters were around 20 years old in the Hamilton story. Angelica was the oldest one. She was 24 years old during 1780 when the Hamilton story was based on.
Angelica Schuyler was born on 20 February 1756, Eliza Schuyler was born on 9 August 1757, and Peggy Schuyler was born on 19 September 1758.
Out of them all, Elizabeth’s sister Angelica and Margarita were the most popular ones.
1. Elder Sister Angelica Schuyler Church
Angelica Schuyler Church was born as the eldest daughter of the Schuyler family. Angelica was a socialite from the United States.
She spent 16 years in Europe with her British husband, John Barker Church, who later became a Member of Parliament.
Angelica was a highly regarded member of the social elite in all the places she lived, such as Albany, New York City, Paris, and London.
Her letters with famous friends, such as Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and Marquis de Lafayette, were saved and are still available today. Additionally, the town of Angelica, New York was named after her.
Angelica grew up during the time leading up to the American Revolution and met many important leaders of the Revolution. Her family’s home in Albany was frequently used for meetings and discussions about the war because of her father’s high rank and political position.
In 1776, Angelica met John Barker Church, a British-born merchant who made a lot of money during the war by supplying the American and French armies.
At the time, Church was sent by the Continental Congress to check on army supply records. Angelica and John fell in love, but her father wouldn’t approve of their marriage because he didn’t trust John’s past. So, Angelica and John secretly got married in 1777 and had eight children together.
2. Margarita “Peggy” Schuyler Van Rensselaer
Margarita “Peggy” Schuyler Van Rensselaer was the youngest of the Schuyler sisters. Peggy was known for her vivacious personality and love of socializing.
Peggy had a comfortable childhood and received a basic education and training in domestic skills from her mother.
Margarita and Stephen Van Rensselaer III, who was her distant cousin, eloped in June 1783 when she was almost 25 years old and he was 19.
Peggy and Stephen had three children by 1789, all of whom were baptized at the Dutch Reformed Church in Albany. Unfortunately, only one of their children, Stephen Van Rensselaer IV, survived to adulthood.
She fell ill in 1799 and her condition worsened during the winter of 1800-01. She passed away on March 14, 1801. Peggy is a supporting character in “The Schuyler Sisters” song and appears as a background character for most of Act 1.
What Did The Schuyler Sisters look like?
The pictures of the real Schuyler sisters back in 1780s is given below:
Many actresses portrayed the roles of the sisters to resemble exactly like them.
The other name of the Schuyler siblings is listed below:
- Catherine Schuyler Malcolm Cochran
- Philip Jeremiah Schuyler
- Cornelia Schuyler Morton
- John Bradstreet Schuyler
- Rensselaer Schuyler
The Schuylers: A Prominent Family in Revolutionary America
Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton parents were Philip Schuyler and Catherine Van Rensselaer. The Schuyler family was influential in New York and New Jersey during the 1700s and 1800s.
Their descendants were influential in the formation of the United States, leading government and business in North America, and serving as leaders in various fields.
Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton Father Philip Schuyler
Philip Schuyler was a general in the American Revolutionary War and served as a U.S. Senator from New York. Schuyler was born into a wealthy family in Albany, Province of New York fought in the French and Indian War.
Schuyler was elected to the New York General Assembly in 1768 and the Continental Congress in 1775.
He planned the Continental Army’s 1775 Invasion of Quebec, but poor health prevented him from leading it. He organized the defense of the 1777 Saratoga campaign but was replaced by Major General Horatio Gates. Schuyler resigned from the Continental Army in 1779.
Philip was a member of the New York State Senate for most of the 1780s and was a supporter of the United States Constitution. He represented New York in the 1st United States Congress but lost his state’s 1791 Senate election to Aaron Burr.
After a term in the state senate, he was elected to the United States Senate again in 1797 as a Federalist. However, he resigned due to poor health the following year.
He married Catherine Van Rensselaer on 7th September 1755, in Albany Dutch Church, according to the Schuyler Family’s Bible.
Mother Catherine Van Rensselaer “Kitty”
Catherine Van Rensselaer was from a prominent Dutch family in New York and was known for her intelligence and beauty. Catherine was a socialite in Colonial and post-Colonial America.
Kitty was born in 1734 to Col. Johannes Van Rensselaer and Engeltie Livingston. She was known as “The Morning Star” as a child. Because of her family’s social status, she was part of Albany’s society and would visit relatives once a year to learn how to behave in a fashionable society.
Catherine was once described as a beautiful and graceful lady and had many suitors. She was also involved in charitable work and was a supporter of the American Revolution. After her husband’s death in 1804, Catherine continued to live in their home in Albany until her own death in 1803.
Elizabeth Husband Alexander Hamilton Is An American Founding Father
Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton spouse Alexander Hamilton was one of the founding fathers of the United States. Alexander was an important political figure during the American Revolution.
Alexander helped to shape the country’s early government. Hamilton was also a lawyer, economist, and writer. Born in Nevis, he served as the first Secretary of the Treasury during George Washington’s presidency from 1789 to 1795.
He went to school in New York City and wrote many pamphlets supporting the American Revolution, even though he was young and didn’t put his name on them.
Later, he fought in the Revolutionary War as an artillery officer and served as an aide to General George Washington. He helped the Americans win the important Siege of Yorktown.
After the Revolutionary War, Hamilton was a delegate from New York to the Congress of the Confederation. He later resigned to practice law and start the Bank of New York.
In 1786, he led the Annapolis Convention and helped ratify the United States Constitution by writing 51 of the 85 articles in The Federalist Papers.
Hamilton was a trusted member of President Washington’s first cabinet and became the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. He went back to his legal and business work after he resigned as Secretary of the Treasury. He played a key role in ending the international slave trade.
Scholars generally see Alexander as a highly intelligent and skilled administrator, politician, and financier, although sometimes impulsive. He is credited with creating the basis for American government and finance.
He is perhaps best known for his role in establishing the United States Treasury and for his famous duel with Vice President Aaron Burr, which resulted in Hamilton’s death.
Elizabeth and Alexander Are The Parents of Eight Kids
Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton children are Philip Hamilton, Angelica Hamilton, James Alexander Hamilton, and five others. Elizabeth gave birth to her first child in 1782.
The other kids of them are Alexander Hamilton Jr., John Church Hamilton, William S. Hamilton, Elizabeth Hamilton Holly, and Philip Hamilton II.
1. Philip Hamilton
Philip Hamilton is the firstborn of Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton. Philip was born on 22 January 1782 in Albany, New York.
Philip began his schooling at the age of nine when he was sent to a boarding school in Trenton, New Jersey. There he studied under William Frazer, an Episcopal clergyman and rector of St. Michael’s Church.
He was enrolled in Columbia College, where he was known for his knowledge. After graduating with honors from Columbia College in 1800, Philip pursued a career in law. Unfortunately, he died on 24 November 1801.
2. Angelica Hamilton
Angelica Hamilton was the second child and eldest daughter of Elizabeth and Alexander. Angelica was born on 25th September 1784.
As a young girl, Angelica was known for her sensitivity, liveliness, and musical talent. She received French and dance lessons and also played the piano.
After the death of her oldest brother Philip Hamilton in November 1801, Angelica, who was 17 years old at the time, suffered a mental breakdown that left her in a state of “eternal childhood.” She was often unable to recognize even her own family members.
Angelica’s parents tried to help her, but her condition worsened. She was placed in the care of Dr. MacDonald in Flushing, Queens, where she lived for the rest of her life.
Unfortunately, Angelica passed away at the age of 72 on February 6th, 1857, in New York. She was buried at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Westchester County, New York.
3. Alexander Hamilton Jr.
Colonel Alexander Hamilton Jr. was the second son of Elizabeth Schuyler and Alexander Hamilton, and their third child overall.
When he was eight years old, Hamilton started going to a boarding school in Trenton, New Jersey. He graduated on 1st August 1804, at age 18, just a few weeks after his father’s death.
Hamilton sailed to Spain in 1811 or 1812, joined the Duke of Wellington’s forces in Portugal, and then returned to America to serve in the War of 1812 as Captain of the 41st Regiment of Infantry in the United States Army. On 2nd August 1875, he died at his home in Greenwich Village.
4. James Alexander Hamilton
James Alexander was an American soldier, acting Secretary of State, and the third son of the family. James was born on 14th April 1788.
Hamilton graduated from Columbia University at age 17 in 1805. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1809. Hamilton then practiced law for a year in Waterford, New York.
On 17th October 1810, he married Mary Morris with whom he had five children. Regrettably, he died on 24 September 1878, in Irvington, New York.
5. John Church Hamilton
John Church Hamilton was a lawyer, biographer, and historian, born on 22 August 1792. John was the fourth son and the fifth child of the family.
After his uncle John Barker Church, he was named. He graduated from Columbia College in 1809 and went on to study law. During the War of 1812, Hamilton joined the U.S. Army and rose to the rank of second lieutenant.
Hamilton was also a member of the Whig Party and later a Republican. He lost a run for Congress to represent part of New York City.
John passed away on 25 July 1882, at the age of 89, due to complications of jaundice and catarrh at Stockton Cottage, located on Ocean Avenue in Long Branch, New Jersey. His funeral was held at Trinity Church in Manhattan.
6. William S. Hamilton
William S. Hamilton was an American miner and politician who resided mainly in the U.S. state of Illinois and the Wisconsin Territory. William was the sixth child and fifth son of the family.
Hamilton was born in New York and attended the United States Military Academy before resigning and relocating to Illinois in 1817.
He held numerous political offices and served as a commander in two Midwest Indian Wars. He relocated to California during the California Gold Rush in 1849 and passed away in Sacramento, likely due to cholera, in October 1850.
7. Eliza Hamilton Holly
Eliza Hamilton Holly was the seventh child and second daughter of the family. Eliza was born on 20 November 1799, in New York City, New York.
At the age of four, she attended the school. Eliza wed Sidney Augustus Holly on 19 July 1825.
Eliza passed away in Washington, D.C., due to an unknown illness on 17 October 1859. She was laid to rest at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Westchester County, New York.
8. Philip Hamilton
Philip Hamilton was the youngest child of the family. Philip was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and was also the inaugural U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.
His name was given in honor of his elder brother, Philip Hamilton, who had passed away.
Although he did not attend college, he was able to pursue a career in law after studying under one of his brothers in New York. He worked as a lawyer in New York and was an assistant U.S. Attorney under his brother James Alexander Hamilton in the 1830s.
Philip passed away on 9th July 1884, in Poughkeepsie, New York, and was considered to be relatively poor at the time of his death.