Cornelis Cuyler or Cornelius Cuyler (baptized February 14, 1697 – March 14, 1765)[1] was a prominent American of Dutch ancestry who served as the Mayor of Albany, New York, from 1742 to 1746.[2]
Cuyler was born in 1697 and baptized in the New York City Dutch Church in the then Province of New York of British America. He was the oldest surviving son of twelve children born to Albany Mayor Johannes Cuyler (1661–1740) and Elsje (née Ten Broeck) Cuyler (d. 1752).[3][4] His father was an admitted freeman of New York City and served for 22 years as a Commissioner of Indian Affairs.[5] His siblings included Anna Cuyler (who married Anthony Van Schaick), Christina Cuyler, Hendrick Cuyler (who died unmarried), Sara Cuyler (who married Mayor Johannes Hansen), Elsie Cuyler (who married Hendrick Johannes Rosenboom), Johannes Cuyler (who married Catherine Glen, daughter of Johannes Jacob Glen), Maria Cuyler (who married Cornelius Cuyler Ten Broeck, son of Wessel Ten Broeck), and Elizabeth Cuylter (who married Jacob Sanders Glen and were the parents of Henry Glen).[3]
His paternal grandparents were Hendrick Cuyler,[6] a tailor who was born in the Netherlands, came to America, and went to Albany in 1664, and Annatje (née Schepmoes) Cuyler.[1] His maternal grandparents were Albany Mayor Dirck Wesselse Ten Broeck and Christyna (née Van Buren) Ten Broeck.[7]
Following his father, he became a prominent fur trader.[6] In 1717, he served as a constable in the Second Ward.[2] In 1724, he swore not to trade with the French and was, therefore, sent into Mohawk country and Canada to represent Albany's interests.[2]
From 1729 to 1735, he was elected and served as Alderman for the Second Ward.[2] In 1742, Cuyler was appointed and served as the Mayor of Albany, succeeding Johannes de Peyster III who was re-nominated but did not take the oath of allegiance required of officeholders. He served from October 14, 1742, to September 28, 1746, and was himself succeeded by Dirck Ten Broeck.[3]
On December 9, 1726, he was married to Catalyntie "Catharina" Schuyler (1704–1758).[8] She was the daughter of Johannes Schuyler (1668–1747), of the prominent Schuyler family, and Elizabeth Staats (1647–1737).[9][10] She was also the sister of Johannes Schuyler, Jr., making her aunt to Gen. Philip Schuyler, as well as the niece of Pieter and Arent Schuyler. Together, Cornelius and Catharina were the parents of eleven children, including:[3]